Paul's Passing Thoughts

By all indications, if you search for the information, “house churches” are growing in number. In fact, words like “exploding” are being used to describe the rate of growth. Church leadership remains coy in responding to the movement because the movement doesn’t represent a significant threat to the institutional church. Addressing a belief or a movement only empowers it and gives it credibility as an argument having enough validity to be addressed.

Besides, most house churches are just that; church, along with the same orthodoxy,  in a house. Most mega-churches hold mid-week “services” in the private homes of members anyway. Furthermore, many of these house churches are looking to “grow” into having their own purpose builds as well. Unfortunately, this probably makes up the bulk of the movement and poses no threat whatsoever to the institutional church. Hence, the issue is barely on the radar screen.

Then you have home fellowships that focus on practical method, or a model that’s not a “business model.” And, the doctrine being implemented within that model is anyone’s guess. In the vast majority of cases leftover from everyday church in a house, it’s mysticism.

How are we different? Our method of meeting together flows from doctrine. Meeting in a home is a statement about our gospel. We function as a body, and our membership is fellowship.

We meet in homes because families meet in homes, and we are a “household of faith.” This is a statement in regard to the new birth which justifies us. We function as a body with Christ as the head. We are guided by the “mind of Christ” and our unity is determined by agreement on that one mind. Agreement comes through persuasion, not authority.

Members make up the body, and the members are defined by gifts granted by the Spirit in the new birth. To the degree that each member functions according to gifts, the body is healthy. The like-minded members who fellowship with the body are the members by virtue of their participation, not some legal contract. Like the human body, we function according to a cooperative effort towards the same goal, and again, not authority.

We don’t meet in homes because it’s an anti-business model or the best model for other practical reasons which are, in fact, many, we meet in homes because of the doctrine of new birth justification. We also meet in homes because all of life is worship, not just when we assemble together. We don’t “Enter to Worship, and Leave to Serve” as posted above many “sanctuary” doors, we enter to serve each other so we can better worship when we leave.

paul

via Satire: New Calvinists Start 12-Step Program for Righteous Christians

Newsflash: nurse aides can be abused. Newsflash: nurse aides are abused often. Newsflash: in every case where nurse aides still bother to submit a statement reporting the abuse whether from a resident or run of the mill workplace harassment, the nurse aide (the victim) is blamed. Trust me, a #Me Too for nurse aides would be mocked hysterically out of hand. Being groped and verbally abused is practically part of the job description.

Why is victim blaming so prevalent in business and church alike? As a nurse aide who has addressed overt workplace harassment, and in both cases was blamed in the face of cut and dry circumstances, I couldn’t help but to see the parallel in regard to incessant victim blaming that takes place in church. Methods employed by the victim blamers vary, but it is still victim blaming. Let’s first look at the different methods, then the cause.

My last experience was a classic. I went to the DON and reported workplace harassment. Her first step in dodging the ball was to suggest it was an isolated incident. When I informed her that it was ongoing, she asked me if I submitted statements. Full stop: as she well knows, aides who work in large nursing facilities rarely submit statements because they know it’s a waste of time. She undoubtedly figured this to be her out. If there was no prior written statements, she could label the present issue as an isolated incident where a few people were merely having a bad day, and gee whiz, we all have bad days from time to time.

When she didn’t have that escape at her disposal, she changed the subject to another issue that I had brought up, insinuated that I lied about that issue, and gee whiz, since I lied about that issue, and I am therefore a person of questionable integrity, it is at least possible that I incited the harassment. She couldn’t say that I lied about the harassment because a nurse witnessed it.  On the other wise, I complained that there was only two working Hoyer lifts in the whole facility (four units with eight halls), but that couldn’t be true because one day she saw two Hoyers on one hall. And since both Hoyers were seen on one hall, it only stands to reason there must be more than two. Alrighty then.

At any rate, for those of us who have spent a lot of our lives in church and have read discernment blogs, does any of this sound familiar? Of course, as I have written before, the basis for victim blaming in the church is carte blanche forgiveness according to church orthodoxy grounded in Luther’s historical-redemptive hermeneutics. We are all sinners saved by grace, so who are we to judge? And, there are no lesser and greater sins. And, you were raped? Well, that’s a shame, but you got less than you deserve, viz, eternity in hell. And, if you don’t forgive the way you were forgiven, you are not saved. So, ya, we can call the police, but is hell worth it? And, could God have prevented this if He wanted to? Well then, since He didn’t, it must be His will…blah, blah, blah.

But, the reason for victim blaming in any venue that involves money is the same: victims disrupt business as usual. In business, defending victims does nothing for the bottom line or paying the bills. In fact, dealing with victims in any business situation is going to cost money in one way or another, or several others.

Victim blaming in church happens in the same way it happens in business because church is a business, and dealing with victims disrupts business as usual. Why does the abuse happen in the first place? In any situation where hierarchy is present and subsequent power over others, the propensity for abuse to fulfill the evil desires of those with authority is always feasible.

In this way, as the Bible states, money can be the root of many evils. Pastors are warned not to be in the ministry for “filthy lucre.” And trust me, messy victim situations can mess with the pastor’s income big time.

Another angle on hierarchy follows: as a former elder I can tell you that any discussion of paying a pastor modest wages is sacrilegious. That is, unless it’s a bi-vocational pastor or lay-pastor. As a longtime elder, I can tell you unequivocally that the church mindset towards the pastorate is a pure business model and corporate mentality. On the other hand, what educated teachers are paid in Christian schools is disgraceful. Those who desire retirement packages etc. are considered lacking in regard to being “ministry minded.”

Bottom line: business is business whether it’s church or otherwise, and victims disrupt business as usual. In contrast, using others as an object to fulfill personal lust because you have control over their income or salvation can be seen as a perk for being important.

In all of this, victims remain in bondage. Why? Because justice places the blame where it belongs. Those under condemnation (the unsaved and those taught with bad theology) have a tendency to feel guilty to begin with. So, it’s easy to blame the victims because the tendency is to blame themselves. Furthermore, in carte blanche forgiveness which is different than repentance, relationships are still broken because carte blanche forgiveness doesn’t rebuild trust needed for valid relationships. The only thing served is business as usual while the victim remains unhealed.

Susan and I have seen this a hundred times; when we tell victims that they are not obligated to forgive their abusers until the abuser repents, you can see the tremendous burden being lifted off their shoulders. In every case, ironically, the victims are trying to forgive everyone but themselves because justice has not declared a truly guilty party.

To deprive a victim of justice because of moral equivalency is just plain evil, and leaves them in bondage to guilt and shame because those in authority don’t want to interrupt business as usual.

paul

I am no longer a NFL fan, but I am a Tom Brady fan. This is why I watched the Super Bowl. As far as I am concerned, I would like to see Brady get 10 rings. For me, football is all about how many rings Brady will end up with before he retires. Why is this? As one who will go down in NFL history as one of the greatest quarterbacks ever, if not thee greatest ever, at least statistically, he was given no respect by the so-called football experts. Initially, even Bill Belichick was less than enthused about Brady who was drafted from the bottom of the pickle barrel.

Once again, as in every venue of life, the experts are proven wrong. Again, we are reminded, because somehow Trump’s election didn’t eternally discredit expertism, that elitism is a collectivist mentality.

Let’s pause to ponder on the best working definition of collectivism. It begins with the idea that man cannot know reality or understand the material world he lives in. In this reality where reality cannot be known; where what you think is reality, really isn’t, a hierarchy of knowers are necessary. And what do they know? They know that man cannot know. That makes them the experts.

Hence, they are experts on how to best organize civilization for the best life now, and experts on how to save humanity from itself. Keep in mind, they do no proport to know reality either; they are experts on the unknown, and how to save the unknowers from themselves. In some cases, it is necessary to execute those who insist on thinking they can know stuff to protect others from the same deception. According to collectivism, the cardinal sin is to think you can know, and to think you have any other purpose in life other than contributing to the collective group. And, experts determine how the collective whole is best organized for the survival of mankind.

This philosophy, which is mostly Socratic, is at the heart of liberal politics and ALL religion. We often find ourselves screaming at the TV: “Do liberal politicians think we are stupid?” Well, not exactly, they simply think we don’t understand reality, and that the individual is expendable for the “collective good.” These principles explain everything you see in politics and religion that dumbfound us. And this, and this alone, is behind the hatred of Donald Trump because he believes individuals can know stuff and actually have the audacity to know what’s best for themselves which is supposedly the epitome of arrogance.

Brady didn’t believe what the experts said about him. He insisted that he knew himself better than the experts. And this is also key: listen to his interviews carefully; he is accomplishing what he is accomplishing for his own self-fulfillment because he knows the love and support of the football world is only predicated on his present performance. If your view of self is based on the collective view of others, you need to change the way you think, or just resign yourself to a life of misery.

Secondly, Brady is dedicated and focused. His eyes are on the goal, and he is apt at identifying distractions. Brady might just be the paramount example of a focused person. For those of us here for God’s kingdom and His purposes, Brady should be a model in regard to his laser sharp focus.

But Brady isn’t the only one who stood for self that played in this game. Nick Foles, the Eagles’ quarterback, has had a career defined by being second fiddle, and a necessary evil when the real big dogs couldn’t play. He always knew better. However, recently discouraged and contemplating retirement, he went on a camping trip to carefully contemplate his decision. He decided to stick it out for another season. He was named the MVP for Super Bowl 52, and the key to his play is evident; astounding self confidence based on fact, not the opinion of others. No one knows the truth about you better than you and God. And if there is something you don’t like about yourself because YOU don’t like it; change it.

Then there is the Eagles’ running back LeGarrette Blount. He was a major contributor to the win last night, and also a major contributor to last year’s Superbowl…when he played for the Patriots. Yep, he has two rings in two years with both winning teams. How did that happen? Well, the Patriots tried to cut his salary after the Super Bowl last year and he pretty much told them to shove it and went to play for the Eagles. Oh, and by the way, Blount has always been an undrafted free agent. And by the way, after last year’s Super Bowl, the Patriots were considered a shoe-in to return this year. Obviously, Blount made a decision based on principle and self dignity…which payed off. BUT, principled decisions that maintain self dignity are not about the booty that happens to result from any decision. Defending self dignity has cost and reward both.

The antitheses is the #ME Too movement which protests the exploitation of actors and actresses because they “had to” avail themselves to sex with predator Hollywood producers in order to “make a living” or “become successful.” See the problem here? Success in the eyes of others is more important than one’s self dignity. As I happened to hear this morning, one Hollywood snowflake had to submit to a predator Hollywood producer for the sake of a “project that she believed in.” Oh, I see. Question: why are successful people in Hollywood so miserable? They are enslaved to what others think of them as opposed to what they know about themselves.

Martin Luther’s philosophy of total depravity/total inability was nothing new in religious or secular venues and never will be. And, if you can do no good, you certainly cannot know anything worth knowing. Luther’s foundational documents that formed church orthodoxy simply stated that the only thing man can know is that humanity is totally depraved and God decided to save some of us based on no criteria whatsoever. Hence, knowing this has no benefit whatever except to glorify God. For all practical purposes, reality is for the sole purpose of glorifying God through salvation and damnation; ALL happiness is delight in God’s glory because the SOLE purpose of reality is God’s glory.

The folly of this was revealed in a conversation I had at a restaurant yesterday with some guy Susan used to go to church with. After sharing his ministry endeavors with us, I made it a point to boast about the rich reward he would be receiving from Jesus. The response was what I expected: he started preaching, with visible terror in his eyes, that Jesus gets all of the glory. I then said, “So, let me get this straight, when Jesus says, ‘well done faithful servant,’ he really won’t be talking to you?” To which he replied, almost in a panic at this point, “Oh yes, he will be talking to me, but…[you know what’s coming] I will be throwing all of my crowns at Jesus’ feet!” Sigh. At this point, I continued, “Wow, so, you are going to get a lot of credit for throwing your crowns at Jesus because that is a commendable act of good, no? Jesus gets all of the glory, but giving him all of the glory is a good work, no? In fact, you are going to be working hard up there with all of the crown throwing you will be doing, just think of how pleased Jesus will be with you!”

At this point, his salvation in clear jeopardy, he quickly departed. This is why the whole concept of church is dying; it is rationally unacceptable to the conscience and common sense. But in our duty before God to supply a plenary alternative, these three examples of dedication and truthful self-esteem are instructive.

paul

You can call it self love or self respect or whatever, but humanity is wired by God to love life. And that necessarily includes yourself if you are living. It’s a fairly simplistic equation. Self loathing is the warning light on the dashboard indicating that something is wrong. The Bible instructs us on how to have self respect.

In fact, people love life to the point that they will hang on to whatever is left of it which in some cases isn’t much. I see that every day in my profession. The nurse aide has a unique opportunity to add something to these lives. Our primary function is aiding in ADLs (activities of daily living) and protecting the dignity of the person. By state and federal law, we are advocates for the disabled. “Seek first the kingdom of God and these things will be added to you” is not just a Christian principle, but I also believe it applies to the secular as well. In most, if not all cases, where nursing facilities struggle financially, quality care is a pretense and that’s why they are in the red.

Know this: if you understand the centrality of self dignity and its major objective for your life, you will make many enemies, and will need few friends. Don’t misunderstand, friends are VERY important if they are real friends and the more you have, the better. But also understand this: tyranny is a major force in the world because of sin. The world is dominated by control-lust, and this is the break point; people who have earned respect for themselves are very difficult to control.

If you can’t be controlled, you will get under the skin of many, and will need fewer friends because you like being with yourself. If God and you are your best friends, you do well.

Let’s pause to consider some Scripture. “For ‘Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.'” Any questions? Loving life and having good days is obviously a worthy desire, and that must include yourself if you are living. Then we have this: “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church.”

Self loathing, or dissatisfaction with self is part and parcel with lack of confidence, fear, and a subsequent willingness to be enslaved and manipulated. Self disrespect makes you easy to control. When the able-bodied help those who are not, build self value, this is a paramount act of love. Part of self love is seeing the value you have for others, and according to the Bible, all living people have value and something to contribute to others. But also, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

If you are thankful for what you have been given, you will make the most of it to respect yourself and love others. If you know you have much to offer, you will offer it.

So, let’s consider the church story line. Our natural bent is to love ourselves which, according to church orthodoxy, is errant because we are all totally depraved and all of our works are filthy rags before the Lord. Our tendency is to deny our sin and hide in darkness, blah, blah, blah. What’s that all about? Answer: church is simply part of the overall Control Lust Kingdom. Fact is, because humanity is under the condemnation of the law, our tendency is to feel guilty, lack confidence, and seek answers from so-called experts. Social caste systems and cultural expertism are made possible by a humanity that is primarily under condemnation.

The New Birth throws a monkey wrench into all of that big time. That’s why religion denies the New Birth; all impetus for control is eradicated if the New Birth is true. This, and this alone, is why contemporary evangelicals constantly pound the drum of total depravity.

This dynamic is so apparent in my profession that I am compelled to use it as an example. I am continually striving to be a better and better aide to gain self respect, self confidence, and value in the eyes of others; and of course, to please my Father who wants to find His children happy and useful for His purposes.  This makes me a threat to other aides who are full of fear and condemnation. If I raise the care bar, and they lack confidence that they can meet that standard, or don’t want to, they will immediately seek to tear down my self confidence for purposes of control. This will manifest itself in petty criticism, intimidation, and false accusations.

By the way, you can apply this dynamic to just about every sphere of human existence, especially politics and marriage, but let me pause to emphasize the fact that true self respect is earned through legitimate self improvement. This isn’t rocket science; we feel better about ourselves if we lose weight and have more energy to help others and accomplish more, no?  The determiner isn’t a figment of what we want to believe, but the weight scales. Self esteem is earned and based on a truthful evaluation.

Now, on the other side of the coin, let’s talk about the working conditions for aides in most nursing facilities. Often, aides are expected to do the impossible which is ok for a season. Why? Because persevering in the challenge will make you a better aide. And also, you may be stepping up to help a good facility in a temporary bind. But once you have persevered and obtained the benefits of the challenge, and it becomes clear that the bind is not temporary, why do many aides stay in those circumstances which frankly puts their careers at risk on many levels?

They stay because of fear, and lack of confidence. Most aides live paycheck to paycheck and are about two or three paychecks away from being homeless. Facility managers know this, and managing through fear is easier than the hard work of quality leadership. It took me a while to figure this out while watching the total indifference of managers towards very good aides leaving in droves. They want aids they can control and who are willing to compromise. Confident aides who care raise the bar and a subsequent required, increased effort by management.

Let me put some more feet on this. I overheard, in my opinion, an excellent aide complaining to a DON about some issues. After smoothing the aide over, the DON said, “We (management) love you.” Hmmmmm. Do you see the putrid manipulation/intimidation here? You are here because we (management) love you, not because we respect you as a quality aide. Here is another one: “Sally is a really hard worker.” Get it? Sally, bless her heart, isn’t that good of an aide, but at least she works hard. Hence, in both cases, we (management), as benevolent despots and lazy managers who wouldn’t know leadership if you painted it on a board and hit us in the face with it, are only keeping you around because we love you (and deem you an idiot as well because you believe it), and work hard to impress us. Because we pity you and are full of love and compassion, we will keep you around. Gag.

What church discipline letter is not dripping with love for the excommunicated, pathetic little child? In all cases, those who want to rule over you are supposedly the adults that pity you and are overcome with compassion. Again, gag me with a ten-inch spoon.

This is your mission in life before God: to be all God created you to be, but know this; the world is dominated by condemnation and control lust. Therefore, working through the world’s pushback against progressive self dignity will be a daunting task. Nevertheless, this is your only pathway to happiness.

paul