This present time in history is approaching critical mass for the coming of the Lord. The Body of Christ has been through 2007 years of trial and error in order to present our selves to a lost and dying world with little impact to society and culture as a whole. The time has come to turn a tired sub-culture into a counter-culture. Opposite of the worlds way of doing things. The misguided time of becoming like or imitating the world in order to be accepted or palatable is coming to a close.
The walk of Jesus was totally counter-culture not a vacuum. He did not act like a sinner saved by grace in order to attract sinners. He did not even try to look like one. He walked in power and changed the environment around Him so people could recognize God, His (our) Father. Over time we have got ourselves into a spiritual quandary of deception as a people group. We can no longer discern if we should be going to R-rated films or if it is biblical to tithe.
Pastors no longer feel it necessary to visit their own congregation members or flock in the hospital. Counseling has taken the place of discipline or working knowledge of the Word of God. People will wait for weeks to get a counseling appointment but still refuse to be doers of the Word. We will not be able to discern our deception, without at some time, coming to the conclusion, that something is between us and God. It may be television, videos, eating, computer games, newspapers, chatting on the phone, unneeded shopping, movies, work, or a number of other diversions. Then by indulging in the above diversions mentioned, we end up being impatient, rude, jealous, gluttonous, and prideful. We partake in the everyday fair of lying, bigotry, lewdness, unkindness, deceitfulness, and a sundry of other Christian attributes. Did you know that most Christians don’t even know what constitutes lying? Does it occur to anyone that if you smoke you are actually supporting the tobacco industry? You are now part of the problem and heir to all they inherit. If you buy tickets to an R rated or PG13 movie where the name of God or Jesus is taken in vain, you have “invested” God’s money into the work of perdition. And of course every investment produces dividends. You can’t cry out saying Hollywood is sinful and pay them to continue making the same movies. You can’t cry out against TV and watch sleazy mind-numbing sit-coms or crass and uncouth adult cartoons.
When will I hear last sermon or teaching based on The Matrix? What Neo said seems to be a total spiritual gee wow moment. While nobody knows what parable Jesus spoke when he said, “If you don’t understand this parallel you will not understand any of them”. We end up following the pattern of life dictated by the spirit of the world, or the god of this age if you will. Crafting our own Christianity as we go.
Lev 18:3-5
The walk of Jesus was totally counter-culture not a vacuum. He did not act like a sinner saved by grace in order to attract sinners. He did not even try to look like one. He walked in power and changed the environment around Him so people could recognize God, His (our) Father. Over time we have got ourselves into a spiritual quandary of deception as a people group. We can no longer discern if we should be going to R-rated films or if it is biblical to tithe.
Pastors no longer feel it necessary to visit their own congregation members or flock in the hospital. Counseling has taken the place of discipline or working knowledge of the Word of God. People will wait for weeks to get a counseling appointment but still refuse to be doers of the Word. We will not be able to discern our deception, without at some time, coming to the conclusion, that something is between us and God. It may be television, videos, eating, computer games, newspapers, chatting on the phone, unneeded shopping, movies, work, or a number of other diversions. Then by indulging in the above diversions mentioned, we end up being impatient, rude, jealous, gluttonous, and prideful. We partake in the everyday fair of lying, bigotry, lewdness, unkindness, deceitfulness, and a sundry of other Christian attributes. Did you know that most Christians don’t even know what constitutes lying? Does it occur to anyone that if you smoke you are actually supporting the tobacco industry? You are now part of the problem and heir to all they inherit. If you buy tickets to an R rated or PG13 movie where the name of God or Jesus is taken in vain, you have “invested” God’s money into the work of perdition. And of course every investment produces dividends. You can’t cry out saying Hollywood is sinful and pay them to continue making the same movies. You can’t cry out against TV and watch sleazy mind-numbing sit-coms or crass and uncouth adult cartoons.
When will I hear last sermon or teaching based on The Matrix? What Neo said seems to be a total spiritual gee wow moment. While nobody knows what parable Jesus spoke when he said, “If you don’t understand this parallel you will not understand any of them”. We end up following the pattern of life dictated by the spirit of the world, or the god of this age if you will. Crafting our own Christianity as we go.
Lev 18:3-5
3.) You shall not do as was done in the land of Egypt in which you dwelt, nor shall you do as is done in the land of Canaan to which I am bringing you; neither shall you walk in their statutes.
4.) You shall do My ordinances and keep My statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God.
5. ) You shall therefore keep My statutes and My ordinances which, if a man does, he shall live by them. I am the Lord. (AMP)
A counter culture does things totally different from surrounding society. We have to walk in different ordinances. Christians do not let go of what they have because they can't see something better. Somehow we need a glimpse of heaven. To start a revolution of the spirit, mind and body. This counter culture is all that the world is looking for in a gray and lifeless environment.
With the exception of some powerful men and women of God who actually follow the examples of the Jesus set forth in the bible, much of the myth, tradition, and secularism must be put at the feet of Christian people and their leadership at large. We have created a soft-Jesus with a Santa Clausian personality or dismissed Him all together and formed an opinion of God as a giant Oz-like floating head waiting to punish every wrong doing we can perceived. And in doing so translated those ideas and images to a dying world we are ultimately responsible to influence. (To Be Continued...)
4.) You shall do My ordinances and keep My statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God.
5. ) You shall therefore keep My statutes and My ordinances which, if a man does, he shall live by them. I am the Lord. (AMP)
A counter culture does things totally different from surrounding society. We have to walk in different ordinances. Christians do not let go of what they have because they can't see something better. Somehow we need a glimpse of heaven. To start a revolution of the spirit, mind and body. This counter culture is all that the world is looking for in a gray and lifeless environment.
With the exception of some powerful men and women of God who actually follow the examples of the Jesus set forth in the bible, much of the myth, tradition, and secularism must be put at the feet of Christian people and their leadership at large. We have created a soft-Jesus with a Santa Clausian personality or dismissed Him all together and formed an opinion of God as a giant Oz-like floating head waiting to punish every wrong doing we can perceived. And in doing so translated those ideas and images to a dying world we are ultimately responsible to influence. (To Be Continued...)
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