INTRO #3 - A Movement That Matters
Prophecy is being fulfilled,
Millions are experiencing Jesus,
But there is a problem; and YOU can help solve it.
People all over the world, from all cultures and all backgrounds are experiencing God in personal and powerful ways. Many by dreams and visions.
Polls show a trend of people turning away from institutional religion all together; Yet there is still a strong and growing desire for spiritual fulfillment and to know God.
What is The Problem?
Many people around the world are justifiably concerned with the seemingly unstoppable trend towards chaos.
Fear and injustice are pervasive...but hopeful movements are rising in the form of several key "Awakenings."
- These movements are represented by a general frustration with the status quo and often spark a process of re-thinking and likewise a challenging of the established institutions at the source of the problem.
- There are 3 main awakenings already happening...the question is; how do we insure that these awakenings are constructive?
1. Political Awakenings:
- Governments and other institutions have become corrupt and powerful...this is generally thought of as the "source of our problems." But is this true?
- Governments are mostly a reflection of the people that they represent.
- The Brexit vote in the UK, the surprise Trump election, Arab Spring are but the tip of a large iceberg of discontent,
- Can corrupt governments actually be the source of our problems?
Should we focus and dwell on the never ending symptoms?
- Or should we seek to take tangible action and uncover the root cause of our problems?
Is Religion To Blame? Or Is It The Answer?
2. Religious Awakenings:
- Similar to the political awakenings; many today are also frustrated with the apparent hypocrisy or ineptness of our religious institutions.
- Christianity and Islam began as spiritual movements, but some aspects have become entangled with hierarchies and dogma's at times making them indistinguishable from other worldly institutions.
- Much evil has been committed in the name of "religion" and this is causing many to re-think their faith or religion and often reject religion all together.
- Religion is an institution...It is a reflection of the people involved. Can it be the cause of our problems?
If Religion Itself is NOT the Cause of Our Problems:
- Can the institution of religion therefore be an exclusive source for the answer?
A Meaningful Movement?
3. Messianic Awakenings:
- There are reports of hundreds of movements around the world over the last 20 years. This phenomenon is often sparked by dreams, visions and other unique experiences.
- The primary factor in many of these movements is a new understanding of the Messiah, Jesus.
- This is characterized by a personal process of "turning to God" first and foremost instead of "turning to institutionalized religion" itself.
- There is a growing movement among Jews who are accepting Jesus as Messiah; likewise many Muslims...and Christians for that matter are also getting closer to God by following the Messiah showing the Way (or straight path) to God.
We live in a fallen and broken world
- A world that has rejected and become enemies of God.
- If we are in a spiritual rebellion, then we should take into account the spiritual nature of this reality.
How Is This Accomplished?
- What role does our religious identity play in the process?
- How can WE empower what God is already doing to heal our broken world?
We define this awakening as an organic movement of people from all backgrounds and cultures, submitting to God, following the Way and inspiring reconciliation...or in other words, a non-religiously exclusive, Jesus-centric movement.
What Difference Does It Make?!
Are we part of the problem or can we be part of the solution?
- Are we hindering these redemptive, Messianic movements?
- By asserting our personal, cultural and religious identity with an agenda to "change" one another; Does this help or hurt what God is doing to impact their heart?
- Are we responsible for "changing" others? Or does God do the real work?
