Several years ago, I found myself in a bit of ‘trouble’. Before I left the religious system, an incident occurred that greatly opened my eyes to the perils of institutional Christendom. I’d like to share this story for those of us outside of the religious system who may feel compelled to the Lord’s work. Before I do that, however, let me describe what exactly occurred.
The Pastor of the institution that I had been attending called me and asked for a meeting with me. I was excited. He was a genuinely nice person and I had been hoping to get to know him better. I had been attending this particular institution for several months and had already had several meetings with this Pastor. Each meeting, however, had been initiated by me. This was the first meeting that he initiated, and I was elated! Although we usually met at a coffee shop, the Pastor said he would come by my office for this meeting. I was intrigued to say the least.
As the time for the meeting approached, I looked out of my office window and was surprised to see both the Sr. Pastor, and the Associate Pastor getting out of the car with large Bibles under their arms. I opened the door and greeted them. I observed that their demeanor was different than usual. In my observation, they actually looked a bit nervous. Instead of just chatting like normal, the Sr. Pastor asked if could ‘begin’ the meeting with prayer. Shortly after the prayer ended and some nice pleasantries were exchanged, the large bibles were flipped open. They began to share scriptures about submitting to leadership, etc…
I was caught off guard. I wasn’t sure where they were going with this conversation. This is how the dialogue progressed:
SR PASTOR: “Do you believe God has called you to this church?”
ME: “Yes.”
SR PASTOR: “If you feel led to stay at this church, you are going to need to buy into the ‘vision’ of this church that is set forth from this church’s leadership.”
ME: “OK.”
SR PASTOR: “You will have to run the articles that you write past our leadership team before you send them out.”
ME: “Hmmm.” (I recalled that I had recently written an article about my changing paradigm of church leadership)
SR PASTOR: “What position do you want at this church?”
ME: “Position?”
SR PASTOR: ”Yes, I know you used to be a Pastor before you moved, and I imagine that you would like to serve here in some leadership capacity as well. If you want any kind of leadership position here, you will have to begin by submitting to this church’s leadership and going through our membership course.”
ME: “Umm, I think you misunderstand my intentions.”
SR PASTOR: “?”
ME: “I am not looking for any position.”
SR PASTOR: “Then what do you want to do at this church?”
ME: “Well, I would like to simply love God and love people. I mainly express His love by building relationships. I like to have people over for meals. I like spending lots of time with folks. Knowing people helps me know how to serve them. I don’t need a ‘position’ for this do I?”
The conversation quickly ended, and unfortunately, I never had another conversation with them again. I attended their institution for several more months until it became clear that my continued involvement there was not what the Lord desired. Although I am no longer a part of the institutional system, experiences like this helped me realize something very important:
You never need permission to express the life & love of Jesus Christ.
In the New Testament church, Jesus Christ was the life of the church. Christ’s life was expressed through each brother and sister in the church community. Some of the more mature saints in the churches were described as ‘elders’ (wise ones) in the faith. Some other saints were also described as ones who were sent out to encourage and establish other church communities. Some of these saints are publicly mentioned in the scriptures, but many others were not. The point is, believers were free to express the life of Christ in them through loving and serving others. This freedom did not come from the permission of any man, rather it came organically through the life of Christ living in and through them.
A Warning To Those In Organic Church Life
To my brothers and sisters who have left the religious system & are involved in New Testament church life, (especially those who could be called to the Lord’s work), let me encourage us to be careful to not slip back into the old mindset of seeking approval or permission to express the life of Jesus Christ. This life in you is already free to love and serve others.
If Christ in you seeks to encourage and share the mysteries of Christ, do so with freedom and boldness. You already have permission to do that. That which is birthed from the Spirit will establish and build up Christ’s life in the saints. Your expression of Christ does not depend upon the permission or approval of any man. You are qualified. Consider Paul’s example here:
For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel that was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ…But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus…(Gal. 1:11-12, 15-17, NASB)
Paul’s words apply to us as well. Even though we heard the gospel of Christ through the medium of a human being, a true understanding of Jesus Christ comes by spiritual revelation from the Lord Himself. It was not given to us by the will of any person.
Many years later, a revelation of Christ regarding a specific situation in the church brought Paul before the other apostles in Jerusalem. There were also people of high reputation in that church that recognized Paul’s function in the body of Christ. Paul’s attitude about this situation is very eye opening:
But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)- well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised, (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship…(Gal. 2:6-9, NASB)
It is important for us to take note what came first for Paul. What came first for him was a revelation of Christ. Paul then lived out and expressed this revelation of Christ. Paul’s apostleship was a result of this revelation. The ‘right hand’ of fellowship from others of high reputation came as a result of the revelation of Christ that Paul carried. Paul’s apostleship was NOT the result of the ‘right hand’ of fellowship that he received, however. We must not get this backward.
Paul’s example speaks to the fact that the Lord handles our recognition and approval. We are simply to stay focused on Him & allow His life to flow through us. We are a part of an eternal kingdom that is built upon and held together by love. Jesus Christ is the personification of love. Freely we have received this love, and freely we are to give this love to others by expressing this love through our lives.
Brothers and sisters, we are free to receive and express Jesus Christ. Whether or not others extend approval to us is not our concern. We have permission to remain focused on Him alone.
For the revelation of Jesus Christ,
Jamal Jivanjee
Thanks Jamal. I definitely get caught up in the permission mindset. It’s cool to think of the freedom in Christ to express and reveal Him with no holding back! If we’re truly building up the body and displaying Christ, what permission do we need to ask for?! Leadership laws are some of the most burdensome weights on the bride.
Thank you for your permission to not need permission in expressing Christ’s life, but according to a friend’s most recent blog, I don’t need your permission to express Christ’s life. But thank you.
JK
I like hearing about things that happened to you in the institutional setting. Brings it closer to home. I see the system is more about control than anything.
They were more concerned with you submitting and them controlling, than you freely and naturally pouring out Christ’s life.
Good reminder!
OH oh oh oh! This so happened to me – and more than once. Oh, yucky, yucky memories. But, as H.S. now reminds me; I was very humble and gracious the last 2 times
./: ]
Thank you, Jamal, for giving your time to write these articles! I recall a similar meeting I had with a SP and AP several years ago. I was suggesting to them that the church staff needed to empower the church members to reach out to the community through their own ideas and initiatives, with support from the staff to provide some structure and direction, but otherwise letting them go to freely serve others. I was also called by the SP, who then showed up with the AP at a local place for lunch. At first I thought we were on the same page, but it turned out that they wanted me to help people understand their “gifting” and then direct them to either the nursery or teaching Sunday School. I reiterated what I was talking about, and it was obvious that they had no intention of entertaining it. I declined to compromise and did not accept their offer. I left that church not long after that, and later left the institutional church completely.
“You never need permission to express the life & love of Jesus Christ.”
What a paradigm shift! In 1 Corinthians 14:26, Paul says “Every one of you hath a Psalm”, and in Ephesians 5:19 he says, “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.”
Note: “Every one of you”!
There truly is so much freedom when religous regulations are removed and Christ alone is Head.
Amen Mark, great comment!
Amen, Jamal! Free believers who walk confidently in their identity in Christ as members of His priesthood will often be perceived as a threat to those who glory in their false-authority. Brothers and sisters, you are just as “ordained” as any Bible College or Seminary graduate…any “Reverand” or “Pastor”. You need only the permission of Christ to express Him with to another and to the world. Do speak thoughtfully and prayerfully, under the guidance of the Spirit with your focus upon Christ, but by no means keep silent.
“Free believers who walk confidently in their identity in Christ as members of His priesthood will often be perceived as a threat to those who glory in their false-authority.”
Wow, what a statement sister! I totally agree. Thx for sharing your comment.
Hi
I too went through a similar experience. I was amazed to see how things changed since then, I bear no animosity towards the people in the church. I still help out (as in do sound for events). But the friendships and relationships I had are no longer the same.
Really makes me wonder what the connection is in total when one is in an institution. But the doors close there as soon as you differ with the vision.
I am over the need to feel “officially in the church” with all the requirements and hoops one has to hop through. Definitely simpler to just Love Him and love people.
Thx for reading Lynley:) It is definitely simpler to love. Agendas almost always destroy relationships.
Amen bro. Is it okay if I share this post, do I have your permission?
So many of us need to hear this. I have seen this mindset stifle and at times cripple the body. Much ministry and edification of the body is missed when we are stuck on ourselves. I appreciate the encouragement.
My pleasure Seth. Thx for reading bro:)
This is all too familiar. If you haven’t had that line of questioning then you may have had the more benign, “Where should we plug you in?”
As heroine is to a junky’s body, so is control to many I/C pastor’s/leader’s souls.
May we have only 1 Master.
The established religious system of the day tried to control the Lord desperately. He didn’t ask for their permission to express the Life and Love of His Father, living inside Him. He simply filled with the Holy Spirit went about doing good……, not when, where and how the religious leaders wanted Him to, but when, where, how and to whom the Father lead Him. We have the same Holy Spirit living in us, and as He is so are we in this world. He paid the highest price to set us free!
Thank you for sharing this, Jamal. I needed this after.getting slammed pretty hard a couple weeks back when sharing Christ’s life and expression in us. So encouraging to know it does not matter what they think or how they react. All that matters is Christ in us expressed and revealed.
So glad this was helpful to you Kaley. Personally speaking, I am very glad that you express Him the way that you do. It is refreshing, and much needed. Thank you!
“We have permission to remain focused on Him alone.” The perceptions of others, the world, cannot stand in our way. There is no doubt about that fact. Why? Because, my brother, we cannot look back. It is like asking a carrot to be a turnip — not going to happen. We can be ridiculed, slandered, tortured and even covered with friendly persuasion, but still, a carrot is a carrot and a turnip a turnip. We know who we are in Christ, there is no place to turn back to, we are already in Him, the ultimate place to be. So I say, let them fuss, whine, and create scandalous rhetoric, yet all the while, we are living and expressing Christ.
Amen Kat, as usual, very well said sister. I’m looking forward to seeing you soon:)
great thoughts brother, kind of funny because it reminds me of my students at a public school I work at. In school students are taught to raise their hand (the picture you have posted) before they speak. I understand the reason for this, mainly because students normally participate out of their personality, those who are dominant or performance bent tend to be the ones who raise their hands while those who are the introverts tend not to. I normally do not ask students to raise their hands anymore in my classroom as a result. I use Popsicle sticks with the number/letter of each student’s seat and randomly select a student to answer a question, share a story/discussion, etc. during whole classroom discussions, so each student must be prepared to answer (must being the operative word, lol). But it does keep the kiddos on their toes. I say all this because when we have a fellowship of students gathering before school I try to try to help them to see gathering together in Christ is different from gathering together in a classroom. Most want to raise their hand to speak, while others living out of their personality tend to try and over function. This makes for a lively kind of meeting with the younger brothers and sisters, especially for those excited to participate in a face to face gathering, and at the same time opportunities to learning to put off the flesh, to see it is dead and to live by His life. It has been wonderful to see shy students see the freedom in this and that they do not need permission to participate. It provides wonderful learning opportunities in how to respect one another and love one another in an organic way. Blessings brother.