The Problem With Generic Spirituality

Have you ever heard someone say, ”I’m not religious but I am a spiritual person?” I had a co-worker tell me this a long time ago and Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame said something to this effect when asked about her role in the “Noah” movie. What is it? Is it valid? Where will it lead? I hope to answer these questions here for you.
Generic spirituality is when a person does not believe in a traditional religious practice but picks and chooses from a verity of beliefs to form their own brand of spirituality. In short,they take what they like and do away with the rest. This is nothing new, people have been doing it for a very long time. It is how many cults get established.

One problem with this belief system is that it has no foundation. There is no foundation of truth. Just as our physical world has natural laws, so do our spiritual world. A man that I greatly admire is Mahatma Gandhi. But one thing he stated that I totally disagree with is that he proclaimed to be Hindu, Muslim and Christian. This can not be. Each one contradicts the other. Only one can be true. I will not go into the beliefs of each at these at this time but will try to give you a real foundation that generic spirituality does not offer.

1 Cor. 3:11 states,” For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” and
2 Tim. 2:19, “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: the Lord knows those who are His’, and,’Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’”
And bear with me one more Scripture, “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” , Eph. 2:20
Now how can any of the others compare to a God that wishes to indwell His people. No other even offers such a life. Can you see that there is no generic belief that can stand, only the one that gives us seal.
Jesus stated Himself,”I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

Jesus says He is the way. He is the path to God. To the Father, which no other religion pictures their God or force as a Father. Generic Spirituality takes a person nowhere. I’ve heard it said that even reincarnation is like being on a hamster's wheel. You go around and around but go nowhere. Mohammad said that even he did not know if he would make it to heaven. If Islam’s prophet doesn’t even have assurance that he will make it, who will? But the followers of Christ are given assurance and more.
It is said that all religions and belief systems has some truth to them. Even atheism has a little. That is a true statement, but only Jesus contains all the truth of the ages. He is the personification of truth.
And last, people who choose to believe that God is a force that holds everything together but is impersonal.

Jesus said that He was the life, the all that matters. He created life and keeps life together and gives life. The Greek word for “Life” John 14:6 is the word Zoe. Meaning both the physical and spiritual life. I’ve heard it called the God Life”. Jesus said in John 6:63,” It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The Words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” ; John 10:28,”And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” and the most famous of the sayings of Jesus, John 10:10,” The thief does not come except to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and they may have it more abundantly.

I hope I have answered the questions for you and have shown you that a belief system that lets you play God in choosing your own truth is a trap set by the “thief”. He wishes to let you think that you are clever enough to choose your own way while setting you on his way to destruction. Take into consideration what I have told you and choose to the path to life. 

Wayne Brooks
12/6/2019

Mentor Lessons from the Mighty Ducks

Do you remember the movie about the peewee hockey team? They were sort of the Bad News Bears on ice. I recently re-watched all three movies and came away with a revelation of true mentorship.

In the movie, the coach, Gordon Bombay was hailed as the “Miracle Man” for turning a no-name inner-city peewee team into a champion team that goes all the way to the Olympics and beyond. But if you noticed every time Gordon or Charlie was sidetracked a little known storekeeper Hans or his brother Jan set them back on track. In MD1 and MD3 Hans was the behind the scenes mentor that changed everything. In MD2 his Brother Jan stepped in while Hans went back home to Scandinavia to visit his Mom. But these two never got the recognition they deserved for being there to mentor Gordon and the rest of the team to success. They gave without thought of reward. They just wanted to see the Ducks fly.

This reminded me of years ago when I took it upon myself the mentor or disciple young Christians in my workplace and church. My philosophy was that the best way to mentor people was to do it in a way that they did not know you were doing it.

Years later some of these young guys became leaders and when I hear them stand and speak giving someone else recognition for helping them achieve their success, I have to put away my ego and admit, “I was a success.”

In Matthew 11:11 in the Bible, Jesus speaks this line, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist, but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” My late pastor used to quote this but he always said that the last part was troubling and he could not explain it. These movies gave me a little light on the verse.

In Luke 22:24-27 it says, “Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.” The one who serves is the greatest, unlike what we have been taught by the values of this world, business or church.

I know a brother who every time a group of us gets together he helps in the kitchen or sets up. It comes very naturally to him because he has what the Bible calls a “gift of helps.” This is mentioned in 1 Cor. 12:28.  As long as I’ve known him since the early 80’s he has been this way, greater than John.  My wife is like this. Every time we get together with others, she has to ask, “What can I do to help?” And she looks hurt when they tell her, “Nothing, we’ve got it”. She is greater than John.

When we mentor or disciple, we must be like Han and Jan. Give without wanting recognition. And you will be a miracle worker in the life of the one you teach. You will be greater than John and greater than Gordon. Your reward is in Heaven.

Wayne Brooks
10/13/2019

Your Spiritual PPE

PPE (personnel protective equipment) is the safety equipment that a person uses in their vocation. And every person uses them in their work life.
2 Timothy 2:4, Paul mentions three different vocations: Soldier, Athlete and farmer. We know the soldier’s PPE from Ephesians 6:14, which mostly known as a Christian’s spiritual armor.
“Stand therefore having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to squench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.”
These are listed as Spiritual weapons for our warfare with the evil one.
I wish to share with you the Spiritual PPE used to keep us safe while doing our Kingdom Work. As mentioned, Paul spoke of the athlete and farmer as an example of our Christian life. They too used PPE. Although the Roman athletes of Paul’s day competed in the nude most of the time, modern athletes use a verity of PPEs for their vocation: proper shoes, gloves, helmets, pads. Farmers also use them in the fields. Namely to guard from heat stroke and skin cancer they use hats and long sleeve shirts, along with proper boots to protect their feet. So you see everyone uses PPE in their work, even the office work uses agronomical chairs and keyboard attachment to guard from muscle stains.
I would now like to share some of the Spiritual PPEs I see being used in our spiritual lives.

Hardhat: to protect us from the unseen
dangers in our spiritual lives. The things that the Lord keeps from happening that we never know. You put it on by being Born Again and coming under His protection.
Apron: This could be a shop or welding apron that keeps our clothes from being soiled or burned. We put them on by separating ourselves from the world. Not becoming hermits but by not doing things the world’s way. Work by the Book.
Face Shield or Safety Glasses: These protect our spiritual eyesight so that we can see things as they are. We put these on by staying in an attitude of prayer and by using discernment in our relationships and work habits.
Work Gloves: We use these to protect our hands for work and service. Keep your hands clean. Resist sin so that our work will not be hindered.
Shoes: Either steel-toe or just slip-resistant, these are for protecting or feet so that we might be able to stand while doing or work and service. We wear these by knowing what we believe and why we believe it.

These are just a few of the PPEs that I can come up with. You may have others in your line of work. I encourage you to use your psychical PPEs and your Spiritual ones. You can’t be safe without them.

Maria Fearing: Black History Month Post

So here it is February Black history Month.

Let me introduce you to an the extraordinary lady Maria Fearing. Born a slave in Alabama she paid her way to be educated. Became a teacher for grade school and college students. Earned and bought her own house. Then catching the burden for the lost in Africa she sold the house and paid her own way to become a missionary to Africa at Fifty-six years of age. She made her way to Luebo, 1,200 miles from the coast of Africa.
Within a year she learned the language and founded Pantops School for homeless girls. Most of her students were orphans kidnapped by warriors from other tribes that she bought back.
Impressed with her work, the Southern Presbyterian Church made her a full-time missionary. She did not return to America until she became ill at eighty years old. She lived nearly a century. I read about her in my old Alabama history book.
Dated 1980 published by Viewpoint Publications in Montgomery, Al.

My Basic Thoughts on Spiritual Warfare

I was asked about my thoughts on Spiritual Warfare in the Facebook "Study Group on Spiritual Warfare" group. Thought I would share it here:

Although I am not an expert on the subject, I have had some experience since the early 80s. What I have seen is that there are many books out there on the subject, some good and some bad. The only great book on the subject is the Bible itself. Read all of the rest for insight but do not take any of them as pure truth.
They teach that you must know your enemy. I say, know your Captain "Jesus". Some people study demonology to the extreme. When our Church first started a study of Spiritual Warfare back in the 80s we learned that you become what you focus your study on. So I say study Jesus and draw as close as you can to Him.
The teaching usually starts with a study of our Spiritual Armor. This is good and I have heard many interpretations of the armor, but I lean to the understanding first that the armor is Jesus and His attributes.
Romans 13:4 says," But put on Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lust." and Gal. 3:27, "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
Spiritual Warfare may involve two things, and probably more, which is deliverance of our selves or someone else from Satan's control or influence.
As we "put on our armor or strive to be more like Jesus, we do battle with unseen enemies for control of our or someone else’s control of flesh.
Spiritual Warfare is simple, join with Christ to destroy the works of the Devil and advance the Kingdom of God. To do this is very simple, so simple people will not discipline themselves to do it. WE have heard it all our spiritual lives. Read the Word of God, fellowship with God's people (this means spiritual fellowship and not just flesh feeding meetings) and praying God's work (intersession)
This is just my basic thoughts on the subject of Spiritual Warfare and I hope it helps you to get started. If you had more detailed questions, I will try to answer or direct you to someone you can.

If Jesus Showed Up One Sunday Morning

One of my favorite songs and Artist is "My Jesus" by Todd Agnew. I was listening to it at work the other day and heard how he doubted that his church would accept Jesus if He came and it reminded me of people who say that most churches would not recognize Him if He showed up one Sunday morning. The song spoke of Jesus' ministry to the lost and hopeless and how we should do likewise. This is great stuff but I was troubled over the thought of not recognizing Jesus. My first thought was, "Why would anyone be involved in a Church they felt would not accept or recognize our Savior?" How is it possible for a Church to be in this condition? In the Bible there are more than a few types mention that picture the Church's relationship to Jesus.

        The first is the Shepherd and the flock. In John 10:27, Jesus is recorded as saying, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." How is it possible for a Church or Flock not to hear the voice of the Shepherd and to know Him"? Jesus says it is not possible. A Church dedicated to discipleship and following Jesus will know Him. They will know His Words, and know when He shows up, when He reveals His presence. If the Church you attend does not fit the Sheep mode, then you might find another flock.

The next type is Bride and Bridegroom. Surely the Bride will know her Bridegroom. The picture in scripture is of a bride who is waiting for her groom. But while she waits, the groom is preparing her for their eternal union. Also, Jesus states that He gave Himself for His Bride. He paid the dowry with His blood on the cross. It does not sound as if it is possible for the Bride to be unknown to the Groom. It sounds hard but we must decide if we are part of a Bride or a harlot. The difference is: a harlot is only able to be intimate physically for a price. A Bride is able to be intimate Body, Soul and Spirit and the Bride and Groom give all. 

The last, but not final type I see is the Church as the Body of Christ to continue His work on earth. Doesn't a person know his or her own body? As we bathe and clean it after a hard day’s work, don't we become familiar with all of it? The Spirit and Soul has an intimate relationship with the body. Likewise the Body of Christ knows intimately the person whom it belongs to. Do you still believe it is possible for a Church to not recognize Jesus if He was to reveal Himself? Of course I am not an expert on scripture or Church life and growth, but this all seems common sense to me. Let’s quit complaining about how bad our Churches are and get about the Master’s business. Hear the Shepherd’s voice and obey. Let the Bridegroom prepare you for His return. And lastly, offer ourselves to His service to reach the lost. In doing so you will recognize Him, He is living in you. Will I quit loving Todd Agnew’s song? Not likely! We all need help remembering who Christ died for and what we are to do about it.

(Note: Not many scripture references are given because I think you would get a lot more out of it if you researched them yourselves.)

https://youtu.be/Y5Svz6YFtkI 

Bless Those Who Use You (With Podcast Link)

(This is a re-post from 12/29/2004)

Read Matthew 5:43-48

“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, And He turn away His wrath from him.”
Proverbs 24:17-18

I have worked with many people and have been mistreated many times by those over me. It seems that it is real easy to hope that the person gets demoted, fired or the business goes bad because I am not there. Or even go out of business. But the Lord tells us to “pray for our enemies and bless those that abuse you.” (Paraphrase Matt. 5:44) I wonder how many companies that have treated their employees bad and still do well because the people of God secretly prayed to see them “ get theirs” and fall. Therefore, God turned His wrath from them.
Next time you see a person fall that had treated you wrong, let the Lord guide you in ways to bless him. Who knows maybe the Lord will defeat an enemy by making him a friend.

Prayer: Father, Forgive those who treat us wrong and bring them to repentance for your sake.
AMEN

Thought for the Day
“The noblest vengeance is forgiveness” (The Officer - 1919, Notable Quotables, Salvation Army Publishing)
Wayne Brooks (Dothan, Alabama)

Prayer Focus: FOR THOSE THAT HAVE DONE YOU WRONG
You can hear the newest podcast based on this post at http://fromthefactoryfloor.sermon.net/main/FromtheFactoryFloor/21124077

Example From A Hobo – From the Factory Floor with Wayne Brooks – Opinion

http://from-the-factory-floor.madewithopinion.com/example-from-a-hobo/


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Laborare est orare

As we approach Labor Day I would like to discuss an area of prayer that we are to do as we work or laborare est orare, "work as prayer". This is a hard concept for some to see. Can a person pray as they work and not get their hand caught in a machine press or drive the forklift into a support beam? Can we focus on the Lord and focus on our work at the same time? I say yes, but not in the traditional since of prayer. Prayer as in doing your very best for no other reason but to please God. When you do your job in this attitude you are in a mode of prayer that worships the King of Kings and petitions the Lord of Lords.
This labor day make a commitment to do your job only for the love of God and focus on doing a job well done. Like I heard a speaker on the radio say the other day. "Your job is a gift from God, How you perform it is your gift to Him."