if what we have now were functioning as Jesus designed and defined ekklesia, the present “church-anity” would be something the world has never seen before.

Here’s the problem: the church is not in the religion mountain and never has been.

Luke 4 preaching does not redeem and restore people and cultures with economic agendas. You will not redeem and restore anyone with social justice. You preach spiritual salvation to those who are currently not hearing that message. That is what the word “poor” means in the Scripture Jesus quotes. Then, He does precisely what the Scripture says He will do.

Beware the tendency to devalue God’s Word by pouring it out of your alabaster box when you have only accumulated a few drops.

Paul says, “Use all of God’s weaponry.” He then seems to assume that doing so will result in winning! “You will oppose in the evil day” – a way of describing the conflict that we face against principalities, power, and cosmic dominators.

God is faithful. He has provided us the fathering leaders we need. To be ready, we need to get the kingdom citizens back into kingdom culture, bear down hard on the rebellion, reset the entire church-growth error, embrace the Bible more than humanly-devised systems and perception, and get on with the goals of God.