After I posted that blog about the cave dwellers, there was a few points that I felt I needed to add.
The first point is that I was in no way saying we need to be independant, or alone. However you want to say it, God did not make us to be hermits, or reclusive. None of us can live the life Jesus is calling us to on our own. Jesus did not make us to be the Lone Ranger. We can not do it on our own.
We were created to live in relationship. To have many relationships. We need friends. Men need close friends who are men. We need people to lift us up, to protect our backs. We need older and wiser friends. We need to be developing relationships where we are used to give advice and leadership. We need to have committed relationships, not just surface accountability or ‘small groups’. Look at the early church in Acts. Do we think we have evolved as people to not need that community? Email doesn’t cut it, or even the phone. We need close physical contact, body language and tone.
Jesus created marriage. I believe marriage was created to teach us about God, about love, about the relationship God desires for us to have. That we as believers are the body, we are the bride of Christ. Over and over Paul writes about each of us being a part of the body. I don’t know how to stress it anymore. If you have run from religion, the hypocrisy of it all, and agreed with what I said about the groups of like minded people huddled together, you need to know that being alone is not right either. For years I avoided groups, even if I attended a group, I would hesitate to build relationships. I still hesitate to get to know people or to let people get to know me, but I do know that it is not right.
As I wrote about the cave dwellers, my main point was the light. Living in the light. The group I am with now is striving to live in the light. Our purpose is to know Jesus and to follow him. This is very different from my other religious experiences because we are seeing God show up. Our supporters and churches back home love God. This love for God was made evident to me by how much and how quickly people bought into this vision. The prayer support and emotional support are incredible. I have no doubt that our supporters back home are searching for and following the light. I am saying that so many of us need so much more of God. I know very strong christians who feel lonely. Loneliness is not from God. I know many angry and frustrated christians. Anger and frustration, selfishness, pride, self-righteousness, lust, GREED, gluttony…. These are not from God. These are so evident in even the ‘strongest’ christians I know. I regularly rebuke all of that in my life, that list is mine.
It is now from 100% abandonment, and being led, being under authority, being with a community of people who are totally surrendered to God that I am finally tangibly feeling and seeing the fruits that are promised. I just could not live the ‘good christian’ life with one foot in two different worlds.
I hope this isn’t too random, but I remember the feeling that Peter was the failure as far as the disciples went. Peter always had his foot in his mouth. He was impulsive and undisciplined. Peter almost drowned when he took his eyes off Jesus, and for so many of us it points out his failure. But of the 12 disciples, he was the only one to walk on water. How cool is that? So many of us need to risk failure, to take the chance to walk on water, but the people around us, instead of encouraging us, tell us the possibilities of failure. Well meaning christians give us all the reasons God won’t come through. Well meaning christians who have never taken a risk in their lives.
Ok, random thought number two. For so long, I have avoided getting out of the boat. For so long I avoided going where God was working. I listened to people’s advice. Everyone’s advice had equal weight. The discouraging advice always sticks out. We need to learn that not all advice is Godly. How many of us take advice on ‘OUR’ finances from someone who doesn’t even believe in God? How many of us get our advice on subjects like philosophy or psychology, relationships, the opposite sex, GOD, from an atheist? Get your leadership, get your guidance and advice from people who are bearing fruit. If a person’s life is not evidence of God’s work, why would you follow their wisdom? Why would you allow someone who is known for anger, lust, lack of faith guide you? If someone doesn’t beam the love of God, or vibrate with God’s joy, or is not a safe and peaceful place for you, why would you take their advice? If your own family members are friendless or lonely or bitter, is that a person who can guide you?
As I have left the cave of my own making, of following everyone else’s advice, and have learned to follow and weigh the opinions of others who are completely serving God, it is as though the clouds have been removed. The “First Loved” stuff from Mark Fee was like someone turning on a light. Our training with AIM was like someone scraping scales off my eyes. I could sense my whole being come alive. I now see miracles on a daily basis, I am filled more and more with love and joy. I sleep peacefully, I wake up happy, trying to remember the greatest dreams. That is evidence enough for me that where I am headed is from God. I am sure I will hit speed bumps and traffic jams along the way, but it is better than driving over the speed limit and ignoring the wrong way signs.
Having left the cave, I still have a lot of cave dweller to get rid of in me, but that is happening. God is in the process of completely changing me, maybe I will always be a bat, but I am flying in the light, and it is amazing. So for other bats, at least find a colony that flies. Learn what that looks like. The fruits of the spirit are tangible. Other people’s lives being changed is common. If that is not your colony, then find it! Go where God is working. Ask God to lead you, and when he does, obey! How miserable it is to be a bat and never spread your wings. Remember, even if Satan is coming against you, it is still your decision to fly. Stop blaming your community for your inabilities, and just call on Jesus, He is the only way, truth, and life.
