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| Earl Gillespie |
Are We Preparing To Meet God?
Part #3
(Trying to understand the confusion)
Part #3
(Trying to understand the confusion)
Two questions I posed at the beginning of this dissertation. 1. Are we prepared to meet God and, 2. Is the modern day church fulfilling it's purpose? Now, I am aware that to some these questions might be considered asinine, as the 'Indoctrination of Denominations' teaches that we are not to question but blindly follow our leaders. This is a concept that Jesus often taught against. Today, the scripture is taught by repetitious recitation of selected scriptures designed to prove a point. More emphasis is placed on storytelling, rather than a verse by verse study of the Word of God. Storytelling is a great form of entertainment, whether spiritual or natural, but real scripture knowledge is gained through a verse by verse study of the Word of God. The acceptance of the entertainment aspect of Christianity has allowed for many to come in the name of a leader, or in the name of Jesus, but their motives were far from noble.
The sheep of God's pasture need to be vigilant and wise enough to sound the warning when wolves come in and began to devour the flock. In some instances the sheep is depended upon to make enough noise to wake up the sleeping shepherd.
In the parable of the ten virgins Jesus addressed the required preparation to become a part of the Kingdom of God. Five of the virgins were wise and he called the other five foolish. The blind leading the blind was another common phrase that was also used by Jesus. The preparation to go back with Jesus have taken a back seat to those who striving to gain earthly pleasures. Churches by every conceivable name continue to sprout up and all are declared to be sanctioned by God. Prophets and apostles are rising throughout the land and they sell the attributes and blessings of God. But to the lowly sinner sitting under the big Oak tree sipping on a forty ounce, struggling to maintain a level of common sense, can't help but wonder. Why would a supreme God, the creator of the universe, sanction any religion and/or church that are filled with so much confusion.
There are sheep of God's pasture that have lost their way, and they are searching for that message of hope. I suffer from the effects of cancer, should I spend my day begging God to heal me? Church people are dying from all types of diseases and so is sinners. I go to church the preacher preaches a message, "God is able." A spirit of euphoria engulfs the church, but in that group there are some who are aware that they are dying, (we all die) and they are wishing, they are searching, they are begging for a message of hope. No amount of praying, shouting or lying is going to change the fact, that we are going to die. My mother, my father, my brother has passed on tell me about dying is to be with God. Tell me about the Kingdom of God. Moses floating down the river is a beautiful story for a sunny day, but many of us are facing the darkest days of our life. A message of hope is what the young man or woman who has fallen by the side of the road needs. Why speak to me of how God is going to deliver me on this earthly plateau when people are dropping like flies around me, and if you end your message from God or your e-mail by asking for money then there is a problem with your message. The indoctrination is wearing off and this is one of the reasons our young people are walking (running) away from the structured church.
Let's not stray too far from our thought of preparing to meet God and the mission of the church. There needs to be a clear definition as to what is the church. It is clear that when Jesus said upon this rock I will build my church, he was not speaking of a particular denomination. If he was as some proclaim, then what denomination was he speaking of? Coming of age in the sixties, I was aware of several denominations less than one hundred years that claimed to be the only true church. I entertained many nightmare moments wondering about all of those who died before these new churches were formed. Walking down a street in LA created an unforgettable scene in my mind, in a fifteen to twenty block stretch of Broadway there were at least five churches within each block. The Catholic church has always laid claim to being the church that Saint Peter founded. Being the oldest 'denomination' of record there is some validity to that statement yet it is not a fact. In Jesus messages to the churches that is often overlooked, condemnation was brought against the leaders of the church for allowing men to come in and set themselves up as rulers of his church. Read the first three chapters of Revelation. Overall there seems to be a lack of real scripture knowledge and the application of God given common sense when it comes to the application of the word of God.
The sheep of God's pasture need to be vigilant and wise enough to sound the warning when wolves come in and began to devour the flock. In some instances the sheep is depended upon to make enough noise to wake up the sleeping shepherd.
In the parable of the ten virgins Jesus addressed the required preparation to become a part of the Kingdom of God. Five of the virgins were wise and he called the other five foolish. The blind leading the blind was another common phrase that was also used by Jesus. The preparation to go back with Jesus have taken a back seat to those who striving to gain earthly pleasures. Churches by every conceivable name continue to sprout up and all are declared to be sanctioned by God. Prophets and apostles are rising throughout the land and they sell the attributes and blessings of God. But to the lowly sinner sitting under the big Oak tree sipping on a forty ounce, struggling to maintain a level of common sense, can't help but wonder. Why would a supreme God, the creator of the universe, sanction any religion and/or church that are filled with so much confusion.
There are sheep of God's pasture that have lost their way, and they are searching for that message of hope. I suffer from the effects of cancer, should I spend my day begging God to heal me? Church people are dying from all types of diseases and so is sinners. I go to church the preacher preaches a message, "God is able." A spirit of euphoria engulfs the church, but in that group there are some who are aware that they are dying, (we all die) and they are wishing, they are searching, they are begging for a message of hope. No amount of praying, shouting or lying is going to change the fact, that we are going to die. My mother, my father, my brother has passed on tell me about dying is to be with God. Tell me about the Kingdom of God. Moses floating down the river is a beautiful story for a sunny day, but many of us are facing the darkest days of our life. A message of hope is what the young man or woman who has fallen by the side of the road needs. Why speak to me of how God is going to deliver me on this earthly plateau when people are dropping like flies around me, and if you end your message from God or your e-mail by asking for money then there is a problem with your message. The indoctrination is wearing off and this is one of the reasons our young people are walking (running) away from the structured church.
Let's not stray too far from our thought of preparing to meet God and the mission of the church. There needs to be a clear definition as to what is the church. It is clear that when Jesus said upon this rock I will build my church, he was not speaking of a particular denomination. If he was as some proclaim, then what denomination was he speaking of? Coming of age in the sixties, I was aware of several denominations less than one hundred years that claimed to be the only true church. I entertained many nightmare moments wondering about all of those who died before these new churches were formed. Walking down a street in LA created an unforgettable scene in my mind, in a fifteen to twenty block stretch of Broadway there were at least five churches within each block. The Catholic church has always laid claim to being the church that Saint Peter founded. Being the oldest 'denomination' of record there is some validity to that statement yet it is not a fact. In Jesus messages to the churches that is often overlooked, condemnation was brought against the leaders of the church for allowing men to come in and set themselves up as rulers of his church. Read the first three chapters of Revelation. Overall there seems to be a lack of real scripture knowledge and the application of God given common sense when it comes to the application of the word of God.
The purpose of the church (not a building or denomination) that Jesus sanction was to assist us in our journey to meet God, or should I say to prepare us to meet Him. The spiritual church was to reflect and demonstrate the light of Christ. Jesus threatens the removal of this light if the church did not adhere to his teaching. The church is readily accepted as the bride of Christ by most pious prelates. But, if we consider that statement in view of our modern acts of trivialization and proliferation, who and where is the church. To those we classify as a sinner this causes them to ask the question, "Where is God." The truth is we will know God only when He, in His own time and way, reveals Himself to us. The Trivialization of God has always been the greatest temptation for the people of God. We trivialize God into a god who will be manifest and useful in this confusing world, He is a doctor, he is a lawyer, he is a god who will fit the molds of our individual desires. Consider this, to achieve his purpose God revealed himself to the children of Israel as a God of destruction and a God of fire, in return the children of Israel wanted a golden calf. There is a dangerous illusion involved in the creation of a manageable God. We cannot manage God. Too often we surgically remove a verse, take it out of context and then use it in our attempt to provoke God to act. How often have you heard this prayer, "Father, you said in your Word to ask, now I am asking..." Here again the Devil kick back under the old Oak tree with a smile on his face as we are reduced to trying to defend why God didn't act.In this discussion I have done as many have today, I addressed the church as if it were a building or a denomination. This is far from the truth. The true church is within the heart or is a condition of the of the soul. It is indicative of those who has accepted Christ as their Savior. The church is not a denomination nor is it a social club and it should not be used as an outlet for entertainment. Have you ever wondered how the Baptist, Methodist and the Pentecostials were going to reconcile their differences when they get to Heaven? Will each group have its own little section in Heaven? Maybe it is time somebody stopped telling cute stories and address the division that is being perpetrated in the name of our Father. This world is not going to get better, Jesus has made it clear, his Father is going to render judgement upon the evil systems of the earth.
In the first three chapters of Revelation, Jesus addressed the condition of the church in the form of seven letters. Seven being the number of God, it is representative of a complete work. Seven is used through the Bible to indicate the completeness of God, seven spirits, seven vials, therefore the seven letters to the churches is representative of the complete history of the church from its creation until the time it is caught up. The growth of the church as a body can be seen in the first letter Jesus wrote as one that had begun to lose their first love. The seventh letter is to a church in its full state of apostasy. This is representative of the churches of today, a church that was walking hand and hand with the world and glowing in its corruption and excess. This church had become so corrupt that Jesus no longer address the leaders of the church, but ended his message with a promise to the individuals who was able to overcome. Salvation is that new thing that Jesus suffered and died that we might be saved. It is not about claiming so-call promises of God. What God promised the Jews was not a promise to the church. What God promised Abraham was not a promise to the church. God said to Peter, James and John, this is my beloved Son, hear Him. Jesus said to the church, "to him that overcometh.." if you can endure the pain, the suffering, the struggles of this world I will give you a crown of life.
Part # 4
The requirements to meet God
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