From a Movement to a Religion

The Astonishing Tales of Costanza – Volume 3

From a Movement to a Religion

“The number one enemy to the movement of Jesus Christ is Christianity.”

- E. McManus

When the result of Christianity in many people’s lives amounts to an inability to actually live but rather self-preserve, denying themselves the fullness of life, it is hard to imagine this is what Jesus Christ had in mind when He died on the cross 2000 years ago. The fact of the matter is, the history of the Christian church is fraught with these experiences. Because of fear and hatred and a desire to self-preserve, or even develop a larger sphere of power, a part of Christian history is the Crusades and the KKK and so many human atrocities. For this reason, the greatest obstacle for many to Jesus Christ is the history of the church.

After the resurrection of Jesus Christ a movement began and those whose lives were transformed by it, the world called Christians. Now, we call ourselves Christians and the world calls us hypocrites. The church became static, merely focusing on self-preservation. This is most apparent in the local church. Most local churches give us the model of the “Apex Theory,” where they hit the apex of the church’s influence and attempt to cling to the top. The problem is that when we hit the top, we start to die (Makes sense right? Once you reached the greatest moment, you must start to come down). As the church maintained the apex in numbers, it lost its influence. It exchanged the creativity and hunger that got it to the top for static friction. It stopped moving forward because it wanted to remain where it was. This is death to movement. What we failed to notice in this transaction was that as we exchanged an activist, movement oriented faith for a set of rules we turned Christianity into just another world religion.

We forgot that the life of the church is the heart of God. The heart of God is to serve a broken world. When Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist, He reminded us that only He could wash away our sin. The church cannot live when the heart of God is not beating within her. God’s heartbeat is to seek and save that which is lost. The church exists to serve as the body of Christ, and it is through this commitment that we are forced to engage our culture. This type of service demands direct contact and forward movement. You cannot wash the feet of a dirty world if you refuse to touch it.

I now, more than ever before, firmly believe as Paul says in his letter to the church in Thessalonica – We are to be a community that lives by faith, is known by love and is a voice of hope. To be this type of community, we need to be ever moving.

***NOTE - The difference between a religion and a movement is this: movements transform people from the inside out, moving or inspiring them past where they are but religions merely shackle people with rules to restrain their movement with no life transformation, forcing a static, unchanging existence. Without movement, we cannot live. We cannot know life fully but rather die to a life of mediocrity.

***NOTE – Most of what I am saying here is a mixture of discussions with Mosaic leadership, the book “An Unstoppable Force” by McManus and my own thoughts. So yes, I stole many an idea.

Things Learned in LA

Things Learned in L.A.

- For an Irish-Jew, I actually do get a little bit tan
- Wearing powerlifting t-shirts ALL THE TIME is not being fashionably responsible nor is it being culturally relevant
- Apparently man-kapris are acceptable even if you do not yearn for the touch of another man (I still disagree but am willing to concede…)
- Not all Jews were meant to count money (i.e.: my lack of ability to do simple math)
- I can’t run around and play basketball for longer than 7 – 8 minutes at a clip or I risk heart failure
- There is no need for traffic to maintain a healthy ebb and flow. Rather it can exist at all times – even 3a.m.
- In-N-Out Burger is the greatest fast food chain EVER!!! (Wendy’s is a close second)
- Break dancing is still cool, even 20 years after the fact.
- I look hot in plaid shorts
- I’m hot.

There’s a lot more but I’m good with that.

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For Miles

i know one day, all our scars will disappear, like the stars at dawn
and all of our pain, will fade away when morning comes
and on that day when we look backwards we will see, that everything is changed
and all of our trials, will be as milestones on the way

and as long as we live, every scar is a bridge to someone's broken heart
and there's no greater love, than that one shed his blood for his friends

on that day all of the scales will swing to set all the wrongs to right
all our tears, and all of our fears will take to flight
but until then all of our scars will still remain, but we've learned that if we'll
open the wounds and share them then soon they start to heal

(as long as we live, we are bridges to someone broken heart
there's no greater love, shed your blood for your friends)

we must see that every scar is a bridge, and as long as we live
we must open up these wounds
when some one stands in your shoes and will shed his own blood
there's no greater love. we must open up our wounds

by: Thrice/Dustin Kensrue