Friday, May 6, 2011

Two Forms of Christianity

  1. Have you ever wondered why the world’s morals are on a constant decline? Is it weird to you that self proclaiming Protestant Christians on average have more abortions and divorces than “Atheist” and Catholics? Do you notice that America itself is getting away from being a “Christian country” and more and more people are protesting for freedom of religion for themselves, but denying us Christians the same freedoms? Have you noticed that a lot of “Christians” these days think that they can do nearly whatever they want as long as they don’t commit “big sins” like murder. When one considers this, one must ask, is this hypocrisy what Christianity is all about?
    There’s a movement out right now that teaches a “love gospel” where the only thing “Christians” spew out of their mouth is “Jesus loves you.” This movement is also known as modern Christianity and it is mainly started by Billy Graham and many before him. He started the whole don’t judge movement and he’s denied Jesus as the only way to Heaven many times (John 14:6). When asked if nonbelievers were going to Hell, “He said it’s not his place to judge, he just wants to love people.” Well, you see there’s a problem with this. He’s either insane, or immoral. Because Jesus, the most loving person ever to walk the face of the Earth spoke more about Hell than anyone else in the Bible. If it weren’t for Jesus, we’d know very little about Hell in fact. John writes in 1 John 2:18,23, “18Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.”
    People who are indoctrinated by this “love gospel” applaud people for looking for truth, but get offended by people who claim they have found it and share truth with them. They judge those who judge others and think it’s completely wrong and over look Jesus’ words in John 7:24. They hold onto a misunderstanding of Matthew 7:1 for dear life, but ignore later on in that chapter it says in Matthew 7:15-20, “15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
     There are many parts in these people’s Bibles that they don’t like so they skip over them. This belief system teaches that the ends justify the means. It’s an, “If I commit adultery with a woman and afterwords convert her to Christianity, then the end justified the means.” mentality.
    The love gospel ignores versus like Romans 12:1-2 and 2 Corinthians 6:17. As long as we get a profession of faith out of people, we’re good. John McCarthur said, “You know what your profession of faith is worth? Zero, even the devils believe in God and they tremble. Most Christians don’t even tremble.” Jesus said in Matthew 7 to walk the narrow path, and that there’d be few that find it. For the broad path leads to death. You know in Proverbs 14:12 says, “12There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” and Proverbs 3:5 says, “5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” and Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, “4But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” So why do so many Christians follow after their own way, their own understanding, and live off of bread alone? If you want to find out how to live your life, don’t go by your opinion, but find out what God says and ignore everything and everyone else. Psalm 118:8 says, “8It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
    You will never find anything of repentance and sorrow for in sin in a “love gospel” message. What is importance of repentance you ask? Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 7:10, “10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
    The message of the love gospel claims, “Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. If you accept him you’ll go to Heaven.” Did you know that rat poison is 95% edible food and 5% poison, but when mixed together it makes 100% poison? Well consider this. Suppose two separate men were going to ride on an airline. One is given a parachute and is told to put it on. The people who tell him this say that it will enhance their flight, it will look good on them, and people will want to be their friend, because they have the parachute on. 5 minutes into the flight, the man realizes that parachute is itching his back, furthermore, people are laughing at him for having a parachute on so he concludes that it must not look good on him and it certainly isn’t helping him make friends. So he does the logical thing at that point and takes it off and enjoys the rest of his flight. Now suppose the other man on the plane is also given a parachute. The people who give him this one tell him, at some point during this flight, the plane will run out of fuel and crash into the ocean, wear this and prepare. 5 minutes into the flight, he realizes it’s itchy and that people are laughing at him for it, but he knows the plane is going to crash and this parachute is the only hope for his survival, so he holds onto it tighter. If anything, this man will begin to look forward to the crash, and if anything this man will begin to wish that the very people who are laughing at him had a parachute too.
    Which one do you think was the true convert? You see this love gospel only creates a warm feeling inside and depends on man to keep throwing logs into the fire to keep it going instead of having the Holy Spirit keep the fire going. When the feelings gone, the convert is no more a convert, but is just turned into a two fold son of Satan. (See Matthew 23:15) This love gospel doesn’t save, it calms peoples spirits about where there going to go when they die by lying to them. Well just because you say a bird can’t fly, it doesn’t make it so. So, how do you know if you are saved? You may say I know in my heart I’m saved, but Jeremiah 17:9 says, “9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” I believe that a true litmus test for a Christian would be this question, “Do you now hate the sin you once loved?” Not that any will be perfect for we still battle the flesh, but as a whole on your life, do you now hate the sin that you once loved? Also, the entire book of 1 John is a litmus test designed for you to examine yourself. Revelation 3:19 says,”19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
    Some say we are losing people in the church these days, because when people come in we lack in discipleship. I agree, wee need to be doing discipleship, but Jesus said in John 10:27, “27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” We don’t have as many people leaving the church as are joining, because a lack of discipleship, it’s because we’re not truly converting them, we’re just tickling their ears for a little bit. The biblical ways have been hidden by the enemy, we need get back into them and practice them, even if they’re not seeker friendly.
    This gospel mainly teaches peace and tolerance to all things. The problem with tolerance though is that it teaches to be tolerant of all, but it is intolerant of all intolerance. It’s self defeating. In short, if Jesus were walking on Earth today, these Christians would be amongst the first to pick up their stones.
    Jesus said in Matthew 10:34 “34Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”
    1 John 2:15 states, “15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
    Many Christians today seek peace and approval of the world so they water down their gospel and compromise with the world. Jesus said in Luke 6:26 “26Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” It’s not our goal as Christians to be liked by the world. In fact Jesus said in John 15:18-23, “18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.21But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.22If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.23He that hateth me hateth my Father also.”
    Folks, let me ask you a question, How do you suppose that people will hate you just because you tell them that Jesus loves them? Who doesn’t like to be told that they are loved? The reason people hate Christians is not, because we say Jesus loves them, it’s because we expose their sin and men like to proclaim their own goodness. (Proverbs 20:6) People don’t like Christians, because we proclaim that every knee including there’s will one day bow before the thrown of Jesus, and man (who is naturally God hating) cannot stand the thought of bowing before one that they hate. Not only do Christians expose sin and say to bow before Jesus, we also tell them to repent for their sins and turn from their wickedness.
    See, Satan fell, because of his pride. In Isaiah 14:!4 Satan says, “14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” Well Satan was angry, because he couldn’t be God and even angrier that God would set man above him. After all he was the prettiest angel around. So Satan used his “sparkle” to fool man who was created in God’s image. Not, because he hates us, but because he hates God and he knows that God loves us. Satan also knows there’s not exactly a lot he can do to God, so instead of coming after God, he seeks revenge on us. How does he do this? He fools us into sin against God. This causes the justice of God to do the very thing that God didn’t want to have to do. It forces Him to sentence His creation to death and send man to Hell. (Romans 6:23) This is the only thing that Satan can do to hurt God. But God in His infinite wisdom had a way of beating Satan at his own game. John 3:16 states, “16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That’s right, Jesus came down to Earth to be a perfect sacrifice and to pay for your unrighteousness. But if the story ended there it’s be pretty lame, because than we’d be worshiping a dead God who promises us life and victory over death. But on the third day Christ arose from the grave and conquered death and he’s given us the same power. (Hence the symbolism in baptism) Paul said two very meaningful things in his writings. 1 Corinthians 15:17 “17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” 2 Corinthians 5:17, “17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” The Christian rapper Lecrae writes, “Paul said if Christ ain’t resurrected we’re wasting our lives, but that implies that our whole life is built around Jesus being alive.” Is your life built around Jesus being alive? Or is Jesus only alive in apart of your life? This is the good news of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!
    Did you guys know that death isn’t normal? It’s not,  do you understand how unnatural it is that a creation of God would die? It’s unheard of. Did you know that it was our kind that brought death into the world? And now sometimes we sin and just say God’s grace will forgive us later? Well, I as a human love God’s grace, but do you understand how big of a deal it is that our sin caused death, and now we do it so non chilantely. Repent, and walk in Jesus’ footsteps.
    Lastly, brothers and sisters, we’re soldiers in a Spiritual war. There’s nothing that saddens my soul more than seeing a fellow soldier work for the enemy and think it’s ok. Why do so many Christians think that it’s ok to watch those shows on TV and those movies that blaspheme the name of the one who created, sustains and saved you! How could you stand for that? HOW!? How much longer will you allow the influence of devils enter into your MP3 player? Purify your life Christians, you’re allowing yourselves to be counter productive in this battle that we’re in. Remember, the Bible is God’s words, not mine, they are just my orders, and you would do well to make them yours too, all the way down to the last T.
    1 Thessalonians 5:22 “22Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
    Ephesians 5:11
    “11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
    Ephesians 6:13-18
    13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
     14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
     15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
     16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
     17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
     18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
    And most importantly, Matthew 6:33
    33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
    “If you don’t go all out for Jesus, you’ll end up going all out for Satan.” -Me

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