I know I am not alone wondering what to make of the likelihood that the religious world is being ravaged with lies in a similar fashion to what we are seeing in the political sphere. I suppose that many of us have actually confirmed the phenomena of truth being a well-worn lie and of minors taking over the roles of majors but we do not know what to do with our discoveries.

Certainty and corrosion

How many times have you seen a cart leading a horse? It happens often. Let us establish the reality of well-worn lies and what are some of the minors that have become majors, and that there are carts pulling horses.

1. To be sure that no one can complain that God is being arbitrary or robotic because he organizes every era of human existence under various covenants.
2. Nothing moves into the realms of the Messianic kingdom without repentance. A change of mind is essential.
3. Pride of property, family and place is not divine justice: all humans sin
4. Death is not life elsewhere: there is no life in Gehenna or Hades.
5. God made flora, fauna and humans with seed: immortal ones in creation do not exist.
6. If the whole of man is commandment-keeping we know what departure from the faith looks like.
7. All messengers or gatekeepers are by comparison to the Good Shepherd thieves and robbers.
8. Compare the picture of every nation becoming a kingdom priests, peculiar and higher than the rest with spiritual and truthful worship in places other than Jerusalem and in no particular place.

The 45th president in your church

Stories of truly great things morph into incredible folklore and junk.  Instead of shiny truths we end up with corroded materials: justice at the cross loses to condemnation at Sinai. “I accept Jesus as personal saviour” replaces “Jesus is lord” so that there is no tension between Christ and Caesar.  Still, Caesar does not bow to Christ and we know that Christ is Caesar’s maker and has Caesar on a leash.

Making sure of a working salvation

Before recommending a strategy let us ensure what our motives are. We go to church to participate in four graces: prayer, apostolic doctrine, sharing meals, and fellowship.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:42

This is reflected (fellowship assumed) also in Peter’s conclusion in the welfare discrimination case:

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. Acts 6:4

Whose prayer pattern, whose doctrine dominates? Every organized church has a focus that is adrift from the once-delivered faith. Just look at the names of the denominations. The faith of Jesus Christ needs no revision or amendment (sorry all you religious revolutionaries, American patriots and reformers, you should have learned to read and practiced believing the report). Reform movements began with the Pharisee attempt to turn Gentiles into Jews (Acts 15) and revivals are always a quixotic response to (seemingly threatening) current events. They eventually show that they are not tethered to the gospel. They paper over the walls of salvation by repeating the lies, the fables, and unsubstantiated allegations about life and death, many of which are inherited fron the Jewish tradition.

Bible Club Bible Comfort

There is more talk about “God” than testimony about Yeshua yet we know so little about God without Yeshua’s face. There is a concerted effort to bash people with the Bible rather than offer them the great news there is of God’s love and what he has provided for humanity.

Of course people can say they see strings connecting Christ to every prophet, exorcist, and magician. They can accept every hook, line, and sinker as appropriate. They can ally themselves with every merchant, landowner, and legislator, but Christ is not only separate from sinners (humans) he is higher than the heavens.

They can turn the new covenant into the old, turn justice-pardon into obedience, turn the law into life-giving words. If the regurgitated slogans, childish songs, and maxims omit the grace of the dying lamb they are not worth the time.

So, ask the question. Do not be intimated, especially if you are a young person and female of any age.  Ask everyone – including yourself!!! – who uses the Bible: what does this have to do with the promise, purpose, and progress of the Crucified Christ?

Be sure to make the question the primary filter for your thinking and thereby ensure that what comes out of your mouth is not defiling. Your behaviour will also be approved apart from injunction and prohibition. Do this and you will shred the powers of the deceiver. The sacred superpowers – churches, states and prostitution rings – cannot stand real change, neither do they appreciate the consistency of Christ.

Braves Boot the Bullies

Do not keep saying “Amen”