Pastor John,
I have a question from yesterday morning’s Father and Son reading,
( Father and Son 22) .
We know the current condition and future salvation of our souls depends on our faithful following of a who in Christ, and not a what; as the Apostle Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” So we know that God’s children are called by God to follow His representative(s) that He sends to lead them home.
However, in the religious system of Christianity, members appear to follow after the Christian institution instead of following a true representative of Christ.
For example-
Brother Brad pointed out this morning that Christianity’s ministers often are hired and fired, or move on to other positions in the institution, leaving their sheep behind. I have seen Christian ministers leave their people behind for better jobs in the institution, and I have seen the minister’s flock stay behind, not following the minister, remaining faithful to the institution—their church—instead of the man. So, it appears that Christian ministers and their sheep, at least some of them, honor the institution first, above everything else.
My question is, if life in Christ means a lifelong relationship between an anointed who, a representative of Christ, and his flock, then who is the who (if there is one) that represents the institution of Christianity, since it commands such devotion from people? Can a dead thing such as an institution, being comprised of a bunch of buildings, symbols, and conflicting ideas, hold on to men’s hearts the way Christianity does? Or is there a spirit behind it all, a living who that is not Jesus?
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Yes, Jerry, there are spirits which brought about the religious system of Christianity and which sustain it. One is the perverse spirit of fallen man, and the other is Satan. They work together (cf. Mt. 16:23).
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If there is a who represented by the institution of Christianity, such as a spirit, Satan, etc., then that makes Christianity appear more like a place representing “anything but Christ” instead of representing Christ.
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Yes, it does.
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Finally, if it is not a spirit or Satan behind Christianity that is inspiring such devotion from unwitting men, is it just man’s misconception of Christianity that is provoking their devotion—the misconception that Christianity represents the who, Christ, that men know in their hearts they should be reverencing?
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Wrong ideas do not just appear out of nowhere. They come from living beings. So this question is the same as your last one: “Is there a who behind Christianity?”
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I have heard it said, and I believe it, that God may be allowing Christianity to exist as an off-ramp, so to speak, a place where His children may go to hide from holiness when they do not want to do things God’s way. But men serve Christianity in a way that makes it appear to be more than just a bad idea. It almost appears that Christian leaders and organizers feed their people to that institution until folks are consumed. It sucks the life out of them. It seems spiritual.
Thank you,
Jerry
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It certainly is spiritual, Jerry; it does not just seem to be. Peter warned God’s people that men would come (with their institution) teaching wrong things, that many would follow them, causing the truth to be evil spoken of, and that those men would exploit God’s children (2Pet. 2:1–3). That is a perfect description of Christianity.
The most successful lie in history, to date, is that the religion of Christianity represents Christ. The whole world believes that (cf. Rev. 12:9). We were all fooled. I would have given my life for Christianity; indeed, I was giving my life to it. But Jesus has rescued me, and you, and others, and I am very thankful. Knowing how much God loves His people, I am hopeful that He will rescue millions more of our brothers and sisters who, as you and I were, are still blinded by the appearance of goodness and the worldly honor that Christianity enjoys.
Christianity has nothing to do with the real Jesus, other than what it claims. What an amazing, fearful revelation that was to me when I finally received it! It is only because He loves them so much, the Father is crying, “Come out of her, my people!” I am so thankful that I heard that call!
Now, to be a good example of the meekness and love of Christ. That is our job, Jerry.
Thanks for writing. I hope I have adequately answered your question.
Pastor John
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