On Saturday mornings at 6:00 am, while the sensible person lies asleep in bed, I join a group of guys at the local Panera Bread to discuss theology. During this season, we’re going through a course by John Harrington called “Biblical Theology of Mission.” We’re discussing the purpose of the kingdom of God, His eternal purpose, and how history is driving towards that goal. This week, we began with a passage from the book of Genesis, chapter 3:
“I [God] will put enmity between you [Satan] and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” – Genesis 3:15, ESV
As we talked about this passage, I was struck with the immensity of the goodness of God. When disaster strikes on a major scale, for example, Hurricane Katrina or the bombing of the World Trade Center, we always hear news reporters interview spiritual leaders asking the question, “How could a good God allow such a horrible thing happen?” Most of the world approaches God with an attitude of bitter contempt. He is viewed as the instigator and sustainer of suffering and unfairness. ”If you would just get out of the picture,” they effectually say to God, “we could just figure things out on our own.” In Genesis, however, there is a different story that has the power to open your heart to the extravagant kindness of God.
The Covenant Made
God’s interactions with mankind is built on the concept of “covenant.” Historically speaking, a covenant was a lifelong, binding agreement between two parties. If both parties upheld their end of the covenant, there were certain blessings to enjoy. If, however, one party did not follow the contract, there were significant consequences (curses). After creation, God made a covenant with the first man (i.e. Adam) that resulted in two important things: rulership over all creation and uninterrupted intimacy with God. These blessings were dependent on one thing alone, Adam and Eve were not to eat the fruit from this tree called the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen. 1:17).
The Covenant Broken
We all know what happened next. Adam and Eve ate from the tree, which led to a break in the covenant. As a result, the blessings they experienced (i.e. rulership over creation and intimacy with God) turned into curses. Curse one: Man’s sovereignty over Creation was transferred to Satan and, in so doing, mankind became slaves. Curse two: the kind of intimacy that man had, the walking-with-God-through-the-garden closeness, was ripped from them by sin. Man was sentenced to walk through the world alone, servant to a sadistic and twisted master and feeling the distance from God that many still feel today.
The Covenant Restored
In Genesis 3, God is standing in front of Adam and Eve in the garden, while Satan (in the form of a serpent) slithers around their feet. The covenant has been broken, the couple is guilty, and there are no words spoken to their defense. Behold, however, the unearthly goodness of God in this scenario. God knows that there is no way that the covenant can be restored by Adam and Eve. Even if He did call a mulligan, they would probably make the same mistake again. But wait, God pulls a rabbit out of His hat that no one expected. He promises the woman that one day one of her offspring with crush Satan and restore the covenant. What she didn’t understand, and neither did Satan, was that this was not going to be any ordinary person; this One, this Seed, was going to come from God Himself – Messiah Jesus. He would be 100% God and 100% Man. He would relate to both parties. He would mediate between the two groups. The Apostle Paul reflected on this after the fact:
“But in the fullness of time, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal. 4:4,5 ESV).
In effect, God sent His Son Jesus to uphold our side of the covenant between Him and us. When Adam and Eve broke the covenant, God could have legitimately walked away from us, leaving us without hope or restoration. However, He didn’t! In this situation, God chose not to be fair. Fairness would have dictated an irrevocable sentence of death and separation. Instead, God chose to be extravagantly generous, by restoring the covenant in such a way that it could never be broken again. Jesus’ death and resurrection re-sealed the covenant that God made with Adam. No longer were God and mankind seated on opposite ends of the table with no mediator in between. Jesus walked in and sat down on both sides of the table. And the beauty of this arrangement is that Jesus will always agree with Jesus!
This was an event that rippled both ways through the fabric of time, permanently sealing mankind’s dominion over the earth and the opportunity for unbroken intimacy with God through the God-Man (100% God, 100% Man), Messiah Jesus. That is one reason why He will return one day to set up a tangible kingdom upon the Earth, but that’s for another blog post.
So the next time someone tells you that God isn’t fair, you tell them:
“You know what? You’re absolutely right! Let me tell you what He is…”
For the past few weeks, my wife and I have been reading portions of Acts and Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia. During our reading, I’ve savored the freedom that we have in Jesus. We can live a life free from a works mentality, released to simply come to God through faith.
I’ve also thought a lot about the institutionalized structure of modern-day Christianity. As I continue on this journey in organic Christianity, I’m beginning to believe that the inorganic structure, made up of external rules and expectations, can cripple the Body of Christ. In some ways, it appears to present, in Paul’s words, “a different gospel,” that delivers an inaccurate view of salvation and our relationship with God.
In Acts and Galatians, there are striking parallels between the state of modern-day Christianity and the early church.
A Different Gospel
Paul had recently returned from Galatia (located in modern-day Turkey) only to receive word that there was serious trouble among the new believers. A group of Jewish men, called Judaizers, had entered the churches and begun teaching that the non-Jewish believers had to keep the Mosaic law in order to find approval from God. Most notable, was the strict stance on male circumcision (ouch!). To the Jews of that time, circumcision was a mark of superiority that proved (or so they thought) that they had a preferential relationship with God.
This contradicted to the message entrusted to Paul, which was based on faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ. To Paul, there was no amount of good works that can gain favor with God. Everyone stands absolutely condemned and incapable of “posting bail” on the account of “good behavior.”
“But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” – Galatians 5:22
To Paul, the Mosaic law served as a light to reveal the wickedness of the human heart. It was never designed to be a code to follow. By revealing the sin within our hearts, the Law shows us that we cannot measure up to God by our own good deeds. Recognizing this shortfall, should be the first step in following Jesus.
The Jerusalem Council
The Galatians were receiving a counterfeit gospel that was enslaving them to external actions and lifeless ritual. Paul was enraged, rising up like a father to their defense. He quickly went down to Jerusalem, the epicenter of Christianity, to talk with the believers there.
He brought his case before the entire church in Jerusalem. To Paul, this was not an issue for some hierarchical elite; this was a disease that threatened to attack every member of the Body of Christ. In response to that meeting, known as the Jerusalem Council, the entire church crafted a message to send out through the Roman world. It was an memo of clarification for all the new believers scattered across the empire.
“Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas–Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren…
“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.” (Acts 15:22, 28-29)
To summarize, the only burden the apostles placed upon the non-Jewish believers was to avoid the following:
- Meat sacrificed to idols
- Blood from animals
- Meat from animals that have been strangled
- Sexual immorality
Preserving Unity
The first three commandments were made for the sake of the Jewish believers. In their culture, sacrificial meat, blood, and strangled meat were strictly taboo. It was unfamiliar to them. If a gathering of non-Jewish believers served blood-sausage for dinner, the ethnically Jewish believers would not want to come. Though the food was a non-issue to the Gentiles, it was a serious stumbling block for the Jews. These first three commands were given for the sake of unity. By serving “safe food,” Jewish brothers and sisters could join in gatherings without hesitation.
Let me paint a modern example. You have just been invited to someone’s house for dinner on Friday night. They are believers and you, being hungry for fellowship with other Christians, have been thinking about it all week. The host family is from the Phillipines, a precious elderly couple. The day before you arrive, however, you are told by a friend what kind of meal they served last week:
“They were serving soup that night. I was excited because there’s nothing like a warm cup of soup on a cold Minnesota night. Little did I know what was coming. I asked them what kind of soup it was and they told me, ‘A Phillipino special: Soup No. 5.’ What’s in it, I asked? They replied, ‘It’s a savory soup with bull’s rectum and testicles. We also have coconut grubs and Betute Tugak, which is stuffed frog.’”
You feel your lunch begin traveling up your through in the wrong direction. You gulp and exclaim: “Bull’s rectum and testicles, coconut grubs, and stuffed frog? Ahh!! I’m not going to go over there ever!!”
Get the picture? The taboo food became a stumbling block for the non-Phillipino brother. Something as simple as dinner prevented unity. (Note: Although I’ve never eaten the aforementioned items, I can say that the Phillipino food that my wife’s aunt makes is incredible.)
The last command they give concerns sexual immorality (i.e. fornication). When most people read this they falsely assume this means sexual intercourse outside of marriage. Both Jew and Gentile believers understood that the concept that sex was a gift to be exercised only within the covenant of marriage.
Instead, they were directing these Gentiles living in such close fellowship with the Jewish believers to observe the specific marriage regulations required by Leviticus 18, which prohibited marriages between most family relations. This was something that Jews would abhor, but most Gentiles would think little of.
Gentile Christians had the “right” to eat meat sacrificed to idols, to continue their marriage practices, and to eat food without a kosher bleeding, because these were aspects of the Mosaic law they definitely were not under. However, they are encouraged (demanded?) to law down their “rights” in these matters as a display of love to their Jewish brethren.
All four of the requested abstentions related to ceremonial laws laid down in Leviticus 17 and 18, and three of them concerned dietary matters which could inhibit Jewish-Gentile common meals.
No Greater Burden
When the question regarding church practice was brought up, there were only four requests that the Jerusalem church laid upon the Gentile believers. Of all the issues they could have addressed, they chose four that touched on diet and relationships. There was no mention of consistent tithing, church attendance, church membership, appropriate “spiritual covering,” or signed statements of faith.
Yet, in spite of this clear scriptural truth, we can add additional requirements in an attempt to validate one’s relationship with God.
I think we would have more people walking in freedom and wholeheartedness if we kept the main thing, namely, Jesus Christ, the main thing. Let the pure and unadulterated simplicty of following Jesus be the only requirement for being a “Christian.” Let’s not load extra burdens on people needlessly.
May the Lord help me to add “no greater burden” to those He brings into my life.
On my way to work last Thursday, I noticed a new billboard on Highway 494. In the 5:00 o’clock pre-dawn darkness the orange and blues shouted a message to passersby: “Windows – Life Without Walls.”
I am a Mac enthusiast. Therefore, I’m naturally pre-disposed to a critical attitude when it comes to Microsoft Windows. However, the advertising slogan that Microsoft used is worthy of some honest criticism.
“Windows – Life Without Walls.” Think about the windows in your home or office. They provide light from the outside world, protection from cold Minnesota winters, and mild entertainment when the occasional bird flies into it. Windows themselves are actually very useful.
However, a window by itself won’t do. A garage-full of windows does not benefit anyone. In order to take an otherwise useless piece of glass and metal and put it to use it must be installed in a wall. Only once it is hung on a structure does it fulfill its role. Structure is a necessity.
When I talk to people about my experience leaving the institutional church, most people falsely assume that it involves a religious-flavored version of anarchy. Images of wandering individuals and purposeless gatherings flicker through my mind. They assume that I am living “life without walls.”
Why is it that leaving the four walls of tradition conjure up visions of reckless free-for-all’s?
Truth be told, leaving the institutional church does not require a departure from order. I’m still on my journey into the realm of organic Christianity, but here are some key points that I understand thus far.
Structure is Vital to a Healthy Life
I like the word “organic” because it implies something that is living. The trees outside my window have life within themselves. The Canadian geese waddling around the frozen lake have life within themselves. Anything that is living is organic in nature.
The human body is comprised of 50-75 trillion cells. These cells are organized in varying patterns and functions that result in arms, lungs, eyes, etc. That means I am an extremely complex, organic creature!
The human body also has 206 bones. These bones provide a framework that supports my organic body. If these bones were missing, I would be nothing more than a blob of tissue. Not having a framework to hold my brain, heart, or lungs in place would result in death.
Structure sustains and protects life. Participating in an organic church setting requires structure in order to promote healthy function.
For instance, we had a handful of people over to our home last Friday night. We shared a meal, drank coffee, and talked about our experiences with God. It was unscripted and life flowed naturally from our conversations. However, it required someone to organize the gathering by inviting people, cooking food, and making the guests feel welcomed. (Shameless plug here: My wife is excellent at this!) My wife provided a context for people to gather together and share life.
We’ll look at the concept of organic leadership in a future post. However, it is important to know that it does exist. Structure can actually be very beneficial when it operates in a healthy way.
Organic Structure Is Not Predictable
During my brother’s generation, they had this novelty called a pet rock. The first Pet Rocks were ordinary gray stones bought at a builder’s supply store and marketed as if they were live pets. The fad lasted about six months, ending with the Christmas season in December 1975.
If I took a pet rock and set it on my office table, I can reasonably guarantee it would be there the next day. It would be predictable.
However, if I had a pet dog and I put him on my office table, I could make no guarantee that he would be in that same spot the next day. He may have wandered into the bathroom only to be caught drinking water from the toilet bowl. His demeanor may have changed. His energy level may be different. His living, organic nature, makes him an unpredictable companion to the pet rock still sitting on my office table.
In an institutional church format, one could reasonably predict a gathering of believers. Any given church building would probably be occupied on Sunday morning, between the hours of 9AM and 12PM. There would most likely be a service led by professional clergy, introduced with a musical number. Towards the end of the event, there would probably be a single person delivering a speech that was religious in nature. Chances are, that speech would have three points, and be followed by a congregational prayer. One week later, the entire process would most likely reoccur like clockwork.
Organic church, on the other hand, is spontaneous and unpredictable. Last night, when we met with other believers, we ate dinner and spent most of the time sharing about how we encountered Jesus in the past few weeks. The next time we gather, however, it may be on a different day, at a different time, and at another home. Instead of talking the entire time, we may pray or worship. We might decide to take a trip to the grocery store and buy a cartload of groceries for the family in need next door. Each meeting has a mystery to it.
If something has life within it, that life will constantly take on different forms.
Organic Structures Grow Naturally
Staying with the illustration of the human body, notice how the skeleton structure changes over time. A newly conceived baby, still in its embryonic stage, has no pronounced skeletal system. At five weeks, the neural tube begins to develop, which will one day become the baby’s brain, spinal cord, nerves, and backbone. The structure is simple and accommodates the present needs of that child.
Twenty years later, that child has been born and matured. He is now a fully developed human being. Instead of one neural tube, he has 206 carefully fashioned bones, each contributing to the overall support his body requires. Structure naturally formed within this human being. As he grew in maturity, the structure also grew and conformed.
If you are interested in launching out into organic Christianity don’t get bogged down with trying to figure everything out immediately before you begin. Start small with what organic elements you have. Let the organic structure naturally grow over time. You do not need to designate “elders” and “deacons” right away, if at all. You do not need to set agendas to the meetings. Seek Father together, in your group, for what His agenda is. Since you’re seeking a vibrant, organic experience things may look different every time. The important thing is to gather, love one another, and focus on Jesus.
Avoid the tendency to name the group, establish roles, and set rules. Seek to make your gatherings as simple as possible. Follow the method Jesus used. The method is incredibly simple, highly relational, easy to duplicate, and centered on God. The method is found in John 5:19 - “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”
Here’s a good example to get started. Invite your friends over to your house for a meal. Either provide the food or have each person bring a dish. Sit down around a big table and, as you eat, ask one another, “How have you encountered Jesus this week?” You can also ask them, “Where are you on your journey with Jesus?” Follow the ageless slogan that I’m beginning to appreciate, the KISS method (Keep It Simple, Stupid!).
