He might have entitled it, “Just Wondering” … but instead called it “I’m Tired”. In his blog post, Pastor Levi Cichorz from NC, asks a number of very good questions about the state of society and the health of the body-of-Christ. I believe this is good and a good indication that God is speaking to this pastor. To ask such questions demonstrates he is not satisfied with the spiritual norm and that he recognizes significant points of unhealth, among the body-of-Christ. Why aren’t the people of God … being the people of God? I shared with Pastor Cichorz that I believe people are starving for solid leadership to take them [collectively] deeper, in their [corporate] relationship with Christ.
Where I believe Christian leadership is terribly unfocused, today — I readily, join this pastor in asking why? Why … am I not being the man God has purposed me to be? Why am I not spending time with God, in His Word … in prayer and praise? Why am I not serving, as I should? Whatever spiritual responsibilities lay at the feet of Christian leadership … mine, begin with me. Part of that is being in prayer and support of those in leadership. It’s once again, a foray into the realm of “economy” to pull from it the understanding that “we sink or we swim” … together! That God has placed in the hands of the Church … His Church … the “keys to the kingdom of heaven.” That with this spiritual authority … what we say … goes; or doesn’t go.
(NIV) Matthew 16: 13-19 - When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
A very hard pill to swallow is the fact that the world is in a big ol’ spiritual pickle, in many respects because God’s people have not lived and do not live and breathe, as God’s people. We, as Christians have been given authority to act – authority to have bound, in the spiritual heavens what we decidedly bind by God’s authority, here on Earth. Conversely … to loose in the spiritual heavens what we loose by this same authority, here on Earth. Authority, by the Living God to act … as Christians. To live and love and serve, as his very own. So many have so much to say, without ever simply, asking any questions. Questions regarding their relationship with The God of All Creation.
Where, I’m the first to state the lack of solid leadership among the Christendom these days … I am abundantly aware of what the often thankless role that this leadership among Christians entails. Pastors are expected to have endless answers, endless energy, endless resources, and endless patience. They are expected to make no mistakes … appeal to everyone … and please (translation = appease) everyone. It is often a soul-wrenching task that devours men and women, as it so often lacks the support of the collective Body-of-Christ.
I have no doubt that pastor Chichorz is tired of these issues. He should be tired, as I have offered little or no support of his call to lead God’s people, in the very things of God. I would be supporting him … by being the man God has called me to be. By supporting those in roles of leadership and service around me. By supporting, blessing, and assisting those fellow believers I recognize, as needing my support. By living, breathing, and having my being in God. If I am faithful to do this — if we are faithful to be this — then pastor Chichorz can be better postured to be faithful in his calling, as well. Then the body-of-Christ will actually [actively] be the-body-of-Christ; and have its being in Christ. Hearing and responding to Christ, in obedience.
Then, as the body-of-Christ … truly, “whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
