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June 2008 -
Norm Wakefield The Curse of the
Standard Bearers - Part
8 The True Image Bearer and Standards After seven articles on The Curse of the Standard Bearers I thought it best to end this series by discussing how the True Image Bearer deals with issues and determines his standards. The previous articles are available to print or hear at www.spiritofelijah.com/chariot. Repenting Standard Bearers may have a number of questions pertaining to standards. •
Do they cast off all standards for themselves and their families? •
How do they determine what standards to keep? •
How do they communicate those standards to others? •
How does a True Image Bearer relate to others who do not hold
his/her standards? Does
a True Image Bearer cast off all standards for themselves and their
families? No! If we look at the life of Jesus Christ, The True Image Bearer, we notice that He did have standards for His life. Those standards may be observed regarding His prayer life (Luke 5:16), His synagogue
attendance on the Sabbath (Luke 4:16), His speech (John 12:49), and His
actions (John 5:19). All of Jesus' life was governed by His relationship
with His Father in heaven, so His standards could be summed up in two
categories. 1) Loving His Father. 2) Loving others. These two standards
could be combined into one: Love. That's how Jesus interpreted the Law of
God.
Teacher, which is the great
commandment in the Law? And He said to him, "‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD
YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR
MIND.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it,
‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' On these two commandments
depend the whole Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:36-40).
This gives insight into how to determine what standards we are to have in
our lives. How
does a True Image Bearer determine what standards to keep?
In short, the Holy Spirit using God's Word and love
help us determine our speech and our actions. The True Image Bearer lives by the Holy Spirit rather than by
standards. Paul admonished the Galatians a number of times precisely
on this point. This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh (Gal. 3:2-3)?
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another (Gal. 5:25-26). The Galatians were facing an identity crisis. False teachers followed Paul around Asia teaching that God was only pleased when they followed the Old Testament laws and rituals that were focused on issues of the flesh. Paul knew that the gospel changed all of that. The Holy Spirit's entrance into their lives put the focus not on the issues or standards, but on the internal motivation of love for God and others. The Christian life is not governed by standards to control fleshly living (Col. 2:21-23). Instead, it is governed by the Holy Spirit internally motivated by love, the fruit of the Spirit. Paul understood that when people focus on standards to control fleshliness or worldliness, they become boastful because they think they are better than others. This then leads them to challenge others who don't walk by their standards. They in turn challenge their critics on having unbiblical standards or lack of love. Furthermore, when a community of people live by standards to control outward behavior, those who get the praise and approval of the celebrity Standard Bearers are envied by those who aren't accepted and given such significance. This causes division in the body of Christ. It's the fruit of the curse of the Standard Bearers.
The Apostle Paul had some strong words to say about people who try to
control the flesh through standards and laws instead of relying on the
Holy Spirit and love.
I wish that those who are
troubling you would even mutilate themselves. For you were called to
freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for
the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is
fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS
YOURSELF." But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are
not consumed by one another (Gal. 5:12-15).
"Bite and devour" are elements of the curse of the Standard
Bearers. Paul and the rest of the apostles understood the importance
of new converts living by the Holy Spirit. It's how they lived!
The disciples refused to place all the burdens of the O.T. law, which
had been given to control the flesh, on the Gentile converts. Here's what
they wrote to the church in Antioch.
"For
it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater
burden than these essentials: that you abstain from things sacrificed to
idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if
you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell"
(Acts 15:28-29). They reduced the standards to avoiding any association with idolatry and fornication. What we should not miss in this passage is "it seemed good to the Holy Spirit". They were led by the Holy Spirit in everything they said and did. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus. He manifests the life of Christ in believers. He is the Great Sanctifier. The apostles therefore trusted the Holy Spirit to sanctify and guide new converts. True Image Bearers therefore determine their standards by their relationship with the Holy Spirit through prayer and God's Word in love. The Spirit of God leads them to the Scriptures to know how to love God and others. For instance, the "one another commands" of the gospels and letters articulate loving relationships in the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit gave these standards to the early church. If you haven't studied them, then I suggest you do so in order to understand what love looks like in a community of believers.
Where the Scriptures are not clear on various issues, love for God and
others is the guiding standard. There is not a "one size fits all"
application of love. Here's how the Apostle Paul applied it.
All things are lawful, but not
all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things
edify. Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor (1
Cor.10:23-24).
Paul showed the Corinthians how he applied the law of love to marriage and
divorce, to single adults, to eating meat offered to idols, to Jews and
Gentiles, to wearing head coverings, and to taking communion. There was no
formula or set of standards by which he lived to control fleshly
indulgence or worldliness. Love was the only standard, guided by the
Spirit and the Word of God. How
does the True Image Bearer communicate his standards to others? With the understanding above, we gain insight from the Apostle Paul. He explained how certain actions loved God and others. The True Image Bearer should communicate how his behavior is in accordance with God's Word in order to show his love for God. A loving father must show his wife and children that the standards he keeps and expects his family to keep are firmly grounded in God's Word. Communicating how he has interpreted the Scriptures by applying sound hermeneutical principles is helpful to those old enough to understand. More importantly, sharing his encounter with Christ in the Scriptures communicates his love for Jesus and that these standards are an expression of love and relationship with Him. Lastly, he must articulate how the standards he and the family adopt are an expression of love for others–just like the Apostle Paul did in his letters to the churches. It is important to willingly receive questions and challenges on your standards from others. This should be no threat if you stand clearly on God's Word and love for others. When someone, parent or young adult, rejects questions or challenges, it is assumed by those asking questions that they are hiding something or know they are wrong but don't want to admit it. Many times such protectionism communicates a lack of love for God's Word. Also, if one can't "explain" their actions and standards from the Scriptures, others tend to conclude one is blindly following someone else other than the Holy Spirit. My observation is that often parents or young adults have preferences as their standards. If such is the case, then declare it as such, rather than try to convince others that it is the only acceptable way to live on that issue. Don't be dogmatic where God's Word isn't dogmatic.
How you communicate is also vital. I found if I truly trusted in God to
speak to the hearts of my children, then I could communicate with a spirit
of love. I wasn't trying to get them to do or think like me. I trusted God
to work in their hearts as I taught His Word and showed them how I love
God and others. They discerned my spirit of love and therefore didn't feel
threatened or manipulated. I noticed this made them more open to my
instruction and way of life. However, there have been times when I
communicated the truth in love that they either didn't understand, didn't
want to understand, or did understand, but disagreed. Parents should
realize their children may not always do everything the way they prefer,
and must allow them to discover who they are in Christ without pressure
from their parents. How
does a True Image Bearer relate to others who do not hold his/her
standards? Let's first consider this question in the context of family. What if a family member doesn't agree with a particular standard? First, approach this difference as one, not as two. God has given you a difference in order for love to be shown and experienced in the relationship. The couple or family members should study the Bible together on the particular issue by using accepted, time-tested, hermeneutic principles. •
Scripture interprets Scripture. Clear Scripture trumps and gives
insight on the unclear passages. •
Context is king. No verses may be taken out of their context and
given meaning that wasn't originally intended. •
Draw doctrine from the teaching passages, not historical accounts. •
Filter every interpretation by the principle of loving God and
loving others. •
Filter every interpretation with an eternal, heavenly perspective.
Does the interpretation advance self and man's interests or God's kingdom
and His glory? Once having studied God's Word, give God time to work in everyone's hearts. Don't try to convince them with debate and argument. Let the Holy Spirit move the heart with His Word. Ask each member of the family to work out the ramifications of their interpretation on God's name, the family, your community of believers, and the community of unbelievers for future discussion about how best to love in each situation. If everyone in the family has a desire to please God, then by the end of this process, God will reveal a place of unity and a sense of faith about how you are to live on that issue. If someone in the family is determined to disagree on a particular issue that is clearly biblical and loving, then the issue isn't the issue. The problem with that person is their battle with the great ten-horned, seven-headed beast of SELF, (A.K.A. Pride, Indwelling Sin, or the Flesh). In such cases, you'll not overcome that beast through threats, manipulation, or control. The beast is only overcome by the blood of the Lamb applied and the Word of God applied by the Holy Spirit. Turn the focus of your Bible study to man's battle with SELF. God has chosen to use the first issue to highlight the main heart issue. However, you must be careful at this point not to make this issue about your SELF. You can begin this change of focus to unveiling the beast of SELF by leading everyone to investigate their own motives. You might say, "It seems God has chosen this issue to have us each look at our SELVES. Let's each take the next few days and see how much our own SELF-ambition, SELF-significance, SELF-protection, and SELF-love are involved in this issue. We'll reconvene on this...(make the appointment)." In the meantime, while God is working, you may still need to hold to a standard on an issue that can't be held by heart by everyone in the family. In that case, you must show from the Scriptures that the father has been given jurisdiction over the family (see Jurisdictional Principles in Equipping Men series) for the purpose of serving them in God's name and with His Word. Therefore, as best you know before God, you must hold to that certain standard out of love for God and others–even if one or more family members disagree. You can tell them that you don't expect them to hold it with freedom and joy as you do because the Holy Spirit hasn't convinced them of His will as of yet. Also, reassure them that you will continue to study and pray to see if you have misinterpreted the Scriptures, been infected by SELF, or have misunderstood how to love. If the Holy Spirit shows you that a correction needs to be made and allowances given, then you'll do so. Such openness to the Lord communicates humility. If the member of the family still lives with you, then you may ask them to agree to abide by your standard, even though they may not be able to do it freely by the Holy Spirit's power. Your appeal is based on the fact that God has called them to you (see Rising to the Call series) and thus their response is really a response to God. Furthermore, for the sake of peace in the family, ask them to comply out of thoughtfulness and love to others. You may additionally mention that since they cannot show through Scripture that their position is biblical and loving to God and others, you cannot with good conscience lead the family down that path of behavior. If they continue to refuse, then punishment and consequences may be necessary. Before implementing those, in love you should show how you are administering discipline based on love for God, them, and maintaining a clear conscience. I would go through all of the same steps above with a son or daughter who has moved out of the house or married. However, you have no jurisdiction to implement discipline when they are not in your home. It is most important to keep in mind that God has allowed the difference or spiritual blindness in order for them to experience God's love, humility, and forgiveness through you. They need to see you trust them to the Lord while still loving them with no anger, manipulation, rejection, shame, or slander. If they experience any of these from you, it verifies that your position isn't Spirit-led, but SELF-led. This deepens the divide between you spiritually, emotionally, and physically. The True Image
Bearer trusts that God is able to work in the hearts of those who differ
with him on issues of fleshly indulgence. The Apostle Paul provides a
wonderful example in his letter to the Philippians.
I press on toward the goal for
the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as
many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a
different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep
living by that same standard to which we have attained (Philippians
3:14-16). The standard Paul had attained was loving God in Christ above all things accomplished by fleshly discipline and reputation with men. His trust in God was clear: "if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you." If you have the heart of a True Image Bearer like the Apostle Paul, then you can say the same thing to your young adult children who have left home or married. Or if you're the young adult, you may say the same thing to your parents. This attitude is the same attitude the True Image Bearer has toward others who are members of the body of Christ but have different views on issues and do not hold to the same standards. He holds the standards of loving God and others, expressing that love as God has revealed it to him. His attitude toward others is not one of judgment, rejection, or superiority, but one of trust in God who is able to reveal Himself at any moment on any issue. In the meantime, he loves and accepts those around him in the love of Christ.
Obviously there comes a time in our relationship with so-called
believers that church discipline is necessary and avoidance is called for
by Scripture. If people are divisive, get into controversies and disputes
over the Law (standards), and hold to a form of godliness on the outside,
but do not have the power to love God and others with forgiveness and
patience, then Paul advised the saints to avoid such as these (Titus 3:9;
2 Timothy 3:5). To the Corinthians Paul wrote,
But actually, I wrote to you not
to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or
covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not
even to eat with such a one (1 Cor. 5:11). In this passage, the Holy Spirit set some standards for the church to apply to its members. So True Image Bearers must hold to standards corporately leading to church discipline. The ones listed by Paul in these passages are indisputable standards. Unfortunately, some misguided zealots in the homeschool and home-church movements add their own standards on disputable matters to this list of behaviors deserving disassociation. They reject or judge people who don't dress by their standards, have house mortgages, practice abstinence birth control, don't homeschool, listen to non-hymn music, etc, instead of loving them and encouraging them to press on to know the Lord.
The True Image Bearer will have standards that the Holy Spirit has set for
him in the areas above, but on these he should have Paul's attitude:
pressing on to know Christ, encouraging those who differ to seek Christ,
and trusting God to reveal His will to them. Would
you like to be on the Elijah Ministries Prayer Team? The backbone of Elijah Ministries is the prayer team who pray diligently for God to turn the hearts of men to Himself, their wives, and their children. Before I leave to speak, I send out a prayer team invitation to those who will intercede for God to work for His glory in us as a team for the Kingdom. Not only is it a blessing to those whom I speak and myself; but it is also a reminder to the team about the direction of their own hearts. If you would like to enter into the labor together with me, you may go to my website and click on "Prayer Team". The Chariot is now available as a podcast. You can automatically receive the Chariot each month in iTunes by subscribing here. (An RSS capable browser such as Internet Explorer 7 or Safari is required.)
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please stop by sometime. You'll find: * Resources to equip you and your family * Previous Chariot articles * Norm's speaking schedule *
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How?
1.
Send this article to other men or families that you know would
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2.
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Norm
Wakefield 06.08 To unsubscribe, click here.
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