RECALCITRANCE

I Was Just Thinking About – RECALCITRANCE.

There are several words that could be used to describe our culture and political climate. Some of the terms commonly used are polarization and partisanship. There is the persistent designation of terms such as left versus right; liberal versus conservative; socialism versus capitalism. Strangely, the Church that is supposed to be light and salt in the culture and world has allowed the culture and world to become a growing influence within the Church. An older term that was often used to describe such a shift was worldliness – the earthly, mundane and pleasure-seeking versus spirituality – dedicated to God, spiritual things and true religion.

Paul wrote about these contrasting lifestyles in Second Corinthians 6:14-7:1. He asked a series of reasonable and obvious questions: “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols?

It is difficult for the Church to examine itself and to make adjustments that would be honoring to the Lord. Why? The presence of recalcitrance within the leadership of particular churches. It is a trait that is characterized as being unmanageable. There are those who are firmly set in a lifestyle choice and behavior. There are those who are recalcitrant and exercise control and influence over and in local churches. Many times it is done by people of wealth and/or achievement. They have become set in their ways and are unyielding to any other point of view except their own. Regardless of guidelines and requirements for church order, they tend to march to their own drummer. They can be generally insensitive and are used to getting their own way. They would fit the definition of being difficult to persuade, control, or being compliant with rules and regulations by which others are expected to be governed.

How does that apply to the average professing Christian and Church today? Jesus Christ instructed His disciples regarding the role and ministry of the Holy Spirit in one’s life where He would convict and convince regarding God’s truth in Jesus Christ (John 16:13-15). The job description of the Holy Spirit was: (1) He will guide you into all truth; (2) He will speak what He hears; (3) He will declare what He hears; (4) He will declare to you what is to come; and (5) He will glorify me. When Paul wrote about the Holy Spirit, he emphasize the guardedness that should be present in one’s life so that adherence to Ephesians 4:30, “Grieve not the Spirit…” and First Thessalonians 5:19, “Quench not (do not extinguish) the Spirit” would be believed and practiced.

In the extreme, there are time and places when God has given up on people groups who have become set in lifestyles and behaviors that are contrary to His standards: (1) prior to the flood in Noah’s day (Genesis 6); (2) Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19); and (3) those who refused to glorify God and His values (Romans 1:18-32).

One would do well to read Revelation 2 and 3, and the words of the Head of the Church – Jesus Christ - when He addresses the seven churches. The paradigm that is relevant in all ages to all churches and all people is: Remember, Repent (change) Return and Recover. No one is excused from this formulation stated by Jesus Christ. Refusal to comply results in Removal. The seven stars (Revelation 1:20) are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamp-stands are the seven churches. Jesus states over and over again, “if you do not repent, I will come and remove your lamp-stand from its place” (Revelation 2:5). Jesus is serious. Are you?

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.