Could we have been any more blessed this past month? We are still looking back, marvelling at the work of the Holy Spirit in our midst. Deep teaching, wonderful fellowship, and incredible moments of worship filled our hearts and minds. We also were so blessed by the servant hearts of our Reunion community as we gathered together to prepare for our times of ministry. Thank you to everyone who served so tirelessly! Your labor was not in vain – there has been so much fruit from our Holy Week gatherings already – thank you!
In April, with grateful hearts for all God has blessed us with, we look forward to reaching out to those around us – offering a warm invitation to those who urgently need what we have been blessed with. The unconditional love of our Savior, the miracle of His Word that gives our lives meaning and direction in a chaotic world, and the loving support of our faith community to walk together in serving our Savior. We are reaching out through a new outreach called “Sit With Me”. There are invitation cards available at our Welcome Table – please take some, and then use them to provide a personal invitation for family, friends, co-workers, and strangers to come have a cup of coffee, a bagel, and sit with you at church. It’s more than important – it’s the Great Commission – the calling to be disciples and then make disciples. It’s time to push past being shy, feeling awkward, or not wanting to offend. People desperately need what God has given us – let’s invite them in!
Our Pastor’s series, “Where Do You Sit, Where Do You Serve” took on new meaning with the arrival of our new chairs. Sitting just got a whole lot better! Thank you for your faithfulness in giving to purchase the new chairs. Now from sitting, we move to serving. We must expand our campus capacity to serve. It’s time to move forward on our sports fields for outreach and our multi-purpose building. This month, let’s do a faith stretch to get the sports fields done! We need $35,000 above our regular tithing – that is a faith stretch that will take ALL OF US, doing what we can, and praying God blesses our faithfulness in giving. There is more info on our Biblical Giving page explaining our “Where Do You Sit, Where Do You Serve” Growth Campaign, the different projects, the difference between tithing and gifts, and where your money goes when you give. Read the info, then on the bottom of the page you can click to make your contribution. It is time to get it done! CLICK HERE to step out in faith to expand our ministry capacity.
My Dear Friends…
What is biblical deconstruction, and what makes it a threat to the Christian Church and every believer? Biblical deconstruction is a modern-day battlefield from within and without Christianity. A war which proposes to separate more than denominational divides, by blurring the definition of Christianity and the moral and spiritual authority of Biblical truth itself. In bold and direct contrast to historic creedal Christianity, progressive Evangelical Christianity accepts that there are multiple ways to connect with God – ways other than Jesus. The complete deconstruct of John 14:6 and Acts 4:12:
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Biblical deconstruction renounces that Jesus is the only way for us to connect with God. It declares that different religions are alternative pathways to connect with a Universal or Global Christ.
Richard Rohr, a “decon” theologian, explains that Universal Christ is God – and is everywhere – in other people and in creation. He goes as far as to announce that to be a Christian means to see ‘Christ’ in everything and everybody – good and evil – sounds good right? Fully deconstructed Christianity affirms that Jesus’ teaching provides one of many routes to experience ‘god’ (the sacredness, oneness, and unity of life).
Let’s shift focus to present day saturation for the meaning of the subjectively defined word “Deconstruction.” Specifically I want to connect the post-modern practice used for the deconstruction of Biblical faith to the critical considerations of Christian or Biblical worldview. We start that conversation with identifying the confusions and clarifying the context and practice. Any effective Christian follower in our day should be knowledgeable and adequately skilled in the understanding of Biblical faith deconstruction and a Biblically based Christian apologetics (basic
defense).
Take the term “spiritual warfare” for example. Many Christians misunderstand spiritual warfare as referring only to spiritually hostile conflicts and confrontations with demonic spirits. Even though those kinds of manifestations and spiritual struggles for deliverance and spiritual freedom are very real, and sometimes will happen – be
certain that there is a warfare that is even more threatening and less subjective.
I would identify that warfare as biblical deconstruction. And in the context of our teaching series – “philistine” I would describe biblical deconstructionism as “the neo-philistine.” Watch the Philistine teaching series HERE.
Deliverance ministries everywhere will not want to hear this, but the fundamental nature of spiritual warfare is not simply confined to demonic manifestations and breaking generational curses, or even power encounters between spiritual authorities – good and evil; it is the warfare waged for truth. If the objective and authoritative truth of God and His Word are destroyed, then there will be no more battle between good and evil – because there will be no more good and evil.
It is a battle of principles and precepts – God’s and man’s. Regarding the “weapons of our warfare”, the apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth,
“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (II Corinthians 10:4-5)
As Christian followers and apologists of our faith, we remember that the Bible also tells us that our enemy is not any target group of people, but rather the “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Jesus was very clear about this enemy, whom Scripture calls the devil, and is described as a murderer from the beginning, in whom there is no truth at all. Jesus says, “When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). In fact, Revelations 12:9 says he is the “deceiver of the whole world.”
It is most significant to remember the battlefield is within the realm of “mindsets and opinions – the objective knowledge of God and the defiant and subjective arguments of men.” Plainly, it is the temporal ways and thoughts of men and their words, set against the eternal ways and thoughts of God and His Word. As Christian followers and apologists, the primary weapon of our warfare is truth. Not our truth – God’s truth. If we want to “stand against the schemes of the devil,” we must “put on the whole armor of God,” which begins with “the belt of truth” (Ephesians 6:11, 14).
To defend a Biblical worldview, you and I must be watchful and aware to resist, oppose, and refute false ideas, while doing so with a loving and compassionate heart toward the people who are being taken “captive” by them (Colossians 2:8).
God’s Peace to You,
Dr. Stephen Isaac – The Reunion Church
SUNDAYS
9 AM – 10 AM
EQUIP ADULT BIBLE CLASSES
MOVEMENT YOUTH GROUP
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY (NURSERY-6TH GRADE)
10 AM – 10:20 AM
GRACE’S CAFE ON THE PLAZA – FRESH BAGELS, MUFFINS, PASTRIES, COFFEE
10:30 AM
COMMUNITY WORSHIP GATHERING
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY (NURSERY-6TH GRADE)
WEDNESDAYS – 6:30 PM
CAMPUS COMMUNITY CARE GROUP – NO GATHERING ON 12/20 OR 12/27
MOVEMENT YOUTH GROUP
REUNION KIDS CLUB (NURSERY-6TH GRADE)
OFF-CAMPUS COMMUNITY CARE GROUPS
MEET IN VARIOUS HOMES ON DIFFERENT WEEK NIGHTS AROUND THE VALLEY. CONTACT COMMUNITY CARE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
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