Practical Hints About Authentic Christian Faith

All things are lawful unto me, 

but all things are not expedient: 

all things are lawful for me, 

but I will not be brought under 

the power of any.

1Corinthians 6:12

     The series of blogs in regards to the current state of Christianity was an attempt to point out the problems with cultural Christianity a problem that not only plagues the church but also plagues the nation.  It was not an easy thing to do for many people will object to being given this information of negativity and only desire to have those things that "tickle the ear." The cultural Christian church today as all the ideas concerning the major doctrines of our faith, and as can be seen by attending almost any church that there is a result of a lowering the standards set by the Bible, and by the nation in which they live not just by unbelievers but by believers there has been a settling for a cultural substitute. we must never forget that the Bible holds forth power and beauty and is only true if it is based upon Authentic Christian Faith.  A person who will take the time to look at Authentic Christian Faith they will say that it bears the mark of divine origin.

     Do not make this mistake: thinking that there is no great difference between Authentic Christian Faith and cultural Christianity.  This difference is not simply a matter of different opinions, and of course there are, rather it lies at the very heart of religious debate.  This difference is not just a matter of indifference as some things that are indifferent should not be a cause for debate rather it is this difference between the major doctrines and this declares that cultural Christianity is not Authentic Christianity. cultural Christianity lacks the very elements that make up Authentic Christianity.  Many have been misled and are engrossed into this charade and they have a need to look closely at the Bible and to compare what they believe and how they act with what the Bible actually teaches.  It is my hope that person, any person, all people, will recognize that there is a shallow substitute that has been settled upon by many people and they have a need to return to the true Gospel and not just another gospel: "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would put for the gospel of Christ." Authentic Christians endure to the finish so that they will be complete and be without defect.

     Many good things are being done within Christianity, there are those who are helping people medically, the building of homes, and working with people who have addictions and are in need of recovery, the teaching of children, church camps, and the like showing that many in the main are right, yet there is that in which we are slovenly.  There is a word that is not used very often in this day and age we see it everywhere celebrities think and they're so smart and so important that there were a tuxedo and then Blair and issues.  There is such a need in this day and age to be independent.  There is a need in this day and age for a person to be entitled.  What is it mean to be slovenly?  It means to be untidy or unclean in appearance or habits, to be slip shod, careless or be in a slipshod manner.  There should never be a cause to be so often we, whether it be in the way we eat, drink, dress, or in the way we worship God.  Our relationship to God must be right and our external expression of that relationship must be right.  Yet, go to almost any church and you will see men and women dressed as though they were going to the park to play.  Man dressed in shorts, shower shoes, hair unkempt, fidgeting around as we see with many children, yet, how often have I personally seen that those same men who are leaders of the church dress this way but dressed great respect, suits and ties, haircut, shoes shined, and all this is for is possibly a wedding anniversary, or some other anniversary, or maybe they've had to go before other people and they know that this is the proper way to appear before others.  If you go to the church and they looked like the world and often this is so that their independence will not be disrupted.  We see women with red dresses cut so low that we see threats, skirts so high barely covering their butt pics as or having the need to do special things so that their privates are not expose.  We see men and women getting tattoos, men wearing earrings, or letting their hair grow so long that they've got put in a ponytail, and yet they never give a reason for not showing respect before our Savior Jesus Christ and our great God, no, all they give is excuses.

     Oh!  You say; they can't afford it!  That may be true, what about those who can afford to dressed what we consider in the United States as respectable dress?  Would they go before the president of the United States look like they just got out of a swimming pool?  No!  So why would they go before our great God and Savior looking like world, allowing cultural Christianity to slip into their excuses?  If a person is in need is it not what the Bible teaches that we are to care for that person.  Let's get real: I personally have three suits, very expensive suits, and neither set of suits cost me more than $13.  I have ties that cost me one dollar.  I have shirts that I can buy and have bought that are less than six dollars. we should care for one another and raised the bar of respectability and not lowered the bar to meet a person's inability causing them to remain in a lower standard.  It is time For Authentic Christians saying they love and care for one another, it is time to do something. yes!  That is being done in some churches and you may be involved in helping people showing the love of Jesus Christ of others who are in need and you are to be applauded.  You are doing exactly what our Lord and Savior requires of an Authentic Christians.

      So the next blogs will be deciding who teaches practical hints about Authentic Christian Faith.  I believe with all my heart that deep down inside a truthful seeking person that there is a desire to live and Authentic Christian Faith.  I hope to help you and me to do just that, so the next blogs will aid us grow in knowledge or Lord and add this to our virtue as Peter admonished us to do.

 Serve the LORD with gladness:

     come before He Is presence was singing.

Know ye that the LORD He is God:

     it is He that hath made us,

 and not we ourselves; we are His people,

      and the sheep of His pasture.

                      Psalms 100: 2 -- 3

Serve Jesus Christ with all your being

Richard L. Crumb

The Current State Of Christianity: The Last Part

Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holy 

and justly and unblameably we behaved 

ourselves among you that believe: 

as ye know how we exhorted and comforted 

and charged every one of you, as a father 

doth his children, that ye would walk 

worthy of God, who hath called you unto 

His kingdom and glory.

1Thessalonians 2:10-12

  

      Authentic Christianity is our firm foundation board is built upon the firm foundation of Jesus Christ and without this foundation it would be impossible to elevate the current state of Christianity and of the values that are harming the nation for without it or be no successful efforts as they will eventually fail.  If there is a failure then this nation and the current state of Christianity will drop to levels of morality that previously existed and it is even possible that it will drop into lower levels of immorality.  Authentic Christians will see this Authenticity essential so that they exercise all their efforts to revive within themselves vital faith that our forefathers possessed.

     To experience renewal or revival within the Christian Church there needs to be a change and that change must begin with the ministers, pastors, and church leaders of the local churches.  Far too many men coming out of seminaries today are coming out of seminaries that have succumbed to liberality and the culture of this world.  What else are we to expect at that infection will infect the people of the various congregations in which they lead.  Men who have become socialistic and have engrafted at the very least some of the culture of this world have a responsibility and that responsibility is to raise the level of spiritual health within their congregations.  They are not to bring socialistic and liberalistic, and the culture of this world and to the Church.

it is the preaching of the Gospel, not another form of Gospel as so many churches have succumbed to teaching, no, they are to teach the simple truth of the Bible.

     Authentic Christians are often friends of men and women who are either associated are administrating civil authority and they should attempt to support those men and women.  Support for them does not mean that you must agree to everything that they propose and you are to ensure that what they decide is of the biblical morality that is good for the health of the city, county, state, and the nation.  Authentic Christians must not shrink back from this responsibility and are not to fear that there will be changes.  Yes, it will be spiritual renewal but we are not to let that renewable give way to occasional this orderly and in your regular exhibitions which are the detriment to the church.  This has become the current state within the Christian churches and this needs to be changed for this is not the norm for the norm is to remain faithful to only scripture.  Authentic Christians will work hard in their duty to all and especially for those who are serving in the clergy who are seeking to promote vital Authentic Christian Faith.  Many are now in that work and they need our support and that support begins by ourselves repenting of our sinful and immoral ways and returned to the simple truth of Scripture.

      Would you send your children into a cave to retrieve a lost ball when you know that there are hungry lions just waiting to devour them?  I think the answer was simple: you would not!  So then, why are Christians sending their children into the lion's den of public schools that are being gay was out atheism, even promoting Islam, inclusiveness, multiculturalism, and defaming Christianity?  Is it so important that both parents must work so that they can gather all sorts of toys, trinkets, a larger bank account, that the children are left to themselves, given money to spend as they wish, have no supervision of any large amount, and then say "I am a Christian!"  Why not live simple and quiet lives?  Why not be there when your children come home from school?  Here's a great question: why not homeschool your children so they do not have to face the Lions in public school?  What is more important: you?  What is more important: your empowerment?  Where in the world is Authentic Christianity?  James tells us that our faith is seen in our works and our works as a direct result of our faith.  Where does your faith lie?  You need to be there to encourage, to instruct, and lead your children in morality and vital spirituality and this you need to promote and you cannot do that in absenteeism.  Things have gotten so far out of hand in our time in his fact that our home life, the life of our children, the lives of our marriages, for the form of preaching that many sit under is devoid of Authentic Spiritual Content.

     I and my study on the current state of Christianity and it is clear like to must do all I can to aid the church to return to Authentic Christian Faith.  Will you join me in this effort?  God will help us if we take to heart the pursuit for the kind of life that Scripture teaches us to live.  How great it would be to see young men and women grow up to be strong men of Christian Faith.  How great it would be to see missionaries bring not only medical help, construction help, but more than that to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people who have little chance of hearing it.  Here's a quote:

             Restore your light, O excellent chief

            To your country; for it is like spring

            Where your countenance has appeared;

           To the people the day passes more pleasantly,

           And the sunshine more brightly. 

                          Horace, Odes, bk. 4,5,5. (Italics mine)

  

Return to your first love

Richard L. Crumb 

Authentic Christian Responsibilities

And that, knowing the time, that now it is 

high time to awake out of sleep: for now 

is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: 

let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, 

and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk 

honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, 

not chambering and wantonness, not in strife 

and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, 

and make not provision for the flesh, 

to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Romans 13:11-14 

     Paul was informing the Christians of his day to wake up so we and to put on the armor of God and by doing so glibly honest life and make no provision for the flesh for if you do you will fulfill the lust of the flesh. The day is closer today than it was in Paul's day for the coming of Jesus Christ for the second time to bring home His bride. We need to be awake and ready and tell he arrives we have a responsibility, we have work to do. The problems that we face a society should be viewed as spiritual problems not just as political issues or problems. this perspective has been lost for the most part and we can see this loss as it appears by the media.  A question that we must answer for ourselves is: what can we expect by the solutions that are being offered by those who only see things from a political perspective?  A person would hope that they would produce some sort of trance in progress, not just some fundamental change.  The standards of society have become immoral standards and what is meant by a moral is to mean a violation of moral principles, to be licentious, or lascivious a form of indifference especially towards conventional morality.  Immorality is an immortal quality or character, or conduct, especially seen in sexual misconduct, or in immoral acts.  A sane man must admit that there is a moral law within each person even though some distort that moral law.to fail in our responsibility, especially those who are living Authentic Christianity for Authentic Christians especially should have influence and power, whether it be political, or financial.  Authentic Christians use their positions to exercise their authority and abilities to this end, but they themselves of the ones who should be serving and manifesting the best example of what it means to be striving for and living for the highest spiritual and moral progress in their own lives. Some do have authority, wealth, and if they are not exercising properly this responsibility that comes with those attributes are responsible for the decline that we see so evident in today's culture.  Most take a moment here and use utmost caution as this calling to be responsible as  comes with challenges. This requires carefulness so as not to become part of the system that has become culturally immoral.  This is going to require discipline if this task is going to be accomplished and not allow oneself to become indistinguishable from an unbeliever: you must draw a line and do not move it!  The site now what side will you stand on: is it from commitment to be an authentic Christian for if this is true then you have a real beginning of a great adventure.

     Men and women, as can be seen especially in such things as World War II, a time when people came together to make this great task and rise to the level of challenge that task requires.  Heroic efforts were given when they faced the challenge involved as they were willing to pay the price.  History will testify that when action was required and do not shrink back for if they did they fail to achieve the goal.  With a circumstances in those circumstances will require our wholehearted devotion to the cause.  The circumstances require Authentic Christian Faith.  A person who holds fast to Authentic Christian Faith are prone to accomplish the task. The task at Authentic Christians face today is to be affecting so that there will be every rule of the moral and spiritual life of the nation.  We must remember the nation is you and I, and all other citizens.  Do you want to be a true patriot?  Do take on this attitude!

      The need for excitement has become the

attitude and culture of the secular world, no, it has also become the attitude of many churches and have become cultural.  The chasing after excitement, experiences, whether it be shouting out some sort of gibberish garbage are believing some sort of anecdotal story without proof, has become the norm and this is not Authentic Christian Faith, it is not Authentic Christianity. People do not want to be quiet, to study on their own, to use their mind and critical thinking and often just leave it to someone else to do their work.

     STOP COMPLAINING!  GET TO WORK!

Blessed are the undefiled in the way,

     who walk in the law of the LORD.

Blessed are they that keep His testimonys,

    and that seek Him with the whole heart.

The also do no iniquity: they walk in His ways. 

   Thou has commanded us to keep Thy

precepts diligently.

                     Psalm 119:1-4

Faith is manifested in works

Richard L. Crumb

The Current State Of Christianity: Part 15

And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without 

understanding? Do not ye yet understand, 

that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth 

goeth into the belly, and is cast out into 

the draught? But those things which proceed 

out of the mouth come from the heart; 

and they defile the man. For out of the heart 

proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,

 fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 

there are the things which defile a man: but to eat 

with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Matthew 15:16-20 

     The blogs as to the current state of Christianity have all been designed to give his understanding as to the current state of Christianity and of this world and to see the problem of what it is and then to see also the solution.  There is a need for an infusion, a serious infusion, Authentic Christian Faith.  When the United States was founded it was founded by men and women who are Christians for the most part in only a few were not Christian for Christians were fleeing from a form of government that would suppress, Socialistic, harsh against anyone who do not believe as the government told them that they should be.  Christianity pounded the laws of this nation, those immoral laws, and based on those immoral laws as secular laws for different affairs of people to ensure peace and security.  The beginning universities were founded upon Christianity, although today they are far removed from Christianity.  Those early Christians knew that they needed a change in that change needed to return in to Scripture.  If they were to survive this was absolutely necessary.  There were people from all walks of life and even a different denominational spots in regards to Christian faith, yet they worked together to form a most perfect union a nation greater than any nation that before hand had been formed.  Today there are many people who attend churches of different denominations that have different creeds and doctrines yet hold fast to the basic truth of the Bible and yet they know, even if they take a moment of time, they know that there needs to be a revival, a return to the original foundation for this nation.  Authentic Christianity one that would have a vital faith can only be reintroduced by the degree of our churches and how they hold fast to the commandments, precepts, that which was preached by Jesus Christ.  To the degree that this occurs there will be a reformation and Christianity again will return to authentic Christian faith and be vital.

     yes it is true, we live in a time in which her is a state of cultural decline, even a dry, and animated religion, or a religion that has become so animated that it is hostile to what it means to be an Authentic Christian.  Yes they go through religious motions those emotions that the common man would easily accept and join in with, those euphoric emotional times but only an actuality are tolerating a charade.  Philosophy has its place but it also has the ability to mislead if not based upon Scripture.  What is needed today is a faith that is real and works in a person's life.  One of the problems that occurs in some churches is complicated theology and, in person is seeking for that type of teaching is your revel in to those who are simply seeking the truth of what it means to be An Authentic Christian.  Theology is so often irrelevant and often is a theology full of man-made doctrines.  The average person, as a fall in person who has its own soul, needs to constantly be reminded of the boundaries of what it means to live and Authentic Christian life.  What is courage and has led to the current state of Christianity is that people are held in bondage to that which is more the spirit of the current culture, even to have a materialistic spirit.  Yet, in everywhere there is vital faith it invades and we can see people in societies that have been transformed from Barbara to send to decency, industry and whatever else makes men and women productive members of society.

    by God's grace that can be a new wave of spirituality, a Authentic Christianity and by this new ground, a ground that has been prodding by evil intentions and practices, leading people back to the morality and life talk to us by God.  Though we cannot predict public morals or political intentions but if we as Authentic Christians take hold of our responsibility the nation would benefit and not only the nation so this would also go to our prodigy.  This encroachment of diseases of sand and decay would cease to exist or in the very least be slowed down to a snail crawl and then the blessings of God would once again be poured out and release upon our nation.  It is not up to anyone but each one of us.  Question: do you become intentionally involved and hold fast to the responsibility of what it means to be an Authentic Christian?

But if ye turn unto Me, and keep My

    commandments, and do them;

though there were of you cast out 

    unto the uttermost part of the

heaven, yet will I gather them from

    thence, and will bring them unto

the4 place that I have chosen to set

    My name there.

                   Nehemiah 1:9

   do not just say that it needs to be done   

Richard L. Crumb

The Current State Of Christianity: Part 14

And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though 

I wrote a new commandment unto thee, 

but that which we had from the beginning, 

that we love one another. And this is love, 

that we walk after His commandments. 

This the commandment, That, as ye have 

heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 

For many deceivers are entered into the world, 

who confess not that Jesus Christ is come 

in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those

 things which we have wrought, 

but that we receive a full reward.

2John 5-8 

     Authentic Christianity where ever it exist in what ever portion of society that it exists, a fight against the cost human dignity that greed and selfishness has exacted upon people. Authentic Christianity teaches love towards man, not a love for everything that is immoral or is contradicted toward port to Scripture by people, know it teaches people the Gospel.  Furthermore Authentic Christianity teaches those who have gained wealth to be generous, to have a proper view towards the privileges and responsibility that come when a person is financially successful.  Wealth is not sinful, poverty is not sinful, what would be sinful, that is missing the mark of being an Authentic Christian is to not use wealth properly and to manifest humility especially toward those who do not have the same financial success as one's self.  Just because a person does not have lots of money, that is a affluent lifestyle and who live in circumstances that they can only afford modest, as we all must do, show diligence, patience, and industry.  A problem comes when we simply lay before the feet of Jesus to ask them to do things that we ought to be doing such as putting out resumes, going and looking for a job, improving upon a person's education if necessary, and a recognition that Authentic Christians execute their responsibilities that are to be done and to not have envy towards those who are financially better off than when South so as to have bitterness towards them and even towards one's own state. Paul in writing to Timothy gavest these words:"but if godliness with contentment is great gain."

     What does it mean to have contentment?  Me to recognize the things as they are and not the way we think they should be and to understand that one day all things will be as God intended.  It is interesting that we will pursue the things that we enjoy, things that bring us some sort of satisfaction even those things of this world, even if those things are not immoral.  We put a lot of energy in those things.  But it is the amount of energy that we pursue its important because if our pursuit is going in the opposite way that God has intended for us to go, that is to pursue worldly wealth or power or fame thinking that this will give us a better life; it will not review will find that the ultimate value of this pursuit is not worth much. There are great benefits for Authentic Christian Faith as it will produce a state of inner peace a piece that gives greater satisfaction than anything that is worth huge amounts of money or even huge amounts of time to pursue deals things for the benefit of Authentic Christian Faith has greater satisfaction.  You do not need to be wealthy to have satisfaction or contentment in his life where there is much to be said about a simple life, in fact the Bible encourages a simple life.  The bottom line is that if you are looking for true treasure it is to be found in a person having Authentic Christian Faith.  It is snowing that your inheritance that Jesus Christ died on the cross to give to you will one day be yours and here is worthy true value for your life is to be found.

      The current state of Christianity having become understood that it has wandered far from the Authentic Christian Faith and replaced it with the culture of the world and knowing that this is the problem the answer to this problem is simply right at hand.  It is you or you have the answer, for you have the solution, and you have a guidebook to lead you to implement the answer and to apply the solution.  QUESTION: HAVE YOU OPENED YOUR EYES?  ARE YOU WILLING TO APPLY THE SOLUTION?

The soul of the sluggard desireth,

    and hath nothing: but the soul

of the diligent shall be made fat.

                       Proverbs 13:4

You have the answer

Richard L. Crumb

     

The Current State Of Christianity: Part 13

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. 

Yea, all of you be subject one to another,

 and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth 

the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty 

hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time:

 casting all your care upon Him: for He 

careth for you.

1Peter 5:5-7

      The word humble has the connotation of negativity a thing that this culture which strives to remove her from a person in an attempt to replace it with this "empowerment."  What does it mean to be humble?  It means not to be proud or arrogant in fact it means to be modest you can mean to be submissive maybe even to cause you to feel insignificant or inferior and can mean to destroy the independence or will, to make a person meek as to be humble in one's heart.  So it is interesting that this word has both a positive and negative connotation at least that's what it seems on the surface.  People are afraid to feel insignificant, that is to feel unimportant, or to be too small to be important, to not have influence or some sort of distinction in or to be contemptible or have or be without meaning to be meaningless.a person will draw from the definition of the word "humble" to fit their ideology, even theology, or their desires is how they desire to live life.  The Bible uses this word humble and humility to designate a person's attitude toward themselves and towards life and towards others it does not mean that it person who is humble is a person who allows themselves to be trampled upon.  It simply means to follow the command of God which is to love God with your whole heart and mind and soul and then by this godly principle of love to apply that love to others and do things that you will be exercising in this life. were a person in fact it erases that person to a higher position in that this love is not simply self love but a love of God manifesting itself towards others.  This is not a culture of this world and unfortunately cultural Christians have allowed this worldly culture to invade and in fact the current state of the Christian church.

     We have examples of how a person, or a government, or even a church will do all they can to humble layperson in a negative manner and many have gone to extremes in their attempt for this attempt is to repress not to uplift.  Yes they may speak of uplifting people but this is not the what is actually meant by them for as they may inspire some they repress others.  An ancient Greeks city, Sparta, perished for more than 700 years with a system that discouraged selfishness and they did this by prohibiting commerce and imposing poverty and hardship on the citizens of Sparta.  The Roman empire did exactly the same thing for they raised a high-level public spirit and gave it the equivalent of a glorious love for the Empire and for its heroes.  The result of those cities is simply one of history, it is downfall.  This is what it happens: public vitality if it depends on conquest, that under those systems was necessary for them to exist, vitality languishes when the conquest is over and wealth and luxury produced stagnation and stagnation terminates in death.

     Not to be simply political, but it must be stated that the continuance of a government, or even of a church, is purchased at the suffering and poverty of its citizens or its congregants, the means to achieve their goal is sacrificed to achieve their purposes.  This is self-defeating.  When people attempt to achieve the greatest happiness for themselves or for a greater number and do this at the cost of the necessary humility that does the best for others a society can not survive long, nor can a church or does such things be under the grace of God.  When a government, a person, or a church represses people under doctrines, and practices that are not either of the Bible, or simply are a repression of the people and hide it under some sort of clothes that hides the truth always been done as the government or people are attempting to be God.  In every effort of these events or people or government has faults in their execution and they failed to achieve their purposes.

     We live in a country, a great country, the greatest country that was ever born in the history of this world, it is a blessing to live in such a country.  To allow a government to become suppressive and to make laws that are contrary to God's Word, most immoral laws that are in contradiction to the morality of God then we must stand on the word of God and I am not saying that we should take arms against a government or against even a denomination or church that fails to be God's laws properly, no!  This is not the primary purpose of Christianity for the primary purpose of Christianity is to root out natural selfishness.  Why?  This is not what is being taught in the culture of this world and in many of our churches today.  To root out natural selfishness is done in order to help us to develop a proper sense of who we are and what our obligations are to our fellow human beings.  Benevolence is a driving principle of Authentic Christianity.  Every church you have a benevolent fund and to use this fund for the needs of those who are authentically in need.  I just spoke to a lady at the sundial Bridge while walking my dog who attends the Bethel Church of Reading and had to fight for a few bucks gasoline so she could attend their church only after she filled out a request and this by a church who has the income of millions of dollars a year.  Yes we must be careful in our distribution of our benevolent fund but we also not need to be calloused.  It is great that many churches send missionaries into the field, and even groups of people to other countries and to other parts within this country to build churches, and to hold Bible studies, etc., manifest in the love of God.  This is putting others ahead of oneself and this is humility.  A person must be diligent in their performance of personal and civil responsibilities, a commitment to doing the will of God, and to be patient, trusting, having this attitude toward the providence of God as they face and respond to the unpredictable and often discouraging events of life.

     Authentic Christians face many trials and tribulations, discouragement, as they do all they can to manifest the love of God.  This can be done as we do the same as Paul did and can be read in the 20th chapter of the book of Acts.  Paul did not hold lordship over those to whom he brought the Gospel. No!  Paul knew he would face trials and tribulations for the sake of the gospel and was willing to suffer much under the hands of those who opposed him even though he had the power of being a Pharisee.  Furthermore he had the power of being a Roman citizen.  Paul could have demanded more but did not before he was humbled before the Lord and brought the Gospel to others under any condition.  The question is: Will you?

The fear of man bringeth a snare:

     but every man's judgment

cometh from the LORD. An unjust man

     is an abomination to the just:

and he that is up right in the way

     is abomination to the wicked.

                   Proverbs 29: 26 -- 27

Be humble before God

Richard L. Crumb

The Current State Of Christianity: Part 12

Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while

 is the light with you. Walk while ye have 

the light, lest darkness come upon you: 

for he that walketh in darkness knoweth 

not whither he goeth. While ye have light, 

believe in the light, that ye my be the 

children of light. These things spake Jesus,

 and departed, and did hide Himself from them.

John 12:35-36

     Truth is never an easy thing to grasp and is often hidden by means of excuses rather than reason why a person does not follow truth.  The current state of Christianity does have much darkness because they have wandered far from the truth.  The good news is that there are many churches and Christians within those churches who hold fast to the truth.  A person that has become succumbed by darkness and has come to believe that darkness to be light seeks to prove that what they believe is truth; therefore they look for truth a truth that matches their desires.  What they called truth is in fact a lie.  Truth is truth and cannot be watered down for if that does happen then truth is nothing more than a lie.

     A primary purpose of true Christianity, Authentic Christianity, is to root out natural selfishness and all that comes with selfishness, that which makes our obligations as askew and causes a person to demean their obligation to other human beings.  Benevolence is that which is a direct result of Authentic Christianity and a cause for the result of a lifestyle of moderation in pursuit of pleasure, and affluence, and causes a person to have a degree of indifference to the things of culture, furthermore, it aids than to decide what is important, to be diligent in their performance personal and civil responsibilities, to have a commitment to doing the will of God, to be patient, to be trusting to have that attitude toward the providence of God, for it's easy to wander astray if we do not wait upon the Lord and if we don't the results can be unpredictable and often discouraging.

     People often speak about walking with God yet there is no thrill in walking.  We say the word walked or walking and of course we think of the physical activity of walking from one place to another but the word has a greater definition and not just locomotion.  It can mean to conduct one's life in a particular manner, to examine, to measure, a characteristic manner of walking.  The word "walk" as used in the Bible is used which express the character, so John speaks of walking and the Bible does not make anything abstract in the Bible, toys vivid and it is always real.  God did not say, these spiritual, but "walk before Me."  The culture of this world will cause a person to be in an unhealthy state and often it is a unhealthy physical state or an emotional state is unhealthy and when this occurs are naturalness desires thrills.  This can be seen by many people rushing to church services that offer euphoric thrills.  Beyond Portugal part of this is that this will lead to counterfeiting the Holy Spirit; and the emotional life it leads to an ordinance affection and the destruction of morality and in this virtual domain if we insist on thrills, to be noun upon me, you will end up in destroying a person' spirituality.

     when a person is seeking God in all the wrong places, looking for some sort of rail to give them some sort of meaning from their life than the reality of God's presence is askew.   The reality of God's presence is not dependent upon beating any certain place, but only dependent upon the determination for a person to set the award always be for themselves.  Here is where a problem arises and that problem is we refuse to allow the reality of the presence of God and to thank our lives on His presence. This culture that has infected the church, not just the world, but church, is that God is not Real, He is an ideal and the very presence of God is not in a person's consciousness.  The hard thing for us to understand as a human being is that God has no end, God is not in some sort of boundary, and that He is everywhere present. I'm not speaking of Pantheism, no, God is not in sight of some physical object.  God resides outside of any physical object except for one thing that if you become a believer in Jesus Christ and have repented of your sins, and made a change from the inside out to follow him, then God imparts to that believer the Holy Spirit who it will become your comforter and guide. the Holy Spirit aids a person to walk, that is to develop what walk means in this case, to be a manner of character, in other words, in critical moments you may be necessary to ask him for guidance, but it ought to be unnecessary to be sane always "O Lord, direct me here, and there."  Of course God will!  Here is a very important point: if our commonsense decisions are not of his order, and if you are determined to be an Authentic Christian then God will help you through them and even check you if you will allow him so that you do not let that which might bring harm to you or to others.  This being so then they must be quiet and wait for the direction of His presence.

      If there's going to be a change in the current state of affairs of Christianity from the floor will state that can be found in Christianity then that change begins with each and every one of us.  We are to check ourselves to see that we are walking according to his will and that means to change our character from the inside/out.  There is so much good being done within Christianity has been overshadowed by the bad that is also in Christianity.  We need a revival, that means, to revive that which is dead and return to Authentic Christianity.  We need to consider our faith.

But they that wait upon the LORD

    shall renew their strength: they

shall mount up with wings as eagles;

     they shall run, and not be weary;

and they shall walk, and not faint.

                       Isaiah 49:31

Walk as did Jesus

Richard L. Crumb

    

The Current State Of Christianity: Part 11

So after He had washed their feet, 

and had taken His garments, and was 

set down again, He said unto them, 

Know ye what I have done to you? 

Ye call Me Master and Lord: and ye say well; 

for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, 

have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash 

one another's feet. For I have given you an example, 

that ye should do as I have done to you. 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant 

is not greater than his lord; neither he that 

is sent greater than he that sent him.

If ye know these things, happy are ye 

if ye do them.

John 13:12-17 

     I must apologize for not writing yesterday as I had business all day long.  But time spent driving and being alone gave me time to reflect on what I have been blogging and do what I might say today.  These blogs and the current state of the condition of Christianity are dim and in some cases deplorable yet not in all cases, there is much fine Christian work being done all over the world.present of country western song that says "give me 40 acres and I'll turn this rig around," and at times it seemed the same way as making any changes especially those that have deep roots in to ideologies and theologies of people are unwilling to examine and if found faults give up.  It is not just the current state of Christianity that so often as deplorable because these deplorable things can be and are being produced by other belief systems be it religious or not even if they advocate a positive morality and if they had the ability to enforce its laws.  Unfortunately, these systems fail in the most important aspect of human nature and the inability of men and women to hold fast to those moral precepts and have a need for a higher power that can assist us in their weaknesses.  There are those of who seek a higher power to assist them in their weaknesses and unfortunately fall under theologies of such as prosperity theology, healing theologies, and other emotional outbursts that are built upon euphoria reddened in the Word of God.  Authentic Christianity has no equal.  Authentic Christianity teaches the highest moral and ethical code that has ever been known to man and the only way for a man to have themselves in Howard to keep those precepts to reach out for a higher morality and an ethical code is only through a deep and developed relationship with the creator of the code and to have it empowered by the Holy Spirit.

     Here is the most important fact to be remembered: Jesus Christ NEVER insist on having authority for he leaves us perfectly free to do what ever we so desire to do even if it means to spit upon him That.  Jesus never stop them for putting him at that to death.  This deep relationship that Authentic Christians develop is only created an eight person by the redemption of Jesus Christ.  If you have been great being you won't as I recognize that it does have the right to have absolute authority over you.  I hear is this important point: it is a moral domination!  I never says take a bus ticket car take a plane if you're on your way to some destination you get to choose.  God doesn't say go to this job at job goal by this dress by the shirt by the shoes do this or do that in everyday life.  No!  You are free to choose!  Unfortunately until Jesus Christ returns and takes is home to be with him and gives us that new incorruptible body we are still unworthy and this causes us not to recognize his worthiness and to bow down to Him.  Authentic Christians if they desire to change from the inside/out to make a change in the current state of affairs of Christianity must come under the domination of Jesus Christ and when this is done your whole attitude of life is one of obedience to Him.  This obedience is the first That must be taken if there is a change in the current state affairs of Christianity and bring Christianity back under the teachings of the Bible.  Jesus Christ and never insist on obedience for if he did he would become our taskmaster and taskmasters do not have absolute authority over a person.  Even though Jesus does not insist on obedience is when we come into this relationship with Him that we obey Him instantly. How can a person live in adoration of Jesus Christ from morning until night in less Jesus Christ has the utmost and priority relationship?  You cannot grow in grace until you have grown in obedience to go hand in hand.  Today the word obedience has a negative connotation but obedience is only possible between equals.  Jesus Christ as the son of God was obedient as the Redeemer because He was Son, not to be Son do is obedience no because he is the Only Begotten Son of God.

     Authentic Christianity is one that is powerfully constituted to promote the welfare and health of a nation, a political communities.  Why is that?  Here is a reality: all of the systems are rooted in human selfishness, they are conceived in selfishness, grow in selfishness, and, ultimately, perish because of selfishness.the current state of affairs in Christianity does not have to be a permanent state of affairs that is dim and deplorable.  Authentic Christians are the ones who make the difference and make the change cost to society be better, causing their congregations to be better causing their families to be better and teaching the children to be better.  It all first begins at home and at first begins with you and your priorities.  Today is the day?  Change from the inside/out, consider your faith!

Wilt thou truth Him, because His strength is good? 

     or wilt thou leave thy labour with Him?

 Wilt thou believe Him, that He will bring 

     home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?

                   Job 39:11-12 

Consider Your Faith! Change from the Inside/Out

Richard L. Crumb

 

The Current State Of Christianity: Part 10

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. 

 For there is no power but of God: the powers 

that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore 

resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: 

and they that resist shall  receive to themselves 

damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, 

but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid

 of the power? do that which is good, and thou 

shalt have praise of the same: for he is the 

minister of God to thee for good.

Romans 13:1-4 

     The mistake that has caused a deplorable current state of Christianity and a chasm between Authentic Christian Faith and Cultural Christianity is one of patriotism.  In this current state of affairs many, if not most, young people see patriotism as a bad thing and demand another type of government and another type of patriotism.  Yet, when these young people are asked to define patriotism they often do not have an answer or their answer it is more of some sort of socialistic idealism and far removed from what the founding fathers established in this nation.  It is true that if patriotism is defined in such a way that it is really nationalism, and that means to have a devotion and loyalty to one's own nation, and in that sense it is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is a bad when it becomes excessive patriotism, to have a policy of asserting the interest of a particular nation over the interest of another nation.  We are not here thinking about the difference between democracy where the government is run by the people, and this is something that has become a limited due to a shift towards socialism and to have an excessive type of nationalism ports that particular political ideology and has led to the current state of affairs that is so evident.  A nation is not supposed to put their will over the another nation although it is to ensure that if necessary to protect people if that other nation is doing harm to their people.  If patriotism becomes a love for the national government been Authentic Christian Faith will become an enemy because Authentic Christian Faith is one of principled and godly love and the devotion of an Authentic Christian is first to God and in second to others and that includes government.  Paul is very clear that we are not to resist higher power is in the Greek word there speaks of the authority and it is plural so it is not speaking about just leaders of the church, rather than leaders of a nation.  If Petrie Chisholm is a love for one's country and a desire to seek justice, peace and goodwill portal man prevail, then faith is not an enemy but the best form and friend of patriotism.  You cannot arrive at this unless you have come to grips with the county of the teachings of Jesus Christ for it is taught to us that His teachings are for the health and strength of a nation.  How?  Because Authentic Christian Faith leads to a betterment of society where ever it exists.  All one has to do is look around at the nations that at least adhere in some way to Christian faith and see that that nation is in a better place and then to look at others who do not hold to that Christian faith that was preached to us by the apostles and Jesus Christ where they have a life that is one of hardship, servitude, and the cruel governments that control over the people.  Authentic Christian Faith does not limit human freedom for it recognizes the role That Authentic Christian Faith plays to keep the universe intact.

     Jehovah's Witnesses are a poor example of Christianity and furthermore a poor example of Authentic Christianity.  They want all that they can receive from the government without having to do anything to ensure that this government is following the principles of God.  They don't vote, they do not join any military, not even so much as to be in hospital where, and yet they want all the blessings, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, welfare, and anything else that the government is willing to give them and they do this but having to have any responsibility for the governing of the government.  For them to say that they are True Christians is ridiculous for Paul above is very clear as to the role of an Authentic Christian towards government and the role and authentic plays to keep intact our universe.  Unfortunately there are other Christians who are not Jehovah's Witnesses who fall into that same mistake and seemed to speak against patriotism.  They don't even keep the speed laws.  They do not show respect when attending church for they look like they're going to some sort of outing at the park instead of coming before a Holy God who created all things. talk in the congregation be best served if a person does not show respect and good ethics?  How can a person say that they are an Authentic Christian and they can't even keep the speed laws.  Patriotism runs deeper than most people allowed to run, not that type of devotion whereby evil is allowed by a government or by being a patriot, no true patriotism with Authentic Christian Faith recognizes that society and all its numerous elements are best served when the general welfare of the greatest number of people becomes the great objective of all its people and not to have a selfish pursuit of personal peace and affluence by any individual.  Authentic Christianity as a proper response to the call of Jesus Christ's to love all men, not just to love as a friend, but to have principled love of God towards others, even to one's own enemies.  Yes, we are to have love towards an enemy but not so to give them a freedom to do harm, but rather to bring to them the love of Jesus Christ that is found in the Gospel and the road to salvation that is found in the Gospel thereby improving the current state of affairs for themselves and for their nation.

     Authentic Christianity is a river of life flowing so that anyone who wants to taste of this life-giving water can taste it, and drink it, and by this good influences their immediate surroundings, their immediate life, will become better and this will spread out as in concentric circles.  You can be the one that throws to walk into the water and see these concentric circles or you can be the one that allows the harsh ways of blowing evil winds to affect your life and your relationship towards God and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ.

The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: 

      come, and let us declare n Zion

the work of the LORD our God.

                         Jeremiah 51:10

Be a godly patriot

Richard L. Crumb

The Current State Of Christianity: Part 9

But I judge myself with this, not again 

to come in grief to you. For if I grieve you, 

also who is it that gladdens my, except he who 

is grieved by me? And I wrote to you this me, 

lest having come come grief I might have from

 of whom it behoves me to rejoice; trusting 

in all you, that my joy is of all you. For out 

of much tribulation and distress of heart I 

wrote to you through many tears; not that 

ye might be grieved, but the love that ye might

 know which I have more abundantly towards you. 

2Corinthians 2:1-5 

(literal translation, Geneva Bible) 

     This blog while speaking in regard to the current state of Christianity is not to denounce or to agree with men and women who are with all their heart attempting to remain faithful to the Word of God and are living Authentic Christian lives.  This blog is not to be a simple diatribe, they'll come you didn't point out that which is obviously to be seen and known by anyone who takes a moment to look at the current state of affairs within Christianity.  It is to reflect so that we know whether or not there is a problem, and it is simply knowledge to see that there is a problem within Christianity.  If you know what the problem is, generally a solution is right at hand.  Therefore, we need to examine Christianity and then where there are problems found to do that which is needed to correct the problem.  One such problem can Christianity is those preachers who are obviously more about themselves than about the Gospel.  These preachers danced around the platform, show little ethical respect for people by dressing like they're going to some sort of how we in a park or late, etc., even some to act as though they are drunk, shouting, wiping their forehead with handkerchiefs and probably most negative in a crowded though they have some sort of miraculous power.  They go so far as to sell handkerchiefs and called him prior handkerchiefs and do all sorts of things to get people to be excited and follow their beliefs and teaching.  Some of these men are very eloquent and pickle the ears with good sounding words, using good and tax, within their ideology and theology to get people to believe them, only, this is not the example set by the apostle Paul.

     Paul was a scholar, a chief Pharisees, one who knew scripture very well and also was a very good orator and yet he did not allow this to glory in some degree the Gospel.  Paul spoke out of abject humility and gave everything he said might mean to the power of God and even spoke that if the did not do this he would say of the power of God.  If Paul impressed people with his Excellency of the speech that people would believe more in him than in the Gospel.  And this is the current state of affairs in the Christian church for many people lock to hear these eloquent speakers shouting and screaming men and dancing around the floor and music played as though there is some sort of rock and with verses sung all over and over to get some totally euphoric emotion.  People are so easy that fact to those kinds of things and seem not to be attracted to this simple preaching of the Gospel.  We must remember, believe in Jesus Christ is a miracle, and this miracle is only produced by the efficacy of redemption, not by impressing us to speak, not by a winning and willing people by means of all kinds of antics and words that sound so good to the ear.

     The creative power of redemption comes only through the preaching of the Gospel, and never because of the personality of the preacher.  It is not that preacher should be able to speak well, and to present the Gospel clear and plain know it is when they go so far as to put themselves above the Gospel by any means that they seen to be working to put people to their way of thinking.  An Authentic Christian preacher removes himself from such things that are now affecting the current state of affairs of the Christian church and keep themselves from anything that might hinder the Gospel as being presented.  We must remember that preacher is there as a representative of God.  Anything that latter is a preacher in their preaching of the Gospel will end in making them and they hearers a time a traitor of Jesus Christ and prevent the creative power of his That redemption from doing its work.

     I have found a problem that exists in many pastors and teachers and preachers and that problem is that they have very little knowledge of Hebrew or Greek languages.  Oh!  They may have had some courses in their seminary but do little in the day and age when they have left those universities to do much more than a time may be looking to the Strong's dictionary to get some sort of definition of a Greek word.  We must remember that God could in history sent Jesus Christ to come into this world at any time that He so desired. God is all-knowing and his timing is always perfect.  The perfect time for Jesus Christ to enter into this world was when the world had a language that was used both in everyday use and in the use of commerce.  Greek was bad word and Greek is a very plain and clear and at times we have a difficult time trying to use a good English word to describe the actual meaning of a Greek word.  This is where a pastor, preacher, teacher should have a good understanding at least of the Greek language and use that and preparing their message so that they are not speaking just from their own opinion, their own theologies, their own ideology, rather, they are speaking the truth and pure Word of God.  Sometimes when I look at a Greek word I find such eloquent and meaning, such deep meaning, and a new understanding of what the author was attempting to aid a person in their understanding of Jesus Christ and how to exercise Authentic Christian Faith.

     When the Christian Church is the living Authentically there is a spreading of the Gospel so that people can hear the word of God and as Paul so aptly wrote to us that faith comes by hearing hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). it is clear that a nation whereby the people in general are living under authentic That Christianity the nation benefits whether you are a Christian or not.  In fact the relationship with other countries is better and the interaction between them is better.  A Christian living under Authentic Christian Faith is a nation of peace, a peaceful and happy country, a happy home, and this nation would be respected and loved by other countries.  Maybe not Islam for they are a religio/political nation that believe that everybody must be underneath their Sharia Law, a law that allows them to kill people who do not believe the way they believe (and some people are so stupid to think that these people or people will beat them up cannot be see what is presented to them and prove that it is not true).  In fact even Christianity in the past, particularly in the Inquisition attempted in some way to do this same thing it was not for the hand of God leading those who want and did Live As Authentic Christians we would still be nothing more than what the Muslims are a people who will kill if you do not believe the way they say you should delete.  That is why do not believe in a theocracy, for history will tell us that when a king or queen was one thing or another they would kill people if they did not believe the same way that they made law saying that they should believe a certain way.  No that is not Authentic Christianity, yet this has become largely the current state of Christianity.  Pluralism, inclusiveness, and multiculturalism, plagues the church and leads to doubt the word of God that states that the men are fallen in their nature and are in need of a Savior and that Savior is Jesus Christ.

    The love of God is a love that brings to the believer in Him peace, assured hope, security, and only the God of the Bible is a God that promises, and his promises are always good, to give to those who believe upon his favorite to me and Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, The Wisdom of God, The Only Begotten Son of God, to die making it possible for you to have forgiveness of your sins, of your fallen nature to be completed when you enter into eternity at the second coming of Jesus Christ.  What are you waiting for?  Now is the time to live as an Authentic Christian.

 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace

      at this time, then there shall enlagement

and deliverance awry it to the Jews from another place;

    but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed:

and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom

     for such a time as this?

                                     Esther 4:14

Choose this day whom you will serve

Richard L. Crumb