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Bible Questions and Spiritual Discussion
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| Thought provoking quote | | I love this quote by Dallas Willard in "Restoration of the Heart"... What do you guys think?
"This impotence of systems is a main reason why Jesus did not send his students out to start governments or even churches as we know them today, which always strongly convey some elements of a human system. They were, instead, to establish beachheads of His person, word, and power in the midst of a failing and futile humanity. They were to bring the presence of the kingdom and its King into every corner of human life simply by fully living in the kingdom with Him."
| | Kelley 07/07/2010 09:43 | |
yeah human systems are flawed. I was just thinking the other day how I have a tendency to atempt the work of the kingdom through the restraints of our human systems and ideas. I have been blown away, after finishing up the " Restored " series ,by how much baggage I have been carrying around from this fallen system. I like the last phrase " fully living in the kingdom with Him".
| I love this quote. Especially the last part. Fully living in the Kingdom with Him. It says it all.
| I love the idea that it is a minority movement, and that it is a matter of His personhood in mentorship with us. It is the "lived-out" life, as guided under the Spirit of Christ.
But these systems exist in Christian circles too. Even in our churches, as an example, we are too often concerned with "how to get them in the door," and we spend great amounts of dollars and energies on "the methods of doing that." Those methods (even if they have good intentions) are systems too. But in making use of these things, all that this does is lead to "making converts." And once we "have them in," we leave them to the other various in-house systems of "church life" - attendance of sermons and teachings on Sundays, serving during the week in various programs, etc. These things are good in and of themselves, but as being mired down in the systemization of things, there is hardly ever any real-life discussion of discipleship under Jesus Christ and the subsequent living-out of life in the Spirit in the churches of today. The use of such a system (in this case, within church life) leaves discipleship "an option," which is contrary to what Christ himself commanded in The Great Commission: "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'" (Matt. 28:18 - 20; ESV).
Any beachheads of His person that are to be put in place are going to need to be established by those who were TRAINED BY HIM, and not by "the stuff they did in church." That is, the "discipleship-as-optional" mentality will do nothing of consequence to bring about lasting, impacting change to the world as we are in it. Change will have to begin "inside," in the heart/mind/will, as it has been done in the lives of Christians throughout the centuries who've yoked themselves to Him. It is often a long, slow, life-consuming process to enter into.
"...learn from Me..." (Matt. 11:29a, ESV).
"...my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!" (Ga;. 4:19; ESV).
Blessings,
Tom
| For sure, we are not of this world, but part of a different Kingdom and world. That of God. These human programs as well intentioned (or not) as they may be are not always the will of our father. The world will not receive us any more than it did Jesus. But we are still to love each one of them, as the father reaches out through us.
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