COMMENTARY

Don Atkin

“HOT-BUTTON” ISSUE: WINESKINS

Every season of church history has had its potentially divisive issues.  Currently, the issue of wineskins threatens the unity of the body of Christ.  Thousands of people are leaving the familiar territory of institutional Christianity in favor of becoming more personally involved in relational groups.  Others remain.  There are many views and variables that must be rightly handled so that the body of Christ is not further fractured.  Regardless of our point of view, we must exercise great grace for one another during this season of significant transition.  With Paul,

I beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body. – Ephesians 4:1-4.

Regardless of our particular venue or paradigm, regardless of our particular experiences and convictions, there is one body!

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (Don’t make an idol out of your paradigm!)  I speak as to wise men, judge for yourselves what I say.  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?  The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. – I Corinthians 10:14-17.

For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. – I Corinthians 11:29.

While multitudes are opting for new venues, huge changes are taking place for many who remain within what we have known as the institutional church. Perhaps God is turning the ship at a pace that will not unnecessarily throw anyone overboard.  Metamorphosis takes time!  We do know for sure that God is no respecter of persons, is not willing for any to perish, and is patient.  (That gives us a “heads up” on the image to which we are being conformed, a pattern for our behavior.)

It would not take much effort to discern the Lord’s body if all manifestations of the Lord’s body were already counter-culture in nature.  Unfortunately, most expressions are merely sub-culture in nature.  They look so much like the prevailing culture that it takes significant discernment to realize that they are “not against us, but for us.”

(Kingdom culture is not a sub-culture.  It is a counter-culture.  A sub-culture is mostly like the prevailing culture with just a few differences.  A counter-culture is completely different than the prevailing culture, with just a few similarities.)

We are “called out” from worldly cultures into the culture of the kingdom.  We must then be purged of our former culture and formed into our new culture.  It is one thing to be removed from a particular culture; it is another to have that culture removed from us.  It affects our way of thinking until we are transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Then, we must learn how to live out this new kingdom culture in the context of our world.  We must grow from consumers into influencers, becoming more and more “salt” and “light” in the midst of a fallen society.  There is no way to accomplish this apart from the discerning of spirits (I John 4:1-8).

RIGHT DISCERNMENT REQUIRES RIGHT ATTITUDES

I want to guard my attitude, and let God guard my accuracy!

The flesh will always judge others rather than discern the Lord’s body.  “Anything that looks different than we look must be wrong.  Because we are right!”  What is the opposite of humility?  Arrogance!  Arrogance is pride expressed or acted out. 

Arrogance is opinionated.  There’s not much room for new information that might paint the picture differently.  Only the meek will inherit a new heaven and a new earth. Meekness is not weakness.  Meek people maintain their ability and desire to learn, even at the expense of what they think they know. 

Opinionated people feel that it is their duty to defend the truth, and defend God at the same time.  Truth needs no defense.  God does not need us to defend Him.  The kingdom cannot be shaken. 

Insecurity will cause us to add flesh effort to what we believe God is doing, just to insure that what we are saying or doing is not rejected.  Doing so insures rejection!  “Burnt stones” need to be washed; hurt people need to be healed.  (Hurt people hurt people.)  We will grow in our effectiveness as we grow in our confidence in God’s ability to get it said and get it done. 

That confidence is imparted to us as we walk in humility and meekness.  Enjoying a secure assurance of who we are in Christ, and what our mission is, helps us to relax and “let the river flow.” 

The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.  Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?  But He gives more grace.  Therefore He says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” – James 3:17-18; 4:5-6.

“There is a river that flows from deep within.”  We are called to commune with all believers in that river.  We are to embrace, enjoy, edify and exhort one another. 

A CURRENT EXAMPLE FOR THE CALL TO GRACE

In other nations, many in the body of Christ are successfully functioning house to house, with occasional larger assemblies for celebration, apostolic teaching, etc.  People are not “throwing out the baby with the bathwater,” but embracing legitimate, God-given ministry that is transforming them and their cultures.  They are multiplying and impacting their cities and regions much like we see in the book of Acts.

Notice that I am not calling this a house church movement or simple church movement. These developing apostolic companies and communions are far more than that.  They are the fruit of preaching the gospel of the kingdom in the power of the Spirit, with signs and wonders following.  These saints are simply obeying God’s leadership.  They are not attempting to contrast or contradict anyone or anything else.  They are not establishing themselves as “the proper model” or “prototype.”  They are giving expression to the life of Christ who is within and among them, the hope of glory.

They are human, flawed.  They have their relational challenges.  Daily life challenges them.  In most respects, they are just like Christians in the United States ~ with one significant exception.

CULTURAL IMPLICATIONS AFFECTING HONOR, AUTHORITY AND SERVITUDE

Totally apart from faith in Christ, the foundational cultures in most of these nations include (1) honoring elders, (2) honoring and serving one another, and (3) recognizing and respecting authority.  This is HUGE!  Those of us who have traveled to other nations have experienced first-hand these cultural traits among both Christians and non-Christians.

What is a given in many places is often driven here in the United States and other predominately Anglo cultures.  Jesus used the analogy of leading sheep, which we are contrasting with driving cattle.  Jesus never forced Himself upon or lorded it over anyone.  Honor and respect were given by those who heard His voice ~ those whom He called by name.

Honor and respect are biblical mandates with kingdom consequences.  Some cultures embrace these mandates because of their environment and early training.  The prevailing U. S. culture of independence and anarchy work against the culture of the kingdom of God!  Carnal leadership is not the antidote for this cultural problem.

Many desire to find their Root, their identity and purpose in Him, and their placement in the body of Christ as one of a priesthood of all believers.  They want to be equipped to function in their unction. 

THE NEED FOR REFORMATION

There is no question that the church is in need of reformation.  The intent of our Father to fill the earth with His government and glory requires reformation.  Reformation is happening!  Wineskins are under overhaul.  So are leadership styles.  It’s an historic time to be alive in the service of the King!

We must have confidence that He will finish what He has begun.  Our part in the reformation is to cooperate with God.  The beginning point for all of us is to rest in the fact that Jesus is building His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it!  He puts His hand to the task when we take our hands off!

Authors, who are critical and harsh toward those who disagree with them, or those who do not yet see what they see, need to grow in grace as well as truth.  Truth dispensed apart from grace can be condemning.  How much greater our influence and impact would be if our speech were always with grace, seasoned with salt.

It is wrong to judge another man’s servant ~ especially in areas of heart motives.  It is God who looks upon the heart.  Not all who are serving in other venues are intentionally manipulative and building their own kingdoms.  We need to remember that the power of life and death is in the tongue.  And, both sweet and bitter waters do not come from the same well.

Perhaps we can ask God to change how we see others who are different.  People who are different are not necessarily deficient.  May we begin to look at others and ourselves through the eyes of the new creation!

Neither human dominion nor negative criticism nurtures spiritual growth. Yet, we do need fatherly guidance that leads us to the Head of the church and helps us to find our place in His body. 

The body of Christ is one, and will eventually be structured and ordered by city/regional identities.  Until then, church wineskins and governments will be in metamorphosis.  Truly inspired leadership will point us toward that unity of expression, and show us by example the kingdom of God ~ righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.