Linear Absolutism

Linear Exclusivism

Linear is defined in Webster as - along a line, involving a single dimension. Exclusivism is a pattern of keeping a particular group out. Linear exclusivism then is a pattern that keeps people out based on single dimensional thinking. An easy hypothetical illustration is “I believe all men should wear long sleeve shirts to keep women from looking at their arms which might tempt them. Therefore I will only fellowship guys who wear long sleeves. And my conclusion is that all men who wear short sleeves are trying to tempt women.” No matter how absurd the concept the individual in the example has created a mental circle that includes certain people and excludes many others.

Most Church leaders are following the pattern they have learned. Some venture beyond the bounds of their history because of spiritual hunger. In the kingdom of God educated minds will never replace the need for living relationship with the Lord. So many press outward to know Him. Most all church leaders want their lives to be spiritually significant. We feel like we must make our licks count as we do our part in God’s Kingdom. As we discover the thing that God has given us to do, we get excited and have a sense of accomplishment. With even modest success we are affirmed and begin to look at what we do as very definitely God. However, many times I see leaders develop a mindset of “linear exclusivism”. The leader’s success becomes the criteria by which he judges others.

Whole camps are built and maintained because of doctrinal positions. Sometimes we become so dogmatic about these positions that we downright reject the input of any other perspectives. We find ourselves sitting only with those who agree with us.

Isa 50:11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

NLT: ¹¹But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon lie down in great torment.

At other times our spiritual theorizing becomes so supercharged that we begin to paint practical Christianity as boring and ordinary. Perhaps our mission becomes crystallized in our minds that we can’t see any significance in those that are not likeminded. “If you don’t see things as I see things then you are wrong”. We begin to judge our brethren in light of our success, doctrine, spirituality, gifts, and/or motivations.

Excuse me, I am tired of the brethren being strafed by the pretentious words of those who think they have morphed into omniscience. I am concerned by those who are quick to point out the flaw in everyone else’s efforts while considering their own labors always in the best light. What did you mean brother when you moved with disdain and spoke evil of the work your brother was doing? After the resurrection Peter asked the Lord, “[1]what about John?” The Lord looked at him and I think in east Texas terms he said, “No matter how or what I use him for, pay mind to the business I’ve given you”. This competitive, I can’t rejoice in my brothers blessing or encourage him in the work he’s doing because I’m on a greater spiritual plane is so much “horse manure” (and I’m saying it nice). John said to the Lord, “[2]Teacher, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn’t in our group.” Boy if that doesn’t sound like us. “You can’t do that because ...-..-..-????. Jesus didn’t like it and said, “Leave him alone”. Who are we to judge and condemn another man’s servant? ^“[3]Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.” When we criticize and speak evil of our brothers’ walk, we become an “examiner” and “evaluator” of the law. We become more concerned with our brothers punctuation than the content of his life. We become obsessed trying to get the splinter out of our brother’s eye or at least to point it out to others. We break fellowship and covenant over shades of doctrinal understanding and diversity in functional practices.

I believe in authority. I always try to walk teachable and correctable. I listen and consider even the words of my harshest critics. I give “oversight”, instruction, and sometimes correction to those I serve. Yet, even when dealing with clear sin in a brother’s life Paul exhorted “spiritual ones” to purpose to bring restoration and to do it humbly considering themselves lest they should be tempted.

We are great camp builders, my group vs. your group. We perpetuate division when it is clear the Lord said, “[4]By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another”. Jesus said, “[5]He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward”. There is a reward in the man that is sent. Ephesians 4 calls it the, “effectual work in the measure of every part”. When we receive the one sent we receive the sender and the reward resident in that individual’s gift. We many times have problems receiving the gift because of the package God sends it in. We get real people with frailties common to all mankind. We neutralize the gift of God by our personal preference. I remember “[6]And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? ⁵⁵Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? ⁵⁶And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? ⁵⁷And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. ⁵⁸And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” The people of Nazareth couldn’t receive from Jesus because they had watched him grow up and new his family. Jesus was hindered from releasing mighty works in that place because of their judgment on him which caused unbelief. Was their perspective justified? Only in their own minds. Watch yourselves! That may be the “Lord” you are judging and are offended at.

Linear exclusivism causes believers to see the rest of the body of Christ through the self-importance of their own function. Corinthians said it like this, “[7]I am not the eye, I am not of the body.” The hand, as wonderful, creative, and strong as it is, has to submit to the measured effect in the other body members to ever truly fulfill its own potential. Corinthians reminds us, “the feeble parts are more necessary”. When I think of the feeble, I think of the old ones. I think of old warriors that one time had great strength but have worn away through the years. In their day they may have carried the battle to the gates of hell. Yet now, the witnesses of their exploits no longer sing their praise. Nevertheless, there is an everlasting book of remembrance, and no good thing has been forgotten in heaven. Can you believe we have need for them? Those that are filled with strength will find it hard to relate to the feeble when they judge them unfit and unnecessary.

We may continue to strut ourselves, speaking proud words of criticism, and reject our brethren but….. May God have mercy on us for this foolishness? Let us rein our hearts back from critical perspectives that keep us divided. We need one another. The foot will never be as creative as the hand but where would the hand be without the foot. Our lives are set in the earth and in His church in this same moment of time. We are players, briefly onstage, in an ancient drama. What a wonderful moment to conduct our lives in humility and serve others with words of life and encouragement. What an amazing time to do our part wholeheartedly and simply before the Lord. Nevertheless, remember that many of our brethren are doing the same, though their function may be greatly different from ours. Brethren, love one another and let us be up and about the work.