Just Making Things Up!

Just Making Things Up...

Some time you  can get spiritually hungry  and just want something to lift your spirit. You can call an old friend in the faith or turn on the  Christian TV Station. Maybe I am old school, but it seem like Christianity  is getting farther away from being Christ like as far as folks just making stuff up. I am not  a religious Christian. I have a way to go in my walk with God.  But  I hear so much  stuff that is just seem like it is just making stuff up. The bible give us everything we need to walk out our faith.  There is no reason to just preach or teach from made up stuff.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  ”Matthew 6:33

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For example, the Christianese that I hear among many  believers is just throwing around scriptures with no real revelation with what they mean.  In the area of finance it, I hear Christian proclaim it and name, say it, decree it, stand on it, and command it. What ever happen to simple faith? Just believe in your heart what God has said. So many churches preach a gospels of getting stuff instead of maturing in God that it cause Christians' to just see God as big bank instead of loving father. Yes we do all have need and he will provide them as we believe in him. Just ask. That what Jesus said to do.  There are things God has provided for us  even when we didn’t believe,out of love and grace… he gave us.

The Christian faith is  one of three major book religions  in the world. I study biblical archeology and history on my own.  I love history and truth. The bible teaches the history of mankind and the redemption of man through Christ Jesus. What really make Christians different in my opinion, is that  it is supposed to teach love, grace,  and selflessness. When  I first became a Christian  the idea of thinking of others  and the world around  was so different from many religions I had tried that were based upon self gain, self achievement, self empowerment, and self  provision. The idea of following  the Savior that taught love and giving to others was enriching to me. I had done  this for many years and was tired. It was great encouragement to follow Jesus  who encourage me to give my life and give something to  others, instead of focusing on myself.

There are rewards for  living as a Christian, but they are different  that what I hear in church. God rewards are free. It is not earned credit in heaven. Jesus paid the price  for all we need on the cross. Just ask.  The reward of a big house, car, and stuff  are mentioned in line with giving up everything to preach the gospel. God does take care of his own still no matter how you serve him.  You don’t owe him. Your debt was paid by Christ as you accept him in your life. You could never have enough money to pay God off for even just  waking you up and making a way for you everyday. Priceless.  There is a joy and powerful emotion of making some else life better in the world when you  give to other your life with no expectation back. Is our religion in vain? Jesus said follow my teaching. For many who go to church reading the big screen with scriptures ever Sunday  without a  bible  they miss the true love of reading his teaching for them self. Folks  are just making  stuff up and anticipating  believers to just believe what ever they say. Try the reading the word. I am sure you have sat in church many a Sunday and said. “That don’t sound right?”  Have you ever looked up where Christmas and Easter comes from?

There are new titles being created in the church to give people new position of false authority. It all about the pastor and his need to have a power structure in place. If you go to the bible and look up some of these new titles..they don’t exist in the context of what  the bible says. But because many of us  are following whatever is said without discernment , there are  new roles that are unbiblical created. There are titles and offices in the bible, but now for many churches they are archaic. Not in God’s word. It the same,  yesterday today, and everyday.

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.”  Revelation 22:18

I remember when this firs start back in the  90’s. I read a book called “Church that Spiritual Abuse” about he authority abuse in the church. It was the beginning  of what we see now in many sectors of the church. If you challenge the pastor or leader you are told ”touch not my anointed”. I understand the basis of that, but that also applies to Jesus and the rest of the body of Christ. If you are so stringent about not touching or rebuking what the pastor says because “he” is anointed , should we not be as hardcore about rebuking  people who mess with what Jesus says.  He is still  God’s anointed. There is a double standard  here. It would seem that  messing with what Jesus say would be held under tighter scrutiny that the pastor’s words. Jesus is the  Son of God.

“Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,But he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.But many that are first shall be last; and the last first” Mark 10:28-31

His teachings were never about material things. And for  those who do expect material gain, in Mark it say you can gain back these thing you sacrificed for the gospels. There is an attitude of “just  bless  me and give me what I owe” without a need to serve or sacrifice. The church makes it hard to serve God because of the hierarchy that exist in it. It a game of good old boys system of getting accepted.  It does say, know those who labor among you. But that is by the Spirit. If you are not walking in the spirit, but in the law you will miss that. The spirit of discernment has been replaced with background checks , repositioning favorites in the church,  body guards, and oppression. If you come with the right accolades you will be accepted, even if the PHD  was gained from an online college in a three-week course. I am fine with that, but then the double standards  is that who really want to serve  are tested for years to come. If you are different or creative…game on.

I believe that why Jesus said in his word that we are to love and honor one another. Period. The accolades and degrees become less important when the love of Christ dominates the spiritual landscape. Love never fails. Love has been replaces with just power struggles and making things up in the church. I hear so many Christian say stuff that sound so deep and spiritual ,but is just babbling. It makes no sense and doesn't line up with the word. For example  many Christians  greet each other with “Praise the Lord!”. That is not a greeting, but biblical it is a command. Many use it as a  catch phrase. I hear Christians speak about  the healing process  with  great long examination instead of belief in God. I seen Christian smile right in your face and turn around walk in so much hatred and disdain. It a club med attitude that turn me off.

I can recall getting in trouble in church once for taking people to poor  neighbor to reach the lost. I was told by someone that  it was unsafe. I was told to remove a 8 foot cross carved by fellow artist because the church said it as too violent and they could not explain the cross to the kids, nails and all! I was told to have the cross out of the church  in 24 hours. I have had many years experience dealing with the system of churches instead of the love in church. if you are an artist or creative you are their problem.  Especially if  they are in a building phase. They put their foot on loose-end people quickly in their eyes. And the building never ends. Usually 1500 people are paying tithes for a 3 million dollar project most of the time. This is some crazy math when you add it up.  That isn't the heart of God.

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

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The bible says during the last days the elect will be deceived. So much deception is coming into church because the bible has become  a suggestion  book . It is actually  a recipe book  to walk with God through Jesus Christ. If the mode of just making stuff up keeps getting stronger, the deception is going to get worst. Many churches are growing because  people are moving to the newest trend to the next newest trends. The new growth of souls is lost. The closing of smaller churches is because they are no longer  hip. The mega church is bigger, better ,and equipped to service you like fast food restaurant. I am not saying it does work sometimes,  but what the next move? How far from the bible are we getting? How much more stuff will be  made up? It is time to step back and go back to the biblical bases.

 

Making stuff up is dangerous when it come to people’s faith. People are sincerely hurting. While  the church is teaching  to just get yours and don't worry about the other fellow. Maybe that is why our neighbor are killing, shooting, and raping each other. We are too busy doing “us”. I spent many years preaching in churches and doing outreach. I have stopped  because of the complexity build now in the church system that hinder effective ministry. Some church are business. I am not in business when it come to preaching the gospel. It is ministry and love that compels me by God’s word. I want to help the world with my gifts.  I am more effect now doing what God call us  to  do without the weight of making stuff up.

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The bible is my guide. It  had become harder to just work with pastor who are  on a paradigm shift . They tend to excluded people who really want to see  miracles, soul saves, and people loved. I kept getting in the way. I was told “that is not what they  are doing right now. We are setting up programs and building a new church.” I use my gift now in fine art, books, art, the internet, prayer ,and writing to encourage others to know Jesus for  himself. Am I perfect? No. But I  ain’t sitting around just making stuff up to  walk with God. Read the bible for yourself. Have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, love the people  in your life, and live your life  without expecting something back. every time you help someone. (Painting of Christ J.McGee)

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”’John 13:34-35

God will take care of your needs but seek his kingdom first. Making stuff up is child’s play compare to have  an amazing loving awesome, faithful relationship   with God with through his spirit and his word. That is  what Jesus died and rose again for. Get  back to the basic and the Holy  Spirit. Next time, take your bible to church when you go. Cross reference what is being taught. Read the bible for yourself. It is a  beautiful book of God’s love letter to us, his children with redemption and eternal life. Be  Christ like to those who need you and expect nothing back. Next time you hear some   super spiritual stuff being said that make no sense, challenge that believer to explain them self . With love and grace help them get back to simple   Christian  faith and speaking  God’s  word. They should be speaking what  Jesus taught  in revelation of the cross. Christianese has a way of sounding  great, but it  is really…. it just making stuff up.

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