Fake boldness and that of true power.

 We returning to the question asked about "why such a lack of authentic power and presence of God is  present in the current culture of technically accurate and well constructed preaching of God's word?"

 I think it is key to distinguish the features of authentic Spirit filled new community dynamics, what missional congregations gathering, scattering, and what the typical preaching within that context shows. 

It appears to me that the culture of our age is to reverse engineer everything rather than go for the organic. It is quicker and easier, less dangerous,  but fake. Instant church and authentic kingdom growth taste nothing like each other. 

For example...

 We all see that there are needs to "plant" many churches. We run working groups to identify locations quickly, prayer cards to publicise the needs widely. We establish courses and set up networks, training and extensive book series on the  identified "25 healthy characteristics of church planting" are beautifully produced. We publish, conference and vlog on all the above extensively ... and in a short concentrated period  out of a growing momentum,  a new generation of people are "mobilised" by the vision (note the vision not necessarily the calling of The SPIRIT ). 

Many church plants are attempted, some in frontier or courageous missional contexts, Yet years after this, I enter such a region to discover that not one of the frontier planters, workers from that movement or pastors have remained in situ for the longterm. What went wrong? Why is there only one guy remaining there? Was it that he cites a personal clear call taking Him from His comfort to give His life to this ? Did the hard yards of living amongst the community relationally for the first decade earn trust and show Christ, as he leant to love the people prior to church  planting many years later. Is this why the church is still going ? Why is this church still growing after 25 years, and reaches such  diverse people groups ? When all those who came in the church planting "movement" are short lived history, could it be that the man God appointed this guy to plant His church? Although untrained, without certification, unique in background, was this mediocre looking unimpressive guy actually the one that God truly called and who has humbly faithfully walked with God in obedience to the mission of God ? 

If I were to put my finger on the main issues (other than tested character,  transparent mentoring, true calling mentioned in the last blog), near top of the list would be the issue of false confidence. 

Meditate on ACTS 4 again: 12-13

 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognised that they had been with Jesus.

There are several obvious (101) things to recognise:

1) Their boldness was relational with Jesus. It was from the reality of who Jesus is, His work in them, their time with Him, and the obvious presence of His Spirit having been gifted to them and living transparently through their lives. Their confidence was not from themselves, from clever technique, well thought out process, a plan "movement", certificated study or from a system that a human boss / denomination/ mission organisation/ inspirational leader had given to them. 

2) Their calling was a relational (personal) one from Jesus, risen ascended and with all authority and power not a systemised one from men. This accompanies all true boldness in The Spirit as we preach. This is so different to the identification of natural or spiritual gifting. It is the knowledge that we are His mouthpiece for such a time as this. 

3) Their boldness came from THE SPIRIT at work through them, as they followed His lead from a place of obedience, fear, trembling and humility. 

4) The surpassing and blinding glory and reality of Jesus shines a light on our ordinariness. True spirit inhabited declaration is accompanied by us looking unimpressive and unnoteworthy (except by  our ordinariness and how unmemorable we are).  

It may seem so obvious, but I think many mistake human confidence (overconfidence)  for Spiritual boldness today. There seems a desire to be noticed even if that is just in reliability to do derivative christian type things well or consistently. 

I will overstate it to make a point more clearly... but it would be along the lines of ...

Scenario 1: The overconfident big / "good name" church with a reliable reputation for bible teaching. 

A full church gathers for their summer morning series. An articulate and well trained communicator is trusted to "perform" in the first of a new set of "studies". Following the band "A" leading worship on the rota, he arrests the room with a great introduction and keeps the room with well rehearsed exegesis. Those who take notes love it, He has great clear points. It seems like all the best commentaries have been percolated into a slick streamline.  He sticks to time - no one in the youth stream or children's ministry will be inconvenienced, whatsoever. He looks at the camera, uses His charm, smile and fresh trim. I'm sure his tan is better than last week. He looks good, has GSOH, though I think I've heard that intro joke before from someone else.  He is so clear. He is easily understood, there are no sidelines, nuances, sensitive moments. difficult applications, uncomfortable challenges. He pushes all the correct buttons and people go away saying what a great exposition of the passage that was, with greater confidence in him as pastor and as a leader of people. Over high quality coffee and cake you can hear "didn't ________ preach well this morning?"

No one goes away with greater clarity on their local mission, greater surrender or intimacy with Christ, being better equipped to share the gospel in their context or those many unreached pockets of society around the main mother church nbuilding. Nothing really has challenged them to a greater sense of God's character, grace, searing work of Holiness, or sense that He is at work amongst the new community for the purposes of winning the lost through their counterculture.  Nothing has changed or been redirected in their local mission or demands fresh dependence for it. Peoples' understanding of their identity and role as " christians" is under the name and programs (very full weekly program) of the church, especially as holiday club comes up for the children. However  not much if anything has been said about us as people of Christ placed in His global mission.  True surrender to Christ is counted as signing up on the many rotas that are in need of new people and for holiday club (which has now proudly run for the last 48 years without a break). There is no prophetic understanding of what they have been called to right now. It is as if the world has not changed recently or within our span. There is no mention of any other context or partnership in mission, but that boxed was ticked. After all we did interview "our mission partner" up the front between the 3rd and 4th song (which was a special new song for mission which shows how serious we are about keeping mission on the agenda). No-one can have anything other than a clear sense that this church is "on mission" and rededicated to him, after all we discussed it at the gift day and members meeting. Some wonder however why that specific individual is still being supported after 18 years without a clear strategy, much mission drift and what the nature of their relationship with the church truly is.  

 What the church have been called to at this specific time was referred to as the same as mentioned at the members meeting. Nothing changes for His Kingdom at this time. The situation is neat and under control. We're not sure why the church supports the mission partners they do other than they have strong family and organisational connections. We sure are faithful though. Some young people have gone on short term mission with an organisation that will take anyone (as long as they raise the cash), so that's good.  They will come back with a lifetime passion for "mission". I think they're having a great time, looked like especially from the video they showed, with their tracking and absailing up the mountains. 

 People go home for a great Sunday in the Sunshine with family. There is no evening "service". Put simply the church name/ man is too big in his own eyes / the congregations eyes, for the Lord to be truly heard, but the people are so happy that they are "Christians". As the song says "it is well with my soul" (that was sung so well by the way). They spend the rest of their Sunday being "refreshed" by BBQ's. binge watching Netflix, sport and a well earned snooze. This helps to be ready for Monday morning and the reality of work. At Monday morning church staff team, the next OOS for next Sunday is discussed. 

Scenario 2: The overconfident big organisation.

A large network has been built, it needs capable people and "big hitters" at "the top" to lead and "direct". They are put in place on the basis of their charisma, natural organisational gifting or exceptional qualifications / training. They lead pastors and churches, mission networks. We must respect them - what a huge responsibility. The one preaching and leading strategically, centre of online communication has never been in local pastoral ministry, served the hard yards, had the edges knocked off, but he is so articulate and engaging. They say he is gifted, but that gifting of strategic missional leadership, equipping God/s people for works of service,  pastoral integrity under hardship that everyone cites has never been truly tested in a local congregation. He shot up the ranks very quickly. He says the right phrases and He won't disturb the equilibrium. 

 He explains how the whole network will win the nation with passion, and how the network is setup for success, what has been accomplished this year. People fall into line for fear of being known as the one who upset the apple cart / became the squeaky wheel of negativity. So many are afraid of stating the blooming obvious, and what so many are thinking / articulating privately. The majority are not yet convinced and have not been for many years that this is indeed God's direction. We seem to have lost touch relationally with those who function effectively as a "head" office. Title and function/ influence seem to be be two entirely different things in this circumstance. The confidence here is not founded in the unity, presence and leadership of The Spirit, the interconnected deep fellowship of His people, but a human mechanism which has commendable and noble intensions, in an age of small things and marginalised christianity. 

Scenario 3: The overconfident graduate.

He's completed his three or four years. It was monster expensive, but his church paid the price of hundreds of thousands to make it happen. They did it because they love to be known for training men for ministry. The syllabus was awesome, the names teaching so well known and widely published. The course concentrated on excellence in exegesis and communication. During that time he did internships in various places (especially the safe ones) to "practice" preaching and pastoral ministry. 

Now in his first appointment he has moved to a place of "natural" synergy for his background and academic ability. His young wife is thrilled with this lovely place to live, healthy church congregation and the comfortable salary which helps them get started and think about raising a family. Everything seems to be in place... yet no trials have yet come to test character, no mentors have anything near an ongoing scrutiny of integrity, watch over his life and doctrine. In fact he has very few "friends", no true unguarded knowledge of the private walk of this believer is known by those closest to him.  He comes from good stock so that should be enough. 

The team and culture he moves to do not hold to healthy mutual accountability. Each have their clear role and try not to upset that.  There has been no true discussion of the missional calling and context of this congregation, who it is failing to reach/ connect with, who it is sending to frontier mission, who the leadership are out of their comfort zone for. The aim and priority is simply to be "faithful" to the preaching of God's word (to win the confidence of the congregation), but there has been no discussion on what it means to be faithful in all areas, or what defines being faithful in biblical terms. This is especially true when it comes to the issue of God's global and local mission, and training for that. The congregation like this guy, his grandad would be so proud. He preaches His first "full Sunday" with us today. What do you expect his message will be ?

The opposite of human over confidence is humility to bow in total surrender before The LORD.

 "if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.  Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.  For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.  And as for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my rules,  then I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to rule Israel.’  

2 Ch 7:14–18.

Some obvious statements:

1) We see the glorious work of God at work when we are intentionally small. 

2) Previous generational walk with God is no guarantee of the next. It requires fresh humility and dependence. 

3) Our confidence needs to be in what He wants to establish alone and His ability to do it.

4) God's plan and eternal purposes are so much wider, bigger, more successful than anything we could ever dream up. His plan is for all generations, his perspective is greater. 

We need to scrap our small minded, human driven instincts. 

5) The presence of God at work starts with one of us bowing the knee in true humility, and then a true movement of others that then join into a state of humility, submission and walking with God. 

6) His name alone is in focus and at stake. Nothing else, no one else, no system, movement or structure can share His glory or matters at all. 

7) The mission of God is in no way defined by what we see as our mission. How arrogant, presumptuous and overconfident to assume that our plans are the ones that THE RISEN CHRIST should adopt?

   Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Phil 2:9-12