"Deification" (Boldness, failure, and other amazing features).
Waking the dead, or just disturbing the neighbours?
What is it 'we're about' in respect to our message and our living?
Hero's might prove helpful when they're in books or shows, but when we venerate ourselves or others in a fashion that actually blocks out the radiance of what is singularly bestowed through the Gospel, we end up in the 'how to' section of the bookstore, which may be good for fixing a dripping tap, but not so much when it comes to living 'within the means' of what we actually have.
There's a good reason why living hero's are usually bad news - they, like us, will prove to be shot-through with sin, so unless you're dealing with someone being ruthlessly honest about that, the chances are they will seek to delude and beguile you about themselves. Scripture isn't going to leave us in any doubt that even the best men will fail, often constantly, hence the underlying reason for the Incarnation.
We were made to thrive through the employment of inherent gifts expressed in the free use of these, and the appearance of Christ as man states God's total commitment to seeing that status renewed for us. We really miss helping each other when that vital reality is not informing what we're about - the rules have been broken, but the crucial drama is still in effect, and is going to fully unfold.
It's because of this that we have to be careful - considerate - about our worship.
We currently have a propensity to venerate people and objects in a manner that can prove to be absolute, and thereby, fatal. A good example in Christendom would be how people and principles can be deemed unquestionable even when it becomes clear that individuals are using such to actually violate and abuse others. These acts are often terrible enough, but what is equally as shocking to witness is how some will continue to esteem those responsible for such evils, even after there is clear evidence that they are guilty of such deeds. This manner of manipulation can happen at a group as well as an individual level, and it often takes a great deal to renounce such corruption due to the loyalty invested in particular people or schemes.
Husbands, Wives, Ministers and others in key roles can lead to enormous destruction when they employ their authority to do harm. One of the clearest places we witness the poignancy of cruelty is when such manipulation is made public.
When we are placed into a situation where we are being expected to give all or part of ourselves to another in a fashion which is highly invasive and requires an unprecedented level of obedience via excessive access and control, which is taking place purely because of the stated 'doctrine' (order) that this is a unquestionable requirement, we must ask why we should relent to the overbearing command of someone as fallen as ourselves!
Irresponsibility of this fashion doesn't happen by accident. David fell into his own pit of extraordinary immorality at the very moment he relented his proper role and responsibility to become caught by the evil of his own nature. What had been gifted to him then becomes a vehicle of terrible wickedness. Such steps are tragically common to the manner in which manipulative abuse takes over from a genuine implementation of profitable use of our gifts and callings.
Abuses of this kind often create another trouble. We encounter a realm where abuse is employed, and we are thereby placed in a condition that makes us, quite rightly, highly suspicious of anyone then seeking to impress any manner of authority with respect to us.
Learning to appreciate, even respect godly authority can be an extremely difficult journey. Submission in the faith is principally about, as Paul counsels, yeilding to that which genuinely refreshes us in soul and spirit (1 Corinthians 16:18) - teaching and ministry which genuinely edifies us in our faith. If we are to be 'Christ-like' to one another, that manner of care and graciousness must be foundational to our times together (Galatians 6:1-3). To determine our fellowship and communion by any other criteria is totally foolish.
One of the most telling hallmarks of such troubles is what issues can be freely raised and questioned in the church - that is, in respect to the Christian community in the whole. If a "problem" arises in respect to the church's relationship to a teaching or practice in the faith or the wider society, just how easy is it to examine this together, and adjust, if necessary, accordingly?
We can maintain truth and rest easy concerning authority when said authority allows itself to be tested and proven by being able to face the actual challenges raised by an issue. If the truth concerning the ramifications of particular events becomes avoided, or even suppressed, then we should be genuinely concerned to the point of action, whatever that may entail. Paul himself applies this essential approach when dealing with the circumcision issue - an abusing attempt to force the imposition of law which abolished the essential role and expression of God's sovereign grace.
When the church believes it can project itself as 'more spiritual' by seeking to avoid particular troubles, you can be certain that the consequences will come home to roost. When we avoid proper examination and understanding of what is before us, there will be dire consequences.
Christian ministry is at its best when done by those who usually, through experience, know their limitations and do not seek to set themselves above these. It's only when we so know ourselves that we can considerately behave and advise to benefit one another - taking that responsibility seriously can be vital in respects to seeing actual health amongst us. We "dei-ify" others to our very real cost. It also damns them, because if they choose to believe such an exaltation, they will almost certainly become impervious to correction.
Maturity in faith can only begin to be nurtured when these lessons are truly taken on board. What makes us well and a blessing is what we receive - aside from that, we often prove ourselves to be too easily tripped by our own confidence in what we assume to be so... Only the genuinely repentant, noted one missionary, has something to actually teach us. Deception opens the freeway of pride, and blinds us to the wreck that our arrogant folly is accelerating us towards.
If we invest ourselves into the unrealistic virtues deemed to be those of a leader, we can suddenly land hard amidst the debris of finding such a person was not fit for such a deep investment. Service to each other is often highly costly, because we have to deal with the 'real' person, both in regards to what is demanded in respect to giving and in how we often want to 'naturally' respond. This is why the character of God is often defined as being evident by patience and kindness, so often entirely undeserved!
We should never, ever assume what we see in a person for an hour on a Sunday is the actual picture of who and what they are. The truth remains that each and every one of us is a company marked by sin and deserving of judgement, but God remarkably loves us. You wouldn't have to drill very deep in most of us to find evidence of the first truth - church exists to call us to the wonder of the second.
One of the most common statements often made about church attendance is that someone won't or wouldn't attend because they "didn't feel themselves to be good enough". If Christianity becomes something that merely conveys an unobtainable standard to others, rather than mercy to all, we may as well close the doors. We are, in truth, entirely unqualified to participate in the wonder - all we bring, as Luther noted, is our hostility and unbelief.
People can be exceptionally good at isolating other people, either by setting themselves far too high, or looking upon others as undesirable. The real answer to both these errors is to have leaders who truly lower themselves to live alongside the weakest and the least and, from there, seek to raise these troubled souls into the beauty of the character of saving work of Jesus Christ.
Not one of us can carry the magnitude of status God placed upon our race unless Christ is before, behind, around, in, below and above us and our fellow workers along side and assisting us in knowing and sharing this, especially when we fail. Command requires accountability - two will always be better than one, notes Solomon, and our service is stronger when it resembles a 'three fold chord' that cannot easily become untied.
The first problem in so many troubles is us - we, in effect, have to begin by getting out of the way, so others may be made free to grow and thrive with us, not in spite of us.
This requires certain forms of encouragement are always in use amongst us -
Teaching and preaching must always be open to full examination and questioning.
Arrogance and the like should never hold sway in any guise.
Always by open to genuine and necessary correction.
"Moral" and "Ethical" matters should be examined properly and well in respects to our genuine understanding of each other.
Don't be afraid to prove everything and to hold to what is truly good.
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