The Human Imperative
It seems that a certain imperative rests in all humans and is resident in all cultures throughout our history. It is an inner yearning, an inner need, which drives us to seek out that which does not seem to come naturally to us through the lives we lead. This innate imperative comprised three identifiable parts:
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the search for Significance,
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the search for Transcendence and
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the search for Community.
The Church alone, of all the institutions in this world can provide answers to the searches:
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For Significance: the Ministry of Teaching.
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For Transcendence: the Ministry of Worship.
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For Community: the koinōnia, the Community of the Church of Christ.
Yet, why is there still so much searching within the Church brother and sisterhood for that which is only available in the Church? The answer has to be that the Church is lacking in fulfilment of its duties, of its responsibilities, to the ekklēsı́a, the assembly, the congregation, the body of Christ. Teaching is often too inadequate, worship often too inane and the fellowship often too exclusive, instead of embracing and welcoming.
As a result, the enemy has filled the void left by the Churches’ inadequacies with the three false spirits of speculation, mysticism and moralism. Thus, rather than turning to God and allowing Him to satisfy this inner yearning for Him which He gave us, we instead look to ourselves and ultimately, the enemy. This is truly a case of the blind both leading and teaching the blind.
In the Old Testament, the cry was made in Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Second Timothy 3:7 sums up the situation well for us today, describing such people seeking significance in speculation as “ever learning, but never coming to a knowledge of the truth.” The Lord wishes that none of His flock, none of His elect, be lost. As a born-again Christian, we need to focus on this matter, just as much as we focus on external evangelism, for if we don’t, who will? Teaching the full Gospel is the only solution: teaching and preaching the unadulterated full gospel in all its majestic and powerful glory. But this is no longer a simple task, as years of Church silence has allowed a culture to develop on most counties, where the idea of an absolute Truth is now an anathema. Modernism has killed truth and post-modernism seeks to bury it under a mountain of information. This ground needs to be retaken from the enemy and Christians need now to re-establish lines declaring “this far and no further,” as a minimal start. Christians need to understand apologetics and stand proud in the name of Christ for all to witness. But more than that, we need to educate ourselves as full card-carrying born-again Christians while leading a saved life, the lifestyle of Jesus Himself.
Instead of searching in mysticism for transcendence, a personal relationship with the living God, Lord Jesus Christ, is the only True and valid solution. This is why we were made! All others solutions are falsehoods, inventions of self or Satan, the king of lies.
The humanists today seek solutions of their own makings, ignoring the transcendent words of the Lord, the Holy Bible; especially the Decalogue (the 10 Commandments), Christ’s “Sermon on the Mount – the Beatitudes” written especially for us and The Lord’s Prayer. Instead, the humanists pridefully believe they can improve upon perfection. When looking at their provisions and situation, we are readily reminded of the author of Ecclesiastes who writes in Ecclesiastes 1:2 “Vanity of vanities, says the preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity” or as often translated: “meaningless, meaningless all is meaningless.” What vanity it is indeed, for the pot to think that his or her “user’s manual” is better than that of the Potter himself.
For Christians, we have been given The Gospel – The Good News. Dr. Tim Keller of New York’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church argues on all possible occasions that “the Gospel is not the ABC’s of Christian life; it is the A through Z of the Christian life.” For Jesus is “The Way, the Truth and the Life” and there is no other (John 14:6).
Paul makes this all very clear for us in Colossians 1:26-29 as he tells us “the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. For to them God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, so that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”
Heavenly Father,
As I reach out, searching in this life for meaning, for significance, for transcendence and for community, please bring me into a personal relationship with You. I desire this so very much. I recognise you Lord Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life – the only way, the only truth and the only life. Please help me lay down my pride at the foot of the cross for You to deal with. I repent of listening to the lies of the enemy and thinking that I can do this all myself and that the answers are within me. Please help me lay down my will for Your use, such that from now on, my life is led by You and for You alone. I repent of thinking that I can lead my life independent of Your sovereign rule and grace. Lord Jesus, please bring Your saints into my life to guide me so that I may be changed and held personally accountable to them for the changes as You work them out in my life. Lord, please let there be more of You and less of me in my life from now onward. Lord, please use me for the glory of You Kingdom.
In Jesus mighty name I pray, Amen and Amen.
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