High school taught me that people love to follow their impulses, even when they’re enslaving and/or self-destructive. Since that time, I’ve graduated to a better way of living.
Christ’s witnesses are led by His inner promptings, not by their own desires and impulses. We can only witness to what we’ve experienced. Christ’s witnesses cultivate the inner fire of His Spirit. They don’t quench it.
People who obey Christ’ inner promptings begin to live like He’s alive. They begin to do what He says and to love (even their enemies) like He loves.
To be a witness do what Christ’s inner promptings ask, not what bossy impulses demand. It’s easy to obey enticing impulses but it takes great courage to obey Christ’s inner promptings. Impulses are intrusive and pushy compulsions. Christ’s promptings are gentle and polite inner nudgings.
A culture caught up in confusion calls deception perception and lies truth. It needs Christ’s witnesses to speak the truth in love and to demonstrate His presence by their behaviors. Impulses imprison people in compulsive behaviors. Christ’s promptings set them free to follow Him and witness to His reality.
The body of Christ without Christ’s direct, personal and ongoing leadership and Headship quickly slips into human hierarchy and religious tradition. Christ’s witnesses call people beyond routine religion and into obedience to the inner promptings of the living Jesus.
I believe that Jesus never intended for His body of believers to become thousands of independent institutions. Because Christ lives in His followers, He can personally and directly lead and prompt them. There’s no need for religious organizations to corral and control His disciples. Christians need to gather as a heart-felt, interactive, Spirit-led community that obeys Christ’s promptings, not as a religious organization.
Impulsive behavior is an enslaver, not a savior. Jesus is the Savior! Impulsive thoughts and actions often lead to repulsive consequences. Resist your impulses. Obey Christ’s promptings. If you’re a Christ-follower, you’re a member of the body of Christ. Jesus never told His followers to join a religious organization.
When intrusive
Or impulsive
Or compulsive
Thoughts arrive
Be expulsive.
Kick them out
Of your mind!
When you call deception
Your truth
You lose your perception
Of the truth.
Free Gas For Your Think Tank (A blog to jog your mind and unclog your heart . . .) 