Conservative Vs. Non-Conservative Christianity

There has been division among many churches in an argument based on how they should worship.

The Conservative View: The Church itself is pure and holy, instituted by God (true). We should preserve tradition (such as liturgy and the way services are organized) in order to maintain Christian continuity throughout the ages (making it so that we do the same things that our ancestors have done before us).

In this way, the church itself has been placed on a pedestal. It seems the focus has been moved from who we are worshiping to being more concerned with how we are worshiping. Unlike many Eastern religions that focus on what we do instead of what we believe, Christianity has always been meant to focus on our belief in Jesus Christ as part of the holy Triune God our actions are meant to stem from our beliefs (James 2:14-26 and Titus 3:1-11).

Instead of loving and caring for the church. Much like this picture of Snow White in a glass coffin, we have set the church up to preserve and worship her. Instead of helping her grow and flourish, we have been concerned with keeping her same, pure, and mint. This makes the "private practice of that religion a quite intolerable burden" (C. S. Lewis' Surprised by Joy Chapter IV). Now matter how hard we try as man to worship perfectly, it remains impossible. Only by grace are we able to worship to God in a way that is pleasing to Him.

I can see how many people are more comfortable this way. Keeping the church like an old friend, the same way she ever was and ever will be. Yet, in that way the church becomes more of the idea of your old friend than the actual friend (see C. S. Lewis' A Grief Observed Chapter Two). It's more healthy to be a part of your friend's daily life, learning and growing with them instead of hoping to keep them the same.

The Non-Conservative View: The Church itself is pure and holy, instituted by God (true). We are also to reach into the world to grow. Our main focus is to save peoples' souls here on Earth. The church may be able to change in some ways to do this.

This view focuses more on Christian outreach. They are the super-heroes and the world is the damsel in distress, the only way to save her is to help her believe. To do this they become self-sacrificing. The focus has seemed to move from focusing on worshiping God to focusing on saving others. This comes with a cost. The self-sacrifice may include accepting unrighteous beliefs like allowing homosexuality or adultery, the church may accidently lose itself in order to appease the world. This goes against Romans 12:2 where we are taught not to conform to this world, but be transformed by Christ (just as this world must be transformed by Christ in order to be saved, not by our own doings as Evangelists but through the power of the Holy Spirit.)

Like the chameleon in this picture, the church is willing to do almost anything in order to win over the world's hearts for God. It is true that we are called to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." Matthew 28:19. But we cannot have that take priority over caring for the Church itself. We cannot love the idea of saving the world more than we love God himself (1 John 2:15). As the Church attempts to reach into the world she cannot lose her own identity. Then she may end up just being another part of the world instead of a part of God.

The Paradox: The Church itself is pure and holy, instituted by God (true). We are both to reach into the world and stay apart from the world. Just as Moses named his son Gershom because he was a sojourner in a strange land (Exodus 2:22), we are also sojourners to this world. At the same time we are called to "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." Mark 16:15.

In many instances, the church is a paradox. We are sinners but God makes us saints. We deserved to be damned but God brings salvation (for more on the Christian Paradox check out G. K. Chesterton's book: Orthodoxy). In this same way the church is both to stay the same and continue to change. Here are two constants in life: God and Change. God gives change, who are we to say that He cannot work with it?

Instead of preserving the church like some precious doll and instead of chasing after the world like a girl who stole your heart. We should live with the church in a good relationship. That's what the Song of Solomon's all about. This is supposed to be a healthy, living relationship. It's not dead like Snow White and it's not something we chase after like the world, the church is a relationship we have right now. We are to care for her and look after her, at the same time she is such a wonderful bride that we also want everyone else to meet her. Like an admirable person, we know the church is (at least meant to be) loving and caring, she has good advice and direction, we would want all of our other friend to be able to meet her and come to her when they need her too instead of solely keeping her to ourselves like some sort of Stockholm victim.

Concerning the continuity of the church through-out the ages: The church, like a person, can never stay the same. As with everything that is alive (except perhaps the Word of God), the church changes. The church had met in homes at first under heavy persecution, for a long time the church worshiped the pope, the church reformed, the church moved geographically, and perhaps most importantly the church grew. The church is healthy and alive, she is active. Yet, we can still say that by the grace of God we do still have continuity with all believers. It is not continuity through liturgy or certain prayers or location or order of service, it is continuity through Christ. Jesus is the only means that we can be saved and united, there are no ways that man can unite us on his own. No matter how the service is formed, Conservative or Non-Conservative, as long as the church is alive and healthy worshiping her husband, Jesus Christ, then we are safe. It does not matter so much how we worship as to who we worship and if by grace we worship God then He will know us. "I know my own and my own know me." John 10:14

Lloyd John Ogilvie

“Sometimes the Lord rides out the storm with us and other times He calms the restless sea around us. Most of all, He calms the storm inside us in our deepest inner soul.”

Lloyd John Ogilvie was once a Presbyterian Chaplain to the United States Senate. I didn't know that this position existed until recently. It seems like a great idea, but one of the requirements is the ability to be open to different religions' clergy hosting once in a while. Even though I'm proud this position exists, it's too political for me personally and it's a shame that there has been only one Lutheran in the position (though, I can see why most Lutheran Pastors would probably turn down the job).

More info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaplain_of_the_United_States_Senate

Prepare Your Knees for the Coming Battles

In Kneeling We Surrender, In Prayer We Conquer

There are events like Easter and Christmas and hopefully every Sunday, when we worship and praise the Lord in our churches, in large evangelistic crusades, or even in citywide marches. When a small number or a multitude of Christians congregate in prayer, they give voice and allegiance to the God of the universe. Those are the times when the enemy shudders. The people of God do more damage to the domain of the enemy, not standing in defiance, but kneeling in obedience. It was once said, “Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his or her knees.”

Therefore, let’s do everything we can to become a threat to the enemy. It seems that in the worship experience, it’s not simply a group of people saying and singing some nice sounding things. We are, in reality, making a corporate statement to the universe concerning whose side we’re on. The communication of our loyalty is not only among us and to God alone, but it is broadcasted to Beelzebul as well. When the scriptures indicate that angels long to look at what has been revealed to the saints, it not only refers to God’s angels but also to the fallen angels. They too wonder when things are going to break. They don’t know the future because they’re not omniscient. They don’t know when God will finally make all things right. They don’t know when their end will come or when Jesus Christ will return. So their dark days are doomed from the start and this gets the demonic forces very shaky.

The satanic kingdom has got to be the most frustrated kingdom in all history. It could never win. They may steal a fleeting victory here and there, but they could never conquer us. Every time a soul is saved, they lose. Every time a demon gets cast out, they lose. Every time God is praised, they lose. Let’s make sure they lose more often. Every time we pray over our home and church and exult the Lord, pray over our children and church members, dedicate our children or baptize new believers, they lose. The more they lose the better it is for all of us.

There was a specific season, early in our Christian lives, when my two brothers and I needed to seek the Father's face for the future direction in our lives. We decided to fast for three days. So we hired a boat that dropped us off on a small deserted island. There we pitched our tents, read our bibles, and got down on our knees to pray together. When the boatman returned on day three, we were a sight to see. We may have lost a few pounds feeling weak in the knees, but our spiritual senses about us was sharper than ever.

Within a span of fifteen years, my youngest brother discovered his gift of leadership and answered the call of God upon his life to be a pastor in one of the fastest growing churches in the country. My oldest brother exercised his gift of evangelism and has become a powerful instrument in God’s hands as he preaches the good news of Jesus Christ. I answered God’s call to preach and teach by going abroad for seminary training and serving the migrant Filipino churches throughout Southern California.

We didn’t get the answers to our prayers overnight. It took awhile for us to realize how God would unpack his plan for three brothers to purposely participate in the outworking of his kingdom. Our prayers didn’t stop when we left that small deserted island. We prioritized and persevered in prayer seeking first God’s kingdom. Let’s keep the demonic forces frustrated. Let’s throw our undivided allegiance in service to our Lord and Savior. Let’s continue to advance the kingdom of God upon our knees!


(Please, click the image for the original source.)