From an article by Molong Nacua of the Philippines:
If you really want to check on Jesus life and ministry in the gospels you will find out Jesus never did the same thing twice in the same way. In other words, He wasn’t into techniques but was unpredictable. In our human strength (or perhaps more accurately weaknesses), we try to systematize everything Jesus did. For example, Peter who, after seeing heavenly glory, wanted to build Tabernacles in the mountain where Jesus was transfigured. And not only one, but three!
There’s also the time when Jesus spat on the ground and made clay and put it on a blind man’s eyes and commanded him to wash it in the pool. May I ask those who have a Healing of the Blind Ministry, did Jesus use a clockwise or a counterclockwise motion? Or maybe I will specialize with a Spitting Ministry. Do you want me to spit on you?
Jesus’ life was never structured; He simply obeyed His Father. Singing for 30 minutes may not be worship at all. Worship is obedience to what He called us to be. That is the highest form of worship. It is the expression of our redeemed lives, our way of life. We cannot just put our Lord or His ways into a system.
Churches today are like spiritual machines. Programs are their survival kits. People love to pour their money into the machine to keep it running. But in reality, church life is like a wind: you don’t know where it goes. It is a journey, a daily journey. It cannot be sewn up in the intellect; it must be uncovered during the journey.
I so appreciate Molong’s focus here. Everywhere I go I see people seeking to get the form of church right (even house church) rather than really seeking to re-capture the lifestyle of being the church. I trust that the latter will be the movement we are ultimately part of:
- Daily adventure of listening to and following Jesus
- Becoming the expression of Christ everyday, everywhere
- Filling the earth with His glory
You can download Molong’s entire article here: Download being_church_24_7_molong_nacua.doc
Comments
3 responses to “Being Church 24/7”
It’s interesting that you discourage the practice of “systematizing everything Jesus did”, and yet you encourage something that Jesus did, namely: unpredictability.
Although I agree, it is still interesting. Again, you’re telling us not to systematize Jesus, except for his unpredictability.
You know, although I agree that Jesus was unpredictable and that the church can be a “spiritual machine” at times, sometimes I have to take a second and step back when I hear people purposefully taking aim at the church. For better or worse, the church is still a gathering of believers. Sure, it may be misguided at times, but in the end, when we make such harsh statements about things like “healing ministries” or any church program or ministry, often we forget that these programs and ministries are made up of fellow believers. Maybe I misread the article, but it just kinda seems that a few cheap shots were taken that weren’t needed.
Josh Boldman
http://www.joshboldman.com
You know, although I agree that Jesus was unpredictable and that the church can be a “spiritual machine” at times, sometimes I have to take a second and step back when I hear people purposefully taking aim at the church. For better or worse, the church is still a gathering of believers. Sure, it may be misguided at times, but in the end, when we make such harsh statements about things like “healing ministries” or any church program or ministry, often we forget that these programs and ministries are made up of fellow believers. Maybe I misread the article, but it just kinda seems that a few cheap shots were taken that weren’t needed.
Josh Boldman
http://www.joshboldman.com