God's Ultimate Passion
Recently, I was blessed to read God's Ultimate Passion by Frank Viola.
This thick book is rich, with deep insights into the love relationship God wants to have with his people:
Christ seeks a Bride -- and finds her -- His Church. (If Christ is the second Adam, then the Church is the second Eve.)
Christ seeks a Holy Habitation -- and finds it -- in His Church
Christ has come into this world to establish a Heavenly Colony -- and finds it -- His Church.
Great stuff -- but then, like a cook who puts in too much tabasco sauce -- he messes it up by dismissing the "organized" church. All this, he seems to say, is found OUTSIDE of the organized expressions of faith.
In fairness, he leaves it up to the reader to determine WHAT is "organized" religion -- but whatever that is -- he calls it an "artificial substitute" for the real thing.
(Note -- When somebody tells me they're not into organized religion, I say, "Then you'll love us! We're the most disorganized bunch of believers you'll ever meet!)
Empty religion is not relationship with God -- that's certain. However, local churches, trying to follow Jesus as faith communities should be encouraged -- not discouraged.
All in all, a good book which deepened my love for God.
If 'The Ultimate Passion' deepened your love for God, then it served its purpose.
ReplyDeleteIs an 'Organized Church' good or bad? Depends on what it is organized to do. If an Organized Church's purpose is to be missionaries outside the comfort zone of its walls, then it is doing God's will. Any church/charity's mission should be 'outreach'. Unfortunately many churches/charities exist for the sole purpose of feeding (emotionally, spiritually, physically) only the select few within their inner circle. They have forgotten why they were organized in the first place.
Reminds me of the charities you hear about where a high percentage-often more than 80%-of the donated money goes to administrative costs, not the cause people thought they were donating to.
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