What I Affirm Far More Easily than WE BELIEVE

The document below is not original with me.  I did not write it.  I haven't altered it.  I read it for the first time several years ago and, at the time, my thought was, "I agree with this."

However, when I saw the--to me--infuriating announcement of the CGGC's 2013 Gathering--bringing back the old days in which leadership defined leading by developing denominational programs to be consumed by local churches and their people, (this one being TRANSFORMATIONAL CHURCH)--I reread the document.

I was surprised by my response.  I didn't think, "I agree with this."  I realized, I AM this--lock, stock and barrel!

I also had an "A ha!" moment.  

I realized that one difference between Ed Rosenberry and me is that Ed is not this.  Neither, can the people who planned and will lead the Gathering next week be this.  Those people are what the document calls, 'join a church' people and I am not.  Not any longer.  Those people are people, ultimately, of tweaked Medieval Roman Catholic tradition.  

(Interestingly, the very highly respected person who composed this document describes the people who aren't, themselves, described by the document as being guilty of 'playing  religious games.'  While even I wouldn't go that far on my own, I would probably agree that that is precisely what they do.)

Who are you?  A person of leadership by denominational program, e.g., the Gathering's Transformational Church, or a person of the Revolution Jesus began?  

Is your reality some place in between?

Read below, realizing that Ed and the organizers of the Gathering can't say all of this.  If they could, the CGGC wouldn't be gathering around the idea of TRANSFORMATIONAL CHURCH:

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"I am a Revolutionary in the service of God Almighty. My life is not my own; I exist as a free person but have voluntarily become a slave to God. My role on earth is to live as a Revolutionary, committed to love, holiness, and advancing God's Kingdom. My life is not about me and my natural desires; it is all about knowing, loving, and serving God with all my heart, mind, strength, and soul. Therefore I acknowledge the following:

• I am a sinner; broken by my disobedience but restored by Jesus Christ in order to participate in good works that please God. I am not perfect; but Jesus Christ makes me righteous in God's eyes, and the Holy Spirit leads me toward greater holiness

• God created me for His purposes. My desire as a Revolutionary is to fulfill those ends, and those ends alone. When I get out of bed each day, I do so for one purpose: to love, obey and serve God and His people.

• Every breath I take is a declaration of war against Satan and a commitment to opposing him. 

• God does not need me to fight His fight, but He invites me to allow Him to fight through me. It is my privilege to serve Him in that manner. I anticipate and will gladly endure various hardships as I serve God; for this is the price of participation in winning the spiritual war.

• I do not need to save the world, but I can allow God to use me to transform some part of it. 

• My commitment to the Revolution of faith is sealed by my complete surrender to God's ways and His will. I will gratefully do what He asks of me simply because He loves me enough to ask. I gain my security, success, and significance through my surrender to Him.

• I am not called to join a church. I am called to be the Church. 

• Worship is not an event I attend or a process I observe; it is the lifestyle I lead.

• I do not give away 10 percent of my resources. I surrender 100 percent.

• God has given me natural abilities and supernatural abilities, all intended to advance His kingdom. I will deploy those abilities for that purpose.

• The proof of my status as a Revolutionary is the love I show to God and people.

• There is strength in relationships; I am bound at a heart and soul level to other Revolutionaries, and I will bless believers whenever I have the chance.

• To achieve victory in the spiritual war in which we are immersed, there is nothing I must accomplish; I simply follow Christ with everything I have.

• There is no greater calling than to know and serve God.

• The world is desperately seeking meaning and purpose. I will respond to that need with the Good News and meaningful service.

• Absolute moral and spiritual truth exists, is knowable, and is intended for my life; it is accessible thru the Bible. 

• I want nothing more than to hear God say to me, "Well done, My good and faithful servant."