The Selling Of The Christ Part #3

As a struggling Christian, I find it hard to believe in much of the rhetoric emulating from the household of faith. There is a type of gullibility  that has always existed within the ranks of Christianity, but to have it preyed upon by enterprising preachers or gospel entertainers is a bit much.   The evolution of worship services and gospel music should be cause for alarm, yet, it is accepted as the signs of changing times.   The merging of the music genre is more acceptable to those who are seeking to pollute the Word of God.  A classic example is that of a Gospel singer years ago prefaced one of his songs with, "This is for those of you who say gospel music has gone too far."  Today this gospel singer openly profess to have lost his religion.  

The Social Media is flooded with enterprising messengers of God claiming that the key to God's blessings is typing "Amen" to their status that makes vague promises.  The number of people who buy into this type of idolatry is astounding.  The church has evolved into a place to come and get blessings, yet Jesus never said, "Blessed is he who go to church."  Jesus promised blessings in the Kingdom of God. 

At the onset of Jesus ministry, he warned his followers that they would come in sheep clothes.  Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  What is sheep clothes? They look like what we are indoctrinated into believing a messenger of God should look like.  The carry the title of the clergy or worship leaders and they preface their false messages with, "God said".  No God-fearing Christian in good standing would dare stand up and say, "God didn't say that".   What are "ravening wolves"? They are hungry wolves looking for something to eat, they sell you a false Gospel.

In the Garden of Eden, the Devil made a striking presentation of explaining what God said. Today, the trend is to sell God through a process of entertainment and promises of wealth and well-being.  To promote itself, the church has taken on the nature of the Casino and night club.  If you want to win you got to spend and let's get down and praise God, because when praises go up blessings come down.  It is a part of human nature that we buy into this perverse, and enticing promises.  In the face of the promises of prosperity and favors it is easy to forget that when the devil approached Jesus, he offered him all of the richness of this world.   Jesus made it clear on a number of occasions, that his Kingdom was not of this world.  If this is true, then why are we being promised all the things that Jesus rejected.

Is there a lack of understanding of the Word of God or is it simply a lack of faith?   If we truly believed in God would we take such a cavalier approach to his Word and his works?  If we really understood the purpose of the creation, would we pervert the knowledge of God to build our own little kingdom here on earth? The believability of God is at an all-time low, yet churches are amassing a fortune and building magnificent sanctuaries.  Many have their own private interpretation of the scripture and it is often proclaimed as a fresh message from God.  There are so many proclamations's made in the name of God until those on the outside looking in are beginning to wonder if God really exist or do he keeps his promises. The problem of Christianity against the world has taken on a new flavor,  Christianity has turned on itself. 

The church that Jesus once spoke so highly of has allowed itself to  become highjacked and become a bastion of selfish pride.  Men and women are seeking to exert a type of rulership over God's people. Churches that have stood the test of time are now being divided and plundered, even destroyed from within by enterprising preachers seeking to establish a quorum and thereby securing a seat of power.  They possess a desire to exercise their man-given power within communities without having even having a knowledge of the community they are supposed to serve.  There is a scripture condemnation of this type of action but it is among the overlooked letters to the churches from Jesus. 

John MacAuthor wrote: The church has not only stopped talking about sin, it has stopped talking about eternal life.  Everything is about a fix here and now.  The gospel doesn't promise to fix you here.  You may have a bad marriage till you die, you may have bad kids till you die.  You may have cancer and die before you thought you would die.  You may lose all of your money in the stock market, your house might burn down.  Jesus doesn't promise to fix that. Contrary to what you hear from health, wealth and prosperity teachers, the only people who seem to be getting wealthy of that are the ones who take your money.  The gospel does not promise that.  But it does promise eternal life.   

Many organized churches are capitalizing on the art of raising money and the sheep of God's pasture are being victimized.  Knowingly and unknowingly the gospel according to, "The Rev. Ike", has become an integral part of many pastors' messages.  Salvation is about giving and planting a seed is the price of salvation.  Bible verses are often surgically removed from their supporting scriptural and taken out of the context of which they were spoken and view from an alien perspective.  It is a process of making the Bible say what we want it to say and preying on the indoctrination or the gullibility of the Christian belief.  Worship services are taking on the flavor and flair of a Beyonce performance.  Pastors, preachers and teachers have elevated themselves to a position where they walk and talk with God on a  daily basis, yet the messages received are often conflicting.

Many of today's preachers have mastered, "The Art of Preaching", and their ability to preach is based on how well they can bring a crowd to an arousing climax.    

I attended a large prayer service that consisted of hundreds of people.  The services were advertised as the place to come for miracles and blessings.  The conductor of the services was a young energetic man who wore loud colored clothes.  After delivering his message, he continued to address the crowd.  “The Lord said” he began, “There is somebody in here that has a headache, the Lord says come on up here and get your healing.”   Then the Lord would speak again and he would say, “There is somebody in here that has a backache come up here and get your healing.”  People would rush to claim their healing.  This young man was elevated to the position od a great healer throughout the communities he visited.  It was not long before some people began to see thru this ‘shotgun approach’.  

To use the words “somebody” and “a headache” in a crowd of a few, you are bound to hit “somebody with a headache”.  A person high on drugs could pull that act off.  I do not believe the God that I need and as powerful as the one I am looking for needs this type of showmanship.   God punished Moses for performing an act of showmanship.  These are the working of ‘bad actors’, which it is up to God to judge, but they have caused many people to turn and flee from God.  This is not a plausible excuse and it will not stand up before God, but I will say it, “My God they made me run from you.” 

The world situation is not changing for the better, yet more and more people are praying for God’s intervention.  Jewish customs and celebrations are superseding the work of the cross and we are claiming a year of Jubilee.  There are promisings being made in the name of God for the purpose of self-promotion and edification.

The works of God is  trivialized, and he is restoring wealth and family values, he even brings peace to our communities.  Yet, according to Jesus, in the "last days" these things would not be.   Luke 12:51  Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:  The coming of the Kingdom of Heaven has been redefined and we are living in it now, thus, there is no reason for Christ to return.  The justification of our desires through the shaping of the scripture is nothing new, the devil introduced this ploy in the Garden of Eden.  Christian values are eroding because we are being taught that God wants us to be happy.   Alternate lifestyles are on the increase and even acceptable in many assemblies.  The gullibility of Christianity allows us to justify it in the name of God. 

Many churches have become pawns of the government and the breeding ground for corruption and political aspirations.  We are building immaculate sanctuaries at an alarming rate, and it seems that God is issuing new directives every day.  Political correctness through faith-based initiatives is strictly enforced.   We speak in God’s name and of a God who shows love without punishment and justice, as a new way of life.  “God loves me,” has become an excuse and a metaphor for the ungodly.   

The Selling Of The Christ (Part 2)

Winning The God Lottery

Why are we here?  What is the message our youth are getting from our serving God?  Are they following us to church?  What is the message that Christianity is trying to project to the world?  What is the purpose and message of the churches?  What is the message of Jesus Christ?  Was it necessary for Christ to come and die on the cross so that we could have stuff?  These questions have tormented many minds.  God forbid that his Son should suffer and die so I could ride in a new car.  Did the father send his son to die so ministers and pastors could strut around like peacocks, adorned in Gold and Silver and living of Gods people?  As one person remarked after returning from a national meeting, “It is getting harder to tell the preachers from the pimps.”

The message and collecting offerings have become two of the most important and destructive forces within the church.  There was a time when churches raised an offering for a visiting minister.  Now we raise offerings for ministers who do not have the time to visit.  Many churches support meetings and organizations that have no benefit to the community or church.  When the ones who are conducting the meetings derive the only benefit, we should become concerned.  We should question services that honor (worship) someone other than God.  I suppose there are those who say a Sheppard is supposed to fleece his flock, and then there is another message about not muzzling the Ox that pastors tend to apply to their flock.

There are messages designed to make the congregation feel guilty of some type of sin if they do not follow the defined precepts of giving.  Church members were once entrusted to give as the Lord had blessed them, now there are scriptures used to show that blessing and favors are a direct proportion to the amount of money you give.  Like the Casino Slot Machine, the more you put in the better your chances are of hitting the jackpot.  Context and perspective are being abuse in the interpretation of these scriptures and many are getting away with it.

The pastors of many churches have done their homework; they know what it takes to pack a church.  A beautiful message of prosperity, a television camera, a movie, or recording star, and an expression of financial success will fill any house.  The title is important too; it is no longer fashionable to be a Minister, Pastor, or Reverend,   Apostle, Superintendent, Bishop or Doctor tends to evoke more respect.  To be successful, the title must indicate that you are elevated above your peers.  To attract the masses, you must look the part and act the part of the upper class.  I suspect that even Jesus would have a hard time packing a church now, and John the Baptist would not even be a contender.  The final aspect of attracting a crowd is the prospect of entertainment.  In the old days, a Piano in the corner was the extent of the musical instrumentation.  Today most church choirs and praise leaders perform with a full-scale band.

Back in the ancient days, only certain churches allowed musicians and singers to perform during worship service.  The music playing and singing were spontaneous acts of praising and worshiping God.  After the service ended, there was no expectation of getting paid or special recognition.  Today things have changed.  Pastors are getting paid huge slaveries.  The musicians are paid, and angling for higher pay.  The congregation sits in awe as a group of paid performers provides the entertainment and inspirational aspects of worship...  In the midst of all of this, I wonder if God is amused.

On any given weekend, millions of people nationwide will pack the nightclubs, casinos, and concert halls in search of entertainment.  The harbor no regrets about spending money, and the weather will not be a factor in the assessment of entertainment.  Time will not play an important role, the party is better when it last all night.

On any given weekend, millions of people nationwide will pack football stadiums to be entertained.  They will pay their dues for a good seat and the weather is not a factor in the decision to attend and be entertained.  They do not expect anything tangible in return; they just want to be entertained and entertainment makes a person’s spirit feel uplifted.

On any given Sunday, millions of people will flock to churches to be entertained.  A timely procession of the worship elements is important, the preacher preaches a message of prosperity and they will be entertained.  They will pay their dues because God loves a cheerful giver.  The more they give to God the more they can expect to get back.  The weather will play an important role in the decision to attend and be entertained.  Moreover, there is an expectation of a blessing for attending the service.  

It seems the difference between these two events is what makes one an act of fun and folly, and the other a sacred service. 

Where are the fire and brimstone messages?  The word ‘repent’ is rarely used in sermons.  The Kingdom of Heaven is about enjoying yourself here on earth.   Serving God is about getting what you want from God.  Walking in God’s favor is a new pair of shoes.  To speak of the ‘fear’ of God is taboo, because when we die we are all going to heaven where all of the rock stars assemble and sing in the heavenly choir.
  

The pastors and members of many churches are praying for God to do things he did not come to do.  They do not hesitate to ask God to go to the hospitals.  Some even pray for him to unlock the jail cells or to bring peace in a world of confusion.  We are always telling God to bless us with the blessing we are ‘standing’ in need of.  I remember a person praying for God to get in the gas tank of his car.  If God were to do, what church folks asked him to do what a wonderful world we would have?  Then again, if church folks did what God has already empowered them to do, what a wonderful world we would have.

Think about this, if God were to answer all of the Christian’s prayers, then all Christians would be rich and lazy and all sinners would be poor and hard working.  Christians would live forever and sinners would die young.  Then sinners would look at the Christians and say.  “That’s what I want” Soon there would be no sinners.  The churches would be filled with people serving and praising God for the stuff that they are getting, and not because they love God. 

At many churches, after the preachers have preached, there is a call for those who are sick or just need prayer.  Most of us will admit that we all need prayer, but this act, this request which once was an act of reverence has now  been turned into an act of bad showmanship by some.  Many of these after message prayers are spirit filled, and God has worked wonders through these services.  It is the copycat bad actors who have given this type of service a bad name.  They use this prayer service to extend a dull message thirty extra minutes by whooping and howling for God to work a wonder.  Maybe we should be begging God not to abandon us.  In my search for and a closer walk with God, I realized there was nothing I needed to ask God for in this natural world.  He already had provided it.  What do the birds and the lilacs of the field need?  I needed to praise him for what he has already done for me and ask him to manifest himself more through the fruit of the spirit. 

That old Satan has found a way to discredit the works of God using bad actors and copycat actors.  Works that once was contributed to, “an act of God” is now nothing more than, “The Power of Positive Thinking.”  Cancer that disappeared is now nothing more than a misdiagnose by the doctor.  The preacher who stands in the pulpit and speaks with great authority, “God if you will heal them and give them the desire of their hearts they will they will forever be pleased, and serve you all of their days.”  In the language of the street, this is “pimping God.” 

A minister once planned to perform the miracle of walking on the water at an outdoor baptism.  He spent many hours in the dark of the night setting up the props while being observed by a local moonshiner.  When he was satisfied with his setup, he left the area and the moonshiner tampered with the setup.  The next day, in the heat of his fiery message, he began to rise from the water as he careful navigated the steps that were hidden from everyone’s view.  As soon as he set foot on the Plexiglas stage, the whole thing came crashing down.  Quick thinking and action by the Deacon Brothers saved the minister from a watery grave.  Is this what God is all about? 

There are many testimonies of how God healed a headache, is this an accurate representation of God at work?  The use of television to perpetrate fraud in God name was enough to cause God to turn his head.  Church services are not complete without asking God to heal someone.  Many times, the same person who stood last Sunday is standing this Sunday.  How do we interpret the healing virtue of God?  Jesus performed miracles, but he did not stand on the mountain and ask the Father to heal the world.   Does serving God come with the expectation of healing?  Are we guilty of abusing the word and power of God?  Have we made a joke of our Father’s purpose?  These are questions we should ask God through prayer and contemplation, and not be a shame to testify of the answers.

When I was a young boy, a preacher came to town.  He had a different style of preaching.  We called him a teacher because he did not whoop and holler.  He asked for and received permission to conduct revival services in the local churches.  This young man taught the scripture like none here had heard it taught.  He would conduct healing services where he would lay hands on people and pray for them.  Many people received their healing, and because of the wonders God worked thru him, many people were converted.  Thus began the proliferation of the ‘laying on of hands’ ministry.  If I could speak of God as a mortal, I would say it was confusing to him at the number of people asking him to do this and that and did not believe in what they were asking.  Some perpetrated fraud in Jesus’ name by selling handkerchiefs and the use of bloody chicken parts.  I can now understand what Jesus meant when said, “You call me Lord, but you do not the things I say.”  “You honor me with your lips, but your Heart is far from me.”  There are those who talk about God but they do not know God.  

A Sister in a local church testified that she had laid hands on a dead person and the dead person came back alive.  We never saw or heard from the person, but the church community was impressed.  She began to conduct prayer services in people’s homes, and soon she had a great number of women following her.  They called themselves God’s Prayer Warriors and she was their leader.  One by one, these women began to testify of how God had worked a miracle thru them and raised a person from the dead.  Again, there was no confirmation of these miracles, only a testimony that evoked an awed response within the local churches and communities.  These were Godly women and nobody was going to call them liars.

Continued in part #3

Seminar

Thank God and thank you our last seminar was a rousing success.  Over the last two years, with the publication of the book, Understanding The Word of God has truly become a national and international ministry.   According to Google stats, international readership of our blog often exceeds the national level.  Book sales have been phenomenal.  The book focuses on the message preached by Jesus and his disciples.   There is no call for the sowing of seeds and reaping prosperity.  This ministry is a labor of love for the word of God.  There is no promise of earthly fame and glory.  Understanding the word of God focus on the coming of the "Kingdom of God".   We will be posting a national tour schedule shortly and if you are in those areas you are invited to attend.   Locally, we will be conducting another  8-week  in-depth seminar on the book of Revelation, at the Kingdom and Glory Ministery, Maben, MS.  Set to began during the month of February, date, and times will be announced later.   Purchase of books and study material  is acceptable but not a requirement, only a desire to gain a deeper understanding of the Word of God.  Understanding The Word of God  can be purchased HERE.  

The Selling Of The Christ (Part 1)

Part 1 of a 5 part series

It started many years ago; the preachers realized that Christianity was a business and their core job was to sell Jesus Christ to the people.  There was nothing wrong with the intent of the messengers until they began shaping and reshaping the message.  Jesus said, “If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me.”  Jesus spoke those immortal words referencing being lifted from the cross and returning to his Father.  This verse is taken out of context and applied to worship services and he or she envisioned themselves as salespersons for God.   Lifting up Jesus took on a completely new message, the message had to be attractive and it must offer the people something tangible. 

A message about the pie in the sky by-and-by was not attractive enough to draw the massive crowds needed to support or increase the bottom line of the growing churches.  Preachers, Pastors, and Teachers were learning how to be successful living of God’s churches.  God’s churches were now becoming a business.  A business must offer a product or service or it will go out of business.  Thus began the reshaping of the message of Jesus Christ.  To shape the message, you must find a scripture, take it out of context, if necessary, view it from an alien perspective, and apply it to the model that you are constructing.  Saint John 10:10b says, “I came that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly.”  This statement became the cornerstone for many messages of prosperity. 

To put this verse back in context and perspective lets read Saint John 10:1-10, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. However, he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out, and when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spoke Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spoke unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enters in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief comes not, but to steal, to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” 

Is there anything in the above paragraph that indicates Jesus was talking about earthly treasures?  We should never use sound bites to project a complete thought.  Jesus was speaking in a parable and he was speaking about the Kingdom of God to a Jewish gathering.  What does abundant life in the Kingdom of God have to do with earthly possessions?  God has already blessed humanity in the book of Geneses with the blessing of prosperity.  However, to make churches more attractive the promise of prosperity needed to be a part of the message.  Initially, it seems God may have used blessing and prosperity as a tool to get the wayward children of Israel to serve him.  The children of Israel were encouraged to steal from the Egyptians before leaving for the Promised Land.  Parts of the foundation of the law were prosperity and longevity.  God’s initial plan was for the children of God to kill the heathens and take their possessions.  Providing for the natural element of the man just did not prove to be conducive to serving God.  The natural desires of man were the more he got the more he wanted.  Throughout the Bible, humanity has shown that when it is getting, doing God’s will become secondary.

Jesus did not come to address the prosperity issue; he came to address the decaying spiritual nature of man.  He came to warn us to repent for the new kingdom or the Kingdom of heaven was at hand.  When asked to address natural issues, he had very few words.  Render under to Caesar the things of Caesar and unto God the thing of God.  He explained the ‘seek’ in Matthew 7:7 as Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and it's righteous and all things will be added.   The simplicity of that statement is, he did not say seek all things. If you can get the spiritual assembly to accept the ‘seek’ as a reference to spiritual things, the ‘all things’ will send them running to God for material things.  When Jesus was speaking these words he referred, to the lilacs of the field and the birds of the air, which neither toil nor sow and the heavenly Father takes care of them.  He has already provided everything needed for the grass, lilacs, and the birds to survive.  He did the same thing for humanity.  God has already provided everything humanity needs to be prosperous.  Not only did he provide humanity with everything he needed to survive, he blessed us with a spirit of prosperity.  (Gen1:28)  All we have to do is get up on our hind part and take advantage of the blessings he has already provided.  Those who are enjoying the blessing of God have a God given desire to be prosperous.  Again, consider the fowls of the air, if they sit in the tree that God has provided for them and refused to fly around “work” and get the food that God has already provided them, they will and deserve to starve.  It seems that we need to recreate a class of Christians who are concerned about the Kingdom of Heaven rather the Kingdoms of the world.  The Bless me and Give me the aspect of worshiping God seems to have gotten out of control.

When I look at Jesus as a spiritual guide, I find little support for many of the churches messages.  I take no issue with preachers teaching people how to be prosperous.  It is a needed service, so are many other community services.  I have no problem with preachers or teachers being motivational speakers.  Pastors should be motivational speakers, they should be grief counselors, and they should be family counselors.  It is when they forget the message of Luke 13:1-10 unless you repent, you all shall likewise perish.  The preaching of prosperity or getting from God just does not seem right for Sunday morning worship service.

I talked to a young woman, who had lived a high profile life and was now having trouble finding a husband.  She had been married several times, and each husband was not what she was looking for.  She was encouraged to turn from her sins and start going to church and God would provide her a husband.  She based her faith upon that most misunderstood statement in the Bible.  The Bible said, “Ask and it shall be given, Seek and ye shall find, Knock and the door shall be open unto you.”  When she failed to find the husband she was searching for, she began to lose her faith.  The message was causing her to lose faith in the word of God.  Then there is the question of ‘if’ faith existed at the time of her so-called conversation.  She attended church, worked in the church, and paid her money, but she did not get what she came looking for.   The ministers kept preaching, “God will give you the desires of your Heart.”  Her attitude changed,  if God was not going to give her what she wanted or if someone else was getting what they wanted and she wasn’t she might as well stay home.  To me, it is scary to think that people can take this type of attitude with God.  It is also terrifying that real preachers will project this farce as the word of God.

Many young, educated people have failed to grasp the relevancy of Christianity in modern day living because the message has been presented to them by self-motivated messengers who do not take the time to get the message right.  The self-motivated preacher realized that the people was running to and fro seeking and/or enjoying prosperity, and Jesus did say, “Ask and it shall be given.”  Now the message is taking shape, if you want prosperity you must ask God for it.  For God to grant your request you must be in the right frame of mine.  Now comes the sucker punch, Jesus said, “It is more blessing to give than it is to receive.”  Now we have the basis for a beautiful message, “Getting what you want from God.”  The smart preacher or teacher that can develop this message and present it in a forceful manner, with the whooping and hollowing in the right place, can attract a crowd from miles around.  The key to getting is giving and everybody wants to be in on the getting.  People do not mind paying money when there is a promise of more money.  Somewhere in the process of getting and enjoying God’s blessings, we forgot the message of salvation and the Kingdom of God.

 The younger generation sees the Rap Star; the Athlete, the drug pusher and just the plain old hard working sinner who does not attend church, and sees that they are prosperous.  The preacher’s job is to tell the church members they can have the same thing if they ask God for it.  In essence, you come to God to be poor so you can beg God for the things everybody else is getting.  Observations like these provide the fuel for the religious disconnect.  Somewhere in all of this, there is an element of confusion.  

The idea of getting religion and starting a church exist in the mindset of some as a sure road to financial success.

As a Christian, God requires more than praising and worshiping him.  Have you ever considered how purposely it would be for God to create man for the sole purpose of praising and worshiping him?  Can you imagine God saying; let us make a man so that we will have somebody to praise us.  What kind of God would create a man so that he would have somebody to love him?  This would make our Heavenly Father seems like an egotistical maniac.  I will quickly add that this is far from the truth.  Praising and worshiping God is something we should do because God is God, because he is our creator and because of the covenant that he has made with us.  We should praise and worship God because of what he has already done for us and not because of something we want,

To approach our God with our hands outstretched in a give-me position is not an act of repentance, respect or reverence.  This is neither an act of love.  It seems more like the action of spoiled children who want everything they can get their hands on and somewhere overlooked in all of this is the mission and the message.