The
Great Pretenders
Danny Korakas
It is amazing how much popularity and money that the
entertainment business generates. Whether it is the big screen, television, or
DVD rentals, both Christian and non-Christian alike "invest" much of
their time and money in this form of entertainment. Just as amazing is the fact
that most of it is make believe. It is the "make believers" whom the
world and a great part of church has set apart and set on a pedestal as
celebrities and icons of our culture. The skill of "acting" has become
a profitable endeavor for both reward and award. Our society has heaped praise
and trophies upon those who are professional pretenders. Sadly, some of the
greatest actors and pretenders are not in the Hollywood hills, but within the
city that is to be set upon a hill – The church.
Hypocrisy or pretension has its origins in the root of idolatry. The church
attending actor(ess) is desperately seeking the approval and affirmation of man
rather than God as his or her primary source of meaning and direction. Needless
to say, the idolization of man is idolatry in its basic form because it places
humanity on par with the Lord in giving meaning and direction to life. Worse
yet, many of these individuals have been walking in man-centered idolatry for so
long that they are led to believe that they are "something" that they
are really not or doing something that they are not to do. Without the healing
touch of God to liberate us into transparency and truth, the "actor"
will come to a point of believing their own warped natural and spiritual
viewpoints. The element and proof of spiritual truth in our life can be summed
up by asking ourselves two simple questions: "Does my public life (the life
that I "present" to others) reflect my private life? Does my spiritual
life line up with God's Word?
Much of what I witness in the church meeting, broadcast and gathering is on par
with a Broadway production worthy of an Academy Award. The western church has
become a tonic of entertainment that satisfies the flesh and multitudes have
been indoctrinated with the belief that all men and women who speak on behalf of
God are ordained by God. And of course, "Don't touch the Lord's
anointed." This could not be farther from the truth and this verse has
become perverted from its original language and meaning to justify control and
silence objectors. (We must remember, that ALL believers are filled with the
Spirit of God. Thus, I would say that qualifies ALL believers as being anointed
in some aspect of the Christian life). We see a clear picture of this in Numbers
16 where Abiram, Dathan, and Korah took on the authority of a true minister of
the Lord and we read that most within the congregation followed them! The sin of
Korah is what stands out as a signpost to many who have been trying to repair
this old and torn wineskin we call the church. Korah was a Levite by birth and a
true minister called by the Lord. Likewise, we have the same birthright as
believers in Christ. The difference with Korah and what we need to understand is
that he sought to usurp the position and function of the high priest.
The prophetic insight for today is clear: The true church is the tabernacle or
temple of the Lord's Spirit and presence. The Bible states that the Spirit of
God dwells within us individually as well as corporately. Within the temple, the
Holy of Holies is not so much a place as it is the Shekinah or weighty presence
of God which manifests beyond time and place. The Holy of Holies represents the
Spirit of God and also represents our spirit-man created in God's image. The
Holy of Holies represents the attributes of God's glory and power. It is through
the glory and resurrection power of God that our spirit-man is revived and
renewed. The glory and power of God should radiate through our corporate lives
as the church built of living stones. The Holy Place represents our renewed mind
or soul. It is within the holy place that "conscience" choices and
sacrifices are made that reflect our true relationship with God and one another.
It is within the Holy Place of our lives that the sacrifices of TRUTH must be
held over the escapism, rationalization, and desires of the flesh that the world
and the worldly church offer. (This is where Korah,Abiram, and Dathan began to
fall). The Outer Court is a reflection of our physical bodies and an area where
both the desires of world, and the desire for God are within sight and arms
reach. The Outer Court is both the place of defeat and glorious victories. It
all hinges upon what direction we are looking when temptation and truth draws
near.
Most of us know that the present religious system, whether traditional or
spirit-filled is a distorted caricature of what Christ left us. The time has
come and the Lord is desiring a church and bride that is built upon the truth of
His Word. A church, whose leadership is about giving and not begging and
manipulating. A leadership who will truly begin trusting the Lord for their
resources and not man. Look, if the Lord is not providing for your ministry,
then its time to get a real job and support it yourself. Paul would
single-handedly turn the known world on its ear without begging for money to
support his ministry. This allowed him to bring an uncompromising message of
truth. Why? Because there was not a conflict of interest in bringing the radical
truth to those who were paying his light bill.
It is ridiculous to pay someone to visit people at the hospital, pray for
people, bring the Word, and minister the good news – we should all be doing
this without excuse as the proof of being born again believers. The only way
that I can justify paying a minister full-time, is one who willingly desires to
equip others to become greater than themselves in serving the Lord and
humanity.(Jesus desired that we would do greater works than Him) All others are
acting or pretending to be leaders and have been ordained by the auspices of
man. The "pastor" who fails to equip others in doing everything that
he or she does (Like Jesus) is burdened with control and insecurity. What is the
function of the TRUE church? It is that true leaders become true servants and
equip the saints for the work of ministry and encourage their spiritual
destinies. Yes, and that includes bringing the Word on Sunday mornings. To
listen to one man preach 50 weeks out of year is a blatant sin and injustice to
God's people. Rather than taking an interest in the vision of the congregation,
today's religious leadership desires the congregation fulfill their vision. This
is completely backwards from the TRUTH. Rather than continued growth and
dynamic, the current religious system promotes a hierarchal structure and
spiritual dependancy. The Bible gives us the blueprint for ministry finances and
it does not require an academy award performance, spiritual manipulation, and a
worldly telethon. Sadly, we have come to point of rationalizing this "moneychanging"as
normal and acceptable in the church. A prophetic portrait comes in view in
looking at the death sentence that was passed upon these three men as they chose
to take the place of "high priest" in the presence of God and minister
to His people. In the New and better covenant; Jesus Christ alone is our high
priest. The true church and ministers of the Lord are those who make disciples
of Christ rather than taking the place of Christ in the lives of others. In
today's modern church, many have created disciples of themselves – The Word
comes through "their" teaching. The healing comes through
"their" hands. The abundant life and prosperity comes through the
tithing and offering into "their" ministry. Spiritual promotion and
growth comes through obedience to "their" vision. Thus the emphasis of
what "man" can do becomes the barometer of spiritual affirmation
rather than simple obedience to Christ and His Word. I have stated in previous
articles that "the highest form of worship is simple obedience to God's
Word and voice." Isn't this what it all boils down to? To go into all of
the world and create disciples of Jesus, the following fruit will be produced:
We will teach and encourage all believers who are willing to share and preach
the Word, and provide them a platform. We will send out equipped believers to
lay hands on the sick and pray for those in need. We will encourage an interest
in each others vision, spiritual gifts and talents and cheerfully give to their
success. This sounds like the ministry of Christ and the model that He gave us
for the church.
The system of man-centered religion led to the downfall of Korah and his
followers. It is interesting that out of these three men, two were not even
Levites, yet were "ministering" before the Lord and His people. We can
conclude that two thirds of the ministers present at this service were NOT
ordained by the Lord. Whether we want to believe it or not, there are those who
are ordained by God and those who are ordained by man. Somehow, we have been
brainwashed into believing that all men and women who are "ordained"
or went to some school and received a piece a paper to hang on the wall are
ministers. Beloved, God does not validate "titles." He validates and
affirms "function." We are all ministers of reconciliation and no
person is head or above another.
The "Korite" doctrine that has made its way back into assembly of
God's people manifests in itself in the focus and support of a counterfeit
temple (Church). The Old Testament Temple was a type and shadow of the finished
work of Christ. It would be a people redeemed by His blood that would become a
living temple and dwelling place of the Lord's Spirit and presence. The New
Testament temple is you and me. The Korite doctrine focuses and spends its
resources and energy on the preservation of the present religious system. If
today's present "leaders" were truly led and ordained by God, then I
believe we would witness a whole lot of change and shaking going on. The Bible
states in Matthew 25:31-46 that our resources, focus and energy should be
meeting the needs of each other as God's people. As a matter of fact, the Bible
goes on to say that we will be judged by how we meet these needs. However, it
seems that much of our focus has been conditioned to turn to the supporting and
sowing into the ordained of man for the purpose of reaping both earthly and
eternal blessing rather than simply meeting the needs of those who cross our
path in life.
The spirit of Constantine and the leadership model of today is drawing to a
close.It will be the "servants" who will arise with a heart to restore
the church back into the hands of the Lord and her original meaning and
function. For too long we have "played" church and performed our way
into irrelevance to a world that is searching for something real. Those who are
in the present church system, know in the core of their heart the frustration
and the sense that something is incomplete and unfulfilling. The spiritual
loneliness and irrelevancy that many are experiencing in the church is the
failure ofothers to take an interest in their vision. We can blame many things
for this. However, we must take the blame ourselves. We have created an
environment that spiritual validation and calling is recognized and
"released" by the "leadership." Maybe its time we start
encouraging and releasing one another. Better yet, let's start taking an
interest in one another. This is the TRUE church...
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