Back to basics – Part 1

At times the quest to achieve great feats in God can in some instances cause us to miss the simple things in Christendom. I believe simplicity is a product of contentment (a perfect condition of life, in which no aid or support is needed). Contentment does not mean laziness, neither does it mean laxity or a lack of ambition, instead it is about self-satisfaction and sufficiency in Christ. Listen to what the Bible says, “He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon.” Read 2 Corinthians 9:8 (MSG). We are all in desperate need of God. Period.

Whilst I enjoy sound Theological discussions and insights, I am also mindful that I don’t miss the simple things of the scripture. For example, when the Bible says, “For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Read John 3:16 (TLB). It is scriptures like these that really matter. Can you see this? He loved the world so much, in other words, His passion for humanity was the ultimate goal, and that should be ours as well.

Do we get sidetracked by trying to build mega ministries, yet ignoring the basics of serving the people God has called us to? This is a serious consideration because as I listened to recently from a mentor Dr. Osgood on the need for us to embrace “Kingdom Culture.” I see Kingdom Culture as not being prejudiced, non-selective, accepting of all human race irrespective of their socio-economic leanings and most importantly having a  SERVITUDE HEART. It is about serving God’s people and not lording it over them. I have seen this far too often, and I believe it has got to stop; looks to me the Church has become celebrity oriented as supposed to God-oriented, and I think I might have also been part of that behaviour during my formative years as a Christian, but I am wiser now because there are things which matter more to me than others.

Listen to my heart on this folks, I am only highlighting some of the issues I see play out in our Churches. And as members of the wider Church family, we have access to scriptures, we have the Holy Spirit, we have eyes to see and hearts to perceive the truth contained in scriptures. “You can’t complain about anything you tolerate.” Selah. What I am saying to us is let us get back to studying our Bibles, we have the Holy Spirit to help bring understanding and comprehension to our human spirit.

In 2008, I came across an interesting book by Leonard Ravenhill titled Why Revival Tarries, and one of the topics in the book was “WANTED, A PROPHET TO PREACH TO THE PREACHERS.” And by the way, we are all preachers, not only the ones at the lectern, therefore, it is incumbent on us with the help of the Holy Spirit to get back to the basics of Christianity – studying God’s Word and intentionally creating time, loving God’s people and preaching the Gospel of Christ with simplicity and clarity.

We write. You read. Be encouraged.