Deconstruction May Now Be Valid!

These last few mornings I find myself prayerfully pondering Next Gen struggles with Christianity, and their sincere attempts at "deconstruction", which seems rational, even necessary as Christianity now appears more something learned than experienced.

The Early Church model exhibited a demonstration of acts similar to what had been observed or heard of by rumor as "the way" of the Christ. Thus, the term Christian, first assigned at Antioch by outsiders after observing their distinct lifestyles.

Alignment with a belief system apart from a personal experience and some evidence of divine empowerment is now being called into question, perhaps rightfully so.

As well, terminology passed forward without an understanding of the history behind the "why vs. what" we believe, was never God's means of communication, be that with the patriarchs, Abraham, Moses or the prophets.

After God spoke, "Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said." Ex.24:4 NIV. However, to then enforce these words as Law, didn't work then, and apparently not working now.

To simply memorize words without experiencing some "burning bush" moment with the Spirit, the "I Am" eventually poses a problem. At least it would for me.

Relationship beats religion!

God has always revealed Himself within lived human experiences. Even pronouns were necessary only for communicating authority, based upon culture. Jesus, though born male had a feminine side. He was God incarnate, and based on the "red letters" there is "neither male nor female."

When we require acceptance of text without reference to the "why" we drift toward an overly institutionalized religion that over time, typically about 500 years, will be challenged.

Hello!

Sacred symbols were often simply refined ordinary practices, the revelation progressive, not alien.

Example, The priest, like a sheep meant for sacrifice, was set apart, annointed, protected not from flies, but from profanation.

Covered not for physical protection and comfort, but for calling.

This progressive revelation ultimately culminates in Messiah (the “Anointed One”), where oil then gives way to Spirit.

This trajectory seen throughout scripture, from Abram to the Christ, if not communicated and experienced fails to transfer the why behind what we believe.

Without an understanding of the origin of our faith, it becomes a learned ritual, at the mercy of institutions, that too often bow to secular, even political whim.

Churches are referenced in John's Revelation as lampstands, intended to provide light. Yet lampstands untrimmed tend to produce more smoke than light.

You can see where this old guy might be going with his next book!

www.johnthecatalyst.com/books