Proverb For The Day–Proverbs 28

Many years ago, and for many years I used to read the chapter in Proverbs that corresponded with the day of the month.  That of course is very easy to do since Proverbs conveniently has 31 chapters.  Since Proverbs was written to provide wisdom, especially in practical matters dealt with daily, it is an excellent book to read and study on a regular basis.

Today, being the 28^th of the month, means that Proverbs 28 is the chapter to look at.  Right off the bat in verse 1 is a great truth.  Reading from the NIV:

“The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.”

This verse comes from a section in Leviticus26 that people don’t like reading because it is negative.  If we don’t read all the sections of God’s Word that talk about consequences of unbelief, what we have left is a positive thinking program that is NOT God’s Word.  We HAVE to accept the consequences of unbelief along with the blessings of obedience.  That is the way God set it up to work.  Leviticus 26:14-17 is the section upon which Proverbs 28 is based:

“But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands,

And if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws, and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant,

Then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life.  You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it.

I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you.”

Pure panic manifests itself though running, scared to death, from an imaginary enemy.  The earmark of someone enslaved to fear is when they are petrified by something that is not really there.  God made it perfectly clear that among the problems to be encountered after deliberate disobedience is the terror of THINKING one is being pursued, but in reality there is nothing or no one there.

Back in Proverbs 28, it says in verse 2:

“When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.”

Because of Israel’s continual disobedience, there was a revolving door of leadership many times.  Kings rarely stayed in power for very long because they were killed by disloyal subjects or children.  In contrast to this, a wise ruler is able to successfully rule and maintain order through the insight and understanding God gives them.  A very important verse in this chapter is verse 3:

“A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.”

Gentle rain is very good for crops but heavy, driving rain many times ruins the entire crop.  God does not want those who rule over the people, either governmentally or spiritually to oppress the poor.  He forbids the exploitation of downtrodden people for self-gains.  Leaders are to help, bless and advocate for the oppressed.  Leaders are NEVER to USE the poor and disadvantaged for anything.  A very important principle is found in verse 5:

“Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.”

Evil and corrupt people just don’t get what justice is all about.  They do everything they can to circumvent justice, manipulate judges and through extortion and fraud make a mockery of the entire judicial system.  Justice is a foreign concept to those who are inherently corrupt.  Verse 8 provides great insight into what millions of “money launderers” have to look forward to:

“He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.”

Many times throughout the Old Testament God forbids the practice of charging excess interest on loans.  The policy of charging outlandish interest is nothing but extortion Biblically.  Those found guilty of this type of oppression will see all they have amassed end up being taken from them and given to the very people it was stolen from to begin with.  Contrary to evil men, God DOES understand justice.  Verse 9 confronts hypocrisy:

“If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.”

People who think they can reject the Word of God and get by on their long prayers and apparent “righteousness” are in for a rude awakening one day.  If a person refuses to listen to and obey the Word of God; all that persons prayers are detestable in God’s sight.  Verse 10 confronts those who say “Do as I say but not as I do”:

“He who leads the upright along an evil path will fall into his own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.”

Verse 11 is very important in understanding the different perspectives God gives to the rich and poor:

“A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.”

It is truly amazing how many “common” folk can “see right through” the facades the arrogant put up.  The rich person thinks he is fooling everyone with his façade, but in reality the poorest people are usually the ones who can spot the counterfeit a mile away.  Verse 12 is extremely important in light of the upcoming elections:

“When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding.”

There are candidates running for President in this country that if elected will force many good people to go into hiding.  Many times in the Old Testament men and women of God were forced to hide from evil and corrupt rulers whose only agenda was the elimination of all who lived righteously.  Elijah had to hide from Ahab and Jezebel for years and Joash was hidden for six years during the reign of the wicked king Athaliah.  Verse 13 is extremely important in light of sin and mercy:

“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

Notice it is not just a matter of confessing sin but also renouncing it.  True repentance is far more than just saying “I’m sorry”.  That is good starting point to repenting, but it never happens until there is a change of heart, mind or behavior.  Renouncing the sin that hinders, distracts and defeats us is vital to enjoying the prosperity and wholeness God desires us to receive.  Verse 14 builds upon the preceeding verse:

“Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.”

How many times have we seen people “harden their heart” due to bitterness, resentment or being hurt.  It never pays to harden your heart.  As this verse says, it will lead to “trouble”.  Hard hearts are breeding grounds for all sorts of horrible attitudes and actions.  Medically, it has been proven that many diseases have their root in hard and bitter hearts.  One of my favorite verses in Proverbs is found in verse 19:

“He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.”

If you have land, you are to work it and grow food on it.  Land is not something to just “look at”.  It appalls me to see how few people still plant a vegetable garden.  Not only is it therapeutic to work in a garden, it provides fresh produce for months of the year.  The problem is many people spend all their time “chasing fantasies” instead of living in the “real world”.  Those who live in a realm that does not exist except in their own minds will surely suffer poverty.  Verse 20 says:

“A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.”

The world is full of “get rich quick” schemes that are doomed to failure.  The old “pyramid” marketing schemes were so devious they were declared illegal.  Many kids go to college for the sole purpose of making a quick million upon graduating so they can “retire” at age 35 and live the rest of their life in the lap of luxury.  Maybe a few succeed, but the vast majority fall flat on their face and end up slaving away until they are 65 before retiring on “peanuts”.  Verse 22 says:

“A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him.”

Only those who learn to give away what God has blessed them with every truly get “rich”.  Those who hoard every penny and live as a pauper even though they have millions are living epistles of this verse.  In verse 24 is a truth that I wish families would print on the walls of their homes:

“He who robs his father or mother and says, “It’s not wrong”—he is partner to him who destroys.”

Many children seem to think it is perfectly fine to rob their parents blind and never think it is wrong.  Stealing from your parents makes one a partner with the devil himself.  Verse 26 says:

“He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.”

The overwhelming majority of people today trust in themselves for everything.  The overwhelming majority of people today are fools.  Verse 27 says:

“He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.”

Herein lies my purpose in writing this post.  There is an emerging crisis taking place in this country.  As the economy constricts, people have quit giving to the poor.  This is dangerous territory to explore.  This country has always taken care of those without.  If it ceases to help those who are sick, disabled, elderly and unable to take care of themselves; then God will cease blessing this country and the alternative to Him blessing is to receive many curses.  One of those curses is verse 28, which repeats the very thing said in verse 12.  When something is said twice in the Word of God it is CONFIRMED:

“When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.”

Part of the curse of not caring for the poor is that wicked people rise to power who in turn exploit the poor for their own gain.  The righteous end up having to go into hiding to stay alive.  In due time the righteous become bold as a lion again and the wicked people run and hide from imaginary enemies.

Let us pray for God’s blessing on this country and that whoever emerges as the candidates in the upcoming election, that they look to God, and are committed to helping those who are poor and oppressed.  God does not honor political parties.  He looks on the heart and so should we.

Proud to be a “Jesus Freak”

Most people do not like being “labeled”.  By definition “label” is simply a short word or phrase descriptive of a person, group, movement, etc.  Labels are affixed for convenience sake, for they make it easy to sort people into categories.  “Oh, there goes a religious fanatic” or “Watch out, here comes that Jesus freak” are examples of labels people in the world put on us Christians.  I do not object to being labeled, as long as it is accurate.

I have been called, among other things, a “Jesus freak” since I was a teenager back many centuries ago.  What exactly is a “Jesus freak” anyway?  I realize that the very word “freak” is not used as much as it was many years ago, but I know people still “freak out” when they get shocked or stunned by something.  The questions that come to mind are whether Jesus was a “freak” and what it means to be a “Jesus freak”. 

I love the dictionary.  I love looking up the meaning of words.  Upon looking up the word “freak”, I was amazed to see all the ways it can be defined.  Gosh, one would think I would have looked this word up ages ago, as many times as I was called it, but I never did until today.  Why today?  You guessed it, I was recently called a “Jesus freak” again.

I would like to assume the usage of “freak” that is reflected in what I am called is:  a devoted fan or enthusiast (such as a baseball freak).  O.K., I can live with that.  I most certainly am a fan of Jesus and definitely an enthusiast.  But, somehow I don’t think this is the definition being implied by those who use it as an insult.  Freak is basically meant to describe an abnormal phenomenon or product or unusual object: an aberration.  Hmm, that is getting closer to the meaning I think is intended.  But, there is more.  Freak can also mean a person or animal on exhibition as an example of a strange deviation from nature.
 
You know what; I sort of like these definitions.  I don’t know if I object to being called an aberration or a deviation from nature, for that is exactly what I become when I put on the renewed mind and manifest the mind of Christ as opposed to my old nature.  By golly, perhaps these scorners have stumbled upon a very good description of us Christians.  Maybe we really are “freaks” after all.  Just so long as the definition being used is not:   habitual user or addict (such as a heroin freak).

All kidding aside, in the world’s eyes, we are strange people.  People who have no spirituality about them cannot figure us out.  They have no clue why we live the way we live, think the way we think or talk the way we talk.  They look at us as “freaks of nature”.  In their eyes we have a big horn between our eyes, or have six legs.  We are aberrations for sure.  Some laugh at us, and some feel sorry for us.  Some are afraid of us and some ignore us.  All look at us as freaks in one form or another.

Twenty years ago, my wife and I took our first trip to the animal shelter to find what became our “firstborn” dog.  I wanted a nice looking cocker spaniel that appeared to be a fine dog.  My wife kept being drawn to a strange looking white dog with only one eye.  This dog was on “death row” and was scheduled to be put down the next day if no one adopted her.  I didn’t want the dog because of how she looked.  My wife wanted the dog because of how she looked.  I am sure most of you know which dog we ended up getting.

“Pirate”, as we immediately named her, was our beloved and truly special pet for the next twelve years.  She ended up being a good of a dog as anyone could ever want.  Within a very short amount of time, we no longer saw her physical imperfections when we looked at her.  In our eyes she was perfect, no matter how she looked to anyone else.

We may look like “freaks” to those around us now, but if we stay faithful, keep growing in love and continue to renew our minds to God’s Word; we could easily turn into a thing of beauty to someone in dire need down the road.  So what if those who are only interested in this world’s praise think us to be weird.  So what if those who think themselves to be perfect because of their looks, money or influence turn in disgust when they see us coming.  So what if in their eyes we have a big “J F” (Jesus Freak) stamped on our foreheads.   Rest assured when Jesus himself walked this earth, he was considered far worse than a “freak” by his enemies. 

One of these days, one of these people will see their entire life fall apart before their eyes.  One of these days they will lose their career, their spouse, their home or their children and find all they lived for  thrust into a state of confusion and despair.  Suddenly, instead of being the “cool” one looking down on everyone else, they will be the crushed one desperately searching for anyone to love them and show them the way. 

Truth be told, when that day arrives, deep in their heart they will be praying for one of the “J F” people to come around.  Within their heart of hearts, they will scream out for one of those “freaks” they used to deride to appear in front of them to comfort, exhort and lead them out of their despair into the promised land of peace and joy in Christ.
 
Never despair if others call you names or look down upon your faith.   Simply remain faithful and know deep within, that someday soon those who think you crazy will be praying for you to help them.  Our job is to remain faithful and proudly wear our “J F” for all to see.   God will bring those who need us to us if we do.
 

Have the Faith of God

Faith is one of those words which has many different definitions.  Biblically, one must determine by the context whether faith is referring to “the faith of Jesus Christ”, the “family of faith” or “firm belief”.  There is no greater verse in the Bible dealing with faith as an act of utter and complete belief than Hebrews 11:1 where it says:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

The word translated “substance” is the Greek word “hupostasis”.  The word basically means “essence, substance, reality; that which is the basis of something; hence, guarantee or confidence.”  In other words, the word means “documentable proof, thus providing a guarantee”.    I believe it was James Moulton who first started using the term “title deed” as the appropriate translation of this word. 

A title deed provides proof of ownership.  If you can produce the title deed to a property, then you can prove you own that property.  When making the dreaded trip to the DMV to get tags for a new vehicle; you must have the title for the vehicle or it will never become yours.  A title is the legal proof you own something, even if it is a thousand miles away.  If you have the title, the property is yours. 

When a person buys a car and finances it through a bank or other facility; the title goes to the bank and stays there until the car is paid off.  Although you have the car, drive the car, pay taxes on the car, etc; you do not own the car until there is no longer a lien against it.  As long as money is owed on the car, it never really is yours.  The same thing happens with mortgages on homes.  Until the home is paid off, the mortgage holder is the real owner of the house.

Hebrews 11:1 states that faith is the title deed of things “hoped for”.  This hope is really nothing more than what we are praying for.  When we pray, we have faith that what we are praying about comes to pass.  That faith is our title deed to what we are praying for.  It is also the “evidence” of things not seen.  The word translated “evidence” is an obscure Greek word only used one other place in the New Testament.  The word literally means “to convict, or conviction”.   It is a legal word that is used as a figure of speech here in Hebrews.  It would be better translated “certain persuasion” although many versions translate it “conviction”.

Faith, that mysterious word with a truckload of different meanings, is the title deed and certain persuasion of things prayed for and not yet seen.  Every great person of faith who ever lived knew by experience what this verse was talking about.  In fact, the entire eleventh chapter of Hebrews is devoted to those who from God’s perspective were men and women of faith.  Everyone mentioned or mentioned by name in Hebrews 11 practiced verse 1 and that is what enabled them to make into the “Faith Hall of Fame”.

Think of dearly beloved Peter.  Out in their boat at night, the disciples think they see a ghost standing on the water.  Peter thinks it might be Jesus, but isn’t quite sure.  He calls out to this ghost and demands that if he is really Jesus, then tell him to walk on the water to him.  Ah, Peter knew that only Jesus would really tell him to do it.  I am quite sure Peter was not expecting any reply.  Much to his surprise, the Master told him ONE WORD; “COME”.  The word of God doesn’t always have to be 2000 words.  Sometimes it is only ONE word.

Once Peter had the Word Of God, he either needed to believe it or reject it.  Without so much as even thinking about the consequences, Peter climbed out of the boat and started walking on the water to Jesus.  Even as he was climbing out, the voices of the other disciples were ringing through his mind.  “Don’t do it Pete”, “You are going to sink”, “Think of your Mom, Peter”; everywhere and from all directions he was being bombarded with all the good reasons NOT to walk out on faith to Jesus.

Once you receive the Word of God in your life, start walking.  Don’t wait around for detailed instructions as to how to get out of the boat and how to handle walking on waves.  Just DO IT!!  Peter got out of the boat and immediately started walking on the water.  When he took that first step of faith, he literally believed what Jesus had said to him was true.  In his case, Peter did not need a title deed, but rather a plank, and he got one.  Peter’s faith in the word of God given to him by Jesus was the guarantee he would not sink when he tried to walk on the water.

Peter did begin to sink only when he “lost the faith” by getting distracted and looking at the waves instead of the Lord Jesus.  When we glue our eyes upon the Lord and fasten ourselves to the word He gives us; we can walk on water.  We can do whatever it is that God sets before us to do if we have complete faith it came from God and is directed to us. 

Nowhere is faith more completely taught, than by Jesus after he has cursed the fig tree and it died overnight.  In Mark 11:22 it says:

“And Jesus answering said unto them, Have faith in God.”

Some manuscripts omit this verse, some have it as it is recorded in the KJV and still others would have it read; “Have the faith of God”.  Wow, what a concept that is!   To have the faith of God is certainly beyond our mortal mind’s ability to comprehend.  How much faith does God have?  Hebrews 11:3 says:

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed (prepared) by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

God had to literally create everything as He prepared the ages and fashioned the universe.  God spoke, and things that were not there came into being.  That is faith!  As Genesis 1 repeatedly says; “and God said…” and it came to pass.  God spoke His Word and it came to pass because of His faith.  Oh how glorious life would be for us all if we could “have the faith of God”!  If we could, then back in Mark 11 it goes on to say in verses 23 and 24:

“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he says.

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive and you shall have them.”

Faith is powerful.  Prayer without faith is like a boat without an oar.  When we pray, we need to manifest the “faith of God” in order to see the mountains moved and the things prayed for come to pass.  I think we all know that faith is vital to seeing results when we pray.  But, did you ever notice what the next two verses in Mark say, immediately after these verses on prayer?  Look at verses 25 and 26 squarely in the context of having the faith of God:

“And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

Holy something or other; it takes the “faith of God” to forgive others for those things they have done against you and to believe the Father has forgiven you.  Do we need to forgive others?  We do if we want our Father to forgive us.  Honestly, it takes just as much faith to conquer bitterness and resentment and forgive as it does to move a mountain or expect results in prayer. 

All these things are humanly impossible, but with God, they are possible.  It takes faith to forgive for it goes against our very nature.  It takes faith to believe, for the senses say it is impossible.  It takes faith to conquer the doubts that keep us from seeing God’s Word come to pass in our lives for they gnaw away at us like gnats in the summer.  Have the faith of God!

What is the True Church and Who are True Christians?

Religion is not Christianity and true Christianity is not a religion.  I have written on this before and I will continue to hammer away at this subject until I am chased away.  Sincerity is not guarantee for truth and truth needs no defense.  I have written on this before and I will continue to hammer away at this subject until someone succeeds in hammering me away.  Theologians have no better grasp on true Christianity and the truth than any believer who honestly studies the Bible and allows the Holy Spirit to guide them into the “all truth”. 

Sheep are very stupid animals.  They, along with cattle and pigs will follow the leader wherever he goes.  When Jesus cast out the demons from the lunatic, they went into a herd of swine that proceeded to one by one walk right off the cliff to their demise.  Both the Old Testament and the New speak of “sheep being led to the slaughter”.  This is because sheep will literally follow each other to the slaughterhouse. 

People with “sheep mentality” will not think for themselves.  They want someone else to do their thinking for them.  They want someone to just tell them that 2+2=22 and be done with it.  They do not want to take the time or expend the energy to figure out on their own that 2+2=4.  Thus, they become charter members of the “new math” club.  Laziness in thinking breeds willingness to follow whomever has the best and easiest message.

People attend a particular church many times because they “like” the people, pastor or building.  Whatever happened to liking the message?  People many times choose where they are going worship using the same criteria as when choosing a doctor.  Namely, they go where their friends tell them to go.  When a church becomes popular, the message ceases to be the reason for attending, and the social aspects take over.

I see a billboard every time I drive an interstate near home.  It advertises a church with a white guy, an oriental woman, a black teenager and an Indian child with the message; “So and So Church, where friends become family.”  Hold on here, since when do churches need to put up billboards to begin with.  Even if they do, is the purpose of the church to provide a nice and comfortable social club?  Is the reason Jesus gave his life so that “friends can become family?”

This stuff turns my stomach.  I love my Lord and Savior far too much to hold any other view of such foolishness as that it is pure error.  Years ago there used to be laws on the books prohibiting lawyers from advertising.  Their lobby got those laws overturned in many states and now the billboards and the television commercials are full of advertisements for some personal injury attorney who is going to win you millions of dollars for that stubbed toe you got when kicking a rack at the store.

My attitude about churches advertising is about equal to attorneys advertising.  It should not be done.  I cannot imagine Jesus putting up billboards all around the countryside announcing he was in town for a week of “signs, miracles and wonders”.  I cannot imagine Jesus taking up a special offering after healing people and then climbing into his camel driven motor coach to head to the next town.

Jesus did what he did because he loved God and he loved the people.  He taught them because he wanted them to know the truth and receive eternal life.  He healed them because of the compassion he felt for their misery.  He died for them because it was why he had come in the first place.  He knew his mission and purpose in life, and it dealt fully with doing His Father’s will and manifesting love.

Every time I drive to southwest Missouri, I go past the biggest church complex I have ever seen.  This huge place has a building big enough to hold many thousands for its Sunday services.  It has other buildings scattered around for other events.  It has huge electronic billboards bigger than those at some baseball stadiums with bright lights scrolling messages of upcoming events.  I have never seen more than a couple of cars parked in the spacious lot. 

Is the church supposed to mimic the world and turn itself into a multi-media spectacular theatre putting on productions worthy of academy awards?  Is the church to become so huge that an individual member is known only by their nametag?  Is the church’s purpose to “win” the world by bedazzling it with lights, sound and the such?  Yes, if that church is the counterfeit church of the apostasy.

I am sorry, but there is no way I can believe these ridiculous edifices springing up along the nation’s interstates are God’s churches.  So what if some charismatic leader can inspire twenty five thousand sheep to “follow him or her”.  So what if they can persuade thousands of wealthy people to give millions of dollars to buy “the ministry” airplanes, mansions and vacation condos.  Just because a person has a million dollar smile and is the walking personification of charisma doesn’t mean they know one iota of the truth. 

Christians are being deceived by the same glitter that deceives the world into believing its lies.  Christianity is not about mega-churches, mega-billboards and mega multimedia productions.  Christianity is not about filling stadiums with screaming teenagers who were lured in by some rock group who claim to be Christian.  Christianity is not about plastering the interstates with billboards advertising your church as some fuzzy place to go and hold hands.

What true Christians are left, better wake up and see what is happening to their beloved church before it is too late.  Anybody who loves Jesus as their personal Savior and obeys him as their Lord better request a personal audience with him so as to hear firsthand what he thinks about all these things being done in his name. 

Any ministry, church or group built upon the charisma of one person is a cult.  It is not about the leader, it is about the Head of the Church—Jesus Christ.  Until my dying day, I will call to account every person who built a “ministry” and then had the audacity to name it after themselves.  Not only is this the height      of egotism, it is an automatic clue that the ministry is not legitimately from God.

Christianity does not consist of what is on the outside.  That is religion.  The huge complexes being built in the name of Christianity are nothing more than buildings made of brick and stone.  Sticking a cross or a steeple on a building does not suddenly make the cement and lumber used in building it “holy”.  The true church of Jesus Christ is not a building, but rather the body of believers who have been born again and who have made Jesus Christ Lord of their lives.

If people want a social club, then by all means develop one; but do not call in the church of Jesus Christ.  If people want a building to assemble themselves together in; by all means build one, but do not call it the church of Jesus Christ.  If people want to get dressed up and sit through some type of elaborate religious service on a Sunday morning; by all means do so, but do not call it the church of Jesus Christ.  The true church of Jesus Christ is the body of those who are totally committed to Him as their Lord.  It is that plain and simple.

The next time you see a particular “Christian” group advertising their building, program or pastor; ask yourself if Jesus were walking on earth today, is this how He would build His church?  The next time you see a particular “Christian” group decide to focus all their energy on building a “family” at the expense of all else; ask yourself if that is really what Jesus did with his disciples.  Was his purpose in coming to earth to open the door to umpteen thousand denominations who all claim to be His one true church, and to make available cozy campfires, ice cream socials and rummage sales?

Jesus Christ gave his life to make eternal salvation available to those who are willing to believe He died for their sins and that God raised him from the dead.  Jesus Christ gave his life so that God could crown his King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  So that when a person willingly and publically confesses that Jesus is Lord and is THEIR Lord; they can be saved.  Jesus Christ gave his life so that God could ascend him into the heavens far above all principalities and powers and might and make him to be the Head of the Body made up of his believers.

Jesus Christ did NOT give his life to form a new religion.  He did NOT give his life to watch his body be splintered into thousands of small sects and proceed to argue with each other all day.  He did NOT give his life so buildings could be built “in his name”.  He did NOT give his life so that two thousand years later a religion bearing his name would make a mockery of all he did and God did for him.

I am sorry, but what most people call Christianity is nothing more than a fabricated religion that uses my Lord and Savior’s name in vain.  True Christianity is a personal matter between a penitent sinner, a merciful God and loving Savior.  True Christians need no building to worship in, for God is in Christ in them.  True Christians need not have a big “family” to function as a gigantic support group to cope with all life throws them. 

True Christians need only the love of God, the support of their Lord Jesus Christ and the prayers of fellow believers to “survive”.  I pray we all strive to be “true Christians” who are members in particular of His “True Church” which is His body of which He is the head.  Thank you and God bless your heart.