Engaging fired up leaders who know who they are in Christ and are ready for the challenges of leading with integrity in society today and in the future. This is done by understanding and discussing Biblical Insight into Leadership principles and practices. There has only been one perfect role model for leadership. That only role model has been Jesus Christ.
I enjoy incorporating worship music into my blog posts. Some people enjoy listening while they read and others listen at the end.
This weekend I spend time with men of my Church at a Men’s
Freedom Encounter. The program builds to
an encounter with God. This was my second
encounter retreat. The first was on a
smaller intimate scale. This one was on
a larger scale and only for men. (The
ladies will have their encounter in 2 weeks.)
In the first small group session we were asked to consider
our expectations for the encounter. For
me this time around it was about empowerment and encouragement. In a couple of weeks I will be offering a
teaching based on primarily Ephesians 4 about social justice. This is a topic where the secular and
atheistic world has grabbed hold and has been hard at work removing God from
the dialog. I had even considered not
submitting a proposal. But after
encouraging words from my friend Eric (author of the blog: A Fehr Life) I submitted
my proposal to the committee. This past
November I offered a teaching about integrity based primarily on Psalm 15. So now I have to do it. I have to walk the talk. In this blog I have written several blog
posts that will serve as the foundation of my message. So much of my message is written. I just need to pull it into a presentation that will glorify God (and make sense).
Last month during the 21 days of fasting and prayer God kept
bringing me back to Ephesians 4 and several other passages that talk about how
the Body of Christ is made up of different members. Each member different and having a role to
play in the larger picture. We are not
all of the same. Equal is probably a
word that has been misapplied in this larger debate and dialog. Equitable is probably a better word. Equal is exact sameness. Equitable is reasonable similarities along
with differences.
This weekend Encounter served to fire me up. I gained the empowerment and encouragement I
sought from the Lord. During the fast He
repeatedly showed me Scriptural passages that provided me His wisdom for how
humanity should be in relationship.
Reminding me of the teaching in November that I should walk the
talk. And this weekend He said to me and
showed me that through Him all things are possible.
So I will prepare my teaching for the coming conference on
social justice. I have an overwhelming sense of freedom to offer this teaching. Although I anticipate backlash from those of secular, world, or atheist perspectives I am confident that my
Lord Jesus Christ has prepared me and it is for His glory that I will
speak. I offer myself to Him so that His
will can be done on earth as it is in heaven.
There Must Be Unity, We Must Follow Jesus’ Example
Racism and hatred is just simply stupid. It arrogantly
implies that God messed up when He chose to make everyone different. Social injustice and racism was nothing that
God had in mind. After each day of
creation it was always said that it was good. On the flip side however, it is also arrogant
to have a discussion about diversity without God present at the discussion. God is a God of love, mercy, and grace. God does not hate His children and He is not
mad at us.
We must recognize again that creation is His and it is our
separation from God that has created the disorder in the world. The devil seeks to split us off and separate
us from people. Satan's ways are through
hate. He will take any action necessary
to keep disunity within the body of Christ.
“The fullness of God’s purpose and power can only be experienced as the
Body of Christ functions together across the earth” (Mike Bickle).
Jesus taught us to love everybody, including our enemies. He set before us the perfect example. I have set you an example that you should do
as I have done for you. (John 13:15
(NIV)).
While Jesus was on earth, he went to those who lived on the
margins of life. Is there not a better
example of reaching out to each and every person? Why then do so many people in the diversity
and inclusion dialog want to exclude Jesus Christ? No one did it better. No one called together those who had been on
the fringe of society. How can this
message of love be hated by so many?
Too often we want immediate change. We want to snap our fingers and the world be
just as we want it to be. We need to
remember that God's timing is perfect.
In our fleshly nature we want immediate gratification. We want the change we desire now. It takes some time to change the many years
that the devil has been at work in the world.
“Nothing is easier than saying words. Nothing is harder than
living them day after day” (Arthur Gordon). Throughout Ephesians 4 are the directions for
living in unity in the body of Christ. If
we continue to push God away as a society, we will continue to struggle as a
country. We need everyone to recognize
that His creation is good and each of us live as members of the body of Christ.
To live in the body of Christ is to
recognize that each person has a part to play. We need all people to repent and return to the
Lord.
We Must Have God Present When we Discuss His Creation
Plainly and clearly the divisions in our society are the
work of the enemy. Satan is happy when we
have disharmony in society. Divided
communities offer entry points for hatred and bitterness to influence our
interactions with one another. The enemy
prefers us to use a human approach, a fleshly approach. The enemy knows that without God included in
the discussion he can continue to keep the divisions and deceive us.
Genesis 1:27 and 31 (NIV) describes the creation of man and
woman. 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he
created them; male and female he created them. And verse 31 God saw all that he
had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was
morning—the sixth day.
His plan is that we are all made in His image. His plan is that we are all important and
have worth. We all have a part to play. It is only after the fall that divisions
enter humanity. It is only when people
think that their way is best that we corrupt creation and place bondage and
oppression on each other.
Creation is God’s. It
is presumptuous to think that we know better than God does about His creation. We were given the task of stewardship over
His creation. You may think your ways
are better but when you decide to trust God, you realize that His ways are much
greater.
All of Creation - Mercy Me
It’s time to end the judging and the divisions that permeate
society. We're called to be united in
Christ. In Ephesians 4 we are reminded about the
instructions for living in community with one another.
Specifically in Ephesians 4:22-23 (NLT) we are told to…
22throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of
life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23Instead, let the Spirit renew
your thoughts and attitudes.
Over the years the more we have removed God from the dialog
less of the goal has been achieved of having a more inclusive society. Perhaps our minds have been filled with a
human perspective theory perpetuated by atheists and those who have turned away
from God that leaves souls empty because God is not in the discussion. But so many discussions centering on
diversity and inclusion intentionally leave God out.
So many people in this debate say that there is no room for
Jesus Christ in the debate, citing that often the division is caused by
religion. This is precisely the
deception by the enemy we need to be vigilant to rebuke.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 (NIV)).
We cannot be pitiful and powerful at the same time. You cannot be both victim and master. So many people choose to live as a powerless
victim and be offended by the actions of others. Living offended by the actions and words of
others consumes a great amount of your energy leaving you in a vulnerable place
for continued attack by the enemy. Forgive
people quickly regardless of whether or not they ask for it because
unforgiveness is poisonous to you, not to them!
13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone
who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in
perfect harmony. (Colossians 3: 13-14 (NLT)).
God calls us to have compassion for others – even those
whose lives do not follow God’s ways. We
need to continue to pray for wisdom and guidance. God changes the hearts of people. Your life as a Christian should make
unbelievers question their disbelief.
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved
you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34 (NIV)).
26So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through
faith, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves
with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is
there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3: 26-28
(NIV)).
Until we bring God back to the discussion we will not achieve
the intended goals of a just society.
Our God is an awesome God of love.
He is a just God. We must all
repent and turn to God. The social
movements many often reference were born in our American churches. However, so many efforts are made to remove
the faith aspect. We need to have hearts
open to embrace the Gospel and once we bring God back into the discussion we
will have peace and unity among all peoples.
I know that with what I am saying in this post may challenge
beliefs of traditional approaches to discussing diversity. I know that this may not be a popular perspective. But I have often struggled with the
traditional approach. My hope is that this
perspective may open a different perspective.
Historically many have used God’s word against His very creation.
I recently came across this statement on my Twitter feed.
"The more you grow as a person, the less shocked you
become about people who are different from yourself." ~Dale Brown
What bothers me about this statement is that it is devoid of
God’s presence. It comes from a fleshly
and worldly perspective. So I’d rephrase
it and say that when we grow in our identity in Christ we are less shocked by
people who are different from ourselves. It seems that the further the discussion about
celebrating and appreciating diversity goes the more distant it becomes from
God. In fact, many people often at the
center of the debate will say that because faith and religion can be such a
divisive and intolerant factor that is precisely why the discussion should
proceed without God. In fact that could be no more a myth and a wrong
perspective if we tried. We must
remember that Christ spent a significant amount of time with those who the
society of the time said were “less than” the society standard for people. We will not achieve the promise of an
inclusive society if we continue to move God out of the center of the dialog
(and many tomes out of the dialog entirely).
In a previous post I said that we have allowed secular and
Godless ideas and feelings to shape the debate rather than turning to Scripture
for insight. After all it is ALL His
creation, shouldn't He be part of the dialog.
Wow! Interesting insight here. When we try to have the diversity discussion
without Him what we are saying that we know better about how creation should be
and unfold than He does. So we need to
engage God in the discussion about human diversity. A humbling thought there.
“We are all given different gifts from God to perform His
work and live in His will. God’s plan is
that we have, embrace, respect, and celebrate the diversity of humanity.” Romans
12: 6-8 (NIV). It takes everyone
offering his/her gifts to do God’s will here on earth. Each of us has a role to play and we need to
engage that piece so that the glory of God can be realized.
The call from God is to bring all people together. All people were made in His image. Therefore it is not for us to ever determine
that any person is less than another person.
Jesus explains that each and every person is of equal importance to God,
regardless of sex, race, or social status. The apostles were instructed to make
disciples of every person and in all nations.
Isaiah 1:17 (AMP) “Learn to do right! Seek justice, relieve
the oppressed, and correct the oppressor.”
The call is to build unity and community between all people. When we proceed without God the enemy can step
in and continue to build divisions between people. When we correct the oppressor with God’s word
we create community among all people.
The discussion void of God will continue to allow oppression
to exist. Oppression is one of the tools
of the enemy. Satan does not want unity
among God’s people. Disunity and
dissension allows the enemy points of entry into our lives. Living in an offended state, being offended
by others, opens doors to the enemy to drain you of your joy and energy.
People are lost without Christ. In Christ, we will be as one people regardless of the land where we live or the tongue we speak. We will have victory and freedom when we make sure to include Jesus Christ in the diversity dialog.
As secular ideas, devoid of a focus on Jesus Christ, of what
is meant by diversity and social justice continue to shape the dialog I fear
that we will never achieve true social justice of all people. We allow secular ideas and feelings to shape
the debate rather than turning to Scripture for insight. The secular plans are tricks by the enemy that will keep divisions among people. We fail to remember that God knows better than
we do. We forget that creation still
continues and that He has a plan. But
when we turn from God and His plans we fail to achieve the plan he has set in
motion in creation. We must allow God to
continue to develop us to be the person (people) He needs for us to do what is
in His will for the future. We need to
learn how to trust God. Christ calls us to have unity AND diversity in one
body.
1 Corinthians 12: 12-31(NIV)
12Just as a body,
though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with
Christ. 13For we were all baptized by
one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and
we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14Even
so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15Now if the foot
should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would
not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not
belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where
would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense
of smell be? 18But in fact God has
placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would
the body be? 20As it is, there are
many parts, but one body.
21The eye cannot
say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I
don’t need you!” 22On the contrary,
those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less
honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are
treated with special modesty, 24while
our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body
together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in
the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part
suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27Now you are the
body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second
prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of
guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work
miracles? 30Do all have gifts of
healing? Do all speak in tongues ? Do all interpret? 31Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
We are all given different gifts from God to perform His
work and live in His will. God’s plan is
that we have, embrace, respect, and celebrate the diversity of humanity.
Romans 12: 6-8 (NIV)
6We have different
gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,
then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8if it is to encourage, then give
encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it
diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
The message He came to share is that ALL people can come to
Him. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you
who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NIV). Jesus continued that His message is for all
by saying, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19
(NIV). His message was not these and not
those, some who do this and not those who do that. His message was that ALL shall be in the Body
of Christ.
We have a mess in our society because we have not obeyed God
and so many continue to choose to turn away from God and His word. So many people continue to try to strip God
from every aspect of our society. Even
today a friend had posted on Facebook a story of an elementary school on Long
Island who in order to sing “Silent Night” the school winter concert needed to “politically
correct” the lyrics of the song.
What? How do we make Jesus
politically correct? The song is based on the birth of Jesus Christ. This social mess is a continued growth out of
entitlement, irresponsibility, lack of accountability, and feelings of being
offended.
As believers in Christ and the Word we do not show to the
world anything about Jesus if we lower ourselves to hateful speech and rhetoric
when it comes to the differences found in humanity and disrespecting His
creation. We are all made in His image
and if we believe God is perfect then we must respect each member of His
creation. Jesus told us to love one
another. It is therefore sinful to hate
others who do measure up to our own interpretation of what is right. We have been told that to hate another is to
have murdered them in our heart. God
takes it very personally when you mistreat another person or people.
On the flip side of the dialog is the area of self-pity and
playing the victim. Self-pity is the
most worthless emotion. Self-pity is
akin to idolatry. So many who continue
to feel sorry for themselves miss so much about God’s unconditional love and
build bitterness for other people rather than relationships. Stop blaming others, stop feeling sorry for
yourself. Stop being offended. Start looking for open doors. Start looking for opportunities.
Joy can only be found in Him. Joy cannot be found in things of the world. Trying to use the things of the world in
place of His love will fall short of the goal.
We will accomplish more when we celebrate the diversity of God’s
creation. Each person in creation’s
story has a role to play in the Body of Christ.
Each member is equally important to completing God’s will… but not
identical. All are necessary. We are not capable of improving God’s plan. It is not for us to ever judge the value or
worth of a fellow person. We have to
live in His will and abide by His plan for us and for all. We cannot have social justice apart from the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. Remember that
you are a chosen child of God. Know who you are in Christ.
In prayer:
Most merciful God, pour out on us Your one and unifying Holy
Spirit. You made all of us in Your
perfect image and redeemed us through Your only son, Jesus Christ. Lead us from self-pity to hope, from fear to
trust. We ask for Your Spirit to move
throughout our communities and nation that it may move every heart. We ask that every barrier dividing humanity
is made to crumble and hatred cease. We
declare Lord that with divisions healed that we will leave in peace, unity, and
justice. Strengthen the resolve of all
who seek equality and justice for all. We
come to You Lord seeking freedom from the bondage of inequality, oppression,
and hatred. We recognize that in
creation you created a wonderful diversity of people, cultures, and
language. Free us from prejudice and
fear. Those who feel that Your message
is not for them, move Your Spirit through the lives so that each person will
come to know You and that through You all people have a part to play in
creation’s story. We pray this through
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now
and forever. Amen.
