Women in Christ’s Mission!

International Women’s Day was celebrated around the world on 8th March to acknowledge womanhood and shower them with love and respect for who they are. The Bible with the best explanation of man’s creation portrays man and woman as coheirs and equally responsible towards building of the family, ruling the created universe, and be part of God’s mission. In the Bible, Genesis 1:27-28 states, “So God created man in his own image: he created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”

When God created male and female, He did not mean to glorify men and demean women, as if helper somehow meant lesser. Sarah E. Fisher in her website (refer to the site link given at the end of this blog) explains, “And so God created woman to be an ēzer to man. But this word, translated as helper, is not about making brunch and darning a man’s socks. This word means an ally or rescuer, someone who comes running when the people cry out for help. An ēzer drops everything to save those in need… An ēzer is a hero.”.

Adrien Segal puts this beautifully, “Self-centered, bullying leadership was never God’s plan. Neither was self-centered resentment when called to help.”. The twisted lie that the first man Adam’s call means power and privilege, and Eve’s subjugation, springs out of the pride that human hearts have harbored since the fall. Men too often have been puffed up to lead with domineering power.

God created humans — men and women together — as the pinnacle of all creation, crafting both in His very image. He created them with distinct and complementary attributes, inclinations, and gifts that make them indispensable to one another and to His plan for filling the earth with His glory.

Today, it may look as though women around the world are fighting for identity because they have low self-esteem and suffer from inferiority complex, which is not true. Women all through the ages are victims of oppression and abuse of many kinds, yet they stand tall today for who they are. 8^th March is not the only day where they need to get recognition but every single day. They need to be intentionally respected and loved.

Genesis 2:18 is too often misquoted for the word ‘helper’ used in the passage. But the original Hebrew word used was ēzer kĕnegĕdô which literally means “a strength corresponding to him.” The Biblical Hebrew dictionary lists biblical meanings of ʿēzer as “help, assistance, might, and strength”. Unfortunately, the word ʿēzer here is often translated “helper,” which, in English, implies a subordinate or servant.  The Bible used the word ‘ēzer 21 times in the old-Testament does not suggest ‘helper’ as in ‘servant’, but help, savior, rescuer, protector as in God in helper.

Women are very much part of God’s mission always. Have we forgotten, women at the cross, women at the burial, women at the tomb, women first at the resurrection. Women were the first to proclaim He has risen. Remember the cross, Remember the women! Let us not forget Luke 8 where it says, “Afterward he (Jesus) was travelling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, and also some women . . . Mary, called Magdalene, Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s Steward; Susanna; and many others supporting them from their possessions.” (Luke 8:1-2). Women too went along with Jesus from one place to another for kingdom work.

Talk about Paul’s ministry, In Rom 16:1–16, Paul greets by name ten people whom he identifies as colleagues in Christian ministry. Seven of the ten are women: Phoebe, “deacon of the church of Cenchrea” (16:1) and “leader of many, including myself” (16:2); Junia, “outstanding among the apostles” (16:717); Prisca, “my fellow worker in Christ Jesus” (16:3; . Phil 4:3); and Mary, Tryphaena, Tryphosa, and Persis “worked hard in the Lord” (16:6, 12). Paul who is misquoted for stating hierarchical leadership had most of them women too. It is time for us to use women in a literal meaning ēzer kĕnegĕdô which is “a strength corresponding to him,” and tie strong partnership in Christ’s Mission.  Can we seriously make a conscious alignment to our perspective and treat them as equals in our mission work? 

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 Reference:

Helper: defining the EZER woman – Hebrew Word Lessons

 

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Imposter-knowingly or unknowingly?

The title of this blog intends to address a serious issue in Christendom today. I was tempted to borrow the phrase 'smooth criminal', from the popular song by Michael Jackson, which would be more appropriate for what I am going to expand on this topic, but prefer use the current title.

The word imposter as we all know means "a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others.". But probably all are not out there to deceive and take advantage, but just habitual in living with a different identity to save their face value. In my observation, the Church goers are so ardent in attending Church on Sundays, delivering distinct responsibilities given to them by Church leadership and make a great worship team. However, their identity in Christ seems to be extremely distorted in their personal lives. The so-called good Christians who are ardent Church members sadly fall into one or more traits mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:2-4 which says, "For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God..."

I struggle to comprehend the superficiality displayed by people who call themselves Christians. Where is the gap? Who is failing Christians miserably? Paul's warning in 2 Timothy about the traits mentioned above is not referred to non-Christians. Unfortunately, it very much applicable to us. Two hours of Church service on Sundays is failing to transform our lives, yet the congregation and the leadership come back home satisfied after the entire Sunday exercise. Probably regular Church attendees would claim and be boastful they don't drink alcohol or are addicted to substance abuse, unlike worldly people. If you closely observe them, you could identify them with one or more deplorable traits mentioned in the selected Bible passage in 2 Timothy. The spiritual ethics are good sounding to the ears but they have hardly created any impact. 

Leonard Ravenhill statement is worth pondering, "A man said to me, “Brother Ravenhill, I’m glad I’m saved from hell.” That’s wonderful, but it’s a fringe benefit. Are you saved from Lust? Are you saved from Fear? Are you saved from Doubt? Are you saved from Anger? Are you saved from Envy? Are you saved from Pride?" It is so true that many are struggling with real transformation within, how would you expect them to carry Christ’s Mission? Many programs whether in Church or conducted by Christian institutions intends to engage the believers and keep them intact with them so that they are not out of their sight, but I doubt if they are anywhere closer to Christ.

As we struggle with our basics, our Christ mission takes a beating. In the book of Hebrews, the author states, "Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food.". Hebrews 5:12 (CSB) is a sad expression. Probably it is time Christians must unlearn and relearn Christ, Church, and His Mission. Philip Nation states, "We have a modern church that does not reach the lost because we never discipled the found. May we see a revival of making disciples who make disciples.". The trouble today, is we are holding on to the old revival model of getting people to the local church which is obscuring the contemporary revival. If this old model is the standard, the great awakening happening in our own time is going to be a farfetched dream and we would be breeding imposters.

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Where are the Couriers and the Carriers?

2 Chronicles 30:10-11 “¹⁰The runners went from town to town throughout Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as the territory of Zebulun. But most of the people just laughed at the runners and made fun of them. ¹¹ However, some people from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem.”

This is an incident that talks about the urgent call for repentance. Hezekiah whose name means, ‘whom Jehovah has strengthened,’ was the son of Ahaz (2 Kings 18:1). In Verse 3 this is what is testified about him. “He did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his ancestor David has done.”. The history of this king is contained in 2 kings 18:20, Isaiah 36-39 and 2 Chronicles 29-32. He is spoken of as a great and good king. In public life he followed the example of his great-grandfather Uzziah.  He set himself to abolish idolatry from his kingdom, and among other things which he did for this end, he destroyed the “brazen serpent,” which had been removed to Jerusalem and had become an object of idolatrous worship (Numbers21:9).

After the cleansing of the temple and the renewal of temple worship, it is written that King Hezekiah and the officials and the Levites sang praises unto the Lord and worshipped Him. Then in 2 Chronicles 30 we see the King sent word throughout all Israel and Judah to come to the temple in Jerusalem and observe the Passover of the Lord the God of Israel. (2Chro 30:1-3).  In 2 Chronicles 30:6 NLT it says, “At the king’s command, runners were sent throughout Israel and Judah. They carried letters that said: O people of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he will return to the few of us who have survived the conquest of the Assyrian kings.”. In other version the word ‘couriers’ is mentioned in the place of ‘runners.’. In either sense the urgency of the message is portrayed.

The key verse in 2 Chronicles 30:11 says, “The runners went from town to town throughout Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as the territory of Zebulun. But most of the people just laughed at the runners and made fun of them.”. The urgency of the message even today, is muddled in attendance and celebration, devoid of the Mission Christ pronounced to the Church. The mission, which is the call for repentance, is intended to be taken swiftly because it comes along with the judgement too. The same urgency the runners displayed during the time of King Hezekiah needs to be replicated today, even more because it is Christ’s mandate, which is the Great Commission. But sadly, repeatedly it is lost in the decorum of the Church programs and weekly attendance. Today’s Churches demand peoples’ commitment in so many other forms and in the areas which have nothing to do with His mission at all.

It is said about the runners in the above verse that most of the people just laughed and made fun of them. The Church goers are only expected to attend week after week, without a need to make a commitment to be a courier or carriers of the gospel. All that is expected of them is to form the Sunday crowd, pay their offering and money to the Churches to feel good and important. For most of the believers it is just too difficult to come from the comfort zone. They are made to stay inside, procreate, and fill the Churches. Can we prepare the Church members to be the couriers and carriers of the Gospel?

Let us not forget, you and I are runners, announcing the good news of forgiveness! Some will listen, ponder it, and receive it. And some will laugh at us and mock us. But it’s okay. We aren’t the first to be laughed at, scorned, or jailed for our faith.  Today, people in many nations are suffering in jail for announcing their faith. Many are beaten, hungry and destitute. They would gladly do it again for Jesus! They don’t live for applause of men. It is recorded that some religious rulers mocked Jesus. (Matt 27:41) And some laughed at Paul. (Acts 17:32) So even if people laugh at you, will you be a faithful runner sharing your faith-story?

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Surprises or Shock ahead-Watch out!

 

As Christians our familiarity with the nature of God - His goodness, kindness, gentleness and most importantly the blessings are something we don't want to miss. Our God is a God of surprises. Yes, He does always surprise us. Especially, when we go through a bad phase or rough patches, His divine intervention, and provisions at the point of our need, when we least expect, surprises and overwhelms us.

Jesus constantly assured that all who come to Him are never disappointed. The words of Jesus as recorded in the Bible as, "...all those who come to me I will never cast out." John 6:37. What an assurance?

There is also another side of Jesus, where He warns as through His parables and teachings that He would surprise many by calling a large group as strangers. The large group includes people who claim to be Christians, Pastors, prophets, people with gifts of healing and celebrities of Christendom. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly keep ourselves in check so that we are not disappointed at the end. The end can be devastating for people who have lived their life full of lies. This verse is worth pondering over. "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it like this. But what will you do at the end of it?”, Jeremiah 5:31 CSB.

The parable of ten virgins is the best example through which He warned us. In the parable, the five foolish virgins were remarkably similar to the wise. They were prepared to meet the bridegroom, initially their flames did burn for a period of time, they were impacted by the delay of the bridegroom and both the foolish and the wise were tired and slept - "when the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep." Matthew 25:5 CSB.

The five virgins who are tagged as foolish virgins were so close to meeting the bridegroom yet missed the chance forever. The parable narrates when the bridegroom took away the five wise virgins, He shut the door to the foolish five despite of their pleas to be let in. But the sad part is the bridegroom failed to recognize them. “He replied, ‘Truly I tell you; I don’t know you!’  Matthew 25:12 CSB. They just became strangers to Him. That’s the biggest shock of their lives. What a pity?

The same scenario will happen to the spiritual giants which we see in Matt 7 21-23 where the prominent people who influenced so many will become strangers to our Lord Christ Jesus. Let me quote v 22 'On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ The response becomes the greatest surprise for all. It says, "Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’ Matthew 7:23 CSB. Our Lord would fail to recognize and in addition condemn such people vehemently as lawbreakers. Many are going to be shocked to know after death, that this will be the case if they continue to use Christ for their personal benefit.  We don't live with a Christian brand to make it. Don't take His goodness for granted.

Ponder the following questions in the light of His word: These questions will refine our perspective and give clarity to our life lived here on earth.

• Who are we in Him?
• What have we secured for Him?
• What have we secured for us?
• What are we trying to build?
• Why are we doing what we are doing?

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Be a Crazy Sower!

 

We are all familiar with the “parable of the Sower” (Matthew 13:1-9). I have heard all my life this parable coming in so many different forms and ways. The specialty of this parable is to know that Jesus took time to explain the whole parable second time to the disciples. This came in allegorical form as well us in a lay man language.  The highlight of this parable is to know that though the seeds were sown, yet all did not yield growth due to various interceptor and infiltration.

There are so many factors that probably draw the attention of the reader. Factors like where the seed fell, the factors that choked the growth, description of variable outcome and even more. But here I wish to direct all your attention to the Sower. Curtis Mitchell once shared about the Parable of the Sower emphasized on this, which said, “Don’t be a soil inspector, be a crazy Sower.” The highlight of the parable is not the spiritualization of the parable itself but the focus on the Sower, the crazy Sower who went about sowing irrespective of the ground realities. The Sower was least bothered about the quality of the field level. He sowed in almost all places.

Are you a crazy Sower? Or, are your other priorities have robbed you from the prime Job that you are called for, i.e., Sowing? Today, many instead of Sowing are busy only praying for the soul and getting involved in all the spiritual activities without actually going out to Sow. If you notice the life of Jesus you will notice He did spend lots of time in prayer which included praying all night in preparation to go out during the day to for all the activities that would primarily focus on preaching the good news in a Holistic approach (Luke 3:21-22; Mark 1:35-36; Luke 5:16; Luke 6:12-13; Matt:11:25-26; John 6:1; Matt 14:23; Mark 7:31-37; Matt 7:31-37; Matt 15:36; Luke 9:18). He did not pray all night and then go to sleep during the day. Today many who say they are busy praying so much day and night miss the most important part, Sowing. Even if the sowing had to happen it happened within the four walls of the Church building, but rarely among the larger community, the Non-Christians.

Jesus’ prayer in John 17 is a remarkable one.  In 17:9, the prayer says, “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they are yours,” is a confidence for all of us. But it does not end there. In Verse 18  Jesus acknowledges his obedience to the mission that was given to Him and the passing of the mission. “As You sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”.  And Paul exactly followed the same when he said in 1 Corinthians 15:3, “For I passed on to you as most important what I also received…” What is happening in Sowing? The gospel is sowed in all places. In an agricultural field there is a framework, a boundary. You don’t sow outside the boundary because it will contradict the law of agriculture. But while sowing the word, the living word which is the gospel there are no framework. You just have to have one qualification, i.e., to be a crazy Sower. Are you so long overlooking the parable of the Sower to different components mentioned in parable? It is time that we all come together and teach the people, motivate the people, inspire the people, revolutionize the people to be a Crazy Sower. Do not forget this fact which says, every minute 49 people are dying without knowing who Christ is. We are responsible. We have no other job than to sow. Keep sowing, Be a cray Sower. 

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Gatherer or scatterer!

 

“…anyone who does not gather with me scatters.”  Matthew 12:30

Understanding Christendom today is a little more complicated than the first Century Christians. Church denominations, culture, language, race and so many other factors have impacted the Christian perspective and the church today. Each church denomination is like an independent institution with a customised set of thoughts, duties and expectations. People are operating and existing by the culture of the Church more than the expectations and mandate of Christ. And then the “Church worshippers”, I mean the ones who think God is equal to church building has nothing to do with missions. Church obligations and being part of the church activities are in themselves the biggest mission people think they are accomplishing.  Church obligations rob people of the purpose for His mission.

The mission and purpose of Christ Jesus is becoming more and more ambiguous because of personal interpretations and the interpretations of church denominations. Majority of the Christendom are missing the purpose of Jesus coming to this earth. It is muddled up with programs, entertainments, strengthening the fellowship with each other, making a family, making church big, I mean as a building and institutionalizing it. And sadly, the purpose of Christ Jesus is missed and, in most cases, ignored blatantly. Jesus articulated his purpose so clearly which says, “For the son of man has come to seek and to save the lost” Luke 19:10. If you notice, most of the parables support the purpose of Jesus coming to this earth. As individuals and Churches if we are not making it as part of our lifestyle then for sure we would continue to entertain ourselves as Christians but fail to be the disciple of Christ.  Here are few parables that also support Christ Mission and clarifies our mission on this earth,

 

• Sowing the seed and gathering the wheat (Matt 13:29),
• Impacting the flour with the leaven, (Matt 13:33), influencing the majority,
• Large net thrown in the sea to collect every kind of fish (Matt 13:47),
• parable of Lamp (Matt 5:14-16) the need to be the light and draw people,
• The Lost sheep (Matthew 18:10-14) leaving the 99 to find the 1,
• The feast of the Great Banquet (Matt 22:1-14) inviting maximum people for the banquet,
• Ten talents of gold coin (Matt 25:14-30) compared to multiplying souls,
• The Lost coin (Luke 15:8-10) rejoicing over one sinner,
• The prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) Father waiting for his lost son,
• The rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) the pain the rich man had for his lost brothers.

 

Can you honestly tell what percentage of all your spirituality is contributed to reaching out to people who are in darkness? If the above is not part of your daily schedule that makes the purpose for your existence, then what else is? What is our Church teaching? Here a person Hasti Gomes shares her disappointment about her Church experience.

Analyze this statement Jesus makes which is recorded in Matthew 12:30, “Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.”. Be warned, you cannot play neutral here. It does not say that you are either gathering or not gathering, but it says that if you are not gathering then you are scattering. This is powerful and alarming. Jesus was in the business of gathering the people for the kingdom of God. Many are seen today institutionalizing the Church and busy trying to manage it and in most cases, making it an enterprise.  Church today, merely confines to edifying people for a good living. Sadly, never equipped to gather the lost people for the kingdom of God. What is your role today? You can explain and satisfy people with all that you are doing, but then if all that you are doing is not contributing to gathering, then you are scattering and working against Christ and His mission as said in Matthew 12:30. The 10 parables is just a reminder not for a story telling exercise but a call to come back to the core purpose of your existence, i.e. to be a disciple of Christ and seriously carry the gospel to the non-Christian world

 

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Move from A-B-C to C-D-E!

What is going to be your model for defining the impact of your Church in 2023? Is it going to be the usual A,B,C - "Attendance-Building-Cash" parameter that has been satisfying you for so long or do you want to seriously consider rethinking to make a meaningful impact in your Church. Aubrey Sequeira states, “Big numbers simply feed big egos with the notion that we are doing something worthwhile for God. But God’s real work simply cannot be measured by numbers alone.”

We are caught up in the idolatry of impact that says,

If it works let's go with it!
If it’s big, it’s good!
If it’s dynamic, It’s God!

Jesus faced three temptations to make an immediate impact, instead He chose a different route. Today, Christians are deceived to believe that all which is big and grandeur, are from God. And the Christian celebrities / Pastors are using this for their advantage to falsely satisfy the congregation of their duty to God.

Diane Langberg puts it beautifully, “God’s measuring stick does not have the markers of size, numbers, time, influence, or money on it. According to God, the little and insignificant is as important as the big and significant. The issue is not magnitude, but obedience.”. The obedience to the Great Commission is what matters. Sadly all Christians, by and large, ignore this. All that matters today is the ritualistic Sunday visits to Church buildings and leaving with a good feeling. How are we going to break this deception? Are we willing to revolutionize? Or are we too comfortable with the numbers as long as money rolls in? When I am saying "Big", I don’t mean only the parameter of measurement. Let not the small fellowships take this as an excuse for being stagnant. If your Church members are active disciples, they will be disciple makers, making disciples.

Let me emphasize on this, Jesus did not commission to build Churches in every village, town, and city but to make disciples. And somehow, we substitute this by making all attempts to build a structure and holy sanctuary because money and property are involved in it. What an idolism, sadly? We need to seriously break any deception that can destroy the actual purpose of the Church.

Let me explain what I meant moving to C, D, E  Pattern – “Carrier-Decision-Evangelism”

Carrier of the gospel:

Every believer is expected to be the carrier of the gospel. Jesus in His prayer to His father said this, “I had given them the words you gave me…” (John 17:8), it means that Jesus was the carrier of the words given by His father. In verse 18 Jesus says, “As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world”. If you notice Paul reiterates the same in 1 Corinthians 15:3 “For I passed on to you as most important what I also received…”. Today's Churches have conveniently abandoned this and are busy managing the Sunday Church Program. People hardly feel convicted of their responsibility. Can you seriously equip your members to be the carrier of the gospel? We are responsible to send them out with the gospel. Let’s not rob this purpose out of them.

Decision to be a Church:

Help your believers to be a Church. Enough of having people visit your Church and remaining as kindergarten students all their life. The true measurement of their spiritual maturity defines their ability to share gospel to the non-believers. Do you realise their personal Church space remains empty all their life? The writer of Hebrews makes his point when he says this, "Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food.". Hebrews 5:12 CSB. In most cases we have kept our followers depending on us always, all the time. Last year, I met a big leader with many Churches under him. He said that I should not by any chance speak about the early Church model because he thinks every believer will start a house fellowship and collect money which is a loss for the Church. If this is not a scam, then what would you call it?

Evangelism as a lifestyle:

The mark of a true Christian is when they can make evangelism their lifestyle. Some pastors tell me that their calling is not to be an evangelist and it’s not his specialisation. How badly they have misunderstood Christ's Mission? If your members are not capable to make evangelism their lifestyle it just tells the leader/Pastor have failed miserably.

Can we seriously strip off all the superficiality and be willing to live a radical life for Christ? Start becoming a carrier of the Gospel, becoming a Church and making evangelism a lifestyle in this year 2023. 

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