Monday, April 11, 2005

Christianity is of the Devil!!!!

Christianity is of the Devil!!!!!


I am currently talking to an 84 year old man who believes this…. Yet he is a believer in Christ. I was at first taken aback when he said, “Christianity is of the Devil. You can’t be a 'Christian' and follow Christ".
First I want to say is that I don’t agree….
Yet I had to pause for a thought…..

This is what he is saying….even if he does not fully understand this.

Many claim to be Christian…. I would say most people in America, though fewer and fewer would, if asked, say, “I am a Christian.” Then they would say, “I am basically good, I mean I haven’t killed anyone or anything.”

I often think to myself, “If God’s standard is that we don’t kill someone, then you are doing great, but what kind of standard is that?” I mean…. I am “good” if I don’t kill.
Jesus said, “If you have anger in your heart against another person, you have committed murder in your heart.” !!!!!!!! (Rom 3:23, Matthew 5)

I have killed many on the freeway!

Yet, we do these things every day… kill, adultery, and on and on.

My 84-year-old friend was raised in a Christian home…. He went to church; he sang hymns he was baptized. Yet, he was taught to HATE “that Holy Roller Church” and it’s people.
Because they did not believe exactly as his parents and their church did.
(Mark 7)

He is a storyteller…. I don’t have space to share the stories. I will have to just say he is re-living his life and is writing a book about how God was reaching out to him and how he hardened his heart…. And surrendered to Satan.

He never missed church!
(Matthew 5:20)

I understand what he is really saying…. We can deceive ourselves and do all the time.
We need Jesus, not religion, not just doctrine, but JESUS.
Don’t get me wrong, we need to study doctrine and make sure we are on the right path.
Yet, if our doctrine is keeping people out or the Kingdom, then maybe we need to recheck our doctrine…. We may be making them twice as fit for HELL as our self. (Matthew 23: 25)



Jesus never came to start a Religion!
He came to bring us the Kingdom of God!
(Matthew 5:20)

I agree…. I am sure He never intended His Body, the Church, to be a religion…. I believe if He is the Head…. And We are His Body…. WE were meant to be a living organism that would reach out to the world, as the Father did…. When He sent His SON.
(Romans 12)


Christianity as a Religion is as good and EVIL as any Religion…. So we must make sure that we practice True Religion…. To care for widows and orphans and Fatherless children. (James 1)

Literally and metaphorically….
For without Jesus, we are ALL FATHERLESS CHILDREN!

Don’t let your religion get in the way of your faith in Christ… practice your faith and work out your great and wonderful salvation!

Blessings,
iggy

4 comments:

levi fuson said...

Great Post!!! I agree that it is all about what your definition of "christianity" is. I have to admit lately I am pretty fed up with christians. not those people who are truly seeking to be like christ or even those who are just seeking truth, but the wierdos that this guy is talking about, the ones who live in church as a social structure. BLAH!

i tend to use inflammatory language, maybe so is he?

do you think christ was serious when he said that every man that holds anger in his heart is actaully committing murder? or do you think he was using inflammatory language to prove a point. point being that you can't live your life going around saying, "well, i didn't murder anyone today....I'm good".

I wonder.

l.

Unknown said...

Actually I think he might have a few mental problems.... I am not sure about you. LOL!

On one level I think language is for communication so if on needs to make a point inflammatory language can be a way of catching someones attention....

Jesus did this as John 7:37. On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
He screamed this during the festival of the pouring of the water befroe the Lord.... He was saying He was that Water Offering!

You can imagine the indignation that would cause to the Religous people!

I find it fasinating that though this man might have some mental problems, he may be saner that many realize.

I think the point that Jesus was saying about 'if one is angry with their brother, they are killing someone in their heart... this is not about the 'sin' but addressing the lack of understanding of the letter of the Law that one must keep to be saved.... to not even conceive of the idea of murder, adultery, and so on.... in which the one Paul says we all fall short is not coveting.
We either are to be perfect as God is in heaven of trust in Christ Who IS perfect as god in Heaven... for He is God.

Now, the other hand.... if one is just trying to be controversial as in the case of Barabas.... starting a riot to start a war to run the Romans our.... we may have a problem.

Again, Congrats on the new little one... it looks like you combined Selah and Lynn as a middle name... sounds familar...where did yo get that idea? hahaha


Blessed,
iggy

JP said...

great post iggy, It really hit me and sometimes I confuse my religious label with my relationship with the Lord. Thanks for this.

Kristen said...

Yeah, a friend of mine, who is a believer, often says he is tired of fellowshipping with "Christians".