Cross Purposes

I've called this blog "Cross Purposes" for two reasons. First, that everything here is about Jesus Christ, the crucified King. His cross, and His rule, are the only reason, context, wisdom, glory, purpose here.

The experience of living has convinced me in every way that Jesus is the only Source of life, and its whole purpose. That realization is a result of faith He's imparted, not of my own clever observation and deduction. But I consider that faith has been confirmed to my understanding. At every point I observe or experience, to every extent I can understand, Jesus is manifestly Lord.

But it's not just "me and Jesus," as Tom T. Hall sang. Every believer is a functioning part of His living Body on earth, the Church. We are interdependent with every other part of that Body, and each of us dependent for life and leading on Jesus, our Head. The operative fact of Christianity is being part of something larger and more important than ourselves.

By the circumstance of birth, I live in Christ's Body in America, so my concern is that His American Church follow Jesus' leading, and glorify Him in this land. It grieves me that we do not. The American Church has forsaken the leading of Jesus to follow political deceivers. Jesus said His sheep would hear His voice: the American Church instead listens to, and APPROVES, the hateful slander of radio "commentators." Jesus harshly denounced the socio-religious conservatives of His time, the Pharisees; the American Church embraces and identifies with those of our time. Jesus appointed us to minister His hope and His peace in our land; we go forth as "culture warriors," spreading condemnation and divisiveness, in His name !

What I hear God saying relentlessly and continuously to the American Church is "REPENT, and return to your First Love." It's a message that's not welcome in the politicized American Church. Giving that message puts me at cross-purposes with many of my fellow Christians.

But the message is GOOD news. Jesus hasn't given up on us. As far as we've departed from Him, He still holds out the possibility that we can turn from our wicked ways, and seek His face. If we will, He still promises to forgive our sin, and heal our land.

My hope is that the American Church will DEEPLY repent, while God gives us time. I hope we will listen to our Shepherd's voice, and only follow Him. I hope we will turn back to Him with all our heart: He's merciful to those whose hearts are entirely His.

Advisory

I have serious reservations about the value of blogs. It's amazing that we can broadcast our every thought and opinion to the entire world. But the value of that ability depends on whether or not we have anything to say worth hearing. Some do: but vastly more blogging seems merely self-indulgent spews of teen angst, ditto-head regurgitation, and sports trivialities.

I think that's a factual summary, and not elitist disparagement. I'm a middle-aged, middle-class, Middle American. I'm sure those circumstances influence the way I see things, and even what things I'm able to see. Nobody's simply a product of his environment; but it would be disingenuous to deny its pervasive influence. Mine is decidedly ordinary, even dull: nothing "elite" in any sense.

I have further reservations about the democratic principle underlying blogs, that every person's opinion matters. That's certainly true in a personal sense: the ideas we operate on absolutely determine what WE become. I'm skeptical the principle has any larger application. Reality is what it is, and our opinions about it...mine included...don't make any difference. The will...not "opinion"...of the One who created and sustains it is the only relevant fact.

Since I consider blogs of limited value, and doubt that opinions matter, it's fair to ask why I would write a blog; and a better question why anyone should read it. The short answer is that sometimes God gives me something to say, and I say it.

Some people find it presumptuous to say I have the gift of prophecy. But scripture says all may prophesy; indeed, urges us to earnestly desire to prophesy. I desired that gift, and asked for it. God gave it to me. My understanding is that the charismata ("grace gift") of prophecy, like all charismata, is given to build up Christ's Body, the Church. I don't consider the gift is for me, or that it says anything about me except that I believed God, and was willing to receive what He was pleased to give.

For those who don't believe God still gives charismata, it would be a waste of time to read any further. I'd urge you to seriously re-think what you believe God can or will do. In the meantime, you probably shouldn't expect to hear anything here from God if your theology says He isn't speaking in prophecy anymore.

For everyone else, the scriptural command applies. My job is to hear what God is telling me to say, and say it. But I don't always hear, or say what I hear, perfectly: and sometimes my voice is ONLY my voice. It's wisdom, and a scriptural command, that we discern God's voice: when God is speaking, His Spirit will attest His words to your understanding. The scriptural command applies here, and in every other part of life: discern what God says, and do what God says.