Laodecian Church

Laodecian Church Actualized

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13. The Laodecian Church Actualized

It must be asked, is this the direction that the church desires to go? Is this the glorious hope the church looks forward to? I do not believe it is. It is clear that this type of theology presented leaves out the true power of God working in this world and reduces that power to a natural power found in man’s ability to accomplish what he desires. There is little room for the idea of supernatural intervention in this system. It forgets the fact that man will never be able to reach the goal he has been seeking since the fall, e.g., to be like God. Furthermore, the very idea of levels of faith smacks with conceit and self-exaltation. I can imagine how those that reach a level of faith, say Stage 5, must feel sorry for the poor souls who are “caged” and bound to their petty “tribal gods and beliefs.” No doubt, those at this higher level will try to lobe and minister to those individuals who are living “inauthentically.” (Again, tolerate might be a better descriptive of this type of ministry.) The goal of leadership and those who have been enlightened will be to help guide others to living the authentic life. Ministry and outreach become characterized by “equipping the saints” to usher in the ultimate environment and by teaching the lost of the abundant life of authenticity which awaits them if they will just commit themselves to the possibility.

As stated before, the preaching will use biblical texts to show what this authentic life consists of. For the most part, stories and imperatives will be reinterpreted to show how the economics of affluence and the politics of oppression have lead to inauthentic living. Since the themes of love and justice are some of the primary ones in Scripture, these themes will be exploited to show the difference between authentic and inauthentic living. People will be encouraged to take responsibility for their lives and see the possibility of the future for man.

If the reader is wondering whether he is living authentically or inauthentically, a couple of definitions might be helpful. Inauthentic existence is described in this way:

Since the sense of individuality...often threatens him with loneliness

instead of liberating him, he becomes anxious and so seeks certainty

and security within his world. Although man is an individual and his

existence is his own, he tries to deny rather than to affirm this feature

of his existence. He seeks to escape from loneliness and responsibility

by identifying himself with the world, becoming engrossed in its

concerns and merging himself with the crowd. (Young, p. 136)

Thus, if the reader has instead of carving out his own value system under the ruling principles of love and justice accepted the truths of Scripture, he is probably living inauthetically. The reason, he has identified himself with the world rather than courageously taking charge of his future.

Authentic existence is characterized in this manner:

The main features of authentic existence are...world renunciation...

a return to genuine self-understanding, and a return to God as the

source of life...so he lives authentically when he decides to understand

himself anew as open to the future. (Young, p. 138)

Thus, a person is living authentically if he has determined that he is going to live in such a manner that will actualize a future for all man which is dominated by love and justice. Providing the freeness and opportunity for each person to become all that they want and desire, so long as it does not hinder others from so doing, becomes the goal of ministry. All the barriers which are hindering the person from actualizing, as well as society, are denounced as worldly. A. W. Maslow commenting on the idea of the authentic person describes him this way:

...every serious description of the “authentic person” extant implies that

such a person, by virtue of what he has become, assumes a new relation

to his society, and, indeed, to society in general. He not only transcends

himself in various ways, he also transcends culture. He resists

enculturation. (May, p. 52)

It is unfortunate when the leadership of the church feels this was the goal of Jesus Christ; to help people reach their potential and dismantled the present forms of thinking. Yet this seems to be an increasing understanding of the salvation provided by Jesus. While the above descriptions may seem unimportant, they are the descriptions of what Christian is being defined as. When the above reinterpretations are accepted, salvation, what it means to be born again, will be defined by what it means to be authentic. When this is accomplished the membership will be filled with individuals who have discovered how to live life abundantly and reach their potential. They will be able to accomplish and influence the world in ways that man never thought was possible. The church will be filled with all it needs to accomplish the goals and visions it seeks. The ultimate environment will become not just a possibility but the reality.

Perhaps this is why the church has been adequately referred to as the Laodecian church. Remember that this church was characterized by the attitude that they were “rich, increased in goods, and in need of nothing.” This is the same attitude which is being fostered by the current reinterpretations. It is interesting that the Laodecian church manifested all the appearances of being godly and rich. No doubt they could boast of their fine facilities and the ability to meet their own needs. They equally were able to provide for “wholeness” with their clothing and medical treatments. Unfortunately, this church left Jesus standing on the outside. He was not needed or even part of the fellowship. Yet this seems to be the goal which many in leadership are promoting.

Another interesting fact of the Laodecian church is the name. It has been defined as meaning the “rule of the people.” This, however, is exactly what is occurring in much of the church today. The vision and dream of the future are voted upon by the membership, as if it was not settled from the foundation of the world. The people equally vote in or out the types of truth and doctrine they desire to hear and promote. The democratic church becomes the goal of the people. What is said in Scripture and what has been revealed is used only as it supports the desires of the congregation. Jesus cannot be truly said to be guiding the church. The dreams, visions, passions and desires of the people are guiding the church.

If this characterization seems unfounded, consider the facts. As the Laodecian members felt they were rich, so do many of the organizations today. Millions and millions of dollars are being collected and spent on what is called ministry but which is in reality nothing more than the desire of a certain person or group. It is believed that if enough money can be found, anything can and will be achieved. There is little need for a supernatural intervention into the affairs. When it comes to being increased with goods, there has never been finer facilities than those which are being used by the church. Simply look at the billions of dollars worth of property and buildings that abound in this country. Individuals have spent untold millions of God’s tithes to build dreams and visions which bring glory to nothing but a street corner or block and the people who attend. That there is a need for something will be denied. Afterall, all a person has to do is mobilize the members and those who have bought the dream and he will have what he needs.

The bottom line of all of this talk is that the church can function without Jesus being the active agent and Head. The church sees within the membership the possibility to do all it wants to do. Yet is this not the very theology which is being exposed in this book? Has not the subjective approach to Scripture tended to leave Jesus outside the functioning of the church? Have not Jesus’ commission and His commands become secondary to the achieving of man’s goals and visions? In the efforts to evangelize, have Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit been left out? With all the church’s power to draw people by means of programs, slogans, promotionals, and ministries, has man not forgotten that Jesus said He would draw all men to Him? The church equally treats God’s Word as if it were an open issue on whether to obey what it says. Jesus in not the Lord of the church.

What was Jesus response to this type of church? He says they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. Just as the Laodecian church was wretched, so the church today is useless. It has become so consumed in its own lusts and visions and thoughts that it cannot be a clean instrument that is needed in the harvest. The church is being spent on making the world what man wants it to be. The church today is equally miserable. This is because it does not truly see its true condition before God. While religious activity abounds, the members have their true need of conversion going unmet. The world is full of the lost and the church thinks it is doing ministry. It is like the poor impoverished widow who thinks she has found great worth when she is working for pennies. The church is poor because it does not possess the true riches of eternal value and the supernatural witness. While it may be filled with wealth, the true supernatural salt Jesus intended the church to be is not found. The church in its blindness does not see that the power of God is not resting on its endeavors. While many are contented with reaching their potential, millions are dying and going to hell before their eyes. The church knows little of the power which was demonstrated on Pentecost and in the early years of the church. To say this was only meant for the first century is to suggest that the church is to sustain itself by natural means. Moreover, the church is naked because it has not cleansed itself in the blood of the Lamb. Instead, members have committed themselves to the dream, the vision which they have bought into and now support. Members have been nurtured into a mock form of religious piety. It is as the Scriptures declare, “having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (II Timothy 3:5 KJV). It is interesting that Paul goes on to say that from this type the believer should turn away or have nothing to do with.

I must ask, where is the humbling of God’s people before His Word? While the church may look fine and acceptable to the membership and leadership, how does it measure up to the plumbline of God’s Word? Is the church using all of its great riches to achieve the Great Commission or the Great Growing and Building Program? Does the church reflect the glory of God or does its own activities and ministries bring the glory to the members? It is time for the church to take an honest appraisal of its situation. It needs to see just how far it has moved from the vision and hope which once was characteristic of believers. The ministries need to be done in a manner that is consumed with the one desire to share Jesus. If this is done, there is no doubt that the church will once again be in a position to be used of God in a mighty way. Then the church will no longer be consumed with whether it has been successful or reached its goals. Afterall, in reality these goals are God’s prerogative to distribute as He pleases. The church will simply be interested in being faithful and obedient to all that Jesus has commanded it to do. If this type of faithfulness does not bring the immediate results that it desires, the church should simply be driven to greater prayer and intercession, but never to the devising of its own ways and methods to make things happen. Even less, the church should not be driven to adopt natural and man-made techniques to produce results. This is the only way to keep the church from being consumed by goals of wood, hay and stubble. Submission to Christ’s commands is equally the only way to regain an earnest expectation for the return of Jesus. Afterall, is this not the goal the church is looking toward?

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