The Church in The Year 2,005 AD Article

And therefore the Lord (earnestly) waits - expectant, looking and longing - to be gracious to you, and therefore He lifts Himself up that He may have mercy on you, and show loving-kindness to you; for the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed - happy, fortunate (to be envied) are all those who (earnestly) wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him (for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy and His matchless, unbroken companionship).

From the Author

One day as Mr. Fox was sitting in St. Paul's Church, exhausted with long fasting, a stranger took a seat by his side, and courteously saluted him, thrust a sum of money into his hand, and bade him cheer up his spirits; at the same time informing him, that in a few days new prospects would present themselves for his future subsistence. Who this stranger was, he could never learn; but at the end of three days he received an invitation from the Duchess of Richmond to undertake the tuition of the children of the Earl of Surry who, together with his father, the Duke of Norfolk, was imprisoned in the Tower, by the jealousy and ingratitude of the king. The children thus confided to his care were, Thomas, who succeeded to the dukedom; Henry, afterwards Earl of Northampton; and Jane who became Countess of Westmoreland. In the performance of his duties, he fully satisfied the expectations of the duchess, their aunt.

As with Mr. Fox, God is still operative and takes pleasure in guiding us today.1 I pray that you will read this with an open mind and an open heart to the things of God. I also hope that you will listen to the Holy Spirit, and to your experiences, as you read this paper. While God is never changing He is still doing fresh things in the church.2 He has a plan and we are a definite part of His plan. To fulfill our part we must come to a fuller realization and experience of who God is, and what part of fruition he has in the role of our lives.

I realize that some of the concepts here are revolutionary in nature. I also realize that God's son, Jesus, was and is considered revolutionary in the sense of doing what ever is necessary to bring us to the place where we can view the kingdom and works of God in a deeper revelation and understanding.

Change is never easy for humanity. I do not expect these concepts to be accepted easily as we must approach God from reason as well as from faith.3 I do expect that the reader will consider what I postulate here and to ponder where they are in terms of their relationship with God. I have written to the church, the body of Christ and pastors, in these pages in the hope that all will reevaluate their relationship and responses to a living, present in our lives, God.1

David in the book of Psalms searched for the goodness of God amongst his fellow beings. He counted upon gaining strength to carry on through these people. David said, "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." 4

Once we find this strength and encouragement in the land of the living we must direct it towards God, surrender it to his hands and be of good courage. David said, "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."5 So I also direct this document into the hands of God, surrender its impact in the body of Christ to His outcomes.

This is only the mere beginning of the story of God's church and you because, as the reader and actor, you have a vital role to play. This document is not all inclusive, you as a reader will write the final pages.6 May the Lord bless you in your encounter with Him!

The Church in the Year 2,005

The Statement of Need:

The religion, religious practice, and the spiritual experiences of humankind have become dull, dry and uneventful. In many circles Christianity has become a doctrine of criticism, judgment and condemnation of others. Large numbers of individuals and families resist attending church, practicing the Christian faith, or even to socially interact with those who profess to be Christians.

Why has this occurred? Why do so many in need of a better way of life seek other methods than the truths of God's divinely instituted plan of redemption for the world? For instance, the New Age Movement with channeling, meditation, taro cards, crystals, spells and psychics have doubled in size over the last several years. This movement (a pseudo religion) is attracting people from all walks of life, even from Christianity, and is evangelizing nation wide through radio and television. The New Age community mission is to communicate with spirits from other dimensions in order to give them understanding of this world, to gain understanding on how to deal with and overcome problems with relationships, jobs, and social interactions. Eastern religions such as Zen Buddhism are becoming more popular in the United States, again even drawing from the Christian community. None of the mentioned spiritual practices offer a living, risen, redemptive savior. None offer eternal life with God.7

Why do individuals, and sometimes even whole families shun the church, and thus Christianity, and seek spirituality in practices that are solely humanistic?

The obvious answer is that Christianity is not meeting the needs of Christians, and obviously not those who have never committed to Christianity.

Beyond the obvious answer, the difficulty may be discovered in the undeniable fact that we as Christians have lost the excitement of following a God who is continually and consistently intervening and interacting with us in our daily life events. We have lost heart vision of a God who cares about every moment and every encounter we as His creations have in our lives, and in our world.1

Most, or at least many, Americans believe that there is a God. Some even believe in God. All but a few have lost faith in the belief that God is in every event and experience that we humans encounter. Instead, we reduce the intervention, direction and actions of God to the transpiration of natural events, science, evil or the attitudes and attacks of fellow beings. A belief, behavior and action on our part that severely limits, because of man's free will, God's intervention in our destiny. It also precludes our vision of a living, interactive God.

The Goal - Activating a Thirst:

In this short paper I will attempt to activate, and bring to the surface - make relevant - a thirst for the presence of God, internal and external, in each reader's life.

I will also endeavor to awaken a God instilled knowledge, burned deeply in each person, that "God is active in everything we experience". He is present in every thought, feeling, action, historical event - in the past, especially in our present and even into our future.

God is present today, just as He was yesterday, and He has made very specific promises to mankind (specific to those who believe in, rely on, and follow Jesus Christ) that He is actively in our lives.

The fact that God is still fulfilling these promises today cannot be refuted. Here are only a few of the promises of God, put into modern language, that still apply:

1. God promises to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh

2. We will eat in plenty, be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD our God, that has dealt wondrously with us: and as God's people we will never be ashamed.

3. Our sons and our daughters will report (be interested in) the things of God

4. Our matured men shall dream dreams (the plans God has for us as Christians)

5. Our young men shall see visions (discernment & understanding of God's role in our life)

6. We will have the results of God's work in us, which is holiness, and the end of God's work as everlasting life

7. The Spirit of God will guide us into all truth

8. The Spirit of God will help our infirmities

9. As Christians we become the temple (meeting place)of God

10. The Spirit of God resides in us

11. We are washed, sanctified, justified in the name of Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

11. He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit (we share a fellowship together)

12. The manifestation of God's Spirit is given to every man to profit by (profit in the sense of Attaining God's will in our life)

13. We are able to incorporate the fruit of God's Spirit into our life experiences, both internally and externally. The fruits are - love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance

14. We can be strengthened with might (power & ability) by His Spirit in the inner man.

15. When we believe on the Son (Jesus) we have everlasting life

16. We dwell (are made safe) in God, and God dwells in us (to make us safe), because God has given us of his Spirit

These promises (commitments) from God - who never fails - is what can and will make our Christian life safe, secure, successful, content, affirmed in our inner and out development of heart and life maturity. These promises also facilitate excitement and drive the curiosity about what wonderful direction God will give us next.

God's history in man's life, and His continually active promises declare to each Christian that as creator He gives every believer clear, specific and valid instruction on how to live happily, how to fulfill his/her purpose, plan and destiny in life, how to experience the abundant life, how to follow God's direction and regain the excitement and joy that life was designed to provide.

Three Ways to Respond to God

We as Christians are a church that is divided as we near the year 2,005. Today Christianity is practiced in three primary and seemingly opposing ways. I say seemingly because this division is not necessarily negative. Each creed may hold a portion of God's principles and truths as pure and practicable in the history of the church. However, we must not stagnate! We must not be satisfied with the level of attainment we have gained in the knowledge of God. The church must continue to reach out to God while not becoming obstructive to the truths we have already learned. We must continue to seek a fuller knowledge of how He interacts with his creation.

The aspiration of this paper is NOT to attack parts of the body of Christ. The burning desire of this author is to submit that there is more to experience in God than we currently practice as a divided church.

In this article the presupposition is that we may experience the fullness of who God is in today's present moment, in our current history - not just the history of past, or future.

I also propose that by not fully acknowledging God to be in control of the immediate moment and to be communicative to us in that moment, that we have stopped short of the full glory of God. By being satisfied with a God of history, or a God of the future in our religious practices we have also interrupted, and possibly hindered, the Holy Spirit's drawing (Wooing) of secular society to a live and vital religion called Christianity.

This paper than is a call to an awakening within the church. It is especially a call to ignite Pastors to proclaim God as active and vital in the current lives of God's people! With this understanding let us look, though rather generalized, at the three current theological positions within the church:

Position Number One

The separatist

You can recognize these people as a group that practices their religion as strongly adhering to and celebrating customarily the historical past. They often will affirm their position through "God is the same yesterday, today and forever - He never changes!"

They are a church who decline to adequately focus their attention on God as conqueror of the present. Mostly they chose to see and proclaim how the devil is winning the war today in our "evil" society. They focus on the evils of society and segregate themselves from the rest who live in this world. Their task is to keep themselves, as the body of Christ, pure and untainted by society. They help us to see and understand the holiness of God. They draw people into the kingdom of God by showing us how far removed we are from holiness, sanctification and commitment to God. While their task is important to maintaining the power of the kingdom of God there is more to God's plan than just this aspect.

Position Number Two

The Futurist

They see their visionary role in God's Holy war as a religious practice, and relationship with God and each other, that is based upon what will occur in the near future with the return of Christ. They speak mostly of the day when God will win over Satan, preparation for the rapture, and of Christ establishing the kingdom of God. Often scripture is referred to in past and future tense. They are busy battling Satan in our current society. They draw people to the kingdom of God through hope of the future of mankind. They hold the vision of God's final conquest over Satan and his evil forces. While their task is important to maintaining the hope of the kingdom of God there is more to God's plan than just this aspect

The American society of the year 2,005 is searching for a spiritual answer, and experience, that can be related to in the present tense of their lives, including their social, family, and job environment. They are seeking a spiritual practice and belief system that will give them understanding, resolution, support and deliverance from their current struggles, frustrations, pains and strains of living in the modern society of today. They desire to focus upon the beatitude of God rather than the evil works of Satan. They desire to connect with a divine something, or someone, who is interactive with them in the here and now - not just in the past, or maybe in the future. They also seek to understand the mystery of life and spirituality. Perhaps this is why pseudo religions have gained such a tremendous foothold in our society.

The Third Position

The Apperceive

The church of the year 2,005 (a church that is already in birth) will look for God in a third way:

They are looking for a vital, concerned, caring and interactive God of the moment who responds to us out of the scriptural principles He has established since the foundation of the world (scripture). As a God who sometimes enlightens, coaches and instructs us through interaction with other fellow humans, who reveals His presence through circumstances and in our interplay with the terrestrial sphere. (experience) Through insights based upon what God has revealed to us in History and in traditions, as a God who is always dependable, based upon what he has accomplished to date (history & traditions). And finally as a God who is able to communicate through many understandable methods such as dreams, visions and human revelations (reasoning). They draw people to the kingdom of God through proclaiming that God is present in the now of life. They do not judge or condemn other churches for they realize we all play a role in the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth.

The church of 2,005 that I refer to as The Apperceive (those who encounter and experience) will have the Four Fold Guidelines that will assist them in seeking God in His fullness.

The Four Fold Guidance:

In this document I will establish for the reader - through the following Four Fold Guides, Ten Responses, and practices - a way to understand, follow, and implement God's direction and interventions into our heart, mind, spirit and life environment in the year 2,000. A way that is biblically sound, historically correct and makes sense in today's society.

A system that leaves room to encounter a daily experiential relationship with God who is present, available, interactive, and most often miraculous in our time of need. A way that does not exclude history, future, or scripture. A way that has the potential of increasing our faith and makes our spirituality active and alive.

The Church Divided

To understand the church of the year 2,005 first we must look at the church as it is in the present. In the church today there are some congregations that seek God only through the use of scripture as the final authority, other congregations who seek God only through tradition as the final authority, some who seek God through reason as the final authority, and a growing number who seek God through experience as the final authority. Each of these congregational positions rejects and/or judges the others. Too few are willing to embrace that God is active and to be found in each and all of these avenues.

The zenith of this paper is that one method of seeking, understanding, and responding to God is not greater, or more pure than the other. Each of these positions is not greater, or less, than the other. For our religious pursuit and spiritual experiences to be fully awakened and stimulated into action all four approaches must be incorporated into our daily experiences.

The four approaches than are - Scripture, Tradition, Reason and Experience.

If God is to be discovered and experienced in our personal life it is important that we recognize that God has:

1. Set spiritual principles and relationships into operation and has revealed them for our discovery in His word, the bible.(Scripture)

2. Made His (God's) spiritual principles understandable by study of their application in the historical accounts of other believers throughout history. (Tradition past & present)

3. Given human beings a portion of His (God's) capacity to think rationally so we are able filter through information to divide the truth from the untruth and apply the truth to our current experiences. (reason)

4. Created, or allowed, external life events and the responding inner emotions, feelings and thoughts of man for the sole purpose of weighing, evaluating, responding, changing and following the directions and encouragement's of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the plans and purposes of God for our individual lives, for the world, and for His kingdom. (experience)

This than is the Four Fold Guide for activating the awareness, excitement and experiential understanding that God is in our lives.

Complete and full awakening of this fact is what will transform the church once more to be accessible and alive, perhaps as alive as it was during the time of the new Testament Church, especially the times of the book of Acts where the Holy Spirit was sought after and responded to with intense dedication. Where individuals where always looking for the movement, direction and interventions of God.

The following responses have their foundations in these four fold guidelines.

The Responsive Personality of the Church

Transitions within the Church:

As a preamble for understanding the personality of the church, the reader must understand and acknowledge that the church has gone through many transitions in its history. A few of these transitions are:

1. From holiness and sanctification in the garden at creation, to separation from God

2. From experiencing God as present and approachable, to God distant and punishing.

3. From experiencing God as a God of wrath and justice, to knowing Him as a God of love and wisdom.

4. From perceiving God as unapproachable except to a chosen priest for all the people, to every individual having access and forgiveness individually through and in Jesus Christ.

5. From believing God's plan as conquered and defeated on Calvary, to experiencing victory through the resurrection of Christ.

6. From being present with Christ on earth, to following His commandments without His earthly presence after the resurrection.

7. From being a powerless church previous to Pentecost, to being a church with power after Pentecost.

Each of these stages of transition for the church provided a challenge and required commitment and growth in the body of believers called the church.

I believe that God is once again challenging us to another transition of the church. He is asking for our commitment to return to the original state of holiness and sanctification, as we were prior to the first transition experience.

A state where we all have unbroken communion, relationship and reign with God. A state where we are looking for God to walk with us in the garden at any moment. Where we are listening for God's voice around every turn of the garden's path. Where we are expecting God to supply our every need (food, clothing, helpmates, etc.)

We cannot be stuck in transitions of the past, nor can we throw out scripture, or any of the other three Four Fold Guidelines if we are to accomplish His ultimate purpose and plan.

The following proposed responses from the church of the year 2,005 are based on this belief...

- The Seventeen Major Responses -

Body, mind, spirit

1. We have separated and forsaken the realm of the body and mind of the believer in Christ to the responsibility of secular society - rather than approaching God for healing first - and as such have given control of these compartments to human philosophies other than Gods. The end result is a weakening church and desperate individuals left in a desert of external dis-connection from God.

We are created by God as a body, soul (mind) and spirit. Life and the human experience are one of body, soul (mind) and spirit. All three elements of the human's existence must be fully and completely experienced and cannot be separated one from the other. Our responses to life, and to God, come from all three compartments of being. Therefore, to include one portion of our God created self while excluding the others is to exclude God from fully directing and functioning in our lives. We profess to surrender body, soul and spirit to the first and final authority and care of God.

Purpose, Plan, Destiny and Grace

2. We understand that we are born into this world with a purpose, plan and destiny. Although we have a free will, we are not created by God and then left to wander blindly in our own direction and determination. We profess that God is very present in our lives, in our human time frame, and especially in out present needs.

We believe that God's grace has been given to us in birth, before we came to clear knowledge of who God is, or His desires for us and that His grace is fully operative in each and every event of life that we experience.

God's Timing in Events and Experiences

We are committed to the belief that God has a specific timing to accomplish His purpose and destiny in every person, in His kingdom, and in this world.

Until His timing comes to fulfillment our goal is preparation, commitment and obedience, not criticism, judgment, or condemnation of those we may consider as not arriving to spiritual fullness, or fulfilling God's call in their lives. We choose to leave the responsibility of God's timing to God!

Responding to Divine direction:

God Always Present in Every Experience

3. God, His son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are found in every experience of life, in persons encountered on the path of life and in the activities of daily living. Therefore, every person - adult or child - we meet, or encounter, has something to teach us, or share with us about how to achieve a positive and full relationship with God, about how to attain and fulfill our purpose and destiny, and how to accomplish the task before us - the task of bringing the kingdom of God to the earth.

This response is what can and will, if practiced, make our Christian experience and our Christian faith exciting and full of assurance, joy and peace.

God Is Present and Guides Us

4. We understand that God, through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, and by the creative work of the Holy Spirit, dwells (makes abode, lives) within each of us. Therefore, we recognize that God instructs, speaks to us and guides us through the methods of internal prompting (personal messages & direction), encounters with other people in our daily interactions (experiences) and through His written word (scriptures).

We do not discount the ability of God to be able to give direction through the use of any of these methods. However, we also acknowledge and stand firm in the fact that all inspired direction through experience, feelings and internal thoughts, our fellow beings, or the Holy Spirit will always align and confirm the written word and history of God.

Responding to understand what the church is:

A Condition of the Heart

5. Church is not defined as the condition of gathering of people into some pre-designed and designated building. Instead, church is defined as the positive and responsive condition of the heart, the mind and spirit of the followers towards God.

Church is the description of the combined internal and external loving and responsive condition of each person as they surrender to the purposes and plans of God. This surrender is what brings us to the Godhead and to each other to experience the fulfillment of the promises of God - the promise of being accepted in His presence and thereby celebrating his love and His goal for us individually and corporately; Individually to holiness and sanctification and corporatly the goal of establishing the Kingdom of God on earth, and living in His eternal kingdom.

Style of Services

6. The public gathering of the church no longer needs to be boring, tedious, strictly ritualistic or legalistic. These practices sometimes alienate individuals from sharing the joy of fellowship both in God and in each other and stifle the Spirit.

The public gathering of the church can be a joyful celebration and testimony of God's consistent and constant daily interaction, direction and loving support in our lives individually and corporately. While our services may, or may not, practice traditional formats of worship - we are committed to making room for spontaneous responses to the prompting, direction and intentions of the Holy Spirit.

Reason for Gathering Together

7. We gather as a group to celebrate the love of God, The redemptive power and work of Jesus Christ and to respond to the guidance, teaching, conviction and correction of the Holy Spirit. We also gather for renewal of individual hearts toward God and to share with others the single purpose of proclaiming Gods love, interaction and interventions for all of mankind.

We profess our belief in the need to assemble together as believers, not because of tradition, or law, or guilt feelings, but because of our love towards God and each other. In our love we encourage all believers, and those seeking a spiritual experience, to attend.

Responding to Recognition of Who God is:

Who We Speak About

8. When we speak of God, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit we speak of the Godhead. As Christians we do not just focus on, and celebrate Christ as our redemption that has returned us to an unbroken relationship with God. We acknowledge and celebrate that He (Christ) in fact is our redemption but we also acknowledge God Himself actively guiding, interacting, correcting and providing wisdom to each of us as His children. We also celebrate the presence, guidance, teaching, conviction and correction of the Holy Spirit in our daily, moment by moments lives.

The Trinity of God

As Christians we understand, celebrate, and acknowledge, that there is only one God, but that in the unity of the Godhead, there are three eternal and co-equal Persons, the same in substance, but distinct in subsistence. We therefore give honor, dedication, self response, personal relationship and obedience to each of the co-equal Persons. Thus, it is not uncommon for a Christian to Pray in the name of Jesus, follow the prompting and direction of the Holy Spirit and give worship to God Himself.

Responding to our social/spiritual responsibilities:

Nurture, Encourage and Heal

9. As Christians we understand that, as representatives of God, we are given the responsibility to nurture, encourage and heal the burdened, oppressed and sick of the society that we live in. Therefore we do not give Christian charity lightly to those in need - we give from our pockets but also from our hearts, spiritual experiences and life experiences. We have a genuine care and burden for those in need. We do not consider others as lesser than ourselves in some fashion. We are all equal heirs, through Jesus Christ, of the grace, redemption, direction, and love of God.

Responding to service:

Serving God

10. We believe that every Christian person, male and female is a member of the Royal Priesthood. Therefore, we believe that every person born is set aside to serve and respond to the call of God in their lives. No person should be excluded from the opportunity of service in ministry. Because God is not a respector of persons we believe that both male and female are called to the ministry.

We also believe that age has no bearing on service to God and should not limit individuals from ministry. Experience, or lack of it, must never be a limitation to ministry. The primary qualification to ministry must be whether there is a call upon the individuals life, and if this call is now in the timing of God for fulfillment. We believe that education is a encourager to the call of ministry, but is not a delimiter.

Confirmation to Call of Ministry

We believe that one's gifts will make room for service in ministry and that these gifts are partial signs of the confirmation of God's timing for ministry. The fruit of the Spirit as described in Galatians chapter five are other signs of God's call to ministry. We recognize an individuals gift of ministry as a way to celebrate together the presence and blessings of God. No single person is focused upon for glorification, except the Lord Jesus Christ.

Responding to the conditions of mankind:

11. Divorce: Broken relationships are simply a reflection, or indication, of the need for a deeper union with God. When one has a fulfilled relationship with God it reflects in our positive and successful relationships with fellow human beings. Therefore, we do not condemn, exclude, or reject those who are experiencing broken relationships through divorce. Instead we stand firm in fellowship with those who are struggling. Fellowship amongst believers, and our trust in Christ, is our way to facilitate a mending in union with God and reuniting peoples of this earth.

12. Spiritual Pursuit: We recognize and acknowledge that there is a deep thirst in every person, regardless of age or gender, for spirituality. We understand that there is a void seeking to be filled within every individual, and as a corporate body. As the church we are dedicated to teaching, loving, supporting and encouraging those who seek to fill the void. We recognize that all individuals are at different locations upon the path to God. Therefore, we do not consider ourselves having arrived, or others as having not arrived. We believe that all of mankind are on the path together and that God has provided a road map for those who seek Him. The road map is expressed in the Four Fold Guidance principles of Scripture, Tradition, Reason and Experience.

13: Sexual orientation: We believe that the heterosexual relationship between humans is part of the divine plan of God.

We acknowledge that other orientations exist and that there is a large section of society that projects hatred, anger and rejection towards those of other orientations. As Christians we believe that our goal is to include all persons in the opportunity to receive God's love.

While we do not give our seal of approval to alternative relationships, neither do we hold hatred, anger or rejection in our hearts. God is the judge of the human heart and of man's condition. Our task as Christians is to bring the love of God, the redemptive power of Jesus Christ, and the awareness of the empowering presence of the Holy spirit to every individual upon this earth (The Great Commission).

Therefore, we embrace the fellowship and presence of all who seek a relationship with God. It is with the love, and in the love, of God that our lives take on new meaning and a refreshed depth of understanding towards what we do in life. This is what we open the doors of fellowship to accomplish.

14: Hardships, illness & emotional pain: We believe that God is not the cause of evil, or the tempter of hardships and illness. While He may allow such conditions to exist in society today, they are simply a cause for us to draw closer to God. They may also exist as a circumstance that will lead us off the path of self direction, and self destruction, and onto the path of trust and confidence in God.

No single, or multiple, hardship, illness, or emotional pain is beyond the intervention and healing of God. However, we do believe that our free will and God's timing have an interactive role in resolving this experiences.

As Christian we do not harshly judge or condemn those experiencing hardships, illness of any kind (including aids), or those struggling with emotional and psychological issues. We believe that the love of God and His empowering presence in our lives is the final resolution to overcoming these experiences.

15: Sin: We believe that sin is a state of personal rebellion against the intentions, interventions and purposes of God for our lives and for the world.

The progression of sin is described in the following manner.... when in the process of being tempted we chose to be drawn away of our own lust (lust is defined in it's simplest form as conquering and obtaining without thought or regard for the plans of God, the commandments of God, or the well being of others), and in this state of being we are enticed (absorbed and engaged). When we allow this lust to be conceived (incorporated into our hearts), it brings forth sin and when sin is finished (has taken a stronghold in all of our being) it brings forth separation from God - which is the description of death in its finality. At this point the sin is complete (has a stronghold in our being).

We believe that God has provided man with a resistance to sin through the internal forewarning and advice of the Holy Spirit and through revelation of His written word. We also believe that God forewarns us of the approach of sin through external circumstances. We further believe that when a Christian sins that God, through a redemptive plan of sin eradication in Jesus Christ, will forgive sin. We also believe that God has a kingdom plan which will totally conquer and annihilate sin in the final days.

We believe that God is the final judge of sin, Christians should not take the role of final judge! Our task as Christians is to confess our faults one to another, to pray one for another for the strength, trust and direction of God to overcome, so that we may be healed.

16: Satan & Hell and Heaven: We believe that there is a conflict between good (God) and evil (Satan) and that this war is played out in our daily lives, personal experiences, relationships and inner struggles. We hold that we are not helpless against this battle. We believe that we can be fully equipped to be conquerors through Christ and by the word of our testimony.

We believe that there will be a final outcome to the conflict. A final outcome where the conquerors will reside in God's kingdom (called heaven, and eventually the new Jerusalem) with the defeated to reside in a place referred to as hell.

We believe that God would have all of his creation to be on the victorious side but that the choice of residence is in the free will of man to choose.

17: Eternal Life Vs Eternal damnation: Based upon our concepts, and biblical understanding of God's plan for man we as Christians believe that God's plan is eternal life (a life without end) for mankind. Those who choose not to participate in God's plan for man, have chosen to then participate in eternal separation from God, which is the definition of damnation, for without God we are lost in our own sinfulness.

Expanding On the responses

The Personality of Individual Believers

There is a need for specific spiritual practices that will qualify and confirm our responses to the growth, holiness and sanctification called for in the church.

Christians must be cautious not to allow their spiritual practices to fall out of the alignment and balance of the Four Fold Guidelines. Each is important to the interpretation of what God is doing in our lives, and what we are doing for Him!

Spiritual practices are not the ultimate goal, but a means (avenue to accomplishment) to attain the goal. To falsely make spiritual practices the goal of the Christian returns the church to the boring, dull and legalistic church that it is attempting to escape.

Again the following practices are to be aligned and balanced with the Four Fold Guidance.

I. The inner and Outer Experience

The perfect balance between our inner and outer experience has always been the concern of God. It is also the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

There are specific practices that will assist in harmonizing and balancing the inner and outer experiences of the Christian. When a Christian attempts to measure how God is operating in their lives from a perspective of only a inner experience, or only from the perspective of an outer experience than his, or her life becomes unbalanced. The inner experience is heart, honor, integrity, conscience, willingness, determination, love, commitment and consistency.

The outer experience is friendships, interaction with the world, interaction with nature, responding to time, being aware of our environment, recognizing and responding to all of God's creation as we encounter it.

The following are suggested approaches to harmonization and balance...

Four ways to develop the inner experience

1. Solitude and Silence: There are times when it is important for a Christian to pull away from society's mental, emotional, spiritual and physical pollution's. We do this by purposefully creating a time alone where all self attempts at survival and of understanding interactions with the world can be set aside.

It is a quiet time to allow the advice, teaching and direction of the Holy Spirit to purge, cleanse and guide us through silence, fasting and prayer. Silence, fasting and prayer can be an inward action, rather than a outward action that is performed. Outward actions of silence, fasting and prayer for the purpose of all to behold only brings feelings of despair, piety and further separation for God.

Solitude and silence is a time of renewal before The Lord. It is not a time of self correction, nor a time of self criticism and condemnation. This is God's time to renew and to restore your mind, your body and your spirit. Since most people are use to doing, instead of being, this will be a most difficult practice at first.

The design of silence, and separation through solitude is to allow God to penetrate to the core of you and deliver His message of love, encouragement, resolution to difficult situations and to redeem those surrendered parts of self to His purposes. Being in silence and solitude is not a mindless activity, nor a self involved activity, but rather an active participation in listening, responding and further surrender to God. No set schedule should be set for solitude and silence. The gentle, or sometimes strong, prompting of the Holy spirit is the determining factor to when we set ourselves aside to solitude and silence.

2. Regular listening and responding to God: Listening and responding to God is both an external, and a internal response and surrender to His divine direction. Here the reference is to the internal. While the voice and intentions of God can be heard and seen in external circumstances it is the still small voice of God inside that often can, and will, speak the strongest and allow us to behave in the most positive manner.

In every circumstance a Christian needs to first listen to the internal voice of the Holy Spirit about what our response should be to the external stimuli. If we have filled out heart with God's word, through the reading of the bible and perhaps through other books written by God's people, then God will bring these works to our remembrance in the times of need. If we are responsive to the principles of God internally we will most often respond to the external out of gentleness, love and compassion.

3. The experience of Reflection & Meditation: Reflection is the process of evaluating our internal mix of compassion, wisdom and love in contrast to our need to conquer, be right, survive, or win.

Meditation is not the emptying, or surrender, of our mind and intellect to silence or inactivity. Meditation is the infilling of our minds with the principles, plans and wisdom of God and the surrender of harden hearts to our regenerated spirit in Christ.

This reflection and meditation process may sometimes be accomplished through personal and private journaling (in a note book) followed by ruthless heart searching review of our original intentions. Reflection is never fully, or successfully, accomplished unless a change in our attitude is achieved.

4. Prayer as worship and intercession: While corporate prayers of a congregation, or gathering of believers, is for the purpose of celebrating the grace, gifts and love of God, the personal and private prayer of an individual is for the purpose of surrender, commitment, worship through the giving of oneself and alignment with the vision of God for your life and the great commission He has given us.

Prayer is never to force God into becoming our heavenly bellboy, or for demanding the intervention of God into someone else's life. Nor, is private prayer for complaining to God about the attitude, or actions, of others while we inject our personal opinions and criticisms.

Prayer is not what we say, or how we say it. Prayer is the attitude of humbleness in the heart, mind and spirit of the believer. Prayer is the opening up of self for listening to the heart and mind of God.

When we pray for others the need is to express desire for God's grace to be amplified in their lives, and for the blessing of God to be bestowed upon them. Perhaps even for the awakening of their soul to respond more clearly to God. Although we must be cautious here not to enter into this request because we have judged them as lacking, for this is God's place only to judge.

Prayer, like solitude and silence, has it's timing in the Holy Spirit. We search for God in burdens, and are most effective in receiving and recognizing answers, when God has called us specifically to pray.

4 Ways to develop the Outer Experience

guidelines spontaneous events

Spontaneous events are defined as the occurrence of the unexpected in our lives. Paul did not expect to be blinded on the road to Damascus and God used it to redirect his life. Balaam in numbers chapter 22 had a spontaneous experience. "And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times." While we must not solely look to spontaneous events to find the will of God, as Christian we must acknowledge and understand them when they do occur.

Enter into relationships with others

from all walks of life

When Jesus walked His earthly ministry he interacted with all who encountered Him. He rejected interaction with no one. He cared about what others thought and felt. He was especially compassionate to those in need. He listened to the words, and hearts, of those who resisted him and responded by giving revelation about their need for a deeper relationship with God and with information on how to accomplish this. He sent His disciples out into the world to encounter those who would listen and to give the message of hope and redemption.

Today there are still those we meet in our day to day affairs who have the mission of giving us the inspiration, messages and direction of God. If God can use the mouth of a jackass, how much more is He able to use the mouth of any person upon this earth? We need to open our understanding to our daily people encounters and be sensitive and caring to the messages that God may have for us through them.

Serve others around yourself

Jesus came to serve, not to be served should we as Christians be any different? The great Commission is one of servitude and the surrender of hardened hearts towards those lost in the world. When someone enters our life it is often because there is something God wants them to have, or receive, through us.

When we turn our back on strangers we limit the specific destiny that God has for us. You also may very well short circuit the ultimate communication God has for you through that person. In the author's own experience, after leading someone to Christ he has himself been regenerated in his own faith and love for God through some simple statement that the new Christian makes about their new found understanding into the personality and personhood of God. Never exclude that God is capable of giving you direction and instructions through strangers - born again, or not!

Evaluate external events as a

measure of growth of the inner experience

External events not only challenge growth of our inner experiences, they also are a measuring tool of our current relationship with God, and of our willingness to respond to the direction of the Holy Spirit. Response to external circumstance, especially negative ones, are an indicator, and challenger of our disproportion of inner, personal belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as the one who governs of our life. External events challenge us to evaluate and deepen our heart commitment towards God's spiritual principles. External events challenge us to take control of anger, rather than anger take control of us. We are confronted in the event to actuate and deepen our love for one another, and for God. We are challenged to perceive external events as a call to respond with and deepen God's gift of holiness and sanctification.

The inherent Dangers

There are dangers in reducing every external, or internal, experience into being a message from God. There must be wisdom and caution that all experiences are confirmed by scripture to substantiate that it is indeed a message and a direction from God.

III. Spontaneous Events: (God revealing His Purpose & Plans)

There are spontaneous events that we may experience which could indicate a specific message to us from God, a direction to take, or a timing to be aware of. One example is in the old testament where God clearly used a jackass to intervene and deliver a message and to change a path in the direction of life. Descriptions of spontaneous events could be...

1. meeting, or hearing from someone your were just thinking about, or praying about.

2. phone calls, or other communications in some form, which are unexpectedly received.

3. Strangers who you meet for the first time because of someone else's intervention.

4. Gifts that come from an unexpected source.

5. Assistance unsolicited from strangers, or friends, in the time of need.

IV. Timing and Responding:(Being Where You Need to Be)

While God's timing may often not be our timing, God has a specific time schedule of events, accomplishments and interventions in the world, and in our personal lives. God, as creator and controller of time, uses time as a vehicle to confirm our actions and that we are on the correct path, or in fact upon the wrong path. Through timing He confirms that we are following His map with accuracy. He also uses timing to cause correction when we are lost, or have taken a wrong turn.

Some examples of timing could be:

1. When all our private attempts to accomplish something have failed.

2. When someone attempts to communicate with us, but fails.

3. When someone gives us vital information, yet unknown, that allows us to serve, or respond to God more accurately and more fully.

V. Hidden Messages (Searching the Mind of God)

Sometimes there are hidden messages that can only be released and accurately interpreted in the proper timing of God. Although the Old Testament assembly had access to the message of Jesus as redeemer, it only became clear and understandable when Jesus Himself appeared and completed His mission. This was God's perfect timing.

The church was not fully empowered until Pentecost and the infilling of the Holy Spirit after Christ's ascension. This is God's perfect timing!

While God commonly speaks to us through clear and understandable means, occasionally we are required to look for deeper meaning to what we do, or even what we encounter. To the Christian reading the scriptures will often open new and additional understanding not previously available when read the day before. This is true also in our relationships with others. Based upon the progression of their personal history, the current interaction of God in their lives, and new insights into our own lives, we may find messages and direction from God not discovered yesterday.

VI. Dreams, Visions & Messages (encouragement, direction & support)

As stated earlier God reveals Himself (His purposes, plans and interventions) through dreams and visions. Why does God sometimes wait till our "sleeping" state to do this? The answer may be complex but the root of it is that it may, be at the moment, the only way past our stubbornness and ignorance! What ever the reason, it is clear by history and scripture that God does use this method to reach us and encourage obedience. We need to remain sensitive to this mechanism of God.

VII. Angelic Delivers (keeping us on the path)

That angels exist, look into the mystery of the salvation of man, and are divine messengers from God to man is undeniable from scripture. God begins His interaction with man in the book of Genesis with angels, and He finishes His earthly interaction with man by angels in the book of Revelations. No where does the bible indicated that angels cease their activities between the two points of history! We in modern society have generally lost the sensitivity to the presence of angels and their role in God's plan. The church of the year 2,000 will be awakened to the role than angels continue to play in God's plan for man.

One caution, angels are never to be worshipped. We are to evaluate them according to history and scripture, for some come as angels of light who are not angels of light, and then we must respond to the directions of those who are truly sent from God. Paul in the New Testament warns us to be sensitive and responsive to strangers for they may very well be angels in the disguise of human beings.

VIII. The Natural Kingdom is Alive & Under the Creative Control of God: (God's earthly supply)

The creation of God all around us proclaim the glory and presence of God. The account from Jesus about this matter is recorded in the New Testament - "And when he (Jesus) was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."

As a year 2,000 Christian we will be sensitive and aware of the proclamations of God revealed in the natural creations. We will also realize that God has established His healing powers in the food we eat, the drinks we ingest and in the very air we breath. As a result we will be keenly interested in the protection of our environment for we will understand that the natural healing is not just "natural", but supernatural and comes from God Himself.

IX. The Response of Man: (dispersing the fear)

Man's fear serves as a blockage of the surrender towards the things and purposes of God. The fear of which the bible refers is a reverent understanding, honoring and response to the divine nature of God. Constantly God in His interaction with His children said "fear not, for I am with you." Perfect love casts out all fear. Therefore the decree from God is to love, rather than fear. As we encounter the world, fellow human beings and the mysterious things of God we must respond and understand through the power of love, not through intimidation, hate and fear. Hate and intimidation is just a reflection of the fears of man's heart and his ignorance.

Fear takes away the Christian's joy and excitement about exploring his spirituality and practicing his religion. When we fully rely upon God for protection, and submit ourselves to Him first, no encounter will end in destruction or despair. trust God with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all of your life.

X. Godly and Human Energy Systems (determine personal interactions that reveal the edge of the path)

In concluding this paper the issue of energetic emotional exchange between human beings must be addressed. This is distinctively the area of discussion I refer to in the author's notes as radical and certainly risky. Nevertheless we must explore and understand how God employs our personal intercommunication to direct our paths. This concept is important for determining God's direction and interchange with his creation.

Humankind was brought into existence to interact with God, and with each other. How we interact with each other has a direct significance upon how we perceive and render more intelligible our spiritual interplay with God. This is clearly illustrated in Genesis with Adam and Eve. Their interaction with each other affected their relationship with God.

In the same sense during the Sunday morning sermon Pastors facilitate understanding, insight into spiritual matters and, as a representative of God call for personal reaction to the instructions of God. Thus, congregation members respond with emotions and attitudes in the attempt to understand who God is, and our relationship with Him (God) through a man - the Pastor. More than just passing information to their congregation members, Pastors model the divine nature of God and in the ensample pass down information and direction from God to His people.

Parishioners than take this information and direction, from a man representing God, home to their family, community and job and there put it into action. Anotherwards, their interaction with the man called Pastor influences interactions with other human beings, and ultimately aftereffects their individual relationship and communication with God Himself.

"The Gospel having spread itself into Persia, the pagan priests,

who worshipped the sun, were greatly alarmed, and dreaded the loss of

that influence they had hitherto maintained over the people's minds and

properties. Hence they thought it expedient to complain to the emperor

that the Christians were enemies to the state, and held a treasonable

correspondence with the Romans, the great enemies of Persia.

The emperor Sapores, being naturally averse to Christianity,

easily believed what was said against the Christians, and gave orders

to persecute them in all parts of his empire. On account of this

mandate, many eminent persons in the church and state fell martyrs to

the ignorance and ferocity of the pagans."

The point is that the emotions, attitudes and behaviors we project into our world environment produce correspondent, or adversary attitudes, emotions, behavior's and personal actions that move us into a specific course of action, or direction in life.

Presupposing human interactions that lead toward, or away from God is a valid principle, permit us to explore the interactive nature of human emotional energy systems.

The following emotional energy systems may originate from man's unregenerate selfish souls (throughout scriptures we can find examples of this), or it conceivably may originate from God's intervention to remove us from self direction that convey us down a path that seems right, but the ends thereof are death (separation from God).

In our human interaction we may experience any of the following energetic encounters:

actions, words, attitudes and behaviors that...

absorb

disperse

destroy

unite

redirect

support

How do we tell the difference between God in action and man's selfish stratagem? The answer is detected in the potential outcomes!

Absorb

Does someone absorb your energy and weaken your strength, weaken relationship with God and your resolve to do the bidding of God? Then the source of absorption comes from human deception, and perhaps from Satan's plan to kill, steal and destroy.

When you give to others (or receive), either emotionally or physically is your spiritual strength increased, your heart lighter and your joy increased? Then it is possible that this action is in alignment with the plans, and direction, of God.

Disperse

Do people hinder your best intentions and cause you to feel remorse, guilt, confusion, or fear? God is not a God of confusion and the counter dispersing emotion (the response) should be one of love and patience. However, if your best endeavors bring frustration, internal questions about the nature of your intentions and causes you to explore your inner motivations for what you are doing it may clearly be the Lord attempting to get your attention and redirect you.

Destroy

In God's kingdom sometimes destruction must occur before construction can begin. Sometimes we must have the "ashes" experience before God can rise up new birth. The Disciples had a 'ashes" experience when Jesus died on the cross. However, out of this seemingly disastrous experience came the new birth - the resurrection of Christ and the redemptory rendezvous with God!

Destruction by God's hand in the Christian's life will never bring permanent separation, permanent death, or total loss of vision. If any of these encumbrances are experienced than we know it does not come ultimately from God.

Unite

God's plan is to unite his children in Christ. The scriptures make this clear. God's animation of joining dynamism will always bring peace and harmony.

There is another force at work. This force will attempt to induce you into it's power through exploitation of the unifying principle. It is the force of the darkness of isolation which is opposed to the plans and purposes of God. The power of isolation works in secrecy hiding in the appearance of maintaining individuality as a means of survival. Extreme individuality is in opposition to the plans and principles of God. Jesus' mission was, and is, to join us in Him to the Father. Scripture clearly tells us, "He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit". The most often used tool of darkness is the unregenerate heart of man. This is the power that keeps men, women and children out of church and immersed in self absorbed recreations and hobbies on Sunday mornings. It also separates and divides the body of Christ.

The response of the Christian is always one of love and sincere tender affectation towards those individuals infected. This attitude is always the conqueror which brings God's unity and salvation, instead of the darkness of extreme individuality.

Redirect

Man in his fallible state is in constant need of redirection by God. Sometimes it is very difficult to tell the difference between man's behavior of dispersion, destruction and God's intervention of redirection. The key is in the difference of outcome. When God redirects our emotions, behaviors and intentions the outcome is always of good report, of excellent results and of honor. When we redirect out of hidden personal agendas the result may be realization of selfish goals that lead to destruction, broken relationships and temporary results.

Support

Support at first glance would always appear to be good. However, if the support received from others does not lead you towards the ultimate goal of fulfilling your purpose, destiny and plan of God for your life then the support is just a trip down a side path that delays you from attaining the ultimate reward in your obedience to Him.

What should our ultimate response be in these situations?

There is a war, and a battle, but the tools of response that lead to victory are always fixed firmly in love, not in hate violence and destruction according to man's heart. Jesus was the perfect role model in how to win the victory over evil, or misguided, intentions. He never responded out of hate, blame, criticism, or faultfinding. He responded by standing firm in the truth of the promises and principles of God and in His love and compassion for mankind. This is the call of Christianity today as the church faces the new millennium with God.

Final Thoughts:

1. Arriving to the state of perfection is not the ultimate quest on this earth. It is in the journey that we as Christians discover, experience and commune with the excitement and presence of God.

2. God is Found in history, God is Found in future, but most expressly God is found in the experience of our present tense.

Scripture References:

1 - Isaiah 30:18 ZAB

2 - Hebrews 13:8

3 - 2 Cor 8:7, Eph 4:13

4 - Ps 27:13

5 - Ps 27:14

6 - 2 Cor3:3