The Jesus Way Vs The American Way Series

We were created to be spiritually ruled, the church is to be spiritually ruled, and there are two choices as stated by Paul in the Book of Romans. Be slaves of Satan, or the Spirit of God. You see, we think we’re free and ruled by no one, that’s what the unbelieving Jews thought too, but the truth is that that is impossible because of how we were created. We will be conformed to either Satan and the world, or Christ, and obviously depending on the area of our life it may be a back and forth combination.

What I have learned is that the process of sanctification and discipleship is simply getting back to the image of God that we were created to be. And royal rule is very much the primary image of God, so that our purpose in reflecting God’s image is in essence to reflect God’s rule, over our lives, over our churches, and over this world. When someone sees a child of God they should see that God is in charge. So I ask you, is that what someone sees when they look at you or our church? Not that you rule, but that God does.

So, if that’s the case, what is the first most logical thing a person has to do when they become a Christian? Submit to Christ, and allow Him through his Spirit to transform you back into His image, and to come back under His rule. Now rule is the primary image, but there are many other character traits of God that we are also to reflect, like love and mercy.

But we live in a culture that puts self first, and says that whatever you have to do to accomplish something is acceptable if it accomplishes the goal. Whatever the means, it’s Ok if you get what you want. We call it opportunity. The Prophets of old warned God’s people all the time of making their religion their own kind of religion rather than doing it as God commands.

Think of Uzzah in 1 Chronicles. He loved Israel, he loved the Holy Ark of the covenant.

The oxen carrying it stumbled and Uzzah does what he thought was a good thing by reaching his hand out to steady the Ark, but because God said no one was to touch it that way, he was struck dead on the spot. Now that makes me angry, why would God do that?

King David was angry and afraid too, but it shows that ends do not justify the means in terms of God’s commands. We are to do church, and worship, and live our Christian lives as he has instructed, not as we would like.

Someone has called this the “purification of the means”. I think this is important. We are not involved in our work with the help of God, we are involved in His work, to be done His way. Not just because he demands obedience, but because His way will be most effective. “What would Jesus do” is not the only question to ask, but we need to also ask how would he do it. We can’t pick our way and expect God to come along and bless it, we must go where God leads, it is His kingdom after all.

God’s people can no longer uncritically go along with the ways of our culture that seem to be effective primarily in pleasing people and growing numbers through popularity. Whatever apparent success we create will end up being a curse if we don’t do it God’s way. Many consumer oriented churches are finding this out now, and scrambling to find a way to change the culture of the church while still staying alive. Because like I said before when Jesus gives us the truth, many fans will leave. Getting things done, getting results other than creating true disciples, was never the intention of Christ or his church, but that is what our culture instils in us. What is consumer success, more people more sales.