Bespoken Way

Modern American Christianity has sold us all popcorn and peanuts and perfected the art of entertainment (along with the world).

How many times have I heard Christian pastors, influencers, and teachers rail about how we Christ-followers should be the life of every party?

Why do we walk around like sour-pusses? Why are we so downcast and angry? Why are we so despairing? Choose joy, they say. We should be the happiest people on the face of the planet, they say.

Did they forget the 'Man of Sorrows'? Jesus Christ Himself?

Did they forget the sorrows and laments of ancient Followers of the Way when surrounded by a culture turned ungodly and immoral?

Do they really believe that we live our best life now?

When I survey the landscape to find that I have no earthly home and no earthly comfort for my soul -- yes, I can then find pause to self-soothe with a heavenly hope but -- no, I take no joy in the deceptions, chaos, and evil on surround-sound in my day. Sorrow runs as deep as any joy on this journey. And I do not believe in Fake-N-Make ("fake it until you make it"-isms). If there’s anything we should not be as Christians, it’s fake. Grin and bear it may be Biblical. Fake and bake is not.

Sometimes, on the personal level, joy is bleak and life is awful (for many). And the modern American Church has bought into her own delusional, show business, hype...

Sadly.

Bespoken

There are aches inside of me that will never be answered here. No amount of distraction, gratitude, positivisms, or facades can erase it. Just when I think I have found a way around it, it bobs back up to the surface, and I realize I've only been fooling myself.

This will never be my home. I find little comfort here. And I'm weary of pretending otherwise. I want to live until I die to the glory of God; sometimes that 'glory' is very painful, even devestating, to my flesh. Even my soul groans, along with creation. To attempt to erase that reality of the Way is to offer a false Gospel under false pretenses.

Recently (I forget where), I saw a podcast talking about why so many Christians were attending multiple churches. Angrily, I fired off half a dozen reasons why to the computer screen -- such as 'To avoid church politics' and the 'institutionalized machination'. Churches that bleed their volunteers to death in the name of service to God. Churches that build their own kingdom, glory, and brand, in the name of the Beloved or in the name of service to the community...

Honestly, I have a more favorable view of a Christian who minds his own business and runs his own shop and does not assume God's name in any of it. He may actually find real converts in the process because of his humility.

Business is not church. Church should not be run like a business. But that is the taken-for-granted standard now in America.

Some of us have figured out the Holy Spirit is not bound by geographical walls: He will meet us anywhere, so we go, here or there, as we feel He leads. Because the sheep hear His voice and will not follow another. Especially, when the others are hirelings running a business in His good name.

Some may accuse such of piecing together a bespoken Christianity -- one tailored to each sojourners' needs.

So be it.

Where were Abraham's walls?

God has never begrudged tents. Or sojourners.

So we move, where the wind goes... though we see it not.

Dear modern American church, your numbers, your cool lighting, your campuses, your 'service' is as rubbish to me.

Here is another reason I have left your ranks: How on earth do you mean to prepare our children for the realities present in our world by entertaining them with candy, watered-down videos, and positivisms -- like the world is still Mary Poppins' oyster? Have you seen and heard what your children are seeing and hearing by the time they reach middle school? Are you giving them real answers to real problems -- or just reminding them to serve happily when inside of your walls, obey their authorities, and smile and nod?

And why do the congregants follow you anyway? Are they there to hear Jesus' words or are they there because you said you'd provide another basket of coldcuts? Are they serving Jesus? Or serving your interests? Or serving their own feelings? Or helping you with your business? Have you even noticed that your key staff members are burnt out? I wonder if you even care, if I'm honest...

If you want to know why people are leaving, if you wonder why some hop around, start seriously considering some of these questions and assessments - rather than dismissing them as the disgruntled and critical.

Because God was around long before you: Your campus is not necessary to life and godliness -- contrary to your own hype. Are you neglecting the weightier things? Are you even pursuing the only 'Necessary' thing at this point? -- Or just trying to keep the machine oiled with volunteers you don't even know?

This is not happy news.

This is not a happy world.

And, contrary to your nonsense, Jesus is our Savior but He is not our genie. Some things are rotten and will remain fallen and rotten until His return.

Is a servant above his Master? If our Master was hated and a 'man of sorrows', what from hell is this nonsense you keep preaching about success, influence, and happiness? Are we even following the same guy?

He said (Matthew 5):

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Blessed is not the same thing as rich. Blessed is not the same thing as happy. Blessed seems to generally be proceeded by a lot of unpleasant things. Blessed doesn’t always include the appearances of being blessed. Blessed is something the world cannot take away...

I fear that you, American Church, have taken up some other Gospel.

That is why some have left you for the bespoken Way.

A Way that does not require pretenses or circus performances but simply says,

"Come... My yoke is easy and my burden is light"...

Instead of “Come… join the circus and we’ll keep you entertained. Soon you’ll be entertaining too!”

The modern American Church is in desperate need of repentance. And I pray she is led there by the Spirit of God before the end. There are many ways that seem right to mankind and many spectrums of error. I have only poked at one here.

I was once a performing circus entertainer. I gave that illusion up to follow the Bespoke Tailor. There’s not a lot of social favor or glitz in it, but I have found Him to at least be more honest — no theatrics from me needed. He specializes in humble yet enduring raiments…

He is God!

I’m not sure who the Church thinks she is these days… it’s hard to tell.

13 (http://biblehub.com/2_peter/3-13.htm)

But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Final Words

14 ()Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

15 ()And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,

16 ()as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

17 ()You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.

18 ()But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Selah.

If there is any wisdom here, it belongs to God.