Psalms 11:3 & 4
If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
Ecclesiastes 5:1 KEEP YOUR foot [give your mind to what you are doing] when you go [as Jacob to sacred Bethel] to the house of God. For to draw near to hear and obey is better than to give the sacrifice of fools [carelessly, irreverently] too ignorant to know that they are doing evil.(Amplified version)
Genesis 4:4 6 And Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat portions. And the Lord had respect and regard for Abel and for his offering
5But for Cain and his offering He had no respect or regard. So Cain was exceedingly angry and indignant, and he looked sad and depressed.
6And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why do you look sad and depressed and dejected?
7If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well!
But instead, Cain who had just finished his own form of worship went out and killed his brother, his religion notwithstanding!
Romans 10:1-3 BRETHREN, [with all] my heart's desire and goodwill for [Israel], I long and pray to God that they may be saved.
2 I bear them witness that they have a [certain] zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to [correct and vital] knowledge.
3For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes [which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed] and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness.
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It has been decades since Ed Sullivan began his television show with these words, folks, 'we have a very good show for you tonight'!
However, many of today's churches have picked up where he left off, they
have a very good show for you too, day or night!
Not only are these people putting on a very good show when they present pageants at their churches particularly during the Sunday Services; most of what they have been doing lately amounts to nothing more than putting on a a very good show. And, what many of our churches and ministers have been doing lately is a very poor imitation of what God intended!
My House shall be a house of prayer for All people!
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One Sunday, several years ago, I stopped by the Capital Christian Center which is just outside of Sacramento California to worship. I was so impressed that I went back again and again. The service, not the devotional service, began with altar prayer. And it was not just a 2-minute scripted prayer, these folks opened with old fashioned altar prayer, and it didn't seem to matter to the thousands who were there how long the prayer service lasted.
Individuals were invited down to the altar for laying on of hands, individual counseling and prayer in this I estimate to be about 2 to 3-thousand seat church. Individuals from the floor and balconies came down and knelt, while teams of 2 to 3individuals gathered around and prayed with them. They were not ushered off to side rooms like cattle, as if they were an interruption of the service rather than the reason for it!
Again, does the Bible say that God's house shall be called a house of prayer for all people or not? In most churches today, the aggregate amount of time spent in prayer is about 10 minutes or less. I couldn't believe what I was witnessing, so I went back again and again, and each time it was the same. Why weren't these folks in a rush? Didn't they have a second service? How come the pastor wasn't anxious to get up and put on his show?
And not only that, guess what the Choir sang? They sang songs like, Great is thy Faithfulness. Now where did they get an idea like that? There weren't any hip-hopping, booty-shaky, do the electric slide, half-naked dancing girls there either. In fact this massive, I estimate around 150 voice choir, brought tears to your eyes as they led you into a glorious spirit of worship!
In fact, if the church had not been 120 miles from home, I would have joined. I even considered relocating to the Sacramento/El Dorado Hills area at one time; and for sure this is where I would have joined and hopefully become a part of the ministerial team. The minister preached the word, the fellowship was genuine and people came down in order to give their lives to the Lord, as opposed to what is being done in 'imitation and entertainment church incorporated' today, in order to become a member!
In the olden days you were required to get saved before you could become a member of the local church; today, anyone can join. And as a result, not since the problem of incest at the Corinthian church that Paul once wrote about, have we heard of so much sexual impropriety and other scandals taking places at the church. Why? Because churches today are taking everyone into the church, particularly high-profile athletes, physicians, politicians, celebrities - the latter gives the church some prestige.
At the same time, churches are taking in pot-smokers, cocaine users, prostitutes, male and female ho's, and anyone else who wants to join. And to boot, individuals from either group quickly ascend leadership roles in the church! These individuals are permitted to form church policy in spite of the fact that they have never been converted, or given their inchoate knowledge.
One church in another part of California embarrassed itself roughly one decade ago when it insisted on having ex-boxing champ Evander Holyfield to sit in the pulpit. The minister even tried to get Evander to come down and lay hands on folks who came to the altar. Now don't misunderstand me, Evander was and still is one of my favorite boxers. However, sit in the pulpit or lay hands on people?
Evander declined the minister's laying on of hands request over and over again. And, he did so to his credit I might add. That is not the end of the story. The following week it was confirmed in the press that Evander has just birthed two other out of wedlock babies. His poor wife! And how about the poor wife of former wide-receiver of the Dallas Cowboys, Michael Irving, who faithfully sat in church while he played the field.
Her faithfulness paid off, but can you imagine the attention that he received at the church, in spite of the debauched lifestyle that he was living outside of church!
He was one of my favorite football players, however, individuals like him should not have been treated, nor should they be treated like celebrities in the house of God.
The woman pastor who brought Smokey Robinson to the Lord with the help of celebrity Leon Kennedy in Los Angeles California, didn't know who he was when he showed up one day at her storefront church. She ministered to the man and not to the celebrity, and as a result his drug addiction was broken. Some individuals will never get saved as long as they are being treated as royalty in the church! Why should they?
What is the imitation entertainment church comprised of today. The Apostle wrote about the imitations in his day and what their motivations were in Romans Chapter 10. He wrote:
1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God
The imitation church, is often more prosperous than the authentic church, and it is comprised of the following:
1). Fake Preachers:
The entertainment preacher goes to school, garners a religious education and repeats to his congregation what someone else taught or wrote. Or he simply repeats a sermon from a book. He has never received an unction from the Holy Spirit to preach, he has never received a word from God, he knows only what he has read, and only preaches what he has heard someone else say or what he has read.
And sadly, some of the professors at American Theological Schools, Bible Colleges and Seminaries do not believe in the Resurrection themselves! Can an imitation preacher, most of the time the imitation preachers preach better than the genuine article. Why? They have to put on a good show. However, the scriptures warns God's people to beware of 'false prophets'. Just like false prophets, false ministers can be very convincing!
These self-identified motivational preachers will preach feel-good sermons. Some of them even identify themselves as 'motivational speakers'. Pastor Osteen, pastor of one of the largest congregations in the country, about the size of Gideon's army to be exact, seems like a wonderful person to me. However, I wonder, just how many in his 'Gideon's Army' are really saved?
Is the information that these ministers provide good information? Many times it is good information. However, preachers of God are commanded to preach the word, and not an imitation feel good copy of someone else's sermon or a simple motivational feel good sermon. Many of today's ministers are well-trained, however, they are operating in rote, instead of by the word or spirit of God.
2). An Imitation Choir, Musicians and Singers:
Unlike Nehemiah's chorus choirs, many of today's chorus, praise teams and choir members are not dedicated full time singers of the Lord. Many times they are not worshipping the Lord in many instances in their singing. Some are simply singing and gyrating to worldly beats and tunes that have been appropriated by the church from the world.
Some of these individuals double back and forth between worldly and religious singing. Would Nehemiah's or Asaph's singers have performed in secular and religious venues? Folks, we have fake choir singing going on in churches today. Religious mogul Kirk Franklin, admits that he has appropriated much of his material from worldly singing groups. God's singers ought to be dedicated to God!
I was a guest a church service one day where I witnessed a young man who was inebriated, fall all the way down the steps from the top of the choirstand where he had been seated. He landed in the middle of the floor in front of the Congregation, stood up and wiped his mouth 'slosh slosh', to sing the song "God Has Smiled On me". This took place in a service held in Richmond California. And brother had a melodious voice, even under the influence. I wonder where he sang at the night before?
3). Today's Professional Liturgical Music Teams:The professional music teams that play for our church services and choirs today, often with their 'showtime tunes' are professionals. Back in the day musicians in most churches were fair at best, there were some exceptions. The difference being, in the former churches the musicians may not have been as good as today's trained, having trained at the observatory musicians, but they were saved.
And that means that the spirit of God was in the music. And don't be surprised today if the musicians that played at the club until the wee hours of Sunday morning, are not playing in your Sunday morning service.
4. The Fake Altar Call:
It is rare when anyone gets healed or saved anymore. As has become the habit, when someone comes up to get healed or saved, they are immediately ushered off into some side room or to the secretary's office where they are given paperwork to complete and/or a quick prayer is made over them. This proves my point that at entertainment churches where everything is staged, the altar call is also a staged event.
An altar song is customarily sung, however, the invitation, represents an invitation to join that parish. It is not being done in order for someone to get saved, or to join the body of Christ. Churches don't have time for that anymore. What some refer to as the Altar Call, should be called instead 'the call to membership call'! For after all, that is what is truly taking place.
The individuals who come down for the most part do not becomes members of God's Kingdom, instead they become members of that parish! At the St. Mary's Episcopal Church in San Francisco, the minister thanked the gay community at the end of the service for providing the morning oblation! Hmm? I plan to do a writing soon on Inter-sex, gay, homosexual, lesbian individuals and eunuchs from a Christian and a clinical perspective!
5) The Fake Eucharist:
Someone else brought this to my attention. During Eucharist, he understood that for sanitary reasons that churches were utilizing the technologically advanced plastic thimble cups with the little wafer on top, however, he wanted the real thing. Kudos to Pastor Junius Dotson in San Jose California, this pastor would break out whole loves of bread.
You would actually be served bread and wine substantiation by the pastor. Back in the day, intimate footwashing and communion services were common place in most churches. 'Big Church' today - no have time for that anymore. I was visiting a church in Columbia Maryland during a 6-year stay over in the Washington DC metro region of the country.
One Sunday during Eucharist, a fine shapely young woman in tight painted on pants, and an equally tight form-fitted halter top that exposed her perfectly endowed cleavage, served the Eucharist. Ah don't get mad at me, other women commented on her before I did.
One woman went to the church's staff and complained. My answer to the woman who went to the church staff was, yes I saw it! I also saw the tight-fitted form-fitted pants that she must have painted on that morning. Hey it wasn't my church, but come on Rev, is there anything sacred anymore! A church in nearby San Francisco decided to simply scrap the wafer and grape juice, instead they decided to use beer and pretzels or crackers, I forget which, as transubstation elements.
And instead of having the dinner before, of the kind that Paul discouraged, they had a dance!
6) Fake Members/Disciples:
Paul found disciples at Ephesus (read about it in Acts chapter 19). Paul asked these disciples, have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed. They had not, so Paul baptized them again and stayed with them until they received the spirit.
Today, we don't call them disciples, we call them members!
If Paul visited one of today's churches and asked that same question, he would likely have to spend 3 years at that church if he intended to get the 'members' of the church - other than baptized.
7) Fake Spirit
If you don't have it just act like you do! Wave your hands in the air just like you don't care, and rock with the music in the church. And you are not alone, for many members in the church today, believe as they are being taught that this is what constitutes being spiritual.
Man everybody's church is rocking today, some call it moving to syncopated African beats. Churches who used to laugh at the 'Holy Rollers Churches' (where I came from) are rolling too. Man people are dancing and speaking in tongues, jumping and hollering in every denomination today. The Catholics even have their charismatic Catholics.
However, one question remains, have you been born anothen, or are you simply imitating what you have witnessed the crowd doing? Elijah learned that the Spirit can show up in a 'still small voice'!
8) Fake Salvation
Did you ever get saved, or did you simply repeat the magic words that you were told to say at someone's altar call. Folks, its not that simple. Unless your heart was fully prepared for God to come into it, you didn't get saved because you repeated the magic words at someone's altar call.
Why is your minister telling you that you are saved? Well because in most instances he or she believes it or they simply don't know any better. Many of the Simon ministers and ministries (read Acts Chapter 8) of today, like Simon the Sorcerer attempted to do, went out and purchased the power to be ministers, and they aren't saved themselves!
I know ministers personally, who have flown around the country in order to acquire 'a plan', to attend a seminar, to work with a church consultant in order to learn how to grow their churches. I reminded one that God would add unto the church daily those that would be saved! Many individuals have been unwittingly brought into the church, because a minister purchased someone else's membership growth plan.
The question is, was the plan he used God's plan? Perhaps that will explain why the churches today are filled with what the Apostle Paul referred to when speaking to the Elders at Miletus; churches today are filled with goats, wolves and usurpation ministers.
9) Fake Love
You will know them by their love. The love at most churches is fake. One easy way to prove it is simple. Look around at your church and ask yourself, how many people in your church have languished in poverty, while some members dress, eat and have the best of everything? Loving spirits would have eliminated the spirit of poverty in their churches, if not in the nation and the world!
There is both a spiritual as well a social dimension to our faith. The church was put in place in order to attend to both the social, as well as the spiritual dimension. Jesus talked about 'neighbor in conjunction with God'. Love God, then love your neighbor! And and who is my neighbor, he was often heard to say?
Paul again, when speaking about Israel said in Romans the 10th chapter wrote, "..my earnest prayer and heart's desire for Israel is that they might be saved. Did you know that the majority of citizens in Israel today are secularists? Could it be that way because the majority of the people in the nation of Israel never submitted to came to God. You don't need a census tract to know that, just read your Bibles.
The Bible makes it clear that the secularists (that America) is so intent on defending, are people who never fully submitted to the Lord. America is following the same trend. Ninety percent of Americans may say that they believe in God, however, the number that attend church or submit to God rather, is significantly smaller. And trust me, more and more I understand why some individuals are not attending imitation churches.
Conclusion: To those who are going to church, and the ones who are having church, well, couldn't you at least be real about what you are doing? When the curtain closes on many church services this Sunday and throughout next week, the imitation leaders can go home knowing that they put on 'a very good show'.
God's ministers on the other hand, can go home with the satisfaction of knowing that they preached the word (without imitation), and when it was not in season to do so - and that is our job and what we have been tasked to do! And, whether the people responded or not to the service that you led (Remember what God told Ezekiel), you will know that you obeyed God in every way.
I encourage you to not give in and to never compromise, whether you minister to five, ten or one hundred. Noah's church had only eight members, however, all 100% of them saved! And remember that when Jesus started off and was performing miracles, thousands followed him, however, by the time that he reached the cross there were only a few faithful women who stood by!
peace & grace
Rev. C. Solomon
21 comments:
according to you, the only person good enough to be in chruch IS YOU, i bet that is a very lonly place to be.
Rev. C. Solomon said...
Anonymous said...
according to you, the only person good enough to be in chruch IS YOU, i bet that is a very lonly place to be.
10:02 AM
Rev. C. Solomon said...
Anonymous,
Not quite Anonymous! Like the Apostle Paul, I am the least. Do you remember the words of the Prophet Elijah who later appeared with Jesus on the Mountain of Transfiguration?
And he said [Elijah 1 Kings 19:10], I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
And God's response to him was as follows:
18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
No anonymous, I am not alone. There are many more ministers and laypeople who are as concerned as I am about the current trend that is taking place in Christan houses of worship and religious centers.
Factually, the ones who are not concerned are typically caught up in the 'give the people what they want ministries', they do not see a problem!
And the other reason that we are never alone is because God is with us, and he is showing us those behaviors which stink in his nostrils.
Anonymous, God did not send Jesus to give us religion or religious forms. Israel fell into the trap of believing that on numerous occasions. They often substituted religious forms, sacrifices and practices (the shadows), and put them in place of what God required (Micah 6:8).
Moses, who was all alone, was the first to correct them, and Aaron his brother - a minister who gave the people what they wanted, instead of what God wanted!
God sent Jesus to change hearts and to save the souls that were lost. The current bastardization of what God intended, will only result in too many humans loosing their souls (and at religious centers and churches no less where they 'rise up to play').
The latter consists of individuals who have perfected religious practices and forms which all too often they believe are salvation, when those forms have nothing to do with salvation at all!
I pray that you are not one of those who have risen up to play church, for God came to change your heart!
I pray that you will acquire a zeal and a hunger and a thirst for the Lord and his righteousness. And if so, you might find yourself behaving like Jesus like did when he drove the 'moneychangers' from the temple, reminding them that, MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL PEOPLE!
A minister friend of mine was arrested as a result of his entering into a sanctuary, and preaching against the ones who were holding a worldly dance and talent show in God's house!
No Anonymous, I AM NOT ALONE - and if you were to join us, there would be one more added to the number!
In fact you might turn out to be number 7002!
not quite anonymous, Hummm, well, be that what it may. I submit, that the falling down drunk ,inspite of his fallen nature, was still giving his best to the Lord ,in song. yes and no on the pun being implied . And a word of thought on Jesus,s spoken word , if you care to comment, Luke 7;33-35, I do this ,so as ,not to bore with known writtings, and act as reason for those reading along to go to their bibles. Zeal ,I can understand ,but am more interested in mercy, and compassion, for Justice can breath in these, to bring a lively Love for God and neighbor. And I would be interested in a thought on Luke 7: 44-50.
Anonymous,
All of us need to be reminded from time to time that obedience is better than sacrifice. Otherwise, we fall into the trap that Cain fell into when he devised his own religion - which God rejected.
Any individual who studies the scriptures as much as you do, obviously cares about the things of God. It is important to rightly divide the word of God!
Oftentimes, believers abuse or teach compassion and grace in the church, to the detriment of human beings. Religion more than anything else has hindered or prevented if you prefer, many individuals from obeying God.
Why? Imitation religion purports to have the answers that man needs to receive from God. And based upon that promise many individuals adhere more to religious mandates and practices than they do to God's commands.
I don't understand the relevance of the scriptures that you presented, however, I will agree that faith that precedes action is more important than the action itself. A rich young ruler came to Jesus and called him good, Jesus saw through his act of piety. The ruler learned that piety and platitudes would not save him!
In today's religious economny, faith has been replaced with religious form(s), many religious individuals are simply performing religious acts, believing that by doing so it will save them. The Jews fell into this trap, and all of their ordinances, sacrifices and self-serving oblations were summarily rejected.
Again, I remind you that if you will take religion out of it you will see, clearly, God's purpose. God sent his son to save that which is lost. He was not sent to teach us to dance, to gyrate, to shake, to sing...! All individuals who have Adam's DNA, and who have never received the transforming DNA-Spirit of Jesus Christ are still condemned to death.
God's compassion? He sent his son to tell us how to overcome the curse of death and to be transformed unto eternal life, again, minus any dancing, singing, platitudes or religious forms.
God wants to redeem man from death, God did not send his son so that we could simply sing songs, dance, pay tithes, fast and perform pious acts! It is okay for these acts to follow, once we have been changed, and as long as they are being done in a proper fashion and unto God!
I caution you again, remember that Cain offered a sacrifice to God, however, it was not accepted by God! Afterwards, he was given a chance to go and return with an acceptable sacrifice. Regrettably, he refused!
Instead, he destroyed the one that was guilty of doing what God required!
You don't want to be guilty of trying to destroy the ones who are simply saying and teaching, that we must do what God wants us to do and in the manner that he wants us to, do you?
what do you intend ,when you say rightly "divide" Gods word? and why do you condem Religion and then use the term "imitation religion" to back up your stance on this condemnation? Christ Jesus Himself from childhood to adulthood, adhered to the Jewish laws and mandates as set down by God through Moses,except in very few instances were the Son of God superceeded (because of His Divine nature) these laws and mandates, and also when Jesus was putting these laws and mandates in their proper perspective,(which by the way ,was His way of drawing attention to the abuses and distortions to the laws and mandates, there by keeping intact the original understanding of Gods laws and mandates.) Now the word "religion" which means to give praise to God, is not bad ,nor does it hinder or prevent individuals from obeying God ,to give Him praise or that is to LOVE Him. But that it is the distortions to "religion" that dose so. So I ask you why do you keep knocking or turning on religion ,when in fact, it is not religion but the "distortions to religion" that is the cause of disorder in society and your own discontent. Would you say that God taught or abused(by His law and mandates or through His Son ) compassion and grace ("grace" by the way means "Gods help") to "our" detirment? When in fact it meant that He taught it, to the point of His Sons own death (by the way ,it meant "our salvation"). You do understand that there is a difference between piety or piousness and some one who is insincerely pious, and I do not agree that the rich young man you made reference to, was not sincere, but that Jesus was inviting him into a deeper understanding and fullness of its meaning and depth, (no different than the difference between the understanding of an adulancent and that of an adult) neither is wrong but that one is "more" mature, hence the sacrifice or "act of love" is greater, hence, it is not piety and platitudes ,but piety verses platitudes. By the way, it was NOT "the Jews (jewish community) that fell into this trap", but the "Jewish leadership" that fell into this self-deceptive trap of self-serving oblations, that Jesus was making reference to: "do as they say ,but do not follow their example". I also take issue with you statement that "all their ordinances and sacrifices were summarily rejected ( maybe their self-serving oblations ) BUT NOT THEIR ORDINANCES AND SACRIFICES ,FOR HOW CAN JESUS FULLFILL THE LAW AND COMPLETE THE LAW AND THE SACRIFICE, IF THEY HAVE BEEN SUMMARILY "REJECTED"?????? ,so, "no" ,I will not "just" take religion (GIVING PRAISE TO GOD ) out of it, or you lose "the purpose of it". And can you "PLEASE" explain this constant reference to "DNA" that you keep refering to ,and what do you mean by "DNA" ? and so I leave with you the same question you posed to me, "You don,t want to be guilty of trying to destory the ones who are simply saying and teaching, that we must do what God wants us to do and in the manner that He wants us to, do you??????
Anonymous said...
God bless you!
FYI! - While Carlton Pearson may have admitted that he was running his church instead of the Lord, he hardly deserves any kudos. He has denounced his belief that the bible is true and taken a stance that there isn't any such thing as hell and has joined up with a church that has an openly lesbian pastor who fights fiercely in the political arena to legalize gay marriage. The congregation boasts of a membership that is homosexual, bisexual, transgender, etc. I just thought I'd make you aware because I'm sure that you don't want to give the impression that you condone such heresy & blasphemy against the gospel.
Anonymous,
Bishop Pearson has had an interesting history, and I am not in any way an apologist for him or his many nuances. I was present at a mostly white congregation that he thanked for their ancestors having enslaved black Americans.
He explained, to their cheers, that if they had not done so, black Americans would not have found Jesus. Oops! Carlton often shoots from the hip!
Thank you for bringing me up to date with respect to what is taking place now within Carlton's Church - I last heard that he lost his building, and was holding services in an Episcopalian church.
I still give him credit for admitting that God was not in charge of his church at the time, and that others were dictating what should and should not be done.
Carlton has had an interesting history. And his story makes my point, that we must be mindful of what we allow to take place at our churches. Many churches and mega assemblies appear to be headed in the same direction!
Bishop TD Jakes even confessed that an upper section of the Potter's House has been occupied by the gay community.
And based upon what you have written, God is still not running the church that he pastors - so let's give him kudos for his unintended honesty!
I talk and preach about it enough, so I will soon write about how God told his disciples to ignore the church prototype of his day, i.e, the Temple at Jerusalem. So much was going on at the Temple, that much like our churches today, God instructed his disciples to go to a separate place that had been provided for them.
It was there that God established his church on earth, and sent the promise of the Holy Spirit first -leaving the entertaining, commercial, offertory Temple to the church prototypal priests to manage.
In other words, he wrote the existing institutionalized Temple (place of worship) off!
I believe that we are about to witness the same very soon, when God's ministers are going to be told to abandon today's mainstream American churches - those churches are gone and we cannot do a thing there!
I believe that God's remnant will be told to go to another place, where God will send down his power from on high, a place where people will once again be transformed from the First man Adam's seed, into the second Adam, Jesus Christ's seed!
BTW, I belive that Carlton was attacking 'the Canon', when he said that everthing in it was not always true!
I would have to agree with him in that regard!
Anonymous,
Simply put, religion can be anything. As I explained before, Cain had his own form of religion, and he practised it, albeit he found it to be unaccepatble to God.
In Micah 6:8, the prophet explained what God required, as opposed to the offerings and sacrifices that the ancient Hebrews rendered to God.
All 613 precepts of the Hebrew law, were but a part of the Schoolmaster that was to bring the Jews to Christ. Many of them stayed with the schoolbook, and never moved into grace.
My concern is that too many individuals today are missing the forest for the trees. Another way of saying that is that like the Pharisees that Jesus chastised, and the Jews that Paul chastised in Romans 10, and all of the Post-exilic Jews who were constantly rebuked by all of the prophets too many Christians today have fallen into a similar trap.
Isaiah even chastised the Jews for their method of fasting, because it wasn't being done for the proper reason.
Jesus came to save that which was and is lost. Religion had a supportive function for the NT church, however, it did not save the church. While believers were born again in the Upper Room, the Priest was busy over at the temple slaying bulls and goats; Jesus offered the needed sacrifice once and for all.
We have got to get past this, particularly those religious Christian groups that have turned God's house into a play, dance, sing, jump, party house.
Jesus' purpose (John 3:16) was simply to save us from death, and to give us eternal life. Too many individuals have been confused by religion, and they miss out on the true meaning of Christ's mission and the message.
The Wickipedia provides an excellent definition of what religion is:
Symbols of some of the more common religions.
Top to bottom, left to right:
Row 1. Christian, Jewish, Hindu
Row 2. Islam, Buddhist, Shinto
Row 3. Sikh, Baha'i, Jain.
Religion is a set of beliefs and practices often organized around supernatural and moral claims, and often codified as prayer, ritual, and religious law. Religion also encompasses ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and mystic experience.
The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction.
All of the groups listed above are religions. I don't know about you, I'm not interested in the simple practice of religion, I want restored what God had in mind for me in first place.
Try to wrap your mind around that!
Anonymous,
Once again, I admire your zeal for the Lord. And anyone as serious as you are must recognize that there is a difference between simplying being religious, and obeying God's commands!
What is your real bone of contention?
My bone of contention,simply put, is that you do not "know" how to LOVE and how to "express" real LOVE in a "Mature" manner. "REAL LOVE" IS NOT BEING DEMONSTRATED IN THE RANTINGS OF YOUR BLOGG.
And yet anonymous (and that speaks for itself), you keep being drawn to my blog. Could it be that God is trying to reach a hardened place in your heart?
Given your sizzling comment, your true colors are beginning to show again. Perhaps it is time for you to search the scriptures again, for in them you think that you have eternal life.
Jesus said, if they had known me...", the truth will make you free, hopefully one day!
Don't forget that Jesus was crucified by the religious establishment of his day (just as you keep trying to do to me), given his unwanted rantings!
how convenient you play the martyar ,but HOW DO ALL THE VICTIMS OF YOUR BLOGG FEEL? ,but am only pointing out that you consider your self to be some kind of an authority on what is correct in reguards to proper worship,yet, give no spacifics to THIS SO CALLED PROPER WORSHIP,and condem all other religions SUMMARILY(in the world ,I might add),as if no religion has any relivance to people today. YET SOME HOW YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO STANDOUT FROM THE FORAY ,AS IF, SOMEHOW DIFERENT AND SIGNIFICANT,HOW? BY CONDEMING ALL THE OTHERS. WHATS SO DIFFERENT ABOUT THAT? YOU DO NOT EVEN GIVE ANY SPACIFICS OF CORRECT WOSHIP EXCEPT QUOTE SCRIPTURE VERSES, NOT MUCH "IN DEPTH" IN THAT,AS A MATTER OF FACT YOU HAVE ACCUSED ALL YOUR CRITICS OF SITEING VERSES ,FOR REFERENCES TO VALIDATE A CERTAIN POINT AS THIRD GRADERS AND YET THAT IS A-L-L YOU DO THRU- OUT YOUR BLOGG. HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT? YOU GO TO EXTENSIVE RANTS ON FALSE WORSHIP AND THEN LUMP ALL RELIGIONS INTO THE SAME CATAGORY, AS IF THEY ARE THE SAME THING. HERE IS A NEWS FLASH ,THEIR NOT THE SAME THING. ANOTHER NEWS FLASH, THE WORLD IS NOT PERFACT AND THAT CAN HAPPEN TILL CHRIST COMES BACK AGAIN. SO, YES THERE WILL ALWAYS BE LESS THAN PERFACT WORSHIP IN THIS WORLD. BUT ONLY SITTING BACK AND SHOUTING OUT CONDEMNATION ON ALL ,WILL NOT BE THE SOLUTION. There is nothing insightful about all the things you have written about ,as if , you are the only one that sees any abuses taking place in any religions , as far, wrong worship. "Look deep" in all your writtings in this blogg and show where you have spoken in "concrete terms of right worship", or that, is "not" speaking condemingly of others ( religions or persons) ,and is "not only" refered to through scripture verses "TO PROVE YOUR POINT" ,AS YOU HAVE ACCUSED OTHERS. WHERE IS THE "lOVE" FACTOR IN YOUR CONDEMNATION. YOU HAVE TAKEN ALL "LICENSE" IN CONDEMNATION, BUT NO "DUTY" TO AUTHORITY. WHERE IS YOUR "EXAMPLE" OF "UNCONDITIONAL LOVE". I BELIVE THAT IS GODS MESSAGE CORRECT?
p.s.: the only situations in which you have shown some measure of understanding toward some person in your writtings ,was only to use it for a wip on some other person or group( religion or person ) not exactly an "example of unconditional love".
I see that you continue to read my writings, if only to be a critic, and not to learn or to understand. However, no one else shares your sentiments - at least based upon the emails and the personal comments that I receive.
With respect to using the whip, you have done a yeoman's job yourself.
There is a time to use the whip: In Ecclesiastes 3, we learn that there is a time for all things. In Jeremiah Chapter 1, we learn that there is a time to root up, tear down and destroy in order to rebuild.
Truth makes people angry, yet the truth can make any individual, including you, free. I notice that you have abandoned the scriptures in order to exclusively engage in personal attack.
Frankly, there are many individuals like you who abuse grace and abandon truth, according to Paul in Romans the 10th chapter, they abandon the righteousness of God and go about to establish a righteousness of their own.
Why don't you try to come back to God's righteousness. Jesus warned Cain that if he would simply do the right thing that he would be accepted.
The fact that God's church is being merchandized today is obvious, the fact that ministers are giving in to what the people is obvious, the fact that many individuals are coming to worship for the wrong reasons is obvious.
Ps. 29:2, We are to give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name, and to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Interpreted: worship the Lord in holy array or for the splendor of his holiness.
Why it makes you so angry that he has given me to write on this topic suggests that you have some very serious issues:
Jesus and the whip:
Lk2. 13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting.
And when he had made a scourge of small cors, he grove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changer's money , and overthrew the tables;
And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Fauther's house an house of merchandise.
Not very gracious..., you would probably say.
Paul told Timothy, to preach the word and to be instant in and out of season. He also told them that a time would could when they would not be disposed to hearing the truth.
The truth bothers you..., and I suspect that it bothers you because you don't what know what the truth is, other than your own manufactured truth.
Pray for the spirit of God to come upon you, and it will guide you into all of the truth, if you will permit it to do so.
peace & grace
God is the solution Anonymous...
And he uses human agents to teach and to proclaim his word.
Your roiled and self-righteous indignation suggests that you 'ARE NOT' connected to the spirit of God.
On the other hand it could represent spiritual immaturity. Jesus once rebuked the spirit of Satan that was in Peter, when what appeared to represent Peter's love for Christ, turned out to be Satan using Peter to hinder God's plan.
Jeremiah was conditioned and committed to warn God's own people of their shortcomings - and to attend to the things of God, unless they allow them to slip - just as I have been doing.
In Jeremiah 11, he received from his own people, what I keep getting from you.
Jeremiah 11:18...,
And the Lord hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it; then thou shewedst me their doings.
As the kids would say, but I'm not mad at you - for Jesus, Paul, Peter, Jeremiah, Daniel and everyone else who taught and fought for what was right had their group of critics and tormentors!
And you are obviously one of only of less than a dozen of mine ---
Be careful however, for you might be found to fighting against God!
Anonymous wrote,
God already knew that, hence ,he sent His Son. peace and grace , the same anonymous
Anonymous,
Jesus said, (Matt 10:34...) Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace but a sword.
For I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against mother...
10:20 Then began he to UPBRAID the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not...
Prov 27: 5 and 6, Open rebuke is better than secret love.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful...
Whom God loves he will chasten!
It seems to me that you have either been mistaught or misunderstand his purpose, that are abusing grace (unmerited favor).
Truth is mercy, and truth will free the people! Holding them hostage in fake or misguided religion(s) will not!
I will not standby, wherever possible, and let them hear God say one day, depart from me, I never knew you!
At a Gospel Concert that attended just outside of Berkely California this past weekend, the Gospel Concert was interspersed with worldly and religious church groups. The City of Hope Praise Team, The Interfaith Choir.
One singer was asked to come and sing, impromptu. He stood at the mike, but could not think of what to sing. Someone suggested that he sing a Marvin Gaye Song.
Several of the other singers passed out cards inviting the audience to clubs in San Francisco and elsewhere in order to hear them sing.
One singers, very shapely, told us about her Calendar, which looks very much like a playboy calendar.
I might seem like I am being mean, however, we really do have a problem given that the church has settled into the world!
We were told to 'come out' from among them and be separate. Thank God that the man who was asked to sing a Marvin Gay song had the good sense not to.
He even said, 'there are children in here'. We have got to uphold the standard, too many pseudo-Christians and hypocrites are trying to bring the standard down.
Does that help you to understand where I am coming from now?
Love, peace, rebuke, judgment and grace all go hand in hand!
Just to respond to your latest attack, wherein you challenged my authority.
Remember, God is 'the authority', and he empowers who he will to speak, to rebuke and to the do the work of an evangelist.
He not only gave me the name of this blog, he said to me "in your arm is the Seal of Abraham'. Your words cannot harm me, nevertheless, be careful not too offend the deity!
to an extent I see a little more clearly what you are about and your concerns (some very valid) ,but I still disagree with your assesment of "all" religions. especially the more historically known and traditional chruches ( for they are only dimentions ,of a far reaching and deeply knowing and infinite Deity that encompasses all mankind), but I will say ,this preaching "here" is now better , that wasn,t so hard now was it? but a little more is required.
You would love another pastor friend of mine. He was invited to speak once at a 'mainline religious denomination'. He asked God, what shall I preach? The Lord gave him a sermon entitled, GOD IS NOT HERE!
He went and he preached as instructed, and he was never invited back again. On the flipside, one can only wonder how many individuals escaped as a result of his message and went to a place where they could hear God's word preached.
Many individuals are sitting under false prophets. False prophets are not only ones who preach or teach about false deities, the majority of false prophets in America are ones who claim to be preaching about and leading men and women to Jesus.
This is a bit to radical I'm sure for you. However, this is a serious matter. If you think we're tough, go back and read about Jesus again!
P.S. The Episcopal church in America, the Lutherans and the Methodists are all having problems because they permitted a 'little leaven' to fester in their churches!
Get my drift now - either stand up, or stand down anonymous!
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