For most of my life as a believer in Jesus Christ, I have lacked a stunning vision and understanding of who He is. As a result, I routinely missed seeing the person of Christ. This has especially been true for me while reading scripture. Unfortunately, Christless scripture reading is actually quite normal for most people. Studying the Bible and seeing a revelation of Jesus Christ in the scriptures are often very different things.
In the past, I may have read scripture and gotten a lot of good principles out of it, but I regularly missed seeing the point of each word and letter of scripture. The person of Jesus Christ is the point of all scripture!
Now that my eyes have been opened to a greater revelation of the person of Christ (not that I have arrived), everything I read in the scriptures looks different. This is especially true in the Old Testament scriptures. A great example of this can be seen in the story of the two women in Abraham’s life, Sarah & Hagar.
I’d like to tell you about these two women because these two women represent the two ‘systems’ that are affecting your life right now whether you know it or not. I have heard many teachings about these two women, but sadly each one has missed the main point. Most like to focus on the struggle between Sarah and Hagar as being the beginning of the Arab-Jewish struggle. I don’t wish to contribute to this conversation as most of it is fruitless and simply political. Jesus Christ is actually the main point of the story of the struggle between Sarah and Hagar, and chances are, you are right in the middle of this struggle. Let me explain:
Both Sarah & Hagar Are A Response To God’s Promise
The story of the struggle between Sarah and Hagar can be found in Genesis 16-21. You know the story…God promises that through Abraham’s seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed. Christ is eventually the one whom will bless all the nations of the earth. Obviously, (in the flesh) He is the seed that comes from Abraham’s lineage. This was an amazing promise that the Lord gave to Abraham.
The only problem is that Abraham had no kids. Sarah, his wife, was barren. The older they got, the more it seemed that God’s promise would fail. As a result, Sarah took matters in her own hands. She gave her servant Hagar to Abraham for the purpose of conceiving a ‘surrogate’ child for Abraham. Obviously, how would God’s promise be fulfilled? This seemed like the only way.
You know the rest of the story. Ishmael is born to Hagar and Sara eventually conceives through a miracle and Issac is born. This gives rise to conflict between the two women and their offspring.
In addition to the Jewish- Arab conflict, I have often heard that this conflict also represents the conflict that believers have with the non-religious ‘worldly’ system. I no longer believe this. The stories of both women are intimately connected to God’s promise of a seed (Christ) that will eventually bless the whole world. This brings me to my second point:
Hagar & Ishmael Represent A Human attempt to Fullfill God’s Promise & Sarah & Isaac Represent God’s Fulfillment Of His Own Promise
This is a stunning realization. God made a promise to Abraham and Sarah, yet they took matters upon themselves when they used their own human logic and wisdom and tried to solve the problem on their own. God’s ways are not our ways. Only one woman and her offspring (Sarah & Issac) eventually led to Jesus Christ. Hagar’s offspring were at odds with the child of promise.
Hagar represents the man made religious system. Hagar & Ishmael were a result of the promise given to Abraham & Sarah. On the surface, they seemingly are connected to God and His purposes. Because they are a result of man’s wisdom and effort to do God’s work however, they stand opposed to the real promise of God.
Again, while many religious scholars like to draw physical parellels with the conflict between Sarah & Hagar and the Arabs & Jews, almost all miss the real spiritual conflict that this story reveals. In reality, Hagar’s lineage represents man’s religious system. Her spiritual lineage also includes the religious system that rejected Jesus and persecuted the New Testament church.
Like Hagar & her offspring, the prominent religious system that existed in Jesus’ day was man’s attempt to be ‘obedient’ to God’s promise. Because this religious system mixed God’s promise with man’s wisdom and system, it not only missed the very promise of God, (Jesus Christ and His Church), it actually opposed Him in the same way that Ishmael opposed Issac!
If you think my comparison of Sarah & Issac with Jesus Christ & His church, and Hagar & Ishmael with the man made religious system that opposed Christ & the first century church is a stretch, consider what Paul the apostle had to say to the church in Galatia as a result of their struggle with and persecution by religious people who claimed to believe in Jesus yet were trying to put them back under religious bondage under the guise of ‘obedience’ to God’s law (sound familiar?):
And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. (Galatians 4:28-29 NASB)
Wow, what a statement! You might want to go back and read that passage of scripture over again. Pay close attention to the words “SO IT IS NOW ALSO.”
This conflict that Jesus Christ & His Church have had with man’s religious system did not end in the first century, rather it has continued down to this very day. I’m convinced that Man’s religious system is satan’s main weapon against the church & mankind. The “SO IT IS NOW ALSO” from Galatians 4:29 still applies. This brings me to my third point:
Both Will Clash…There Will Be No Peace Between The Two
Until we have been brought out and ‘detoxed’, those of us who operate in Hagar’s man made ‘system’, so to speak, will oppose those who are from Sarah’s lineage. This is clearly illustrated in the passage of scripture mentioned above. Conflict is inevitable. I wish I could tell you that it is possible to avoid this conflict, but it is a battle that we all will face. The conflict between Christ and man’s religious system did not end in the first century, rather if we study church history we’ll see that this conflict has endured for the last 2000 years.
When institutional religious thinking and practices crept into the church in the second and third centuries, there were courageous brothers and sisters in Christ who resisted. There are examples of this occurring throughout the dark ages until the Protestant reformation. While many of the Protestant reformers reacted against the Roman Catholic system of their day, unfortunately most had not been ‘detoxed’ of the same man made religious thinking that they opposed. As a result, they ended up creating a system made up of much of what they opposed in the Roman system. Sadly, they simply changed the terminology.
You may be shocked to know that many of the protestant reformers actually murdered and severely persecuted the brothers and sisters in Christ who refused to come under their newly made state institutional religious systems. A group of brothers and sisters in Christ commonly labeled the ‘Anabaptists’ are an example of this.
The Anabaptists refused to honor the man made clerical system of the Roman institution and also of the new Protestant stste institutions as well. They embraced the Headship of the church by Jesus Christ alone. They understood the role of the participation of the whole body of Christ in church life and the role of living by divine life, not religious ritual & law. As a result of their stance, these precious saints were attacked and killed by those in the Roman Catholic institution, and they also were brutally slaughtered by the Protestant ‘Reformers’ of their day as well. Man’s religious system, in every form, always opposes Christ and His body. Sarah’s lineage is fulfilled in Christ and His bride, but Hagar’s ‘system’ is that of mankind. So, what should we do?
According to Paul in His letter to the Galatians, we should recognize the correct ‘woman’ that we belong to. We are a part of Sarah’s lineage that is fulfilled in Christ and His Bride, but Hagar’s religious ‘system’ is that of mankind. This ‘system’ may use the same terminology in its attempt to fulfill God’s promise, but it is blind to the reality of the ultimate promise, who is Jesus Christ. I’ll leave you with these words from Paul to the church in Galatia:
But what does the Scripture say? CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN. So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman. (Galatians 4:30-31 NASB)
The fact that we are no longer sons and daughters of a ‘woman’ in slavery, but we are sons and daughters of a free woman is great news! Because of this, let’s walk in this freedom and cast off any remaining restraints. I have a feeling that you know what that means:)
Whose interpretation of the Word of God is correct, the apostle Paul’s, or Jamal’s?
Paul clearly states in Galatians 4:21 that he is concerned with those that want believers under the law of Moses. Jamal seems to think his concern is with those that want to get believers into an institutional church system.
Paul clearly states in Galatians 4:22-25 that Hagar represents the old covenant of the law of Moses given at Mount Sinai and earthly Jerusalem. Jamal seems to think Hagar represents man’s religious systems, including the institutional church.
Paul clearly states in Galatians 4:26 that Sarah represents heavenly Jerusalem who is the mother of all believers (and is therefore symbolic of the unity we have in Christ as believers). Jamal seems to think that Sarah represents a remnant of believers that have come out of the institutional church, and stand separate from the rest of their brethren who are serving in the institutional church.
Paul saw the threat as professing brethren (Galatians 2:4), who were trying to get believers under the law of Moses (Galatians 3:1-2 and 4:21). Jamal seems to see the threat as professing brethren that are trying to keep believers in the institutional church.
In Galatians Paul presents a clear picture of the unified body of Christ under the new covenant in His blood, freed from the bondage of the old covenant from Mt. Sinai, and the curse of the law of Moses.
Jamal, on the other hand, presents a far different picture of a disunified body of Christ where a “more enlightened’ remnant are calling on the other brethren to be freed from the bondage of the institutional church and the curse of the “organized church” system.
So whose interpretation of the Word of God IS correct, the apostle Paul’s, or Jamal’s?
I’m not sure what kind of Biblical hermeneutic you call it when people take the clear teaching of scripture and expand it to mean something totally different, but I think I’ll stick with Christ and the apostles.
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
(Hebrews 12:22-24)
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. [AMEN!!] (Galatians 4:21-26)
Baron,
Hey Brother, thx for reading and commenting. As a former pastor from the ‘system’, I can totally understand where you are coming from as I know that you currently are in that position. I think I can summarize from your comment that you disagree with the article:)
One thing that I think we both agree on is the fact that Paul was comparing the religious folks, (who were persecuting the church in Galatia in their attempt to make them obedient to the Mosaic law) with Hagar and Ishmael. This was because they were trying to fulfill God’s promise through man’s effort and wisdom. Hagar & Ishmael represent more than the Arabs, they represent those who attempt to fulfill God’s promise through human effort. That much is very clear from the passage:)
Also, you may want to study church history Baron. You will see that what I said is correct:)
pastorbaron,
Every writing of the OT and NT contains several ‘interpretations’. All have practical, spiritual, and prophetic meanings. You seem to have a knack for the practical. This is needed. Still, there is more.
Since the study of the theory and practice behind interpretations (i.e. hermeneutics) is an educational feature of religious establishments, I doubt Christ or the apostles had much need for it. It’s what led to the mess the Pharisees and their followers were caught up in…law, law, and more law. They were masters of hermeneutics.
Paul was calling for the application of Christ Jesus. Not an interpretation of OT law vs NT freedom. If you look closely, you will see that the passages mentioned in your reply contain a revelation of Christ and a counterfeit. You’ve got the practical teaching down brother. There is more.
Isn’t great to know that the riches of Christ are unsearchable! They are inexhaustable! Let’s all keep digging to see Him revealed more and more!
Baron,
You have done a fantastic job of demonstrating Jamal’s third point, the conflict is alive and well.
It’s true that we cannot lump all IC’s together as those who teach a law-based gospel but it is equally true that you cannot lump all those who have been called out of it as those who think they are the “enlightened remnant”. I agree with you that those who speak as though they have some secret knowledge are making very dangerous judgements The only remnant I am a part of is the remnant that trusts in Christ alone for salvation, satisfaction and life. I left in search of a body of believers who are free to express that life in their affections toward God and one another as they gather together. I don’t think I’ve been given any special revelation more than Christ. I just got tired of the show and have an overwhelming desire to see more of Christ by his expression as an active body with many members.
If we’re honest, nothing in scripture is really as “clear” as we think it is. I for one have thought something was perfectly “clear” for a long time only to find that I was way off, and I’m not only talking about ecclesiology. God’s Word shapes us as we humble ourselves to it often we read our own learned interpretations and traditions into it. It is “clear” when we see Christ, He is the purpose and end of all scripture. I think Jamal did a good job of pointing to Christ in this post and I can’t understand why you would come against that unless you think that Jamal is insinuating that Jesus is ONLY found in an organic expression of the church. I didn’t get that from his post but if that is what he were saying I would agree with you that he would be dead wrong.
You will almost never hear or read a fair treatment about the distinction between Sarah and Hagar like this in most churches. Thanks Jamal for shedding this light – good day.
Mark,
Thx for reading and for your encouraging words brother. I’m glad that this article helped shed some light on Christ through the story of these two ladies. Blessings!
Here is a quote that I think is good to keep in mind when it comes to mixing God’s ways with mankind’s religious system and human wisdom:
“In mixing together clean and dirty water, the latter does not turn clean; instead, the former becomes dirty.” (Watchman Nee)
Mr Baron
“I’m not sure what kind of Biblical hermeneutic you call it when people take the clear teaching of scripture and expand it to mean something totally different, but I think I’ll stick with Christ and the apostles.”
If that is indeed true, I welcome you to join us in abandoning the man-made traditions of institutional Christianity! By the way, do you think that in the institutional church we have a “unified body of Christ under the new covenant”? That wasn’t my experience but maybe things are different where you are from.
Arthur,
Thx for reading and commenting on the article brother. You make a great point. Some think that for the sake of unity, the institution cannot be questioned. I find that facinating since it is the institution that seems to carve everyone up into boxes and puts labels on them other than the label of Jesus Christ.
You’re not bad, especially for a Michigan fan:)
Great Article Jamal! I like your comparison. and i can see the wisdom in it. Hagar, the Law: the institutional system,which tries to keep us bound to laws of all kinds, or Sarah, the God given freedom of life in Christ Jesus. Given to us as a promise from God, not man-made systems and programs. I rather think I’ll go with Sarah!
Pam,
Thx sister for taking the time to offer your comments here. I’m with you, Sarah’s household is much more enjoyable:) Blessings!
In all things, God reveals the Kingdom and it’s counterfiet. In order to see Christ, that which is not Christ must also be revealed. The Kingdom of Heaven (Christ) and the kingdom of the world (counterfeit) must be seen for what they are. Which does the ecclesia of the NT belong to? Which does institutional religion belong to? Sarah belonged to the promise (Christ) while Hagar was a counterfeit. The two are not interchangable. Is the body of Christ interchangeable with a man made institution? Can both be birthed of the same womb?
Thanks for prompting thoughts beyond the norm Jamal. May the Lord open our eyes to see and our ears to hear. Christ is being revealed through your insight.
David,
Hey bro, I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment on the article. You have brought up a great point. The Lord powerfully reveals through contrast! The real should also never be mixed with the counterfeit, as we know where that leads:) Blessings to you brother.
GREAT article, Jamal! You picked up on a point that few do in that Abraham, the faithful friend of God, was lacking in faith when he turned to Hagar for a son. He couldn´t envision how God could bring him offspring from Sarah and so he took it upon himself to get it done. It´s actually a scenario similar to that of Adam and Eve where Eve convinces Adam to do things his own way. Here we have doubt and frustration entering Sarah´s mind and then her convincing him to take matters into his own hands. The result is always chaos and falling short of what God has for his children. We must put our trust in God and believe that his promises are true and that he will fulfill them.
In regards to organic church life, I have heard many scoff at the possibility of a group of Christ followers functioning in mutual submission to one another and defend the man made constructs that bind and limit the institution. They do so out of fear that God won´t bind his body together and that he won´t assume headship and so they settle for less: the son of a slave girl.
I think ‘redefiniendoiglesia’ said it very clearly. “They do so out of fear that God won’t bind his body together and that he won’t assume headship and so they settle for less: the son of a slave girl.” The thing about faith and God fulfilling His promises is that he is a mean kid. At least that is how many view Him. He puts faith just outside of our natural reach, our balance point, if you will. He requires us to make a decision that cannot be taken back and will lead to our ruin, in one way or another, unless He comes through for us. The idea of church bodies actually spending time in prayer and fasting to know the Lord’s will seems like a waste of time to many. We say to ourselves, “God wouldn’t have given me logic and knowledge if He didn’t want me to take some responsibility on myself and make some decisions.” But here is a shocker for you that we have largely forgotten about: GOD DID NOT GIVE US LOGIC AND KNOWLEDGE. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil did. God intended and still does that we come before Him for everything like…wait for it….children and sheep. Helpless, ignorant and not just submissive, but begging to be ruled over. I took my son, who is 2, swimming today. When the water got deeper quickly, up to his neck he instantly reached out for me. He didn’t paddle, kick, or thrash. He didn’t tip his head back and try to float. Arms out, dad you have to do this, all of this, or I will die. If we don’t stop working from the position of control TO faith we will never get there. Because you can’t get there without the Holy Spirit’s help. God wants us to trust Him like small children. Jump into the water fully, arms stretched out, saying, “Daddy, save me! Because if you don’t I will drown!”
Hmmm…your comment on the source of logic and knowledge reminds me of a Bible study I just did with my parents last week, where we were pointing out how God gives us Wisdom, which is different than knowledge. So now I’m intrigued to go back and spend some more time reading/considering the source of knowledge and logic, too. It also brings to mind a realization that for the typical western educational systems, religious (Christian) education included, we typically teach by one educating another and passing it on down. Rarely do we set up an example of how to learn directly from God and invite others to apprentice that approach. Perhaps we would do well to consider a greater percentage of mentoring and a lesser percentage of teaching. Are there other traditions that model this better for us?
Jeremiah,
Great comment! I love what you said about the tree of knowledge. God does not want us to simply acquire knowledge and logic so that we can independently live life and make ‘good’ decisions, rather He wants us to live by divine life that does not come from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but from the Tree of Life! Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the real ‘Tree Of Life’! This needs to be talked about more in Christian circles. The story you used about your two year-old son is a great analogy. Until we stop trying to survive on our own, and cling to Christ (through His body where His fullness is found), we will continue to drown.
Thx for commenting on the article. Wow what a statement! What you said here needs repeated:
“I have heard many scoff at the possibility of a group of Christ followers functioning in mutual submission to one another and defend the man made constructs that bind and limit the institution. They do so out of fear that God won´t bind his body together and that he won’t assume headship and so they settle for less: the son of a slave girl.”
There is much that could be said about that statement. You are right on the money! The more that I go down this road, the more that I realize that Christ is truly the Head of His church not just in theory, but in reality:)
Thx for adding to this important dialogue:)
Well done, brother! I never thought of this story in this way, but it does reinforce the vital truth everything in scripture does indeed point to Him. One just needs the right lens to read it with.
Amen Andy! May the Lord continue to bless us with His eyes to see His Son through. I appreciate you and His life through you brother:)
When I read the title, “A tale of two women” (nice alliteration in reference to a Dickens classic!), I at first thought the article was going to be about the Great Prostitute on the Beast (Revelation 17-18) and the Bride of Christ. Now THAT would indeed represent the Church vs the World System!
Jim,
Hey brother, thx for reading and commenting on the article. Revelation 17-18 is exactly what this article is about. That was very insightful for you to pick up on that. Thx again for adding to the conversation. Blessings:)
I totally agree with what you are saying. This is part of a larger thought that I’ve been researching and thinking about for some time regarding the synagogue and the church. I’m actually considering writing a book that follows this thought. I wrote a couple posts related to this last year but this one is probably the nearest to what you stated so well here http://jephandcraig.com/posts/the-separation-of-church-and-synagogue-part-1/
I appreciate what you write but perhaps moreso the spirit with which you write. Thanks brother.
Craig,
I’m looking forward to reading what you wrote. Thx for including this link. Thx also for your kind words. I’m happy to pass on what has been given to me. Blessings to you brother!
Y’know, I’ve often considered the story of the two wives/two sons on a personal level, but I don’t think I ever extrapolated it up to the Church level. I’m going to spend more time considering this, and it is particularly pertinent to what I’m working on these days, too. (God’s neat like that.) Great post, and in particular I love the Galations 4 find, because it’s the type of thing that’s so easily breezed over while reading through but is so deeply meaty if you stop and focus on it…like the rich, dark, damp soil you find if you dig down deeper from the sandy surface soil. Fab, just fab! Can we pinpoint the Ishmael consequences in this case? The Isaac blessings awaiting by the other method? Perhaps we can better choose one over the other if we can be explicit about what we’re choosing between.
It also comes to my mind that those years I was away from Church life might not be something I need to regret anymore, because I realized just now it was–in a form–a detox period. I wasn’t avoiding the Church per se, at that time, actually I thought God had abandoned me so I gave up. But since God has revealed to me that He was very much with me during those years (I just hadn’t been taught how to recognize Him), I’m able to see now that He worked me forward on some things without the Church and where He has me now is precisely what you’ve been saying: picture things differently before going forward further. I don’t know that I should assume God planned for that season to happen, but I can see now how He clearly made good use of the opportunity. I was never terribly tangled up in IC in the first place (our family/tradition didn’t seem to think church and bible and God were terribly necessary, so even though I was very involved by our tradition’s standards I wasn’t, really, by my own standards today). But apparently I have been detoxifying longer than I realized; I can say I’ve had at least 9 years’ detox from the IC. Every time I try going somewhere regularly again, it just doesn’t fit right. I feel as uncomfortable and constrained as a 4-year-old in a Sunday suit and bowtie. Thing is, though, I struggle to know how to explain to people that I’m in ministry but I don’t belong to any (institutional) church. And no, it’s not because I just haven’t found one yet. I’m like…over it. They seem really concerned that I’m missing out on something, but I really don’t feel like I’m getting anything worthwhile when I go. They probably assume that if I’m not in church with them, I’m not doing anything. I can understand what makes them assume that, but the truth is I probably “do more church stuff” in one day than they do in a week. And I do it pretty much every day. So, in all honesty, what I’m missing is other people who are as on-fire for God as I am so we can enjoy it together. I hear just as many excuses from “church” people as I do from non-church people. I don’t want to join what they’re doing (or not doing), I want them to join me in what I’m doing.
Michelle,
Thx for reading and commenting! I know what you mean regarding detox and finding and experiencing true church life beyond the institution. Let me assure you, however, that something greater exists. When you get a chance, I have a couple of great books that you should read that will be vitally helpful for you as you embark on this journey:) Blessings to you, and we hope to see you soon.
Jamal,
I think your conclusions regarding man’s efforts (Hagar) contrasted with God’s purpose in Christ (Sarah) are spot on. As I’ve seen it, the danger is the same for everyone, whether in the IC or not. There are many who are fleeing every form of organized religion in order to “do things” God’s way. Its the same horse with a different color. Likewise, there are those who rightly regard themselves and their efforts as nothing and wholly throw themselves upon the grace of God in Christ that are both in and out of the IC. It is true that there are some institutional churches that have set up a law based Babylonian structure to bring men to God but there are other institutional churches that are great centers for learning to grow in the grace of our Lord. It is neither right nor fair to lump them all together as one.
Bobby,
It’s an honor to dialogue with you here! Thx for reading and commenting. I know exactly what you mean. When I refer to the institution, I am not referring to people, but a system. Obviously, the church is made up of living people, not an institution. There is really nothing ‘institutional’ about the body of Christ. I would agree that not all the people in an institution are ‘bad’. There are many precious saints that are attempting to function within the confines of the institution. I would not say that God does not use those saints that are in the institution, but I am saying that the institution itself is not sanctioned by the Lord because it actually was never intended by the Lord to exist. I am convinced that the church was designed to function and thrive outside of the ‘institution’. The institution is a man made system. It is comparable to Hagar & Ishmael.
The point that I was making is that those of us who belong to Jesus Christ are from Sarah & Issac’s lineage. Because of this, we should not get entangled with the household of Hagar & Ishmael. Unfortunately, many are.
Jamal,
I think I understand what your saying and I feel I need to clarify what i was trying to impress. First I think it is a mistake to say that anything that has happened was “never intended” by a sovereign God who could at any point have stopped it and changed man’s course. Because God is at work there, we should be looking for ways to weep and rejoice with our siblings that haven’t been called away from there. I am thankful for the IC, it was the preaching, teaching, and programs that God used to impress upon the glories of his grace in the gospel and my earliest glimpses of our riches in Christ. Second, I see Hagar and Ishmael as representatives of man’s attempts to bring about the promises of God as opposed to trusting in God. While institutional christianity is in many ways an attempt to do that I think we go to far to say they are one and the same and therefore should “not get entangled” with them because that is not the only devise man has built to that end. What we can glean from this priceless piece of history is that we should not get entangled with the thinking that says “we can start with Christ alone and move on into something better by adding our own efforts”. To focus too hard on the IC as today’s Hagar is to leave the enemy a wide open playing field to deceive us into pride that we left the IC and other areas in which we are blind to our own self righteousness and fleshly efforts. At least that is how it has worked with me, I have to stay alert in all directions.
your humble and affectionate brother,
Bobby
Bobby,
I appreciate your heart here. Let me say a few things that I think need to be said here:
1. By ‘never intended’ I mean to communicate that God designed His body to function a certain way, and there are certain ways that He did not design His body to function. The fact that God is sovereign over the universe, and all that happens in it, (which I believe) is another conversation altogether. God takes no pleasure in any wickedness, although He is completely sovereign over it.
2. Just because God may use people in the Institution, that does not mean that He sanctions the institution itself. I have first hand knowledge of God using people and even systems in Islamic mosques to point people to Jesus Christ. That does not mean He sanctions that system. I too am thankful for the fact that when I was in the institution, God used brothers and sisters to communicate to me. There were sermons that completely changed my life. The reason for this was because the person giving the sermon was sharing what the Lord put on His heart to share with the rest of the body. Anytime a part of the body is functioning, it is beneficial. While the Lord used that, it does not mean that the Lord sanctions a system in which one man dominates a passive audience of brothers and sisters in the Lord who simply spectate because they are not allowed to function. It also does not mean that the Lord sanctions a system in which a selective group of people operate as the head of the church. This is the hallmark of the institutional system. Scripture is quite clear that Christ is the only head of His church, and He has not delegated that Headship in theory or in function.
3. While Hagar & Ishmael represent man’s attempt to accomplish God’s purpose, and the institution is not the only way man tries to accomplish God’s purposes, it is a major way that this occurs. We should absolutely NOT get entangled in man’s system, this includes man’s religious system. Yes, not all saints have this understanding of what man’s religious system is, but when it is revealed to them, they should remove themselves from it. Scripture says “Come out of Her” speaking of the Babylonian system of man. This includes man’s religious system as well. Just because this ‘Babylonian’ system includes more than the institution (religious system), it does not mean that we should not ‘disentangle’ ourselves from that which is not legitimate.
I know you know this already brother, but I think this needed to be said in light of this article.
nice exposition! For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and the law of death! And even more mind blowing is that God loved Hagar and revealed one of his names to her, even though she represented the line of illegitimacy. What an awesome God!
Thanks for this thought-provoking post. I have been thinking about it for some hours and re-read the passage to get my thoughts clear. I too have never heard it interpreted in the way you are doing before. That, of course does not make it wrong, or, indeed, replace any other Jesus exalting view. It dawned on me that Hagar/Ishmael is the way of unbelief, compromise and human endeavour, whereas the Sarah/Isaac way is cetered in trust, obedience and the miraculous work of God. I can find no better way of summing up the institutional verses biblical church debate.
We note that the Lord does not abandon Hagar/Ishmael..and rescues them from the wilderness. Ah, the forgiveing, restoring heart of God! Thanks, Jamal, for obediently recording these things..
Thx Alan for reading and commenting all the way from the U.K.:)
I’m sorry to say I think you somehow twist these scriptures (not on purpose maybe, but anyway…) to be about organic versus institutional church. I agree with some of it, but the scriptures quoted is about being “married” to the law or to “belong to another” -Christ. It’s about law and grace. To say institutional churches are Hagar -the law and organic communities/churches is Sarah -grace, well that’s kind of stupid. Hagar is law bondage and judaizing. That might be a part of some institutional churches but Hagar and institutional churches is not tin themselves Hagar, niether is organic communities/churches Sarah. Kicking out Ismael is kicking out legalism and there is a need for that in organic churches as well.
Martin,
Thx for commenting and offering your opinion. I’d like to ask you a few questions if that is ok with you? In regards to the institutional church conversation, do you know what makes an institution and institution? Just curious to hear what you might say to that.
No opposition here, just a few observations…
Hagar- Man’s venture of Reason-Walk by Sight… Impatience causes Confusion, jealously, and more doubt… Man says I will build Gods church, I will just Do what the Book/Law says…. takes it upon themselves to fullfill Gods promise by using the Bible/Law to enjoy the fruit of their own labor, all from their lack of patience….Gets to remain as shadow….Never finding substance in and of itself, yet left for the oppertunity of repentence… Many are afraid they are gonna miss it, not knowing exactly the full implications of what they seek, they just wanna know Their really makin an impact… Will there be any From Sodom found rightous and cleansed able to be pulled from the wreckage of rubble of wood hay and stubble When all mens work is tested hopefully there will still be souls, but a little leaven leavens the whole lump… Many are are trapped beneath the realization of their lack of fullness, trying, trying, trying to be good enough, or thinking they are, and never surrender to see His hand of Miricle… Unweaned infants, living in anxiety, hoplessness, and fear…
But as is evident Gods plan was not thwarted in any way, only the fact remains,without Faith it is impossible to please God, and thos who come to Him must Believe He Is and He Is a Rewarder of those who dilegintly seek Him, Thy Will on earth as it is in Heaven…
Sara- Organic manifestation of Divine Sovriegnty- Walk by Faith- The Divine order of Life sparks authentic devotion and TRUST ….. I will buld my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail…. God’s plan cannot be thwarted…. God defies human logic…. God cannot lie…. The leading on unto fullness… The son comes forth outta promise, is the true test of loyalty… Whats more valuable? The fullfilled promise, or the Fulfiller of the Promise, what isour focus? Becoming consumed with the fullfillment of the promise, or simply concious of the realization it has been fullfilled… Since it is finished we rest in Christ, and we Know God is More powerful than power itself, we surrender all into the hope of freedom, which never disappoints… Gods plan is to cleanse, heal, and sanctify, all in His timing, we allow for Father to Father His Children, from infants up to Mature Men of Faith living in The Promise of Faith Hope and Love….
I just wanted to say thank you to most, if not all, of you that have carried on the above dialog. It is refreshing to see people from several different view points engage in a spirited and respectful discussion of differences. I especially appreciated the comments from “Bobby” and “belovedmichael”. Some of you have obviously had some awful experiences within what you consider the institutional church, and I’m assuming that some within it have not acted in a humble Christ-like manner toward you and others you knew or know. I can assure you that the problem is not the institutional church but MAN. Those of you that have been around the block several times can attest to the fact that the problems are prevalent whereever MEN are gathered in the name of Jesus, whether it be in home fellowships or in institutional assemblies. God gave us the liberty to advance the kingdom as we are led by the Spirit. We cannot put restrictions on the Spirit because of the bad we see. Just because institutions have been used to do great harm does not mean that institutions cannot be used for the glory of God just as just because some Christian bands may use music to make money and put on a show doesn’t mean that contempoary music and worship teams can’t be used for the glory of God.
Jamal,
I’ve never read a connection before that linked Hagar and Ishmael with the religious systems of the world. Correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t think that you were trying to narrow this conflict to only the IC and house churches. I think that you were attempting to shed light many truths and that many expressions of body life tend to react in a similar fashion as Abrabram and Sarah did. Abraham and Sarah took matters into their own hands and trusted in themselves intead of God’s promise. This, in my opinion, has a huge implication for our lives in Christ. I know from personal experience that I have a tendency to take matters into my own hands instead of relying on God’s promises, which lead to freedom by the way (Christ, Isaac, etc.) I can also see how you could come to the understanding that Hagar and Ishmael could represent a man made religious system because man made religious systems are attempts to conform spiritual practices that lend themselves to us taking matters into our own hands. I appreciate the interpretation and the fact that you are attempting to take this passage and look at it in the light of Jesus Christ. However, I do not think at this point that the main point the passages mentioned in your blog is the conflict between the IC and those who have decided to walk away from that system. I think that the main issue here is that man continues to struggle between living according to the flesh (self-dependency) and living in the freedom and promises of Christ. I do think that this struggle between the IC and others can be a byproduct of the implications of the passages mentioned. These are just my thoughts. Love you brother, Nathan.
Nathan,
Hey brother, thx so much for reading and for sharing your thoughts. You are correct when you say that I am not trying to limit this conflict between man’s system and Christ to the institutional vs. Organic church. While it may be more than this conflict, it is certainly not less than this conflict. The struggle that we are having with the institutional system is at the heart of this issue. This passage in Galatians is speaking of a corporate struggle that the whole church in Galatia was having with people who belonged to a harmful religious system of thought. We must read this passage from a ‘corporate’ viewpoint, not just an individualistic one.
Hagar & Ishmael represent man’s attempt to fulfill God’s purpose. While the entire Jewish law was supposed to point to Christ, their focus on their own ability to achieve righteousness developed Judaism into a ‘system’ that could not recognize Christ, nor their need for a ‘better’ covenant. The sin of self focus and human independance developed into an entire religious system that persecuted Christ and His body. This was exactly what Paul said in the passage in Galatians that I mentioned in this article. It was much more than a personal struggle. It was also a systemic problem.
The institutional religious system of today, in my opinion, is no different than the system of Judaism in Christ’s day. It is rooted in the same human system that strives to attain righteousness through external obedience to law (knowledge of good and evil vs. living by Christ’s divine life) and also by usurping Christ’s Headship and authority with man made headship and authority. Human clerical headship is the ‘lynchpin’ so to speak, of the entire institutional system.
Hagar and Ishmael’s system puts the emphasis on man, while Sarah & Issac puts the emphasis on God. When the headship of Christ is functioning in the body of Christ, He is on display. When Christ’s body (living by divine life, not the knowledge of good and evil) is active and not passive, Christ is on display. While there were people in the Jewish system that did recognize Christ, the ‘system’ itself was not able to. It could not see past its own man made system, nor could those who promoted that system get over the offense at those who pointed to the one who came to destroy their system. As this passage in Galatians says, Sarah & Hagar are not able to dwell together.
Jamal, I have given a lot of thought to the Hagar (bondwoman)/Ishmael vs Sarah (freewoman)/Isaac (son of promise) story. While I can agree on some of your conclusions, the major truth/reality/message I see coming from this biblical/historical biography is that of those who are under the bondage of sin (unregenerate, albeit ‘religious’) & bondage to Christ/righteousness/faith (regenerate). The religious person within any body who is not born-again, is still not a child of promise. No amount of participation (& even cooperation & mental assent to the gospel & to Jesus Christ) in organic or institutional church setting can make a dead person alive in Christ nor provide him or her with eternal (covenantal) promises of blessing. As long as a person remains unregenerate, they are not a spiritual descendant of the free woman, but the bondwoman. Salvation is of the Lord. Unless a person is born-again, they will not see the kingdom. Many will say in that day “Lord! Lord!” to whom Jesus will say, “Depart from Me, I never knew you”. Why? Because there hearts were not new & they were workers of iniquity. Even if OUTWARDLY they acknowledged Jesus Christ & cooperated in whatever body of believers, they may never have been born-again. A person is able to have a corrupt & sinful heart & not act OUT on their sinful thoughts, cooperating with whatever group they are a part of, institutional or otherwise. The Lord knows those that are His. Only those who endure to the end will be saved.
This religious challenge began with the serpent in the garden. Satan does not deny God or His Word. He merely twists His command & denies the punishment for sin, making the message more palatable for His hearers. This can occur in any gathering. We must beware. The enemy can & will use clever, charismatic individuals in both organic & institutional churches to fool, if possible, even the elect.
Jamal, I have been studying religious persecution. You wrote “many of the protestant reformers actually murdered … brothers and sisters in Christ who refused to come under their newly made state institutional religious systems”. Other than Servetus, who are the “many”? Do you have original source documents for this? Thanks.
Thx so much for reading and commenting. I agree with you when you say that this issue goes all the way back to the garden of Eden and the serpent’s deception.
I would like to say this, however. Sarah, the free woman, was the one through whom the whole idea of Abraham taking Hagar as a wife came from. I think that is noteworthy. The free woman gave rise to the one whom would persecute her child, the child of promise. We can see this clearly with the Jewish people. The people of God, through their determination to be independant and self reliant, gave rise to a system that killed the very savior that they were waiting for. They simply could not see Him when He came to save them.
Nothing has changed. We would be unwise to think that satan’s tactics have changed. If we study church history, we’ll see that the very same people who were freed by Christ to live by His divine life and function corporately under His headship quickly gave in to man’s system that is intent on individualism and self-reliance. This led to many in the church abandoning Christ’s Headship for a man-made system in which people became the acting head of the church. They also embraced a law-based system that was rooted in human effort and works instead of living by His divine life. Although this began in the first century (hense the church letters by the apostles), we can really see this man-made system creeping in widespread in the second and third centuries. This same system persecuted groups that refused to recognize it (the Anabaptists are a good example of this), and we are still affected by this ‘system’ to this very day.
As far as the ‘Protestant’ Reformers are concerned, they are just as guilty as their Roman Catholic counterparts of doing the same thing they were trying to break free of. They brutally killed many in the name of ‘truth’. Yes Michael Servetus is one example of a person killed by John Calvin (most ‘Calvinists’ have no idea of this), but many people were killed by Protestant reformers. Like I mentioned, the ‘Anabaptists’ are a good example of how the ‘system’ be it Roman Catholic or Protestant, acts the same way. The Anabaptists were brutally tortured and murdered in the name of ‘truth’ by both Roman Catholics and Protestants. The system of man is the system of man despite its various labels. I am not saying that there were / are no true believers in Christ in the Roman Catholic or the Protestant institutions, but I am saying that they were operating in a system of man that did these unspeakable things. This is no different than the fact that there were godly people who recognized Christ in His day even though they were operating in a religious system that could not recognize Him, and that put Him to death. Like the disciples, those people left that system to pursue life in Christ.
If you’d like to know more about the persecution of the Anabaptists, I’d like to recommend to you two resourses:
1. There is a book called ‘The Reformers And Their Stepchildren’ by Leonard Verduin. You can obtain a copy through Amazon.
2. You can listen to a teaching that Jon Zens gave on the subject. Jon Zens is a church history scholar. Here is a link so that you can listen online to this teaching. It will blow your mind! http://www.housechurchresource.org/audios/jonzens.mp3
Blessings to you:)
Jesus paid a huge price for our freedom…why would we ever want to throw that away for something less?!! You have truly captured my heart and I totally agree with this message, yet am amazed at how only those who have eyes to see can understand this….Hmmm and those who have been set free from bondage can testify that it is far more glorious on this side of the fence.
Amen!
Very interesting to note that Sarah offered her handmaiden to her husband (which I have heard was a custom when the wife was barren). She was showing a grievous lack of faith in what her husband had told her the Lord had spoken to him as a divine promise. Of course, Abraham was the man in direct communication with God, yet he committed the physical sin of adultery.
Jamal, lest you think the Anabaptists were pious men, one of their leaders, Thomas Muntzer was a revolutionary. He wrote to Martin Luther saying: “I would like to smell your frying carcass”. He also exhorted his followers: “Let your swords be ever-warm with blood!”
Anabaptist leader Jan Matthijs seized the town of Munster, breaking into houses & driving out everyone who was unwilling to accept second baptism. When Matthijs was killed in a battle, another Anabaptist leader, Johan Bokelson (who had many ‘wives’) took over the town Munster, and issued the order for holding everything in common, including wives. Girls were passed around among the men. “Rapes, suicides, severe punishments and mass executions took place almost every day. On one notable occasion, Bokelson himself beheaded a virtuous woman who had refused his sexual advances. As he ceremoniously chopped her head off in the public square, a choir of his wives sang “Glory to God in the Highest”! (Productive Christians in an Age of Guilt Manipulators by David Chilton). The city was finally freed & Bokelson was put to death by Protestant forces.
Peter Hammond notes: “It was not that they were being persecuted for taking the Scriptures seriously, but because they were violent revolutionaries subverting the entire social order and guilty of the deaths of many thousands of innocent people.”
We will find suspicious, embarrassing & sinful currents running through every human endeavor. I am not looking to a church, organic or institutional. I am looking unto Christ, my Savior & Redeemer, My Shepherd, the Author & Finisher of my faith.
Thx for your reply. The quotes that you shared here does not explain why so many Anabaptists were literally crucified, stoned, drowned, and burned. I’m sorry, but the quote by Peter Hammond that you shared here is completely false and baseless. This is simply a repeat of the same baseless charge, almost to the word, that the Roman Catholics leveled against the Anabaptists. I’m afraid that this comes from a prejudiced opinion on his part.
Most history about the Anabaptists were written by the same viewpoints that opposed them. The Anabaptists absolutely were persecuted by and large because of their opposition to the religious system of their day. This is precisely why both the Roman Catholics and the Protestant reformers killed them.
I would challenge you to look into the resources about the Anabaptists from the sources that I recommended to you. The book that I recommended to you was written by a person that would not normally be sympathetic to the Anabaptists. (research the author) After he researched what really happened to the Anabaptists, he understood how wrong the history about them actually is, and why they were really brutally killed. If you don’t want to read the book, you should at least listen to the message I linked to from Jon Zens in my last comment to you.
Thanks so much for all your comments everyone. Please feel free to keep them coming as you are led. This conversation has prompted me to post another article about the ‘Anabaptists’. There is a lot of disinformation and ignorance out there about this group, yet I am convinced that there are not many groups in church history that are more important to discuss than the Anabaptists. They are very relevant to the struggle we are facing today. Here is a link to the article that I just posted about them:
Who’s Trying To Kill You? (history of the Anabaptists & why it matters to you…important msg from Jon Zens) http://wp.me/p1hf9o-6U
I like your view here. some good points.
Blessings
Thx Karen!
My brother Jamal, What beauty this article became as readers joined the conversation. Fantastic, all that you wrote came into full expression within the comments. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the Tree Of Life both expressed so outstandingly. Our Lord Jesus Christ, so far beyond amazing! I agree wholly with your article. Glory be to Christ alone!
Kat,
thx for your encouraging words on the blog sister. I appreciate your heart. I do think it is amazing that what I wrote came to full expression here in the comment section on this post. Isn’t that amazing?
I always used to feel sorry for Hagar. She was a servant having to bow to the whims of her mistress. It wasn’t her will or effort that started the new line of people in contention with the people of promise.
Therefore, I kind of balk at calling the oppressive religion system “Hagar’s System” because it was SARAH who ultimately initiated its creation by insisting *against God’s will* that Abraham start a line with her. Really, it was “Sarah’s system”; a true child of God failing to trust in her Father’s provision. Thankfully, God forgave them and allowed her the opportunity to still create the line of Christ, but again I think the fundamental difference is that a true “heir of the promise” can make similar mistakes that fall into the “man-made religion/effort” category, but be redeemed from it.
(I also take great comfort in God’s treatment of Hagar. He didn’t treat her with disdain, but provided for her and her son. He also sent HIS son to die for those people in her line, that if they might turn to Christ they too can share in the promise.)
Thanks for your comment. Just to clarify, I did not compare the oppressive religious system with Hagar, Paul the apostle, who wrote the letter to the Galatians, did that. Go back and read the passage from Galatians 4 that I referenced in my article. He mentions that the Judiazers, who were persecuting the church, were children of the ‘bondwoman’. Who do you think he was talking about?
I understand Paul was talking about Hagar’s children as being analogous to those who were outside of the promise. I just didn’t think that Paul was saying it was “Hagar’s way of doing things” that resulted in a legalistic church- it was “Sarah’s way of doing things” that bred that result. The fact that Hagar’s line reaped the consequences of “*Sarah’* actions doesn’t mean Hagar was responsible.
Thank you all for helping me learn through your thoughtful discussions. Growing up, neither of my parents took me to church besides maybe Easter, I was never baptized and later learned my mother’s family are Protestant and my father (actually his wife and larger part of my family) Catholic. I was told at 15 by the Catholic side I will go to hell if not baptized. THAT was the seed, the begining that lead to my firm belief that who/what I believe in, is not going to send me to hell because my parents/I did not choose to baptized me etc. I believe we are all brothers and sisters and the world we share is our singular church. But what do I know. Just my thoughts and again, thank you. Be blessed.
Sarah, thanks for dropping by the site and posting this comment. I hope to see you around the blog regularly. Blessings to you:)