FORWARDS BY THE MEANS OF THE SIMPLE, SMALL AND SUPPLE.
To introduce the smaller congregation to the Biblical dynamic of simplicity can be so rewarding! In these "times" - we clearly live in a period that is convinced of the direct relationship between impressive growth or size and success! Now this can be truly challenging! !
Securing My Position.
GROWTH, ADVANCEMENT, IMAGINATION: People have always enjoyed the activity and excitement of entrepreneurial styled growth. In fact, most of us are so secure and comfortable with our modern world's exciting advances and constant growth that we really don't let too much else bother us. Our modern world just seems to be filling our imagination with a growing excitement that gives a new sort of meaning to our lives.EXPERIENCE, ENTERTAINMENT, ENCOURAGING, EXCITING: How can we explain what we are experiencing? There seems to be some most amazing advancements - almost every day - with more and more exciting entertainment options, more interesting technologies and more access to the amazing nature and beautiful scenery that seems more accessable then ever before. Naturally, any number of people will admit that their "comfort zone" may come under major pressure and stress from the problems of this world. Problems, while challenging our 'comfort zones,' must be accepted or, rather, to whatever degree possible - just ignored, since almost everyone agrees that 'one's life needs to be based on the positive and the encouraging, or even the exciting' rather than the negative things in this world.
FULL, FOCUS, FUN, UNDISTRUBED: Our modern perspective on living life to its fullest has no choice but to do what is necessary to maintain its focus on the positive. Fun runs, biking marathons, sports and our favorite "hide aways' play an important role in diverting our attention from all the potential or real negativity in our world. Social problems, ecological threats, political failures and the constant news of war or the potential for extremism and terrorism seem to exist only to cloud our happiness and our progress. It was never easy to unseat or move humanity from the patterns and habits of their lives and lifestyles. With the exciting entertainment mind-set of the current middle-class lifestyle few of us want to be disturbed and none of us want to be shaken from our comfort zones.
DISTRACTED, EFFICIENCY: There really is not too much that could "wake us up" - we are so busy - so distracted from life's real dangers and so well entertained. There is one obvious situation that can bring us to re-think our life's preferences - it is warfare at our doorsteps. In times of war attitudes might be more open to some re-think or some modification. During war, people might be more inclined to recognizing, (at least - for the moment,) that there may be a valid need for efficiency and effectiveness over excitement and activity. The need for efficiency is usually easier to explain when there is a recession or when someone has lost his or her job or as, already mention, in the case of the shocking reality of terrorism or a war situation.
REALITY, PERSONAL SECURITY: Accepting that terrorism or warfare is actually my "reality" is difficult to understand or accept if the war is not actually "at my own doorstep." In the case of "cyber wars" or "cold wars" or even "distant wars" the struggle to identify with the reality of conflict and the need to make the sacrifices needed are often just to abstract. Actual, what most people just want to hear or want to be told is that their personal security and their economic position is unassailable and secure.
Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against fleshb and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints..."
INTERRUPTING, DESTROYING: For the genuine Christian, a life of entertainment, exciting distractions and enjoying nature has been clearly interrupted by their knowledge of God's workings with Israel, the Lord's "Chosen People;" then further interrupted by the life, teachings, death and resurrection of their Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ; and finally or ultimately interrupted with the New Testament's message that Satan and the principalities and powers and rulers of darkness of this world are committed to attacking us due to our faith in God and His Word. Hard to believe, really, but this exciting, seemingly advancing world that is filled with fun, sport, nature and progress is actually behind all of this activity and is truly and primarily committed to destroying our walk of faith and joy in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Struggling with Perceptions.
ETHICS, EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVE: But who wants to focus on the reality of warfare? Why must we be so spiritually serious, so morally sober and so ethically efficient? The common perception is that there is an unacceptable level of simplicity to spiritual teaching and there is an embarrassing plainness to moral living. The perceived colorlessness and drabness of a life that is committed to an ethical discipline or even worse to a commitment to efficiency and excellency is just beyond the imagination of many. The true Truth of God's Word has always struggled against the perceived excitement or "glitz" that surrounds growth and progress! Once people finally accept the idea that their secure situation is under threat - that there really is an impending war and that they can in reality be found "in harms way" ... then they may be willing to rethink the validity and value of truth, morality and disciplined and effective living. No one would argue that this is a real and serious struggle within man's mind and heart.PROGRESS, SIMPLICITY, WARFARE, HUMILITY: Our perceptions regarding progress is that growth and size speaks of advancement and these are for most - especially young people exciting experiences. Simplicity and smallness, on the other hand, if often mistaken for regressiveness or taking a step backwards. In the Bible simplicity and smallness when focused on "the name of the LORD of hosts" offers far more than "meets the eye." Spiritual warfare as explained in God's Word is a relatively simple matter of maintaining an awareness or consciousness of the "matter at hand" -- rather than a matter of might. Christians when first made aware of the threat around them, often mistakenly look to the world for their model or strategy. This "knee jerk" reaction to facing life's threats leads to being concerned first for themselves with their own "felt" or perceived needs and the obvious answer is usually to find might, power and strength. The modern Christian needs to avoid reacting emotionally, out of fear, but in a quiet and reasoned faith they need to recognize their actual spiritual need for the simplicity of humility, prayer and service taught in God's Word, the Bible.
Simplified Equations.
TRADITION, TRUTH, POWER: Of course, some will want to blindly hang on to their traditional responses to the threats of an enemy. In the case of the "Historic Christianity" - tradition, form and positions of power are their "equivalents" or replacements for faith, hope and love. The repetitive and comforting repetitiveness of liturgies and traditions found in so much of Christianity's long history are - in fact - so very - very far from the reality associated with the spiritual truths taught by Moses, David, Daniel, Christ, John, James and Paul. As already mentioned, most people just want to be told that their position is unassailable and secure. Christendom's various forms of Worship, be they the traditional comforting familiarity of liturgical worship; or, if it be the youthful and raw excitement of emotional entertainment in Contemporary Worship, come no less from the belief that problems can be resolved by some 'sense of strength' or some type of experience via a "revelation of power."SIZE, ORGANIZATIONS, LEADERSHIP: Most often these attempts of Traditional and Contemporary Christendom to provide us with comfort and hope are centered on an assurance of strength and power that equates power to size. These traditionalists place their trust in economic and numerical size and success. The traditional church needed Grand Cathedrals that dominated the center of their towns or more recently offer the idea of a Mega-gathering of thousands that provides the promise of security and spiritual peace. Christendom's success was always related to the growth, the size and the complexity of their organizations. The growing Mega-Churches, like the Old Denominational Churches join with modern business and the current financial world by encouraging a belief in the necessity of dynamic leadership rather than Biblical Christianity's servant-leadership. These seemingly more dynamic leaders - are usually found where "Big" ideas, complex systems and large organizations abound. This strength in size seems, to most people, to be the best or safest response!
In 1 Samuel 17:15 we read of David returning from the battlefields of Saul, Israel and the Philistines ...
"to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. 16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. 17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; 18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. 19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trenche, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.
22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren. 23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. 25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel. 26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? 27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him. 28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. 29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? 30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same mannerg: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he senth for him. 32 And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lambi out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. 39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. 40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brookk, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. 41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. 43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the LORD deliverl thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands. 48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David."
Small Perspectives.
EDUCATION, SOBER, NORMAL: Faith, love and hope are commonly viewed, in our secularized world, as 'fine emotional moments' but few really educated and thinking people accept these three concepts as sufficient for achieving 'real-time' success or for defending oneself against any of life's real threats or perceived enemies! The Holy Scriptures obviously see the whole matter from another, far more sober, perspective. We saw in 1 Samuel that David, as a youth was open to these normal reactions or responses. He was open to these world opinions and he understood the commonly accepted or traditional reaction to a threat. David was not "better than the rest" - he was no "Superman" or "bigger than life" youth.OPINION, FAITH, WISDOM: David like any good Israeli, loved his people, had confidence in his country's cause and hoped for the best. David gave size a "try" and was not above giving size "its due" - David listened to Saul and he yielded, at first, to the accepted opinion of the world. It was obvious that David was just a youth standing in front of his beloved nation's king. I Samuel 17:39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. But for a man or woman of faith, even a young herder-boy, power and strength need not be accepted as a matter of "Great Cathedrals" or "Mega Crowds." David understood that the power or strength of anything or anyone - the greatness or the smallness of anything - is a matter of a reality rather than a perspective that can only be spiritually discerned or understood in terms of Divine Wisdom.
INADEQUATE, ENABLED, SIMPLICITY: In the tribulation God has set aside 144,000 witnesses to carry the Gospel into the world. But Jesus chose only twelve disciples rather than twelve hundred ... this seems (in human terms) inadequate for changing the whole world. One's perspectives need to be checked or carefully guarded through the use of the reality of the Word of God to enable us to see things from the Lord's perspective. All other things seeming to be equal, David did show more depth ... though he was only a shepherd boy. David had a simple but genuine love for God. David, as a relatively inexperenced youth may have had only a small meaure of faith but it was in God. (Romans 12:3 "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.) Do you feel you are struggling to maintain your confidence and demonstrate your faith? Join David and think through the simplicity of his faith and the smallness of the stone he selected as he stood before Goliath. David's Lord and Master was none-other than Jehovah, the God of hosts. Romans 8:31b "If God be for us, who can be against us?"
Serious Acceptance.
VISION, HOPE, THE WORD: David's youthful vision might have been limited and effected by the influence of the simple hills of Bethlehem, but somehow his hope was far more in God's greatness and in a serious acceptance of the great Divine Promises - of God alone! The shepherd, all other things seeming to be equal, was just one - an individual person that found a depth of faith in the Lord ... though only a shepherd boy. David was a serious shepherd-boy who had a simple but genuine love for God. David, as a relatively inexperenced youth may have had only a youthful and small meaure of faith (Romans 12:3) but again we remind ourselves that his Lord and Master was none-other than Jehovah, the God of hosts. As already mentioned, David's youthful vision might have been limited by the quiet influences of the simple hills of Bethlehem, but somehow his hope was far more in God's mountain-like greatness and in that great God's Divine Promises - alone! Granted, the shepherds' life and culture was just a steady and quiet life. The shepherd was most usually focused only on the simple security found in personal peace and possibly only committed to creating a simple protectionist umbrella for his own future prosperity. Nonetheless, David chose to listen to the Word of the Lord - the Wisdom of the Ages over the influences of his culture and society and friends.Simple as Supple
SUPPLE, AGILE, SHIFTING: To be "supple" in the best sense - in the sense being used in this article - is not just a matter of compliance but rather is a matter of maintaining simple faith that has the characteristic of being supple for service to our Master. Spiritually agile when facing the mountains and challenges of serving the Lord is no minor issue. Great military ships require the support of smaller ships for their support and defense. Flexibility is necessary to Biblically address the constantly shifting demands of society! The world's opposition to our understanding of God, our core or fundamental beliefs and moral values can only be defended by a supple church. Tradition with is creedal and liturgical formulas, like legalism with its stubbornness of spirit is insufficient for doing God's work in God's way!
QUIETNESS, INTIMATE, STRENGTH: The individual's personal study of God's Word is effective in its quietness and stillness - its removal from the noise and excitement of this world. Like our Savior, our times for personal or private prayer are intimate moments in the presence of the God of the Universe. These small and humble experiences are available to all believers and they shut no one out. Where the small congregation encourages Biblical truth as strength itself and as truth delivered through personal care and concern for one another, the large congregation offers little more than grandeur and greatness - with a much greater potential for impersonal and superficial relationships with others. The large church with its complexities, programs and corporate styled motivational experiences have done little more than usurp the intimacy of the congregational "body-life" that is taught in the Epistles of Paul, Peter, James and John.
SMALLER, PERSONAL: The smaller local congregation has some wonderful contributions to make in the life of the believers. The smaller local congregation provides that unique personal involvement of the "one another" passages that are so important to the life and growth of a Christian. Ephesians 4:2 "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love ..." 4:32 "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you."
INVOLVEMENT, IMPLEMENTATION: The smaller church allows for the personal involvement of the congregations spiritual leaders as in Acts 20:20-30; Romans 12-15; 1 Corinthians 16; Ephesians 4; Philippians 2, 3; Galatians 5-6; I Thessalonians 1-4; Hebrews 10; James 1-4; 1 Peter 3-5; 1 John 2 and Jude. The smaller church, by default, cannot offer all the 'Programmes' -Projects - Committees and Systems available in the larger churches and this fact encourages more involvement by individuals, couples and families in evangelism, care opportunities, acts of mercy and discipleship and/or counseling. Hebrews 13:17 is a far more practical verse to implement in the smaller church: (17) "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."
QUIETNESS, INTIMATE, STRENGTH: The individual's personal study of God's Word is effective in its quietness and stillness - its removal from the noise and excitement of this world. Like our Savior, our times for personal or private prayer are intimate moments in the presence of the God of the Universe. These small and humble experiences are available to all believers and they shut no one out. Where the small congregation encourages Biblical truth as strength itself and as truth delivered through personal care and concern for one another, the large congregation offers little more than grandeur and greatness - with a much greater potential for impersonal and superficial relationships with others. The large church with its complexities, programs and corporate styled motivational experiences have done little more than usurp the intimacy of the congregational "body-life" that is taught in the Epistles of Paul, Peter, James and John.
SMALLER, PERSONAL: The smaller local congregation has some wonderful contributions to make in the life of the believers. The smaller local congregation provides that unique personal involvement of the "one another" passages that are so important to the life and growth of a Christian. Ephesians 4:2 "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love ..." 4:32 "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you."
Only ...
by simple faith can we carry-out God's work.
Only ...
by the supple labors of genuine love for God and others can we represent Him.
Only ...
by finding the genuine patience of hope in 'small things made great' through the Lord Jesus Christ can we be found pleasant and pleasing to our God.
Only ...
if we ... live our lives in the sight of God and our Father, rather than in an effort to please or impress men can we expect to maintain the simplicity that allows us sufficient suppleness for service to the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 1:2
"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father."
Sources of Strength
2 Corinthians 10:1 "Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: 2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ..."
STRENGTH, ENEMIES, OPPOSITION: The spiritual strength to do, (to accomplish the good that God has planned for us, as His Workmanship, to do - Eph. 2:8-10), depends on our preparedness and our strength to carry on a real 'warfare.' This requires that we see the real enemy in our world, our flesh and the devil. Only genuine spiritual warfare can explain why we should look for any spiritual "strength." Many commonly and popularly offer strength for obtaining wealth, for living life more fully and happily but the strength offered in Scripture is to repulse the advances of our enemy! Only when we accept the realities of this spiritual warfare can we appreciate ... the reason why we need "strength" as something defined as an 'intensity of force available' ... to do, to change and to defend. Only when, and if, we see the need for accomplishing God's goals and His will can we understand our need for His strength - His Mercy. Only when we see the need for making Biblical changes to our lives and attitudes will our personal need for His strength - His Grace allow us to walk daily with the Lord. Only when we accept the reality of our opposition will the seriousness of His strength become a reality in our daily living.
Some Useful Observations
Our opposition is not always from outside, rather it is more often than we recognise, from within us.2 Corinthians 10:12 "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
Our opposition can be most subtle and we can be corrupted. We want what we want and we will get what we want ... even while we look so very humble. Satan will encourage you to see the "other side" and to compromise ... always being convinced - in your mind - that the simple is "simplistic and below you." Be sure, Satan will convince you of your rights and the rightness of your opinions! His techniques have been effective ... every since Eve.
2 Corinthians 11:1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
