CHURCH
CHURCH.
CHURCH GOVERNMENT

Since the visit of a family member a couple of weeks ago (at the time of writing), I have been thinking! Always dangerous! For within our families we see and we analyse, and know our relatives do the same with us! This visit caused me to ponder upon an attitudinal principle that has separated people from the days of Mary and Martha, onwards. What started as thinking turned into revelation!

Martha was ruled by her mind. She saw the work to be done, the meal to be prepared and the house to be tidied. Mary, on the other hand, preferred to absorb all that Jesus had to teach and impart.

I have seen this paralleled in my own family line, starting 2 generations ago (as far back as I can go) with two sisters who were both committed Christians. One was efficient and organising; the other, a little out of line from normal expectations, but through whom the glow of the Holy Spirit shone. Within our family, some were attracted to my Grandmother some to my Great Aunt. These differing natures have continued down through the generations.

Of most interest to me though, is the influence my various family members have had within the church. For it is the 'Marthas' who have been the elders, deacons and leaders, while the 'Marys' have been tolerated, being regarded as 'a little strange', for they haven't slotted well into the accepted 'church system'. You may guess into which category I fall!

Looking at the worldwide church, irrespective of culture, it's easy to see that the 'Marthas' run it. Those interested in organisation, programmes, buildings, and, dare I mention it, position!

Yet, it is also apparent, that revivals down through the ages have arisen out of the intercession and inspiration of Marys', not the organisational skills of Marthas. God has always used the most unusual, unexpected people to further His work.

One example is particularly appropriate at the present time, for 2006 is the 100th anniversary of the Azusa Street revival and the founding of Pentecostalism. God used William Seymour, a 34 year old, one eyed (literally - and spiritually!) black man, the son of ex slaves to spark the revival. He learned about the Bible from the hallways of Charles Parnham's (another Mary misfit) Bible school, because of segregation. Yet through his devotion to the Lord, the Lord used him to trigger the most influential spiritual movement of the 20th century. The organised Martha church hated him and did all in their power to stop him.

Yet God is greater than the church! That bears repeating. God is greater than the church! His will, will be done! In fact, the church is His, and delegated to the control of Jesus. And, like it or not, it is through the Marys' of the world that He works in it.

Today God is calling out a new generation of Marys. A generation of people fully sold out to Jesus. A generation prepared to lay down everything for their Savior and Lord. For it is this Mary generation that will arise from the depths of criticism and ridicule within the church to usher in the return of the Lord.

Far more than we realise, we are all products of the society we're brought up in. We understand this when it comes to our favorite foods. 'Fish and chips' is a New Zealand and British favorite while Americans prefer hamburgers. Too, for us men, the code of 'football' we enjoy, and for the ladies, your society's marriage customs. Then there is social etiquette and hundreds of other things, both big and small, from the weather to the toilets we are used to!

When travelling abroad, we enjoy learning about new cultures, but are generally pleased to get back home, where we know, and are comfortable in, our familiar surroundings. Those who emigrate to another country must adapt to their new situation, but it normally takes 1 or 2 generations before a family totally assimilates into the culture of their new country.

This principle also applies to the church. Over the centuries we have adapted the church to our culture, far more so than we realise. Very often too, we have attempted to export Western culture, along with Jesus, to other parts of the world.

However, the greatest change in church culture is one we don't even consider, so ingrained has it become in us from very early times. This is the church's Hellenization, its change from Hebrew ways and precepts, to those of Greek thought, upon which Western society was built, and still operates today. The clash between the Hebrew and dominant Roman (Greek based) culture of the day, existed from the very beginning of the church, as Paul explained in his letter to the Colossians.

Of course, by the time the Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official state religion of Rome in 350AD, the change was complete. Since then we have had a church based on the mind, upon reasoning, upon logic. Hence doctrine, theology and study have assumed a major, and sadly, ever more increasing role in the church. To the extent that now, 'Theological Qualification' is virtually an essential requirement for anyone wishing to pastor a church in the Western world. And is increasingly becoming so in other areas also. For most, Christianity has become an intellectual exercise rather than a physical experience.

Greek thought places man at the centre of the universe, refusing to accept moral absolutes, believing that everything must be experienced or proven to be valid. Effectively this is humanism. This too, is the understanding of large parts of the church today, worshipping reason rather than God.

Hebrew thought and culture on the other hand, is centred upon 'one' God whose existence they experience on a day to day basis. He lives inside His people, who are seen as His children. His people are to live like Him, rather than simply giving mental assent to His lordship. This is beautifully displayed in the relationship between a Rabbi and his students. They stay close by him, hanging on to his every word, copying his mannerisms and ways until they became like the Rabbi they are under.

Jesus is our 'Rabbi'. We are meant to become like Him in every way.

The apostle Paul faced this challenge of the clash of cultures within the early church. Apparently he wasn't impressive of appearance, superconfident, nor an eloquent orator. All things that appeal today in a superpreacher!

What then was the secret of his success?

That's right - the Spirit's power! Imitating Jesus. A church based not on men's wisdom but God's power! This is the church God is calling us to today. A church operating in the image and ways of Jesus!

as we look at the next 2 principles.

We, oh so easily, adapt Jesus and His ways to our cultural practices. And then implant our culture, in the guise of Christianity upon others.

We need to be more aware of The culture of the time of Jesus in order to truly understand what he explained in its true context.

ASSYRIA

Around the 9th century, Assyria, Babylonia's neighbor, was a major political power yet they made no real threats against Babylonia. They were even treaties signed showing mutual respect between Assyrian and Babylonian Kings. At one point a revolution broke out in during the reign of Marduk-zakir-shumi I, and Shalmanaser III (858-824 BC) of Assyria came to the aid of the Babylonian King and helped him regain his throne. But it wasn't long before friction developed and hostilities began to break out. During this time Assyria was the weaker of the two powers.