"Bonhoeffer" by Metaxas - Best Biography I've Ever Read

My Chicagoland buddy Trey Morris recommended I read a book that a friend of his wrote, "Bonhoeffer".  While I have read and admired Dietrich Bonhoeffer's writings from the 1930's and 40's, I knew only a few of the major historical facts about the man.  His books, "The Cost of Discipleship" and "Life Together" are foundational to a Christian education, a part from them, you have missed two of the gems.

When I received the 560 page book by Eric Metaxas I was unsure of my commitment to reading a biography of such length.  If this were Augustine, Aquinas, Edwards or Calvin I would understand, but so much about one dude?  I was unsure of the investment of time and my limited attention span. 

After completing the first two chapters I was hooked like a catfish that swallowed a treble hook. I had a weekend in the Hill Country with my family where all I did was read the book.  My wife was not happy with my disconnect from them as they floated around the resort, but I could not put the book down and was compelled to continue, even knowing the reality that Bonhoeffer is hung in the end for his plot against Hitler.

I've spoken in past blogs about the "Democracy of the Dead", and in this book, Metaxas allows Bonhoeffer to speak truth from the grave into our modern society as he speaks of his love and  struggle for the church that was bowing to the signs of the times and forsaking orthodoxy. As he watched a nation of Christian people remain apathetic and self protective, as Protestant and Catholic alike endorsed The Fuhrer and his politics, Bonhoeffer was not completely alone in his opposition, but it must have felt like it.

The Bonhoeffer family were all intellectuals.  Dietrich's brother worked with Einstein.  His father was a leading physiologist in Germany, he followed in his grandfather's theological footsteps.

His letters are included throughout the book, and Metaxas connects time lines and thought patterns so well that you would wish him to include more writings and not less. 

You watch a man in his theological studies not come to faith with the Prayer of Confession, but through a mind and heart that falls in love with Christ and the finished work of the cross. Then you watch a man who comes to a prophetic understanding of his call.  His call to good theology, his call to a love of God, his call to fight at all costs, even death, for the sake of others.

In the last chapters Bonhoeffer is shuffled in a van from location to location with fellow conspirators and other traitors of the state.  You know his moment is coming, and the few eye witness accounts of the pastors last days are powerful.  Much as the soldier at the cross shares his observations of Christ, so the inmates and soldiers share theirs of Bonhoeffer in a statement of truth about the man in his final moments.

In my mind I heard the drop of the floor and the yank of the rope as I read...my heart sank and I wished for a different ending.  I wished Bonhoeffer had escaped.  I wished he had the opportunity to write more books.  I wished he'd had the opportunity to restore truth and good theology to Germany. I wished his voice would echo more loudly in the ecumenical church. 

The American  pastorate has much to learn from Bonhoeffer as well as us laymen.   

Our willingness to stick our necks out for truth, love and others is limited by our American self preservationist will. We fail to speak out for others or orthodoxy for fear of losing our jobs, our tax exempt status, our tithes.  I'll be expanding on these thoughts in the near future.

I have encouraged others to read Metaxas' work of art, and consider the words and life of Bonhoeffer and what he is teaching us today.  Others that have started the book have shared with me that they've had trouble putting it down. 

Bonhoeffer is a hero of the faith.  Take some time and study his life and writings

Which Came First, the Drunk or the Fat Pastor?

Which Came First, the Drunk or the Fat Pastor?

Now that I've at least got your click through, let me state something before going further.  Neither excessive drinking or excessive eating is acceptable, and I am not condoning either. 

If you're a pastor, and you decide to make a statement about how one should not drink, please know I will be standing up and asking a few questions in the middle of your rhetoric as this is the last time I have decided to write about this for a good while. 

I continue to land in this conversation sometimes by my starting it, but usually drawn into it. 

Not drinking is simple not a Biblical rule.  Drunkenness, however, most certainly is, and yes I understand how one leads to another.  I also understand how one cheesecake leads to a fat butt and a major aggravation to the person next to you on a plane.  (If you're fat guy, the person on the plane next to you will smile at you through their hate and judgment)

I am fortunate to be under a Baptist pastor that does not preach such stupidity, but more and more I am running into this silly no drinking rule making, when there are larger problems afoot. 

I was sitting in a Sunday School class once while a gentlemen was teaching.  One of the church pastors came into the room quietly in the back.  He was not in the straight line vision of anyone, and he was moving cautiously as not to disrupt the class.  At the back of the room were all the donuts.  We Baptists are famous for needing "food for thought".  This church pastor, which I would guess is a minimum of a 350 lbs man, is headed to the donut table.  His hair is a mess, his clothes obviously could never fit properly, his shirt is open at the top and he just looks, well, pathetic. 

He grabs a donut and puts in his mouth.  It rests there while he grabs a napkin and then places two more donuts in the napkin, still having not chewed any of the donut in his mouth.  Now maybe he was taking the other donuts to his baby chicks, or maybe he was going to put them in his tree for the winter, but I'm pretty sure the plan was to devour all three donuts.  

He then quietly left the room with his sugary treats tucked in hand and cheek. 

Now first, I will never take advise from a man who cannot keep from stuffing his face with a donut.  Second, what a lousy testimony to people outside the church.  Third, what a lousy example to church goers.  It is fiercely visible and grossly dismissed,  creating a wealth of issues. 

I grew up in Baptistdom which is riddled with fat men and women.  While I do understand there a few people that have health issues that they cannot combat, and I beg their grace here, most are fully able to control their intake. 

We had pastors we called 'Big Man', "Pastor Big', 'Steven the Large' and these men embraced these names instead of realizing what a lousy witness they were. Oh, and they also told me I should never have a drink. 

In the Baptist world, without saying a word, we teach children that glutton is perfectly ok, while drinking is the greatest sin of all time. 

Now I have committed both sins.  Gluttony and drunkenness.  There have been times where I kept stuffing the chocolate cake in my mouth day after day.  And, there have been times I have continued sipping the Jack Daniels. I've also been a drunkard and a glutton at the same time.  I fully understand the danger and consequences of both. 

I have always had to work at controlling my food intake to keep it from being sinful, and I have had to work at controlling my alcohol intake to keep it from being sinful.  I don't have a drink very often, so the food control has been the bigger problem.

The signs of drunkenness are usually very clear.  Slurred speech, maybe excessive friendliness or anger.  And of course, poor decision making.  The potential to harm others is increased not only by incident, but by example. 

The long term result can turn you into a complete failure and an unhealthy person. 

The signs of gluttony are clearly obvious as well.  Fat, sloppy, excessive friendliness to make up for society's judgment and embracing the condition as normal. There is also the potential to harm others with your example. 

The long term results can turn you into a complete failure and an unhealthy person. 

 What I find amusing about the 'don't drink' rule making of pastors is this. 

1. Most times they have been very fat men

2. They were taught at the seminary that the wine did not have alcohol

3. They forget Jesus first miracle was at a party where He made more wine

4. They forget Jesus was called a glutton and a drunkard.  Not because he was, but because he ate and drank with people 

5. There is nothing that tells us not to drink.  Paul tells us not to drink too much and gives medical advise to Timothy of wine's value

 Too much of anything can arguably be dangerous for us. No need to dissect this as we all understand this.

We are never told not to eat, and we are never told not to drink. 

I am not looking to justify any of my sinful behaviors.  I just want pastors, priests and preachers to shut up about this and move on to things of the hour that matter, like our piss poor prosperity gospel, our lack of love for the unlovely, our retreat of discipleship,  and our excessive selfishness and failure to share our faith. What about the epidemic of porn use in the church?  

50% of all Christian men and 20% of all Christian women are addicted to pornography. 60% of the women who answered the survey admitted to having significant struggles with lust; 40% admitted to being involved in sexual sin in the past year; and 20% of the church-going female participants struggle with looking at pornography on an ongoing basis.  From the results of a ChristiaNet poll reported by Marketwire.com

Yet, you will seldom ever here a preacher dig into porn and the need to hold each other accountable.

Every preacher is human, so they are struggling with something.  We accept this.  But fat preachers are immediately dismissed consciously and unconsciously.  They have only their jolly personalities to fall back on. But I promise you, we do not take you seriously, and I have interviewed enough people to tell you, it is almost all of us. 

A donut or a glass of wine both cause chemical reactions in the brain and stimulate the senses. Both can lead to sin and trouble.   Neither is inherently bad for you.  If you had to make an argument, which was worse, it would no doubt be the donut.  Yet we fill our churches with donuts and dismiss the wine.  

Drunkenness and Glutton are both a bad witness.  Gluttony is more continuously visible and judged by Chistians and non-Christians alike.  Drunkenness is generally temporary, but can be just as harmful, but is usually only judged by Christians.

So as to not be fraudulent, here's exacylt what I'm thinking, and I know it's ugly, but then I don't have to write it again, and writing is a form of theropy. 

You fast pastors need to stop stuffing crap down your throat. You look patethic.  You are not beleivable. You are not cute you are ugly.  I do not take you seriously, because you can't take something as simple as food and exercise seriously.  You do not have permission to pull the thorn oout of my eye, because you ate the tree. I would not invite someone to your church because I would not want them to think you're the example to aspire too.  

I've resisted writing that for five years. 

I like donuts and I like Brunello wine.  I intend to consume both. Not at the same time as that would ruin the wine.  I will continue to work on balance to avoid sin.  And, if you are a fellow traveler, and feel I am abusing either, please hold me accountable.  But if you are a fat pastor  - shut up and jog. 

The May Club Die Hard 2011

Pastor Mike Dean - Modern Pharisee Rule Making

Dear Pastor Mike Dean of Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas,




As you use the pulpit to work out salvation, please allow me to use a blog. (Phil. 2:12,13)



Your sermon last week alienates a wealth of people in your congregation that might now think something is wrong with them because they like wine. And it is a shame that a sermon on 1 Peter and God's grace moved into un-biblical rule making when there are plenty of valid "don't(s)" in the chapter already.



Many of my friends attend your church and are concerned, so I thought I'd drill down into the matter. Furthermore, I enjoy breaking bread with my friends from your church and we have enjoyed some fantastic vintage wines together. We will continue to do so.



I attend Wedgwood Baptist Church where Al Meredith has made it clear that forbidding the drinking of 'alcohol' is not biblical, he does not drink, but does not lay this burden on his congregation.



You may have not considered that there is a better educated generation that studies their Bibles and can discern that your call to abstinence is wrong. Such rule making was something that Christ spoke against to the religious leaders of his day.



I have reviewed your transcript and will refer to it so the reader can also discern Truth.



You reference:



1 Peter 4:2 (NIV) - As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human

desires, but rather for the will of God.



You ask us to no longer follow human desires.



"1 Peter 4:3 (NIV) - For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do…In other words, You’ve spent enough time on that road with those kinds of companions. Get off of that road.”



We'll hope that you chose your words wrong and meant to say we should leave a pagan lifestyle, but we'll beg you did not mean: now leave our beloved pagan friends whose lives we can now impact with our change.



You tell us we should not "run" in the "flood of dissipation". For certain, but you should not be so bold as to tell us to remove these people from our lives. Does the Holy Spirit not give us the power to resist such things? Did Jesus not associate with such people?



You then remind us of their destiny, our pagan friends:



"God is watching. They think they’re getting away with something. But no one will escape this final judgment of the words and works of his earthly life. When Christ returns some will still be alive, others will have already died, but God will judge the living and the dead."



This is exactly why I do not want to leave them, out of my love for them and a desire to make Christ known.



You then define further from 1 Peter 4:3 the six fold description of a pagan lifestyle: Debauchery, Lust, Drunkenness, Orgies, Carousing and Detestable Idolatry.



No argument. But then you get silly.



You describe the scene of a bunch of men that just clinched a playoff position opening champagne bottles in a locker room a spraying it around in celebration. Maybe you've never played on a team with men before. You then site, Josh Hamilton as a "committed Christian", as if other men in the locker room may not have been, as going to a church service with the Oakland A's. Shall I go to a church service after every success in my business? Should I leave the very people I live life together with and separate myself? Is it not a win for us all?



You called it a "champagne bash". What a misguided representation of a celebration. Then this is your next sentence after describing the "champagne bash". "The picture here is of people who are drinking and getting drunk and the immoral sexual activity that goes with that...at the heart of drinking and drunkenness."



Shame on you Dr Dean for equating a celebration of a men's sports team, where I assure most of them had all but a swig of celebration champagne, and you make it out to be something demonic.



Please consider the words from Ecclesiastes 8:16:



So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.



You then state, "I have to come to the conclusion that in this day in time and in our culture that the wisest course for a believer is simply to abstain from alcohol period."



Forbid?



You then said, "There are believers who argue that you can't make a biblical case for abstaining from the use of wine, beer and other kids of alcoholic beverages. I happen to believe you can make a biblical case for it."



It is clear that drunkenness is a sin Dr Dean, but not the consumption of wine or beer or a shot of whiskey. Our Lord drank wine and to think otherwise would be silly. He was called a glutton and drunkard not because he was one, but because of the company he kept.



John the Baptist did not drink wine (oinos in the Greek) or any other form of alcohol because it was prophesied that he wouldn’t (Luke 1:15). However, Jesus Christ did drink oinos (wine) (Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:34). Jesus did not preach against the use of wine; instead he did like most other Jews of his day. He drank wine in moderation. In ancient times it was normally diluted with water for drinking, and was one of the principal beverages in Palestine at that time—as it is today.



Jesus’ first miracle was to change water into wine (oinos). Some people who preach total abstinence claim that this miracle was to turn water into grape juice. Nonsense! Imagine if you can an elaborate Jewish wedding banquet where everyone drank only grape juice! (The ancients did not have refrigeration or any other method of preventing grape juice from fermenting.)



On this occasion Christ turned six jars of 20 or 30 gallons each into wine (oinos). This was no small miracle. This wine was of the finest quality—“You have kept the good wine until now” (John 2:10). At such wedding feasts, after people had drunk the better wine, the hosts brought out lesser-quality wines.



Jesus gave a parable involving the fermenting process of oinos in Matt. 9:17. At that time, instead of having metal or glass bottles to enclose wine, the skins of animals were used. The fermentation of the wine would break an old inelastic skin, but it would not break a new stretchable skin.



Another proof that oinos is fermented wine is the fact that the apostle Paul said, “Be not drunk with wine [oinos]” (Eph. 5:18). Paul did not mean to avoid getting drunk on grape juice! Paul instructed Timothy, “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine [oinos] for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities” (1 Tim. 5:23). He said to use only a little wine, not a whole lot. The purpose of this wine was Timothy’s frequent stomach ailments; small amounts of wine can help some stomach problems.



Some of the Corinthians Christians were getting drunk at the Lord's Supper (1 Cor. 11:21). They were using fermented wine, probably following the example that Paul had set for them. Paul did not tell them that they were using the wrong kind of wine. He simply told them to eat and drink at home, and to participate in the Lord's Supper in a respectful way. In Romans 14:21, Paul says that it is good not to drink wine or eat meat if it offends a weak brother. He is referring to fermented wine; grape juice wouldn't offend anyone. The implication is that there's nothing wrong with the wine in itself, only if it offends a weak brother. Is everyone in your church offended? Of course not.



Another use of wine that has been recognized for millennia is the antiseptic qualities of wine. The germ-killing qualities of wine are greater than the same proportion of alcohol in water – and a good natural wine is not as damaging to the flesh as some strong antiseptics are.



Jesus showed he knew the benefits of wine as an antiseptic when he gave the parable of the good Samaritan. In this case a man had been injured and had a severe wound. The good Samaritan “bound up his wounds, pouring in [olive] oil and wine [oinos]” (Luke 10:34). The oil mollified or softened the flesh; the wine helped kill bacteria.



Wine has been shown to help with preventing heart issues and help circulation. A small glass of red wine is recommended daily by my doctor to improve my health. I cite a source (The Mayo Clinic): http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/red-wine/HB00089



But then you don't make a case for your Biblical stance except the references to drunkenness in 1 Peter. You then again state your opinions. "I" is relative in your next statements.



"I think it's foolish to support the liquor industry which is directly responsible for tens of 1000s of deaths and ruined lives every year. I think it’s foolish to gamble that I won’t become addicted to it. They tell us that a significant number of people become addicted after the first drink. So why take the first drink? I think it’s foolish to put a stumbling block before a weaker brother who thinks because I do it, it’s OK for them to do it. I think it’s foolish to bring my Christian witness into question where a person seeing me having what may only be an occasional beer, when they don’t know but that it’s an everyday habit for me. I think it’s foolish to send the message to a child or a teenager that drinking alcohol, even in moderation, is OK."



You used "I" and now so will "I".



You sound like a democrat Dr Dean. Blame and industry for the ills of man?



Shall we blame Smith and Wesson for the deaths of millions because they make guns?



Shall we blame pigs for the thousands that have died because they ate bacon and had a heart attack?



Shall we blame car makers for all auto accidents?



I think foolish that you would blame an industry for the deaths of tens of 1000s. Individuals chose to drink and drive. individuals chose to drink until they have alcohol poisoning. Individuals Dr Dean, not the liquor industry.



I went to the liquor store today to buy some champagne. I had the opportunity to bless the woman behind the counter. Not sure how many people might see the liquor store as a field of ministry, but it is, and unless you’re buying wine or beer it's hard to go there.



You say "they tell us a significant number of people become addicted after one drink". Who is they? Why the generics? If you want to cite something in the pulpit be accurate and provide support.



You hold the Rangers baseball team at fault for not helping a weaker brother. The Rangers is not a Christian organization. Why would we expect them to understand such Christian teachings? And, if we are not amongst them, how can we encourage them to do something different? To be something different?



You worried that if someone sees you drinking a beer that they might think you have a drinking problem? Well you worried about all the wrong things.



I should not teach my child moderation when it comes to wine? I guess I should forbid it so I can help increase its allure. No sir. I teach my children that anything in excess is bad. Wine, cookies, TV, leisure, work. A Christian life is a life of moderation in all things.



Dr Dean you have a pulpit and I have a blog. I hope people will consider both presentations and that the Holy Spirit will guide them to Truth.



You are wrong to forbid alcohol. This is a very Pharisaical approach. You should be teaching moderation and control, not abstinence and retreat.



There are many men I have known that would never come into a church building to hear about God, but they would sit down and have a beer with me and talk about God. Some of those men now go to a local church today, where before, they never would. It all started with a beer and a conversation.



Do not encourage your followers to make rules that don't exist. Encourage them to lead a controlled life and to be amongst the pagans like Jesus was. And may they, like him, get the reputation of a drunkard and glutton by association just as our Lord did.



Tell them to follow the Bible and "not be given to much wine" 1 Tim 3:8



The transcript to Dr Michael Dean's sermon: http://travis.isphere.com/faith-factor/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/100310.pdf







Please repost to your Facebook or blog to continue the discussion



http://donowens.typepad.com/donowens/

5 Dysfunctions of Denominations

Over the past two years I have been on a journey of investigation to identify the lead issues surrounding the failures of the denominations and the continued decline of Christianity in America. The issues are not new and were not discovered by me, but men and women of great intelligence and concern for the the very 'church' they love over the past century.
It's now time to focus on the positives, the needed change. Over the coming months I will visit the solutions to these multiple dysfunctions.
The solution is not another denomination, or a non-denomination, but a radical penetration from within the institutions that will result in the dilution of the brand, and the growth of the faith. Yes it starts with each of us, from within the institutions we belong, to rip away at the created obstacles, encourage change, while at the same time implementing the changes and living the changes. I am talking about a denominational coup d'etat. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (2 Tim 3:16) We must take people back to the Biblical concept of church and eliminate the barriers that were created by nothing less than modern day pharisees.
The solutions are not new either. In fact, they are Biblical and were set at the foundation of the earth. Many great scholars like Bonhoeffer, Trueblood, Schaeffer, Brana, Viola and Pearsy have already advised, warned and presented these solutions.
I am encouraged by the extreme interest and participation I have encountered from fellow followers of Christ across the U.S. who are not content with the status quo and in each of their 'building churches' and are asking the same questions and ready to present solutions and take action.
The coup starts with just one encouraging another to learn, understand, and act as Christ called his church to act.
Patrick Lencioni defines the '5 Dysfunctions of a Team' in one of his books and then offers solutions to these Dysfunctions. I'd like to call this series the '5 Dysfunctions of Denominations' and offer solutions to these dysfunctions.
In order to offer solutions, we must first revisit each dysfunction:
Dysfunction 1: Poor Definitions

The denominations have offered an intentionally poor concept and definition of "church" in order to preserve the institution and not what Christ calls his, 'bride'.
Solution: We must redefine church based on scripture and purpose and hold to the authority of Christ and not that of an institution.
Dysfunction 2: A Shallow Gospel
Evangelism has focused mostly on an emotional encounter with Christ and not an intellectual encounter. Last year at our church 35 kids who had previously accepted Christ and been baptized felt they needed to do it again. This is because they were given a shallow Gospel. This is why few youth return to the church after high school. Youth ministers today try to pull 'heart strings' instead of 'head strings' leaving them with a heart Gospel and forgetting a Mind Gospel. In addition, we attempt to go straight to Christ and forget that people in today's world must know the whole story from: Creation, Fall, Redemption and Glorification.
Solution: We must return to the serious study and challenges of the scripture and provide followers the ability to present a Christian world view in the midst of Naturalism, Determinism, Darwinism, Post-Modernism and more. We must not deny our Godly image which includes emotion, but our faith must not be built upon emotion, but revelation and how it permiates all aspects of life, science, history, amd beyond.
Dysfunction: Paid Clergy
The concept of paid clergy has created tens of thousands of Pope's in our denominations and we have given them what they seek, control. The paid clergy has robbed the follower of Jesus of their Royal Priesthood and stole their good works from them.
Solution: We must eliminate the separation of clergy vs laymen in order for each member of the body to step up to his pastoral duties and understand that there is no separation from the holy and the secular. There is no separate holy calling to clergy. 'Secular work is full time service.' We must relagate the seminarian back to his professorial and coaching duties.
Dysfunction 4: A Gospel of Hate
Denominations have lead the world from Christ due to their condemnation. 'Denomination Condemnation' has formulated modern day witch hunts that have created a hate for others, rather than love. Jesus was clear, "I came to save, not condemn". Denominations apparently decided they had the authority to manage the other part for Christ. From the AIDS crisis in the 80's to protesting abortion clinics and porn shows the denominations have failed to present followers with a the same message of Christ.
Solution: A true teaching and example that loving the sinner, and not the sin, does not start with condemnation of the sinner, but an offering of hope and vision of the world through the eyes of Christ.
Dysfunction 4: Abuse of Funds
The tithe has been taught improperly and stolen from the very people it was intended to serve. A few select Bible versus that do not stand on their own have been abused to burden the very people the tithe was intended to serve. True religion in James 1:27 has been replaced with taking money to build large staffs of un-biblical paid clergy, decedent buildings under the attempt to replace Solomon's temple, and endless programs giving paid clergy something to do.
Solution: Return tithing to God's calling on a man. Ensure it's delivery to the people in the body, the poor, the missionary, the campus leader, the sent and the teacher.
Dysfunction 5: Sound Bite Teaching
Discipling is a lost art. We have exchanged the process of discipleship for programs and preaching. These have proved ineffective. We have put the Gospel into sound bites, catch phrases, and eloquent speech, and failed to remain committed to the one on one relationships of passing on the scriptures and walking through life together. Old folks retreat to their Sunday School classes and leave the blind to lead the blind. We leave young Sunday School classes in the hands of good hearted but poorly trained seminary students and to the uneducated but well intentioned.
Solution: A return to Christ's example of how to lead and teach. A one on one preparation of others that starts with a man and woman discipling their children, then discilping others throughout their entire life.

There is much to say on each of these dysfunctions and we must take things a step further than Viola and Barna and offer solutions as Trueblood, Bonhoeffer, Schaeffer and Pearsy have. The solutons go far beyond the quick summations above.

I will attempt to focus on these solutions while reserving the right to make mistakes and coveting your well thought out responses. I will spend a few weeks on Dysfunction 1 and the solutions in July.

Equally Shocked

It is quite amazing how we are selective about what portions of scripture we want to put a spotlight on, while appearing to reject its importance in whole. We have found selective passages, themes, and mission statements to emphasize to our congregations while failing to provide what Nancy Pearsy would call, "Total Truth".


Most pew sitters leave on Sunday's unprepared to face the realities of life, as we segmented life into the sacred and the secular, and while many are aware of the Great Commission in the book of Matthew, few are familiar with the Great Cultural Mandate in Genesis.

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase; fill the earth and subdue it.

Many would limit this to procreation, but that would be an error. Few in our church buildings understand that, "Secular work is full time service"(Larry Peabody). Our vocations are our callings. Education is required to subdue and to be fruitful. Thought is required to subdue and be fruitful. Hard work is required to subdue and be fruitful. Cooperation is required to subdue and be fruitful. Risk is required to subdue and be fruitful. Each man and woman has an incredibly ordained responsibility to make "life" happen. The farmer, the scientist, the doctor, the lawyer, the bureaucrat, the garbage collector, the banker, the mom, and the dad.

Christendom has regulated these duties to the second class citizens of heaven while priests and pastors are "ordained". Their ordinations are institutional fan fare and separatist activity that have no place in Christian life. These are the very acts that keep followers of Jesus from considering their royal priesthood position and realizing the ordination they received at the implanting of the Holy Spirit.

I have a friend that went to Germany to develop relationships in Berlin and through these relationships share the knowledge of the creation, the fall, redemption and glorification. A pastor asked me, under what authority are they going and who ordained them? What a bothersome question.

The blog on "Terminate your clergy" brought many interesting responses. Some people even read "Pagan Christianity" and provided additional insight and questions. One response said, "Where do we go from here?" Great question. We must go somewhere.

I have used the phrase "Dilute the Denominations". The meaning is simple. God calls us to be 'one body. The Apostle's Creed states, "I believe in one holy church". Paul on occasions asks there not be division.

10I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 1 Corinthians 1

We do little to try and reunite as a body, and consistently mark our divisions via our denominational boundaries. The world looks at us and says, "not appealing". Elton Trueblood wrote:

The world is equally shocked at hearing Christianity criticized and seeing it practiced.

Denominational structures place men and women as the authority over scriptural knowledge. And each denomination claims they are closests to the correct Biblical interpretation. All the while asking for the freedom to interpret scripture the way they wish, and not affording that freedom to anyone else.

If paid denominational clergy would step back into the real world they'd make way for the Royal Priesthood. Instead they blockade the way as the authority and are somehow convinced that 52 sermons and a microphone will challenge people to behave.

The first Pope according to some, Peter, advises us of our position:

9But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter

And we forget who Christ tells us will be our great teacher John 14:26 :

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

As followers of Christ with access to revelation we fail to engage our minds, accept our priesthood, and step into Christ's great commands of loving God and others.

Others tell me that the divisions are too deep and matter to much. But instead of working them out in unity we divide and divide again. We divide within the denominations in our communities and people watch with warranted sceptisim about our love of God and others. We then turn the search for Truth in scriptures into the importance of rightness within our denominations. As Francis Schaeffer writes:

“Doctrinal rightness and rightness of ecclesiastical position are important, but only as a starting point to go on into a living relationship - and not as ends in themselves”

Within our institutions we refuse to be overly critical of ourselves. The committees on committees about things that don't matter is incredulous. The Southern Baptist Convention put together a committee to discuss how to get Southern Baptists focused on the Great Commission. The cost, time and expense of this is inexcusable. What an asinine item to create a committee over. If followers of Christ love God and others this happens. God is at work and his invitations for involvement are daily.

The death of denominations has already taken place. The great reformers that changed the face of Christendom in Europe are long forgotten there. The reformers teachings did not lay out just the basic philosophical outlines to keep people from forming more institutions. (Pearsy, Total Truth). We must rember that Luther was not wanting to leave the Catholic church, he wanted reform. I'd argue to create oness we should all return to our roots, The Catholic Church. They did assemble our Holy Scriptures. Thank God for the Catholic Church.

One trip to Europe will show you the fate of denominational Christianity in America. Our great God that gave us eyes to see and a mind to reason has shown us a change must take place. That we have missed the mark of unity, of love for Him first and love for our neighbor.

Getting someone to come to your building and listen to your pastor give a sunday speak and become a 'member' is not going to change the world and set about revival. It will take the world looking at our actions, and our unity and seeing that which Tetullian once saw and saying,

"See how they love one another...and how they are ready to die for one another."

Our American culture has changed under our nose and we seem unwilling to drop our brands and directions to deal with the change. As George Barna warns us:

“Anchoring a church’s ministry offerings to a physical ministry campus won’t work for increasing numbers of Americans,”

The delivery has been ineffective. Again Barna through his research warns us:

“These figures emphasize how soft people's commitment to God is. Americans are willing to expend some energy in religious activities such as attending church and reading the Bible, and they are willing to throw some money in the offering basket, but when it comes time to truly establishing their priorities and making a tangible commitment to knowing and loving God, most people stop short.”

Oswald Chambers challenges us to consider our approach and what we are really about within our denominations:

“If in preaching the gospel you substitute your knowledge of the way of salvation for confidence in the power of the gospel, you hinder people from getting to reality."

We are putting faith in our method, the rightness of our choice place of membership, and not thinking it through or trusting in the power of God to save men. The art of Discipleship is dead. The one leading the other is gone. The very way of Christ's passing of knowledge forsaken for sunday sermons and "moan" time about all our problems in Sunday School. Where there is now little schooling and much wining.

You are a royal priesthood. Take the rains from the clergy in your church. The ordination you received was the same as there. Sell. Create. Teach. Be the best employee. Work Hard. Educate yourself. Manage your home. Party. Celebrate. Plant. Clean. Administer. Love people. Pastor people. Forgive people. Teach people. Claim Christ, not your brand of Christianity, Christ. Baptize. Disciple.

Where do you start? Drop your brand. Pick up your cross. Accept your priestly duties and start with one.

Much more discussion to follow.

Don Owens

Test blog