21 June 2007
Xtreme Living — Part 2 — Spiritually Dead
This isn’t a real post. Sorry if you feel mislead. Sorry if you feel victimized by the old bait and switch, but the fact is, there is no such thing as spiritually dead for the believer.
“Aha”! Some of you feel you’ve trapped me early on (theology profs., enlightened pastors, learned priests and self taught scholars everywhere). But be careful. Better yet, take a break. Give those prophetic muscles a breather and let grace catch up. I’m quite aware that there are millions out there claiming the name of Christ without a detectable spiritual pulse of any kind. But I want to talk to true believers here for a bit. And here’s what I want to say to you…
If there is no fruit (i.e. - fruits of the spirit)—there is no believer. *
“Aha, Aha!” you diehard critics maintain. “Now we definitely have you. What about non-Christians? You said you’d write stuff in here for them as well.”
True, true. I give. Ok, if you are just checking this stuff called, ‘Christianity’ out in a nice, innocent, pluralistic, all roads lead to heaven,’ kinda way. Then you can borrow this ‘spiritually dead,’ category for the time being—personally, I doubt you’ll want to hang out here long, as this simply has no future, being dead and all. But, if you are trying to take a little bit from Buddha here, a touch of Mohammad there, a dash of scientology, perhaps a sprinkle of Hinduism for good measure, then the Bible is clear–you’re spiritually dead.
Wait! Don’t out click on me!
I never said this was going to be easy, non offensive, tolerant, or even politically correct. It might even hit painfully close to home far too many times for some. So, at this point, to be fair, you’re probably going to have to answer a vitally important question before continuing on.
Do you want that abundant, real, joy filled life I referred to in the in part 1, or do you want to coast in neutral all the way to oblivion?
What’s it gonna be?
And remember, while you’re deciding, I’m just the messenger. Never shoot the messenger. If you’re getting worked up at this point, your argument is with God and I can prove it.
But you’ll have to wait for part 3.
* Not to be confused with Kumquats, mangos, and kiwi. For a complete list, see Gal. 5:22
I have met some Christians who have appeared to be deader than dead. I know that you have, too. Yes, you have. Some of them can be in the same seat week after week doing the Christian thing but not living the Christian life.
I am not too worried about offending them here because they don’t take the time to read this blog. But, really, can you imagine Jesus worrying about offending? Ha! Funny thought, isn’t it?
Do you recall the Tent Revival Days? Where did they always go? That’s right to the local church ball field. Who was invited? Who went every night that week? Oh, who wasn’t invited? My point. Christians should not need to be revived just like we don’t do CPR on the healthy person.
Christians, using it to describe real Christ-fellowers, needed to be renewed each day, but revived? If one is spiritually dead, then one does not have the Spirit of God in him/her. How can one be spiritually dead and be a Christ-fellower? Impossible by definition.
BUT. Yes, BUT is in capital letters because God is weeding the spiritually dead at Southbrook. Thankfully, many of them are the ones in the 400+ salvation stories this week. Some are just leaving. Others remain. Of course, we want to be able to count them in the numbers of new Christ-fellowers. It is clear that Christ is cleaning up the Church, including Southbrook. That is why the big BUT. Check out scripture. Find the word “but” and what often follows. Yes, “…the Lord!!!”
Anyone see the Lord at work in Southbrook? If you have, tell people about it. The best way to bring in the dead is by bringing in the LIFE.