A New Order of Things?
Guest post by Pastor Glenn Poole
The events in my life have condensed in the last six months into principles and concepts of "church", "spirituality" and "religion" that can only be described as a new order of things. Though their form is only as a misty fog right now, their function takes some discernible shape in phrases like:
- living loved and loving
- institution-less spirituality
- Christ as the true, practical Head of His church
- guilt-less, shame-less grace-filled spiritual existence
- and many more of this nature
It is with interest then, that I came across this unexpectedly relevant quote from Machiavelli in a blog I've been following (TrueFaced) this morning.
“…there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from the fear of opponents, who have the laws on their side and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in the new things until they have long experienced them.”
Institutional "church", Churchedome, and Churchianity are deeply ingrained in all of us. We ourselves have done well at times under those kingdoms and find it hard to leave behind. There are also many who will be deeply threatened if we operate noticeably anywhere near their borders. And our own coolness from our disbelief that the new order of life can really be experienced - because we have not long experienced it - will require supernatural courage we have not yet seen in order to overcome.
May God have mercy on us as we dare to press forward the riches of His grace.
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