This summer we had the joy of stopping by our dear friends home, Jim and Jean Stephens.  They have been married 45 years, and have almost the same number of years in ministry service to the Kingdom.   They are well established and experienced in the things of God. So when Jim shared a book with us called “Contrarian’s guide to
knowing God”*, I took it with interest.  He said it would probably be a book which stimulated our thinking, gave some answers to some questions; raise others as well as perhaps even make us mad! 

Larry Osborne is the author. He has been the senior pastor of North Coast church in Vista, CA since 1980.  North Coast is considered one of the 10 most influential churches in the United States.  I write the above intro simply to let you know that these are well balanced real people who love Jesus.

First of all the definition of contrarian thinking at its best simply asks, is this true?     

My goal in focusing on some of my thoughts from this book is to help you as a leader to ask yourself the same thing “is this true?”.  You may be simply passing on thoughts that may be good, but are they God?  One of the chapters Pastor Osborne includes is entitled “Tools or Rules?”  In this chapter he explores the fact we need to distinguish in our hearts and minds God given rules which are established in His word for every believer.  There are no exceptions to these rules.  Thou shall not steal  is great example of  a rule.  It should  be kept by one and all.

Tools, however, are different.  They are gifts given that help us develop our personal relationship with the Lord.  The right tool at the right time is invaluable.  If we see the “spiritual disciplines” of worship, prayer, giving, meditating, journaling, fellowshipping with others as tools, rather than rules, each of these disciplines will become life giving rather than life sucking.  Teaching and presenting these spiritual disciplines as tools to our followers will help them grow in their faith and in their relationship with Jesus. 

Back in the late 60’s and on into the 70’s the Holy Spirit brought revelation of the blessing of true worship.  Hymns gave way to scripture songs, quiet reverential standing gave way to hand clapping and the raising of hands.  God restored the heart of worship to the church.  It was an amazing time.  This new style of worship began to divide the church into various camps.  Moral judgments were given on both sides.  What is God’s rule?  He is worthy to be worshiped.  We must find the best way that we can to give Him the honor and glory that He deserves that comes from a heart of worship.  It is not about the how, it is about the Who.  However, many people made rules out of the new tool and it became a point of contention in many churches. 

Another example of a tool turning into a rule is family devotions.  The family hearth, family prayer, family devotions whatever you call it can be a wonderful tool for helping children grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  However, it can also be the means of turning children away from the very God parents are trying so hard for them to know.   To be honest, we tried many different means and ways to include this into our family.  Why?  Because I heard on Focus on the Family radio and in various Christian parenting books that this was a non-negotiable.  If we wanted to raise Godly men and women we must start with family devotions.  What went wrong?  The fact my husband had never heard of such a thing, for one thing!  He had not read any books on the subject, neither had he had any direct revelation or conviction from the Lord about doing” it.  He just had my “encouragement”.  The kids for the most part hated it…it was an endurance contest for us all.  So when we went back to simply talking to Jesus, with Jesus and about Jesus all day long—it worked!  We influenced our kids with what was real in our hearts.  We set an example by them seeing us spending time with the Lord in the Word and in prayer with them at the dining table and before they went to sleep.  But in my heart I had to deal with the anxiety of the fact we broke the “rule” which in fact is only a tool!  The tool is to help our children come to know Him.     

These same tools to rules concerns can be found in “how to study the Bible” guidelines, “how to pray guidelines” etc.  We must be careful as leaders not to insist things become rules when the Bible only shares them as tools.  There is no rule in the Word that it must be read through once a year, but we are given strong encouragement to meditate on it, to hide it in our hearts and to love it.  I have read it through in a year several times, but then, personally, I got so caught up in making sure my boxes are checked it stopped being life giving. I came into a season where I needed to focus on smaller quantities to really take the time to think about what I was reading.   Is it wrong to encourage a set  systematic study of the Word? Of course not.  But again, we must be careful we don’t use our tools as rules and therefore add condemnation to others.

Bottom line. Share the tools that have brought life to you. But first make sure that the rules are taught as rules and the tools as tools.  2 Timothy 2:15-16 instructs us: Work hard so God can approve you. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. Avoid godless, foolish discussions that lead to more and more ungodliness.  This book does make you think, which is a good thing.  You probably won’t agree with everything, but, then again, that is ok!

*Osborne, Larry. Contrarians’ Guide to Knowing God. Multnomah Books, 2007