I published a piece two weeks ago called “How Loser Theology is Poisoning the Church,” which originally ran at Clear Truth Media. That piece “did numbers,” as the kids say.
"Thankfully, there is an antidote for the poison of pietism. It’s simple. Trust God, take righteous action, and assert your agency in the power of the Spirit."
Pastor Clary thanks for being a voice in the wilderness.
The error of Martin Luther‘s ninety-nine thesis is the pendulum swinging too far the other way from salvation by works, to faith alone.
AW Tozer said, “what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us”.
When esteeming God, emotions are certainly an integral part of worship, but we should not be carried away with them.
The spiraling downward of our Country is the fruit of pietism in the Church. The crises/troubles that seem to be coming at an ever increasing speed, God is using to awake believers to repent of passivities and start speaking Truth against darkness.
Time is running out.
“… knowing that this is a critical time, it is already the hour for you to awaken from your sleep, of spiritual complacency…”(Rom. 13:11 ceb).
I do not “explain away” any text of scripture. I strive to account for all of scripture in my writing. In John 18:36, Jesus said his kingdom is not of this world. The word “of” means his kingdom does not originate on earth but originated in heaven. I will put the question back to you. Do you believe that Jesus’ kingdom has nothing to do with this world? If not, then what is our duty to this world?
Forgive me for my inflammatory approach in the last comment.
Our duty is to glorify God and to make disciples (teach people to obey Jesus). I don't see any call to political power in the NT until Jesus returns. The kingdom of Jesus is invisible until then.
If you want to see a nation of Christians (and what Christian doesn't?), the "Christians" part must come first. We make disciples, and the heart of the nation is transformed. People are changed from the inside out.
Jonathan, I see the points you are making and can agree with some of them. I think what I see Mike saying is that we all have gifts and instead of not using them like a piteous Christian, we need to look to the Holy Spirit to use them. Too often the Christian looks at power and either shy’s away from it or goes the other way and abuses it. Humility is the key, without it, the Holy Spirit can’t do a good work in us or through us. And then meekness (power under control) is another attribute we need to embrace. So all that to say, discipleship is a lost art in Christian circles, although it’s making a comeback. We tend to focus on making converts. Big difference. We all have gifts and then we all have “tasks laid out before us” some are called to be politicians not for the sake of establishing Jesus’ kingdom, He can do that by Himself, but he does in fact ask us to partner with Him in his pursuit of restoring creation.
Jonathan, you asked the question, "Where in the NT do you see Christians authorized or encouraged to seek political power?"
Again, I put the question back to you. Where in the NT are Christians forbidden from seeking political power? And if we are forbidden from seeking political power, then why should Christians vote?
I think you're reading my piece through a narrow lens of politics. But politics is but one of many ways Christians can and should exercise power given us by the Holy Spirit.
Eph 3:16: " may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being"
1 Cor 2:4: "my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power"
1 Thes 1:4-5: "For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction."
I do not claim that Christians are forbidden from seeking political power. I just don't see how it fits the Church's mission. Can you answer my question?
You are the one who brought up politics in your original essay.
Of course there is power in the gospel and in the Word of God and in the Holy Spirit and in the Name of Jesus. It should be used in the sense of Ephesians 6:10-20, in spiritual warfare.
I don't get what you mean by pietism/pietistic. I understand pietism as being overly concerned with maintaining outward appearances and a standard of behavior at the expense of a real relationship with God (like the Pharisees). You are using it in some other way. How would you define it?
I agree that our duty is to glorify God and to make disciples. Christians typically assume making disciples is always of individuals and never of larger groups. I used to think this myself. However, Matthew 28:18 says "make disciples of all nations," which would include more than making individual converts.
Being salt and light as Jesus commands means speaking and living God's truth in public. That's why its good for Christians to be in power. It's good to have Christians in various industries acting in God honoring ways, is it not? Wouldn't you rather work for a godly CEO than a pagan? Wouldn't you rather have godly teachers in schools than pagan? Wouldn't you rather have a man of God on the presidential ballot than a pagan?
That's all I'm saying. Christians can and should pursue power and should not let pietistic thinking prevent them from doing so.
In Mat 28:19 (not 18), it says "...disciple the nations, baptizing them..." It cannot be talking about the nations as collectives of people, because how do you baptize a nation?
It's probably fine for individual Christians to have positions of power. What is not fine is to try and establish Jesus's political kingdom for Him. In my knowledge of history, Christianized governments always become (or start) corrupt and/or tyrannical and thus tarnish the Name they claim to uphold.
You have a narrow and strange definition of pietism. I can't figure out what exactly you mean by it, except "the thing people I disagree with do."
Where in the NT do you see Christians authorized or encouraged to seek political power?
"Thankfully, there is an antidote for the poison of pietism. It’s simple. Trust God, take righteous action, and assert your agency in the power of the Spirit."
Amen!
Another excellent article!
Pastor Clary thanks for being a voice in the wilderness.
The error of Martin Luther‘s ninety-nine thesis is the pendulum swinging too far the other way from salvation by works, to faith alone.
AW Tozer said, “what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us”.
When esteeming God, emotions are certainly an integral part of worship, but we should not be carried away with them.
The spiraling downward of our Country is the fruit of pietism in the Church. The crises/troubles that seem to be coming at an ever increasing speed, God is using to awake believers to repent of passivities and start speaking Truth against darkness.
Time is running out.
“… knowing that this is a critical time, it is already the hour for you to awaken from your sleep, of spiritual complacency…”(Rom. 13:11 ceb).
How do you explain away John 18:36?
I do not “explain away” any text of scripture. I strive to account for all of scripture in my writing. In John 18:36, Jesus said his kingdom is not of this world. The word “of” means his kingdom does not originate on earth but originated in heaven. I will put the question back to you. Do you believe that Jesus’ kingdom has nothing to do with this world? If not, then what is our duty to this world?
Forgive me for my inflammatory approach in the last comment.
Our duty is to glorify God and to make disciples (teach people to obey Jesus). I don't see any call to political power in the NT until Jesus returns. The kingdom of Jesus is invisible until then.
If you want to see a nation of Christians (and what Christian doesn't?), the "Christians" part must come first. We make disciples, and the heart of the nation is transformed. People are changed from the inside out.
Jonathan, I see the points you are making and can agree with some of them. I think what I see Mike saying is that we all have gifts and instead of not using them like a piteous Christian, we need to look to the Holy Spirit to use them. Too often the Christian looks at power and either shy’s away from it or goes the other way and abuses it. Humility is the key, without it, the Holy Spirit can’t do a good work in us or through us. And then meekness (power under control) is another attribute we need to embrace. So all that to say, discipleship is a lost art in Christian circles, although it’s making a comeback. We tend to focus on making converts. Big difference. We all have gifts and then we all have “tasks laid out before us” some are called to be politicians not for the sake of establishing Jesus’ kingdom, He can do that by Himself, but he does in fact ask us to partner with Him in his pursuit of restoring creation.
Good word, Brian.
Jonathan, you asked the question, "Where in the NT do you see Christians authorized or encouraged to seek political power?"
Again, I put the question back to you. Where in the NT are Christians forbidden from seeking political power? And if we are forbidden from seeking political power, then why should Christians vote?
I think you're reading my piece through a narrow lens of politics. But politics is but one of many ways Christians can and should exercise power given us by the Holy Spirit.
Eph 3:16: " may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being"
1 Cor 2:4: "my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power"
1 Thes 1:4-5: "For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction."
I do not claim that Christians are forbidden from seeking political power. I just don't see how it fits the Church's mission. Can you answer my question?
You are the one who brought up politics in your original essay.
Of course there is power in the gospel and in the Word of God and in the Holy Spirit and in the Name of Jesus. It should be used in the sense of Ephesians 6:10-20, in spiritual warfare.
I don't get what you mean by pietism/pietistic. I understand pietism as being overly concerned with maintaining outward appearances and a standard of behavior at the expense of a real relationship with God (like the Pharisees). You are using it in some other way. How would you define it?
What do you mean that He asks us to partner with Him in His pursuit of restoring creation? Where does He ask us, and how does He say to do it?
Jonathan
I agree that our duty is to glorify God and to make disciples. Christians typically assume making disciples is always of individuals and never of larger groups. I used to think this myself. However, Matthew 28:18 says "make disciples of all nations," which would include more than making individual converts.
Being salt and light as Jesus commands means speaking and living God's truth in public. That's why its good for Christians to be in power. It's good to have Christians in various industries acting in God honoring ways, is it not? Wouldn't you rather work for a godly CEO than a pagan? Wouldn't you rather have godly teachers in schools than pagan? Wouldn't you rather have a man of God on the presidential ballot than a pagan?
That's all I'm saying. Christians can and should pursue power and should not let pietistic thinking prevent them from doing so.
In Mat 28:19 (not 18), it says "...disciple the nations, baptizing them..." It cannot be talking about the nations as collectives of people, because how do you baptize a nation?
It's probably fine for individual Christians to have positions of power. What is not fine is to try and establish Jesus's political kingdom for Him. In my knowledge of history, Christianized governments always become (or start) corrupt and/or tyrannical and thus tarnish the Name they claim to uphold.
You have a narrow and strange definition of pietism. I can't figure out what exactly you mean by it, except "the thing people I disagree with do."
Where in the NT do you see Christians authorized or encouraged to seek political power?