Pentecost

The pouring out of the spirit on earth is the presence, in our sphere, of the sheer energy of heaven itself. The gift of the spirit is thus the direct result of the ascension of Jesus. Because he is the Lord of all, his energy, the power to be and do something quite new, is available through the spirit to all who call on him, all who follow him, all who trust him.
- NT Wright

Discipleship (from spiritual awakening, conversion, to maturity) is birthed in the Spirit, but it is also very much maintained in the Spirit. And while there are other forms of learning, discipleship involves a growth into the “deep things of God” (1Cor. 2:10) and this simply cannot be achieved without the ongoing role of the Holy Spirit.

As such, we partake of the divine dance that is intrinsic to the life of God. And we share in the divine life through the Spirit. In other words, Christian life must be lived for the glory of God, under the saving lordship of Jesus, and in the power of the Spirit. Biblical discipleship is Trinitarian or it is not biblical.

- Deb and Alan Hirsch, excerpt from Untamed

Accounting

Recently I had a situation where my relational inventory was taken, and by those taking the inventory, I was found lacking.

Because I write to process, this is what I wrote in my attempt to sort through the emotions of that event:

I read the emails once again, trying to understand, but knowing the pain that will wash over me each time that I look.

I tell myself that I am whole enough to deal with this. I know that I am ultimately loved. I can deal with this from the basis of that reality.

I try to objectively understand the flood of emotions. What is it?

Guilt?
Shame?
Accusation?
Defensiveness?
Pride?

Am I having trouble accepting the truth? Or am I having trouble rejecting the lie when it is spoken to me in words that confirm the accusations that the enemy already whispers in my ear?

Is it a lie or the truth when the failures and weaknesses are real?

So I go back and read again, even though I shouldn’t.

I bounce back and forth between what I feel and what I know.

Yes, I am guilty. I have not measured up. But I don’t want to live in the world of keeping track and measuring up. Is this a cop-out?

If you are keeping score, I will eventually fall short. You don’t have to prove it. I already know. I already know that I am never quite enough of what I should be.

Yes, I could be more, I could be better. But so often I am not.

You Aren’t The Boss of Me

The complex theories of leadership, government, and church organization that have developed as a “scriptural explanation” attempting to support and justify the traditional and desired systems is sometimes astounding to me.  I really have trouble believing that when either Jesus or Paul talked about the church that they ever imagined the denominational structures and corporate entities that we now call church.

Instead, I believe they were typically explaining how the people of God should live and relate to one another and to the world around them.  Rather than live according to the spirit of their words, we have attempted to extract rules, orders, and structures of authority from various passages of scripture.

The discussion in the comments of the post More Thoughts on Not Starting a Church explored nuances about leadership at a depth that is more insightful than most discussions I read about leadership in the church.

Some random thoughts as I read through the comment thread…

• The complexity of the structure determines the complexity of organizational leadership that is necessary.
• Organizational leadership does not equal spiritual authority.
• Spiritual gifts and maturity do not equal spiritual authority.
• Organizational leadership may be positional, but relational leadership is not.
• Relational leadership is fluid, mutual, and voluntary and is dependent on and always mindful of Jesus as the Head and Leader.
• In our society, it is difficult to use the term leader without assuming an elevated status.
• It is counter-cultural and counter-intuitive to use influence (maturity, gifts, talents) to serve in a way that empowers others and does not create dependency or position.
• We learn from and are inspired by the example of others.  This is one of the ways we are encouraged, edified, and grow.

It may not be possible to develop an across-the-board definition or method of leadership in the church, particularly when we consider the variety in degrees of organizational structure.  However, I do believe that is possible to define the fundamental basic values of leadership, power, and authority that we find in Scripture.  How those values are worked out within relationships and structures will likely be a topic of continued debate and discussion.

Any further thoughts?  What is the bottom line for you?

There Is No One Like Our God

Ascension Day

• Ascension Day marks the day when Jesus Christ ascended up into Heaven.
• It was 40 days after his resurrection from the dead.
• Forty days from Easter, April 12, 2009, is today, Thursday, May 21.

Ascension is the culmination of the incarnation.

From before creation, it was established that union with mankind would be accomplished in Christ.  The ascension completed the work of our adoption. Because of the bodily ascension of Christ, we are now lifted into and included in the fellowship of the Father, Son, and Spirit.

“In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” – John 14:20

This is truly beautiful!