Mark Carey writes:
Our intention is to be 1 Network, 6 Locations and 10 churches who are becoming authentic disciple making, worshiping communities adventuring with Jesus.
The qualities that marked out the early Christians, leading them to the point where this small group of disciples affected the whole world, were their passionate spirituality, radical community, and missionary zeal.
This only happens by being people who go deeper with Jesus and overcome the curse of knowledge:
We commit our lives to going deeper with God despite the temptation to stay in the shallows. In Luke 5:1-11 Jesus calls the first disciples to go with Him in the boat moored in the shallow waters, and put out into the deep and let down their nets for a catch. They could have pointed out that they were the fishermen, they had failed to catch anything so far and wouldn’t now. But instead, Peter said five crucial words “But because you say so”.
We overcome the curse of personal knowledge, experience, and expectations to move into trust in Jesus. They became “But because you say so” people. We can stay tied to our own ways, expectations, and experiences – cursed by our own knowledge or blessed by the knowledge that obedience brings.
One of our problems, in an information rich culture, where we can click for information on all sorts of things in moments, is that we become as Dallas Willard puts it “…educated beyond our capacity to obey”. It is possible to know a great deal yet understand very little – St Paul pointed out to the Corinthian Church that knowledge puffs up while love builds up.
Let us be aware of the danger that the amount of knowledge we have may get in the way of our ability to obey Jesus.
We can stay shallow with knowledge or go with Jesus out into deep waters.
The Bible tells us of people overcoming the curse of knowledge:
Abraham - could have stayed where he was
Moses - could have walked by the burning bush
Gideon - could have stayed in the relative safety of the wine press
David could have gone home rather than choosing to demand a confrontation with Goliath
Nehemiah could have believed the lies and threats of hostile local leaders
Ruth could have stayed in her homeland rather than go with Naomi
Esther could have stayed in the safety of her status rather than choosing to risk her life by advocating for God’s people
Mary overcame the curse of knowledge saying: “let it be to me according to your word”
Jesus overcame the curse of knowledge saying: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
Peter overcame the curse of knowledge - he was open to discovering something new – he used 5 words that indicate you are a disciple not just a Christian - “but because you say so”.
You don’t follow Jesus because you know what will happen - you follow because He knows.
We are saying to Jesus “I will join you on a journey of discovery beyond what I know already”.
5 Keys to living this way:
1. Submit my knowledge to His greater knowledge - I truly do not know better than God
2. Embrace humility - thinking of yourself less
3. Choose lifelong learning - the discerning of Kairos moments, learning as disciples not academics
4. Seek the Incarnational way over assimilation or separation - the gracious way of Jesus
5. Seek knowing Jesus and His kingdom first - “seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you”
On Sunday evening at our Network Gathering I led us in a corporate prayer of surrender.
We surrender our minds, intellects, and knowledge to be under God’s rule and reign – becoming a “but because you say so” people saying:
Lord, I do not know better than you.
I am not superior to you or to others.
I come as a disciple
I surrender my way for your way,
my truth for your truth,
my life for your life.
I choose to join you on a journey of discovery
Beyond what I know already.
The Rev Canon Mark Carey - Christ Church Bridlington Network