I Repent

If Jesus were here, would he setup a blog for the purpose of preaching the gospel? Probably not. None of us can really know what Jesus would do if he were here in the flesh right now, but that doesn’t stop me from wondering, would he do what I have done here at KindlingTruth?

Would Jesus pastor at a mega church?

Would Jesus pastor at a small-town church?

Would Jesus continually update his social media “ministry” accounts?

Would Jesus have an online ministry?

Probably not.

What Jesus did do is connect with those close to him and preach the gospel to those who are able to hear it.

Of course, when Jesus returns it will not be as it was when he was here the first time. What will Jesus do then after the “abomination of desolation” is revealed? Jesus will establish His kingdom in righteousness. He will overthrow all things that are “proud and lofty.”

He will overthrow all of the vain and abominable things mankind does…what about our “ministries?”

Perhaps each person needs to be persuaded in his or her own mind. I’ve endorsed teachings online, and I don’t repent of that. God has a purpose for all things — even the little good I might have achieved here at KindlingTruth.

However, there has been a theme building up for me that focuses on trusting Jesus and not man. For the past few months I’ve felt lost about what I should be doing, especially since I don’t want to set myself up as someone people should follow. That would be quite the hypocrisy.

I did start a new website, but it was on impulse. I have a deep desire to help people and to “fix” things by using my God-given compassion and understanding of difficulties people face. This is all well and good — but I am coming to see that all things we are given are for the purpose of growing those close to us. Those within our lives will be affected as we ourselves grow close to Jesus and walk more as he did.

I think there is something very wrong with the way we do things including the way we do “church” and other forms of “ministry.” It seems like vanity.

What about the risk of burying my talent?

If I focus on living a Christian life, there is no way my “talent” will be buried. It’s that simple. I don’t have to multiply works — or modern day sacrifices — to God. I have to live a righteous life, and that often means making the kinds of sacrifices Jesus really wants. It means sacrificing the pleasures and riches of this life for the good of others and for the purpose of furthering God’s kingdom.

Don’t we need teachers, prophets, and preachers?

It is true that we are all given different gifts, and these gifts should be used. This includes teaching and the like. If the gifts we have are truly given of God, we will use them. He will cause us to use them. Those around us will be served by the gifts we are given. This does not have to be some big thing. This does not require a church building or an online ministry. I do not believe that the New Covenant has room for big-name prophets, teachers, or pastors. Jesus is the only one that should be renown. Again, the other is vanity.

What if there is no one to help?

Sometimes we feel as if there is no place for a Christian to go these days. I know that feeling, and again, I’m thankful for the teaching of others. I believe God led me to these, and I do not regret promoting them. Maybe there is a place for online work and other small ministries…but there are risks. It takes a certain heart to be able to handle the responsibility in a righteous way…and knowing when to step down because the ministry has gotten too big might be part of that. If we become renown, it might be time to take a step back like John the Baptist did. John the Baptist said that he must decrease so Jesus can increase.

It can be hard for many to walk away, especially after many years or even a lifetime spent in ministry. I’ve only spent a few years, and it is hard to just walk away. Jesus is merciful and He will judge all of our works.

Also, there’s much to be said about forming a connection with Jesus ourselves. Yes, we need to hear the word of God and understand in order to keep His word. Jesus will send someone to us if we need that. He won’t let any of His sheep go without being cared for. Even so, there is nothing written in the scriptures indicating that the Holy Spirit cannot or will not teach us simply by taking the time to seek Jesus ourselves.

What if all the time we spent listening to others was instead spent in prayer with a heart that is listening to God and seeking His will? I know from experience that the Holy Spirit can teach us scriptural truths without us ever having read those scriptures.

Should we study the bible?

I think we should. We have that resource and it’s good to make use of the scriptures because there is a lot to gain. However, Christians did not always have a bible. In the beginning of the faith, many could not even read. The gospel was spread by word of mouth and by living a Christian life — and sometimes I think we get so caught up in the bible that it becomes a source of stumbling. We fight and divide over interpretations, we become legalistic because of something the bible says, and we forget the teachings of Jesus that matter most even though those things are written within the pages we argue over. There is much to learn from the scriptures, but Jesus is not found inside of a book.

When the kingdom of God is established, there will be no need for teaching, prophesying, preaching, or otherwise leading others because Jesus is the King — and Jesus needs to be our King now.

Why even write this message of repentance?

I started this ministry publicly, so I need to repent of it publicly. I thought I was doing the right thing, and in the grand scheme of things this is God’s will. All things are His will in the ultimate sense. The Lord allows us to go through things so that we can learn from our experiences. Life is our teacher that brings us up as sons of God. So, although I do not regret all of the work done here because I know God purposed it and has used it, I do repent in this sense:  I now view most ministries — online and otherwise — as something that greatly falls short of what it means to live a fruitful and impactful Christian life. I also believe these things will be thrown down as vanities that need to be removed so that Jesus alone is exalted.

Maybe I’m wrong, but this is the judgement I am exposing myself to. So, I repent and I intend to live out my days seeking Jesus and living a fruitful life that glorifies God until the Lord returns.

Just to be extra clear, I’m not judging anyone individually for the work they do. I’m also not judging people for going to church or listening to online ministries. I’ve needed these things at times, and we are all God’s servants, so what anyone does is between them and God.