Dear seekers after the Truth (who is JESUS Himself!),My little children (Teknion), of whom I travail in birth again until
Christ be formed in you.... (Gal 4:19)
5040 teknion {tek-nee'-on} diminutive of 5043; TDNT - 5:636,759; n
n
1) a little child
2) in the NT used as a term of kindly address by teachers to their
disciples
There is very real "parenting" which is totally natural in the ongoing and growing spiritual life of the Church. What has ultimately become a 'program' and perverted -- was based upon a very real "body" - parent to child -- relationship. Paul speaks of "laboring over" or "travailing in birth" over those he termed "his little children" until Christ was formed in their hearts by faith.. There were those who looked to Paul as their father in the faith -- we know it was a father/son in the Lord relationship between Paul and Timothy.
The Scripture says there are those who are 'over us in the Lord' -- who bear a responsibility for our souls, during this process of spiritually growing up -- Just because we are claiming our freedom in Christ, we must be careful not to ignore all the Scriptures that don't quite fit our theology -- or we have done the same thing that the IC has done.
"And we beseech you, brethren, to know them (eido) which labour among you, and are over you (Prostemi) in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. [And] be at peace among yourselves." 1 Thess 5: 12
To KNOW them....
Strong's # 1492 eido {i'-do} or oida {oy'-da} =20
1) to see
1a) to perceive with the eyes
1b) to perceive by any of the senses
1c) to perceive, notice, discern, discover
1d) to see
1d1) i.e. to turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to anything
1d2) to pay attention, observe
1d3) to see about something
1d31) i.e. to ascertain what must be done about it
1d4) to inspect, examine
1d5) to look at, behold
1e) to experience any state or condition
1f) to see i.e. have an interview with, to visit
2) to know
2a) to know of anything
2b) to know, i.e. get knowledge of, understand, perceive
2b1) of any fact
2b2) the force and meaning of something which has definite
meaning
2b3) to know how, to be skilled in
2c) to have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to (1Th. 5:12)
In 'relationship' -- we are to KNOW those who labor among us and who are over you (Proistemi) in the Lord. Within the healthy life of the Church we should not be hindered from recognizing these who are mature among us.. who do labor among us... and who are over us in the Lord and do admonish us....
Who are OVER YOU in the Lord...
Strong's #4291 proistemi {pro-is'-tay-mee}
from 4253 and 2476; TDNT - 6:700,*; v
1) to set or place before
1a) to set over
1b) to be over, to superintend, preside over
1c) to be a protector or guardian
1c1) to give aid
1d) to care for, give attention to
1d1) profess honest occupations
There is a very real 'growing up' spiritually in our soteria or salvation. There is a very real parent/child spiritual relationship between those who are 'birthed' into the Kingdom through the "travailing in birth" sacrifice by another. I am sure we all have those in our lives that we credit with being the ones the Lord used to teach us the things of the Kingdom. Yet when this father/son; teacher/disciple; parent/child 'relationship' became a program -- this love-relationship was lost.. there is no longer a spiritual parent/child relationship which occurs and we have instead a group of 'fatherless' sitting alone, in the midst of many other 'orphans'.. birthed, but given no mother/father in the Lord.
When we are used (entrusted really) to birth a life into the Kingdom, we must realize we are then responsible to mother/father that life until such a time as Christ is formed in them by faith... there comes a very real time, when the Spiritual Life of the new child takes on a Life of it's own, it is easily discernible and you won't fail to recognize when it happens.. The Life becomes strong enough to last without need of 'parenting' anymore.. and then it is time to let go. Just as we do in the natural, we do in the spiritual. That 'child' will always be your child in your heart and in their heart.. but they do become adults and then they go forth and reproduce the life that was birthed in them.. over and over and the Church grows...and community grows.. ever connected to one another in Love... but each one is connected to Christ Himself, their own Lord and Master.
Because salvation is truly a pilgrimage -- a journey and "a growing up" in the Lord -- there are 'spiritual' and there are 'carnal' Christians -- to pretend that there aren't these differences between believers is not-truth. It is apparent in the New Testament over and over again.. Paul speaks often of this.. and the need to grow up.. that it is the Spiritual Ones who are to restore any who are overcome in sin. There are mature and immature saints.. it is just like in our families.. and we should recognize those who are mature among us, and those the Lord has put "over us" in Him... we are foolish if we throw the baby out with the bath water as we get free from the traditions of man. The Scripture is the authority as we walk in step with the Spirit, and we must not be defensive about elders in the Body.. we NEED the insight and wisdom that is the result of walking with the Lord for many years...
I am new to your group, but not new to being outside the walls of the IC. I was pushed from the nest (which is really how I perceive it) 11 years ago and have found and experienced Koinonia many times, and in many ways, with many different gatherings of His saints. I see that sometimes those who 'leave Babylon' just re-create it in their home groups.. Love and Relationship; Grace and Honesty are keys to Koinonia -- If we realize we are all cracked pots doing the best we can to follow Christ, then we have the freedom to be who we really are... both the good and the bad.. and we become FAMILY in Christ. To me, this is Church -- Loving God and Loving One another with the same Love He Loves us with!
Your sister in the bottomlands,
Linda the Beguine
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