To join or not to join? The Order of the Mustard Seed (OMS)

It has been on my heart for quite some time to consider joining the Order of the Mustard Seed (OMS).

I first heard about them from the 24-7 prayer movement but it never quite seemed like the time yet so I mentally filed it in the 'later' folder.

It seems like later has arrived, because lately I have felt more and more aligned with the three principles of the OMS:

• to be true to Jesus - that's what I'm all about, as you can see on this blog

• to be kind to others - one of the rules in our family is that we don't always have to be nice, but we do have to be kind

• to go - the OMS words this one as to take the good news to the nations, but go to me personally means 'doing' Jesus in me

I resonate with everything the OMS does and stands for .... but I have a few hesitations that I'm currently wrestling with (my discernment process always looks like a wrestle. I think it's a good thing because it gets me up close and personal with the Spirit!).

1. There doesn't seem to be a precedence in the bible where humans initiate a covenant.

Throughout the bible, God is usually the one who initiates convenants, not humans. The earliest one I recall is Noah, when the rainbow is given as a sign that He would never destroy the earth by flood again (Gen 9:11). The next one that springs to mind is the promise to Abraham - of land, descendents, and blessings (Gen 12:1-3). In our current time, we are in a new covenant (Matt 26:28) and we have the Holy Spirit as the promise and seal guaranteeing our inheritance (Eph 1:13-14). Covenants all around, with a lot of signs and promises and rituals. But all initiated by God.

The one exception I can think of is the Nazirite vow (Num 6), which is voluntary just like the OMS. But with the bible usually pre-empting things that are not ideal (eg: Deu 17:14-20 lists the things that kings aren't supposed to do when no monarchy existed in Israel yet. It's obvious that the establishment of the monarchy was obviously a situation that was not God's ideal - 1 Sam 8:7 - but it's what God tolerated and had to work with/around) I'm wondering if God gave those Nazirite guidelines because He pre-empted situations where some people will want to make vows. So if you're going to make a vow, it's not the ideal situation, but here are some guidelines. Which brings me to #2...

2. Matt 5:33-37 cautions against swearing an oath.

We are told to let our yes be yes and our no be no. Anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

I think Jesus said this because He KNOWS that we're unable to keep our vows. When God cut a covenant with Abraham, He made Abraham pass out (Gen 15) and God was the only one to walk between the divided animal carcasses. It was a symbol that He would take on His portion of the covenant promise, but that He would take on Abraham's as well because He knew Abraham could never do it. It was an act of severe mercy and grace.

With the new covenant, we know that our salvation is an unearned gift. We are saved by grace, through faith. Yes, discipleship has a cost, but that's a price we pay for choosing to follow Jesus. A vow has deeper connotations though, and if Jesus cautioned against it, I don't know if that's an ideal scenario that God has in mind. Which brings me to #3.

3. A covenantal relationship is not God's ideal.

I think of Abraham when I say this. Gen 15:5-6 is when God told Abraham (Abram at the time) that his descendents will be as numerous as the stars. Verse 6 says: Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. The apostle Paul referred to this as well in Gal 3:6: So also Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. We call Heb 11 the hall of faith. It has a whole lists of people who did right by God, and it's all about faith. Faith = trust. It's trust in action.

Which leads me to think that God's ideal scenario isn't a vow or an oath or a covenant, but pure trust between people in the relationship. The latter part of Gen 15 (verse 9 onwards) is when the covenant between God and Abraham is cut, but that covenant came about because Abraham couldn't trust! In verse 8, it says: But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?”.

It gives me the impression that covenants are made because 'you can't trust me, so let's formalize this thing with official promises'. Covenants are not the ideal; they're the backup plan.

4. When Jesus came, died and resurrected, He inaugurated the kingdom.

God's kingdom is already here right now. Granted, it's not here in all its fullness because we're told to live in the world but not to be of the world (John 17). So we're told to live like the kingdom is already here; it's how we create our little pockets of heaven here on earth. So my hesitation is this: why are we cutting covenants if they're not a kingdom ideal (see #4) when the kingdom is already here? If the ideal is just a trust relationship, why are we adding to it?

A case that comes to mind is when the Sadducees asked Jesus about the woman who married 7 brothers (Luke 20:27-38). Jesus answered them saying that marriages won't exist (at least not the way we know it) in the new age. In my opinion, that's like Jesus saying, "dude, you don't get it. You're totally asking the wrong question. There will be no need for covenants then because it's not the ideal way to sustain a relationship!"

But that leaves me with a problem. which brings me to #5. Which is actually #1 because it's an argument FOR joining the order rather than a hesitation....

5. Marriage is a big thing in the now-and-not-yet of the kingdom.

Marriages - covenantal relationships - are mentioned numerous times in the bible. It is a relationship that is honored (Heb 13:4). Rev 19:7-9 describes a future event in heaven known as the 'wedding of the Lamb,' where the Bride (the Church) is united with Christ. The Rev passage may be a metaphorical one, but it cannot be denied that the institution of marriage as being a sacred, binding relationship between two people is still very much a current thing. In fact, it is so important and so prominent in our world that Paul dedicated 1 Cor 7 to discussing the dynamics between husband and wife.

So....

Should I or should I not join the OMS?

I don't know. Not yet.

But I do know that regardless of my decision, the wrestling that I'm doing at the moment is what will deepen my relationship with Jesus.

Do you have any reflections/thoughts about anything I shared about? Send me a message or comment below; I would truly love to hear it.

Disclaimer: the content above represents my current knowledge and understanding of Scripture. I hope and aim to grow in this area, so if you're reading this in the future (read: not the same day it was written), my views and opinions may have matured. I reserve the right to change my mind as I learn more.