To the right is a Rembrandt depiction of Moses having his arms held up so he can pray for Joshua's victory over Amalek. As you can see, Moses needed help from Aaron and Hur.---Yes! And, Moses got the help he needed. Well recognized by all was the need to pray for victory.
Ironically, the value of prayer is not so clear these days among some in the body of Christ. Why?
Dear Saints,
To begin, the opinion written here today is mine alone, and not necessarily the opinion of any of my fellow colleagues, friends, family, or any organization.
I invite you into my musings.
Consider the following imaginary scenario.
On the streets of ancient Jerusalem, a couple of Christ's disciples gain reknown because everyone begins to recognize the fact that healing miracles of God take place when these disciples are present. So well-known are these disciples, in fact, that ruling government officials-both the Governor and the King decide to approach these disciples with a financial proposition.
These government officials say, "We see you disciples are good at what you do. As you can see, there are a lot of needs to be met. We wish to assist you in your 'faith-based' initiative. All you have to do is accept the money with just a few incidental stipulations. And, of course you will continue to receive support as long as you follow the regulations. And, oh and by the way, you must promise not to talk about certain things, nor participate in concerns of governance."
Folks, given the above scenario: What do you think Jesus would say to those disciples? What would Jesus say if His Peter told Him that there was no need to get money from the fish anymore?
---"There is no need to rely on the presence of a little boy's lunch of bread and small fish."
---"That feeding of five thousand situation is no longer a problem."
---"And, guess what? Folks don't have to sit down in groups, nor do we have to wait for you, Jesus, to stretch limited resources."
Why?
---"Well, Because we are now a 501.c3."
Sounds ludicrous, doesn't it?
Well, this is where we are, folks.
Such is a non-"prophetic" malaise.
Coining a phrase, I am defining a non-prophet[ic] malaise as the condition that exists where there has been the replacement of divinely inspired action with that which is spawned by marketability. To my estimation, the non-prophetic malaise results from managerial and/or intellectual opportunism made operative in place of strategic reliance upon God.
Christian organizations that succumb to the above malaise are Non-prophet organizations. They are nonprofits that are susceptible to becoming no more than functional extensions of secular governance, conforming to all of the philosophical tenets that entails.
Yes, I know. Some will say, "You have gone too far now, Olivia."
That's okay. "Too Far" is not unfamiliar territory for me.
I wrote the above parable, on the Eve of the National Day of Prayer.
I wrote after being informed by a friend of mine who works in a large Christian nonprofit organization in the Washington D.C. area that she was instructed not to post any signs or reminders about the prayer events for May 7th. The management of her Christian nonprofit workplace made it clear that she should not even attend the observance during her lunch hour. [You did catch the fact that I said she worked for a well-established Christian organization, didn't you?]
The only possible explanation I could come up with was that someone up top of the organization fears that their 501.c3 status may be compromised. At the cost of being caught praying in public, an investigation may take place that might conceivably disrupt the very important work for God that organization performs.
Folks, such a stance implies that God is not powerful enough to fund "His" work.
The organization will remain nameless, but it could be any nonprofit organization at this point. Gone are the days of George Muller, organizer of English orphanages, who simply prayed for the needs of the orphans in his charge and those needs were repeatedly met miraculously by God.
My question is this.
If God doesn't change. If He is indeed the same, yesterday, today, and forever, then what happened? Where did our reliance upon divinely orchestrated provision go?
As we continue to pray for deliverance from Mammon, let us include a prayer for wisdom concerning the approach to the funding taken by so many worthwhile pursuits.
Let those past decisions about corporate structure NOT impede functionally our allegiance to God nor our shared fellowship with other believers in the faith.
Saints, If we have been snuckered, soon we may reap the consequences of accepting the nonprofit financial entanglements offered in the past by modern albeit possibly well-meaning "Pilates."
Yes. I know there are many good reasons given for Christian nonprofits. Reasons like, "We can now reach more people." "We can offer liveable wages to our staff." "We won't have to rely on so many volunteers." "We can hire more sophisticated help." "We now have a marketing team that can garner contributors by guarantee of tax deductions." "This is a much more reliable, more efficient way to secure needed funds."
It is true that many benefit from the services offered. And, I must say, I too have enjoyed listing those deductions just like you. However, in the current climate it seems to me that we really must reexamine what we are doing. What is to become of us if we allow ourselves to be muzzled for the fear of losing nonprofit revenue do a possible repeal of corporate tax status? How cheaply we will have been paid off. Thirty pieces of silver comes to mind.
Given arguments of administrative effectiveness, I believe this matter requires much prayer for discernment.
We have functionally reduced our dependence on God. We did so be redefining God's provision in terms of nonprofit corporate status. Substitution has taken place. In shifting our gaze to man, we may be missing the mark.
You see, in assuming nonprofit corporate structure, in effect we agree in reality to practice reliance less on God than on man. It also implies that financial support will suffer if people of God do not receive a tax provision. Indeed, I question whether such a structure is biblically sound. And, in an era where for-profit corporations are being held to ever tightening requirements, how long might it be before nonprofit corporations will also have more intrusive handlers.
Saints, it's Berean time. We need to test everything on the basis of Holy Scripture and take every thought and argument captive.
"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete" [2 Corinthians 10:4-6].
You know, many folks are preoccupied with the notion of the coming "anti-Christ" these days. They are looking for a person, some even think they know who that person is. It's true, the "anti Christ" is coming. We know this because the Holy Bible says so. But, I wonder if we really appreciate the full implications of the term "Anti-Christ."
Recently, a Bible teacher suggested that "anti-Christ", meant not only "against" Christ, but "instead of" Christ.
"Instead of Christ!"
Wow!
That gives the notion of "anti-Christ" a different perspective to ponder.
Taking this a step further, if we consider what we rely upon "instead of" Christ, there is some soul searching we must do.
I know what I have just said will not be a popular notion.
Perhaps, I am prompted to voice this because I volunteer rather than receive compensation from a non-profit. Or, maybe it is because I decided to own a business instead of start a non-profit corporation. Or, perhaps it is even because my very small family is also a very close family by the grace of God and we know we will look after each other.
Although all of the above is true of me, I prefer to believe that I am saying this because God really does provide. I know He provides. He provides for us daily. Ours really is a prayer for our daily bread. We pray. God provides--directly and indirectly, He provides.
Older Saints knew God's provision. This is an important point to consider these days especially with the current economy. Perhaps God permits many of our current economic circumstances simply to awaken us from our financially adulterous stupor.
You know, conceivably, it is possible to be a successful non-profit and miss God completely. The need to cry out to God may be significantly diminished under such circumstances rendering the organization artifically proped-up by fleshly effort. A good but not Godly idea can financially thrive. I have seen that scenario. It is possible to even start off in the Spirit with God's idea and then end up relying on its execution in the flesh. God warns us about that very real possibility in the book of Galatians.
I say all these things not to cast stones, but only to invite prayer concerning how we approach all of life including the sorting out of activities that we have simply taken for granted as acceptable for the Body of Christ to embrace. Indeed, some of our well guarded notions really may be more detrimental than beneficial in the long run. Just because something sounds good does not necessarily mean it is of God.
Saints, I think we might prefer to exercise power and authority God grants in the accomplishment of His work in this world, than accept man-made strategies corporately dictated which in the long haul may restrict our ability to communicate the full Gospel of Christ Jesus.
Although "faith-based" organizations can and do do good works, take note. The spiritual posture of the Church has been compromised. [I use the term "compromise" as a military term.] To allow government to hold the the Word of God in captivity as a financial hostage is unacceptable. I suggest that thought be given to this situation. As the political winds shift, it would behoove us to prayerfully pursue a means for weaning organizations from such precarious vulnerability. This would be good for individual contributors also. We would be forced to think of our giving as giving to God without the notion of future tax deduction in the background of our consideration.
Folks, a biblically sound model of faith that works gets practiced by missionaries and pastors who pray and then follow the leading of God. Doors open, because God opens hearts to contribute in tithes and offerings. Christian business owners recognizing God's invisible hand, become "philanthropists," a little known term these days. The word fell out of use with the emergence of nonprofit ideas.
Philanthropy resembles the model of the "Good Samaritan." A person sees a need. Stops and addresses that need by investing his time and money in behalf of the one in need. The philanthropist isn't necessarily rich. But, God has orchestrated events so that the philanthropist has disposable income and exercises generousity. With help provided by the good Samaritan comes the expectation that the person being helped really will recover. He will recover in short order. This will happen with full recognition that work, itself, is a gift from God.
With the exception of extraordinary cases, there would be no need for support the recipient of help year in and year out for that one's personal needs. Why? Because God is the One that gives the power to gain needed provision. Also, with the biblical pattern, families would have greater responsibility for taking care of their relatives.
Folks, human dignity rests on at least two pillars. The first pillar is the recognition that each of us is made in the image of God and thus has value. The second pillar upon which human dignity rests is the exercise God-given talents and gifts. The exercise of such according to biblical principles results in sufficient abundance to sustain oneself and the needs of others. That is why that Bible verse rings true that says, "It is more blessed to give than receive." One that does not or cannot give experiences severe deprivation of dignity.
Saints, I think mind renewal is in order for me. What about you?
Thankfully, God is able to complete the good work He has begun in us!
Re-examination is a hard word. Re-thinking much of what we take for granted as acceptable or otherwise innocuous may be a necessary by-product of revival.
Nevertheless, let's pray for it.
Dear Lord,
Please renew our minds as You draw us closer to Yourself, Jesus.
Forgive us for choosing to do without You.
Forgive us for relying on ourselves or others more than upon You.
Please extend your mercy and grace in our transition back to You.
Grant wisdom as you did in the days of Ezra with the disposition of situations that were not of You.
Loose us from any entanglements that are not Your idea.
Then, Lord, please let what is most important to You, become most important to us.
May we be used by You to address that which is of interest to You.
And, please accept our prayers as sweet incense unto You as we reaffirm that You, Lord God, are Sovereign over the affairs of our lives and the collective life of our nation.
For us in whom Your Spirit resides, manifest your resurrection power. We are Your Body, Christ Jesus!
It is in Your Name We Pray. Amen!
--Livvy McDonald, <><
Proverbs 15:8-10
Tishrei 3 - 5772
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