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When Christ Is No Longer Enough
The most important questions to ask here are: "what is the nature of the old? What is the foundation upon which it has been built? And, how true, good and solid is that foundation?" If a "sure foundation" has been laid, there is no further laying needed, only building upon that which has been laid. I believe the key here is to continue to seek and further develop that intimate fellowship with our Father and Christ through the eternal cross, and not by pursuing new doctrines or supernatural experiences.
A NEW WORD?
A vision is necessary to carry believers forward. It is that goal to which the high calling of God in Christ Jesus has called us—the end point. It is that to which Hebrews 6:1 points where it reads, "Let us go on to perfection (maturity)." That vision must go beyond 'today' and look to a completed work for the return of Christ. This may be seen corporately as a bride being prepared for her bridegroom (Rev.19:7) and as a "glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing," (Eph. 5:27) i.e., a "holy sanctuary for the dwelling of God in the Spirit." (Eph. 2:22) That vision may also be seen individually as Christ-likeness in the character of one who "partakes of the divine nature." (1Pet.1:4)
However, many seem to have fallen prey to the idea that head knowledge is salvation. They say in their heart, "if I know it, I have it." Like the agnostics of the first century church they feel knowledge is most important and that the body is either to be ignored, simply punished, trained, or freed to have its way. To know is the ultimate. They thus seek for new ideas, new doctrine. Like the philosophers the Apostle Paul encountered on Mars Hill in Athens, "they spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear of some new thing." (Acts 17:21)
And so today, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified is not enough. Talk of death and blood is not vogue. Today, absolutes such as truth and lie, light and darkness, life and death, good and evil, are archaic. The intellectuals say these are too restrictive, too binding, too exclusionary. Instead they insist all things now are relative and that the Church should be more open minded, loving, and tolerant. Even the absoluteness of Christ and eternal life is now considered relative. Christ is often presented as a "spirit of goodness" to be seen in anyone of morally good character and that eternal life is given to all. They say because God is love, and therefore tolerant and forgiving, He extends salvation to all creation. Some even believe that includes Satan. These are vain philosophies bound to the wisdom of man, absent of sound foundational Biblical truth.
It is the false way of the philosopher that says if one knows about eternal life he has it. Or, if one calls himself Christian, he must have salvation. Just knowing the call to overcome does not make one an overcomer. Being part of a church that teaches the Bride of Christ does not in itself make one part of that spiritual company. Pursuing new doctrines like kingdom now, Christian reconstructionism, or Christ returning but only in His Church and other such doctrines are not necessarily building the Kingdom of God. These were but a few examples. They distort the truth and refocus the believer's mind, heart, efforts, resources and time towards a seemingly earthly tangible gain. The focus is away from a true inward work of the Spirit towards holiness and righteousness, and intimacy of fellowship with God and Christ.
The Kingdom is built, and the Church is prepared by the way of the cross. It is an eternal principle. It is the foundation, it is current, and it is future. It is a work that, having begun, never ceases. I ask you, what new teaching or revelation can replace the reality of a continual apprehending by faith of, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me"? (Gal. 2:20) Or, "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Heb. 9:14) Is this not what the Apostle Paul alluded to when he wrote, "that your faith might not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God"? (1Cor. 2:5)—i.e., faith unleashing the inward power of God to transform our lives through the continual working of the cross of Christ.
A FRESH EXPERIENCE?
One who has experienced the new birth becomes like the Shulamite woman who said, "If you find my beloved, that you tell him I am lovesick." Jesus becomes more than a means to an end, He becomes our love. One who has experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit becomes like Peter when inward enlightenment fell upon him and he declared, "You are the Christ, the Son of God." (Mt. 16:16) It was then that Jesus declared that God Himself revealed this to Peter. Here, revelation comes to the inward man far beyond outward observance and mental apprehension. Perhaps even further spiritual experiences follow as one is graced with speaking in tongues, prophecy, healing, a miracle or some other manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit.
However, waiting upon the Spirit, and seeking Christ with all our heart, our mind, our soul, and strength requires the work of faith, which is not easy nor is it quick. In the fast pace of today's world this is not enough. People want supernatural experiences continually, or at least as often as possible. This opens unhealthy doors. Many become sidetracked from original purpose and focus upon experiences and accomplishments. Lee Iococa, former CEO of Chrysler Motor Company, once said, "Don't just stand there, make something happen." This may be good advice in the business world but not in the Body of Christ. As a matter of fact, way too much is adopted from the business world and adapted to the 'spiritual' in order to "make something happen." This is in error, not being "led of the Spirit." (Rm. 8:14) Being led of the Spirit does not come from an instructional manual or "how to" guide, but from much prayer, fasting, and devotion leading to intimacy with the Spirit of Christ.
So, business methodologies and techniques are used: •to outreach the Gospel of Christ as an 'evangelical' tool, •in discipleship training programs, •in clinical-type marriage or family counseling, •in fund and number raising ploys in the local church, •in manipulating people to feel good about themselves and their works, and so on.
Mysticism or heightened supernatural experiences are sought: •in schools developed to teach people how to prophesy, •using visualization to replace revelation, •encouraging transcendental meditation as adopted or modified into the Christian faith as contemplative prayer, •in prayer labyrinths, •in other forms of contemplative meditation used in Bible reading (Lectio Divina), •for mystical powers to heal or comfort (Reiki), •inviting angels in for advice or for healing, and •in Cultic practices used in worship rituals.
hese are but a few examples of wrongly going "elsewhere" when seeking to build upon the "elementary principles of Christ" are not enough. When this happens, the church (or individual) has "lost its first love;" has a "name that is alive but are dead;" is delusional in thinking as it considers itself, "rich, wealthy, and have need of nothing" but in reality is "wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked." O' that vastness of the difference between how we see ourselves and how we are viewed before Christ.
I will close by quoting a most powerful verse: "God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world is crucified to me and I to the world." (Gal. 6:14) All things must pass through the cross, and under the blood. It is a truth that ages not nor loses its power over time. Shall our, "faith not be in the wisdom of man," or in the powers of the mystical/supernatural, "but in the power of God?" Shall we, today, freshly embrace Jesus Christ as our first love, His cross as the place of death, burial, and resurrection into newness of life, and His blood offering for the continual cleansing of our hearts and purging of our consciences. Saints, let us not be moved from the simplicity and singleness of Christ, Himself. He, is our portion.
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