The Heart of Christmas II - Reclaiming Christmas

Once again we find ourselves on the brink of yet another Christmas holiday, hijacked by commercialism and selfishness. Beside all of the "you need" commercials and the "I want" gift lists we are also bombarded by the encouragement to give to those less fortunate so that they, too, might "have Christmas". How did this occasion get turned from a celebration of the birth of Christ, Immanuel - God with us - into a mad, hectic, depressing season of all things not Christ?

Is it at all possible to reclaim Christmas for Christ, or should we release the church's claim on the holiday, relinquishing control over to the department stores and charities to continue the "traditions" on down the path they have been going for the past century? Then, the church can begin to celebrate a new "holy day" which is purely a remembrance of the day God visited earth in the form of a baby in a manger in a little town called Bethlehem. We can remember, on this day, when the angels sang in a mighty chorus, "Glory to God in the Highest - Peace on earth & goodwill towards men". Rather than giving gifts to others and desiring more gifts for ourselves we could acknowledge the incomparable gift that God gave to each of us in His Son. Perhaps we could all come together with one mind and one heart - the heart of God Himself, and celebrate His worth and His magnificance - and share THIS with those who have not heard this good news.

And perhaps this could be a celebration that lasts more than one day - December 25th. This should be a Holy-Day that lasts from January 1 to, say December 31. I realize this is hardly enough time to properly honor Him who gave us His ALL, but we need to start somewhere. I also realize this would overlap other holiday celebrations, but we can think of it as a marinade that would flavor all the things we do during the celebration season.

And we should call this Holy-Day "Christ-Is", because Christ is the reason for this season I describe to you now. Another idea for a name for this Holy-Day is "Today".

So, join with me in pursuing this new Holy-Day, founded this day in 2011. The only gifts you need to give are to the One whom we celebrate - and all He wants is your all to be added to His All so that He might have a bride and His Father might have a house built from living stones here on this earth. THIS is the heart of what Christmas was intended to be before it became all about us.


THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS

Watching all the lights,
Something’s just not right
Where’s the Christmas cheer?
I long just to feel
Some thing that is real
At this time of year.

Oh, Lord please open my eyes
In a Season for You
To show me Your heart’s desire
Lord, take my wants and my needs
As I give them to You
And put Your love in my heart.

I’m coming back to the heart of Christmas
And it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus.
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
It’s all about You, Jesus.

Jesus, Lord of all
Born on Christmas day
You became like me.
To show me the Way
Your life was a gift
From God up above.

Oh, Lord please open my eyes
In a Season for You
To show me Your heart’s desire
Lord, take my wants and my needs
As I give them to You
And put Your love in my heart.

I’m coming back to the heart of Christmas
And it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus.
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
It’s all about You, Jesus.


Lyrics by Mark & Janine Burnett (2002)
(Based upon lyrics and music by Matt Redman)

Finding Jesus in a Watermelon

After reading the title, I can imagine the thoughts coursing through your minds... the image of Jesus on a burned tortilla, an old piece of tree bark, a corn chip that people flock to expecting to receive some kind of miracle. Well, before we chase that rabbit any further down that road, let me say - "That's NOT what I'm referring to."

Last Sunday while meeting with my church family God started unfolding this illustration in my head so I thought it best to write it down (you can be the judge of whether it was best!). Trying to find a graphic representation of the body of Christ in nature, God lead me to the watermelon. There are other fruits or vegetables that would work, but the thought of a "Living Water" melon fancies me, so...



Where to start? OK, let us look at the melon as a whole. Inside the melon there is the meat (red, yellow or orange) and the seeds. Surrounding the good part is a protective covering, or the rind, that keeps the good part good until it is cut open for consuming - keeps the dirt and the parasites out to preserve the purity of the fruit. Looking at the seeds, we find some mature and some still developing, but attached to all of them is something that looks like an umbilical cord that "daisy-chains" them together and feeds nutrients into the seeds, placing the DNA of the watermelon into each of them, so that when removed from the fruit and placed in the ground they can die and then burst open and a new watermelon plant springs forth to create more watermelons just like the original from the DNA blueprint inside of it. Each new melon that grows on that vine looks and tastes just like the fruit it came from and within the protective covering of each a new miracle occurs - more seeds are being formed that contain the same DNA as the melon they are in that it received from the melon it's seed came from and so on and so on. That part is basic botany.

So, where is Jesus and the church in this? Follow along with me on this. I think we see Jesus in the meat - the good part. He is the "living water" that satisfies our thirst, He is the sweetest part about any Christian’s existence. He is colorful or beautiful as He surrounds the seeds in which He is imparting His DNA through His Spirit that connects each seed to each other in Him. Now, the seeds are the Christians - the real ones. A Christian is one who is "connected", or rooted in Christ, receiving their life sustenance from Him and Him alone. The DNA of God Himself, that He placed within Mary at the immaculate conception to form the person of Jesus of Nazareth, that was passed on to Jesus in the flesh is fed into each Christian via the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which will in eternity be matured to make us like Him. We are then "daisy-chained" to other believers via the Spirit to form the church. We, the seeds or Christians are "in Christ" and are covered and protected by God the Father, the all encompassing "rind" that holds us all together and keeps the dirt and parasites out so that we might develop into a healthy, mature fruit that will one day reproduce divine offspring.

 
I know.  Kind of a fruity analogy, but it fits and if it should help someone get a grasp on exactly what the church is, how the Spirit connects all Christians who are, in fact, "in Christ" and how, the church in Christ is a refreshing, sweet, good thing then maybe you might allow me this illustration for now.
 
 
(If you don't know what a watermelon is or looks like, try google.com.)

Organic VS Organic Start

Having just experienced Threshold 2011 here in Orlando, I have come to the realization that what we have been doing in our local body is not really Organic Church - yet.  Having been meeting together for the past 9 months now, what we have been doing is building community within the body - relationships, trust, fellowship and all that entails - including some ministry.  We are a long ways from achieving what we need to become still, however.

When God first called me on this journey, I had little idea what all He was actually calling me to - after this weekend that has all changed.  Having spent time with existing, rooted bodies I see what we have missed - God's Eternal Purpose.  Last night (Saturday) Alan Levine spoke on Saul's Damascus road  experience with Jesus.  As many times as I have read this, been taught this and even taught this to others, never before has God allowed me to see myself as Saul.  Allow me to explain.

I, like Saul, grew up in a "religious" family.  We went to church ALL the time, we all had our own bibles, were well versed in how to use those bibles (We beat the high school kids in bible drill when we were in junior high).  I knew the bible stories forward and backwards, have served as a youth minister, music minister, worship leader, deacon, elder, am a licensed minister, sang in the choir, served on numerous committees, been on mission trips to three separate continents outside the US - in short I was a "religious leader" with a set of references that would impress any of my grade school Sunday school teachers.  At about this time last year, God made it clear to me that I was supposed to step out of the religious culture I had been a part of for the past 44 years and step into this great unknown which is not simple to explain.  My religious peers at that time, I am certain thought I had stepped off of the deep end and some even tried to talk me out of it (obviously unsuccessfully).  For the past year we have meet, in our home, having bible studies, having "meetings" where we were supposed to be talking about God, although sometimes never quite got around to Him.  Many in our group still look to me as their leader, in spite of how often I tell them I am not.  With this background and these present circumstances, it is hard keeping your feet on the ground. 

I had taken up the banner for the demise of the institutional church, wanting to see all the captives set free and had begun a campaign (in our small group) to discredit the institution.  I came to Threshold 2011 even with some thought in the back of my mind, that I might "learn" how to more effectively liberate those trapped in the institution.

But, that's not what happened...

On Saturday nite, this small, unassuming man of Jewish decent gets up to speak.  He begins to share the story of Saul of Tarsus in a first person narrative.  He listed his own pedigree, much as I have done in the previous paragraphs, and then described his own rage as a young man named Stephen stood up to the religious leaders of the day opposing their teachings and naming the Nazarene named Jesus as the Messiah.  He told of his rage as he had Stephen hauled outside the city walls and had him stoned to death and then how he sought out permission to do the same in Damascus.  On his way there he told of how this "second sun" appeared in the sky and literally knocked him off of his horse.  He then told how Jesus appeared to him and called him be His witness and apostle and burned his pedigree with the same blinding flash that took his eyesight temporarily.

All of a sudden - BAM!  I found myself thrown from my high horse and knocked to the ground by the Son.  All I thought that I knew, even those things I have learned in the past two years became shadows in this blinding light before me.  Jesus spoke to me (not audibly, but rather through His Spirit) and told me that He has not called me for the destruction of earthly institutions, but rather for the building up of a spiritual house/body/bride.  I am Saul.  God HAS called me to His work.  Not to be a leader, but a servant and possibly a guide.  Yet, how can I guide others to where I have not been myself?  I can't. 

I have and am requesting prayers from my brothers and peers whom I have aligned myself with this weekend - some who have been on this journey for years and others who are, like myself, just starting out.  We all must step back and gain a clear vision of the call of God on our lives and see clearly God's Eternal Purpose for His church.  If we miss this, we might as well quit now, because in reality - nothing else matters.

In Paul's own words in Philippians 3: "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Having said all that, I know now what we are doing in our local body is not "organic" church, but rather an organic church start.  We are on our way to becoming organic even though we have not laid hold of it yet.  I know now that pulling ourselves out of the institutional church and meeting in a home does not make us "organic".  This distinction will be made in our hearts - not in our name.  My heart is, now more than ever, to experience organic church life as God intended it be.  Having talked with many who have and are experiencing this life just encourages me all the more.  For Janine and I, there is no other option acceptable any longer.

May God knock all who read this off of their horse in such a way that YOU will pursue God to discover how you fit into His Eternal Purpose!

Book Review: "Revise Us Again" by Frank Viola

Yet again, Frank has nailed down multiple truths that God, in His infinite wisdom, has been revealing – apparently not just to me. “Revise Us Again” presents ten areas of our spiritual walk that ALL of us need to examine (2 Corinthians 13:5). As I read through this book, I found myself time and time again saying, “AMEN AND AMEN”. Frank does not take up sides with any denomination or doctrine, but rather holds these to the standard of scripture to reveal how far off we have drifted from God’s original design. In this book Frank asks the hard questions many today are asking and gives sound, scriptural direction to help find the true answers. Frank questions some modern day accepted “Christian” practices and thought processes and shows us through contextual scripture how we have totally missed what God’s original intent was. For example, in Chapter 5, “What’s Wrong With Our Gospel?”, Frank sums up perfectly, I think, where the modern church left the road when he says, “…the goal of the gospel is not to get you out of hell and into heaven, but to get God out of heaven and into you so that He may be displayed visibly and glorified in His creation.”


If you find yourself questioning why today’s Christian life does not resemble the Christian life you read about in scripture, “Revise Us Again” will make a perfect starting point to begin a journey of revelation God is bringing a remnant to. This book is as insightful as “Reimagining Church” and “From Eternity to Here”. If you are not afraid to let God out of the box of religion then you will read this book!

Life is a Stage...

My first go round on college I was a Theater Major. I loved the stage - being on it, behind it and directing, as well. There was something about using the talents I had to impress other people that gave me a sense of accomplishment. I loved the "great job!" and the "you were good in that" compliments because they were things I did not receive growing up. Acting was something I was good at and I knew it.


After college (round 1) was over, life and responsibility began with the arrival of our daughter, Eleighsha. Since the theater was no longer accessable to me, I chose a new "stage" to perform upon. My new stage was now what I recognized at the time as "church". Part of theater is music and I love music. So I played the part of a "music minister" or a "worship leader" (whatever the appropriate term was depending on where I was at). I could sing and get those "great job" and "I was blessed by that" compliments and even convinced myself I was involved in 'ministry' by performing every week. Sadly, by the world's standards - I was.

In August of 1988 God brought me to that place where I realized that this was not my stage, but rather God's. He wrote the script, built the set and chose each player for their respective parts. Now, he had chosen me. In submission to His calling, I surrendered my pen and scripting notebook and mad a concious decision to play the part He had assigned me. As anyone who had directed any amount of theater can tell you, it is difficult to "follow cues" from another director (because you KNOW better than they do, of course!) and more often that I would care to confess, God has had to pull me off-stage to remind me that this whole thing is HIS story and He knows best how it should be played out.

So, for 23 years now I have been in a learning role, kind of like an under-study. God has been revealing to me things I never saw in my prior 21 years of stage presence. One of these things that has convicted me of late is our approach to ministry. For years I have struggled to achieve what I thought God wanted me to do as far as reaching out to those in need and extending a helping hand of some sort. However, it never looked quite like I expected it would look. I wanted people to see my good works and glorify my Father in heaven, as scripture says. But , they never seemed to respond that way. More often than not, it was me or the group I was with who got the kuddos. 23 years ago this would have been great - but not today.

In the last couple of weeks, God has begun to reveal to me that He doesn't want or expect me to "perform good works", but rather to make myself available for Him to work through me and then just "get out of His way" so that He might do those things that will draw all men to Himself. Any and every thing that I do in my flesh will perish with this age, but those things that God does through me (and you) will last for eternity. Actions are outward efforts on our part to dupilcate what God wants to do from the inside. But, actions are just an act. Ministry happens when God, working through His children, reaches out and does what needs to be done in order to bring honor to His name THROUGH the available vessels that we have crucified to self. So, in reality, ministry is not something we do, but rather something that God does through us.

Time To Be Revolutionary

 Earlier, I posted on Facebook a link to an article written by a brother who, I believe has nailed the source of apathy in the western church.   (that article can be read here: A Stunning Body- (A Vision of Jesus Christ part II) « illuminate wp.me)  There are two parts to this blog, so make certain you read both parts.   A brother that I had attended the IC with responded back after reading the article:It's not revolutionary if you already are living it - unfortunately most people are not. The whole concept of we, the church, being the physical body of Jesus here and now in this world with the priviledge and responsibility of representin...g Him in this present age has been all but omitted from modern religious teaching. This same religious system has created a generation of spiritual spectators rather than participants who come to weekly services prepared to do nothing more than receive what is put out for them. They bring nothing to encourage or lift up others, nor are they even expected to.

"I would have to agree with another brother who said there is nothing revolutionary about what is said in this article except the part about the institutional church which I disagree with in part. Having read alot of Madame Guyon, Watchman Née, St. John of the Cross early in my fellowship with Christ is what has helped me tremendously."

When a person is born again, they are endowed with spiritual gifts specific to that person. These gifts are not to be suppressed, but rather used to lift up and edify others in corporate meetings of the body (Hebrews 10:24-25). We were not designed to be spare parts in the body of Christ, but each one intricately interwoven into this body to be active and growing, contributing to the overall health of the community. You cannot do that in the position of a spectator - nor will you be inclined to be.

My brother responded to this with:

"I would disagree with the part where you talk about spectators. I would agree there are an abundance of those that do just "sit" there and are content with that, but there are those that don't. Who of which are involved in others lives and so fulfilling there calling as a member of the body and all this while attending an 'iC'."

Of course there are those who will participate - to whatever extent the order of service will allow - did not mean to insinuate otherwise. But that order of service and the hierarchy that controls that limits the interaction significantly.... And if Joe Flatt, who can't carry a tune in a bucket, felt led by the Spirit to stand up in the middle of the service and offer up a song of thanksgiving to God and acted on that leading, he would be - more often than not - led out of the meeting until he could control himself and stay within the program.
I have poured over the New Testament for the past 18 months looking for any validation to the modern, western religious version of the church. It is not in there. No pastors, no worship leaders, no youth ministers, no hierarchy - at all. ... Just brothers and sisters coming together as community, meeting the needs of those in their families and communities, supporting mission efforts and living lives that honor God. It worked great for over three hundred years until the Roman government got involved and organized religion. Can God use organized, institutionalized religion? Yes. God used the pharisees and sadducees to accomplish His plan two thousand years ago. Just because a system has been in place for 1700 years does not mean it is right. That does not mean that everyone trapped in this system is evil or wrong - it's just all they know until someone comes along and has the nerve to "tell the emporer he is walking around naked in public". Going against 1700 years of tradition is not a popular thing to do - but if you do your research - look hard into God's word and study the historical facts - you'll find it is the right thing to do. Jesus did it. Peter did it. Paul did it. I'd say I'm in pretty good company. And, I'm not alone.
Yes, there are sincere, devoted followers of Christ amidst the throngs of people who are merely believers in God, but have yet to fall in love with Him.  Some of these followers are doing all they know how to, within the confines of the institutional church to serve Him.  Others are trapped within the system, blindly following leadership who stand to lose everything if the church returns to meeting as they did in the first three hundred years of existence.  These leaders, may have the best intentions at heart and even believe they are serving God by supressing the involvement of the flock.  I'm sure the pharisees felt the same way.  It's time to stop and listen to what God has to say in HIS word and follow th e Spirit, rather than a man or denomination.  It's time to re-introduce Jesus to the world as the Bridegroom who is coming for His pure bride - holy and just and intolerant of sin.  It's time to be that which God designed us to be from before the foundation of time and start to fulfill His eternal purpose.

II Timothy 3:1-5 speaks of a time, which I believe we now live in, when men will have fallen away from the Truth and hold to a "form" of godliness where the true power of God is denied.  Could this be any more accurate?  The church today has become a spiritual paraplegic  because nerve impulses from the head (Christ) have been severed from the body.  The hand will not receive profitable information from the foot that will allow the body to lead a fruitful life.  Only when the body gets in sync with the head once again will it be able to function the way it was designed to.  The western church is failing in accomplishing God's eternal purpose set forth from the foundation of time. 

Many of the characteristics set forth in II Timothy 3 describing the world today have crept into the church, causing great damage to the body – like a cancer destroys the physical body.  Several years ago, I watched my father die from a cancer which reduced him from a very healthy 6’7”, 250 lb. man to a withered 90 lb. lifeless frame.  This spiritual cancer within the church has withered away the body and the church is ailing today, not far from death.  We need to ask God to heal the body spiritually, just as we have witnessed Him heal physically.  My God can heal, He can restore, He can cleanse, He can make right the things that are wrong.  II Chronicles 7:14 says: “…and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then I will hear from  heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”  As I pray, YOU pray as well.  Pray that God will change our hearts and restore the church.

Foundational Thoughts

I just read a review of a book entitled "A Heretic's Guide to Eternity". Normally, I won't comment on a book without reading it first, so my comments here are actually on the review itself - which may or may not reflect what the original author intended.

The reviewer quotes the author as writing:

"His [Jesus] message eradicated the need for religion. It may come as a surprise, but Jesus has never been in the religion business." I could not agree more. "Nowhere does Jesus call His followers to start a religion. Jesus' invitation to His first disciples was to follow Him." Again - I agree wholeheartedly.

What I saw that disturbed me was:
"A core of this is the rejection of the belief in the inherent sinfulness of humankind, calling for the suffering and death on the cross of God's Son, Jesus."  If it was unnecessary for Jesus to suffer and die the death He did on the cross, then God is a sadist - and He is not.  This 'new age' thinking that no one needs saving, that God would not send anyone to hell, goes totally against scripture.  Scripture is clear that God is holy and will punish the unrepentant, Satan and his fallen angels in a very real place called hell.  Yes, God loves everyone, and again, as scripture states, He desires ALL to come to repentance and that Christ died for ALL.  But our sinfulness demands a blood payment and Jesus became that payment on the cross.  One only need look into the mirror to see that we are ALL inherently sinful and self-centered.  To argue this point is - well - proving the point it argues.

"Instead, the authors believe humankind is loved by God from conception and never needs saving from the wrath that would send them to hell. Instead, the real journey of the spiritual traveler is to continually move toward the understanding and experience of that surrounding and saturating Grace that has always been present, though we are often unaware of its existence."  YES, humankind is loved by God from BEFORE conception, but our need for saving (or salvation) is by far greater than our need for oxygen.  God's wrath, I believe, does not send the unrepentant to hell, but rather allows them to go there - by their own choice in life - to remain unrepentant.

I don't know that I will ever read this book in it's entirety.  I have seen groups rising up, even locally, that promote this way of thinking that goes against all scripture - that by which I must weigh everything.  But, do not take my word for it - take God's.  Get into His word and see the truth for yourself.  This truth is foundational to my faith and this thing I will defend with all that I am.

Moses, Egypt, Me & the IC

In looking back through the Old testament, I pause at the story of Moses leading the children of Israel out of bondage to the Promised Land and cannot help but draw parallels to my life in modern day.

Not to suggest that I, in any way, am even on the same level as Moses....

Moses was born a Hebrew. He was, however, raised as an Egyptian. Even thought his birth mother was his personal nurse in the house of Pharaoh, he no doubt was aware of his Hebrew heritage while growing up. But rather than be subjected to the hard life of a slave, he had the priviledge, because of his relationship with and the favor of Pharaoh's daughter, of being raised as the grandson of Pharaoh in the royal palace with all the trappings that came with that. Growing up, the future Pharaoh was his brother. He enjoyed all Egypt had to offer - while his own people (the Hebrews) and his own family - brother and sister - were forced to labor to support his lifestyle.

At some point, when waching an egyptian slave master whip a Hebrew man, Moses, stirred by guilt, perhaps, came to the Hebrew's defense, striking the Egyptian and killing him - probably accidentally. Later, when trying to stop two Hebrew men from fighting, one of them popped off, "So are you going to kill us like you did the egyptian?" Fearful that his Egyptian family would not understand his taking the life of an egyptian in defense of a Hebrew, he fled to the wilderness in a move of self-preservation.

It was during his stay in the wilderness (some 40 years later) that Moses encountered God. It was not a casual, "Hi, how ya doin'" meeting, but rather a full blown in the actual presence of the creator of the universe meeting - the kind that brings your face to the ground because you know you're not worthy to be here. At this meeting God directs Moses to lead His children, the Hebrews, out of bondage and into the Promised Land that God had promised Abraham 500 or so years before. Although he felt totally inadequate for the job, Moses finally accepted the calling and set out for Egypt to deliver the good news to the Hebrews - "God has heard your cries and is now ready to deliver you out of bondage into a glorious freedom so that you might worship Him!" somehow, I don't think Moses was quite ready for the reception he was about to receive - from the Hebrews.

Most everyone knows how the story plays out, so I won't go into great detail here. What I want for us to see is the heart of Moses. Moses was a messenger. Moses had developed "allegiances" to all of the parties involved. He was called by God to deliver His message and deal out His judgement on the egyptians. He was the Hebrew's "lost son" who was returning home to be God's instrument to set His people free. He was also the "lost son" of Egypt - retuning to tell them that His God was about to wreak untold havoc on their political, social and economic system as judgement against them - these egyptians who raised him as their own. No doubt he had many friends and step-family members he still cared about in Egypt.

The truth I want us to see is this: Moses did not return to Egypt specifically to destroy the Egyptian culture (political, social and economic systems). Although that was surely a result of the judgement God poored out, that was not Moses' calling. His calling was to lead the children of Israel out of bondage into freedom. What was the message God had Moses give Pharaoh? "Let My people go that they might go into the wilderness and worship Me." Wow.

I feel this as my calling.

God placed a calling on me to come out of the bondage I was under in the institutional church. He brought me into the freedom that was originally intended to be experienced by His children in corporate worship and body life. No longer a spectator nor the leader, but rather an equal with all God's people in the priesthood. Having experienced this freedom and knowing that bondage to anything is bad, God has also called me to reach out to others in bondage and let them know there is more to body life that attending meetings and giving money. So much more. My calling is NOT to destroy the institutional church system. My calling is to help people see it for what it is - bondage. My heart is for my fellow followers of Christ, to see them set free. There are so many followers of Jesus out there who know there must be more to body life than what the IC (institutional church) offers that are praying for God to come and deliver them (I know this to be true for I was one of those followers).

There are brothers and sisters out there who's calling is to aggressively expose the IC for the imposter it is, masquerading as the bride of Christ. My calling is rather to show followers and non-followers alike what the body is supposed to look like (according to scripture) so that they will recognize the counterfeit when they see it. Not to say that the aggressive manner is wrong - that is just not the manner in which God has called me to answer His call.