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Old 02-15-2010, 02:28 PM
deacon blues deacon blues is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,166
One Simple Truth

In the city of Rome, off the beaten path, you might find the Church of San Clemente. It is an old church with well-preserved frescoes, statues and altars. For an extra five euros you can take an underground tour.

Rome is so old and has so much history that the city is literally built on top of layers of the past. Buildings are built on top of buildings. The Church of San Clemente is a 12th century church built on top of a 4th century church. Underneath the 4th century church are catacombs where our spiritual ancestors gathered covertly to worship and pray. They were there because it was illegal to be a Christian. The catacombs represent an era and time when early Christians paid a dear price for their faith. In many cases with their own lives.

To descend the staircase down into those catacombs is to go back in time thousands of years away from church buildings and symbols of religion and organizations and institutions. It's to go back to a time when Christianity was at its purest form, back to a time where there were no traditions, no schisms, no baggage from previous generations. It is to go back to a much simpler time.

As I read through the great chapter of Hebrews 11, I read about Abel offering a more excellent sacrifice, Enoch being translated because he had the testimony that he pleased God. I read about the exploits of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses refusing to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. It is one of the best reads of Scripture. But there is a part of Hebrews 11 I don't like to read. It begins in verse 35: "Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground."

That's the part I don't want to read. It's uncomfortable. It convicts me. It makes me realize that the things I complain about and the things I get upset about are silly and trite. It makes me realize how little I have had to sacrifice for my faith. In fact, the sacrifices that I have made probably wouldn't even qualify in a 2nd century context. History tells that some Christians were thrown to wild beasts for sport. Some were thrown into vats of hot boiling oil. Some were even crucified like our Lord. Has there ever been a time that Christianity has been an inconvenient truth for me?

Christianity has certainly evolved. We have built beautiful churches and cathedrals. We have padded seats, plexiglass pulpits, sound systems, keyboards, computer generated graphics, lights and drums. We have articles of faith, manuals, bylaws, boards, Districts, organizations and denominations. We have so much stuff that the early Christians did not. Of course, none of these are inherently wrong or evil. But there is a lot of extra stuff we must contend with that they did not have to. Church is much more complicated and complex than it was back then.

The Pharisees had over many years made Judaism quite complicated. They had, by the time Jesus emerged, added another 613 commandments to the hundreds that were already in the Old Testament. Serving God was complex. Obeying God was difficult. Those who were saved were few and converts came along infrequently, if ever. There was such an obsession to pore over every facet of their faith that they often argued and debated among themselves about the fine points of theology. One group said there was a resurrection, the other said no. They argued over how far one could walk on the Sabbath, which mountain to worship in, which commandments were the most important. One day one scholar asked Jesus to join the debate: "What is the greatest commandment?" Jesus' response was simply "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength". Jesus cuts through all of the complexity and the minute details and makes it simple. Love God wholly and completely, that's the highest priority, the greatest commandment.

We make Christianity difficult oftentimes. We make Christianity intimidating and complex. Outsiders know what we're for and against. They know where we stand on the issues. They see and hear the diverse opinions of various Christian groups and the debates that rage between one group that says they are the true church and another group that says they're wrong and that THEY are the true church. Churches have compiled addendums to scripture known as catechisms, doctrinal statements, confirmation classes, affirmations, creeds, and manuals. There is so much information to wade through, so many hoops to jump through, things to sign, things to read, things to understand and to mull over. No wonder many people are disenfranchised with "organized religion".

But Christ's words still cut through all of this complexity and like a beacon in a dark place, the simple truth of His Kingdom and His Church remains. When you are willing to descend below the surface and peel back the layers of thousands of years of church history and acquired traditions, all of it hinges on one simple truth: "Love the Lord your God..."

I've been hearing from the Lord it seems over the past two years this reaccuring theme: "simplify your life". I have way too many clothes in my closet, way too many books on my shelves, way too many irons in the fire, my to-do list is way too long, I am overcommitted, overextended and overachieving. It spills over into my relationships. It affects my walk with God. Before I realize it, life has become very complex and chaotic.

I'm working too hard to win God's favor. I overanalyze why things don't go my way. If only I could do more, generate more income, influence more people, have more drive and ambition, my life, my marriage, my family, my finances, my career would be more successful. But the more I try, the more I find I'm losing at this game. Jesus speaks through all the cacaphony: "Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength..."

We all have a story of a moment at a youth service, summer camp, church retreat, revival service, camp meeting, conference, or a routine Sunday when the sermon became more than a sermon, the song became more than a song, the event, the occasion became life changing and transformational. Maybe your moment was lying on your bed with tears spilling on to your pillow. Maybe it was in a hospital waiting room not knowing what kind of news you were going to get. Maybe it was in a jail cell or in a drunken stupor or lying next to someone you committed sin with the night before. All of us who follow Jesus have had that moment, the moment when we were overwhelmed by His great love for us, causing us to fall in love with Him. In that moment, nothing else mattered, not the shame of the past, the stress of the present or the uncertainty of the future. All that mattered was He loved you and you loved Him with all of your being. The complexities of life didn't matter. The chaos in the world didn't matter. What people were saying about you, what they were doing to you, what they were thinking about you just didnt matter anymore. Simple peace, simple joy, simple love filled your heart and mind. You became like a child all over again, free from the complications that people add to life. I often yearn to go back there. I think there are some people here that hunger for it too.

Its time to descend into the catacombs. To get below the shallow surface. To get back to pure religion. To get back to authentic prayer and fasting. Back to real worship. Back to genuine faith. We need to cut through all of the rubbish, the clutter, the mess and hear the voice of Jesus say once again, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength".

That one simple truth can change everything.
__________________

‎When a newspaper posed the question, "What's Wrong with the World?" G. K. Chesterton reputedly wrote a brief letter in response: "Dear Sirs: I am. Sincerely Yours, G. K. Chesterton." That is the attitude of someone who has grasped the message of Jesus.
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  #2  
Old 02-15-2010, 02:54 PM
Aquila Aquila is offline
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Re: One Simple Truth

Two words.... house church.
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  #3  
Old 02-15-2010, 02:55 PM
Aquila Aquila is offline
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Re: One Simple Truth

Quote:
Originally Posted by deacon blues View Post
In the city of Rome, off the beaten path, you might find the Church of San Clemente. It is an old church with well-preserved frescoes, statues and altars. For an extra five euros you can take an underground tour.

Rome is so old and has so much history that the city is literally built on top of layers of the past. Buildings are built on top of buildings. The Church of San Clemente is a 12th century church built on top of a 4th century church. Underneath the 4th century church are catacombs where our spiritual ancestors gathered covertly to worship and pray. They were there because it was illegal to be a Christian. The catacombs represent an era and time when early Christians paid a dear price for their faith. In many cases with their own lives.

To descend the staircase down into those catacombs is to go back in time thousands of years away from church buildings and symbols of religion and organizations and institutions. It's to go back to a time when Christianity was at its purest form, back to a time where there were no traditions, no schisms, no baggage from previous generations. It is to go back to a much simpler time.

As I read through the great chapter of Hebrews 11, I read about Abel offering a more excellent sacrifice, Enoch being translated because he had the testimony that he pleased God. I read about the exploits of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses refusing to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. It is one of the best reads of Scripture. But there is a part of Hebrews 11 I don't like to read. It begins in verse 35: "Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground."

That's the part I don't want to read. It's uncomfortable. It convicts me. It makes me realize that the things I complain about and the things I get upset about are silly and trite. It makes me realize how little I have had to sacrifice for my faith. In fact, the sacrifices that I have made probably wouldn't even qualify in a 2nd century context. History tells that some Christians were thrown to wild beasts for sport. Some were thrown into vats of hot boiling oil. Some were even crucified like our Lord. Has there ever been a time that Christianity has been an inconvenient truth for me?

Christianity has certainly evolved. We have built beautiful churches and cathedrals. We have padded seats, plexiglass pulpits, sound systems, keyboards, computer generated graphics, lights and drums. We have articles of faith, manuals, bylaws, boards, Districts, organizations and denominations. We have so much stuff that the early Christians did not. Of course, none of these are inherently wrong or evil. But there is a lot of extra stuff we must contend with that they did not have to. Church is much more complicated and complex than it was back then.

The Pharisees had over many years made Judaism quite complicated. They had, by the time Jesus emerged, added another 613 commandments to the hundreds that were already in the Old Testament. Serving God was complex. Obeying God was difficult. Those who were saved were few and converts came along infrequently, if ever. There was such an obsession to pore over every facet of their faith that they often argued and debated among themselves about the fine points of theology. One group said there was a resurrection, the other said no. They argued over how far one could walk on the Sabbath, which mountain to worship in, which commandments were the most important. One day one scholar asked Jesus to join the debate: "What is the greatest commandment?" Jesus' response was simply "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength". Jesus cuts through all of the complexity and the minute details and makes it simple. Love God wholly and completely, that's the highest priority, the greatest commandment.

We make Christianity difficult oftentimes. We make Christianity intimidating and complex. Outsiders know what we're for and against. They know where we stand on the issues. They see and hear the diverse opinions of various Christian groups and the debates that rage between one group that says they are the true church and another group that says they're wrong and that THEY are the true church. Churches have compiled addendums to scripture known as catechisms, doctrinal statements, confirmation classes, affirmations, creeds, and manuals. There is so much information to wade through, so many hoops to jump through, things to sign, things to read, things to understand and to mull over. No wonder many people are disenfranchised with "organized religion".

But Christ's words still cut through all of this complexity and like a beacon in a dark place, the simple truth of His Kingdom and His Church remains. When you are willing to descend below the surface and peel back the layers of thousands of years of church history and acquired traditions, all of it hinges on one simple truth: "Love the Lord your God..."

I've been hearing from the Lord it seems over the past two years this reaccuring theme: "simplify your life". I have way too many clothes in my closet, way too many books on my shelves, way too many irons in the fire, my to-do list is way too long, I am overcommitted, overextended and overachieving. It spills over into my relationships. It affects my walk with God. Before I realize it, life has become very complex and chaotic.

I'm working too hard to win God's favor. I overanalyze why things don't go my way. If only I could do more, generate more income, influence more people, have more drive and ambition, my life, my marriage, my family, my finances, my career would be more successful. But the more I try, the more I find I'm losing at this game. Jesus speaks through all the cacaphony: "Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength..."

We all have a story of a moment at a youth service, summer camp, church retreat, revival service, camp meeting, conference, or a routine Sunday when the sermon became more than a sermon, the song became more than a song, the event, the occasion became life changing and transformational. Maybe your moment was lying on your bed with tears spilling on to your pillow. Maybe it was in a hospital waiting room not knowing what kind of news you were going to get. Maybe it was in a jail cell or in a drunken stupor or lying next to someone you committed sin with the night before. All of us who follow Jesus have had that moment, the moment when we were overwhelmed by His great love for us, causing us to fall in love with Him. In that moment, nothing else mattered, not the shame of the past, the stress of the present or the uncertainty of the future. All that mattered was He loved you and you loved Him with all of your being. The complexities of life didn't matter. The chaos in the world didn't matter. What people were saying about you, what they were doing to you, what they were thinking about you just didnt matter anymore. Simple peace, simple joy, simple love filled your heart and mind. You became like a child all over again, free from the complications that people add to life. I often yearn to go back there. I think there are some people here that hunger for it too.

Its time to descend into the catacombs. To get below the shallow surface. To get back to pure religion. To get back to authentic prayer and fasting. Back to real worship. Back to genuine faith. We need to cut through all of the rubbish, the clutter, the mess and hear the voice of Jesus say once again, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength".

That one simple truth can change everything.
What makes you believe that these things aren't inherently wrong or sinful? If the form violates function... it's wrong. Besides, Paul taught us exactly what a church gathering should be like in I Corinthians 14. Why don't we shoot for the biblical model?
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  #4  
Old 02-15-2010, 03:23 PM
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Sam Sam is offline
Jesus' Name Pentecostal


 
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Posts: 17,805
Re: One Simple Truth

great post, DB.
thank you.


Paul talks about being lured away from "the simplicity that is in Christ" in 2 Corinthians 11:2-3. In the NIV it reads: "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ." This seems to be the same thing Jesus is speaking of in Revelation 2:4 where He says that some have left their "first love." The NLT records Jesus as saying, "You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!"

Some years ago a woman complained in song to her man, "You don't bring me flowers anymore." Just like our relationship with others can deteriorate, so can our relationship with the Lord.
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  #5  
Old 02-15-2010, 03:46 PM
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*AQuietPlace* *AQuietPlace* is offline
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Re: One Simple Truth

Great post, deacon blues.
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Old 02-15-2010, 03:48 PM
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MawMaw MawMaw is offline
of 10!! :)


 
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Re: One Simple Truth

Awesome post Deacon! Thank you!!
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