As I helped pack some things in preparing for our recent move, I came across a photo of a housewarming party in 1997. We had started Grace Covenant Church nine months earlier and were finally moving into our newly constructed house. People willingly gave of their time to help us finish the house and to help us move from Lewistown. And then they surprised us with a welcome party. We felt loved and appreciated. The future stretched before us, full of possibilities. We planned to change our community and our world. We were so encouraged by the outpouring of support.
I paused for a moment to reflect on the past 14 years. This time our move was differant. Instead of proclaiming how we planned to change the world, we have been led by the Holy Spirit to take a differant approach; a focus not on the glorious but on the insignificant, following the Holy Spirit into a place of nothing-ness.
Our recent move provides a snapshot of the cost of following Jesus. The people in the picture from 14 years ago have all disappeared. Some disappeared quietly, some took parting shots as they walked away, and a few were rather vicious in their attacks on us. So we moved alone this time. Nobody excitedly following us on our journey with Jesus. Please do not think I am complaining. I am simply pointing out what is!
What is the cause for the change, for the abandonment and the attacks? Did we commit some terrible sin? Did we embrace some unbiblical heresy? No, the abandonment and attacks started when we chose the way of Jesus over the ways of church (not the Biblical "ecclesia" but the creation of man). The viciousness of the attacks intensified as we continued to follow Jesus in a practical manner, allowing the "logos" to be our guide. In recent years, we have been falsely accused, literally thrown out of a church service (by the way - this particular group's motto is "worship God, love all".), lied to and lied about.
I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. You see - the woman hates the saints of Jesus. She cares not a whit about someones religious affiliation. Her seductive charms are utilized for one purpose and one purpose alone - to disconnect people from the I AM.
As long as one yeilds to her seductiveness she allows whatever belief system one desires to create. However, the moment we turn away from her to embrace the ways of Jesus, she begins to turn her wrath on us. Her choice weapon of attack is not some vile demon. No, it is the ones who have forsaken the way of Jesus to embrace her harlotry.
The first attack will be isolation. She is fully aware of our God-given need for community. So she attempts to isolate us from relationships. Those under her spell suddenly no longer associate with us. The shunning is an effort to drive us back to her bed. She offers community and relationship if only we will disconnect from the I AM.
If the shunning does not bring us back to her fold, the attacks become more intense. She will attempt to destroy us. Baseless accusations will be unleashed on us. Those under her spell will spew her venom without regard for truth. Our words will be carefully critiqued in an effort to find some incriminating statement. If none is found, our words will be subtly twisted to create an appearance of heresy. Throughout history, she has gone as far as inciting physical violence resulting in the death of the saints. Much of the martyrdom has occurred in the name of some god in the protection of some religious system.
The followers of Jesus should not be surprised by the viciousness of her attacks. Jesus himself was crucified by those who purported to be godly.
Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
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Judas played his part in God's ultimate plan. We can be harsh at times in our descriptions of him, but we forget that someone had to play that part for the story to unfold. I have often run into adversity and it is easy for me to focus on the unfairness of peoples' actions. Reminding myself of Judas's story helps me to appreciate the parts each person's adversity played in God;s plan for me as well. To move into God's call for "insignificance" as you called it required such fallings away of people. One can't be insignificant with a large following, right? So praise God for allowing them to play the part that allows your story to continue.
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