Defining Church: Reviewing the Gospel, Part 8(D)

Considerations and Context for Church Building

1) Understanding the “whole counsel” of God

2) The Issue of Leadership

3) The Issue of Vision

4) Reviewing the Gospel (Part 8D)

Moses and the Proclamation of the Gospel

Hebrews 4:1-2

1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. NIV

What did Moses proclaim to Israel?

Let my people go

We said that the first message of Moses was “let my people go”. This was a proclamation that did not only seek to bring spiritual liberation to people but also political, social and economic liberation. This gives us this sense that the proclamation of the Gospel must not only present a “religious message” to people but a complete kingdom package that allows people not only to depart from “sin” at a personal-behavioural level but also from systemic, ideological and cultural positions of the world system. This is a complete spiritual process of entering the kingdom of God. The kingdom is not religion; the kingdom is a system of life.

So Moses instituted the Passover (Heb 11:28), a system of migration from one position of life to another. He brought people out of deficient life (Egypt) into correctness. God was not calling Israel from simply Egypt to a geographic territory called the “Promised Land” but to a state of life that would be characterised by just laws (Deut 4:5-8). Israel entered the geographic territory but never entered into positions of life God had called them to. Hence Hebrews 3 says that they never entered God’s rest. So we can equally walk in the realm of materialistic blessing and still be void of God’s purpose.

The Commandments

The Gospel was proclaimed to Israel in the form of laws and commands from God that sought to established justice and correct human existence.

Exodus 20:1-17

1 And God spoke all these words:

2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

3 "You shall have no other gods before me.

4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 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 fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand [ generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

13 "You shall not murder.

14 "You shall not commit adultery.

15 "You shall not steal.

16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." NIV

These laws and commands became a platform upon which the Old Covenant was made between God and Israel. In understanding the nature of the Gospel, we have to look into the basic structure of the laws that were proclaimed. Remember that Jesus said He was the fulfilment of the Law:

Matthew 5:17

17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. NIV

So the proclamation of Law was in fact the proclamation of Christ.

The Law is not opposed to the Promises that would be fulfilled through Christ. However, Law in itself had no power to produce the life of righteousness; Law could only describe this life:

Galatians 3:21

21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. NIV

The requirements and the state of life Law sought to establish would be fulfilled in Christ.

Galatians 3:24-25

24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

NIV

The role of the New Testament is to interpret and unveil what God wanted to produce in the Old Testament (the Law and the Prophets). The New Testament tells us that what Israel tried to produce through the system of sacrifice of goats and bulls is now fulfilled through Christ. We therefore can look at what the Law proclaimed and what it sought to produce and achieve the same through Christ.

Christ is the end of the system of Law:

Romans 10:4

4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

NIV

However, that Christ is the end of the System of Law does not mean that God no longer wants to achieve the objectives reflected in the Law. In fact the objective of the Law was a system of life called Christ. The word says “the Law and Prophets prophesied until John” (Matt 11:13) and “since the days of John the Baptist till now, the kingdom is advancing” (Matt 11:12). This means that the Law pointed to a superior system of life (Christ). The Law prophesied a system of life called the Kingdom of God. We are the fulfilment of this prophetic intent of God.

The Basic Structure of Law (Ex 20:1-17).

In looking at the basic structure of Law, we are looking at the nature and key components of the Gospel. Remember, Moses proclaimed the Gospel through Law.

The Word “Law”

Deuteronomy 4:44

44 This is the law Moses set before the Israelites… NIV

The word “law” that is used in the Old Testament is the Hebrew word “towrah” and it means: “a precept, a statute”. The root meaning of this word is: “to flow as water, to lay or throw an arrow, to point out as if by aiming a finger, to direct, to teach…”

In the Greek (New Testament), the word is used for example in the following scriptures:

Romans 8:1-2

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. NIV

Romans 7:22-23

22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. NIV

The word “law” is the Greek word “nomos” and it means the following: “to divide among, to parcel out food, a regulation, usage, a custom”.

The word “law” therefore defines a system of regulation of human life. Paul clearly says that we still have a system of law that regulates our inner life (as a New Covenant people). Paul calls this “the law of the Spirit”. We have to be clear therefore that when we talk about movement from Law to Grace we are not talking about being exempted from God’s system of regulation of human life. What we are talking about is the difference in the mechanism of regulation; one is external (i.e. the Old Covenant) and the other one is internal (based on New Covenant). That is, God still expects that we will not kill, steal, commit adultery but the mechanism of regulation producing this purity and behaviour is totally different. So, we still have the law but we no longer sacrifice animals; ours is the law (regulation) of the Spirit which governs our conscience and or our inner being.

The first principle of law: the first principle we want to establish here is that Law is a system of regulation of human life. If the Gospel was proclaimed to Israel in the form of law, this means that the Gospel is the proclamation of God’s system of regulation of human life. The Gospel is not merely a revelation-filled sermon that stirs and excites people without laying platforms that teach people on how to live on this planet earth.

God warned prophet Ezekiel:

Ezekiel 33:30-32

30 "As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.' 31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.

NIV

Ezekiel had become just another great preacher to people. They listened to him for pleasure, hence God said he had become like a singer of love songs. They loved to listen to his messages but this was not for the purpose of constructing life. Many of us get stirred in the church meetings, jump and shout and now we even have a strange culture of laying money at the feet preachers, the question though is, what happens after the church service. We go home and talk about the sermon during lunch until that inspiration fades away during the week. Just when it fades away, then we are getting ready for another church service. Is this how we want to live? Can the kingdom really advance under such circumstances?

Components of the Law (Ex 20:1-17):

Establishing Spiritual Life and Understanding, vv1-7:

1) The first thing that Law did was to define and describe God to the people (vs.2): in the same way, the Gospel must define God for people. The journey to correct living begins with an understanding of who God is. It is for this reason that the anti-Christ spirit seeks to establish erroneous positions of understanding of the nature of God (2 Thes 2:3-4). The definition of God means that there must be a systematic study of God’s nature in the church. We need to sit down and be taught.

2) The second thing that law did was to warn the people about positions of idolatry. In understanding God, people had to understand that He could not be mixed with other gods (vv.3-4): the gospel today must continue to define idolatrous positions so that the purity of the faith can be preserved in the earth.

3) The Law revealed and described God as a Judge who punishes sin (vv.5-6): The Gospel must continue to declare the ways of God and the reality of His judgment to sin and error (Heb 6:2).

4) The Law defined correct platforms of relationship with God; it established a sense of “fear of the Lord” (vs.7): in the same way, people must be taught on how to establish a relationship with God and what are the things to look out for in order not to offend His nature and or how to live in a manner that pleases Him.

Establishing God’s Nature and Ways as a platform of Correct Spiritual-Human life, vv.8-11:

5) The Law declared that correct life on earth was to be based on the understanding of God’s ways and operations (vv.8-11): the principle here was that “you shall rest just as God rested”. This means that correct human practices, behavioural patterns and lifestyle positions are established out of an understanding of how God operates. God’s nature and operations establish principles for correct living. Those preaching the Gospel should ensure that they proclaim life out of an understanding of God’s nature and ways. Jesus said to us: “be perfect therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48). This is the principle: God sets the standard of life.

Defining the Household and establishing Generational Succession, vs.12:

6) The Law spoke into platforms for correct and sustainable family life (vs.12): God defined the family unit as a place from which life can be developed and sustained. The reality today is that there is little coming from the “pulpit” speaking into family issues like marriage and parenting. This was an important aspect of the law which must remain an important aspect of the Gospel today.

7) The Law defined correct life and responsibilities of successive generations (vs.12): Here God really mobilised successive generations (kids and youth) by warning them to grow and rise through correct platforms like respect etc. In the same way, proclaimers of the Gospel must speak into the process of growth and development of successive generations and not hope that these will somehow grow correctly. How many Christian families have lost their sons and daughters to sin and darkness, not because they wanted to but because they did not know or they were not equipped on how to train their kids in the way they should go (Prov 22:6)?

Establishing Systems of Community as well as Just and Mutual Human Existence, vv.13-17:

8) The Law proclaimed – “you shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not covet your neighbour’s house…” (vv.13-17): Here God was defining the nature of existence of His people on earth. God was taking the people beyond the “ceremony” of “worship” to a place of correct existence. If you notice all these commands, they essentially deal with how you interact with those around you. The New Testament actually declares that the Law is founded on the principle of love (Matt 22:37-40, Rom 13:9-10). In the scriptures we are commanded to love one another (John 13:34-35). Issues of not stealing from each other, not giving a false testimony about each other, not craving each other’s resources etc. are all a practical expression of love.

Establishing Just Systems of Life, vs.16:

9) You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour (vs.16): God warned against establishing systems of justice that promote falsehood. God clearly expected that the people would establish systems of justice in order to administrate life. Paul declares the same in Corinthians: “…appoint as judges even men of little account in the church…is it possible there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers…?”

1 Corinthians 6:1-8

1 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother goes to law against another-and this in front of unbelievers!

7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.

NIV

…we therefore have to proclaim and build just systems of life. Systems that are able to administrate human life in a way that is filled with justice. In this sense, the church is in fact a system of governance. Paul said this to the Corinthians understanding that there is a perspective of life inside the church that’s different from how the world sees life. It’s important again to note that Paul is talking primarily on disputes between believers and not between believers and unbelievers.

What is this all saying to us?

The proclamation of the Gospel is a lot more comprehensive then we have seen. According to this basic structure of Law, the Gospel can not only deal with “spiritual issues” but it must speak powerfully into issues of correct family household, development of successive generations, establishment of systems of community etc. within the church. If our Gospel does not cover these things then we are still lacking in some of the important aspects of the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 4:1-2

1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. NIV

To be continued…

Defining Church: Reviewing the Gospel, Part 8(C)

Considerations and Context for Church Building

1) Understanding the “whole counsel” of God

2) The Issue of Leadership

3) The Issue of Vision

4) Reviewing the Gospel (Part 8C)

There are a couple of important thoughts that we’ve identified in the last two articles on this very important issue of reviewing the Gospel; these are:

• The word “gospel” simply means “a good message”. The Gospel can be defined as the Total and Collective Instruction of God to Humanity (a message from God), established progressively throughout generations through the mechanism of revelation of Christ.

• The point of departure in proclaiming the gospel is not the ability to preach but it is the possession of an understanding of the kingdom of God as a system of life.

• The kingdom of God is a governmental system of definition, regulation and development of human life through Christ.

• The Gospel is Universal; it is not for “poor Africa”. Since the Gospel is a proclamation of God’s system of life (the Kingdom), it equally needs to be proclaimed to the apparently and seemingly “stable” nations of Europe and elsewhere. And since these nations are also responsible for the global unjust political and economic conditions of humanity, they need to hear and understand the Gospel even though some project themselves as “Christian nations”.

• The Gospel was proclaimed to Abraham, Gal 3:8. The Gospel is therefore about church becoming a blessing to the nations (Gen 12). This implies that church can not position herself as a religious institution that speaks only into the spiritual affairs of humanity (church is not a papal-ecclesiastical system) but as a system of development of human life.

• The Gospel was proclaimed by the Prophets, Rom 1:1-4. The Gospel is not a New Testament phenomenon. Those involved in the proclamation of the gospel need to have an understanding of the fundamental positions in the message of the Prophets. These prophets spoke more about issues of justice then they did about “blessing” etc. That is, they spoke directly into the nature of human existence, calling for a just humanity. Anybody who claims to have a revelation of God without seeing and being burdened by issues of justice is walking in a defective-limited sight (Ps 97:2, Ps 103:6, Jer 22:16).

Moses and the Proclamation of the Gospel

Hebrews 4:1-2

1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. NIV

The writer of Hebrews tells us here that Moses proclaimed the Gospel to his generation (Israel). The word says ‘we have heard the gospel preached to us just as they did’. This is a significant statement which tells that we can look into patterns and extract some key lessons in (a) how the Gospel was proclaimed to Israel and (b) how they responded to that proclamation. Not only so, this statement by the writer of Hebrews tells us that they heard the same message we are hearing, the only difference now is that Christ (our Lord and Saviour) is our means of accessing life.

1 Corinthians 10:6

6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. NIV

1 Corinthians 10:11

11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. NIV

The verses above sent to the Corinthians further strengthen the idea of looking at Israel for patterns so that we perfect our journey with God.

What did Moses proclaim to Israel?

Let my people go

The first thing Moses proclaimed to Pharaoh and by implication to Israel was ‘let my people go’ (Ex 5:1). Moses proclaimed an exodus of people from a false order of life. This was a proclamation of freedom and liberation to a people who were oppressed by an empire. “Egypt” represented a deficient system of life that was characterised by injustice and oppression. The issue that God was after was not simply Egypt but what it (Egypt) represented. God was confronting an unjust system. “Egypt” therefore becomes a metaphor, which means that our focus today is not a Geo-political state that’s located in Northern Africa but a set of principles that can be found in most parts of the world today. For example, Apartheid South Africa was a form of an Egypt in the sense that it was an oppressive system that marginalised its own citizens.

What this tells us is that the proclamation of the Gospel must effect liberation on all levels of human life. Moses did not only liberate people from the idols of Egypt (spiritual liberation) but also from its unjust political, social and economic system. As church we function largely within the realm of spiritual liberation. By and large, we have not created platforms and systems to bring about social, political and economic liberation. The proclamation of the Gospel is a release of new spiritual laws and understanding that bring about illumination and empowerment to people, causing them to overcome oppressive systems of this world.

Revelation 18:4

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

"Come out of her, my people,

so that you will not share in her sins,

so that you will not receive any of her plagues;

NIV

The Apostle John is seeing in Revelation chapter 18 the collapse of Babylon. Again the Book of Revelation is a prophetic book and so John here is not talking about a Geo-Political State called Babylon which is Iraq today. It was interesting to see books written about “the collapse of Babylon” at the time that America attacked Iraq a couple of years ago. This was a complete misunderstanding of prophetic writings. It’s no different to an emphasis on anti-Christ being a man or some politician and not a spirit and “a dimension of life and understanding” that is largely prevalent both in the church and in the world system already, driving how people see God, how they think and how they live. Just as Christ is “Logos” (a system of reasoning) so is anti-Christ a system of reasoning that is directly in opposition to the values and thought patterns of Christ.

So the Apostle John talks about a people coming out of Babylon in Rev 18:4. Babylon is a historical Geo-Political State, an empire that existed in Old Testament days. This empire was a system of life that represented a certain value system and that produced a certain kind of human existence (the Book of Daniel reveals much about Babylon’s mentality and value system). In the prophetic writings, God takes the same empire and uses it as a metaphor to describe the nature of human conditions in the earth. If we took Rev 18:4 literally, it would mean that God does not want any Christian living in Iraq today. We know that this thought would be completely out of line with the general thrust and direction of the kingdom of God: Jesus said ‘go to all the nations (including Iraq) and make disciples’ (Matt 28:18-20). Jesus also said ‘the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached to all nations and then the end will come’ (Matt 24:14).

So if this Babylon is not a Geo-Political state called Iraq today then what is it? “Babylon” (as a metaphor) is a system of life that is rebellious to God. The foundational principles of Babylon are found in Gen 11:

Genesis 11:4-9

4 Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. 6 The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."

8 So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel — because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

NIV

• Babylon is a civilisation: “they said, come, let us build a city…” That is, Babylon is a place of definition of human life or human existence.

• Babylon represents an attempt to build life that is not defined by God’s architecture but one defined by man’s perspective and one driven by human ambition: “…let us build a city…”

• Babylon is founded upon the principle of human pride and not one of serving God: “…so that we may make a name for ourselves…”

• Babylon represents an attempt to save and preserve life without God’s means of redemption: “…so that we may not be scattered…”

• Babylon represents a system of life driven by the issue of meeting human needs without complying with God’s standards and designs: “…so that we may not be scattered…”

• Babylon represents a place of clash of perspective, values and direction; a place of lack of consensus, integration and consolidation. A place of supremacy of personal opinion at the expense of corporate agreement: “…the Lord confused their language…they could not understand each other”.

• Babylon represents a place of disintegration of human life and decay: “…because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth”.

When you look at these principles, you begin to realise that “Babylon” can be found inside a family, a community or a society, a nation or even inside global institutions that are attempting to design global human life. The one key characteristic of Babylon is the issue of human effort to build life coupled with a progressive decay of life. Even though they wanted to build a city so that they would not be scattered, they were eventually scattered. The word “scatter” in Hebrew means: ‘to dash in pieces’. The word therefore defines a process of disintegration of life and things failing to remain solid. This particular characteristic is very much a reality today. Numerous efforts designed to build life are somehow not producing the intended results. Life is collapsing all over the world simply because men have refused to come to a point of confluence regarding a consolidated approach to building life. We have numerous global gatherings, parliamentary deliberations, financial investments and education systems that are somehow not producing stable life. Just as these men who were building this city or civilisation, nations remain divided by their own self interests and cannot understand one another’s language (i.e. motivations, pursuits, objectives etc.).

The sad thing is that the “scattering” is also taking place right within the church. Churches continue to hold “dynamic services” and yet life, marriages and families are disintegrating. There must be something “Babylonian” still about the values and operations of our churches.

It is therefore prophetically significant that God is bringing His church to positions of integration and confluence. He is removing the dividing wall of hostility and is producing one new man. He is calling us to a position of “the unity of the faith” (Eph 2:14-17, Eph 4:13). We are God’s city (Heb 12:22, Heb 11:10, Rev 21:2) built according to God’s design (1 Cor 3:10).

Let my people go (cont…)

Revelation 18:4

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

"Come out of her, my people,

so that you will not share in her sins,

so that you will not receive any of her plagues;

NIV

The initial position of the Gospel is not to give us religion and membership to a local assembly. It is not to only remove us from idolatrous positions and false gods. It is also to take us out of deficient positions of human existence. There must be “a coming out”, an exodus that begins to take place without which the Gospel can not find full expression in the earth. When we see God correctly, we see life correctly. That is, a sight of God is not a theological experience but produces a real life process and wisdom to construct correct life. As the word says, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 9:10). The word “wisdom” here is defined as: “practical skill of life”.

Colossians 1:13

13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, NIV

The Gospel proclaims an exodus from a deficient system of life built by men in their ignorance of the correct order of life. This does not mean that God wants us to literally leave our nation-states and build a separate Geo-Political State. Such a thought is not reflected in the scriptures instead the scriptures talk about being salt and light of the world (Matt 5:13-14), and this represents principles of interface, impact and influence. What we have to depart from is not “Geo-Political States” but erroneous systems and positions of human existence. For example, in this day of greed and materialism, in this day of Capitalistic ideology (that masquerades in the church as “individualistic blessing”), we are called to a system of community and shared life. The role of leaders here is to see these positions and principles in the scripture, develop doctrine around them, proclaim and build them so that the church can walk in these realities.

God wants to see the Exodus

Hebrews 11:28

28 By faith he (i.e. Moses) kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

NIV

The “Passover” was a system God gave to His people. This system would help facilitate the exodus of Israel out of that oppressive empire.

Christ, our Passover Lamb

1 Corinthians 5:7-8

7 Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast-as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.

NIV

If the keeping of the Passover helped Israel come out of Egypt then Christ (our Passover Lamb) can help us come out of this world system’s definitions of life, in order to fully establish the kingdom of God (a system of life) in the earth.

Passover is not an event in our annual religious calendar. As a matter of fact, the Word of God tells us not to observe special religious days:

Galatians 4:9-11

9 But now that you know God-or rather are known by God-how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

NIV

These religious festivals were a shadow of Christ (Col 2:16&17). The Passover is not a date in April or a religious event, Passover is a principle of exit. Passover says, “People are coming out of the system”. Passover is a principle of rebelling against a false order of life in order to build the kingdom of God. We have taken it and made it into a religious-ceremonial celebration. As a principle of exit, Passover is a State of Existence. We institute Passover not simply by holding a gathering but by living by a different set of values and building different systems of life. Now this is not to say that we must not acknowledge God’s salvation in our lives and the sacrifice of Christ but the way we do this is certainly not by following practices of Catholicism. If at all we choose to gather in April, we should rather talk about the nature of our exit from worldly systems of life in order to glorify Christ in the earth. Such gatherings would be consistent with the whole principle of Passover. It would not help to be compromised by sin, materialism, greed and general worldliness and then celebrate Passover every year in April.

God wants to see the Exodus

1 Peter 1:18

18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, NIV

The initial position of the Gospel is not to give us religion and membership to a local assembly. It is not to only remove us from idolatrous positions and false gods. It is not to remove us simply from false religions and take us into Christianity. Neither is it to simply make us “spiritual beings”. Of critical importance is for the Gospel to take us out of deficient positions of human existence. This fulfils our sight of God (Jer 22:16) and our spirituality in Christ (1 Cor 3:1&3).

Any gospel that proclaims God, establishing only systems of (a) worship, (b) personal spiritual redemption and (c) fellowship, leaving people without a political, social & economic framework within which they can exist in the earth and develop their citizenship – is essentially insufficient and inherently faulty. This understanding is only possible when we begin to realise that the Kingdom of God is not simply a theological system or position but it’s a complete system of belief, with its own values, culture and ideological positions on the nature and arrangement of human life.

There must be “a coming out”, an exodus that begins to take place without which the Gospel can not find full expression in the earth.

What the Lord declares in 1 Pet 1:18 is that we have to come out of traditionally and generationally established systems of human existence. There must be a values-based, perspective-based and culturally-based exodus that begins to take place. The cultural exodus here is not one where we adopt “foreign lifestyle” as some Missionaries did when they proclaimed the gospel to Africa. The Gospel is not a suite and a tie. The Gospel is a proclamation of a system of values by which man can live and be correct before God (what the Word calls “righteousness”). There must be a coming out of (not only false religions) but also from false political, social and economic positions. The big question we need to ask is, how does the Church come out of the clutches of Capitalism? How does the Church come out of the clutches of Liberalism? What new socio-economic platforms does God want us to build in order to fully establish the kingdom of God in the earth? These are Passover-like questions that will usher us into newness in God, so we can be able to represent the Kingdom before the nations of the world.

Hebrews 4:1-2

1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. NIV

Let us initiate the first demand of the Gospel, which is the issue of coming out of erroneous positions of life.

To be continued…