We want to be different, without this clarity the church does not grow.

 Hi Friends,

An encouragement to pray for some persecuted friends and to learn from their distinctiveness in following Christ. 

Two things came together for me this weekend. A clear word in our church plant context from one of the pastors preaching on 1 Sam 8-11 and some much awaited news of persecuted church in a frontier context. Sometimes we can read too much into circumstances colliding, other times we can miss God speak through what He does as well as what He instructs. An over academic approach can sometimes miss the bloomin obvious (theological phrase). God is so patient with us. 

Both are summed up by Romans 12:2, I make no apology for repeating it as it what God seems to be pointing me to so often in this season. 

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

In 1 Sam the issue is that the people of God wanted a King "like all the other nations". (1 Sam 8:20). Their issue wasn't actually that they wanted a King. Wanting Godly, clear leadership is a univeral passion that comes from the law of creation and our image bearing of God which hungers for fruitfulness (Gen 1:21, 9:1, 17:6) . No, the issue was that they wanted the same life as those who didn't want God. Therefore their cry was a personal rejection of God relationally, all He had done for them, and all of His wisdom to be LORD and protector over them. It was a passion that would do them no good. It was a retrograde step back to the land of slavery, bitterness and hardship (EX 1:13-14) from which He had rescued them, a desire to return to sin (as proverbs 26:11 so graffically states it). 

When the enemy comes to God's people he has a well trodden tactic, to show us what we don't need and does us no good, but to make us think that we are missing out by not having it. "Look what you could've won if you ran your own lives without God." It is a wide path as old as the hills (Gen 3:1) which leads to incomprehensible tragic consequences and destruction.

So back to the persecuted church. Saved from physical slavery, poor families and believers in their early days of faith  pooled their small savings from hard work in street businesses to build a small building for God's people to meet. As they saw God bless both with finances and new believers being added daily (Acts 2:47), a new row of bricks was placed to window level in the baking hot sun. Simultaneously a local mob of persecuters came, angered by this new venture of love, and destroyed what they had built, (well, physically anyway). We have been praying for them. I asked them "how they you doing?"

Their response was... "we want to show that we are different to those around us, that God lives in this community". "We have started to be much more open, and started to meet again together regularly". "We are very bold now, but we know our boldness does not come from us. We are ready to die for Jesus, it is what we agreed to when we accepted Him. Our churches are growing in THE LORD. We know these things come together. " The Pastor said "We are teaching them about strong relationships with our LORD and saviour, we appreciate your concern, love and prayers."

A BIBLICAL MANDATE TO BE DIFFERENT.

Living under the divine Spirit Himself has always followed the same pattern. (Gen 17:6, 15, 11, Numbers 41:17. Deut 17:14-20, Judges 8:23, 9:22, 1 Sam 2:10, 3:35). His governance brings fruitfulness and multiplication from distinctive seperation and consecration. His way brings freedom from Sin. His way is countercultural, He gives wisdom and He shines a light to all nations, communities and people groups who live under self rule. He does it through His people showing that we are different in a good way, that there are clearl lines for those who belong to Him, that there is a permament security not in this world, grace for the weak, an imperishable crown which has beaten Sin, Death and Satan, a life of joy and privilege. 

This is what we have in Christ. Nothing in this world compares to our Holy God.

A CHURCH WHICH WILL STICK OUT, and stick to that pattern.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. 

If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

1 John 2:15

My fear is that the synchronistic approach of the Western world, to be impressive in its church and christian structures, management, resources, branding, webcasting and (most of all) characteristics of leadership, can look no different than anything else on offer in our broken world. First we love what the world has, (status, comfort, the adulation of others rather than God) and then we conform and synchronise. 

Conversely God uses simplicity and humility to shame human wisdom (1 Cor 1:27). He uses our considered rejection of the world, which brings rejection and shame from the scorn of others (in the pattern of the cross) but in this pattern He lives in us,  shows others that He lives in us, that He brings life itself from our death to self. Our God saves us from ourselves. 

He uses our patient dependance on Him and repentance of foolish ways, to illuminate the hearts of others to see eternal realities and that in those who follow Christ a better day is to come. The church always goes wrong when it wants to build utopia on earth, or turn earthly treasure into heavenly pleasure rather than waiting for His heaven, His presence, His timing. We are not Babel or Babylon making an name great for ourselves. This world will pass, but what will not be destroyed is everything invested in Him.(1 Cor 3:12-13).

 What matters most are not our bricks and mortar, but hearts given over 100% to His Lordship, lives ready to go His way and stick out to be different this side of eternity as we grow in all the fullness He has for us. 

This is liberty. You can live differently. You and I can live in the full joy and freedom of being different for Him, and as we do He will bless our lives with others coming to know Him and eternal joy in His presence. 

Sometimes He calls us through difficulties and sufferring to a place of such clarity that we sing with Joy... "All I have is Christ, Jesus is my life".

In that place, with that clarity, and His perspective, we have everything.