Taking or Giving Life?
In his comment on the last post, Davey really nailed it when he described his experience as a young believer in the hierarchical structure of the traditional church. He refers to the diminishing of life as one continues in the institutional religious system. Too many believers are unaware of what happens in this religious system.
The system is a parasite that sucks the life out of its host, in this case, the people of God called "the church". This religious system relies on the God-breathed life within the believers to perpetuate itself. The result is a strengthening of the system and a weakening of God's people. Their energy is spent serving the system, not in serving God. Yet many are deluded into thinking they're serving God because they are involved with serving the church's programs in some capacity. Certainly God can lead people to serve him in the institutional church, but too often people are only filling a need that the system has in order for it to function effectively.
More and more people are waking up to the fact that the system is demanding, having no regard for the welfare of the people. Sacrifice is demanded for the system under the guise of giving oneself in service to God. Many who have dropped out of the system are discovering the freedom and vitality of life in the kingdom of God, which the system prevented them from more fully knowing. They are realizing there is life outside of the religious system that is far more exhilarating than anything the system has to offer. In fact, as any parasite, the system doesn't give life, it only takes life, harming those it lives off of.
Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and have it abundantly." This life is marked by authentic relationships with God and one's fellowmen, something the religious system can't provide in its impersonal organizational structure. But the life of the kingdom originates in relationship and is manifested through relationship. Davey alludes to this as he shares his experience about sharing at the nursing home. What he is experiencing there is genuine and life giving as he gives of himself, free of the baggage of obligation that the religious system saddles its participants with.
"...Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
The system is a parasite that sucks the life out of its host, in this case, the people of God called "the church". This religious system relies on the God-breathed life within the believers to perpetuate itself. The result is a strengthening of the system and a weakening of God's people. Their energy is spent serving the system, not in serving God. Yet many are deluded into thinking they're serving God because they are involved with serving the church's programs in some capacity. Certainly God can lead people to serve him in the institutional church, but too often people are only filling a need that the system has in order for it to function effectively.
More and more people are waking up to the fact that the system is demanding, having no regard for the welfare of the people. Sacrifice is demanded for the system under the guise of giving oneself in service to God. Many who have dropped out of the system are discovering the freedom and vitality of life in the kingdom of God, which the system prevented them from more fully knowing. They are realizing there is life outside of the religious system that is far more exhilarating than anything the system has to offer. In fact, as any parasite, the system doesn't give life, it only takes life, harming those it lives off of.
Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and have it abundantly." This life is marked by authentic relationships with God and one's fellowmen, something the religious system can't provide in its impersonal organizational structure. But the life of the kingdom originates in relationship and is manifested through relationship. Davey alludes to this as he shares his experience about sharing at the nursing home. What he is experiencing there is genuine and life giving as he gives of himself, free of the baggage of obligation that the religious system saddles its participants with.
"...Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty" Wow! What beautiful words. When i think about how bound up I was struggling through the various religious systems. The way out of that bondage is so difficult while in hindsight the way in was so easy.
I never imagined nor understood the weight that I was carrying. It's hard to feel free when you are so weighted down. There doesn't seem like there is anything left to give because the life that I once had in Jesus seemed like a distant memory.
Carm, there is a lot of work that needs done to bring people back to full recovery. I know this much. I have drastically under-estimated the affect that the religious system had on me because I wanted to take on most of the responsibility for what was happening to me.
I think maybe that too much time is spent on critiquing the institutional church and not enough time helping those hurt by the system to regain their life in Jesus.
Just a thought!
Davey B
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Davey, you're right. No need to critique the institutional church because it isn't going to change. It's people who need care, not the system.
When people are touched by the love of Jesus they'll experience the difference between the genuine dimension of the Spirit and the mechanics of the institution. There'll be no need to critique the institution.
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Carm,
I don't want to change the direction that the Lord is leading you because your topics are so thought provoking but could we just concentrate a bit on "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty" What does that actually mean to all of us? It seems that so many of us have been in some kind of deceptive captivity and are really bound up and not able to freely give and serve. When you posted those words, they immediately aroused my spirit and took me to a better place and time. The excitement that comes with true liberation is something to behold. The thing that I remember most about the liberating power of the Spirit is that I no longer had thoughts for myself. Once I got Davey Buhl out of the way a whole lot of great stuff would happen.
I say let's drink together at that well once again!
Davey Buhl
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Hey Carman,
You are really stirring things up here on your blog. I told you that you are a trouble maker. I was wondering which post to respond to, this one or the preceding. I'll choose this one. Your right, the system is parasitic. Many who have escaped feel as if they barely got out by the skin of their teeth. I recently did a post on Simple Church and someone wrote very defensive about their church. Wayne and Brad over at The God Journey recently did a program entitled, "Principles Alone will Fail You". I think this is the real issue, are we following Jesus or a man made system. Keep posting brother.
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Hey Jim, my partner in crime, thanks for the comment. You nailed it when saying that the real issue deals with the principles of the system as opposed to Jesus. Isn't it interesting how we can become committed to an impersonal system? Sad to say that this is where too many draw their identity from, thus becoming defensive when they hear anything negative about the system because they then perceive it as an attack on them.
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I've gone "off the grid" for a while so in returning I say AMEN to about all of the last two posts. I really don't have anything to contribute beside that.
But I have enjoyed lurking about the edges here.
Regards,
Mark
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Mark, welcome back!
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