Comfort’s Not What It’s Cracked Up to Be

Comfort isn’t as important as it seems. It’s often a trap commonly called a comfort zone. Comfort zones often lead us to look at life from a distorted point of view. They frequently cause us to cozy into a formal institutionalized approach to life.

Institutionalized eyes often have difficulty seeing beyond institutionalized Christianity. They tend to overlook looking directly into the eyes of Christ, (Hebrews 12:2) beholding the Lamb of God, (John 1:29) and seeing things from His perspective. (1 Samuel 16:17) Institutional eyes tend to take a rational approach to faith, relying on what makes sense to them instead of looking at the things that are unseen (2 Corinthians 4:18) and relying on and surrendering to the presence, power, and direct inner revelation of the invisible Jesus. (Colossians 1:27)

Meanwhile Jesus calls for us to deny self, to carry our cross, and to follow and obey Him. (Luke 9:23) Looking beyond institutional eyes to be led by the Spirit by setting your affections on things above and not on things on the earth, (Colossians 3:2) requires radical self-denial, persistent cross bearing, and Jesus-first obedience. (Matthew 6:33)

Begin to look beyond routine institutionalized religion. Open your heart-eyes to look unto Jesus and allow Him to continually be the author and finisher of your faith. (Hebrews 12:2)

Once a church (or a Christian organization) drifts (or turns away) from the direct, open, and personal leading of the Holy Spirit it is almost impossible to get it back on a Spirit-led track. I’ve seen this happen many times and it’s always very sad to me.

Church history is full of such examples. Many denominations, independent churches, and parachurch organizations started out as Spirit-led movements. Eventually they shifted to human leadership, wisdom, and control, and away from God the Holy Spirit. Today they function as human-led religious
organizations instead of freely flowing in obedience to the direct personal leadership of the Spirit. (John 7:37-39)

Frequently gather with other sold-out Christ-followers (Hebrews 10:25) to worship, to seek the Lord together, and to be directly led by the Spirit. Institutionalized Christianity shouldn’t limit your spontaneous expressions of faith and your willingness to obey the inner promptings of God the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:14) Step beyond mere institutionalism and learn to directly contemplate and obey the presence of the risen Jesus day and night. (Google: Beyond Church Ekklesia.)

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