I sure enjoyed our conversation tonight! What a great brother you are. Your passion for our place “In Christ,” is such a powerful passion. I share it with you completely.

I can see where you felt what I wrote needed the additional element of seeing all we are doing in the Church, as coming from our deep connections in Christ. There are always so many truths that interconnect with a given theme, that it’s hard to express myself fully on each one, but I sure agreed with everything you shared on the phone.

Write that book, and get it published. We need the insights.

At your permission to use the article in any way I saw fit, I posted it on my own web site at : http://khtmin.org/images/teaching_docs/spiritual_life/results_of_being_a_christian_by_lou_rife.pdf . I hope it blesses many.

Blessings!
Tom

We need to talk ASAP. Call me @ 615.277.3348. I am trying to finish a book I think will make a difference in the world. You hit on some of my material, but the connection was not made, and because of where you are coming from, and what you know, I think what I’ve discovered might blow you away……….maybe collaboration is appropriate??

Lou

We have an exciting challenge of the Spirit of Christ, to work together with Him towards the reformation of the Church and advancement of the Kingdom.

The more folks thoughtfully/prayerfully consider this area, and bring forth even greater clarity, the better. There is much clutter to lift out of the understanding of Church. It is great to come out of the systems religious environments, but if we fail to fully enter into the truth that “sets aright” the errors we’ve walked in for years, then we’ve simply escaped one form of bondage and exchanged it for another.

The only hope is to love the truth, walk in it, and encourage the body to do the same.

Keep on working towards these goals my friend.

Shalom in Him
Tom

Thanks for the kudos.

Yes, the manner in which kingdom workers handle matters of money needs a great deal of washing up these days.

I note that you mention “services,” and “coming up front,” and “speaking.” These are all such interesting concepts that developed in the Church following the death of the apostles.

You and I share a similar ministry history I discern. In these days we find ourselves being led by the Spirit to encourage the cessation of “services,” in favor of a Spirit led participation in all those gathered. Instead of “services” that focus on one “Man of Faith and Power,” we are encouraging the manifestation of Jesus’ faith and power in each member :

1 Cor 14:5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

1Co 14:26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

1Co 14:30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.

1Cor 14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,

Eph 4:15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Rather than “coming forward,” we find ourselves encouraging a “coming up,” into a place of connection with the Head - The Lord Jesus.

Rather than one man “speaking,” we are promoting Spirit led dialogue in the many.

May God help us to put away the “old order” of things, and return to gatherings as Jesus taught Paul. Away from gatherings that center stage the “annointed man,” to gatherings that focus on “The Anointed One - Christ Himself.”

We are convinced that the pattern by which Paul established the Churches he planted, was a timeless pattern, given by the Spirit. As author and scholar Robert Banks observes, Paul had many contemporary patterns of gathering to choose from in his day, but chose none of them. In every way it appears he was solidly led by the Spirit of Christ to develop gatherings that did not focus on one individual preaching, from a pulpit “up front,” with passive listeners in pews, and parishoners “bringing forward” their tithes and offerings to the man of God, or coming forward to an altar call, to “get saved” in a “moment” of decision. They were taught to gather facing one another, with an expectation that the present Spirit of Christ would choose to manifest through His body, in spontaneous expressions of His heart, towards an activated ministry of all. They were taught to believe that salvation was less of a moment of decision, but many inner decisions, strung together by faith, pursuing a living relationship with Jesus, and not simply desiring to avoid the terrors of hell fire, or enjoy the pleasures of heaven. It was about Jesus, to Jesus, in and through Jesus, with little to no focus on any one particular man.

Over the years of traveling among the many different expressions of Church, most of which have defined Church as a place, with pulpits and pews, we’ve ministered in the form that was presented to us, recognizing old patterns change slowly, and do our best to share to their maximum capacity at the moment, but we freely admit in these days, that the longings of our heart is to see “services,” “coming forward,” and “speaking by one,” be replaced with dynamic expressions of Jesus’ life through all the members of His body, fitly and compactly joined together, causing the increase of the whole.

I anticipate this is the longing of your heart as well, as these are things the Spirit of Christ is indicating across the globe. May God help us to encourage a Church led by Christ to return to the earth, and see, in our lifetime, an end to man centered, man lauded, man applauded, gatherings of the saints.

Together with these things we trust God for a purified management of kingdom finances, towards provisioning the kingdom workers, caring for the needy, and accomplishing the work of God in the earth.

Keep up the good work brother Chuck, and thanks for your comments!

Looking to the Author
Tom