Nov

Transparency

Posted by: Sonny in Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Spiritual Gifts

I read a post by Jason today about the need for holiness to again be championed by the church. It seems to be an essential element of our ability to help the light of Christ shine in this world. My comment took on a life of its own so I am asking you to read Jason’s article but I am modifying my comment to post here.

I am in total agreement with Jason that there is a serious need in the church in America to come back to holiness. Since the light of Christ can never be overcome by the darkness of the enemy, the dimming we ascertain is due to the position we have “between” the light of Christ and the darkness of a lost world. If we were all transparent enough to allow Christ’s light to shine through us as He intended, we would see the darkness fleeing the light. Instead we obfuscate when we should be helping to illuminate.

I believe holiness is the key to our transparency. Jason asked the following…

“With this said, what do some of you think about the lack of holiness being preached and expressed in the church today? (note: I am not talking about dresses and make-up”

I believe this is a very real factor in the equation. Holiness is mostly omitted or confused with legalistic ideas. And we certainly don’t live as separated from the world, soldiers in the army of God. Look at Dees post over at Hope Aflame. We are so tied into the world it is no wonder the skeptics see no difference between us and them.

Our constant need for “stuff”, for “entertainment”, for “acceptance”, for “influence”, ad infinitum, is diametrically positioned in relation to our mission to reflect the light of Christ. When are we going to get it through our thick, titanium clad skulls that this is not about us. It is about our neighbor and our enemy over us and about Jesus over even them.

But serving Christ cannot be done if we never serve the others first. And we can only do that by allowing the light to shine through us and that takes the transparency that is only achieved by holy living.

Jason also asked…

Also, do you feel that Pentecostal churches are feeling pressure to abandon the gifts of the Spirit in our services with the fear of people being uncomfortable?

I have to say that it may be that God Himself might be tired of some of the things we have been calling gifts and manifestations for so long. Before going any further let me assure all that I am a FIRM believer in the supernatural gifting and moving of God in this time and place. The very way God brought me to my knees in repentance and to salvation is all the evidence of this that I need.

But what I mean about God being tired of our “antics” is this.

Just look at what the vast majority of Pentecostals are seeking and being thrilled at in any given revival. Slain in the Spirit, speaking in tongues, shouting, jumping, running the isles and I have even heard many boast of people jumping on the back of pews and running them. Not sure what they call that.

My question is simply, how do these things truly glorify God. My falling down on the floor at the altar, which has happened by the way, did what for any lost soul? Speaking in tongues has been elevated to the level of being worthy of worship itself. Aren’t we to worship the gifter and not the gift? Shouting, running, jumping does exactly what to help fulfill the great commission? And I won’t even say anything about pew back running or picking up hot coals with bare hands or gold dust or gold teeth or…

What saddens me, and I wonder if it saddens God also, is our acceptance that this is all there is and we go away thrilled with the great service or revival. Where are the miracles that really have the potential to impact lives? Where are true, verifiable healings? Where are all the truly changed people? Where are the lasting deliverances from the activity of the adversary?

I have experienced many, and am not bothered by any, of these things. And even on occasion felt closer to God because of it. As I said, I am saddened, but only because I know there could be so much more. Are we just settling for what makes us happy at the moment? And as far as it goes, if God is willing to allow us to have this level of gifting even though we are not very holy, what would we be able to do if we really did come back to holiness?

Some of the new, more postmodern Christians are probably not willing to accept or be comfortable with some of what we call Pentecostal gifting and manifestations. But I would like to know if they could handle a paraplegic getting out of a wheelchair or a blind man gaining his sight in one of their altars. I believe they would find this to be cause to sit up and take a fresh look. I know I anxiously await it in my church.

I just wonder if we might need to get rid of some of the excess first.

And I don’t have to wonder at all about the necessity to live a holy life before and for our God and King. There just is no question about this.

Transparency is the need in this moment of darkness. Then, and only then, can the Light shine through.

Love you all

Tags: America, army of god, christ shine, darkness, Entertainment, Healing, Holiness, Love, Miracles, neighbor, Pentecost, Pentecostal, Salvation, Self, Supernatural, transparency

This entry was posted on Friday, November 21st, 2008 at 2:32 am and is filed under Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Spiritual Gifts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

11 comments so far

Connie

Wow. There are a lot of things to ponder in this blog.

Transparency is one thing that I have prayed for many times over; especially when I was so involved in the homeless ministry we once had at our church. Each time we left for the “park”, I prayed that everyone there would leave their flesh at home and let the love of God shine through us. I wanted to be transparent, but did not want those I was there to minister to to feel transparent. It was important to me to mingle, ask their names and share our “stories” with each other. I was there for more than passing out a biscuit and a cup of coffee, but to make them feel that they were loved not only by God, but by His people as well. Sadly, everyone was not there for that reason. Some were there just to say “look what I did for the homeless” and obfuscate the purpose of why we were there (I had to look that word up by the way). I could go on for days about this, but moving on….

I personally have been slain in the Spirit a few times and fell in the floor at the altar (not that many though). I have spoken in tongues and even given out a few messages to the church as God directed. I’m not sure how running, shouting, etc. glorifys God directly, but I do know that when God sometimes shows up so strongly in MY spirit, I can not contain it. It overwhelms me so that it just has to overflow somehow; by shouting, crying, running, speaking in tongues, or whatever. I just call it my “refill”. I can’t continue to give Him away if I don’t have a refill now and then.

Where are true, verifiable healings? Where are all the truly changed people? Where are the lasting deliverances from the activity of the adversary? Well right here is one. God truly delivered me from the power of addiction after sixteen years. He healed me from clinical depression. I have been truly changed. I am a “new creature with a new feature”. He did it…not me or anyone else.

Sonny, I too anxiously await the miraculous in our church. Bringing up the subjects of gifting and manifestations could turn in to some very long comment posts. There are too many to speak on in one post. I do believe that God blesses His “faithful” ones with these gifts. Oh…if only we all had the kind of faith that Peter had when he took the first step out of that boat

Peace and Love to all

November 21st, 2008 at 1:33 pm

Tammy

Sonny, most of my life I have heard it preached, taught and spoken that we have to get back to holy living. I am not even sure most people know what that means. I do believe that this post is a step in that direction.

If we can be transparent, letting the light of God shine through us, every one and every thing, including the evil spirits will be subjected to Him.

I believe that our services have catered to those who worry about what someone will think rather than what God thinks or wants.

Our culture is so self motivated….

How will it affect me? Do I have time to help? Why can’t they work like everyone else?????

I believe that these are the selfish questions that must be eliminated in our thought process in order to return to Holy living. I have heard hundreds of discussions where people have expressed how they battled with whether or not to give $5.00 to a homeless person or someone standing on the interstate ramp waving a sign for fear they would use it for something other than food. We have become so suspicious of everything and everyone “in need”.

What if we are wrong? Why are we so willing to take that chance, knowing that we will be held accountable?

I believe that maybe we should be afraid to sing those songs that say ” I lift up holy hands”, etc. when we are so far from holy.

I am sure this has not been on track with the post, but I do know that until each and every one of us decide to take a look at how we rate as ”holy”, we will never become transparent.

We certainly do not have a problem rating others on their holiness!!!!

November 21st, 2008 at 1:38 pm

Sonny

Connie,

I am one of those “proofs” that I want to see also. And you are right thinking that this post might end up being controversial, to say the least. But I have my own observations and when I don’t name anyone I am speaking about a group. And as far as groups go, Pentecostals are no holier than the average agnostic.

Most of the gifts and experiences that people run to the altars all across America for are sought in selfishness. Me, Lord, what do you have for me this time?

Holiness is about being set apart from the world for service to someone other than me. So naturally the gifts are given for the same service. You are a servant. I know that. But if we can’t get this through to the 80 percent [conservative figure] that sit on the pews and do nothing unless it serves them, then we have failed in part of our mission.

Love you

November 21st, 2008 at 2:03 pm

Connie

You are right. But HOW do we get this message across to that 80 or so percent? I just don’t undrestand it. I get frustrated. Even before I was saved I had a heart for anyone who was hurting… even someone I didn’t particular know or like.

How can we as “Christians” just sit there on a pew and do absoutely nothing to reach out to the hurting. My little pea brain just cannot understand it. I’m about to use UPPER CASE just thinking about it.

When we were bringing the homeless into our church, they were being delivered, accepting God into their lives, making an effort to find homes and get treatment. Yet, some of our own congregation did not even want to share the same coffee pot! If anyone reading this was one of those people….shame on you.

Any person, group, denomination, etc. can do a “good deed” toward another. But we as Christians must be God’s light that shines in a dark and tainted world, and reach out without the expectancy of a pat on the back, or an “atta boy” or even a thank you. It is not only our job as Christians, but a privilege.

I’m gettin’ stirred up now, so I’m just gonna be quiet before I get in trouble.

I Love You All

November 21st, 2008 at 2:33 pm

Dee Mimbs

This blog is so needed! Transparency is an issue that really needs to be addressed by those in leadership in the church. It is too easy to behave one way while in church and another totally different way while somewhere else.

I teach the 9-12 year old girls at church, and during the past few months, they have asked me some challenging questions. Many of these questions are regarding our actions — is it okay to get a tattoo? Is it okay to have a boyfriend? How should we handle it when a friend betrays us? Is it okay to wear this shirt or those shorts? etc.

If I start answering “yes” and “no” to many of these questions, then I will be falling prey to legalism. Don’t get me wrong, in some situations there is a clear-cut right answer, but some questions are not that simple.

What I have been trying to get my girls to do is to ask their own questions to get to a yes or no answer. For example: Why do I want to do this? How would this glorify or please God? If I do this, how will others be able to see Christ in me? Sometimes, it is all about our motivations.

This is where holiness comes in. Now, I do think living a holy life will cause you to be different than those around you, and your actions will be affected by holiness. However, one cannot be “holy” on the outside (actions we hear preached about often) without being holy on the inside (motivations and thoughts that are not so often and easily addressed).

This can be summed up in one word — sanctification. This is the process by which God removes the heart of stone (the self-centeredness with which we are all born) and replaces it with a heart of flesh (a God-centeredness that is quite unnatural).

May my decisions and actions always reflect a heart of flesh, a heart that beats for God and the other.

November 21st, 2008 at 7:14 pm

Shannon Mimbs

This is a good post and covers a lot of ground.

I think that one issue at hand is that even though we claim to believe in the “priesthood of all believers” in which all persons are priests unto God and thereby bear responsibility in worship and ministry, many of our local assemblies do not operate in accordance with such belief. We hire “professionals” to orchestrate “church affairs.” Such “professionalization” of ministry lends itself to a spectatorship model of ministry among many in the congregation; where we expect certain persons in the congregation to do more in advancing the Kingdom than us and we have convinced ourselves that this is normal.

I think this is an issue in how oftentimes we think of the corporate gathering in more of theatrical manner. Thus, as you noted in your post, we accept “that this is all there is,” when all the while, God is waiting for us to see the big picture of why we gather together. Of course, we should have a great time in God; and when I think of where God brought me from, I no doubt am moved emotionally. However, where is our follow through? How are we strategically (intentionally) making disciples, reaching unbelievers, feeding the poor, clothing the barren, loving the seemingly unlovable, etc.? I think we must reconsider what it means to “be” the church (and not just “do” church)…

Blessings to all

November 22nd, 2008 at 3:16 pm

Sonny

Shannon

How can you say, in such a compact precise exact way, what it took me three times the words to “try” to say.

You are exactly right about that performance model of church even though I had not thought of it that way. I have wondered though, why some churches seem to think they need such a large “paid” staff. Is church a business or as you put it so well, a fellowship of believers, that are supposed to be serving each other?

Love you

November 22nd, 2008 at 8:07 pm

Shannon

I think there are numerous contributing issues which feed the professionalized ministry model that we oftentimes pursue. One of which is a misunderstanding of what it means to lead (or leadership)… If not careful, we’ll adopt and adapt secularized, (CEO style) examples of leadership and attempt to translate such models into the local church setting (contra the New Testament teachings).

This seems to be one of the downfalls of the Corinthian church. They utilized secular models in judging spiritual issues… All the while, Paul spoke of a different standard, a new lens, a unique relationship within the body which reflects the image of God…

Blessings

November 23rd, 2008 at 2:22 am

Dee Prince

I do believe as a “body” we fall short on our willingness to be transparent. I think most would think one is weak if they are transparent.

I believe when others see Christ and not “our” agenda that is when we are transparent.

I too have struggled with whether or not to shout, dance, praise or just stand still. I can’t contain God’s outpouring. I have let go of “what will others think”, I come to church with an agenda of praising God for who he is!

Even at church recently, I thought, “there are several visitors here to day and I need behave and not offend anyone”. The next thought was,” God I don’t want to offend anyone, I just want to praise you with a thankful heart”. The next thing I knew the altar was filling up. All God needs is for us to be willing to praise him and be transparent enough to allow that love to show.

November 24th, 2008 at 2:09 pm

Sabrina Walker

Thank you mother in law.

I was not sure how to write my thoughts on this subject but you did it perfectly. I agree with you 100% percent. :jump:

November 25th, 2008 at 1:11 am

Sonny

This post is really not about whether we are or are not to display our affection for God. I know many may believe I have a problem with that but I do not.

The post is about when are we going to start seeing a fulfillment of the mission from “most” of the same people that so strongly display these same affections.

And please do not think this applies to any one here just because I commented at this point. I am simply trying to clarify as it seems the focus is straying from the point or maybe I just can’t write well enough for you all to understand what I am saying.

Love you all

November 25th, 2008 at 10:10 am