Once Upon A Time…
There once was a good King who ruled a kingdom with love and justice. Even though this King was beyond equal, he was not understood by many of his subjects. In time a rebellion was launched throughout much of the kingdom and those subjects who were ruled well by the King began to resist his laws and laugh at his decrees. Conflict began to erupt as those who threw off the King’s rule clashed with those still subject to His reign.
Now the King had one son, as just and good as his father. He was the apple of his father’s eye and more than anyone else represented the good that could come from being subject to the King. The son loved the Kingdom as much as the King and it caused them both great pain to see the rebellion sweep through the Kingdom. The King’s son asked for permission to lead the Kingdom’s army in restoring order to the Kingdom and the King. Seeing the love that his son had for the Kingdom, the King sent the son to the furthest reaches of the Kingdom to restore the reign of love and justice.
For a long season the King’s son fought on behalf of the Kingdom. He did not just battle the forces of the rebellion. He helped them. He was determined to demonstrate to the rebellion that the King’s reign was not just rules, but a good way of life that benefited all. His army would restore buildings destroyed by the battle, even while the rebellion looked on and mocked the King’s authority. He would personally take in the orphans of battle, especially if the orphans’ parents were part of the rebellion.
One day, the son came across a faction of rebels that was like most they had encountered. One rebel in particular thought he would prove a point and he shot the king’s son with an arrow through the arm. This incited others from the rebellion to fire at the king’s son, something no one had ever dared to do previously. And that day, the King’s son died, watching the people that he loved rejoice over the victory they had achieved in killing him.
The news reached the King back at his palace and those of the army that escaped reported to the king the names of the villagers that were involved. The King rose from his throne, rallied an army and fought through the rebellion until he found the very group of men who had killed His son. He captured those men, brought them back to His kingdom and showed them his kindness. He treated them with the same love that he treated his only son that they had killed. He treated with special kindness the one who shot the first arrow. It was his intention to love this man more than the rest, because he knew that the deepest rebellion was in him.
In time, the prisoners of the King learned of his goodness and justice. The man who had killed the King’s son especially became convinced of the King’s love for his people. Though he had cost the King the most, he experienced the King’s acceptance and favor unlike any other in the kingdom. He who was the King’s sworn enemy became his friend and they shared a special bond because of the love the King had for not only this prisoner, but also the son he lost. And that prisoner, who fought the King, rebelled against his ways, and tormented his son was named Travis. And he spent the rest of his life gratefully accepting something he could never have earned.
Photo Credit: Sant Pere de Rodes by Rienante El Pintor de Fuego
Food For Thought: Summer’s Ending Edition
Every week here at Pursuing Glory I try to bring together the best posts I’ve found that will equip the end-times church to operate in her God-ordained destiny. These are the best blogs, articles, books and other resources related to our purpose here at this site. Feel free to visit, comment, and make use of the resources found at each site.
It’s painfully obvious that summer is almost over. Now we await the cold of Fall and Winter. The plus side is my office will become more usable and that may mean more time for blogging. I’ll keep my fingers crossed and let you know if that ever materializes.
Time for America to Turn Back to God
I was encouraged by this call to repentance from Bob Roberts Jr. It lacked the typical “time to take back America from the Godless” rhetoric, but still called America back to God in practical, essential ways.
God calls us to set up monuments to His work in our lives. In this post, Josh recounts the moments God has directed him in supernatural ways to work and live among the poor of the Earth.
One of the things that I’ve been hearing from the Lord is that our inability to work as a team is a hindrance to creating disciple making movements. Guy’s post is an excellent primer on what makes teams work.
It’s Not About Church Planting
I’m encouraged by the fact that more and more people are gaining this perspective. Church planting is fruitless unless it is the result of new converts coming to Jesus.
BONUS MEDIA LINK:
The Salvation Army – Lessons for Us
Lex Loizides, uber Christian historian from the New Frontiers tribe, made his conference session on the history of the Salvation Army available for download. The Salvation Army has an amazing history that should provoke us all to live a missional lifestyle and Lex’s retelling of their story is a great way to “touch the bones” of this movement.
Photo Credit: Design Probes – Food for Thought by centralasian.
Why Our Giving Doesn’t Result in Movements
[This is part of an ongoing discussion on Financing a Kingdom Revolution.]
Discouraged. That’s one of the words that consistently describes my attitude toward Kingdom finances. The reason? I frequently see much of the money given in the name of Jesus used in ways that Jesus didn’t use money. And at the same time I see a number of legitimate people attempting to follow Jesus but lacking crucial funding that could amplify their substantial work. Somewhere there’s a disconnect when there are starving children in Africa America down the street* and we’re concerned because the carpet on the floor of a church building is wearing out.
It’s a startling fact, but some statistics say 97% of money given in churches is spent on people who gave the money. This means that no matter how much we say we desire the lost to be saved, the hungry to be fed, and the nations to be reached with the Gospel, our money is not where our mouth is. Now I could spend a lot of time debating on the legitimacy of pastors’ salaries and church building budgets, but the truth is that buildings and salaries only consume about 60% percent of most churches’ budgets. My question is where does the other 37% go?
My point in bringing all of this up is this: our giving tends to go right back to ourselves. We give and feel good about being sacrificial, but in reality we are consuming so much of what we give that no radical change takes place. Those who are strategically placed to significantly impact the world and extend the Kingdom of God often struggle with financing very real needs in spite of our overwhelming “generosity.” This is why no matter how much money we give, we fail to see significant Jesus movements take shape.
This is nothing new. Whenever the church has found herself disconnected from her apostolic purpose, she has used her resources poorly, most often for herself. But God has a financial system that is designed to meet legitimate needs and fuel the Kingdom of God. Our part in the process is to stop using our resources poorly, get connected with the purposes of God, and begin to channel money towards people and ministries who are actively pursuing those things that are on God’s agenda.
What if we put our money into the hands of people where God is powerfully manifesting His Kingdom right now? What would happen if we actually supported men and women who were raising up multiplying disciple-making movements in the earth? What would happen if we actually fully funded apostolic teams planting churches and reaching unreached people groups? What if those who were frequently engaged in caring for the poor or healing the sick through the workings of miracles never had to spend time writing another support letter? Would that be better than the new carpet?
Photo Credit: Empty Pockets by Danielmoyle
*Editor’s Note: Africa (especially) and America in general both have significant needs. By striking them from the record my goal is to show that need is nearby, not that one form of need is greater than another.
Cluster Map
Pursuing Glory 