Last Words – almost part 16 

We’ve taken a whirlwind tour of this passage in 2 Peter and I pray you have been provoked by it.  The reason for the series is my love for those who follow the Great Shepherd. 

Much is being written about the church and her ills and errors – and I have to agree that they are mighty and plenty.  The history of the Body of Christ is filled with examples of how easy it is to stray from the way (Acts 24:14) He called us to walk in.

I have prayed and thought and read much about this and have come to the conclusion that if we are to lay responsibility anywhere, it has to be at the feet of those He has called to lead His flock.  Huh?

OK – let me put it this way.  If you are attending a church where the priority of the leadership is not the following – you have a problem!

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!-- assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.   (Eph 4:11-24)   ESV

You see, it is not about programs, worship style, missions or ministries.  It is not about your preferences and proclivities.  It is not about numbers in the pews or in the bank.  It is not about buildings or furnishings.  It is about not being conformed to the world (i.e., being “seeker sensitive”); it is about being conformed to the likeness of the Christ.  And that’s pretty much all it’s about.

Read Acts 2:42-47 – read it again!!!!!

Do you “get it?”  Do you see the simple sanctified Body of Christ?

Yeah, I guess I am being hard on those who in the name of Christ have built great structures to their own flesh.  Those who have erroneously decided, “if you build it, do it, say it, etc., they will come.”  Oh, come they do – but who are they?  They are rarely the called – the elect.  But they are those who having a form of godliness – well, Paul says it best….

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power (authority & ability). Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (2Ti 3:1-7)

It is not the truth that each individual believer is solely responsible for their growth.  How could it be when God has provided “ministers” or “officers” or “designates,” to equip believers to live as believers?  Yes, it is the responsibility of the individual to seek out sound biblical teachers and to learn and to grow beyond them if possible.  But as Bonheoffer wrote in Nazi Germany, we prefer cheap grace – which is a grace without the cross – a grace without a Christ.

Of those who come to the Body simply to have their ears scratched Paul goes on:

But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra--which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.   (2Ti 3:9-17)  ESV

We are engaged in a great conflict.  No, it is not a conflict over culture or national interests, or morality or even competing belief systems.  None of that is OUR fight.  Our fight is against the (actually OUR) flesh.  Oh but it is soooooo much easier to take on the ACLU or the President or whatever – than it is to take on, “Be holy as I am holy.  It is soooo much more fun to do neat marketing projects to get people in the door than it is to live the life that shines in the darkness.  It is sooooo much easier to lift up self-esteem, prosperity, even Israel’s safety than it is to lift up a crucified Messiah.  It is soooo much easier to say, “god loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life,” than is it to cry “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”

The church has become a place where gimmicks, gadgets and graffiti have replaced the gospel.  The unredeemed are enticed to come and to worship the God who their every breath offends.  They come and sing praises to the God whose wrath is looming over their heads.  They come – and if they stay long enough, contribute enough and shine enough they can even become elders.

There was writing over the gate to the temple which warned Gentiles that to pass beneath the arch into the Temple would mean their death.  There is an important point here.  To intentionally create an environment where the unredeemed are comfortable in the presence and worship of the God they do not acknowledge – the God they rejected and replaced - makes it possible for them to come to believe that they are in good stead with Him.  That, my brothers and sisters, is, at least to me, a cruelty beyond bearing.

Faith is NOT a virus; one does not “catch” it.  “Doing,” does not make believers.  God does.

Remember where we started?

I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. (2Pe 1:13-15)  ESV

Peter gives us his motivation for this letter.  It’s what he believes is his last shot.  Will we heed it or not?

Last Words - almost part 6

Last Words Part 6

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.   (2Pe 1:5-14)  ESV

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ

For if

Ok – a little technical stuff.  The word “if” is not in the Greek text.

This is important because in the Greek text there is no question of these qualities being in the men and women to whom Paul writes.  Read it without the “If.”

For these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The phrase  "are yours" (humin huparchonta) is a strong expression denoting that which actually exists as one's possession.

One more technical change.  The NIV translates it this way:

8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Literally it would be:

8 For if you continually possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

My point in getting technical is that these are not qualities you need to get – you have them by virtue of Christ Jesus and His Spirit.  These qualities are (and I’m stepping out here) the qualities with which man was created and which became corrupted in the fall.  Now in Christ the corruption of sin is removed and these qualities, long dormant and/or twisted, can be accessed and grown to His glory.

As a friend of mine says, “You got ‘em, work ‘em.”

“are increasing”

πλεονάζω, pleonázō [to increase, abound].  Fruit will result when the preceding qualities abound with fullness as the goal.

Practice – exercise.  Here’s a key.  “Use ‘em or lose ‘em.” Is not a bad way of putting it.  We HAVE these qualities and so now, with the Spirit of God, we need to use them.  It appears from the next phrase that the use of these qualities, their strengthening, broadening and focusing have an unavoidable result.

Peter is exhorting every saint to choose now to allow Him to express Himself through you. And it is a voluntary choice we must each make and make each day...many times during the day. God won't force us to deny ourselves and to set our mind on the things of the Spirit rather than the things of the flesh. We each must do that. But oh the rewards for letting the Spirit fill us and control us (Eph 5:18-note, Gal 5:16-note). The more we choose as His bondservants to allow Jesus to be the Lord and Master of every area of our life, the more these qualities will increase and superabound, bearing much fruit, fruit that remains for eternity. Why are we so stubborn, hard headed, rebellious and resistant to the Word and the Spirit when all God wants to do is pour forth blessing upon our life! JC

“they keep you from being”

“keep” = καθίστημι,  kathístēmi ;  to bring, make, cause (render).  The basic sense 'to set down.  'To make someone something. (KTD)

The exercise of these qualities “make us-not” . . . . or “they render you neither ineffective nor unfruitful.”

“ineffective or unfruitful”

Ineffective = ἀργός argós [idle]

Argós means:   a. 'indolent,' 'useless,' 'unemployed,' and b. 'incapable of action.  Without works that express faith and hence 'unserviceable'

Unfruitful = ἄκαρπος, ákarpos

This is the negative prefix “a” plus “karpos” –fruit.

Unfruitful, bearing no fruit (Jud_1:12 [cf. Mat_13:22; Mar_4:19; Tit_3:14; 2Pe_1:8]; Sept.: Jer_2:6). Unprofitable, producing bad fruit (1Co_14:14; Eph_5:11).

“in the (TRUE) knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”

Peter focuses our not being ineffective and/or unfruitful one the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

In the Greek – and hence in the NASB we find the work “true” in reference to the knowledge of which Peter writes.  This is the word ἐπίγνωσις,  epígnōsis.

Recognition, i.e. (by implication) full discernment, acknowledgement: —         (ac-)knowledge(-ing, - ment). AV (20) - knowledge 16, acknowledging 3, acknowledgement 1;   

I. precise and correct knowledge

A. Used in the NT of the knowledge of things ethical and divine.

When we, as believers, servants of the lord Jesus Christ actively and intentionally live out the righteousness He has purchased for us we will be neither idle nor unfruitful in our true knowledge of Him.

When we as humans actively and intentionally live out the laws of gravity we do not fool around on heights – we especially do not jump.

Here then is the point.  Many if not most of us have an obscured understanding of sin and salvation – not to mention sanctification.  We also have a fickle sense of the seriousness of sin and the purity of righteousness.  Because of this, though we know the Lord and Redeemer, our knowledge is not complete of as stable as it could be.

We – at one place or another in our hearts and minds – are tossed and thrown by the winds and waves.  It may be technically theological or it may be pathetically practical but we all struggle.

Peter want us to understand and be convicted by the fact that we have – restored, rediscovered, re-enlivened – however you wish to say it—qualities whose practice/exercise will make the truth of Christ clearer and clearer. 

Through the Word and the Holy Spirit we can practice these qualities as the practical means of strengthening and broadening not only our security in Christ but our service to Christ as well.

Next, the qualities --- but first a look at the, “Now for this very reason also . . . “ we read in verse 5.

Last Words – almost Part 5

Last Words – almost  Part 5  

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.   (2Pe 1:5-14)  ESV

If there is any clear description of the weak or struggling believer, this is it.  That they are a believer is not in dispute.  That they are weak in their faith because their inability to clearly live their redemption and the graciousness of God is the point.

There are several things that can result in this condition and I’ll run through a few of them here.

1.    A lack of appreciation of sin and its consequences. 

2.    This viewpoint will focus on the material consequences apart from or in lieu of the eternal consequences.  Many times I have heard the Gospel presented as an escape from sin and especially its material consequences.  Come to Jesus and you won’t need drugs and you won’t get busted.  Come to Jesus and you won’t be sexually promiscuous so you won’t face an unwanted pregnancy and perhaps an abortion. 

3.    There are two problems with this concept: 

First, coming to Jesus holds no assurance that we won’t do sinful things and hence face the consequences; and

Second, it is an example of the “good news to me,” as opposed to the Good News of Christ.” It is a completely self-serving approach which has nothing to do with God’s call to righteousness and His provision for our answering it.

4.    A response to the offer of happiness and fulfillment.

Again, this view is all about me, what I want and NOT, in God’s view, what I need.  Typically it is offered wholly disconnected from the righteous God of the Bible who is sovereign.  It’s an offer of a “Santa” not sanctification.

5.    A response out of calamity with a sole focus on the calamity.    

6.    The respondent finds themselves in a very tough circumstance and is offered “Jeeeeesus,” as an answer to that calamity.  It’s Jesus the Lifeguard, not Jesus the savior that is in view here

7.    A lack of understanding grace and forgiveness in light of our battle against the flesh.

8.    Perhaps the individual has committed some sin and has suffered bearing that knowledge to the point that it has infected their whole life.

This sin looms larger than even the grace of God.

They don’t “feel” forgiven.

This sin has been such an integral part of their lives that underneath it all they are afraid to live without the guilt and shame.

9.    A resentment or anger.

They have been violated, injured, abused and this has defined their lives to the point where it consumes their thoughts and feelings.

They are so used to being the “victim” that the idea of being victorious makes no sense or, in some cases, is terrifying.

These are just some of the issues that fill our lives with smoke and make it hard to clearly see the Gospel in all its glory.  And if we can't see it clearly, we can’t live it well.

These folks cannot follow the admonition from Hebrews below:

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,   (Heb 6:1) ESV

Why?  Because they have never had the elementary doctrine of Christ clearly and correctly presented.  When the Spirit touched them they came and, though the Spirit lives in them, so do the lies of the world, the flesh and the devil.  These lies cloud, obscure and even hide the truth from these believers and so they struggle in uncertainty and a sense of hopelessness.

Saved they are – but they are miserable in that salvation.

Our faith is a relational faith.  God chooses us, Christ calls us and the Spirit seals us and dwells within us.  You cannot get more relational than that.  BUT, if I cannot get to the point where understanding my utter unworthiness to be saved I surrender to the gracious fact I am saved, I will be the most miserable of believers.

TRUTH

Eph_2:3  among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Eph_2:13  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Col_1:21  And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,

Col_3:7  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

Tit_3:3  For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

What do you read here?  Let me show you the important part - - -

Eph_2:3  among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Eph_2:13  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Col_1:21  And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,

Col_3:7  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

Tit_3:3  For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

Get the point???

remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

BUT

now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility (Eph 2:12-14)ESV

As we move forward let me say that there are many who struggle because the gospel they heard was “another gospel,” and not the Gospel of the Christ.  It may have had truth(s) in it – but – it was not the truth – it was and is a lie.

But the Spirit of God, more wise and able than the spirit of deceit uses all truth in God’s service.  These believers responded to the truth in what they heard but it was perhaps the last truth they heard.  They were and are little children still in need of the pure milk of the Word but offered a poor even poisonous alternative.

Last Words - almost Part 1

Last words – almost

Part 1

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.   (2Pe 1:5-14)  ESV

I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.   v.13&14

The context from which Peter writes is critical.  We have to “flash-bask” to that day on the shore and a conversation Jesus has with Peter.

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go." (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me." Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!" (Joh 21:18-22)

There is a great deal going on between Peter and Jesus in this chapter of John.  It’s a pretty tough day for Peter.

Jesus shows Peter that at the end of his life he will not be free.  We think Peter was killed in Rome under Nero.  The “stories” tell us that he requested to be crucified upside down as he did not feel worthy of the same death that his Master suffered.  But we must keep in mind that “stories” are “stories.”  That Peter was martyred is not in debate.

The point I want us to see in this Part 1 of the series is Peter’s motivation for writing the preceding verses.  It’s quite simple really, “since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon.”  I’m not going to be alive for long.

Peter considers it “right,” to remind them of their duty as believers to never grow stagnant, to continue to be conformed to the likeness of Christ.  I won’t get into some long discussion on salvation.  Suffice it to be said that the presupposition I hold and I believe Peter held is well stated by D. Bonheoffer, “Only the believing obey, only the obedient believe”.

Not questioning the faith or willing obedience of his audience Peter wants so “stir,” his audience up.  He wants not only to awaken those who may be dozing but he desires to incite, excite, and stir up all those to whom he writes, which includes you and me.

To say these are Peter’s last words would surely be silly.  But to say that this is his last and lasting admonition would probably be safe.  His end is near – his concern is for the Body and all its parts.  If he has to condense his desire for them, his pray for them, his expectation of them, this is it.

Read the passage.  In it, through Peter, the Holy Spirit provides us with a clear and exacting list of qualities of those things necessary for our growth and effectiveness.  How can we not fall to our knees in both repentance and supplication?  Repenting our laziness and distraction from them and crying out to the Lord for both the conviction, will, energy and opportunity to do what is commanded here.

Peter says,

“Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.”

And then writes,

“And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.”  (2Pe 1:15)  ESV

I hope and pray you will consider following this series.  I pray that His Spirit will convict and energize you to diligently seek to follow Peter’s admonition which is also an imperative from the Lord.

The next two installments will address why we don’t and why we should.

Error as necessary truth?????

Superstition always breeds such sorrows, when men make themselves religious duties which God never made them, and then come short in the performance of them. Many dark souls are assaulted by the erroneous, and told that they are in a wrong way; and they must take up some error as a necessary truth, and so are cast into perplexing difficulties, and perhaps repent of the truth which they before owned. Many fearful Christians are troubled about every meal that they eat, about their clothes, their thoughts, and word, thinking or fearing that all is sinful which is lawful, and that unavoidable infirmities are heinous sins. All such as these are troubles and sorrows without cause, and therefore overmuch.

Richard Baxter

Believers, like ships, tend to pick up barnacles over time.  Many of these barnacles are little more than superstitions.

Superstition is a belief in supernatural causality: that one event leads to the cause of another without any physical process linking the two events [citation needed]; a false conception of causality, such as astrology, omens, witchcraft, etc, that contradicts natural science. WikiP

Leaving the debate between science and faith (things seen vs. things unseen) alone, superstition for us would be the belief that some action or thought, etc. that we hold (or reject) will CAUSE God to do (or not do) something.  If I wear a St. Christopher’s medallion, I will be safe on my journey.  If I fast, God will do what I want.  If I scrupulously attend to the disciplines of the faith, God will do (or not) good things for me.

This is superstition.  It is, quite simply, a false belief which carries within it the germ of causality.  That is, I believe that if I do X, God will have to do Y.  There’s a lot of that going around today and so there are a lot of greatly downcast believers.

I read much about “spirituality” and how to develop it.  Unfortunately, most, if not all, of these writers propose that the believer, “take up some error as a necessary truth.”  (Baxter)  Note!  “error as necessary truth.”  Baxter is being nice using the word “error”, I think, because in what I read today, it seems more like an insistence that the believer “take up heresy as a necessary truth.”

Take the infusion of Eastern ideas and techniques into the lives of believers.  These ideas and the techniques they utilize are based upon untruth – lies.  Yoga, Tai chi, Eastern meditation and Acupuncture, just to name a few, are based in unbelief.  Unless the believer is clearly aware of this [this what - - background/motivation/fact/factor/aspect], they are in danger of being teased off the right path.

We are spiritual.  Everyone is spiritual – even unbelievers.  WE, as believers are not called to be spiritual – we are called to be holy.  We cannot be any more spiritual than God made us, but we can be more holy – which is His whole point in redeeming us.  But I think it is easier to work towards a silly and useless goal, than to work towards THE goal.

Prayer does not make one more spiritual.  Prayer makes one more intimate with God, more aware of our dependence on Him.  Meditating on Scripture does not make on more spiritual.  It does make one more familiar with the Word of God and, I believe, it provides the Spirit more bricks with which to build in our lives.  Fasting does not get God to do anything.  Fasting focuses our attention on our dependence upon Him, the power of the world’s offerings and our own self-serving propensity.

None of the “duties” or practices that are touted as spiritual will ever cause God to do anything.  The disciplines we find in scripture (and there are few) are intended for our benefit and development.  One might as well say doing sit-ups or jogging for God could cause Him to do anything. 

“If” is a dangerous word.  When we phrase a statement, “If we do X, God will do Y,”  we are entering a danger zone.  Most of the “If/Then” books offered to believers are not Biblically sound and are subtly designed to meet the needs of our flesh more than the needs of our spirits.  Though happiness and contentment here are nice and certainly desirable, are they not to be counted as “dung” compared to what is ready for us with Him?

I am really sent over the edge when I read these bound sheets of toilet paper offering to help you become a “better” believer.  Let me ask you, who made you a believer?  Who “redeemed you?”  Ok, what did He mess up?  Where did He fall short?  Where are the gaps and tears in your redemption?

We are NOT called to improve upon what He and He alone has done.  We are called to simply grow in it.  For that [growth], He has given us all we need - the Word and the Spirit.  Out of the scandal of the crucifixion, the power of the resurrection and the glory of the ascension, everything that needs be done is done.  We simply have to PRACTICE submission and obedience to Him.  I use the word “practice’ because that’s what it is, practice.  We are not done yet and we won’t be done here.

Don’t get sucked into the vortex of superstitions.  Do not allow yourself to be seduced into taking up some error as a necessary truth (or practice).  Yoga is exercise not a spiritual discipline.  Acupuncture is a “quasi-medical” treatment not a spiritual exercise.  Meditating your belly-button is – well – just silly.  Martial Arts are simply martial arts not some spiritual endeavor.

The only “spiritual” thing about all this error is – you.  Be not deceived!

Paul tells us:

(1Co 6:12)  "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. ESV

and

(1Co 6:17)  But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.

Though he uses food and sexual immorality as examples the principle is that whatever does not glorify God is not helpful (to be profitable, advantageous, to contribute or bring together for the benefit of another).  So the question is, what has light to do with darkness – and what are the dark parts?

Spiritual = biblically based, Spirit dependent and God focused.  So whatever you do, whenever you do it, if it meets that criteria – it is “spiritual” in the context or redemption.  If it does not meet that criteria it is “spiritual” (because man are spiritual) but outside the light.