Mentoring Minutes

Social injustice and bigotry…How do we know what’s true and what to do?  Compassion without Truth only gives short term, self-centered facades posing as solutions with long-term destruction.  We as Christians have to be alert to practice compassion that fully aligns with God’s Truth!  His Word is always our foundation and first priority to find the answers to our personal, cultural and social problems.

What I’m going to share will likely ruffle some feathers but I pray and ask that you test it against the Truths of God’s Word and how we are to respond in all things, regardless of where we are politically.  I pray The Lord will use it to call His people to action that aligns with His Word!

“I hold that the Federal Government was never, in its essence, anything but an anti-slavery government.  Abolish slavery tomorrow, and not a sentence or syllable of the Constitution need be altered.  It was purposely so framed as to give no claim, no sanction to the claim of property in man.  If in its origin slavery had any relation to the government, it was only as the scaffolding to the magnificent structure, to be removed as soon as the building was completed.”                 Frederick Douglass

Booker T. Washington, Frederick Douglass and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., all sought to change our culture by seeking to uphold the Constitution and our laws because they knew they were right and just!

Black Lives must matter…the “Black Lives Matter” (BLM) movement must not if we are to survive, continue to grow and live in freedom, and strive for love, equality and unity in this country!

Maybe for the first time in world history, a potential revolution has formed from the top-down rather than the bottom-up. So, influencers in education, entertainment, corporate CEOs, socialist attorneys who disdain Rule of Law, and power-hungry politicians in both parties toe the line to support what amounts to a militia of non-thinkers—people being used as violent players to advance a globalist agenda disguised as mending social injustice and racial inequality.

“The group’s radical Marxist agenda would supplant the basic building block of society — the family — with the state and destroy the economic system that has lifted more people from poverty than any other. Black lives, and all lives, would be harmed,” columnists Mike Gonzalez and Andrew Olivastro.

Here are statements from the BLM Movement website that reveals the deeper agenda beyond racial equality and social justice (for a full article on this go here)…

We make space for transgender brothers and sisters to participate and lead. We are self-reflexive and do the work required to dismantle cisgender privilege and uplift Black trans folk, especially Black trans women who continue to be disproportionately impacted by trans-antagonistic violence.

We build a space that affirms Black women and is free from sexism, misogyny, and environments in which men are centered. . . . We make our spaces family-friendly and enable parents to fully participate with their children. We dismantle the patriarchal practice that requires mothers to work “double shifts” so that they can mother in private even as they participate in public justice work. We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and “villages” that collectively care for one another.  (Bold mine and added)

While this platform is focused on domestic policies, we know that patriarchy, exploitative capitalism, militarism, and white supremacy know no borders. We stand in solidarity with our international family against the ravages of global capitalism and anti-Black racism, human-made climate change, war, and exploitation.

Look at the fruit of this movement (actually comprised of several socialist groups that desire to destroy our country and make it socialist or communist):

1) Latch onto emotional issues to stir frenzy and out of control passion, calling it compassion but disregarding Truth and Order

2) Facts don’t matter to mobs – look at the lives lost and destruction of property in the lootings, riots and anarchy – but they continue and are encouraged by those (media, education, politicians, entertainment, corporate and other) with the same agenda, wrongly using their position

3) Mobs can’t be appeased – it’s about their agenda, not what’s truly right

4) Mobs apply pressure to bring surrender – their agenda is power and control

5) People then respond in cowardice rather than coming together in Truth for what is right – the original issue…unity and overcoming bigotry and injustice!

Truth is compromised in the name of compassion, which means it is false compassion.  This leads to destruction and death just as we’ve seen.  Is that what we desire?  Even more so, are we called to act on compassion apart from Truth knowing what it leads to?  Are we called to just go along?

Christ followers must be able and willing to discern and courageously provide the only alternative that will bring real justice in love and compassion rooted in Truth!

Remember Paul would write this under direction of Holy Spirit…Galatians 6:7-9 because it is our natural tendency to want to rationalize and justify what feels or looks good immediately in our flesh without looking to the long term fruit.  Then when it shows up we defend the deception…but God is not mocked…so we end up blaming Him or wrongly calling it Truth when the fruit clearly shows otherwise!

The BLM Movement goes beyond fighting for racial equality and social justice to attack the foundations in Genesis 1:27; 2:24-25; Matthew 19:4-6.  In God’s design there are only two genders – male and female.  The reason for this is the union of one man/one woman in the committed covenant relationship for life in marriage.  This is also the only safe and blessed context for sexual activity.  The attacks serve to break down every foundation rooted in these truths and the currency of Christ’s Kingdom, i.e., loving relationships ultimately rooted in marriage, family and His Church!

The following seven core concepts will go a long way to help us understand, discuss and resolve prejudice and social injustices without falling for radical agendas.  The concepts begin here…If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone…Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  Romans 12:18, 21

1. Humility is key – begin by knowing who you are and how you’ve helped or hurt – Romans 12:3…knowing who you are allows you to live out God’s will with others
2. Relationships require trust to build and/or restore – must be willing to risk – 1 Corinthians 13:7…love bears, believes, hopes and endures everything.
3. Offer respect and be willing to accept even if you disagree – 1 Corinthians 13:5… love does not act badly, is not self-seeking, not easily angered, doesn’t keep score.
4. Seek to understand others and their circumstances before seeking to be understood (or even attempting to defend yourself at all)… Seek first to understand and then to be understood, or maybe simply just to understand – Proverbs 4:7
5. To love we must understand which means to show empathy and a willingness to recognize different experiences and perceptions based on those experiences – Jesus put on our humanity (our flesh) and experienced all that we do in order to take our place.  He calls us to love as He did!  John 1:14; 13:34
6. Be willing to listen and learn from and about others rather than judge based on your own experiences and biases – James 1:19-20…But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
7. Loving relationships require us to treat all others as equals and choose to place others above self – there is no love when people are treated as unwanted, cast off or cast aside.  We must value others, listen to them and acknowledge them for who they are and what they’ve experienced…

If we’re not taking great care to be in relationship with Christ…The Way, The Truth and the Life, according to His Word, then we run a great risk of acting in false compassion, building pseudo relationships and doing things in His Name that actually are works of evil and sin and that tear down His Church and Kingdom…and may ultimately cost us Eternity! We may be doing a lot of what we think are good works in Jesus’ name but are completely missing His Truth and salvation.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”                     Matthew 7:21-23

So, we must make sure that we are in His Word and know His Truth so we can properly live out His Love…not just jump on the emotional, passion or compassion bandwagons, whether in culture or churches, that are void of, or willing to compromise His Truth!

Contact L&L to let us know what you’re thinking and how we can help.

Give online as The Lord leads – https://give.cornerstone.cc/loveandlordship.

Check out @Loveandlordship for “L&L LIVE” every Thursday at 3:30pm on our Facebook page.  Also you can find videos and podcasts at www.loveandlorship.com. 

Make it a great day and God bless in Christ!

Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – We must love according to God’s Word and Christ’s example in Truth and compassion or we risk a false compassion void of Truth that ultimately destroys.  We must speak the Truth in Love.

Love and Lordship…Action Item(s) – Be intentional to connect with, listen to and build at least one relationship with someone outside your “comfort zone,” especially someone of a different skin color than yours.  This is not a one-time action but a lifetime action.

As we grow and mature as Christ’s disciples individually, His Word is very clear that we are also to be growing and maturing in our relationships with other believers.  Here are three more spiritual disciplines (See Practical Discipleship – Part 1) that help us grow in relationship with other Christ followers, together as His disciples:

1) Worship – God alone is worthy of our personal and corporate worship and praise: “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” Exodus 20:3-7; “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5; “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” Luke 4:8; “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:24

2) Giving/Serving – “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  2 Corinthians 9:6-8

As we grow and mature, both personally and relationally, as Christ’s disciples by the power of His Holy Spirit in the disciplines of His Word and Spirit, we become more like Christ.  In doing so the ultimate expression is that the world sees His Truth and love in our individual lives and together as His Body, The Church.  If they are not seeing it in us, personally and collectively, then we need to take inventory as to whether or not we are walking as His disciples.  All of the aforementioned disciplines come together in the building up and fellowship of Christ’s Church.

3) Fellowship/Relationship/Church –“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42;“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 Discipleship in relationships builds our faithful testimony which spills over into reaching a lost and hurting world with His message in fulfilling the Great Commission, “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-2

Without discipline there are no disciples and no discipleship! Without The Holy Spirit we have no spiritual discipline!

I feel so strongly about this that I’m going to repeat what I stated last week in part 1 of Practical Discipleship.  These are not suggestions or recommendations.  These are commands that need to be kept for all those who have counted the cost and desire to walk as Christ’s disciples and with Him as Lord.

Don’t forget that maturity requires discipline and discipline requires manageability and commitment.  For those who have never practiced them at all and/or struggled to maintain these disciplines or even tried to do them all at once and burned out, remember the simple formula below.  Adjust the time to work for you.  I promise you, if you will do this, God will honor it, and your time with and growth in Him and His Word will be greatly rewarded.

BEGIN WITH 5 MINUTES EVERY DAY AND DON’T MISS ONE DAY!

Practical Discipleship

Now that you’ve gotten the key to walking in the spiritual disciplines of His Word, the next step is for you to begin praying about and discipling or helping others do the same thing—Not only the practical steps but also a deeper dive into His Word that will help you and others grow as His disciple.

This is what they looked like for me.  As I began to spend time with Him, in His Word and prayer and applying these disciplines, I was compelled more and more to encourage others.  Interestingly, it seemed that there were more folks that were seeking me out as well for spiritual guidance.  Early on in this process, for some reason the number 10 kept coming to my mind.  I dismissed it for a while but over time it persisted and I began to pray about it.

As I prayed I sensed that the Lord was giving me that number and it was to remind me that I needed to be discipling others but I needed to do so in such a way so as not to spread myself too thin or pridefully take on too many.

So as I began discipling I kept this in mind and began to form the boundaries that helped me be able to best pour into others.  I would not disciple in any one season more than 10 men.  This began when I was still single so I only discipled other men. 

When Ami and I married I continued but I reduced the number to eight and I counted a couple as one (as that is how they are defined in God’s Word).  God rewarded this by keeping between four and eight men or couples without it ever being too burdensome on me and especially on our marriage. 

I did the same by reducing the number by one as each of our children were born and kept it there until they left for college.  The principle here is that my wife and children, according to God’s Word, take priority as those I’m discipling.  As my children left for college I added spots back until I reached 10. 

God honored this as I have honored Him in keeping my priorities in line with His Word.  Ten was my number and it may be more or less for you, but remember the priorities and principles of keeping your marriage, spouse, and family first.

“Paul’s idea of service is the same as Our Lord’s: ‘I am among you as He that serveth’; ‘ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake…’ The mainspring of Paul’s service is not love for men, but love for Jesus Christ. If we are devoted to the cause of humanity, we shall soon be crushed and broken-hearted, for we shall often meet with more ingratitude from men than we would from a dog; but if our motive is love to God, no ingratitude can hinder us from serving our fellow men… – no matter how men may treat me, they will never treat me with the spite and hatred with which I treated Jesus Christ. When we realize that Jesus Christ has served us to the end of our meanness, our selfishness, and sin, nothing that we meet with from others can exhaust our determination to serve men for His sake.”  Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

Contact L&L to let us know what you’re thinking and how we can help. 

Check out @Loveandlordship for L&L LIVE every Thursday at 4pm on our Facebook page for more.  Also you can find videos and podcasts at www.loveandlorship.com. 

Make it a great day and God bless in Christ!

Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – Have you ever thought of discipleship in terms of relational and communal?  Have you ever thought of relationships and fellowship as requiring discipline?  How might these teachings help you commit to and invest in a local body of Christ followers?  Choose to be His disciple and join with others who are doing the same.

Love and Lordship…Action Item(s) – Put together a daily plan of personal discipleship and worship to prepare you for corporate study and worship with others.  Prepare a budget committing a certain percentage of giving financially to your local church (give it right off the top as a matter of faith).  If you already do these ask The Lord to take you deeper and challenge you to do more in your church and other Biblically based ministries.  Find one person to disciple you in your walk with The Lord.  In time, as The Spirit leads, begin to build relationships in which you are discipling at least one person…if married begin with your wife and children.

God’s Word, living in Christ and written for us in Scripture, make it very clear what we are called to be as Christ’s disciples.  It is also obvious in His Word that this can only be done by His changing our hearts as we accept Him as Savior AND LORD. 

So what does it look like?  If our hearts are truly changed and The Holy Spirit is dwelling in us, then how will we (and others) know?  How do we apply the Scriptural principles of discipleship in practice?  For that matter, what are the Biblical principles that make His Lordship and our discipleship evident in our lives and to others?

“While volumes could be filled detailing scriptural principles, I will focus below on nine key applications that are to be practiced by all disciples if we are to live knowing and making Him known as Lord.  Before I do, however, I must explain something that is crucial in any disciplines—spiritual, physical, mental, or relational—and that I learned as an athlete and it has served many others and me well in our spiritual walk.

There are two essential elements for any discipline to stick and be effective.  Before I get to those let me tell the story of my hard lesson in discipline, and ultimately, discipleship.

As I said, I learned this as an athlete and, of course, the hard way.  One year in college after our season was over, I decided to take a break from my regular workouts.  Well, two weeks turned into a month.  A month turned into two and then to four, and by this time we were six weeks out from preseason.  I knew I had to be already somewhat in shape coming into preseason or it would not only be difficult but also put me behind.

No problem.  I’d just head to the gym and weight room each day over the next few weeks and be ready to go.  My mistake?  Not that I was very prideful, but I just knew, and was going to prove, that I could still lift the same amount and run as fast as I had four months ago.  I can see you grimacing now.

I did just that.  I pushed myself to lift and run what I had done at the end of the previous season and felt great initially (at least for the next few hours).  When I woke up the next day (and the following day), I literally could not walk, run, sit, stand, or even eat.  I kid you not, for two days every time I tried to put an eating utensil to my mouth my entire arm, side, and back cramped up.  It was an extremely painful but lifelong lesson.  What did I learn?

I return to the two essential elements needed for good discipline and maturity.  Maturity requires discipline and discipline requires 1) Manageability and; 2) Commitment.  No matter what we attempt, whether physical as evidenced by my story, mental as evidenced by every test you’ve taken, or spiritual in growing in Christ, in order to learn and grow in His Truth, we must remain committed to those priorities and principles in His Word.  And in order to do that we must make it manageable. 

If we had the strength to do it all at once the first time, why would we ever need to go into the weight room?  If we already knew His Word and will, why would we ever need to step into His spiritual weight room (or disciplines)?

We must make it manageable so we can keep the commitment and grow in order to mature as His disciples.  I had plenty of passion, as we all do when we’re going after something we really want or deem worthwhile.  The problem is not passion…it’s discipline!  Isn’t it interesting that nowhere in Scripture does it say, “Go make zealots!”  And yet I hear passion emphasized much more than discipline in our teachings and programs!

I’m sure you’re saying to yourself, “Thanks for the painful visual in that story, but how does this apply to spiritual disciplines?”  Great question, and here are the answers with Scriptures for your own study and application.  The first six deal with personal discipleship and the last three with discipleship in relationships and fellowship as Christ’s Church.

Before I share these, let me explain that those who received the letters in the first century that we’ve come to know as The Bible would have taken the words written as clear commands to be obeyed from the Apostles and other Holy Spirit-inspired writers. The Scriptures used in calling us to apply the disciplines of discipleship were not given as suggestions.  They were, and are, received as commands to be followed in loving obedience (John 4:15).  I’ll say it again…God has many commands that all deal with His love for us and us loving Him…He has no demands!  Willful surrender is what we are called to!

With that said, here are several Scriptures that speak to discipleship and the application in our lives.  I include brief explanations and trust The Holy Spirit to compel, encourage, and strengthen you to that loving obedience called for in Scripture and to His Lordship.  

Personal Discipleship Applications (Emphasis mine and added)

1) Bible Study – “Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 AMP); “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:4-7

Whenever I’m sharing this with individuals or in events, I recommend that they be sure to spend time in God’s Word.  If you choose to use a devotional, be sure to choose one where Scripture as God’s Word is of absolute importance and ask The Spirit to lead and fill you.  “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16); “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)

2) Prayer – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6); “Pray continually.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17); “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18) For a simple process to remember when praying, try C.A.T.S. (Confession; Adoration/praise; Thanksgiving; Supplication or requests for self and intercession for others).

One final thought regarding prayer and relationships in general, but especially when it comes to marriage and your spouse: “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” 1 Peter 3:7 (The relationship with your spouse is crucial to God hearing and responding.)

3) Quiet Time, Reflection, Meditation – “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’” (Psalm 46:10) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.  (Psalm 19:14)  For an excellent set of Scriptures exalting God’s Word and helping you meditate and reflect on it, read Psalm 119.  Read it by the 22 sections of eight verses based on the Hebrew alphabet.  It will really help you appreciate and desire God’s Word.

4) Communion – Allow me a brief explanation, as this includes not only the very sacred time spent in what many churches call Communion or Eucharist, but also growing in the discipline of communion with other believers in Christ.  The first is Paul’s recounting Christ’s establishing the Holy Communion: “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.  So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-31).  This second reference is the command to commune and fellowship with others: “They (the believers – mine and added) devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42)

5) Sabbath – This requires another brief explanation as you learn and prepare to follow through as Christ’s disciples.  Under the Old Testament law, breaking the Sabbath was an offense punishable by death.  The early Church shifted their focus of worship and all it involved (see Acts 2:42 above) to the first day of the week to commemorate Christ’s Resurrection on that day and likely also to allow them as Jews to continue observing the lawful Sabbath.  Many believing Jews and some non-Jewish believers continued observing the Jewish Sabbath Day while many non-Jewish believers continued the principle due to the great importance of Sabbath, in God’s design and law, but shifted the day to Sunday.  The key is to recognize and be obedient to the command of the Sabbath that served two purposes.  The first was to recognize that God is Holy and we are not.  The second was to recognize that in our unholiness and weakness we would need to recognize our need for rest, put aside pride in our own strength, and observe the Sabbath.  “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” (Genesis 2:2-3); “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” Exodus 20:8

6) Fasting – While this is not commanded, it is shown as a powerful spiritual discipline with great results.  Generally, we fast from food, but it can also mean not partaking of anything from which we draw strength, satisfaction, or pleasure so we can more fully depend on The Holy Spirit and God’s Word.  “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:2); “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” (14:23); When Jesus cast out a demon that His disciples were not able to they asked Him why they could not do so? “He replied, ‘This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.’” (Mark 9:29)

We don’t have to be commanded to do, and we need little, if any, discipline to follow through, what comes naturally.  Discipleship requires discipline.  We must make it manageable to keep our commitment to become fully devoted disciples of Christ!

5. Minutes. Every. Day!  In God’s Word, prayer and time with Him.  Great place to start making it manageable so you can do it every day!  You’ll be amazed at what He begins to do in and through your life!

Contact L&L to let us know what you’re thinking and how we can help. 

Check out @Loveandlordship for L&L LIVE every Thursday at 4pm on our Facebook page for more.  Also you can find videos and podcasts at www.loveandlorship.com. 

Make it a great day and God bless in Christ!

Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – We must be willing to develop the new life that Christ has placed within us and that requires our disciplined efforts…that’s why it’s called discipleship.  Discipleship requires discipline.  What are you doing to die to self and grow in your life in Christ?

Love and Lordship…Action Item(s) – Begin today to set aside 5-10 minutes each day in God’s Word, in prayer and reflection.  Don’t miss a day!  You will be blessed.