DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD?

  Part 1

  Doug Fortune

The first chapter of my last book was written while speeding through the suburbs of Paris on a train headed to the south of France to minister. I'm having 'déjà vu'... once again I find myself in the same circumstance. This time the train is headed for Lyon, France where I will minister in three churches. I'm not sure if it is the train or France that bids me to write, but write I must!

Yesterday, like a good tourist, I set out with an agenda. My whole day was planned, complete with Paris Metro stops and directions to everything I wanted to see again. I should have known that 'other plans' were in the works also. My first stop was intended to be a short one at Basilique Saint-Denis, a cathedral erected in honor of Saint Denis, a patron saint of France and, according to legend, the first bishop of Paris. Although it is a very large, very beautiful, and very old cathedral, I would venture that many are not as familiar with it as some of the other well known cathedrals in the area such as Notre Dame or Sacré-Cœur.

Hang in here with me now, as I do have a spiritual application coming up. Saint Denis of Paris, also called Dionysius, Dennis, or Denys, was martyred in approximately 250. Gregory of Tours states that Denis was bishop of the Parisii and was martyred by being beheaded by a sword. The earliest document giving an account of his life and martyrdom, the Passio SS. Dionysii Rustici et Eleutherii dates from c. 600. It appears from the Passio that Denis was sent from Italy to convert Gaul in the third century, forging a link with the "apostles to the Gauls" reputed to have been sent out under the direction of Fabian. This was after the persecutions under Emperor Decius had all but dissolved the small Christian community at Lutetia. Denis was accompanied by his inseparable companions Rusticus and Eleutherius, who were martyred with him. Apparently Denis, having irritated the tempers of pagan priests for his many conversions, was executed by beheading on the highest hill in Paris (now called Montmartre), which was likely to have been a druidic holy place. The martyrdom of Denis and his companions gave it its current name, which in Old French means "mountain of martyrs". It is said that after his head was chopped off, Denis picked it up and walked two miles, preaching the entire way. The site where he stopped preaching and actually died was made into a small shrine that developed into the Saint Denis Basilica, which became the burial place for the kings of France.

Enough of the history lesson, now let's get to the spiritual application. Whether it is actuality or mere legend, I began to see the prophetic demonstration of Saint Denis crying out to us that we must be willing to be 'beheaded' to truly walk in the nature, character, and power of Christ! Now, before you go sharpening something, allow me to explain.

In Biblical symbolism, the head speaks of mentality and authority. Authority determines what happens within a sphere of influence. Mentalities determine the essence and exercise of authority. In other words, what goes on in your head determines to a large part what goes on in your life! Your thoughts are the essence of who you are and how you act, and that impacts everything around you.

We just read that Gregory of Tours stated that Denis was martyred by being beheaded by a sword. What an incredible spiritual picture for us, as we also are to be beheaded with a Sword; "For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged SWORD, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) Yes, it is the Living Word of Christ within us that severs our connection with the carnal mind. Perhaps beheading is a bit graphic of an illustration, but I believe it depicts the seriousness of what must happen in our lives. The carnal Adamic religious mentality must be severed entirely. We must become living martyrs; "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is ENMITY against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." (Romans 8:6-7) Just as Denis was enabled to walk after his beheading, so we too are enabled to WALK out the character and nature of Christ as we are 'beheaded' of the carnal mind.

Keep in mind that when I speak of the carnal mind, I am not speaking within the context of Christian versus non-Christian mindsets. Many who have had a genuine born-again experience and are committed to Christ still walk in a carnal Adamic mindset. I find myself lapsing into such a mentality at times... that's when it is time to draw the Sword!

There is much emphasis in the church today on spiritual gifts, signs and wonders, and that is fine to a certain extent. I believe there needs to be a much greater emphasis on the WALKING out of the character and nature of Christ in everyday life. Paul, the writer of most of our New Testament, was always more concerned with the formation of the character of Christ in a persons life than with spiritual giftedness; "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be FORMED IN YOU..." (Galatians 4:19) As Christ is fully formed in us, signs, wonders and spiritual gifts become a natural by-product of His Life being lived through us.

Colossians 1:18 tells us that, "...He is the HEAD of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." A body simply can not have two heads, as that creates something un-natural, it crates a 'monster' of sorts. So it is with us, we can not have two heads, as that creates a spiritual 'monster' of sorts. One 'head' must be severed with the Sword of the Word in order for the Son of Man to find a place to lay His Head (Matthew 8:20).

I found it also quite interesting that the Basilique Saint-Denis was the burial place for the kings of France. Kings are the ultimate symbol of authority. A king determines what goes in, what goes out, and what goes on in his kingdom. Metaphorically speaking, kings are somewhat like the mentalities that you and I have. Our mentalities determine to a large part what goes in, what goes out, and what goes on in our everyday 'kingdom' of life. Perhaps it is time to BURY some 'kings'!

Needless to say, my day was altered dramatically as I spent much more time in Saint Denis just soaking in the revelation. I also allowed my well thought out tourist plan to be 'severed' and found myself wandering 'accidentally' into a most wonderful section of Paris that I had never been before. (To be continued...)