REFLECTING UPON LACKING REFORMATION

[BCyrus]

By Don Atkins
 
I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you. – Titus 1:5.
 
Pretty clear.  Titus was a spiritual son to Paul, who delegated apostolic authority to him for this assignment—to set in order things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city.  Paul dared to command Titus to do so.
 
I am nearly in tears as I reflect upon the present-day things that are lacking in most
expressions of the church:
 
(1)   Order.
(2)   Accountability.
(3)   Apostles serving regions.
(4)   Citywide elders appointed by apostles.
(5)   Capacity to command w/o lording it over God’s heritage.
 
My heart is crying for specific local situations where the things that are lacking are taking their toll among people whom I personally know and love.  Ministers, elders and flocks are unnecessarily struggling with relational issues, financial issues, directional issues and more.
 
The present-day systems of men are corrupt, thrusting wonderful people right back into the midst of the wages of (corporate) sin, and robbing them of the victory that is ours in Christ.
 
Spiritual band-aids (not really so spiritual) provide no lasting remedy.  Pressures mount with exponential accumulation while we try to accomplish that which is virtually impossible with today’s human structures and mentalities.
 
We will fail to enjoy the fruitfulness that is our heart’s desire so long as previous experiences (good and bad) cause us to shrink back from God’s divine order.
 
When will we face our fears head-on, bite the bullet, and get free of the past?  When will we get over it, suck it up and deal with it?  When will we cast off the restraints of our traditional security blankets, and embrace true reformation of the church?
 
The life-giving Spirit wants to breathe upon us, not merely to create an event, but to reform and restore us to God’s divine and eternal intention.
 
Church leaders are responsible.  The first step in the reformation process is our commitment to embrace repentance as our lifestyle.

[BCyrus]

CONTEXTUALIZING CURRENT WORD

By Don Atkins

We must take care to not “throw out the baby with the bathwater” as we embrace the things that God is currently making known to us.  The rhema revelation of God is not intended to produce knee-jerk reactions.  Rather, its purpose is to take us from glory to glory in the morphing process, both individually and corporately.  Each new insight is to be set into the context of Scripture and its historical record.
 
 
RECEIVING MINISTRY
 
As we grow in our understanding of the priesthood of all believers, that we are all ministers, we should increase, not decrease, in our respect for those who labor among us to instruct, enable and equip us in our various callings.
 
Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
 
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
 
Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines.
 
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give an account. – Hebrews 13:7-9a; 17a.
 
Admittedly, Gentile authority has no place in the body of Christ.  Some of these “hot button” words are being rightly scrutinized.  They need to be rightly divided.  A proper and biblical understanding does not leave us to fend for ourselves without elders and equippers.
 
SUPPORTING MINISTRY
 
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
 
For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of His wages.” – I Timothy 5:17-18.
 
Set into the context of biblical history, we realize that, while there were other tithes, offerings and alms for the support of the needy and the expenses of the ministry, the foundational purpose of the firstfruits tithe has always been the support of those who serve the tabernacle of God.  Abraham honored Melchisedek with the tithe.  Israel tithed to the Levites.  They, in turn, tithed to Aaron.
 
Malachi clarifies, “That there may be food in My house (3:10).”
 
Tithing is not specifically mentioned in Scripture that defines New Testament practice.  But, under normal circumstances, one would expect that joyful hearts of the New Creation would need no laws, rules or boundaries ~~~ that we would recognize the lordship of Christ over one hundred percent of the resources that we steward ~~~ and that unbounded generosity would totally overwhelm any need to even mention the tithe.
 
Yet, in so many circles, tight-fisted people are using their liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, rather than to serve one another through love.
 
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
 
But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
 
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. – Galatians 5:13-16.
 
Both understanding and financial pressure are increasing at the same time.  We should not allow the increasing financial pressure to pervert the increasing understanding about the priesthood, the role of servant-leaders, and our New Covenant responsibility toward them.  Paul responds to these questions in the context of life and history:
 
Who ever goes to war at his own expense?  Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit?  Or who tends a flock and does not drink the milk of the flock?
 
Do I say these things as a mere man?  Or does not the law say the same also?
 
For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.”  Is it oxen God is concerned about?
 
Or does He say it altogether for our sakes?  For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.
 
If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material blessings? – I Corinthians 9:7-11.
 
Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. – Verse 14.
 
Paul did go on to say, “But I have used none of these things.”  That was Paul’s choice in that isolated circumstance, how he interpreted the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  To use this as an argument against supporting ministry would be a classic example of taking things out of context to serve our own purposes.
 
Ministry is to be rightfully received, honored and supported.  This is New Covenant order for today’s church!