The Current State Of Christianity: Part 8

Then said He unto the disciples, It is impossible 

but that offences will come: but woe unto him 

through whom they come! It were better for 

him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, 

and he cast into the sea, then that he should 

offend one of these little ones. Take heed to 

yourselves: if thy brother trespass against 

thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

 And if he trespass against thee seven times a day, 

and seven times in a day turn again to thee, 

saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Luke 17:1-4 

     The current state of affairs for the Christian Church having become cultural according to the culture of this world is a dire state of affairs, one that needs to be revived.  Why does it need revival?  Because the church as a whole is in a coma, asleep at the wheel, dead not be able to follow the commands of Jesus, His precepts, even though many good things, although philanthropy things are being done. Some Christians cry out for a theocracy, that is a government that only allows for Christianity even though it will allow other religions to reside alongside. We have examples how a theocracy works out in such lands where Islam is the ruling power, or Buddhism, or Hinduism, etc., and the example shows that those who hold this type of religious power harm the people they govern. Yes, we all would like our government to use the morality of the Bible for that morality does not harm anyone who follows that morality in making decisions, or exercising life. But we must remember that man is fallen in their nature, their very soul is fallen and make decisions based on other things than what the word of God states we should follow. It is not that all those things are bad, rather they often are just philanthropy at work, and for reasons other than doing what God desires.  The world's culture that has created the political and world viewpoint that is in contradiction so often with the Word of God has become the culture for many churches who claim to be Christian.  For instance, inclusiveness has become the cry among many people who desire to include just about every form of behavior, or religious belief no matter how good or bad it is, to include them so as not to exclude them and in some way show hatred and hatred was never even in the scope of Jesus Christ.  Multiculturalism is also one of those forms of inclusiveness that is entered into the church and it goes further than just allowing different ethnic groups to be included in the church, it also has allowed homosexuality, same-sex marriage, abortion, and other atrocities.  Jesus told us above that those who caused these things are like people who need to have a millstone around their neck and thrown into the sea: it is not to be taken literally as they do in Islam, no it's an analogy, a metaphor, to show how bad they are seen by God.  The word that has been often translated offenses is a good translation but the Greek word actually means scandalous so it is just not things that are not right these are things that are disgraceful, improper, or immoral, defamatory, libelous, though these offenses are harmful to each version falls under the acts of scandalous persons and persons make up the nation there for the nation becomes in a state of affairs that are poor.  This type of scandalous beliefs have entered into the church causing the current state of affairs that can be easily seen by anyone who looks that this is true.

     Authentic Christianity removes stagnation from those who desire to develop a strong relationship with Jesus Christ.  That strong relationship is to be seen in their temporal activity, and in their relationships with other people and provide a proper motivation for them to be able to pursue social  and happy activities that may increase their effectiveness in their life and enable them to focus to the task at hand.  Authentic Christianity frees a person from disappointment, and we all know the disappointment is a part of life, and this allows a person to work enthusiastically as working in service for God.  This is the secret of a happy life is both useful.

     Authentic Christians interact with society and in this interaction they seek to live at peace with one another, both outside of the church, and within the church.  Authentic Christians seek to be at peace within the family, their spouses, their children.  What a country is filled with this type of men and women who think and act in this way the nation would be changed, and if this occurs within a church the current state of affairs of the church would be changed for the better.  This does not mean That within an Authentic Christian Church that homosexuality, abortion, and other immoral acts are to be included, no but if there are those who have been involved in such sins that are condemned by the Bible and repent Authentic Christians forgive them and teach them and leave them so that they too are revived to Authentic Christian Faith. There are many churches have not succumbed to the culture of this world and stand outside of the current state of affairs within Christianity, they are to be applauded for it is not easy to remain Authentic.

      A person must attempt to study and prayer, to remain faithful to their church and ensuring that there are not men who scandalously are misleading people that are attempting to lead them in ways that are in contradiction to Scripture.  The good news is that if you are intentionally striving to keep the church pure you have the help of the Holy Spirit as He guides you as you read His word and offer prayers of intercession. If you make the effort and God will bless you in ways that you will not understand but looking back he was even his hand was with you all the way.

Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God,

     and set a watch against them day and night,

because of them.

                                 Nehemiah 4:9

Is there anyone you need to forgive?

 Richard L. Crumb

The Current State Of Christianity: Part 7

In all things shewing thyself a pattern of 

good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness,

 gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that 

cannot be condemned; that he that is of the 

contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil 

thing to say of you. Exhort servants to be 

obedient unto their own masters, and to please

them well in all things; not answering again; 

not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity;

 that they may adorn this doctrine of God our 

Savior in all things. 

Titus 2:7-10 

     The change in language and a new definition or understanding of the word(s) causes a need to at times to define a word to understand clearly what the writer wrote.  For instance if you ask certain Christian groups about the word "doctrine" you'll normally get the doctrine of their denomination they have come to understand that word in that manner.  So I take time to address words that may have meaning for some and a different meaning for others to bring clarity to what the Bible writer actually was saying and to whom he was saying it to and in this case the people spoke Greek.  The Greek word translated doctrine, a noun, speaks of the act or occupation of teaching and it can also mean information, and instruction is often translated as a matter taught, or a precept, or doctrine. so it is not a bad translation to say doctrine but we need clarity and Paul writing to Titus is telling him to hold himself to a pattern of good works and missing teaching as well as uncorrupted, etc., so the onus is upon us to ensure that whatever precept or doctrine is being taught is actually scriptural.

     Over the years, from almost the inception of Christianity, men and women have gone overboard in their religiosity, or their desire to be a Christian.  There were those who interpreted the words given to them, the Christian faith, in such a way that they left their jobs and their families to await the imminent return of Jesus Christ. 

 G.K. Chesterton wrote in this regard,

  One of the most tragic things in life is when a man twists certain Christian truths and holy Scripture into an excuse and even a reason for doing what he wants to do, instead of taking them as guides for doing what God wants him to do."https://www.pbc.org/files/584509099ad2b149c6f68844/3895.html
     The apostle Paul confronted this misuse of faith.  He wrote to us to channel a proper response to our faith in challenging us, Authentic Christian Believers to go about our business and our secular activities with more zest and enthusiasm and to do this following the precepts as talk to us in the Bible.  If this is done then this would bring more honor to Jesus Christ, to our God, and give no cause that we should be named due to our following the truth of Scripture.
     Paul was encouraging believers to respond as noted above, calling them to the priority of the love of Jesus Christ, I do have an eternal point of view, and holding a healthy indifference to the things of the world and to grow in our zeal for spiritual maturity that would lead us to perform the essential qualities of an Authentic Christian Faith.  Paul did not see any inconsistency between the two, that is living in this world and handling are secular needs, our secular life, along with our Christian life.  To do so is a characteristic of a person who holds to Authentic Christian Faith is to have a desire to please God in all our thoughts, and words, and actions; to take the revealed Word to be the rule of belief and practice; to let our light shine before men (Matthew 5:16).
     No occupation is demanded of us, no pursuit is forbidden, no science or art is prohibited and no pleasure condemned as long as it is consistent with this principle.  It must be noted that Authentic Christianity does not embrace an inordinate desire or fervor in the pursuit of wealth or fame, nor does it look with favor on politicians who seek office in order to attain admiration, personal power or great affluence instead of serving to see the piece, comfort and security of the common citizens.  We must never forget and our leaders of our government must never forget that our nation is a sum total of his individuals and the true prosperity of the nation is the sum of the total happiness of each individual.
     I am never suggesting the nation should become a theocracy even though it sounds good this can only happen at each individual was an Authentic Christian.  This we know is not true for it cannot happen as many men and women do not want anything to do with God come with Jesus Christ, or Christianity.  We were told that this would be the case so we should not be amazed.  As Authentic Christians we know that as strangers and pilgrims in this world does not mean we do not have a responsibility to the nation and to the people of this nation or any nation that we belong to, and we have a care for each other and do so all the while holding fast to the teachings of Jesus Christ and as given to us with explanation through the apostles and the other Bible writers, not just men who wrote, even though they may write what does good, they are not the apostles inspired by God, no we read the Bible.  From that everything we need to know about life and how to handle it is found in those pages.  One instructions?  Read the Bible!

Woe to them the devise iniquity, 
    and work evil upon their beds!
When the morning is light, they practice it,      
     because it's in the power of their hand.
                 Micah 2:1

God loves the faithful

Richard L. Crumb

The Current State Of Christianity: Part 6

This know also, that in the last days perilous 

times shall come. for men shall be lovers 

of their own selves, covetous, boasters,

 proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, 

unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,

 despisers of those that are good, traitors, 

heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more 

than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, 

but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 

For of this sort are they which creep into houses, 

and lead captive silly women laden with sins,

 led away with divers lusts, ever learning, 

and never able to come to the

knowledge of the truth.

2Timothy 3:1-7

     The spiritual climate of the Christian Church being in decline can be seen in those ministers that give messages devoid of biblical content.  It is not that those ministers do not affirm the basics of the faith and their formal liturgy, yet in their writings there is seldom an affirmation of the basics of Authentic Christian Faith.  This can be seen in the writings of these men in which the main characters are Christians and even their lives are portrayed in a positive Christian light, yet there is no mention of the belief system that has produced these positive characters. often when you hear, or watch on television, a pastor, or a televangelist, they are giving some sort of easy to hear message, one that they know that the congregation would accept, and they know that if they preached hellfire many would turn away and this would lower the economics of the Church.  These same men in their writings, we have the impression that if there was no belief system that these characters and their writings would still act in the same manner.  It is curious to know what that in other writings of faiths, such as Islam, and generally you'll find the foundations of their faith articulated clearly in the story.  We must remember "character is intimately interwoven with belief."

     Here's another problem that can be seen in the writings of man even those who are writing religious books, or thesis, is that unfortunately they are professing unbelievers.  It is not that all writers are against religious faith in his or her writings for is not uncommon to find that it right or would praise those who are open hostile to religious faith.  By their endorsement they reinforce the message these other writers are sending. a person who will take time to look around they will see the outcome of these trends in those countries who have gone ahead of us in reaching the logical conclusion in regards to such a cultural drift.  We see this in countries like England, France, Germany, Spain, and even in Italy, these places have fallen far adrift from the Christian faith.  They have been corrupted and this can be seen in their manners, the press, there actions is how they handle circumstances, in fact, morality has sunk into depravity, indulgence is out of control, and can been seen in the drunken affairs, even here in the United States were young men and women have to go out and drink during some sort of holiday from the universities.  This life has become fashionable, out-of-control.  Culture is so out of touch with reality and the masses of the people deny outright the existence of God.  God has a will for nations and this is an abandoned and man has been made to be God.

     Some will acknowledge the decline in religious beliefs and our nation and will say that I carry this logic too far, too extreme conclusions.  In fact they will argue that it could never happen here in the United States, or in their nation, and yet it does not take much effort to see that it has to happen.  Say that I am a fanatic and that my view of Authentic Christian Faith is impractical.  Yes if we carry our religiosity too far a person might become so heavenly minded that there are no earthly good, yet, to hold fast to Authentic Christian Faith is to be of earthly good.  Those arguments against those who hold fast to Authentic Christian Faith have no merit in their arguments so that when I argue that the Bible teaches a way for us to live and a call for us to sacrifice a bit of worldly comfort and material influence for the sake of eternal reward they have forgotten that Jesus Christ taught us to deny ourselves and pick up our cross and follow Him.  Yes we must make a living, and it is not wrong to move upward in a company to better positions, and it is not wrong to have nice homes or cars or clothing, all this is fine if you have enough money to do so and not going in debt for it, but when that becomes a priority of your life than your relationship with Jesus Christ will suffer.  The Bible as simple as my dad explained to me: "If the Bible says do it: do it!  If the Bible says do not do it: do not do it!"  Jesus Christ did not give us a suggestion as to whether or not we might do or might not according to our will and desire, no He said that we should do it and with an attitude of cheerfulness.  If we respond in this manner, to the call of Jesus Christ it requires us to hold all temporal possessions loosely.  Do you not remember that we are just pilgrims and strangers passing through this land to reach the land of heaven?  If we would follow the words of Jesus Christ and build upon that relationship and growing in our Authentic Christian Faith our nation did not exist as it does today for it would not be able to function as it does.

     This requires a change from the inside/out and only you or I can make this change for God will not simply reach down and change without you coming to repentance and faith in His Only Begotten Son the Saviour. Your will based upon that faith that grows from the knowledge of the words of Jesus Christ allows you to be able to receive their free gift of faith now because you have earned it, no, you have come to realize that you are a sinner in need of salvation and that Jesus Christ is the one and only Savior. there is no need to go seeking after books written by men who are far from teaching Authentic Christianity and when we find that we are reading such a book would be best to put it aside and turn to the Bible the only book that can lead you to Authentic Christian Faith.  Well, you have to open and read the book, and to do this with prayer, and the Holy Spirit who dwells within all those who have come to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior will guide you and me, we do not have to do this alone.

But this shall be the covenant that I

    will make with the house of Israel;

after those days,saith the LORD, I 

     will put My law in their inward parts, 

and write it in their hearts; and will be

   their God, and they shall by My people.

                               Jeremiah 31:33

You are that Israel, Spiritual Israel

Richard L. Crumb