Tracing Our Roots
I recently read of a man who was able to trace his "spiritual roots" all the way back to Azusa Street. Quite an accomplishment. He was converted under the ministry of Pastor "A", who was converted under the ministry of Evangelist "B" and so on. It was, rather fascinating.
Now, I know what the brothers point was, and am in no way belittling his research, but, as I do every so often, I began to think about MY spiritual roots. Now, I'm not about to undertake such a task, so I'll just start at Point A and proceed immediately to Point Z (Get it, Alpha and Omega).
POINT A- ME. Now, I'm not going to subject you to a long and boring treatise of my life's story. I'll just say this: It all begins with me. (sounds kind of narcissistic, doesn't it?) But its true. And, your story begins with YOU. So that is where we are similar. Our individual stories begin with US. From there, I am sure, our stories go their separate ways, down separate paths, and we can choose to end our stories wherever we please. However, just because we choose to end the telling of our stories at some point, that doesn't end our stories.
The brother I mentioned earlier ended his story at Azusa Street. Maybe this was because his point was made or he ran out of research material. But, while the telling of his story ended in Los Angeles with the great outpouring of the Holy Ghost in the 20th century, his story did not actually end there. The story of Pentecost did not begin on Azusa Street. Nor did it begin at Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost.
A well worn phrase is often heard among Pentecostals: "Back to Pentecost!" This was the rallying cry heard at the Apostolic Faith Mission on Azusa Street. "This s that!", taken from Peters words in
Acts 2:16 are often used by some to state our experience has its spiritual and doctrinal roots in the events of Acts. And I suppose it does, but, our story doesn't, or shouldn’t' end on the day of Pentecost. I have often heard it said that the present day church should mirror the church of the NT. But, no, considering the problems of the early church, I think the church of today should seek a better pattern.. a pattern found elsewhere in the NT...say... the church described in
Eph 5:7. The people of today’s church would do well to emulate the people of
1 Peter 2:9, rather than the spiritually underdeveloped and divided people of the NT church, wouldn't you think?
So, our roots do not stop at Pentecost. True, according to
Acts 2:42, that was a season of spiritual and numerical growth for the church, but it doesn't start there, neither does it end there. Our goal shouldn't be to "Return to Pentecost", but rather to go forward into all the world to preach the Gospel to every creature.
Point Z- JESUS
In tracing our "roots" we need to go all the way back to the very source. In
Jhn 15:5, Jesus said,
" I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." Jesus Christ is our source. From Him our roots spread around the globe. Our present day theology seems to imply that if we observe certain doctrinal practices, or comply with certain religious instruction, we have then rediscovered our "spiritual roots". But this isn't necessarily always the case. Our roots must be traced all the way back to Him who gives us our life. And, when our roots are linked to Him, the proof is in the fruit. Without our "roots" we can do nothing. Our spiritual growth is impeded. Like the trees John the Baptist spoke of in
Matthew 3, if we are not bringing forth good fruit then we must be separated, disconnected, even "cut off", from our Root, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Here’s the point: Our Root IS Jesus.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Through our faith in Him, and by His grace, we are dead to sin, and our lives, ours roots, are HID IN CHRIST. Our efforts should be in following Him rather than in mimicking the early church, or trying to repeat some revival of days gone by. We make attempts to re-create the conditions that precipitated some past move of God to no avail, thinking we must meet some “condition” to meet with God’s approval. The fact is, we should concern our selves with but one thing, and that is staying true to the very Root of our salvation. We should endeavor to keep our very lives “hidden with Christ in God’.
DISCLAIMER: Any typos and mis-spellings here is the fault of this dumb computer and NOT the writer.
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