A Sound Ecclesiology Grows Out of a sound Pneumatology. This is a continuing discussion on Ecclesiology and Pneumatology regarding challenges presented by clashing ideologies (cessationist (Reform) theology, dispensationalism, and varying philosophies of ministry like the Emergent Church). It is a caveat regarding popular culture-reflecting styles--with its social norms, mores, folkways, and tribal customs. This discussion stresses the core value of giftedness by the Holy Spirit with regard to ministry through music, the Word, the ecclesia (called-out community of the redeemed), the marturia (witness), the diaconia (serving)--and Christian leadership / pastoral shepherding.)
A Pneumatic Instrument. I believe that the human personality was intended by the Creator to be a 'pneumatic instrument' in the 'spiritual sense' with free will and responsible accountability to God and fellow man.
Years ago, I put three signs up on my Life Coaching office wall:
...IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED
...BLAME SOMEBODY..!
I WAS PREDESTINED BY GOD
...TO HAVE FREE WILL..!
DON'T TRY TO DO GOD'S WORK
...WITHOUT HIS CREDENTIALS...!
My dear scholarly Dad--a fourth-generation Baptist--back to Scottish Presbyterian Reform theologians--outgrew cessationist (Southern Baptist, Reform Theology, etc.) teaching--because, as a biblical scholar he knew that the gifts of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12, 13; Romans 12, Acts especially) were for Today--and did not 'cease' in the First Century at the end of the Apostolic Age--or the closing of the New Testament Canon--90-95 AD.
Dad and my educated Southern Methodist Mom rejected the emotional excesses and erroneous teachings I call charismagic, charismania, and charismysticism--such as pseudo-pentecostals like The New Order of the Latter Rain, anti-Trinitarian 'Jesus Only' teachers, today's Emersonian transcendentalist Word Faith Movement, and other mind-science types (Beall, Branham, Coe, Ruth Carter Stapleton, Hagin, Copeland, Hinn and such). Dad outgrew Baptist teaching because (as he frequently told me--he knew) "You can't do God's work--without God's power."
(But Dad was also well aware of the Apostle Paul's caveats in I Corinthians 14 and elsewhere regarding Christians who cast aspersions on the Gospel of Christ, The Cross, and The community of the redeemed--by their hyper-emotionalism, cultic craziness, characterological flaws, or mental instability.)
I believe that the human personality was intended and created by God to be an anointed 'Wind-powered Instrument' in the sense that the human personality only functions optimally when it is--in Christian devotion--yielded to the Divineas an 'earthen vessel flute' as it were--a 'singing-musical' conduit for the Breath of God through which is expressed godly joy, love, blessing, wisdom, and healing--to the world.
Man was God-breathed into Life. From Ephesians 5: 18-19 it may be inferred that the human was created by God to be 'on something' i.e.: the Holy Spirit--not dependent upon 'chemical crutches'--not addicted to or needing boosts from wines, spirits, drugs--but literally bolstered, edified, strengthened, and nourishlngly inebriated--yes, under the influence--of the Spirit of God.
If the Christian believer understands and appropriates this truth--then s/he will not venture into any form of ministry without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. (cf. the story in Acts of the seven sons of Sceva!) (cf. Acts 2:4)
And the Holy Spirit can be grieved--by cessationists and dispensationalists who reject and deny the Gifts of the Holy Spirit as being for Today. As a result, we have so many still-born 'converts', and dead denominations going through their empty ruminations, routines, and rituals--a 60-story orange juice machine that yields one cup a month--ha!. As a result of a falling short Reform Theology, we have egregious five-point (T.U.L.I.P.) formulas cementing up the wall of faith--mocking free-will, choice and responsibility. (Implying that most folks no doubt have a hell-chip implant--while an elite predestined core group have the heaven-chip implant.)
In one of the Gospels, Jesus, after His Resurrection, breathed on His disciples--as He instructed them thus to receive the Holy Spirit (the Pneuma in New Testament Greek). The Bible seems to imply the necessity for the human soul to be 'filled' with the Spirit of God--i.e.: to function literally as a pneumatic instrument optimally--and, otherwise, to be, in essence, dysfunctional as (in a crude analogy) a pneumatic dental drill would be--without its empowering connection to the compressed air source.
Institutional, traditional, ceremonial religion--as was the apparent First Century Pharisee condition--can become a form of godliness minus the (Pneuma) power thereof--an impotent and empty form and style--lacking the charismata--the Gifts of the Holy Spirit--and devoid of the Life--the Breath of God--and thus ineffective, non-nourishing, un-edifying, non-life-giving--i.e.: non-Pneuma-driven.
The Church of Jesus Christ can only function (not as so-called 'purpose-driven' by ideas and templates) but as 'Pneuma-driven'--motivated, empowered, directed, guided, taught--by The Paraclete Who comes alongside--to indwellthe open-hearted Christian in joyful fullness--and then to (ekbao) thrust the yielded, responsive, worshipping 'temple believer' in Christ--as an effective witness-with-an-impact out into society (Acts 1:8).
The anointed Christian distinguishes himself by the finest expressions in Fine Arts, Creative Writing, Musical Composition, Poetry, Dance, Drama, Sculpture, Painting, Craftmanship, Drawing, Cartooning, Film Making, Architecture, Honest Business practices--via the above-mentioned godly anointing--to model the excellence of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit--while allowing his public to 'see a sermon first' and then 'hear a sermon' when the kairos moment occurs in the Spirit.
The ecclessia is Pneuma-Driven (motivated and empowered by the Holy Spirit)--not merely Purpose-Driven by ideas and formulaic 'church growth' strategies.
Regarding ministry--only the Holy Spirit can tell you if (1) there is a need; (2) if your name is on that need.; (3) if certain music, activities, programs, preaching will minister to the Lord God and touch the hearts of people. Most 'ministerial endeavors' may be judged by Christ at the Judgment as belonging to the "I never knew you" category--because the religious endeavors were never called, motivated, empowered, credentialed, and dignified by the anointing of the Spirit of God. (Remember Ahimaaz (II Samuel) who ran without a call.) "No profane person shall enter in..."
Evangelism--minus the Messiah's baptism with fire--only inoculates people against the fullness of the Gospel. Scholarship--not on fire--becomes obsessive-compulsive nitpicking. Pneumatologically defective holiness movements turn from (cf. Hebrews) God's holiness to self-absorbed and self-sanctifying perfectionism. Without the Holy Spirit, galleries are filled with works by artists who have no gift of art, teaching positions are filled with teachers with no gift of teaching, church pulpits are filled with pastors with no gift of pastoral teaching and shepherding, religious platforms are filled with singers and instrumentalists with no gift of music--with those who cannot sing the song of the Lord.
Psycho-socially, the person filled, possessed, under the influence of the Holy Spirit--will be recognized for his sound (non-impaired) judgment, insight, (non-distorted) perception, freedom from paranoia, toxic hallucinations, and delusionality. He will (by the Fruit of the Spirit--cf. Galatians 5) present characterologically nurturing and nourishing personality-qualities to his social milieu bringing Christminded wellness of soul to those around him.
Psycho-socially, the person filled, possessed, under the influence of the Holy Spirit--will be recognized for his sound (non-impaired) judgment, insight, (non-distorted) perception, freedom from paranoia, toxic hallucinations, and delusionality. He will (by the Fruit of the Spirit--cf. Galatians 5) present characterologically nurturing and nourishing personality-qualities to his social milieu bringing Christminded wellness of soul to those around him.
(excerpt: unpublished work in progress)
SINGING IN THE SPIRIT:
THE SONG OF THE LORD IN A STRANGE LAND
The Pneuma & the Human Personality
Copyright 2009 by Philip C. Brewer
All Rights Reserved
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