Authentic Love For God

And Jesus answered him, The first of all 

the commandments is, Hear, O Israel, 

The Lord our God is one Lord: and then 

shalt love the Lord thy God with all 

thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with 

all thy mind, and with all thy strength: 

this is the first commandment. 

and the second is like, namely this, 

Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 

There is none other commandment

 greater than these.

Mark 12:29-31 

     Christians, both nominal, cultural, liberal or Authentic are most aware and could quote those verses. Cultural, nominal, or liberal Christians speak of their love for God. To know if their love is based on Authentic Christianity, all that must be done is to look at the characteristics that form their, as they say, love for God. It will be obvious what their claim to love God looks like, how it is performed, exercised. History of the Church testifies that a change in the way "love" is exercised, in fact, many Churches are nothing more than a performance to excite the crowd leading them to an euphoric and emotional experience. The evidence is blatant that those cultural, nominal, or liberal Christians seek a form of worship to God, not in delight for a God that can save them from their sins, no, in that they "feel good" about themselves, about their performance in an attempt to manifest a godly love. Whatever actions these cultural Christians perform are done more out of some slavish requirement and even done in a harsh manner. The performance is more important than simply following the greatest commandment: Love God! To simply love God is not to be performing some sort of antics, speaking in some "gibberish" rubbish, or going about praying for people without attempting to lead them to Jesus Christ. This type of worship began back in the last part of the First Great Awakening in the late 1700's where folk worship, folk religion was introduced into the Church. This new type of "worship" grew even more in the Second Great Awakening by such men as Charles Grandison Finney (August 29, 1792 – August 16, 1875) was an American Presbyterian minister and leader in the Second Great Awakening in the United States. Finney is know as a great revivalist a trained lawyer who introduced into the Church his views that are doctrinal heresy. Finney taught a doctrine known as "Moral Government Theology that teaches that Jesus Christ did not actually and literally suffer for the sin as the sinner's substitute but only as a good moral example in the government of God. This teaching that has infested the Church and taught by Pentecostalism, and other forms of this doctrine and dogma is contrary to the teaching of Scripture:“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past” (Romans 3:25). “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:10)“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). This teaching by Finney leads us to his view of justification, how a person who is a sinner can come to a right standing with God. Finney's view is that the finished work of Jesus Christ cannot be the grounds for a person to come to a right standing with God. Finney's definition of sanctification is "sinless perfection" and if a person does not obey the law perfectly, then that person is libel to have the wrath of God unless he repents. If the work of Jesus Christ did not literally pay for sins then man is left to himself/herself then left to be the ones who bring salvation to ourselves. This is a teaching that man must become perfect in this life or be damned into Gehenna. A person must then justify themselves, therefore the work of Jesus Christ on the cross actually has no affect and the sin of man was not put Jesus Christ who died to pay for sin. This teaching is heretical because it denies the finished work of the cross. This is at odds with the word of God: “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:4-5).
     The Churches that teach "speaking in tongues," or fallen down by some power of the Holy Spirit, to receive a "second blessing," and falling over backwards," to be in a "trance like" state, occurred in ecstatic forms in a church one night where he was preaching: But that night, Finney again offered congregants a chance to publicly declare their faith. The church erupted—dozens stood up to give their pledge, while others fell down, groaned, and bellowed. Finney taught "New Measures" and the "anxious bench" that he popularized and by others who taught much the same in revivals across the nation at that time led many denominations to become cultural, to be a "Christian" in name only, nominal. 
     This then: what is appropriate behavior for a Christian? It is not some euphoric antics, or speaking some "gibberish" tongue, or to have a "Second Baptism" it is not "sinless perfection." It is simply denying oneself and make choices that are consistent with Scripture. Begin and this is the beginning, the middle and the end: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Now by this love in you, you can now extend that love to others. There is no need to draw attention to oneself. There is no pretending that we love God, we only live daily as morally as we can, and if by some chance we fail, we know this fact: God will forgive if you repent of this sin and go and not do it again. Your salvation is not by your works: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8-10). 
     Quit trying to be a Christian! Be a Christian! Quit living for yourselves, to receive praise for yourself! You are a sinner saved by grace and this by the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross. This is Authentic Christianity!

The LORD recompense thy work,
    and a full reward be given thee
of the LORD God of Israel, under
     whose wings thou art come
to trust.
                     Ruth 2:12

Your hallmark: Your love of God

Richard L. Crumb

The Journey

For through Him we both have access by one  

Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye 

are no more strangers and foreigners,

but fellow citizens with with the saints, 

and of the household of God; and are

 built upon the foundation of the apostles 

and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being

 the chief corner stone; in whom all the

 building fitly framed together groweth unto 

an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also 

are builded together for an habitation of God

 through the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:18-22 

     Life is a journey, one that can be full of joy and happiness, and at the same time have sadness, loss. This statement seems to contradict one another but it does not for our lives have both and at times one is dominate over the other. Sometimes it seems as though joy and happiness will not come to an end and at times it seems as sadness, and loss will not come to an end. How we handle both emotions tells much about a person' character. Character that is being formed by the means of Authentic Christian Faith has a certain merit inasmuch as Authentic Christians know, (if they do not, they should) that they are pilgrims, strangers: "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul:" (1Peter 2:11). This fact that Authentic Christians are strangers, strangers to this world and its culture, a pilgrim, one that travels a long distance, to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion, we can handle whatever emotion comes into our lives, whether they be good or bad. A stranger is one that is not associated or has not a person acquaintance with that that is outside what it means to be an Authentic Christian. Authentic Christians, then, are to be both a stranger to this world and a pilgrim on their way to heaven, a sacred place prepared for all of God's children. Authentic Christians are not stoic, not an ascetic person, not one that runs away from this life into some monastery secluded from the everyday things of life, no, Authentic Christians can enjoy along their journey whatever pleasures comes along the way as long as he/she enjoys with moderation. Authentic Christians are thankful for that which is good, those good and sunny days, but are not diverted from their journey when storms come. 

     Have you traveled much? I have, all over the United States, Mexico, Tahiti, and often have found unexpected things to occur and knowing that travel can bring unexpected things I prepare for the unexpected, as much as I can. Remembering that this is a journey, not the destination, even when things along this way bring the unexpected trials, we should not desire to return to that which we left behind due to those trials: "And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city" (Hebrews 11:15-16). God has prepared for you a heavenly city, a New Jerusalem, and this is the destination, the end of your present journey. 

     Delays, obstructions, temptations, and distractions all are part of this journey. Satan, our enemy knows that these things can cause us to loose our way, cause us to take the wide road and not the narrow road: " Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). We must maintain our focus and our direction, to stay on the right track and to be and to be prepared is to take time to a "check-up" and take stock. At times we may feel that we are making good time and progress and other times this is not so true, we feel that we are getting nowhere. The passions of life that we experience should not distract us, but our passion for Jesus Christ and this will keep us on the right path.

     This pilgrimage that we are on may seem at times impossible, even unimaginable, but not for an Authentic Christian. Authentic Christians see this challenge, this adventure, this ultimate adventure making this journey worthwhile. This is life! Keep your eyes on the prize and this life will be a life that brings you more than you could ever expect for God is with you, blessing you in ways that you do not even know that He is doing, and the greatest blessing that you will receive is: ever lasting, eternal life.

LORD, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle"

     Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill?

He that walketh uprightly, and worketh

    righteousness, and speaketh the truth

in his heart.

                    Psalm 15:1-2

Welcome aboard: the journey has begun

Richard L. Crumb

The Great Challenge

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

 And shall not God avenge His own elect,

 which cry day and night unto Him,

 though He bear long with them?

 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. 

Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh,

 shall He find faith on the earth?

Luke 18:6-8 

     The world at large is opposed to God, to Christians, especially Authentic Christians who have Authentic Christian Faith. The opposition to Christianity has several elements and one being that they ask the question as to why it is taking so long for Jesus to return. Another element in opposition to Christianity is that Christians, even Authentic Christians do not always maintain their faith and do things that the Bible condemns, so why are they to receive special attention and forgiveness. Jesus gives us this answer to the opposers: God will avenge them speedily and the Greek word used here τάχει a dative singular, along with the participle ἐν, gives a greater meaning so that there is not misunderstanding of the English translation "speedily". Time with the participle do not belong to its tense, but to the sense of the context. Time with the participle is purely relative. The significance of tense in the participle, as to kind of action, is the same as in the finite moods. The use of this participle is antecedent action relative to the main verb and expresses contemporaneous or subsequent action. So the word "speedily" means that God will act with swiftness when He acts and when that will occur is when the Son of man returns. Time not the essence of the action, it is not expresses as a particular time other than when He acts it is quickly and will not take time to accomplish. The question for people is: will the Son of man find faith on earth? That is, will He find faith in you? 

     A challenge to all Authentic Christians is are they aware of this challenge, a challenge to focus and be diligent, to be faithful ensuring that they do not miss out on all that God has planned for them: yes, God has a plan for you! God will not force you to execute His plan for you, you must execute this plan, their spiritual duties. It is not that Authentic Christians are working for God, this is not what Authentic Christians do, no, they work with God. Yes, we all know that to be an Authentic Christian is a journey of faith and will not be easy. Yes, the Adversary with his vast army of demons, those fallen angels will attempt in every way to oppose your efforts to remain faithful. Authentic Christians expect this opposition and know of the difficulties this path and exercise of faith will bring upon them, but all Authentic Christians know that the end of this journey will be a time of great joy. 

     The question remains: When the Son of man comes will He find faith on earth, will He find true faith in you?

Teach me thy way, O LORD, 

     and lead me in a plain path,

because of mine enemies. 

    Deliver me not over unto the 

will of mine enemies: for false

    witnesses are risen up against me,

and such as breathe out cruelty.

   I had fainted, unless I had beleived

to see the goodness of the LORD in

   the land of the living. Wait on the

LORD: be of good courage, and He

   shall strengthen thine heart and 

let thy heart take courage: wait,

   I say, on the LORD.

                 Psalm 27:11-14 

Meet the challenge!

Richard L. Crumb