Regarding the Christian Religion: Part Two

- the body, - the journey, Featured Articles, Rethinking | November 11th, 2009 | 2 Comments

Back in April I wrote a post referencing an article by Chip Brogden titled Regarding the Christian Religion. Therein I asked the question, “How do we interface with those still trapped in Christian religion?” and stated I would express my position in a later post. So, here it is.

First, I believe it is essential to recognize that most of us out-of-the-camp types were at one point deeply immersed in the Christian religion. By grace we were lead out as we sought the Lord for a greater revelation of Christ – but from Babylon we came nonetheless. I believe the tendancy towards religion is intrinsically bound up in the human heart and has been since Adam and Eve attempted to hid their nakedness. It is only by the washing of the water of the Word that our minds are renewed to see that we are accepted in Christ because of His sacrifice and no longer need to make coverings for our nakedness. Indeed, we have been clothed with Christ and are no longer naked before God.

I also think it important to recognize that any position, regardless of how “present-truth” it may be, is subject to becoming Babylon-ized. For even though we have seen more of Christ and His purpose in the earth – our sight still falls far short of His glory. So then we must remain a people of pursuit, like Abraham, living in tents, continually pursuing that city whose builder and maker is God.

I agree with Mark, that a time is coming and now is when a strong prophetic declaration of Exodus is sweeping the earth. Those who have ears to hear have but one response…”Come out of her My people.” Most believers have seen and experienced the futility of “church.” But bantering over the inadequacies of the Christian religion is equally as futile. The rehearsal of past hurts and offences is not the way forward. We must be faithful to build according to the pattern we have seen and walk in love towards those who would speak against us. In the end, the Lord is our defense. I do see a day approaching wherein a bold prophetic and apostolic voice speaks back into Babylon, but I think that time is still to come.

So then what of those still in Babylon? What is our position towards them? I am struck by the parable of the wineskins and the wine. Notice what Luke brings out.

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one, after drinking old {wine} wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good {enough.}’ Luke 5:37-39

This passage is quite instructive. Here are a few points in brief for your consideration.

1. Jesus is using common sense to make His point. For these people it was quite obvious that no one would put new wine in an old wineskin. That should be obvious to us as well.
2. Jesus is concerned primarily for the wine, but secondarily for the skin. So then, for whatever reason, he does not want the old skin to be ruined. Maybe it is useful for those who are content to drink the old. Indeed, once that wine is fully drunk the skin becomes useless.
3. New wine = Fresh wineskins – Enough said!
4. See how strong a pull the taste of the hold has in that no one wishes for the new. (It should be noted that some manuscripts contain a word that suggests no one “immediately” desires the new.)

I believe Babylon is a position of the heart that we can find ourselves in regardless of the form we inhabit. And though the outworking of Babylon is manifest in old forms and traditions that have rendered the Word ineffective, we must continually guard against an internal Babylonian position so as not to rebuild that which the Lord has destroyed.

There is much to say regardig the Christian religion, but this will have to suffice for now. Perhaps part three will be forthcoming.