Steve Simms's Blog, page 311

There’s no room for bullying in democracy (or church)

Want to go beyond the bullying and 1-man control that can be common in church?

There’s no room for bullying in democracy or in church!

–Modern democracy depends on decisions developed by deliberation, diplomacy, and consensus; not on the dictatorship of one person or one party. There is no place for 1-person control or bullying in democracy.

–The very concepts of Congress and Parliament were based on the ancient Greek city council, Ekklesia, which was a participative, interactive assembly made up of equals.

–When Jesus spoke of His followers meeting in His name, He called it ekklesia. (Unfortunately, Jesus’ word “ekklesia” was replaced in most English language Bibles with the word “church.”)

Church seems to bore people. The struggle is real! Time to try ekklesia! Check out this handbook for ekklesia: http://amzn.to/2aKaz3v.

Jesus’ekklesia is:

* an atmosphere of love and caring

* a demonstration of the presence and power of Jesus

* a life-enriching support group

* a place to experience genuine community

Experience ekklesia at The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center in Nashville, TN, every Sunday morning @ 10:45, 225 Berry St., 37207.

 

Weakly Reader makes me strong!

When I was in elementary school we were regularly given a publication called “Weekly Reader.” Did you get that when you were in school?

However, as an adult I have learned to depend on another publication — “Weakly Reader.” It is a collection of writings by various authors who openly show and admit their faults, failings, and weaknesses. Why do they do that? Because it’s healing to open up. One of the authors of the “Weakly Reader” says: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed.”

Another writer says: “Where I am weak, I am strong.” That sounds like an oxymoron. But hey, it’s one of the main principles of the “Weakly Reader.” When I feel like I can handle things by myself, I only access my own strength. However, when I feel weak, and realize that I can’t make it by myself; then I humbly access the power of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ.

The “Weakly Reader” continually reveals my weaknesses to me and challenges me to lay them down and instead of trusting in my own strength or resources, to trust in the presence of Jesus working in and through me. That makes all the difference!

Another name for the “Weakly Reader” is the Bible. Weak people read it daily, like their life depends on it. Strong people feel little or no need to daily read the Bible. As for me, I don’t do very well, unless I read at least a little bit every day.

Tattoo parlor for the heart . . .

God’s tattoo parlor — ekklesia . . .

–Ekklesia is the tattoo parlor of the Holy Spirit where the living, resurrected Jesus inks His hope and healing on human hearts.

Ekklesia makes the heart grow fonder of God and of those who gather together to minister to one another. Good things come to those who wait on God and let the Spirit prompt people in ekklesia. There is no time like the presence of Christ working through ordinary people in ekklesia. Ekklesia is next to godliness. Ekklesia speaks louder than words.

God helps those who help one another.

–This is a blessing of ekklesia. When we come together to fulfill the New Testament “one anothers” according to 1 Corinthians 14:26; God’s presence and power fill the room and He helps us all grow stronger in Him!

What is the difference between church and ekklesia? Church is a building where people attend a religious service led by a minister.

–Ekklesia is an environment where people minister to one another as led by the Holy Spirit.

Get the guidebook to ekklesia: Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible–Ekklesia, available in Kindle or paperback.

If you are ever in Nashville come and get your heart tattooed  @ the ekklesia @ The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St., 37207, on Sunday mornings @ 10:45.

Foundation of democracy

Ekklesia was the foundation of democracy. Each of the ancient Greek, democratic city-states had held ekklesia through out the year. This was their government. Each city-state had its own ekklesia and was independent. However the city-states did cooperate militarily and for events such as the Olympics.

Any citizen could attend a meeting of the ekklesia. Everybody present was considered an equal and was allowed to speak out in the assembly. This was democracy in action.

Jesus Christ called His disciples, “My ekklesia.” He said: “On this rock (of spiritual revelation) I will build My ekklesia.” (Unfortunately, in most English language Bibles, the Greek word “ekklesia” is replaced with the English word “church” instead of being accurately translated as either “assembly” or “congregation” or “support group” or “city council.”)

True democracy was not founded on “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” but on “life, liberty, and the pursuit of ekklesia.”  For a New Testament description of how Jesus’ ekklesia met in the New Testament, check out 1 Corinthians 14:26.”

To see how ekklesia is changing how Christians meet in the 21st Century, check out the book: Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible–Ekklesia.

 

Hillary’s “unborn person”

Hillary Clinton said, “The unborn person has no constitutional rights.” That statement threatens the rights of us all. If we can deny the rights of “the unborn person” then what is going to stop us from denying rights to some other type of person who is out of the womb (like America has done in the past)? Liberty and justice needs to be for all persons, not just the born ones!

President Obama recently referred to “unborn persons” as “babies.” He said: “Zika is a threat to Americans, especially babies,” (the “babies” primarily threatened by Zika are the unborn ones). Following Obama’s and Hillary’s logic, abortion takes the life of babies (unborn persons). Isn’t it time that all babies received prenatal care?

To say “All lives matter,”

Is to override

Suicide,

Prenatal infanticide,

All forms of homicide,

And besides;

The heart of the matter

Is that every human heartbeat matters.

How can it be right to rip an unborn person (baby) from the womb and put her/him in the tomb or the trash can?

SOS! — Society Overthrows Sanity!

SOS! — Society Overthrows Sanity (Where has sanity gone?)

–When sanity seems scarce and you need some security, don’t splash in the stream of senselessness, but step into the soundness of sapience, the surety of sympathy, and the support of spirituality.

Singin’ A New Song In Music City

A song is a sequence of many notes — not one solitary note playing over and over again.

–In the New Testament, the body of Christ is not one person speaking over and over again; but many members ministering to one another in sequence (order) as led by the Holy Spirit. (See 1 Corinthians 14:26.)

If a band was like church, the bandleader would always be talking and the “players” would always be sitting and listening to his lecture; and no one would be playing the song. That would stifle the music.

A Spirit-directed gathering of the body of Christ is an amazing thing to see! It’ lets God’s music flow:

–“In the gathered meeting the sense is present that a new life and Power has entered our midst. Again and again this community of life and guidance from the Presence in the midst is made clear by the way the spoken words uttered in the meeting join on to one another and to our inward thoughts . . . as a common life and current sweeps through all.” –Thomas R. Kelly

Patricia King posted this in a recent blog: “Many gatherings (church meetings) will change to become more interactive and relational.”

–We’ve been singing a new (interactive and relational) song in Music City for the past 8 1/2 years at The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center in Nashville, TN. Come see — 225 Berry St., Nashville, 37207 on Sunday morning’s @ 10:45. Also I wrote a book about it, Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible, available at this link.

 

Express yourself or suppress yourself?

Contrary to popular opinion, continual self-expression leads to depression, stress, and duress. For example, contemporary culture has opened the door to almost unlimited self-expression, yet, rather than producing widespread happiness and fulfillment, we have some of the highest depression and suicide rates in history.

If self is the only thing inside of us, then self-expression is our only option. Like Janet Jackson said: “Self-expression is my goal.” Oscar Wilde went even further and said: “The purpose of life is self-expression.” Our society has bought the idea that full-self expression is healthy and that any self-repression is dangerous. Sigmund Freud expressed that concept like this: “Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways.”

However, what if there is something beautiful inside of us that is beyond self? What if we can go beyond the struggles of self and express an inner light that is pure and bright and the source of all that is right? That gives two options instead of one: 1) We can strive to express our self and thus repress the inner light; or 2) We can work to repress our self and thus express the inner light.  To express yourself is to trend toward a torrent of self-obsession and the terrible torment of self-oppression. However, steady self-suppression leads to progress in personal peace and success in satisfaction.

John the Baptist put it this way: “I must decrease, He must increase.” Paul of Tarsus said: “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing,” and “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Jesus said: “Deny yourself, take up your cross (death to your own feelings and desires), and follow Me.”

When we suppress our self (and repress its desires), Jesus said; “Out of your innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.” When we let self flow from within us, we experience unhappiness, dissatisfaction, and even misery; however when we shut down self and allow God’s Spirit to flow from within us we experience joy, peace, and hope.

So what flows out of you?  What do you express? Yourself? Or the living, resurrected Jesus Christ?

 

The beach ball in my heart . . .

The Beach Ball In My Heart

–When life shoves me under

And tries to hold me down,

The beach ball in my heart

Comes bounding back,

Thrusting me to the surface

Like a jack-in-the-box

And keeping me afloat,

Displacing sadness with

Joy, peace, and hope.

This buoyancy that sets me free,

Is the reality of Christ in me!

Let’s go beyond church to the fruit of the Spirit!

Let’s Let’s go beyond church conflict, competition, and control — to the fruit of the Spirit:

* Love * Joy * Peace * Patience

* Kindness * Goodness * Faithfulness

* Gentleness * Spirit-Controlled Self

* http://amzn.to/2ao4vBe