Heart2Heart SHARING

I am 100% Christian and 0% anything else. Outside of Jesus Christ, I have no life and no will to live. I have no ambition for personal fame or fortune. I will not under any circumstances write a book, grant an interview giving my name or have a picture taken of me. Nothing I do is about me, it has everything to do about Jesus Christ my Lord.

I strive, in all I do in this life, to think and act as I believe my Lord would if He were living physically in the flesh today. I have worked long and hard to renew my mind to the Word of God so I can think as it instructs me to think and not be governed by emotions, the past or what the world tells me to think. Somehow this is construed as wrong by many people.

I have been called stupid, brainwashed, ignorant, stubborn, weird, dangerous, a heretic, a wimp, a recluse, a fanatic, narrow-minded, brain dead, misinformed, wrongly taught, of the devil, possessed, “marked and avoid”, worthless and countless other things I cannot write. Long ago I made up my mind that I do not care what people call me for unless they love Jesus Christ as I do; there is no way they could understand me.

I have chosen to travel the road less traveled even if it means spending most of my life alone. I do not need the applause of men to feel good about myself. I do not need the accolades of men to feel I have accomplished anything worthwhile in this life. I do not need my name plastered on book covers and on billboards to call attention to anything I produce. I do not need to stick a man-made two or three letter prefix in front of my name demanding respect for who I am.

I prefer to stay anonymous and for the most part unknown. I prefer to have few, if any friends and precious few acquaintances. I do not feel it is necessary to build a temple and fill it with warm bodies once a week to feel I have fulfilled the Lord’s commission. I do not believe it makes me any less important to labor in the background and be the “wind beneath someone else’s wings”. I have no problem being a faceless member of the crowd. It does not bother me to not be on a thousand people’s personal e-mail lists.

Ego is something that thankfully I do not have to feed. I pity those who cannot live without someone daily telling them how great they are. I feel badly for those who cannot live without the applause of crowds ringing in their ears and awards lining the walls of their plush offices. It is disgusting to me to see so many of my peers vying for photo ops and squeezing their way into any publicity they can get for themselves, their “ministry” or church.

Those who have given their lives to serving small congregations hold by utmost respect. Those who care not to be called anything but “pastor” win my regard far more than the “Rev.” or “Dr.” so and so. Anyone hiding behind those titles needs to be stripped of them for a season and learn to be respected for what you do and not the title you go by. Respect is to be earned not automatically given because of one’s schooling or the degrees one holds.

Over the past few months I have had to frequent, unfortunately, many physicians’ offices. Once again I have had to deal with some of the most arrogant people who walk on this earth. I have sat in the presence of the great “Dr. So and So” and been offered NO HELP and then charged upwards of $850 for the privilege of sitting in his office for 10 minutes. I am so weary of dealing with people who supposedly took an oath that demands they help people and all they want is to look down their nose and write a prescription and then move on to the next victim of Doctor abuse.

I believe fees for services should be determined by the results produced. If you go to a Doctor and they cannot help you, why do they still receive as much or more in compensation than the one who ends up really providing any help? Why does a specialist insist on charging a king’s ransom to do nothing but the family Dr. gets next to nothing to do all the “dirty work”? Like everything else in life, it is not fair.

As for me, I vow anew to say what I am to say, and do what I am to do without one ounce of credit or glory for doing it. Pride comes before a fall and the arrogance of people who want the whole world to know how smart, wise, talented and beautiful they are leads these people over the cliff of oblivion. What happens when the mind goes mad and the body grows old? What happens when people finally realize all the great wisdom spewed out of the mouths of all the “experts” was just so much worthless junk? What happens is that the mighty fall and they end up dead just like everyone else.

“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

And the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,

That no flesh should glory in His presence.

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

That, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord”.

I Corinthians 1:25-31 NKJV

Heaven holds no special place for those who SAY they are smarter. Heaven’s gate is not extra wide for those who THINK they are better. Heaven is not a place reserved for the high and mighty. No, heaven is the hope for the humble and the meek. Heaven is waiting for those who are weak.

Here it is, the day before Easter with spring just around the corner and I feel like every truck on the Interstate ran over me. My body has decided to take a day or two off. I hurt everywhere, pain has erupted in most of my joints and muscles. I feel like a noodle pulled out of a boiling pot. Have I aroused an ounce of pity yet? That is not my intent, believe me.

The reason I bring up how horrible I feel is to prove a point. I believe I have been doing the Lord’s will in my life. I believe I have listened to His voice and have written and spoken His Word to the best of my ability recently. I have prayed as I always do and looked into God’s Word as I love to do. I have provided assistance to those in need and just yesterday “tithed” 70% of my paltry income. Why then, after doing and being such a “good boy” do I feel as I do?

Did God go on Spring Break somewhere? Did prayer suddenly go out of style? Am I harboring secret sin and receiving due recompense for it? Is God punishing me for things I have written recently? Has the devil himself shown up unawares and laced my juice with “feel bad pills”? If all other explanations fail, it must be global warming.

I am not the first, nor will I be the last believer to feel as I do today and ask the questions above. I can assure you that every person who has ever lived, including our savior Jesus Christ had to endure pain and suffer through times when the human body reacts to the poisons and toxins it is bombarded with daily in our water, food and air. How any of us feel good any day is a mystery known only to God.

I spent many a year with a group that would come and knock on my door on a day like today and proceed to jump all over me laying hands on me and screaming prayers for God to deliver me. If I didn’t respond immediately they would condemn me as an infidel and move on to the next sick person. Of course I am exaggerating, but you get the idea. It is difficult for me to accept that there are going to be days when for whatever reason, we don’t feel good. But, as long as we have this human tabernacle, we will suffer periods of sickness and ultimately death.

On this date ten years ago I died. Yes, I was deliberately killed on an operating table so I could be “fixed” and live again. Surgeons deliberated slowed down and stopped my heart in order to do open heart surgery (bypass). For the duration of time they were operating on me, I was kept “alive” by a heart/lung machine. My physical heart was under ice with the “hope” it would start again when warmed and stimulated. Obviously it worked, for to the best of my knowledge I have been alive the past ten years; but I must confess, I wonder at times what the long term ramifications were to my body resulting from that ordeal.

There are times when we don’t feel well because of some of the reasons mentioned above and there are times we don’t feel well because of genetics, disease in our body, food poisoning, flu, and a whole host of things daily knocking at our doors trying to bring us down. For years and years I have been ridiculed by family and friends for taking my truckload of vitamins and supplements every day. I know beyond any doubt these vitamins and supplements have kept me alive the past ten years.

A few years ago someone showed me an article by Linus Pauling proving how to never suffer heart disease or heart attack again. I started on his recommendations in 2003 and my cardiac condition has improved dramatically ever since. In fact, my cardiologist told me last month, that my heart and arteries are much better now than they ever were. He expressed no desire to see me for a couple of years. Amazing, I used to see him every couple of months not too long ago.

Last week a book was finally released documenting Mr. Pauling’s simple therapy to prevent heart problems. As difficult as it is to believe, the main two keys are high doses of vitamin C and L Lysine. Here is a link to this new book: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/02/prweb726684.htm. Please keep in mind I have not read this book, but I could easily write a success story for the therapy.

What is my point here? Very simply that there are many physical problems God expects us to handle through the means He put on this earth with Adam. Vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other supplements can heal the human body far better than any witchcraft concoction a pharmaceutical company could ever develop. In fact, a major chunk of our ailments are brought on by pouring all the prescription and over the counter drugs into our body on a daily basis. We do so because we are told they will make us feel better and “heal” us.

One of the reasons I feel so badly now is a new drug I was forced to take for a kidney problem. Much like chemo therapy makes a person feel horrible for a season, so any powerful chemical dumped into the body will cause it to respond in certain ways. I thank God for the chemicals developed to treat cancer and other diseases. I do not thank God for many of the snake oil potions peddled by drug salespeople.

I will feel better in a day or two, but even if I don’t; how I feel physically is not any indication of how I am doing spiritually. There are just times when the body has to slow down and almost shut down so it can heal itself. I learned long ago that God designed the human body to heal itself (think of a splinter) but at times for it to do so demands the body be allowed to rest and spend its energy where the need is.

Faith is one of those words which has many different definitions. Biblically, one must determine by the context whether faith is referring to “the faith of Jesus Christ”, the “family of faith” or “firm belief”. There is no greater verse in the Bible dealing with faith as an act of utter and complete belief than Hebrews 11:1 where it says:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

The word translated “substance” is the Greek word “hupostasis”. The word basically means “essence, substance, reality; that which is the basis of something; hence, guarantee or confidence.” In other words, the word means “documentable proof, thus providing a guarantee”. I believe it was James Moulton who first started using the term “title deed” as the appropriate translation of this word.

A title deed provides proof of ownership. If you can produce the title deed to a property, then you can prove you own that property. When making the dreaded trip to the DMV to get tags for a new vehicle; you must have the title for the vehicle or it will never become yours. A title is the legal proof you own something, even if it is a thousand miles away. If you have the title, the property is yours.

When a person buys a car and finances it through a bank or other facility; the title goes to the bank and stays there until the car is paid off. Although you have the car, drive the car, pay taxes on the car, etc; you do not own the car until there is no longer a lien against it. As long as money is owed on the car, it never really is yours. The same thing happens with mortgages on homes. Until the home is paid off, the mortgage holder is the real owner of the house.

Hebrews 11:1 states that faith is the title deed of things “hoped for”. This hope is really nothing more than what we are praying for. When we pray, we have faith that what we are praying about comes to pass. That faith is our title deed to what we are praying for. It is also the “evidence” of things not seen. The word translated “evidence” is an obscure Greek word only used one other place in the New Testament. The word literally means “to convict, or conviction”. It is a legal word that is used as a figure of speech here in Hebrews. It would be better translated “certain persuasion” although many versions translate it “conviction”.

Faith, that mysterious word with a truckload of different meanings, is the title deed and certain persuasion of things prayed for and not yet seen. Every great person of faith who ever lived knew by experience what this verse was talking about. In fact, the entire eleventh chapter of Hebrews is devoted to those who from God’s perspective were men and women of faith. Everyone mentioned or mentioned by name in Hebrews 11 practiced verse 1 and that is what enabled them to make into the “Faith Hall of Fame”.

Think of dearly beloved Peter. Out in their boat at night, the disciples think they see a ghost standing on the water. Peter thinks it might be Jesus, but isn’t quite sure. He calls out to this ghost and demands that if he is really Jesus, then tell him to walk on the water to him. Ah, Peter knew that only Jesus would really tell him to do it. I am quite sure Peter was not expecting any reply. Much to his surprise, the Master told him ONE WORD; “COME”. The word of God doesn’t always have to be 2000 words. Sometimes it is only ONE word.

Once Peter had the Word Of God, he either needed to believe it or reject it. Without so much as even thinking about the consequences, Peter climbed out of the boat and started walking on the water to Jesus. Even as he was climbing out, the voices of the other disciples were ringing through his mind. “Don’t do it Pete”, “You are going to sink”, “Think of your Mom, Peter”; everywhere and from all directions he was being bombarded with all the good reasons NOT to walk out on faith to Jesus.

Once you receive the Word of God in your life, start walking. Don’t wait around for detailed instructions as to how to get out of the boat and how to handle walking on waves. Just DO IT!! Peter got out of the boat and immediately started walking on the water. When he took that first step of faith, he literally believed what Jesus had said to him was true. In his case, Peter did not need a title deed, but rather a plank, and he got one. Peter’s faith in the word of God given to him by Jesus was the guarantee he would not sink when he tried to walk on the water.

Peter did begin to sink only when he “lost the faith” by getting distracted and looking at the waves instead of the Lord Jesus. When we glue our eyes upon the Lord and fasten ourselves to the word He gives us; we can walk on water. We can do whatever it is that God sets before us to do if we have complete faith it came from God and is directed to us.

Nowhere is faith more completely taught, than by Jesus after he has cursed the fig tree and it died overnight. In Mark 11:22 it says:

“And Jesus answering said unto them, Have faith in God.”

Some manuscripts omit this verse, some have it as it is recorded in the KJV and still others would have it read; “Have the faith of God”. Wow, what a concept that is! To have the faith of God is certainly beyond our mortal mind’s ability to comprehend. How much faith does God have? Hebrews 11:3 says:

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed (prepared) by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

God had to literally create everything as He prepared the ages and fashioned the universe. God spoke, and things that were not there came into being. That is faith! As Genesis 1 repeatedly says; “and God said…” and it came to pass. God spoke His Word and it came to pass because of His faith. Oh how glorious life would be for us all if we could “have the faith of God”! If we could, then back in Mark 11 it goes on to say in verses 23 and 24:

“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he says.

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive and you shall have them.”

Faith is powerful. Prayer without faith is like a boat without an oar. When we pray, we need to manifest the “faith of God” in order to see the mountains moved and the things prayed for come to pass. I think we all know that faith is vital to seeing results when we pray. But, did you ever notice what the next two verses in Mark say, immediately after these verses on prayer? Look at verses 25 and 26 squarely in the context of having the faith of God:

“And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

Holy something or other; it takes the “faith of God” to forgive others for those things they have done against you and to believe the Father has forgiven you. Do we need to forgive others? We do if we want our Father to forgive us. Honestly, it takes just as much faith to conquer bitterness and resentment and forgive as it does to move a mountain or expect results in prayer.

All these things are humanly impossible, but with God, they are possible. It takes faith to forgive for it goes against our very nature. It takes faith to believe, for the senses say it is impossible. It takes faith to conquer the doubts that keep us from seeing God’s Word come to pass in our lives for they gnaw away at us like gnats in the summer. Have the faith of God!

In doing some research on the first few verses of Genesis, I discovered that there are SIX predominant theories regarding the creation story. It never occurred to me that there could be so many different ways to interpret the simplest verses in the Bible. If there is this kind of disagreement regarding the creation of the heaven and earth, think about the multitude of beliefs there must be concerning every other part of the Bible. It is actually quite amazing that there is any unity of belief among Bible believing people.

Personally, I fail to see why there is a problem in allowing the Bible to speak for itself. Call me “old fashioned”, fundamentalist or whatever; but I happen to believe that the Word of God is the will of God. I believe that if humans quit trying to read into the Word of God their personal preferences, desires and fears; then the beauty of the simplicity of God’s wonderful Word can shine as a beacon of light and dispel the darkness of ignorance and error.

Man’s basic spiritual problem is the integrity of God’s Word. Does God really say what He means and mean what He says. The happiest, most fulfilled and peaceful people I have ever met in this life have been those who, with great humility, simply read the Word of God and believe it. I have met people who have so much training in Greek and Hebrew that it is impossible for them to simply read the Word of God and do what it says. They feel compelled to tear apart every word, phrase and verse looking at every nuance of meaning from every book in their library.

I love reading the Word of God and I also love Biblical research. When I have some extra time, instead of wasting it watching television or playing a worthless game, I like to pull out my books and “work” a verse or a small section of God’s Word. This to me is pure bliss. I can think of nothing I enjoy more than doing a simple word study from the Bible. Because I love God, I want to know and understand His Word. This is my motivation to read, study and work the Word of God.

When I was growing up, there were not many other kids in the neighborhood. Television was something I was rarely allowed to watch. There were no computers or video games. I was forced to find my own forms of entertainment. I played basketball pretending to be both teams for hours on end. I dug holes in our back yard and made a golf course complete with flags in the holes. I played with my dog Taffy every day for at least an hour. In the winter and evenings I made up dice baseball games and kept statistics on the players and teams. When it snowed, I would make an Olympiad out of the yard and pretended to do Olympic events. I was never bored for I made up new things to keep me amused.

Some might say I had an overactive imagination, perhaps I did, but at least I used my mind to do things instead of sitting around being entertained by someone else. As I got older and more mature, the ability to find personal entertainment in DOING things instead of being entertained helped me develop my love for Biblical research. It also helped me develop my love for having a big garden, mowing grass, trimming trees and “chores”. I honestly feel badly for so many youth (and adults) I see today who have no idea how to entertain themselves or how to enjoy simple things like working outside.

I question the wisdom of urging people to only learn through receiving teachings. This type of passive learning breeds laziness and hinders the ability of people to think for themselves. When the apostle Paul went to Berea in Acts 17:11 the Bible says:

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

Sitting in Church listening to someone teach and preach the Bible is an essential part of spiritual growth. But, personal time in the scriptures is just as necessary as structured teachings. In some ways it is needed more. I believe God wants His people to not just sit back and listen to His Word being taught, but to actively read, study and meditate upon it day and night.

Who did David have to “teach” him during those awful times when he lived in caves hiding from Saul? It was during some of those darkest hours that David was inspired to write many of the Psalms we can enjoy today. Not only do we need time to receive the Word through teachings and personal study; we need time to retain the Word of God through “meditating upon it day and night” as David speaks of. I love to work outside and think about the Word of God I had read or studied earlier. We all need time to think, and that is an extremely difficult thing to find in our hectic day and time.

If more people spent more time reading and thinking about the Word of God, I believe we would have far fewer denominations and more unity of the faith. People tend to become conditioned to go to church and simply hear what they are taught to believe. This, I believe, is a dangerous path to go down. It leads to the “I’m right, you’re wrong” attitude that has prevailed in denominational Christianity for centuries. Unity is impossible to attain if one is always telling the other; “you’re wrong”.

I believe when our Lord Jesus looks down from heaven and sees His body splintered into 39,000 different denominations, sects and factions; he just bows his head and cries. This IS NOT why He gave His life. God made Jesus Christ the head of His body. If the individual members of the body would simply yield to the HEAD, then the body could work together instead of against itself.

Can you imagine if every member of your body decided to do whatever it felt like doing, irrespective of what the brain commanded it to do? Your body would be as worthless as a bag of flour. Nothing constructive could ever be done, for individual members would be too busy fighting each other. For the human body to function correctly, it must be coordinated. Certain horrible diseases render people totally uncoordinated. These unfortunate people cannot live without constant assistance.

The early Church saw incredible things due in large part to the fact that they operated with unity of purpose and of one accord. The apostle Paul was attempting to get the Philippi believers to understand this when he wrote much of the epistle of Philippians. Specifically, in chapter 2, please allow me to quote from the Williams translation Philippians 2:1-4:

“So, if there is any appeal in our union with Christ, if there is any persuasive power in love, if we have any common share in the Spirit, if you have any tenderheartedness and sympathy,

Fill up my cup of joy by living in love, your hearts beating in unison, your minds set on one purpose.

Stop acting from motives of selfish strife or petty ambition, but in humility practice treating one another as your superiors.

Stop looking after your own interests only but practice looking out for the interests of others too.”

What a beautiful vision; “your hearts beating in unison and your minds set on one purpose”! But, to ever get there entails setting aside ambition and with great humility treating others as your superiors. That is one tall order in our current culture. Yet, if we could all somehow swallow that watermelon of pride we are choking on, then we could humbly treat each other as our superior.

Unity of purpose ultimately becomes available when people stop thinking only of themselves and start looking out for the interests of others also. The starting point for this kind of humility is to accept the fact that the sun does not revolve around us, but we are to put God’s Son in the middle of our lives and let our lives revolve around Him. Amen.

Before looking into the subject of what true Christianity really is, I feel it necessary to establish what Christianity is NOT:

1. A religion. Christianity is a faith, and contrary to Webster and other language specialists, there is a profound difference between faith and religion. Christianity is based upon the relationship built between the believer and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Church. The church is the Body of Christ, which is made up of those who are born again and who have fulfilled the requirements of Romans 10:9 and 10. Once born again, a person is now a Christian and the collective body of Christians is known as The Church but not Christianity.

3. Traditions and rituals. Religion is made up of traditions done “religiously” so as to become rituals. These things may be fine in a religious service, but have nothing to do with the term “Christianity”.

4. A generic term used to describe religious people. Too many times the words “religious” and “Christian” are used interchangeably. Too many times, religious people are automatically tagged as followers of Christianity. Religion and Christianity have NOTHING to do with each other. Christianity IS NOT just another religion along with all the other ones in the world.

5. A set of rules and ordinances. This is the Old Testament Law. Christianity is a faith and is intensely personal in nature. It is not something spelled out in minute detail to be memorized and recited at a certain age.

6. A catch-all term to describe right wing religious wackos. Critics of the true Christian faith lump anyone who is “religious” as part of that evil religion called “Christianity”. Christianity is a term used to describe the faith of Christians. It is that simple.

7. A fraternal order or other secret group one can “join” or pay dues to “belong to”. One cannot “join” Christianity. It is not a group. One can join the local church, but one cannot join Christianity by showing up at a meeting and making a donation.

8. A secret religion. Once again, Christianity IS NOT a religion. It is a faith. It is not secret, nor does it include any “secret” rituals, handshakes or orders.

Isn’t it interesting how most of the major religions in the world end in “ism”; Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Catholicism, etc? Isn’t it also very interesting how one cannot put an ism on either Christian or Islam? If Christianity was a religion, why is it not called “Christianism”? On the other side of the coin, why isn’t Hinduism called “Hindianity”? Perhaps language enters the picture here, but it is certainly food for thought.

Here is a very pertinent point. The religion known as Islam is the religion of the Muslims as set forth in the Koran. Islam is the whole body of Muslim believers. Muslim, the currently used word as opposed to Moslem, describes an adherent of Islam. It also means, when used as an adjective; “of or pertaining to the religion, law or civilization of Islam.” An adherent to the Islam faith believes Allah is the Almighty and Supreme God and that Muhammad is His prophet.

The use of Muhammadanism in reference to Islam or its adherents is rejected by Muslims themselves. There is no such term used by Muslims do describe their faith or their collective body of adherents.

Perhaps Christians need to take a cue from the Muslims. Perhaps the term “Christianity” should be relegated to file thirteen. Let me show you the various definitions given in the Webster College Dictionary for “Christianity”:

1. The Christian religion, including the Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox churches.

2. Christian beliefs or practices; Christian quality or character

3. The state of being a Christian.

Obviously there is a confusion of terms here. To understand the confusion, we must look at the Dictionary’s definition of “Christian”:

1. Of, pertaining to, or derived from Jesus Christ or his teachings

2. Of, pertaining to, or adhering to the religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ

O.K., hold the horses right here. What on earth is the RELIGION based on the teachings of Jesus Christ? The answer sums up the whole problem. When we look at the dictionary definition of “Christianity” again, the number one definition pinpoints the problem: “The Christian religion.” Of course we must look up the word “religion” to complete this study:

1. A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies; usu, involving devotional and ritual observances and often containing a moral code for the conduct of human affairs.

2. A specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of 10persons or sects: The Christian Religion.

Here is the crux of the whole matter. The dictionary says that the so-called “Christian Religion” is nothing more than a set of beliefs and practices agreed upon by a bunch of people and groups. Thus, according to the dictionary; who invented the “Christian Religion?” People did, that is who. Religion is a MAN MADE set of beliefs that then turn into rituals and other practices. The question then becomes, is Christianity a set of beliefs man agreed upon or is it something else?

If Christianity is indeed a religion, then the churches which gather every Sunday morning and whose services are liturgical in nature are correct. The churches whose form of public worship is “ritual based” are practicing a religion. A church that practices a collection of formularies for public worship is practicing a religion. A liturgical church is a church which offers religious services as its form of public worship. If Christianity is a religion, then this is what should be practiced. If it is not, then perhaps there is another alternative.

I adamantly hold to the belief that Christianity is a personal issue between the individual believer and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I believe the New Testament must be used as the basis for understanding proper Christian worship as well as understanding “Christianity.” Nowhere in the New Testament is any kind of liturgical worship service laid out. In fact, nowhere in the New Testament are there any instructions for a “worship service.” As much as people don’t like to admit it; the entire liturgical worship service is tradition based and not founded upon scriptures.

The seeds for the current misconception of what Christianity involves were planted by the Gnostics way back in the First Century. Both the apostles John and Paul had to confront the issue of turning the new Christian Faith into a religion. The book of Colossians provides much insight into this matter, especially in chapter two. In a study far too complicated and involved to delve into at the moment; suffice it to say that the religious side of Christianity was being confronted mightily in the second chapter of Colossians.

Everywhere Paul went, the Jews would follow behind him and immediately attempt to corrupt his gospel. Basically what they were trying to do was turn this new faith Paul taught into a set of practices, rituals and traditions which is what they had already succeeded in doing to Judaism.

Religion is very adept at issuing rules and putting its adherents into a little box where they can be easily controlled. If Christianity is a religion, then all the various rules and regulations promoted by certain ultra-fundamentalist groups are correct. A close friend of mine grew up in a church which prohibited everything from dancing, to jeans, to cowboy boots, to red ties, to eating various kinds of foods and listening to most music. Some of these things represent sound wisdom, but to impose them on people as rules and regulations with the penalty for disobedience being hellfire and brimstone; is nothing more than a very sick and legalistic religion.

Religion dictates what a person is to eat, drink, speak, think and do. Religion regulates how a person is to worship and places far too much importance on hierarchy. Religion imposes regulations on people so as to keep them subdued so they have very little “freedom of choice”. Fear is a great motivator and when religion uses fear of eternal torment as the reason to do as they are told; most people shake in their boots and do not question what they are taught.

Whereas religion is full of “DON’Ts”, true Christianity is full of “DOs”. Of course there are many things mentioned in the New Testament to avoid and NOT DO. But, by and large, true Christianity is made up of promises representing all that is available in Christ. If you don’t believe me; then read the upcoming study of the phrase “In Christ” or “In Christ Jesus” especially in Paul’s writings. You will be absolutely astounded at the number of things that are available to us “In Christ” or “in Christ Jesus”.

Everything made available to us in Christ Jesus represents Christianity. Christianity is what is “in Christ”, not a set of ritualistic practices performed once per week. Christianity represents everything Jesus Christ gave his life to gain for us. It is not a new set of regulations prohibiting various works of the flesh. Christianity simply refers to everything we have “IN CHRIST” which we can receive once we get “Christ in us”. Always remember that the term “Christian” was first coined in Antioch and came about because the believers were always speaking about “Christ in them”. Christian simply means “Christ In”.

As we explore this subject more, please keep in mind that the word “religion” is, in and of itself, a man-made word. It is not used in the Bible, with the exception of the use in James, as anything other than a description of what the Jews practiced. When God gave the law to Moses, He was not giving Moses a new religion. Yet, the Pharisees and the Scribes took the law and turned it into one of the most oppressive and damaging religions ever known to man. That religion which was practiced by the Jews during Jesus ministry was not ordained by God and was in fact, MAN MADE.

If you want to understand what true Christianity is all about; I invite you to look at the upcoming posts on this subject. Until my last breath, I will do all I can to keep showing the difference between the dead works of religion vs. the living faith found in true Christianity. For those who crave religion, and there are billions upon billions of people in the world who do; there are many huge religions available from which to choose. For those who want a personal relationship with their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and who want to really be Christians; there is only way available and that is through the understanding of true Christianity.