Christianity and Its Personal Relationship with God

"Christianity is a wholly subjective relationship between the individual and God established through saving faith in Jesus Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. Organized religion and all of its demands have absolutely no objective authority in or over this relationship whatsoever."

"The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do my whole life will be ruined. Herein lies the real place of Christian scholarship. Christian scholarship is the Church’s prodigious invention to defend itself against the Bible, to ensure that we can continue to be good Christians without the Bible coming too close. Dreadful it is to fall into the hands of the living God. Yes, it is even dreadful to be alone with the New Testament."

• Soren Kierkegaard

Personal Reflections and Family

Show 33 408 Has Jesus Returned – part II
August 12th, 2014

Live from the Mecca of Mormonism, this is HEART OF THE MATTER where… Christian Fruits Meet Religious Nuts Face to Face. And I'm your host, Shawn McCraney

Delaney McCraney, standing here with me:

• College Senior at Point Loma University
• Four year college athlete
• Unlike her father, a tremendous student of the hard sciences
• But the most amazing fact about this beautiful daughter of mine is her humility, her love for the Lord and for others, and her servant’s heart

Do you know why Delaney is here with me in Utah this week? So we could get to know each other a little better. You see, when she was 10 I entered into ministry full time and when she was 12 I began commuting to Utah and spending half my week (or more) here and absent from her life. Of my three daughters, she lost out on Dad throughout all of her teen years – and we have recognized a slight disconnect in our relationship as a result. But God has stepped in and been her father in so many ways as a result and I praise Him for His goodness not only in leading and protecting Delaney but all of my family. You cannot go wrong trusting Him with your life, folks. Delaney is living proof of this. So I just wanted to publicly thank my “young one” for her sacrifice and for taking the time out of your busy life to come and hang with your old man this past week. I love you so very much. And with that, let’s have a word of prayer because we’ve got to get right to it tonight.

Understanding the Two Resurrections

To make things really simple the Bible speaks of two resurrections – the first resurrection (or the resurrection of the just) and the second resurrection (or the resurrection of the damned). Once the resurrection is complete there will follow what we call the second resurrection OR the resurrection of the damned.

Many believers have been waiting for Jesus to return to initiate the first resurrection but they do this mistakenly as He – being the first-fruits of them that slept – initiated the first resurrection when He rose after three days in the grave. Shortly thereafter we read in Matthew that others also rose from the dead. So it was Jesus rising from the dead that ignited the First Resurrection. We’ll call His resurrection the first fruits or the first phase of the First resurrection.

What most Christians are waiting for is the second phase of the first resurrection which scripture plainly says will occur when Jesus returns. So our question tonight is "When does the Bible say Jesus will return?" Not when does Shawn McCraney, or John McArthur, or any one else – when does the Bible say Jesus will return. And I want to thank my pastor friend Glenn Hill for showing me from the Bible what it says.

Observing, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible

Now, when it comes to teaching the Bible there is an approach that says we first: We first "observe" what is being said, then we "interpret" what is said, and then we give what is being said "application" to our lives. It’s a great model to use when teaching the word. In observing first we might ask things like: Who is the writer? Where is he writing from? Who is the…

Context of Biblical Texts

audience? Why is he writing to them? What is the surrounding situation – (the context)? What is occurring in the secular world around the time the word was written? And perhaps most importantly, what would the words being written mean to the recipients at that time.

Let me repeat that last one:

“What would the words being written mean to the recipients at that time?”

Often we carry around the idea that the Bible (especially the New Testament) was first written to us – readers and believers today. Many people today see the New Testament as epistles written to a people who didn’t really understand what was being said at the time and that is because it was written for us today. Baloney. This is why all the epistles are written to The church at Rome, the Church at Corinth, etc., etc. In other words, the New Testament letters were first written to the believers of that day, encouraging and instructing them FIRST – which is what we pointed out last week about Revelation.

Therefore the primary application was to them and their physical needs, their understanding, and their Christian walk with secondary and tertiary application to later generations like ours (and I would add, to ours spiritually). If we read the New Testament in any other way we are quite likely to misinterpret what was being said and then make the mistake of thinking the text has meaning or application in areas and ways to us right now that it doesn’t.

Admittedly, the Word of God IS the living word, and I am convinced that even though the purpose for passages being written back then often don’t have the same application to us in our day, they can be applied to believers now with tremendous – even equal – significance. For example, Jesus employs a lot of imagery in His teachings that borrow heavily from an extremely agrestic community. Lots of stories and illustrations about planting, harvesting, reaping and sowing.

Relevance of Agrarian Imagery

To a city dweller the imagery may not carry the same weight, but then again, it might bear more, revealing things to the mind of someone NOT familiar with the processes of agriculture in ways that would go unnoticed by those who are – and of course, vice versa. This is just one of the beauties of the living word.

My point, then, is NOT that we lose benefit because we are not part of the original audience – the Word is Living – but when it comes to theology or issues like, “When does the Bible say Jesus should return,” we HAVE to include in our examination as many critical bits of information (as possible) in order to really comprehend what was being said and why.

Examination of New Testament Discourses

Okay . . . so what we are going to do is break our study down on “When the Bible says Jesus should return” by looking at what specific SPEAKERS in scripture have said on the subject. We started last week with the writer of Revelation – John. Tonight we’re going to go to what Jesus said Himself – as recorded in the Gospel accounts – especially the synoptic gospels. In the coming weeks we’ll examine what the apostles said, (and when I say apostles I mean Peter, Paul, John the Beloved and James) – in that order.

Then we are going to examine the Book of Hebrews and see what the writer there had to say about when Jesus should return, and then we will do a time-line (or sorts) that shows how the individual New Testament books actually give us an increasing imminence relative to Christ’s return. So let’s go.

We’ll begin by examining the BIG discourses the Lord gave in the synoptic accounts found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. I am going to use Matthew 24 as the essential narrative and add to it from the other accounts of Mark and Luke if necessary. Now, Matthew chapter 24 takes place when the Lord and His disciples (actually there are only three there with Him) as they are sitting on the Mount of Olives. Want to read the Lord’s own description of when He is going to return? Matthew 24 folks.

Importance of Historical Context

But in order to really get the full picture of this chapter we have to start back three chapters (in Matthew 21). It was here that Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Remember that? He rode in on the donkey who had never been ridden upon and people waved psalm branches and threw down their coats and cried, “hosanna” to the Lord. Well after entering into this historic

The Actions of Jesus in the Temple

City of David He went straight to the temple. And when He got there He drove out the money changers, and then over-turned the tables. This was incendiary behavior, and I believe He did it to stoke the fires of the evil that burned within the hearts of the religious leadership of His day. Then with His disciples He retreated to Bethany. Remember?

The next day He came back into the city (from Bethany) and do you remember what He saw? A beautiful leafy fig tree which, (from a distance) had the appearance of being a fruit bearer, but when the Lord got closer He found that it actually bore no fruit at all (a picture of the Nation of Israel) and so He cursed it, and to the amazement of the disciples it immediately began to wither. From there Jesus returns back to the Temple mount and began one of the most railing accusations against the Jewish religious leaders imaginable. His words compose chapter 21-23 of Matthew.

The Impressions on the Jewish Leaders

In these chapters He calls them: “hypocrites, a generation of vipers, blind guides, serpents and heaps upon them a bunch of other imprecations.” All through these two chapters Jesus is telling them that they are essentially done for. Chapter 23 ends with Jesus saying to those Jews (beginning at verse 35):

“That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, all these things (for shawn only: that He had said to the Pharisees) shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

Unquestionably, when Jesus tells them, “Your house is left unto you desolate,” the “house” was not only the very temple that Jesus stood in but EVERYTHING that represented the Nation called Judaic – their culture there in Jerusalem, genealogies, land, nation, priesthood, their way of life – all of it – left desolate.

The Prophecies Concerning the Temple

And this rehearsal brings us to the contents of Matthew chapter 24. So let’s now turn to it and see what happens next as the narrative continues.

Matthew 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. The Lord had just laid some tremendous and horrible predictions out against the Nation of Israel. For some reason the disciples decided to point out the grandeur of the architecture of the temple to Him at this time. Maybe they were trying to change the subject, maybe as a means to indirectly say, “You know Lord, we believe all you said in the temple today but . . . but, wow, just look at the magnificence of the Temple!” Or maybe their purpose was much more significant than this – we don’t know. Whatever the reason, (verse 2)

2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

In my opinion this must have been really hard for the disciples to hear as Jesus was really making everything seem pretty dismal and futile. From outside the temple they traveled to the Mount of Olives, which would have given them the most magnificent view of the whole city of Jerusalem. I would bet they were pretty solemn and quiet after the succession of these events. I mean, traveling with Jesus in the early years was probably fun, right? He was changing water into wine, and healing people right and left, and when they ran out of food He reproduced fish and bread, and when their family members got sick He healed them. But in the past few days He ripped the temple thieves apart, cursed a beautiful fig tree (which immediately withered), threw down some really ugly imprecations on the Jewish leaders (of whom the disciples at this point were still terrified) and now He said the temple mount (which was a marvel to them) was going to be “thrown down” to the point that not one stone would.

Discussion of the Disciples' Questions

The party was ending, folks. So I’m guessing the mood was somber. (Verse 3)

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately (Mark tells us it was only Peter, James, John and Andrew, by the way) anyway these four came to Jesus and they essentially asked the Lord three questions. Ready? Now remember all that has happened and all that Jesus has said (and the tone He has been taking) because they are what created these specific questions.

And here they are: “Jesus . . .

Tell us, when shall “these things” be?
and what shall be “the sign of thy coming,” and of the end of the world?

Now, we are seeking to know the answer to the second question here, aren’t we?

Interrelation of the Questions

“and what shall be the sign of thy coming?

But in order to get to it we have to examine questions 1 and 3 too.

I am of the opinion that all three questions are interrelated. In fact, I believe they are all asking for the same answer to each question – when?

Some people believe the disciples were asking entirely different questions here that are not related. I disagree. I think the succession of them and the context surrounding when they are being asked proves direct correlation.

Now listen closely – the disciples knew that in the Old Testament, when GOD “brought judgment upon a nation” the prophets often spoke of Him as having “come down and executing His wrath and judgment upon them.”

And while we probably do not have all that Jesus told these disciples about His coming return we can see they associated His current prophecies of the coming judgment upon the nation with both His RETURN and the END of their WORLD. (not the end of the World and I’ll explain why in a minute).

So the four disciples asked the Lord three questions that in my opinion were all interrelated:

Tell us, when shall these things be?
and what shall be the sign of thy coming,
and of the end of the world?

Now hang with me here. They had heard Jesus say that “the nation would be laid desolate,” and that “the grand temple toppled to the ground,” that this would be the end of “their world,” and that all of it would happen in “this generation.”

Context of the Disciples' Concerns

When disciples ask Jesus (in the King James) when “will be the end of the world,” they were asking “when will all of this happen which would put an end to the world as we know it.”

I think we can understand this on some level – or at least through the unfortunate lives of people as described in country songs.

You know, a person discovers their spouse is leaving them, that their house is being foreclosed upon, that they have been fired from their job and then their dog dies – all on the same day!

They might title such a song:

“The end of my world,” right?

This is what the disciples wanted to know of the Lord – when is all of WHAT YOU HAVE DESCRIBED gonna happen to US? (and not when is the end of the earth).

If they were asking when the “end of the world” (earth) was going to occur we would read in the Greek that they would have asked, “and when is ‘the end of the COSMOS.'”

That is the Greek word for world (as in, earth and even solar system).

But that isn’t what they asked! Instead they asked Him “and when is the end of the ‘age’ – again, that Greek word meaning a period of time, and in this case, the apostles wanted to know when the end of their Age was coming . . .

. . . the end when all things Jewish, as they knew it, would be “left desolate,” the end when the temple would be brought down . . .

“When will judgment fall on the Nation,” and when would He return to render such judgment?”

My friends, Matthew 24 (and the Mark and Luke accounts of the same information) is Jesus answer to them and these specific questions.

IF . . . (and when) we are able to recognize this we will take a giant step toward embracing a clearer eschatological picture of things and therefore a clearer picture of church, of being Christian today, and will be equipped to set all the end time mularky that churches have been pushing for nearly 2000 years.

The 70 AD Fulfillment

Disciples, if we accept that He was born in 4 or 3 AD, were spoken around 30 AD. The accepted length of a biblical generation is forty years. So if we take 30 AD when Jesus promised that “all of these things will happen within this generation,” (both to the Jews at the temple in Matthew 23:36 and then to His disciples here in Matthew 24:34) and add the full forty years of a generation, we have 70 AD – a most important date in the annals of biblical history because it was in 70 AD that the Roman army, under Titus, helped accomplish what we will read here in Matthew 24 from Jesus' own mouth.

Prophecies and Their Fulfillment

As an aside, we also note that the Old Testament prophet Micah also prophesied of this temple destruction, saying in Micah 3:12: “Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.” In George Peter Holford’s book, “The Destruction of Jerusalem,” we read: “It is recorded in the Talmud and by Maimonedes, that Terentius Rufus, captain of the army of Titus, absolutely ploughed up the foundation of the temple with a ploughshare.”

To show God’s hand moved this destruction we read in the Jewish historian’s book, The Wars of the Jews, Flavius Josephus states that the Roman general Titus actually decided to spare the temple from destruction feeling that it was too magnificent of an edifice to destroy. Instead, he believed that it ought to remain standing as proof of the Roman Empire's success. But one of the soldiers ignorantly threw a firebrand through a window and set the place ablaze. Josephus says that when General Titus got word of the fire: “He rose up in great haste and ran to the holy house in order to have a stop to the fire,” that he gave orders with, “a loud voice,” and with “his right hand gave signals to his soldiers to stop the fire,” but the normally disciplined Roman soldiers went wild and pushed to see the whole thing destroyed – first by fire. This was God’s judgment upon the people – not Rome’s. In fact, Josephus, in his “Essential Writings,” (page 365) wrote the following: “As Titus entered the city (September 26th AD 70) he was astonished at its strength, and especially the towers which the tyrants had abandoned. Indeed, when he saw how high and massive they were, and the size of each huge block, he exclaimed: “Surely God was with us in the war, who brought the Jews down from their strongholds, for what could hand or engine do against these towers.”

Interpretations of Prophecy

Now, we can choose to believe that what Jesus said to His disciples and the Jews about, “all these things would happen in this generation,” that He was right, and what happened in 70 AD was the fulfillment of it . . . . OR . . . we can side with a number of believers today who contend that all the things he said have NOT happened, and Jesus was wrong. Let’s go back to Matthew 24.

Christians who believe that what Jesus has been describing has not yet happened use chapter 24 CONSTANTLY to describe signs of our day and age. Frankly, it’s quite easy to read these passages and believe that they apply to our day and age. But let’s go through them and see if they really apply to our day – or to the events of 70 AD. In our first run through I want you to take note of WHO Jesus is directing His descriptive words to.

If these words were prophesied by our God and King for a date in our day and age why doesn’t He make this clear? Instead, He (and the apostles) give plenty of indications He was speaking FIRST to them, and to their generation and time. So let’s read for ourselves (beginning at verses 3) and we are going to read all the way through to verse 35:

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (the three questions – Jesus replies)
4 “Take heed that no man deceive you.”
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars

The Beginning of Sorrows

And rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end (of the age) is not yet.

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Sign of the End

15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

24 For there shall arise false Christ’s, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

25 Behold, I have told you before.

26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

The Coming of the Son of Man

29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

I know there is a lot here – questionable things – but we are going to hit on the major explanations of what verses 4-16 are saying – relative to that time and place and the 70 AD destruction. Next week we’ll cover the remainder.

Now as we read try and remember that when Jews write they often use hyperbole, illustration, and comparisons to convey what the Holy Spirit is saying to them. For example, Paul, in Romans 1:8 says:

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.”

Does this mean, “the whole world?” Catalina Island? Logan Utah? and to the inhabitants living at the base of Mount Shasta? No. The whole inhabited world? I don’t think so. But probably the established Roman empire.

FOLKS – there is a time to take the words of the Bible literally and there

Analysis of Scriptural Literalism

In a study of literal interpretations of scripture, it's important to ask and answer questions to understand the context. Literalists often focus on phrases like "the whole world" but their assumptions can be misguided. It's crucial to approach these texts critically to uncover their true meanings.

Many people today, influenced by teachings from figures like Chuck Smith and Hal Lindsey, believe the end times will involve a nuclear holocaust and anticipate an anti-Christ. However, examining the contextual indicators in scripture shows that Jesus used local and ancient descriptions rather than language implying nuclear disasters and other future events.

Historical Context before 70 AD

Let’s examine verses 6-14 with a historical perspective, rather than a modern application. Jesus says in verse 6:

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end (of the age) is not yet.

Before 70 AD, rumors of war and unrest in Jerusalem were prevalent, setting the stage for its destruction. Jesus advises:

“see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end (of the age) is not yet.”

Verse 7 describes conflicts and natural disasters:

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

Records indicate such events occurred before Israel's destruction. Some interpret "nation shall rise against nation" as a future event, missing that the Greek term "Ethnos" translates better to "ethnicities" rather than entire nations.

In verse 8:

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Here, Jesus outlines a timeline specific to that generation.

Events Leading to Destruction

Verse 9 foretells persecution:

9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations (ethnicities) for my name's sake.

The Romans and other ethnicities disliked Jews in Jerusalem. Verses 10-12 are corroborated by Josephus, showing internal strife and false prophets deceiving many.

10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Jesus gives a promise:

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

This suggests salvation from physical destruction, as tradition holds that no Christians perished in the destruction.

Verse 14 is pivotal for futurists and literalists:

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Has the Gospel reached the entire world by 70 AD? The term "world" here, from OI KU MEN AY, refers to the area or land, not the entire earth.

The Subjective Relationship of Christianity

the Roman Empire. But not the entire earth.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the (Oi KU MEN AY – land) for a witness unto all (ethnos – ethnicities, not nations) . . . and (He tells His apostles there) and then shall the end come.

We will continue to read the Bible reasonably next week in our search for the answer to the question:

When does the Bible say Jesus would return?

Let’s open up the phone lines:

(801)

While you are waiting, take a look:

RUN NEW AD FOR IN HIS WORDS HERE PLEASE

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GRAPHIC: Text Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21

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GRAPHIC OF EACH VERSE CITED PLEASE

CALLS

EMAILS

Individual and Subjective Faith

Let me plainly articulate some points that have been misunderstood of late – please listen. From the very beginning of this ministry to the LDS we have promoted the individual need (and responsibility) to know Christ through spiritual rebirth (listen) IRRESPECTIVE of RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION.

In other words, we have always, always, always maintained that LDS people could be considered as much Christian as anyone from any other denomination so long as they have individually been born again. This, of course, caused some very narrow believers to attack us from the get go. But we maintain this stance to this day.

Of course, I have an issue with Mormonism and the present-day doctrines and practice, but it is at the individual subjective level where Christianity lies, not in the objective and institutional.

What has changed is I now throw all brick and mortar churches and denoms (which fall under the banner of Christian) into the same vat with Mormonism having come to see that organized and institutionalized religions have no right to insert themselves in between an individual and God in ANY – ANY manner whatsoever. Not in demands, not in calling people in to give account of their lives, not in tithes, participation, ordinances, or even in doctrine.

Christianity is a wholly subjective relationship and any organized gathering of believers exists to support and teach and encourage believers in their subjective search for God rather than to monitor, police, or demand intellectual or physical conformity. All that stuff is just people playing church, playing religion.

The Role of Churches

If you are a believer, it is incumbent on you to live your life according to the Spirit, to seek and search, and to believe as you see fit. We all go before God alone at this life – no pastor, pope, priest or prophet is gonna be at our side to confirm our faith – we will confirm it by the lives we live and the items we individually choose to accept on faith.

So the church's job is to teach the word, provide encouragement, and let everyone alone to go out and pursue what it means to be a Christian without their interference. I would suggest it is about time that pastors learn to walk by the faith they tell their congregants to live by and stop trying to grow their churches through campaigns and to stop burdening their folks with financial demands but to instead sit back and see how God provides for them.

In a perfect world, American Christianity ought to deconstruct – eliminate playing church, sell off all the high overhead, rent space for the days a space is needed, teach the word, pray, go home and let the people, in their direct relationship with God, figure out how to live.

These are the essentials of the faith:

(Show Graphic here)

Christianity is a wholly subjective relationship between God and the individual which cannot be defined, dictated, described or directed by anyone but God through Christ by the Holy Spirit.

Organized religion has absolutely no authority, power, efficacy or right to insert itself, its doctrines, practices, or demands anywhere into this sacred subjective relationship.

Purpose of the Modern Church

The modern “brick and mortar” church has a simple three-fold purpose: To serve emancipated believers by freely teaching the Word of God contextually and without bias, to support and encourage individual believers in their respective walk with Christ, and to share the Lord Jesus Christ with other people who have yet to receive Him by faith.

For all to consider:
“Christians are saved by grace through faith to love by suffering as Christ.”