Pasco, WA 2010: Trent Ling could ramble and write for the remainder of his days about his first eighteen years of existence spent in this house. Rest assured, his sharing would offer life. May hearers recognize the point, and join the conversation to advance the fellowship of unfolding and deepening truths.
From Trent Ling:
Our ministry often slips into unnecessary and unwarranted ruts. The latest example of this concerns a chorus of disciples hailing “memories” as something to cherish and build anew. As a stick in the mud, I refuse to join this superficial refrain. Many in our number cheapen what we have by acting as if memories (in this case) are themselves the silver and gold. Some of us lose sight of the ball, the trees, and the forest. Whereas our letter writers are terrific, our commenters often muddy the waters and neutralize the salt lands.
“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” John 6:63.
Disciples of Jesus should be joining Jesus in speaking words that “are life.” Recollections, retrospectives, remembrances, and rewinds are what they are. Memories are what they are. None of them are necessarily “life.” Recalling a bygone time or incident, or making a memorable moment doesn’t necessarily move the spiritual VU meter. And therefore, such shouldn’t necessarily excite or enthuse disciples of Jesus. To matter here, more is required. I am called to deliver life, not photo albums. The standard rises above what many of my fellow disciples would accept as meaningful.
“Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.” Titus 3:14.
Our lives in Christ must provide and produce. Otherwise, how can ours be lives in Christ? Those outside this ministry face severe disadvantages reconciling the call in this letter, but ministry insiders have been taught of the dimensionality required of all disciples of Jesus. An unproductive memory generates no spiritual import. Additionally, a memory devoid of provision should muster no spiritual enthusiasm. Recalling our earlier days should advance the spiritual ball down the field. If such a standard cannot be reached, then we need a new life because that’s what we’re supposed to offer–life. To matter, a memory must dance, sing, portray, compel, pay, deliver, provide and produce. No exceptions.
“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” 1 Corinthians 2:4.
From time immemorial, God has been dealing with us. Our entire lives have run adjacent to God’s great patience and extraordinary efforts on our behalf. As a result, when summoned, our pasts must bring heft and perspective at a minimum. Our histories must weigh-in like Super Heavyweights. They must demonstrate the Spirit’s power, for the Spirit birthed the nutrition in the original occurrence and should be the One resurrecting the tale for Its compelling purposes. “Story Time” may instruct Kindergarteners, but for true disciples of Jesus in the Kingdom of God, the standards and stakes set more highly.
I make much of this because we do many things like what I am now openly opposing. We reduce our God, our Christ, our Bible, and our people. We yearn to substitute supposed ministry ways for the weightier, bottomless instruction available from the Spirit and the Word. Many are satisfied to offer a schedule, but very few offer an orderly account of their expenditure of time according to noble plans. Many are satisfied to offer a budget, but few are relieved of financial pressures by God-given plans that put that common albatross of economic worry out to pasture. Many decrease what the ministry actually teaches by offering superficial minimums sadly accepted by the majority as sufficient.
For me, the accounts provided in published letters on this website always draw, inspire, and instruct. They never violate this letter at all. They remain rich and beyond compare. But, comments on those letters offered by disciples lately tend and trend toward missing the point, reducing the standard, and bypassing the real and available conversation. Let us repent of sloppily and lazily weighing in so weakly. Let us abandon lemming-like use of dull words and notions that serve only to cast us as nearly indistinguishable from the world. As an example, the world will die with nothing but memories. However, our memories provide and produce because we have Life, and not because they are memories.
Let us also not, as a result of this letter, hide shallow lives behind a better vocabulary. Here, all has been exemplified in word, in speech, and in deed.
Come on, disciples. Weigh in like champions!
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