Conversations
The following I wrote up last night in response to a person that had contacted me through email. The contact came because the person wanted information about house church meetings which I used to be a part of long ago. I told him that I no longer "do" house church or any church but that our belief has still remained only in a different form. It just so happens I am having coffee this afternoon with him and will share these points with him about where I see the church going wrong today. (These are just a few of the points) By the way this person is a pastor of a local church. So it should be interesting. Here are my points
1. Identity Theft – Adam was told he would be like God if he ate of the Tree. When the TRUTH was he already was like God and made in the very image of God. The serpent stole Adams identity. In the same way the serpent sought to steal Jesus’ identity by saying, “IF you are the Son of God then do this or that to prove it.” Satan’s biggest trap is to try and get people to prove something by their actions and beliefs. (Even well meaning Christians and Christian leaders do the same when they tell others that a “good” Christian does this or doesn’t do that) Jesus knew who He was and did not fall to the temptation of proving who He was by His actions and deeds. And why is that? Because of his knowing His Identity before the Father. The Father had already told him at His Baptism that “THIS IS MY SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED” He was pleased with Jesus before Jesus did ANYTHING! In the same way we must let people know that they are pleasing to the Father before or if they NEVER do anything. And why is He pleased? Because when He looks at us He sees His Son and His Righteousness and not our own. It is the message that is and will set people free.
And because of Identity Theft the following takes place:
2. Sin Consciousness is preached instead of Righteousness Consciousness – The New Covenant Good News Message should cleanse the mind of the Old Covenant Sin Consciousness and instead instill a Consciousness of Righteousness. But the church continues to preach sin and sin consciousness instead of righteousness and righteousness consciousness. When sin consciousness (Moses) is preached a veil is let down over a person’s mind and the completeness of Christ and His sacrifice CANNOT BE SEEN!
And the preaching of Sin Consciousness leads to this:
3. People attempting to fulfill the biggest desire of the flesh, which is to be justified by what they think, say or do. More than any other thing the flesh or human ego or self if you will desires to be justified by what it thinks, says or does. And in doing so will either approve of themselves and others or disapprove of themselves and others. People who attempt to please God through their actions, words and deeds are some of the most judgmental and hate filled people on planet earth. Sin consciousness NEVER leads to peace. It always leads to guilt and condemnation of self and mostly of others. Why of others? Because a person who is trying to please God through their actions, words and deeds will always compare themselves to those who seem to be not doing as they are.
What is the answer to this? The following:
4. Quit believing and trusting in your own personal faith and belief and embrace the faith and belief “of” Christ. Accept that you are righteous perfect and holy in the beloved. Accept God’s view and opinion of yourself and not the world’s view or the church’s view and opinion of yourself. What is the difference? The church mostly teaches that you are pleasing or unpleasing to God through your actions, words and deeds. God says you are righteous, perfect and holy because of what Jesus did regardless of your actions, words or deeds. And God also says there is NOTHING you can do or not do to change that view. So in the end will you believe in your belief in your self or God’s belief about you? It is only when we are freed from our own belief about ourselves and others that we see Jesus.
5. Embracing the faith “of” Christ – It is at the end of our belief about God that we meet Him and His belief about ourselves and others. What we believe about God does not matter. It is what He believes about us that will set the captives free to be free. What an individual believes about God can NEVER set that person or anyone else free. But when that person hears about God’s view and opinion about themselves through the Cross and Blood of Christ regardless of words, action or deeds. The soul comes to rest and know that He alone is God.
6. Remember Sin NO MORE – I have seen it over and over the past 4 years that when a person keeps the thought that they are righteous and holy EVEN WHEN THEY FALL OR FAIL that person will have and experience vices and desires fall off them like dead leaves from a tree in autumn. Things that they tried for years to rid their life of cease because of a Righteousness Consciousness. It makes no sense to the religious mindset because the religious mindset is trying to please God through the flesh. Something that was done by Jesus for us, the religious mindset tries to do for itself. And if you tell this to the religious they will rise up to kill you just as they did to Jesus. It may not be a physical death but they will attempt to destroy your ministry or you as a person.
Peace
Geo
Amen George.
Jeff and kate.
Geo, You get my WOW on this! Because he first loved us – Sue
Geo, You know how it is popular for people to say Jesus is their personal saviour? My thought is, he is not, but is the saviour of all even if one doesn’t know him. Am I following correctly? Because he first loved us – Sue
Sue,
WOW means what?
Also you are I believe correct He is not our “personal” Lord and Savior but is the Lord of all and the Savior of all. Now I hope that people take it personally but that is not the issue. Man cannot make Jesus Lord and Savior. God the Father made Jesus both Lord and Savior without man’s approval or disapproval. The agreement was between I AM & I AM. Not between I AM and man. Now that is GOOD NEWS.
Thank you do much Sue for your thoughtful participation here on Bold Grace.
Peace
Geo
Good thoughts!
Geo, I sometimes wondered about your WOW’s to other peoples posts too.
By WOW I mean a very good post that has touched me and makes me think.
Because he first loved us – Sue
Thanks
Don and Sue
Peace
Geo
This is fantastic! Keep on writing, brother!
Anon
Who are you?
Please tell us more about yourself when you have the time.
Peace
Geo
I hope your meeting went well. I kinda have the same dilemma as you. To be honest I’m a completely different person outside the church world. Since moving away from home I’ve been free to be more of myself but I know the same problem is going to come up again when I go home for Thanksgiving and back in my home church. I loved your posts and I hope someday I’ll get the bravery to share my beliefs with my church and family.
Kiara
We talked for two hours and I enjoyed the conversation. He listened and we parted in peace. Who knows if we will see each other again. But I know that whether we do or not he heard a different gospel then what he was used to and I also know that the gospel sown will grow to harvest.
Peace
Geo
Kiara don’t worry about what to say or how much to share with people back home at this point. When the timing is right to speak of what is on your heart you will know it. Don’t pressure yourself to share. Wait till you know that you know.
Peace
Geo
Geo, You got my WOW also.
Cliff
Getting your WOW leaves me speechless!
Peace
Geo
Just want to add my “WOW”. Loved reading this post.
Kiara, For many years I felt very much alone in my beliefs about this Gospel because almost no one I knew believed like I did. It wasn’t until I was 52 years old (4 1/2 years ago) that I decided to preach everything I believed about God’s beautiful, unconditional love. I must say this has brought me much rejection, but it has also brought me much peace because I know in my heart that I am standing up for God the way He has stood up for the entire human race. I try my best to speak about this Gospel in the most loving and kind way that I can but I also am willing to speak boldly in the defense of this Most Loving Creator who is getting a very bad rap in the christian world who paints him as a cruel and vindictive God that will send most humans to a place of eternal torment.
I’m with Geo. Don’t worry about this until you are ready, and that time will come because this Gospel cries from within those who believe it to let it be know.
And Geo, I have know you long enough to know that NOTHING LEAVES YOU SPEECHLESS. ha ha
Geo, I loved this post! YES, keep on writing!
My Brother,
You are a fountain of Truth.
Hi Wes
It is good to hear from you.
Hope all is well with you?
Peace
Geo
Why did God make it so hard to believe?
nightflight……maybe He wanted us to get beyond our belief and to understand that whether we believe or not He will still be our loving creator.
What is the biggest problem with mankind – Is it belief in a God or is it how humans treat each other that is the stumblingblock? If all was in harmony between humans would it be hard to believe God? Maybe it is humans and not God that makes it hard to believe. However, for me, when I consider the workings of the heavens and earth, the intricacies of how humans and animals are made, etc., I know there is a POWER beyond my comprehension, which is easy to believe even though I do not understand it all.
Because he first loved us – Sue