Hoops, red tape and road blocks
Has anyone noticed that Americanized Chistianity is full of hoops, red tape and roadblocks? You get a good candidate and they are ready to roll and then the red tape checks and balances of the institution start engaging.
That is the story of my entire ministry. It doesn't matter what God wants, let's see what man wants. And what man wants seems to be more important than what God wants. Am I the only one tired of this. People have positions and they want to keep control so the end result is harmful to organic Christianity.
Am I wacked out or have others been in bondage to systems and the thinking of men?
God expects much more out of us. When will we step out of the safety in the boats of human thinking and walk on the water of faith and determination to do what God wants regardless of what man thinks?
Walking on the water with Jesus will always cost us something..But stayting in the boat of bondage to the wishes of men will cost you more. I'm out of the boat and it will be up to Jesus on whether I will walk or sink. I call that faith water walking.
Give me your thoughts...
posted by Bob Carder @ 11:30 PM
12 comments
12 Comments:
I have experienced what you are talking about here. If the candidate keeps his focus on God and follows His leading, God will find a way to use that candidate. This way may include a path around the obstruction but not in a rebellious way. It is when we fear man and follow his systems that we may miss our opportunity to see what God would do with us. Romans 8:31
Terry
Bob,
I know what you mean. Hoops, red tape, and road blocks were some (not all by any means) of the reasons I left Illinois.
Now, in Georgia I see (on paper)a desire to start a church planting movement, but in reality I'm finding the hardest thing being getting a return phone call or a return e-mail.
The "system" wants us to plant churches one way. If you want to be creative and innovative to reach different kinds of people...well...good luck getting anyone's attention.
No surprise that people so frequently break from the system and go on to launch effective, fruitful ministries in association with others who have broken from the system.
I in no way favor rebellion. But sometimes a detour is the only way to the ultimate destination.
So I am not alone, how interesting.
I'm for fighting through the red tape and hoops of a man made system of checks, balances and control. If successful the outcome will be Organic Holy Spirit filled and directed new life and ministry.
Does anyone else long for this? Am I weird or what?
Bill said:
"I in no way favor rebellion."
If that were true, Bill, you'd still be sipping hot British tea and have really bad teeth. =)
I've heard people say, as I have personally in the past, that rebellion is "not of God." Funny, but when I read the Gospels, I see a radical called Jesus rebelling against the system by calling it what it really was/is: sin.
True, Jesus never rebelled against the Law (of Moses) or against the civil authorities (i.e., Romans), but He certainly threw a wrench in the works of the machine of the religious elitists by both His actions and His words.
What I have come to learn is that rebellion, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder and when a beholder has spent his/her life within the confines of the "system," everything that challenges that system is regarded as "rebellion," when in fact it may just the rustling of the Spirit to challenge the status quo and to initiate a return to the simple ways of Jesus and His Church.
I believe that God is for unity...until it gets in His way.
The same is true about "rebellion." We tend to link rebellion with acts of violence, which God cannot condone and which many in Jesus' day were hoping would happen to rid Israel of Roman rule. But rebellion in heart, mind and soul against any system that blantantly misrepresents the character of Jesus and His Church is not only valid but encouraged in Scripture.
Regarding Bob's comments in his post, I find it amazing that we have placed more requirements for "church membership" than Christ does Himself, and yet when we buck those man-made requirements we're viewed as "rebellious."
I say we must follow in the foots of the Master who was both a revolutionary and a rebel, depending on which side of the argument you stood but both of which served God's purposes.
He was/is the "rebelutionary."
Hey Ricky,
You've made some very though-provoking points. Actually...I DO sip english tea...but I have really good teeth. :-)
Honestly, everything you said resonates with me and if I look at it through the lens of your comments here...then yes I condone rebellion against an ungodly system that places people in captivity; like the pharisaical system Jesus rebelled against.
However, I also know that many lost people who ridicule Christianity do so because of the ungodly ways in which we attack and persecute one another, all in name of righteousness. When people rebel against one another over whether to play hymns or praise choruses...that is evil. When people rebel against one another over carpet colors or board positions or the myriad of other stupid things we like to fight about...that is evil and it hinders the work of God among us.
If we are going to rebel and revolt, then we just need to be very sure our rebellion is one in which Christ would find pleasure. We mustn't rebel in a way that does harm to a brother or sister, or brings reproach upon the name of Christ.
Hey guys, Just recently I have concluded that systems of control will never have the offspring of organic ministry.
I do believe jumping through hoops will work. It is time to be radical. Jumping through man's system will produce a modified version of what we already have.
I might add, we do need what we already have.
If we have to go through hoops and systems to be organic it will never result in organic. It looks like Ricky could be right -we need a righteous rebellion.
So you see I am asking myself some very difficult questions.
Hoops,red tape and roadblocks are often labeled accountability. I am also sick of people using the accountability trump card. There is more accountability on a broader scale as an organiz movement holds each other accountable while allowing the organism to grow naturally.
Before we bolt from any established religious organization we must remember that accountability goes both ways. If the hoops are not in the Bible then call them on it. If the red tape does not protect against putting leaders into positions prematurely, then question it. If the road blocks are man made then hold the men who made them accountable. We have a responsibility to God to care for His bride. We should not approach institutions with fear but confront unbiblical leadership wherever we find it. Once you have fulfilled your obligation to confront unbiblical leadership then, when you leave, it will not be rebellion but rather obedience. Jesus did not rebel against the Pharisees. He confronted them with their unbiblical activities. He did not need to rebel - They made it clear where they stood. He made it clear they were not needed for God's work to happen.
I am beginning to think we all have alittle rebel in us...Just read and prove my point.
I still do not like hoops, roadblocks and red tape that keeps God out of things.
Sometimes we are more concerned with our systems that God doesn;t have a chance to work. If that statement were not true -Christianity in America would be booming like Africa, Asis and China..
Thots from the heart! I love you guys.
A "little" rebel in us? I'd say we all have a lot of rebel in us. Some more than others. :)
Mike, there you go again!
Bob said:
"Hoops,red tape and roadblocks are often labeled accountability. I am also sick of people using the accountability trump card. There is more accountability on a broader scale as an organiz movement holds each other accountable while allowing the organism to grow naturally."
I believe that "accountability" is nothing more than an "us over them" mentality that gives more power to a few over many. This has been drilled into us for generations but is not even remotely implied in the New Testament.
What is taught in the NT is "vulnerability," which demands that both the elder and the new convert be completely open and honest with each other, believing that we can learn from each other, regardless of age or spiritual maturity.
This is why I believe that "spiritual authority" is an oxymoron to the Body of Christ, as there is only One who is in authority, that being Christ the Head.
However, when any believer stands upon the truth of the Scriptures and represents the character of Christ in doing so, they are in "authority" at that moment and we should all, regardless of maturity, give heed.
Unfortunately, we assign pseudo-authority to titled, credentialed or educated people in difference to the fact that God's authority is fluid, meaning that all of God's people can be "in authority" at any time and that authority doesn't rest within any one person, save Christ.
Ricky, Maybe I am not crazy afterall when I write about accountability on a greater scale with all in the body of Christ holding each other accountable over the few credentialed and ordained superiors using their man made authority in anon Biblical way.
I choose the God-ordained authority we all have to hold each other accountable in the Body of Christ.
Where did we the church in America lose the New Testament higher standard for all of us.
I want every believer I interact with to hold me accountable to Scriptural Truth NOT the men "chosen" few.
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