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.

  

God So Loved…

There is a good reason why God chose to call the experience of getting saved the “new birth” or getting “born again”.  These phrases carry with them the connotation of a fresh start or a new beginning.  When we get born again, it is as if we were allowed to start life over again.  Not physically, for that is impossible, but spiritually we are “born again”. 

In the third chapter of the Gospel of John, a Pharisee named Nicodemus came to Jesus in the night to privately ask him some questions without the other Pharisees around to judge or condemn him.  The first thing he does is acknowledge that Jesus is a teacher from God and that God was with him.  Jesus answered and said to Nicodemus in verse 3:

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

This was obviously not what Nicodemus expected to hear, for it was concept totally foreign to his thinking.  He responded as anyone would upon hearing about being “born again”. 

“Nicodemus said unto him, how can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”

You can tell he was truly puzzled by the idea of getting “born again”.  Looking at it from the senses point of view, it is not possible for an old man to climb back into his mother’s womb and proceed to get “born again”.  I am sure Nicodemus was wondering why he was even there.  What kind of silly theology was Jesus promoting?  Who ever heard of getting “born again?”

Jesus proceeded elaborate on this subject in verses 5-8:

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth:  so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

Verse 8 is very cumbersome in the King James Version.  Reading from the Beck Translation it says:

“The wind blows where it pleases and you hear the sound of it, but you don’t know where it’s coming from or where it’s going.  So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

All Nicodemus could say in response to this was; “How can these things be?”  Please keep in mind that Nicodemus according to verse one was a “ruler of the Jews”.  He was a teacher in Israel and sat on the Jewish court.  He should have been able to figure out what Jesus was speaking about.

After reproving Nicodemus in verses 10-13, Jesus lays out the simple truth of who he is, why he is there and how to get saved.  Please allow me to read verses 14-21 from the Williams Translation which is an older translation in the language of the people:

“And just as Moses in the desert lifted the serpent on the pole, the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who trusts in Him may have eternal life.

“For God loved the world so much that He gave His Only Son, so that anyone who trusts in him may never perish but have eternal life.

For God sent His Son into the world, not to pass sentence on it, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Whoever trusts in Him is never to come up for judgment; but whoever does not trust in Him has already received his sentence, because he has not trusted in the name of God’s only Son.

And the ground for the sentence is this, that the light has come into the world, and yet, because their actions were evil, men have loved darkness more than the light.

For anyone who is in the habit of doing wrong hates the light, and to keep his actions from being reproved, he does not come out into the daylight.

But whoever is in the habit of living the truth will come out in the daylight that his actions may be shown to be performed with God’s help.”

The record abruptly ends at this time.  There is no hint as to the response of Nicodemus to hearing this incredible dissertation.  If he was as smart as it appears, I am sure he took what Jesus said to heart and in due time got “born again”.

Whoever trusts in Jesus to be their Savior sent by God can receive that which Jesus came to make available; eternal life.  If a person loves habitually doing wrong, he will hate the light.  He will hide in the darkness and never see the light of glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ for fear of having his habits reproved.

Whoever loves habitually living the truth will gladly come out in the daylight so everyone can see that what he is doing is done with God’s help and through His power.  Evil people doing evil things hide what they are doing under the cloak of darkness.  Righteous people doing righteous things gladly do what they do in the light of day so God can be glorified.

God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son.  He allowed His beloved Son to be nailed on the cross to give up his life for our sins.  God loved the world so much that He rejected the natural Fatherly instinct to “save His son from death”.  God loved the world so much that He, with great sorrow, did not grant His Son the request of “If there be any other way to do this”.  God loved the world so much that He watched with agony as His only Son was beaten, abused, tortured, mocked, scorned, spit upon, degraded, debased and subjected to every sadistic urge known to man.  God loved the world so much that He stood by in heaven and allowed His only Son to die. 

Jesus loved us so much that he willingly went through all he had to suffer in order to redeem us.  Jesus loved us so much that he subjected himself to unfathomable abuse, torture and degradation so that God could legally justify us and declare us righteous when we get born again.  Jesus loved us so much that he allowed himself to be treated worse than any criminal who ever lived in order to set us free.  Jesus loved us so much that he laid down his life so that we might live.

Please, my friends, let us never lose sight of the incredible love shown to us by God when He gave us His Son.  Let us never forget for an instant the love of our Savior Jesus Christ as shown by his willingness to “lay it all on the line” for us.  Love so amazing and so Devine demands our life, our heart and our all.  Love so amazing and so Devine was demonstrated so we could get “born again” and receive eternal life.  Praise God and thank you Jesus for loving us enough to allow us into your Kingdom.  Amen.

    

The High Price of Commitment

I deplore religion.  I deplore those who use religion to promote 100% secular causes.  I deplore religious people who don’t have one ounce of Christian blood inside them.  I am a Christian and I am proud of it.  My citizenship is not of this world and I do not pledge my allegiance to any nation or government of man.  My king is Jesus Christ and to Him and Him alone I am committed.  No institution of man, no religious ruling authority, no principality or power has any right to my heart or dominion over my soul. 

Those who wish to cower in the shadows and hide from the stomping boots of agents bent on the destruction of “Christians” should be the first ones shot.  They are a disgrace to those who gave their lives as martyrs for Christ.  Cowards run for cover when the enemy approaches.  Cowards should be the first ones fed to the hungry lions.

I am very tired of “playing religious games” with people who never have or ever will know and love Jesus Christ as a true Christian does.  “Religious” people are not Christians simply because they practice some religion.  Christianity is not a religion; it is a way of life.  Christianity is a FAITH, not a system of rules or traditions of men.

I pray the next time some crazed madman aims his automatic weapon at people that he would first dare any Christians to be first in line to be shot.  I would pray that there would be some who value their King more than their physical lives.  I would pray there would be some willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for God.  Oh how I pray there will always be a few true Christians around to show the enemy he cannot intimidate everyone.

I thank God for those who have served in the military.  I understand the concept of fighting for freedom.  I also understand that in spiritual warfare, there is only one thing the enemy understands and that is boldness.  Peter speaks of our foe as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.  A lion’s roar freezes its prey in their tracks.  Out of fear they stop and the lion has an easy lunch.  When the lion roars, roar back at him.  Don’t just stand there shaking in your boots.  Take out the sword of the spirit and cut off his tail as a souvenir of your encounter!

Fear freezes people and renders them easy prey for the enemy.  Animal experts say that if a wild animal senses fear in its victim, it will immediately attack them.   So what if the enemy snarls and growls madly.  Snarl and growl right back at him.  No fear has to be a true Christian’s ironclad rule of combat.  If the enemy senses fear, he will immediately go for the jugular.

I am not the least bit afraid of dying.  I especially look forward to the day when I am hauled before the authorities and given the choice of renouncing my faith or being killed.  I would count it my greatest honor in life to give my life on behalf of my king.  There is nothing in this life worth compromising my faith for.  My life is not my own, for I have been bought with a price.  If the greatest thing I can do with this life is give it as a sacrifice to my King; so be it.

In the past 8 months there has been a rash of shooting sprees.  First there was Virginia Tech, and then there was Finland, then Minnesota and now Colorado.  Out of nowhere a wild person suddenly opens fire on innocent bystanders.  Is this a bad thing?  Of course it is, and the latest incident bears out where this is heading.  The gunman in Colorado stated on his pre-killing internet post that he was going out to kill as many Christians as he could.  He hated Christians and his hate bred murder.  This started with Cain and continues unto the present.

 Cain hated his brother Abel and his intense hatred motivated Cain to kill Abel.  The devil hated Christ and the devil hates true Christians for they represent Christ now.  Anyone who is daring to walk as He walked and talk as He talked is at the top of the devil’s hit list.  John 10:10 states that the devil’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy.  He lives and breathes to disrupt and destroy true Christian’s lives.  He plots and plans circumstances to hinder, distract and burden those on his “list”.  He maneuvers people and situations around to present roadblocks, diversions and other things all for the purpose of thwarting God’s plans.  The devil is the ultimate orchestrator and manager.

Those who do not like battle, quickly make deals with the devil to leave them alone.  They agree to do nothing that would threaten him in exchange for “immunity”.  They willingly shut up or water down the truth so as to not rile up the enemy.  They find other “worthy” things to do with this life so as to not do anything worthy of getting the enemy mad.  They are the ultimate pacifists and World War II proved conclusively what happens when you try and pacify the enemy.  He steamrolls right over you.

Those who do not have the “heart” to fight the enemy want comfortable “desk jobs” far removed from the front lines of battle.  These lukewarm Christians don’t want anything to do with the actual “fight”.  They want to be spectators who get to sit in the stands and watch their Christian heroes do battle with the enemy like watching football on a Sunday afternoon.

Fighting the devil is difficult and entails putting on the whole armor of God found in Ephesians chapter 6.  This section of Scripture specifically states that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, and powers and wicked spirits from on high.  The battle is spiritual and it is not pretty.  The devil and his gang are ruthless thugs when it comes to their hatred of Christians.  They will stop at nothing to destroy anyone attempting to expose them and their father the devil.  Thank God He gave us weapons to fight with.  Thank God He has promised us He will never leave nor forsake us.  Thank God for the victory, if not in this life, then eternally!

Christians need to stand up and be counted, not retreat into their fancy churches and hide.  If Christianity is nothing more than a means to financial prosperity; it is nothing but a man-made religion.  If Christianity is a means to become famous; then it is nothing but a man-made fraud.  If Christianity is a fuzzy blanket to snuggle up in and hide from all the woes of the world; it is a counterfeit religion.  True Christianity entails sacrifice and suffering.  True Christianity demands separation from everything this world holds dear.  True Christianity adamantly refuses to compromise with the enemy no matter how attractive his offers sound.

Christians need to have some “guts” or they will become fodder for the devil and his hungry legions of lions.  Weak Christians breed a weak religion void of power and any real conviction.  Christians need to understand that Christianity is not a religion but the rock solid faith of those totally committed to their Master.  Christianity is simply that which describes and defines Christians.  Christians are those who deliberately seek to become just like the Christ who lives within them. 

I direct this post at no one in particular except the enemy.  Jesus Christ needs warriors to rise up.  He needs people not afraid of dying.  He needs people more committed to Him than the world.  He needs people unfazed by the screams of those demanding Christians shut up.  He needs an army of men and women who count not this life dear to them.  He needs people who would rather fight than compromise the truth.  He needs people who are willing to burn rather than bow.  He needs people unafraid of being cast into the lion’s den or the fiery furnace heated 7 times more than normal.

Throughout this world, movements are arising that have one thing in common; their hatred for Christians.  The day will come very soon when those who refuse to compromise the faith will suffer the consequences.   Lord, I want to be in that number.  I want to be one of those you can count on to fight and not run.  I want to put on the whole armor of God so having done all; I can stand for God and withstand all the fiery darts thrown by the wicked one.  I don’t want the enemy to win and thus I feel compelled to fight for that which is true, honest, just and right; no matter the consequence and no matter the cost.  Lord, please grant me the desire of my heart; to stand for you, no matter what.

  

Receiving Your Answer of Peace

Some people make all their decisions in life based on the impact they will have on their “image”.  Others make all decisions based on the impact they will have on their status or sphere of influence.  Still others use financial concerns as the basis for all decisions.  Rare indeed it is to find someone who bases all the decisions in their life on the standard of the Word of God. 

In order to ever make a decision, you must have a standard by which to judge the pros and cons by.  Arbitrary decisions are nothing more than “whims”.  Although minor meaningless choices may be fine to make on a “whim”, anything which will impact your life must be carefully weighed and considered in light of some standard. 

Moving is a huge decision which never can be taken lightly.  Physically moving from one place to another involves so much time and expense, any decision to do so HAS to be right.  Making the wrong decision can have catastrophic consequences for years to come.  Changing jobs is another MAJOR decision which must be carefully considered and weighed against the standard of short vs. long term gain.  Making a big purchase is a huge decision which cannot be done on impulse without tragic results.  A car salesman’s dream customer is one who wanders into the showroom, sees a fancy vehicle and buys on impulse. 

Deciding to have children is the biggest decision a couple ever makes.  Deciding what to do with an elderly parent is a “gut wrenching” decision most children have to make later in life.  Decisions regarding where to attend church and even which faith or denomination to become involved with cannot be made on the spur of the moment based on emotional impulses.

One of the most dangerous things in life is impulse decision making.  Emotions cannot be trusted when it comes to decisions.  The world’s history is littered with examples of ruined people who made horrible decisions based on emotional “whims” or impulses.  To avoid being yet another piece of trash due to making wrong choices, we must learn how to make Godly decisions based on the trustworthy standard of His faithful Word.

We make hundreds if not thousands of decisions every day which ARE made on impulse or split second choice.  These minor choices are an entirely different subject for another day.  The kinds of decisions I am talking about here are the major “life altering” ones where we cannot afford to be wrong.  Believe it or not, we make many more of these kinds of decisions than we realize, and thus it is very important that we learn how to “choose wisely”.

To make sound decisions that are in alignment with God’s Word, we must of course first know a little bit of God’s Word.  But then we need wisdom to know how to apply His Word to the situations that come up in life.  There are no short cuts for experience, even when it comes to understanding God’s Word.  Youth by nature are impetuous and extremely impatient.  It is very difficult for someone under age 30 to grasp why an “elder” should be consulted for advice and why parents should be listened to instead of “blown off”.

A teenage THINKS he knows it all.  A twenty-something person KNOWS he knows it all.  But a person in their thirties begins to realize they don’t know everything and by the time they reach “middle age” they freely admit they don’t know much of anything.  Age tempers and age mellows.  Age and experience allow for maturity and maturity provides for wisdom and understanding.

We were taken out to a very nice restaurant last evening by a dear friend to belatedly celebrate my wife’s birthday.  She was treated to a “center cut filet mignon” steak.  The meat literally melted in her mouth.  Part of the reason was that it was “aged” meat.  Many things do indeed get better with age.  It is interesting to note that people in their 50s and 60s and 70s make far fewer bad decisions than those in the 20s.  Maturity does have its benefits.  That is why in the Bible, elders are to be looked up to and treated with the utmost of respect.  Pretty much just the opposite of what our silly world teaches.

Among the enemies to making sound decisions, the two biggest ones are stubborn pride and fear.  Arrogant people make snap decisions and believe they are always right.  Their basis for making a choice is their own superiority and greatness.  Self confident people are excellent leaders but often make horrible decisions because of their inability to seek advice or heed counsel.  Yes, decisiveness is a quality of leadership, but it is a two-edged sword.  The ability to make a decision and act provides impetus to action but many times the action is flawed due to the original decision being wrong.

The Bible speaks of there being safety in a multitude of counselors.  Major decisions in a business, church or family should be made in a group setting with all members of the “board” present.  All sides of the matter should be presented and pros and cons discussed among the people present.  If the “board” is not a democracy (majority rules), then at least the chairman had all sides of the argument presented before making a decision.  One person operations run by the decisions of one person only are doomed to fail almost every time.

The worst enemy in making a decision is fear.  Fear prohibits making a decision to begin with.  Of course THE fear is the one of being wrong.  No one WANTS to make a bad decision, but we all occasionally do.  We cannot let a bad choice trap us forever in indecision.  A person who cannot “make up his mind” is not only aggravating but highly dangerous.  In matters of great consequence, the last thing you want is someone who is afraid to make a decision.

If you had surgery tomorrow, would you want a doctor who couldn’t make up his mind which instrument to use to make the incision?  If your car broke down would you want a mechanic to hem and haw and tell you he can’t decide whether to fix the flat tire or put in new motor?  I dearly love the old movie “Fiddler on the Roof”; but Tevye and his constant “on one hand, but on the other hand” indecisiveness is enough to drive a person crazy. 

Fear of failure prohibits a person from making a decision.  Every time the person thinks they have made up their mind, the doubts creep in and the semi truckload of “what ifs” are dumped on the mind.  Oh my, the greatest killers to making a decision are the old “what ifs”.  What if the truck next to me on the road tips over?  What if the jet flying 30,000 feet above me falls to the earth on my house?  What if the person next to me on the elevator has bird flu?  What if my kid blows up the school today? What if the pain in my little toe means a heart attack?  What if the sun doesn’t come up tomorrow?

“What ifs” choke the decision making process and make it impossible to ever make up our mind.  “What if” the chicken is not good, so I better not order it.  “What if” the beef is not aged, so I better not get it.  “What if, the fish has mercury in it, I better not choose it.  “What if” the pork has a bad disease, I better not get it.  If this is the sequence of events at a restaurant or grocery store, the end result is starvation.  Sooner or later the “What ifs” have to be silenced or the fear they drag into the equation will make it impossible to correctly make a decision.

To make a Godly decision, one must first and foremost pray.  Any major decision must be discussed fully with Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ.  We must have the humility and meekness to bring the situation before them or we are wrong to begin with.  The bigger the decision, the more prayer is involved.  Major life-altering decisions need a season in the wilderness, far removed from distraction, where hours, if not days are spent consulting the Lord on the matter.

Reading, studying, meditating upon and thinking about what the Bible has to say on the matter is critical.  The Bible does give cut and dry instruction on some issues.  But, in the majority of things, there are only guidelines in the Bible; specifics must be sought out through prayer and consulting elders.  Never underestimate the importance of seeking advice from elders when making a big decision.  In some matters, of course the pastor is to be consulted, but in many other matters a wise and experienced elder can provide wisdom even the pastor cannot offer.

Simple things such as listing the “pros and cons” or “good and bad” on a sheet of paper are nice for some matters, but never to be used in major decisions.  Just because one column is longer than another does not automatically mean it is right.

The ultimate way to finally make a decision is to await the answer of peace promised by God.  When Elijah was in the cave and needed an answer from the Lord, there were earthquakes and lightnings and thunders but the Lord was in none of them.  Too many times we wait for the “writing on the wall” or for some horseman to arrive and blow the trumpet announcing the proper choice to make.  It doesn’t work that way in real life usually.  People who wait for the dramatic answer usually wait a lifetime to find it.

Wait for the answer of peace.  Wait for Almighty God to deposit an answer that is undeniable and 100%  as peaceful as He is.  “Be anxious for nothing…And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall guard your heart…” Philippians 4 tells us.  God is Faithful and His Word is Faithful.  God will never let us down if we trust in Him with all our hearts, and lean not to our own understanding.  If we will acknowledge Him in all our ways, He will direct our paths.

Following the answer of peace is the Godly version of “listening to your gut” or “follow your heart”.  If your “gut” instincts are based on God’s answer of peace, then follow them.  If they are based on experience or emotions they are no more to be trusted than Oprah or Dr. Phil.  God will deposit His answer of peace in our hearts, so if we have peace in our hearts, then we DO “follow our heart”.  But, if the heart is being emotional, then its advice is not trustworthy.

Take the matter to the Lord.  Lay it out before Him.  Work out all your worries, fears and misgivings with Him.  Allow Him to lead you to His Word or to an elder where you can receive your answer of Peace.  The answer of PEACE confirms that the answer came from God of PEACE.  Once you receive your answer, never look back.   Refuse to allow the “what ifs” to slip in to your mind.  Squash doubts and refute fears.  Resolve to do what your answer of peace told you was right.  Then you can walk with the assurance of knowing you are doing the best you can do, and that is all God ever asks of us.

Religion Vs. Christianity

A common misconception among believers is that once born again, there are no more trials and tribulations in life.  Over the years, I have talked to countless people who turned away from the faith because they were led to believe salvation was a magic carpet ride to eternal bliss.  Of course these people found out very quickly there are no magic carpets when it comes to the true Christian faith.

Where and how the troubling concept that one becomes a Christian to enjoy prosperity, live a life of worldly bliss, never have to deal with problems, have ten thousand friends and enjoy a “Leave it to Beaver” family is beyond me.  Christianity is not a self-help psychological program.  Christianity is not the stairway to financial success.  Christianity is not a dating service or a social club.  Christianity is not an automatic “get out of jail free” card that allows its holders to live in the lap of luxury and sit around swimming pools all day drinking martinis.

The outrageous claims made by many who profess to be Christians cause me great consternation.  I am a Christian.  I know what it means to be a Christian.  I know what many people mistakenly call Christianity is nothing but a convenient religion that promotes selfishness and error.  This “pseudo-Christianity” is not limited to any particular denomination.  It is a malicious cancer that afflicts people throughout the Christian faith.

The term Christian originally was used by unbelievers in reference to those who spoke of having “Christ in them”.  Christians are supposed to be those people who manifest Christ within.  Christians are supposed to be representative of how and what Christ would be if he were on this earth today.  To be a Christian has nothing to do with going to church, singing in the choir, paying tithes, wearing nice clothes on Sunday, serving on various boards, volunteering to paint the church or fixing the church van.

Religion runs rampant in this world.  Religion has nothing to do with Christianity.  To call Christianity a religion is an insult to true Christians.  Religion and tradition are twin brothers.  Traditions form the very backbone of most religions.  Religion never saved anyone, and just because a person is religious, does not mean they are going to heaven.  People brush their teeth religiously.  Does that mean every “religious” tooth brusher is heaven bound?

People do many things in life religiously.  In this sense of the word, all it means is to do something over and over again.  That is also what tradition means.  When something is religiously done in the same way over and over again; it becomes a tradition and in time a religion.  This is why Jesus railed on those religious leaders steeped in their traditions.  The religion they invented had nothing to do with the truth.  True religion NEVER has anything to do with the truth. 

Almighty God looks on the heart of man and not on his outward appearance.  All God asks of a person is to stay honest in their heart toward Him.  He is not interested in elaborate traditions which supposedly, in and of themselves, absolve a person of sin and bring reconciliation to God.  Offering a sacrifice did not automatically resolve a situation in the Old Testament.  More than once, God says in the Old Testament that He is not interested in the offerings and sacrifices; He is interested in true repentance from the heart.

Jesus Christ did not come to this earth to start a new “religion”.  If anything, he came to tear down the religious traditions that were keeping people from salvation.  Jesus Christ is not a “religious leader”.  He is the Son of God and Head of the Body of Christ.  Buddha was a religious leader.  Mohammad was a religious leader.  Pope John Paul II was a religious leader.  Martin Luther was a religious leader.  There have been innumerable religious leaders who have lived on this earth; Jesus Christ was and is not one of them. 

True Christianity is not a religion it is a Faith.  The book of James speaks of true religion being the service to orphans and widows.  Those who insist on calling Christianity a religion throw open the door to the very things that drove Judaism to the horrific state it was in when Jesus Christ confronted it in Matthew 23.  What started as faith, through the traditions of man, became a religion.  Religion is not able to save anyone.  True Christianity is the only way to eternal life.

There used to be a time when Christians were not ashamed of their faith.  There was a time when Christians were willing to face persecution, harassment and even death as a reward instead of a plague to be avoided at all costs.  There was a time when Christians would rather face a hungry lion than an angry God disappointed in their compromise.   There was a time when Christians were universally hated and hunted as animals because they were considered religious heretics and enemies of the state.  There was a time when Christians were not afraid to be Christians; no matter what it cost them.

There once was a time in this country where those who did evil in the sight of the Lord were relegated to “closets” where they hid their wicked ways.  Now they have all come out of their closets and it is the Christians who practice “closet Christianity”.  Oh my, people say, I cannot afford to let people know I am a Christian, for they might not like me or take their business elsewhere. 

I am not a political activist and I would never “endorse” any candidate; but I am thrilled there is at least one politician running for President who is not afraid to tell the nation he is a Christian and believes Jesus Christ is the answer to this nation’s woes.  Of course he will never get elected, but at least it is refreshing to have a politician talking about good old fashioned conservative Christian themes instead of the progressive junk promulgated by most.

I am appalled at the venom so many “progressives” have for the “religious right” in this country.  Millions upon millions of people absolutely hate Christians.  To them, everyone who says they are a Christian is automatically labeled an “evangelical”.  The degree of that hate was just manifest a few days ago when an “ex” evangelical violently shot and killed numerous Christians.  In his pre-killing internet posts, these murderers vented his extreme hatred toward Christians and desire to kill as many as he could.

What are we, as Christians (not evangelicals or any other designation) to do in response to this hatred?  Are we to ignore it, confront it or hide from it?  What did Jesus do when Judas betrayed him?  Jesus simply said, “That which you do, do quickly”.  If people hate us and want to kill us, so be it.  If someone stands up in a classroom and demands that all Christians step forward to be shot, I would hope and pray the real Christians would boldly step up just as Stephen did in Acts 7.

 Jesus never promised His road would be an easy one to tread.  In fact, time and again He let it be known that any true follower of Him faced untold persecution, tribulation and martyrdom.  Those that followed Him 2000 years ago did, for the most part, pay the ultimate price for their faith and yet they never complained.  They counted it all joy to be able to suffer with him.

  

 

Manifesting Christ through the Renewed Mind and Love

For whatever the reason, at this date a few days before Christmas, I am led to present a few vital things from Colossians Chapter 3.  This chapter shows the results of our union with Christ through putting off evil habits, and putting on (like fine new clothes) the things associated with Christ.  The chapter then reiterates what Ephesians chapter 6 speaks of regarding the various relationships we have in this life.

As I present this chapter, I want to read from the “Williams New Testament” for it helps put the concepts recorded in this chapter into more easy to read language.  Starting in verse 1 we see:

“So if you have been raised to life in fellowship with Christ, keep on seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Practice occupying your minds with the things above, not with the things on earth.

For you have died, and your life is now hidden in God through your fellowship with Christ.

When Christ, who is our life, appears, you too will appear to be glorified in fellowship with Him.”

Some sections of God’s Word are so very deep and beautiful, language cannot begin to express even a small amount of all God is attempting to communicate.  When we get born again, we have the challenge laid before us to live in fellowship with Jesus Christ.  This union is our key to successful living as a believer.  In every aspect of life, we strive to be as He is, think as He thinks, do as He does and live as He lived when He walked on this earth.  This is our calling as Christians, to rise up mentally to become more Christ like in our attitudes and lifestyles.

We attain this fellowship with Christ through what Biblically is called the “renewed mind”.  This process consists of setting aside everything associated with the old nature and putting on the mind of Christ.  We do this by first and foremost actively seeking the things above and not the things on this earth.  We must practice occupying our minds with spiritual matters and not filling our minds with the filth of this world.  Certainly Romans chapter 8 would provide a nice companion study to this one. 

Romans 8:6 says to be carnally minded (have the mind of the flesh) is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  It goes on to talk about the mind of the flesh being at war with God due to its rebellion against God’s commands.  Of course Galatians 5 and Ephesians 4 also devote long sections to this subject of the “renewed mind”.  Back in Colossians3 picking up the record in verse 5:

So once and for all put to death your lower, earthly nature with respect to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is real idolatry.

It is on account of these very sins that God’s anger is coming.

You too USED to practice these sins, when you USED to live that sort of life.

But now you too must once and for all put them all aside—anger, rage, malice, and abusive, filthy talk from your lips.

Stop lying to one another, for you have stripped off the old self with its practices,

And have put on the new self which is in the process of being made new in the likeness of its Creator, so that you may attain a perfect knowledge of Him.

In this new relation there is no Greek and Jew, no circumcised and uncircumcised, no barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is everything and in us all.”

Very simply put; we must reckon the old nature dead.  We must once and for all put to death those things verse 5 said were really nothing but idolatry.  Verse 6 specifically states WHY the wrath of God is coming soon on this world.  It is because of the 5 things mentioned in verse 5 which put together equal that which God genuinely hates which is idolatry.  This is why when it comes to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed; these things must not be sentenced to life in prison with attempts made to “reform” them, they must be executed once and for all.

Before we were saved, we USED to practice these things.  They defined our lifestyle and manner of life.  But now that we have graciously been saved, we need to first execute the things in verse 5, but also put off (or aside) certain things.  The attitudes and behavior we are to “get rid of” are the unholy trinity of anger, rage and malice along with abusive and filthy talk. 

It is indeed difficult in our day and time to get rid of anger and rage issues for the world is made up of millions of things that provoke us to anger.  Jesus certainly got angry at certain things, and there is no doubt “righteous indignation” available in certain situations.  But there is huge difference between selectively getting angry at unbelief vs. living in a constant state of rage.  Anger and rage provide the fertile ground for malice of all types and forms. 

Also to be put away are the twin verbal sins of abuse and filthy talk.   Abusive talk is really nothing but slander.  It is obvious throughout God’s Word that He does not advocate nor put up with gossip, backbiting and any kind of talk behind other’s backs.  He also does not put up with any kind of abuse; whether verbal or physical.  Verbal abuse is every bit as destructive as physical abuse, and in some ways it is worse.  Verbal abuse and filthy talk must be put away so as to not offend and hurt other believers.  There is no place among Christians for rude, obnoxious and filthy jokes and talk.  Simply put it all away.

Believers MUST stop lying to each other.  God wants and demands honesty among His people.  Lying is straight from the heart of the devil, for according to John 8 the devil is the father of lies.  It is so very easy in our culture to start “hedging on the truth” or telling little “white lies”.  A lie is a lie, whether it is white, yellow or red.  The whole rationalization process the prophet Samuel exposed in Saul in 1 Samuel 15 started with “hedging” the truth.  Lying runs rampant among Christians today, and it is horrible situation which needs to be confronted and corrected.

Starting in Colossians 3:12, we see the positive side of the renewed mind.  The process of changing our thinking involves both putting off and putting on.  There are certain things we must consciously stop doing and there are things we must make a conscious effort to do.  It is equally difficult to stop doing old habits as it is to develop new ones.  In both cases it takes time, effort and patience with yourself.  Habits take time to develop and new habits take practice to become “second nature”. 

“So as God’s own chosen people, consecrated and dearly loved, you must once and for all clothe yourselves with tenderness, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience; you must keep on

Forbearing one another and freely forgiving one another; just as the Lord has freely forgiven you, so must you also do.

And over all these qualities put on love, which is the tie of perfection that binds us together.

Let the peace that Christ can give keep on acting as umpire in your hearts, for you were called to this state as members of one body.  And practice being thankful.

Let the message of Christ continue to live in you in all its wealth of wisdom; keep on teaching it with thankfulness, in your hearts singing praise to God with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

And whatever you say or do, let it all be done with reference to the Lord Jesus, and through Him continue to give thanks to God the Father.”

The qualities of God in Christ Jesus are equated to “new clothes” in this section.  First we take off the old dirty clothes we saw previously and now we “put on” our new clothes designed by God and first worn by Christ.  We are to clothe ourselves with tenderness, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Wow, what a list to start with.  Each one of these 5 things denotes the “soft” side of our God of love.   We cannot make the old nature become these things; they are simply part of the new clothes we “put on” by changing our thinking to be in alignment with the Word of God.

We must keep on “putting up with” each other and freely forgiving one another even as the Lord has freely forgiven us.  Notice the two usages of “freely”; we were not just forgiven, we were FREELY forgiven.  We are not just to forgive, we are to FREELY forgive.  Remember how many times Jesus said we are to forgive?  Seventy times seven, which means as many times as it comes up. 

Putting all these wonderful qualities together we have LOVE.  Love is the rope that ties our hearts together.  Love is the tenderness, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance and forgiveness we manifest toward each other.  Love springs from the renewed mind.  The “agape” love we are to love each other with, is the love of God in our renewed minds in manifestation.

We are to let or allow the peace of Christ to act as an umpire in our hearts.  Allow the peace which passes all understanding to tell you when you have committed a infraction, when you hit a foul ball or when you “stepped over the line”.  It is so great how the word “rule” is really best translated as “to be an umpire” or a judge.  PEACE is to be the umpire, not people.  For more information please refer to a post I did a few days ago on “answers of peace”.

Finally this section urges us to allow the very message of Christ to LIVE in us with all its wealth of wisdom.  We are to keep teaching and sharing this message no matter what.  We are to stay thankful for the honor of sharing the message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We are to speak with our lips the message of Christ and keep singing praise to God in our hearts with songs and hymns.  This, by the way, defines the very heart of “worship”.  Worship is simply praising God in our hearts, singing and speaking to HIM with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

Whatever we say or do, we are to do it all with reference to the Lord Jesus and giving thanks to God while doing it.  Everyone should know we are Christians.  Everything we do and say should reflect the Christ within us, for we are Ambassadors for Christ.  Our lives are a blessing to this world, just as Jesus Christ life was.  In this season when people should be thanking God for so loving the world that He gave us His son; we should be living epistles of that love as we strive to manifest to others the love of God in Christ Jesus.

What better gift to give the ones you love this holiday season than the gift of the love of God in YOUR renewed mind in manifestation.  Just last year, my gift to many people was forgiveness.  I forgave many people I had harbored ill feelings toward for years and I begged forgiveness from many people I had wronged years ago.  It was a very cleansing time and I thank God I did it.  Forgiveness along with all the other qualities of the God’s love in our renewed minds in manifestation provides the greatest gift we could offer to anyone not only this coming week, but for the remainder of our lives.  God bless you and I pray you have a wonderful holiday season.