Living Interdependent in an Independent Culture

In every day life we have examples of our culture and the Christian culture. Different researchers sometimes point out facts that reveal the Christian culture as no different as the worldly culture. As His children we are to be imitators of Christ and have the light of Jesus Christ shine into our world and into the lives of others. The first two commands remain the same of loving the Lord our God and then loving one another. In loving one another there is a development of community life. We are not called to be an island, but called to be the Body of Christ jointly fitted together. Drawing from the covenant promises of God we can also release these truths into the lives of others as salt and light being a demonstration of the Kingdom of God.

What is independence?

Webster’s defines independence as not being influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion, conduct, thinking or acting for oneself, not subject to another’s authority or jurisdiction, not relying on another or others for aid or support; refusing to be under obligation to others. This is contrary to what God commands us to love one another. In 2 Corinthians 3:5 it says, “By ourselves we are not qualified in any way to claim that we can do anything. Rather, God makes us qualified.” In Psalms 1 the writer admonishes us to not follow the advice of wicked people, or take the path of sinners or join the company of mockers.

We are to be dependent upon God and interdependent with the Body of Christ. This is unheard of in today’s society. Our culture has become self-centered versus being God centered. There are struggles with the desire to do things our own way, or, think we can handle things alone and without the help or counsel of others. This is a by-product of a culture where all truth is “relative.” I have my truth, you have yours. Therefore, I determine what the truth is. Which reflects that I am God, because I determine what absolute truth is. We need to be open to live lives dependent on God and interdependent with others.

What is interdependence?

Webster’s defines interdependence as being mutually dependent; dependent on each other. The fact that stood out was the definition listed for interdependence was a few words, as opposed to, a great extrapolation of words on independence making a statement of culture today. The culture demonstrates self focus and makes choices to refuse the Lordship authority of Jesus Christ. By rejecting God we deny and defy God in rebellion, which is sin. The disciples followed their belief in God and His sovereignty by acknowledging those who spoke and acted by His direction and those that were sent by Him; those they did not oppose. If we choose to reject or oppose those that God places in our life we are fighting against God. In Isaiah 63:13 it reads, “O Lord, why do you let us wander from your ways and become so stubborn that we are unable to fear you? Return for the sake of your servants. They are tribes that belong to you.”

Hoekstra states, “The Lord calls His people away from earthly influences that can dominate and diminish lives and urges us to live by the fullness of His Spirit. When Christians answer this call, they are willing to live by God’s powerful, unlimited resources, instead of by man’s feeble, finite means.”

Christians living in interdependence and dependence upon God are making choices to say no to the things they want, and picking up their crosses and following Christ. We must remember that if we want to save our lives we must lose them and those that choose to lose their lives for Christ will be saved. The lie that culture demonstrates is that we have the freedom to do what we want, which causes our hearts to wander away from His path. We are in covenant with a living God and are to demonstrate His Kingdom character.

The blessings of Kingdom character are modeled by living in a community of faith in interdependence with others and dependence on what God wants to do. We need to be willing to lay down our lives for our brothers and willing to love our enemies and love those that persecute us. We need to root out our double mindedness. By taking our focus off self and placing it on God, then, we are able to reach out to a hurting world.

How can we reach our world? Develop kingdom values by first removing all double-mindedness in my life, meaning I say one thing and then do another. Have a love relationship with God and then share those values with others. When we model real life community of interdependence versus independence, people are blessed by what they see. They see Jesus and not the person. It is an exhibition of the glory of God, because we have laid down our cross and chosen to follow Christ, putting to death self. Just as Moses radiated the glory of God and others were convicted of their sin and drawn to God to repent and turn. It begins with us. In Eugene Petersons The Message, Romans 12:1-3 and in verses 10 to 13, he writes, “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life, your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking around life and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply, practice playing second fiddle. Don’t burn out, keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.” Where there is unity, there the Lord commands His blessings.

These blessings are released by choosing to make Jesus Lord and freely receive His covenant keeping promises. Covenant is God’s way of relating to His people, because it is a love relationship for His creation. God tells us that He promises that we will be a blessing. And, the blessing will flow out of our love relationship with Him to the nations. We need to remember that when He deposits something in us what goes in has to come out. Are we being the church instead of going to the church? We need to have a role reversal. Instead of God being our servant and doing what we want and ask for, we need to learn how to be servants and do His will as He commands. We need to be interdependent with others and dependent upon Almighty God.

God designed His covenant in our lives as a means of His undeserved favor and faithfulness. Jesus understood the authority of His father was a covenant of love and loyalty, as well as, faithfulness and steadfastness. His heart was to be one with His father and desired us to be one as He is. He calls us to a place of submission so that we can truly become one with Him. In Psalm 73:24 it says that with your advice you guide me, and in the end you will take me to glory. Making the choice to submit reveals and builds the character of a good man; because he chooses to walk by and to take his measures from the rules he is given. God is for us in the context of our submitting. The grace of God is not our entitlement, but rather a part of His blessings because we choose to be followers of Jesus Christ. By choosing interdependence and choosing to be dependent on God, the kingdom of God comes here on earth as it is in heaven!

Heart to Heart Connections - India

I will be joining a team of 4 led by a representative of Mission NetCast from Texas February 22 to March 15, 2004 in India. We will continue building relationships with tribal pastors and their wives in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The team will minister to these tribal church planters and their wives from several unreached people groups. We will be serving different women’s groups in tribal villages alongside the pastors we have served previously. There will be many opportunities to interact with children from the orphanage and students from the Tribal Bible Training School.

Pray for protection for the team in areas we will be traveling into the bush, for stamina, and for heart to heart connections with those we will be working with, for them to connect to the Father’s heart. Also, pray for the additional funds of approximately $1,500 needed to cover my costs for the mission to come in.

Stephen Gaukroger says, “We should pray about missions until it becomes a priority! We may not personally be able to take the good news abroad, but we can all pray in such a way that regions abroad are affected … PRAYER needs no passport, visa or work permit. There is no such thing as a ‘closed country’ as far as prayer is concerned … Much of the history of mission could be written in terms of God moving in response to persistent prayer.”

Psalm 2:8 “Ask of me and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.”