Climbing Mountains

CLIMBING MOUNTAINS

I have encountered all kinds of students - formerly (at conferences, classes, workshops, ministry events, etc.), informally (in online groups like Scribal Prophets), and in intimate relationships (mentoring, shepherding, etc.) over the years.

Some have been so unchurched that discussing or providing any kind of guidance is as much an uphill battle as walking with people who are breaking free from extreme tradition, legalism and religion. But people walking through all of these areas are drawn to The Scribal Anointing®, and I've committed myself to helping them go as far as they are willing to travel within the capacity given to me.

As a teacher, it is my prayer that you have made that decision as well. I always remind myself that if the Lord can walk with me - wherever I have been along my journey, I also have the capacity to join that walk of love with those willing to learn.

In the School of the Scribe, there are FOUR mountains we must overcome as I see it. Those mountains come with understanding that not everyone THINKS like we do, believes everything we believe or practice their faith in the same exact way as we do. In my walk with the Lord, I've sat as a student in conferences with Pentecostals, Catholics and Quakers who love Jesus. I mean REALLY love Him.

I've also taught people of varying faiths based in Christianity at arts conferences globally. In one all-day intensive, I had over 50 students from at least eight different faith-based groups (some New Age) that felt the calling of the scribe. Listen, I was brought to that conference to teach The Scribal Anointing, and that is exactly what I did -- exactly the way I do it.

When we are climbing mountains, we MUST climb them in a way that reveals Christ - not our pet doctrines and most hated sins. Whatever you teach concerning the scribe, especially if you a market place or non-traditional minister, should be a safe place for giving LIFE "IN CHRIST" TO EVERY SOUL THAT
ENTERS YOUR SPACE.

THE FOUR MOUNTAINS

THE FIRST MOUNTAIN WE MUST CROSS IS THE MOUNTAIN OF INCLUSION.
Sadly, inclusion has become a hated word in the Christian faith. As we use it inside The School of the Scribe, it simply means that like Christ, we have NO RESPECTOR OF PERSONS concerning who can come to learn about the ministry of the prophetic scribe. Anyone who desires to study in this program has a place of belonging here.

We can cross this mountain simply by creating space for people to learn, grow and be encouraged in their calling. The concept here is simple: We are creating a culture for learning -- just like in any educational environment. For The School of the Scribe this is what inclusion is about. We are that place. We are the catalyst for people to enter the presence of the Lord and experience transformation from where they are right now. (Romans 2:11-16)

THE SECOND MOUNTAIN WE MUST CROSS IS THE MOUNTAIN OF TRADITION.
Simply put, tradition is a defined as a custom or practice based on a set of beliefs passed down from generation to generation. These traditions are man-made and deeply rooted in culture. TRADITION can be found in absolutely every segment of society as well as our faith.

Tradition is not necessarily negative, although it can be (2 Thess 2:15, Col 2:8, Mark 7:3-9). It literally becomes a problem in relational settings when people attempt to force their traditions on other people (Galatians 5:1-6, Luke 6:1-11). Please review these scripture verses and pay close attention to Galatians 5:6. We do not want our traditions to become a point of conflict - whether considered cultural or sacred.

We can cross this mountain by identifying, walking toward and then standing on common ground. We can deliberately find ways to embrace mutuality and, perhaps, reason together. Dignity, respect and the New Covenant commandment of love ALWAYS reign here (Matthew 15:1-20).

THE THIRD MOUNTAIN WE MUST CROSS IS THE MOUNTAIN OF LEGALISM.
Legalism, in the Christian faith, has several arms of distinction. Our focus, however, is on this definition: Legalism is defined here as managing our faith by law -- rules and regulation - over grace. We believe in holiness, righteousness and grace... and often teach from that perspective.

The School of the Scribe fiercely opposes legalism (Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 3:19-29, Romans 14:1, Colossians 2:20-23, John 1:17, Romans 14:1-13). Also, Romans 8:1-4.

We can cross this mountain by creating a safe space to help people understand the gift of grace within the context of Christ. We teach from a place of grace in The School of the Scribe. We can begin overcoming this mountain by being open to ideas that may be different from what we have been taught.

THE FOURTH MOUNTAIN WE MUST CROSS IS THAT OF BEING RELIGIOUS (OR SUPER-SPIRITUALITY).
This is highly controversial topic. Like the conversation about legalism, it has several arms that we could discuss. Being religious, in and of itself, is not negative. At its bare bones it means to be faithfully devoted to the inward and outward practice of one's faith. This type of understanding is healthy, strong and expected for serious believers.

The negative connotation falls under this definition: To be devoted to an appearance of faith so strongly that it snatches the person out of reality -- the practical, rational mind and pulls them into fantasy, delusion or other-worldliness.

This mountain can be crossed by looking for practical solutions to the world around us AS WELL AS spiritual solutions. We have had great success in breaking this stronghold off the lives of scribes by loving them in "non-religious, non-legalistic environments" where the wisdom of Holy Spirit brings redirection and opens our eyes to other options.

A great scripture reference for this mountain is Colossians 2:18-19, "Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow."

ARTICLES FOR REVIEW:
The Dangers of Tradition
The Trap of Tradition
Building Inclusive Ministries
Confessions Of A Recovering Legalist
Prophetic Word: Deconstructing The Religious Mind
5 Ways To Recover From Growing Up In Legalism