Really enjoyed this post, Joey. Thank you for helping us all keep the focus on the big picture, on the one true God who works for the good in all things.
Aw, man. Thanks so much for reading :) I loved seeing you all in Athens. I regret I didn't get to hear more about your work and Danny's work. Soon we will hang again, I hope!
Amen. I preached unity to a diverse group of people from different denominations and backgrounds. We said nothing of politics or ears being injured. Four people were baptized into the body of Christ and no one rushed out to go home and watch the news. They lingered in the presence of God and one another.
"But they all knew that to be a Christian was to count everything else they might say about themselves as rubbish when compared to knowing Jesus Christ and the power of his resurrection." What you said right there is what it's all about. We must die to our selves. Our American selves. And be a reflection of Jesus Christ our savior. He stood up against what was wrong in the house of the Lord. And America is not the house of the Lord. Peace be with you brother.
Thanks for reading, as always Aaron. You're a blessing. Our hope is for people of every nation to count their citizenship as something less than their membership in God's family.
I enjoyed your post. Very encouraging. And I love the name of your assembly. So good! In a day and age when it seems we are shying away from names of real significance and dropping titles that may actually indicate where we stand..... Resurrection is a refreshing and powerful name.
I preached on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 this past Sunday. Emphasis on the resurrection.
I can't agree more that as Christ Followers, Little Christ's, dare I say "Christians", our identity must be totally wrapped up in Him first. I must love my brothers and sisters in Christ as just that....family. It's what really matters.
In my context as a Pentecostal Canadian believer in Kenya ....I have learned to lean into a mindset of heavenly citizenship. My passport says Canada. My address is Kenya. I don't particularly feel like I belong in either place.
Heaven is my home. I eagerly await it. I serve here as an ambassador until relieved of duty and calling. As I see it.....that's when I am called home, either when I breathe my last or I hear a trumpet blast.
And before I am anything else.....I am Christian. This makes me better at every other title I may bear.
Pentecostals have generally done a good job of keeping eschatology at the center of spiritual practice. I try to keep that alive, and it sounds like you are too. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Political punditry is not preaching. But every page of the prophets could be mistaken for political punditry. Do we suppose that there was no partisanship between the party of Saul and of David, or that believers should have regarded the two as morally equivalent? Should the parties of Paul and of James have hidden there sympathies and disengaged from the issues? I don't know your church and even if I did condemnation is not my calling, but as Mr Biden said this is a war for the soul of America. I am not convinced that either of the two principals is a believer and I am far from believing that either of them is a moral man but to suppose that the Body corporately has no part to play in the events of our time is to say that we are entirely unlike the Prophets and the Apostles, entirely unlike the Fathers and the Reformers.
"but to suppose that the Body corporately has no part to play in the events of our time is to say that we are entirely unlike the Prophets and the Apostles, entirely unlike the Fathers and the Reformers." - I don't think this reflects Joseph's position in any way. Joseph is not suggesting hiding his sympathies - he states here he is explicit, for example, in holding a pro-life position. You're arguing with the wind. There is nothing to gain from encouraging congregations towards partisan politics. We aim as Christians to hold our positions because they are morally right based on our best interpretation of scripture and tradition and for no other purpose - good for goodness' sake, out of our best attempt to be obedient to God's will. This has nothing to do with the power grabbing strategies of political actors. Where alignment occurs, well; even a stopped clock etc.
Thanks for saying this. It's true: I've been careful to say a lot more than my pro-life stance from the pulpit. But always (as best I can) because Jesus came back from the dead and is Lord of all. It's a blessing that you read and engaged.
I am not interested in attacking Joseph. I quite like him so I don't see any need to rush to his defense.
Everything that you say is true but being openly against murder should hardly be the beginning and end of our public, corporate witness.
Ì am firmly against partisanship. Supporting 'The lesser of two evils' has brought us to a place of evil faster than simply being dominated by the openly antichristian ever could have. And while there is no shortage of evil and corruption on both sides, the battle is morally significant and the positions are not equivalent.
But I am interested in answers to the questions I posed. Do you suppose that believers ought to have taken a 'political' or 'partisan' position between Saul and David or between Paul and James? How about between Mary, the persecutor of the protestants and Elizabeth their protector? Then why is it only us who are called to this hateful lukewarm indifference?
Thanks for the comments. I also respect you, Jon. Your conviction is so refreshing in a society that increasingly feels like everyone is capable of being bought out. Ftr, I do believe in taking sides. But as you say, it's really hard to take a side when it's always a choice between two apparent evils. At the same time, I try to be careful to build bridges of common understanding, even with those with whom I generally (and vigorously) disagree. I just want to make sure that it is bridge building, not pretending like the chasm doesn't exist. There's so much more to say. We should probably have a meal together if the Lord makes our paths cross :)
I'd like that Joseph. As much as I appreciate substack, you never know a brother until you break bread together. If you ever find yourself in Georgia I'd like to buy you lunch. You are in Iowa? I've never found myself out that way.
I'm staying out of politics. However, I hope the Mexican food was to your liking.
La Regia NEVER disappoints :)
All my Mexican friends agree with you.
The kingdom of God is like Mexican cuisine—diverse, delicious, and blessed.
I hadn't read this until today. I should tell you I'm allergic to jalapeño pepers.
I’m sorry for your suffering 🫶
I don't suffer, I have an EpiPen.
Really enjoyed this post, Joey. Thank you for helping us all keep the focus on the big picture, on the one true God who works for the good in all things.
Aw, man. Thanks so much for reading :) I loved seeing you all in Athens. I regret I didn't get to hear more about your work and Danny's work. Soon we will hang again, I hope!
Amen. I preached unity to a diverse group of people from different denominations and backgrounds. We said nothing of politics or ears being injured. Four people were baptized into the body of Christ and no one rushed out to go home and watch the news. They lingered in the presence of God and one another.
It's important for people to remember that it's actually more common than they think. Which is why this comment is so important.
Amen brother.
"But they all knew that to be a Christian was to count everything else they might say about themselves as rubbish when compared to knowing Jesus Christ and the power of his resurrection." What you said right there is what it's all about. We must die to our selves. Our American selves. And be a reflection of Jesus Christ our savior. He stood up against what was wrong in the house of the Lord. And America is not the house of the Lord. Peace be with you brother.
Thanks for reading, as always Aaron. You're a blessing. Our hope is for people of every nation to count their citizenship as something less than their membership in God's family.
I enjoyed your post. Very encouraging. And I love the name of your assembly. So good! In a day and age when it seems we are shying away from names of real significance and dropping titles that may actually indicate where we stand..... Resurrection is a refreshing and powerful name.
I preached on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 this past Sunday. Emphasis on the resurrection.
I can't agree more that as Christ Followers, Little Christ's, dare I say "Christians", our identity must be totally wrapped up in Him first. I must love my brothers and sisters in Christ as just that....family. It's what really matters.
In my context as a Pentecostal Canadian believer in Kenya ....I have learned to lean into a mindset of heavenly citizenship. My passport says Canada. My address is Kenya. I don't particularly feel like I belong in either place.
Heaven is my home. I eagerly await it. I serve here as an ambassador until relieved of duty and calling. As I see it.....that's when I am called home, either when I breathe my last or I hear a trumpet blast.
And before I am anything else.....I am Christian. This makes me better at every other title I may bear.
Pentecostals have generally done a good job of keeping eschatology at the center of spiritual practice. I try to keep that alive, and it sounds like you are too. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Political punditry is not preaching. But every page of the prophets could be mistaken for political punditry. Do we suppose that there was no partisanship between the party of Saul and of David, or that believers should have regarded the two as morally equivalent? Should the parties of Paul and of James have hidden there sympathies and disengaged from the issues? I don't know your church and even if I did condemnation is not my calling, but as Mr Biden said this is a war for the soul of America. I am not convinced that either of the two principals is a believer and I am far from believing that either of them is a moral man but to suppose that the Body corporately has no part to play in the events of our time is to say that we are entirely unlike the Prophets and the Apostles, entirely unlike the Fathers and the Reformers.
"but to suppose that the Body corporately has no part to play in the events of our time is to say that we are entirely unlike the Prophets and the Apostles, entirely unlike the Fathers and the Reformers." - I don't think this reflects Joseph's position in any way. Joseph is not suggesting hiding his sympathies - he states here he is explicit, for example, in holding a pro-life position. You're arguing with the wind. There is nothing to gain from encouraging congregations towards partisan politics. We aim as Christians to hold our positions because they are morally right based on our best interpretation of scripture and tradition and for no other purpose - good for goodness' sake, out of our best attempt to be obedient to God's will. This has nothing to do with the power grabbing strategies of political actors. Where alignment occurs, well; even a stopped clock etc.
Thanks for saying this. It's true: I've been careful to say a lot more than my pro-life stance from the pulpit. But always (as best I can) because Jesus came back from the dead and is Lord of all. It's a blessing that you read and engaged.
I am not interested in attacking Joseph. I quite like him so I don't see any need to rush to his defense.
Everything that you say is true but being openly against murder should hardly be the beginning and end of our public, corporate witness.
Ì am firmly against partisanship. Supporting 'The lesser of two evils' has brought us to a place of evil faster than simply being dominated by the openly antichristian ever could have. And while there is no shortage of evil and corruption on both sides, the battle is morally significant and the positions are not equivalent.
But I am interested in answers to the questions I posed. Do you suppose that believers ought to have taken a 'political' or 'partisan' position between Saul and David or between Paul and James? How about between Mary, the persecutor of the protestants and Elizabeth their protector? Then why is it only us who are called to this hateful lukewarm indifference?
Thanks for the comments. I also respect you, Jon. Your conviction is so refreshing in a society that increasingly feels like everyone is capable of being bought out. Ftr, I do believe in taking sides. But as you say, it's really hard to take a side when it's always a choice between two apparent evils. At the same time, I try to be careful to build bridges of common understanding, even with those with whom I generally (and vigorously) disagree. I just want to make sure that it is bridge building, not pretending like the chasm doesn't exist. There's so much more to say. We should probably have a meal together if the Lord makes our paths cross :)
I'd like that Joseph. As much as I appreciate substack, you never know a brother until you break bread together. If you ever find yourself in Georgia I'd like to buy you lunch. You are in Iowa? I've never found myself out that way.
I am in Iowa :) You're invited to come any time to the greatest state in the union!
Glad to see Resurrection Assembly being the Body. Love it when we get those glimpses of Heaven on earth.
Our bronsonhood contributed to it in its own way