Seven church models showcase different aspects: prophetic discernment, artisanal perfection, biblical interpretation, inclusivity, capacity building, leadership, and healing ministry.
<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/95c3fdcc-3275-4a58-b6f7-8ec4cf527870/kings_college_skinny.png" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/95c3fdcc-3275-4a58-b6f7-8ec4cf527870/kings_college_skinny.png" width="40px" /> The "Battle for Visibility" at the 7Churches highlights a spiritual struggle against Satan, using elemental gifts empowered by the 7seeds paradigm. This battle involves strategies to overcome challenges and advance the Kingdom of God. Key takeaways include discovering individual genius through the 7seeds paradigm and utilizing these gifts for spiritual warfare.
Battle for Visibility at the 7Churches
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Extract from archeological remains of the 7Churches in present-day Turkey where the stones tell the meta-narrative of the love of God in Christ reconciling the world unto himself (2 Cor 5:19)
Theology, the study of God and divinity in action, is what Augustine called the “greatest human achievement”. How can this study help redeem the wastelands in Asia?
<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/01385e21-9e0d-4e28-8c3d-5158877b10fa/IMAGE_2022-12-06_185208.jpg" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/01385e21-9e0d-4e28-8c3d-5158877b10fa/IMAGE_2022-12-06_185208.jpg" width="40px" /> “To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement.”
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Theologians, in their profound and intricate study of divinity, have been particularly concerned with the concept of restoring humanity's likeness to God. This idea of restoration is not merely a return to a former state, but a return to the original state of human beings before the fall of Adam and Eve in the Creation narratives in Genesis. It's a state that is often characterized by an unbroken relationship with God, a state of moral innocence, and a life without the presence of sin or its consequences. Therefore, the theologians' concern with this restoration is a concern with reconciling humanity to its Creator, with overcoming the alienation and estrangement that sin has caused.
This idea of restoring the image of God in humanity has been a rich vein of thought and discussion throughout the annals of history. It has been deliberated upon and debated by some of the most brilliant minds, leading to the development of many different theories and approaches to religious thought and practice. These discussions have taken place in a variety of contexts, from the hallowed halls of academia to the more informal settings of everyday life, and have involved a wide range of participants, from professional theologians and philosophers to ordinary believers seeking to deepen their understanding of their faith.
Some theologians see the restoration of the image of God as a process of moral and spiritual transformation. This transformation is not just about modifying one's behavior, but about a fundamental change in one's character and desires. It's about becoming a new person, one who reflects God's holiness, righteousness, and love. This process of transformation is often seen as a journey that involves both struggle and growth, and that requires both divine grace and human effort. On the other hand, others see it as a more mystical and contemplative experience. This experience is not just about knowing about God, but about knowing God in a personal and intimate way. It's about becoming aware of the divine presence within oneself and in the world, and about participating in the life of the Trinity. This process of becoming aware is often described as a journey of discovery, a journey that involves both wonder and awe, and that requires both humility and openness.
The roots of evil and corruption lie outside of creation history, in an eternal battle between the forces of good and evil, instigated by demonic hordes without respect for the authority of the highest heaven. This battle is not just a cosmic conflict, but a moral and spiritual struggle that affects every aspect of life. It's a struggle that is often described as a war for the human heart, a war that involves both temptation and deception, and that requires both vigilance and discernment.
What happened in the church at Pergamum, for example, was merely an echo of a previous compromise in Israel’s history that had already been established during the Luciferian coup against the King. This was called a “scandal” because it involved the “turning of hearts (away) from the Father” that created the condition for Malachi 4:6 “… lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” The events in Pergamum are not just a case of history repeating itself, but a case of history rhyming. They are a reminder that the past is not just a collection of events that have happened, but a source of wisdom that can guide us in the present and the future.
In the case of national Israel, the false prophet stands behind and empowers what was being taught through an intermediary Balak who likewise influences the sons of Israel to eat things offered to idols and to immorality. The angel on overwatch at Pergamum allowed certain false doctrine to persist in the ecclesia that led to the death of its most senior and faithful martyr, Antipas. These events are not just a case of history repeating itself, but a case of history rhyming. They are a reminder that the past is not just a collection of events that have happened, but a source of wisdom that can guide us in the present and the future.
Regardless of the specific theological perspective, the restoration of the image of God in humanity is a central theme in the study of the redemption that Christ brings to the earliest ecclesial communities. This theme is not just a topic of academic interest, but a reality that has practical implications for the life of the church and for the life of the individual believer. It's a reality that is often described as a mystery that has been revealed, a mystery that is both already and not yet, and that requires both faith and hope.
