If we want to be a transformation bringing church we must understand the paradox and the paradigm of ministry. The paradox confuses us so we end up with the wrong paradigm of ministry. This is the message that Pastor Bart brought us Sunday. It is a message that we often don’t listen to either because we don’t want to or because we really don’t understand. I encourage you to listen to the podcast at flatlandchurch.com.
Acts 19:19-20 [show]Acts 19:19-20 [19]And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. [20]So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. (ESV)
shows the church at Ephasus was a life transforming church.
The paradox
Salvation is a matter of faith, transformation a matter of actions. We can not get the two mixed up. James 2 [show]James 2 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. [2]For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, [3]and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet," [4]have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? [5]Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? [6]But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? [7]Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? [8]If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. [9]But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. [10]For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. [11]For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. [12]So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. [13]For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. [14]What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? [15]If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, [16]and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? [17]So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. [18]But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. [19]You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder! [20]Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? [21]Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? [22]You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; [23]and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"--and he was called a friend of God. [24]You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. [25]And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? [26]For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (ESV)
The paradox is that people think that they can be saved by doing good works but that we are transformed simply by faith.
We can not condem the world and try to force them to follow our “rules” on them thinking that will transform them when it is salvation then transformation.
We also must live transformed lives that the lost are attracted to Christianity. We must not stink it up.
The paradigm
1 Cor 5:12-13 [show]1 Corinthians 5:12-13 [12]For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? [13]God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you." (ESV)
Those that are farthest from God must be shown the most grace. Those closest to God must be the most challenged to live the God focused life. Christians must challange each othe to live right.
Christians and non-Christians are not opponents. We are on the same team opposed to Satan.
Who are God’s customers? The unsaved. He doesn’t get mad at his customers when they act ungodly, he gets mad at his team, his workers, i.e. us when we fail to do what he has called us to do.
We should not judge a person’s salvation by their transformation. There are non-Christians who live good and Christians that don’t live as they should.
This message is one that we all need to hear and live. As Christians we all too often try to force non-Christians to live as if they are following Christ yet we live ourselves according to the world’s standards and lifestyles and not God’s.
We need to love those in the world that they may see Christ. We cannot condem them for what they do nor can we live like them. We need to take on the attitude of Christ (phillipians 2).
We need to be strict with those who call themselves Christians, holding them to the standard that is Christ.
We must hold each other to that higher standard that the world will see that we are different, that we represent something more than what the world offers.
Let us live the Christ like lives that we may be the rain on the parched land.
Quick note: I have been having a lot of small problems with my iPhone app for WordPress, where I keep loosing text, think it is posted when it is not, etc. This post and the next were both really messed up. I am looking for a good replacement.
