In Concert with God

We will be able to do more than we could ever have imagined when we learn to live the principles of Matthew 25 together, as a collective body of Christ seeking to do for others, not ourselves. My problem with the church, is that it seems to refuse to be the Church in true unity. We don't have to agree on the doctrines, other than Jesus is Lord and his sacrifice should be our rally, our "stake in the ground" as my friend Scott put it the other day. All we are, all we do, all we will become is centered on the moment in time when all was given for us at the cross. "My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. 10 "The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. 12 You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! 13 Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where briers grew, myrtles will sprout up. This miracle will bring great honor to the LORD's name; it will be an everlasting sign of his power and love. Isaiah 55 8:13 Therefore, (as Paul would often say) it is about the and not the theology. If God has given someone the intelligence, the fortitude, the opportunity to become a doctor that has learned to do what doctors do, but he/she refuses to practice it because it is inconvenient, or uncomfortable, or whatever then it is useless knowledge. We discussed this in our small group last week about God's description of His creation in Genesis. He called it "good" and allowed His creation to make it even better. The animals, the plants, the people were created to work in cooperation with God and His creation. Why is faith any different? Seriously, what would the world look like if we were truly disciples of Christ? What if we took this faith given to us and actually put it to work in the form of sacrificial love? Imagine... “This is the manner of noble souls: they do not want to have anything for nothing; least of all, life. Whoever is of the mob wants to live for nothing; we others, however, to whom life gave itself, we always think about what we might best give in return…One should not wish to enjoy where one does not give joy.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche 19th century German philosopher from Thus Spoke Zarathustra In a conversation about social networking software as a catalyst for movement I've linked to a good point above, but will address some of what he says here... The discussion is on how social network sites can effect change in those that do not adhere to the belief system of those on the network. In other words, how to involve people who don't think or believe like you do. Read this quote... "...much of the communication that goes on in these social structures is, unfortunately, preaching to the choir so to speak. kind of about preaching to the choir - about giving the choir a water cooler around which they can gather. Co-mingling is definitely important for the spread of ideas, but in an online environment, people tend to read what they already agree with and ignore the rest. Like in high school, people will naturally gravitate towards their “cliques” and forget about much else. You see this tendency in the blogosphere already - the science blogs, the conservative blogs, the liberal blogs, the techy/developer blogs. The neighborhoods form on their own. So, what are we to do? Build the neighborhood and make it a place that helps its citizens share ideas on how travel with diplomacy and openmindedness into the other neighborhoods. Build the silo, leave the doors wide open, and make it the best training ground for the greatest ambassadors of enlightened living that the world has ever known. As a student and teacher of change who regularly gives workshops and seminars on the subject, I can say that change in the world always begins with changing the individual, and that only happens when the individual learns through his/her own experiences in his/her own time how to cultivate depth of awareness. Words don’t work. Zaadzters can go around all day preaching the gospel of veganism or whatever, but nobody likes to be “converted.” Language continually fails. All we can really do is provide the environment and opportunity of experience for people to “awaken” on their own accord and then let the magic happen." As an example of what they are referring to, read the following blog post and the comments. This is using technology in a transformative process that is real, tangible, immediate. What if the church were able to work together to help people in this "small" moments of frustration, doubt, and need that we all experience? Simple Gestures is committed to a cooperative effort for the sake of love...God is love, we seek to reflect His love onto others by becoming the hands and feet of Christ here on earth now today! See this link for a working paper on what this looks like. I'm looking for input, so email me and help me with this. 31"But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 34Then the King will say to those on the right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' 37"Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' 40And the King will tell them, 'I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, F143 you were doing it to me!' 41"Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his demons! 42For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me anything to drink. 43I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me no clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.' 44"Then they will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?' 45And he will answer, 'I assure you, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.' 46And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life." Matthew 25 31:46