Present practices, both in the world and in the church are both counter-productive and futile for those who are commissioned to disciple the nations (plural). We can pretty-well “read” one another by observing which brand of media people are addicted to and with whom we invest our time and lives.
These human characteristics may reveal just how much we lean on our own understanding and find our security in what we believe–neither practice being “Christian.” The new creation is to trust in the Lord with all our hearts. We are to acknowledge Him in all of our ways, and He will make our paths straight. Our security is to be found in relationship with Him, not in what we’ve been taught to believe about Him.
We needn’t be afraid to be vulnerable by treating those who differ with us as fellows. They are no more deceived or damaged than those who believe the same intellectually comprehendible concepts that we believe. The very fact that we would shrink back from relating to those whose understandings are different illustrates the depth of our own deceit and damage. If we were not deceived and damaged, we would not lean on our own understanding or find our security in what we believe.
We would be set free by the Truth found in a Person. Whom the Son of man has set free is free indeed! We would be able to freely love even our enemies and honor all men. We would be inclusive rather than exclusive. We would be ambassadors for reconciliation with God and with one another. The world would see our oneness and believe that God indeed did send His Son because He loves them.
My prayer is that you would repent of denominational and party preferences and act like you believe that the kingdom to which you belong is not of this world. It’s past time for us to set our minds on things above and to become parts of the solution. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. As you go, preach, saying “the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.
Apostle Don Atkin
donatkin1954@gmail.com