Misconceptions

"The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name."
Zechariah 14:9

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."
Habakkuk 2:14


If the hope described in passages such as these are truly what God intends, then there are some common misunderstandings that run rampant throughout the spiritual understanding of women and men, both inside and outside of the church...


MISCONCEPTIONS::


The Nature of Salvation

Misconception #1 - Salvation is about leaving earth and going to heaven; God is primarily concerned with what happens to individuals after they die.

If these verses are true, then salvation is actually about God putting all things right; it is about heaven coming to earth. Salvation is about all of creation sharing in the Life that is found in God.

The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
Zechariah 14:9


The Nature of the Church

Misconception #2 - The church is an institution

The common misconception is that church is an institution or a building, with leaders whose primary function is to minister to us Christian members of the Church. Their work consists of providing programs for our care and preservation until we die and go to heaven; the leaders minister to Christians.

The reality of the Church is that is is God's means by which He is becoming king over the whole earth! The leaders primary function is to equip Christians to minister to the world. The primary function of the average Christian is to bring God's kingdom of blessing, peace, joy, freedom, hope, and restoration to the places we work, live, play, eat, shop, and pay our bills.

The Church is not a "place where" but rather a "people who..." ...the Church is the people of God committed to the purposes of God. (With these verses being a great encapsulation of those purposes!)

The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
Zechariah 14:9

The Sacred/Secular Distinction

Misconception #3 - There are certain activities, things, people, and places that are ‘good’ and ‘spiritual’ and others that are not.

God is primarily concerned that we involve ourselves in sacred activities; sitting in Churches, praying, creating or consuming Christian art.

The reality is that God wants the whole earth to be put right, not just church buildings! God wants to be a part of every aspect of society and ecology.

We are NOT talking about putting a fish on your business card, or even becoming a ‘christian’ interior decorator. But rather doing a job with the purposes of God in mind; engineers who design new ways of water filtration to address the needs for drinking water around the world. William Wilberforce going into politics in order to honor God's call on his life to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire.

The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
Zechariah 14:9

The Clergy/Laity Distinction

Misconception #4 - Pastors are really Holy and really devoted; they speak for God!

The reality is that a certain level of maturity is required of leaders, but they need not be the most mature; leaders are equippers! Clergy are not speaking to people on God's behalf, but helping people to come to God on their own.

We so often received the Kingdom from ‘professional Christians’ and so have been told (explicitly or implicitly) "If you love Jesus - Hurry up and quit your job to do real ministry!"

Paul was a tentmaker, Jesus was a carpenter!

The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
Zechariah 14:9

Knowledge versus Obedience

Misconception #5 - God is primarily concerned that we agree with certain statements.

Hear the word, believe in God, just have faith!

The reality is that God wants us to participate, not observe...
...share in, not hear about, the Kingdom of redemption!

The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
Zechariah 14:9