Glossary
11. Pilgrimage
The idea of pilgrimage is central to the life of faith. To live by faith is to live as one who has seen a vision that gives a sense of destiny to ones life. Abraham set out on a pilgrimage because he had seen a vision of a heavenly city (Heb. 11:8-10). The person of faith realises that this world has ultimately nothing to offer and cannot be his home. This does not mean that pilgrims are just looking forward to getting to heaven; rather we long for, look for and move toward a time when heaven will come to earth. This vision revolves around Christ and his bride, the Church, which is that heavenly city - coming out of heaven from God (Rev.21:2). To live by faith is to live to see this vision realised and that involves us in pilgrimage. Pilgrims can never settle; to settle on the journey instead of pressing on toward the vision, is the beginnings of spiritual stagnation. From a poit of view of the corporate body, the church, the spirit of the settler is at the heart of denominationalism.
12. Presence
One of the most wonderful and central truths of Scripture is that God desires to manifest his presence on the earth and to dwell among people. God is of course omnipresent (everywhere at all times) but there are times when, places where and people among whom he can make his presence felt in a tangible and awesome way. God first walked with Adam in the garden and since the rebellion of man God has sought to restore this intimate communion. It is this intent to dwell among people that is behind the building of the Tabernacle and the Temple - places where God would come down in all his glory and meet with his people. His presence with people came fully in the person of Christ and now it is the church, a temple made with living stones, among whom God dwells by his Spirit, that he desires to make his presence felt. The Church should be marked out above all things by the presence of God. One day there is going to be a new heaven and a new earth where God will dwell among people, his presence continually with them - this is the ultimate fulfilment of all his covenant promises.
13. Religion
By religion we mean essentially the means by which man tries to relate to God and to 'heavenly things' on his own terms - seem in an early form in the Tower of Babel (Gen.11) by which man tried to reach to the heavens. Although it may try to hide under a cloak of humility, it is ultimately a thing of pride - they built the tower to make a name for themselves. Man-made religion is always affronted by Jesus, by the cross which demands death to the natural self and its pride, and by the truly spiritual. The religious is always the enemy of the spiritual. Jesus' most persistent and deadly opponents were the religious leaders of his day. They ultimately had him nailed to a cross! The religious spirit often hardens into religious hierarchies, customs, traditions, rituals, institutions and communities which enslave people and resist the true work of God.
14. Religious Leaders
Jesus' most persistent and deadly opponents were the religious leaders of his day. They ultimately had him nailed to a cross! By religion we mean essentially the means by which man tries to relate to God and to 'heavenly things' on his own terms - seen in an early form in the Tower of Babel (Gen.11) by which man tried to reach to the heavens. Although it may try to hide under a cloak of humility, it is ultimately a thing of pride - they built the tower to make a name for themselves. Man-made religion is always affronted by Jesus, by the cross which demands death to the natural self and its pride, and by the truly spiritual. The religious is always the enemy of the spiritual. The religious spirit often hardens into religious hierarchies, customs, traditions, rituals, institutions and communities which enslave people and resist the true work of God.
15. Rule
God created man to rule the earth and, though Adam failed, God provided in Jesus the perfect man who was truly able to take the position of authority ordained for man because he was perfectly obedient. The Kingdom of God is the establishing of God's rule through his King, Jesus Christ, and his people, the church, who are kings and priests. Life, blessing and community always flourish under godly rule and authority - in the family, in the church and in all areas of life. Independence, rebellion, anarchy and chaos are not compatible with the Kingdom of God. It starts with us ruling our thoughts, emotions, attitudes etc. and bringing ourselves under the rule of Christ, his Word and godly leaders appointed by him, as well as being responsible citizens in society. (Refer also to Authority in the glossary).
16. Spiritual
The word spiritual does not refer to the vaguely mystical and otherworldly, or to some religious and indefinable aspect of human nature, as it is somtimes taken to mean in popular usage. It may refer to that which is immaterial but nonetheless real; God is spirit, and there are spirit beings (angels and demons). Indeed there is a whole, immaterial, invisible realm which is 'spiritual' - sometimes referred to as the heavenly realms and crucial to understand and apprehend for the life of faith.
However, the most important meaning of the word spiritual is 'of the Spirit.' It is that which is born of, inspired by, under the influence of or expressive of the Spirit of God. So to be spiritual is to be someone who is living by the Spirit. Something that is said to be spiritual may be immaterial but it will also often mean 'of the Spirit' in contrast to 'of this world.' This is because the Spirit is the one who makes real to us the things of the Kingdom, something of the age to come, in oppostion to that which is of this world and of this age. The things of the Spirit are eternal while the things of this world and age are passing away.
17. The World
In the Bible, the use of the word 'world' sometimes simply refers to the physical earth, and, more often, to the people who populate the earth. However, much of the time it speaks of the world system that is under the control of the devil and is totally opposed to God, his Christ and his Kingdom. There is a culture to this world in the present age, there is a spirit and a pattern to this world and there are rulers and a wisdom to this world. This world even produces its own false religions. In the Old Testament, and in the book of Revelation, the powers of other nations against Israel, especially Egypt and Babylon, are used to represent this world system which seeks to enslave God's covenant people but from which God sets his people free. God does use the nations to bring judgement as discipline upon his own people at times, but ultimately the world stand under the judgement and condemnation of God.
18. Word
God is a speaking God and he reveals himself through the words that he speaks. His words also have creative power. He brought creation into being through his spoken word. His words are therefore living words - powerful, active, creative, transforming, judging, revealing, imparting life and power (See Heb.4:12). Jesus is God's Word made flesh and as such fully reveals in a living being and in human form, the fullness of God. The Bible is God's Word in written form because it reveals God's truth, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and when received by faith has power to elighten - bring revelation - and to impart life. It reveals all that we need to know to experience God's salvation.
19. Worship
Worship of the creator is meant to be the primary activity of the created, and worship is a theme that runs throughout Scripture. From the very first altars built by the patriarchs, through to the tabernacle and the temples, God indicated that there was to be a place where man might come before God and worship. Of course, God is not ultimately concerned with the place of worship but with a people who worship. God the Father is now seeking a people who will worship him not by following certain procedures in set places but who worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). As new covenant believers we are to worship him in and through the Holy Spirit. Worship is primarily about attributing worth to God and we cannot worship any other god besides our God - he is a jealous God and will not share his glory with another.