Cessation and Rebirth

Am I deluded with all this prophet stuff? I dunno. Maybe.

But I have nothing else. If this isn’t going to accomplish anything, it won’t change what I’m doing. What little sanity I can identify in this insane broken world requires I stay the course.

I am not a Cessationist or a Continuationist, because both are wrong. That is, we can observe very realistically a dearth of signs and wonders compared to what seems obvious in the New Testament, or even the Old Testament. We don’t get what they had. It’s not because God has stopped doing them, it’s because no one understands them properly. The whole debate today is a matter of one Western viewpoint against another.

While I wholeheartedly agree a great many people claiming to manifest the charismata are fakes, or are doing something different from what the Bible describes (they are sincere but mistaken), it’s not because God doesn’t move in that way. It’s more the case almost no one understands it the way the Scripture authors did. They only think they understand.

The one thing which drives me hardest is the assurance this stuff can’t die with me. My effort to retrace our steps away from the Scriptural epistemology and into the Western confusion about reality hints at a chance to recover the real deal in terms of miraculous stuff.

For example, I already know from personal experience demons are not what most people think they are, and do not operate as most assume. Cling to God’s Laws from His divine logic and they can’t do much to you. At the same time, you’ll be far less confused about their mission, and realize a lot of unpleasant stuff you experience is not a direct effect of their work. At any rate, in a broad general sense I affirm by the mercies of God and by His Laws, demons hardly trouble me at all.

Further, my prophetic gift is not a charismata. It’s a calling in a continuation of the Old Testament office of prophet. It’s a vocation and vested office in our Christian faith, though that vestment has nothing to do with official organizational recognition. It’s divine in nature.

Paul set the example. In his letters he noted he could not force people to consider him an Apostle. He didn’t get it from any human agency, so he didn’t need to impress folks with any credentials. He seldom referred to his massive education until he was backed into a corner on it. He relied simply on God working through people. If they believed he was an Apostle, then they should work with him accordingly. If not, they should refrain from interfering and go start their own church, or whatever. Anyone fool enough to follow them was welcome to it.

So it is with me and any other person claiming some office and calling from God. It’s okay if you don’t take that seriously. I realize how crazy it sounds. But if you feel drawn to this blog or my Facebook page and keep reading it, do what brings you peace. Or at the least, chase whatever seems to point the way to peace for you.

I’ve got peace. Want some?

God’s Politics

I’m hardly the first to notice the quintessential symbol of godly leadership is the shepherd. Nor am I first to say the predator-hunter is the polar opposite. David was the greatest of shepherd kings, and Nimrod was the worst of predators. Neither was perfect, but God did miracles with David, and against Nimrod.

In the ancient culture God built, the patriarch was His chosen ruler. Argue all you want about how you imagine this is not exactly fair, but your argument is with God. Indeed, a critical element in the sins which brought the Flood was the lack of patriarchal rule. God demanded someone — a head of household — restrain their children and other kin folks by taking the responsibility for executing those who are a threat to social order.

Assumptions by which we imagine any other form of government are ludicrous. The Covenant of Noah is solidly based on patriarchal government, such that no one has any significant authority in your life who isn’t related by blood or covenant. This was also the foundation upon which the Covenant of Moses was based. This is part of why modern Israel would have to disband and start all over again before they could attempt to reclaim the blessings of Moses and Abraham. It is absolutely essential to live in a patriarchal tribal social structure.

Furthermore, this government must of necessity be Eastern feudalism, not European style. It’s about the shepherd and his flock, not the lord owning his land based fiefdom. No ruler should arise who isn’t blood kin of those he rules. Otherwise he remains unaccountable, and nothing man can devise would restore accountability. While it’s true fallen men will deny their obligations, it’s even worse under any other form of government.

And indeed, every other form of human government was dreamed up under pagan assumptions. You can claim it’s objective logic, but that’s a self-delusion which itself arises from pagan cultural assumptions. So long as your logic excludes the Fall and our accountability to God’s revelation, you cannot build anything He’ll bless, and you cannot begin to do righteousness. The moral code written into the very fabric of the cosmos demands Eastern patriarchal government, period.

So says the Lord in His Word.