7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Galatians 1:6-9
What is considered to be Christianity today, is no more Christian, than the Hebrews were faithful Jews, in Jesus' time. What is identified as Christian now a days is a mixture of Christian and popular beliefs. The amount of secular and pagan influences associated with Christianity are not a surprise to an avid student of the Holy Scriptures. It seems as if everything goes, now adays. Women's ordination, Gays for God, Fornication out of wedlock, cheating , lying, wearing of jewelry, gambling, all the things that the Godless worldlings do, is OK. As long as you accept Jesus as your personal Savior?
9The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
10Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
Ecclesiastes 1:9-10
While Jesus ministered in Galilee and Judea, He experienced enormous opposition from the head priests and scholars of His day. The Hebrew Theologians of the day believed that their interpretation of the Old Testament (which clearly pointed to the Messiah's arrival and identity), made them more capable to distinguish what was the will of God, and also prepare them for the arrival of the Messiah. Yet, they argued with the Son of God, continually; And failed to recognize it was the Messiah that they were resisting. The same thing has now occurred with the instructions that Jesus left 'His Disciples':
18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 28: 18-20.
Christians have turned the simple instructions of Jesus into a 'have it your way', pick and choose religion. Like a smorgasbord, or salad bar: some of this and some of that. Instead of heeding the Lord's plain word: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. There are no equivocations in these instructions. There is no room for guessing; Jesus gave simple instructions. But, what his 'so-called' followers have done is similar to what the Jews of Jerusalem or Bethlehem did 2000 years ago. They thought they could do things better than their God. If they added a new 'holi-day', or added a new requirement to the given law, it would make them more pious, more zealous. Well, in the 21 Century the Christians have deformed the commandments of God into an acceptable 'cool' religion (in their eyes of course).
Now a days, the Seventh Day Sabbath (JEHOVAH's trademark) has been relinquished for Sunday. Some even worship idols made of clay or stone; When the second commandment expressly forbids it! Easter and Christmas have been adopted as Christian holi-days. Some even believe in Halloween. The Apostles followed no such feasts! For some prosperity is the new manifestation of God's love for the believer. The Rapture is the escape hatch to the 'couch potato' Christian mentality that wants all the frills that modern living has to offer without the sacrifice or suffering. Yet, Christ, the Son of God, met an untimely, wretched death on the cross for mankind. But, these 'soft-soled' Christians want to eat their cake and keep it too. What a hypocrisy when the followers are not willing to follow the example of their God. He did it all on the cross. But, you have your part to play, too! Christians believe in the name it and claim it concept, too. Just pray to God for your wish, and act like you already have it. They act more like Zen Buddists: Nom, yoho, rengi, kyo.... What a travesty. What gives you the right to demand material things from God? This is only the tip of the iceberg. And the list goes on. Then, there are the 'god-on-earth' types, that think that they can dictate what you should believe, and will prevent you from expressing your beliefs. They sometimes go as far as persecute and kill those that resist their dictatorial directives. God created man with the freedom of choice, that is why He loves us. If he wanted an automaton, he would have built them long ago. No, he wanted a ratinonal being with the freedom of choice, the ultimate demonstration of love. As the french call it: 'laissez faire'.
My advice to my Christian brethren is to put away your preconceived notions on what the Lord wants for you, read his Holy Scriptures (with prayer), and He will reveal His will, not yours, but His. Remember He is the Alpha and the Omega. You can not figure out a better way to do things by your wits. You and I are fallible, 'all men' save none), are fallible. Only he is perfect. Study His word, don't dilute it with man's doctrines, or take short cuts. The Lord has no use for HALF-STEPPERS. He is the original, "my way or the highway", person. It's His way or you'll fall by the way!
4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9Then 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.
10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Matthew 24: 4-14.
12This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17These things I command you, that ye love one another.
18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
John 15: 12-21.
Jesus is looking for a people that will (be like Him) do His will: Not for a group that will call themselves by His name while holding on to their sinful ways. So, repent, seek God, He will deliver you from sin, walk in His light daily, He will prepare you for the tribulation, then salvation.
13But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
14Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Matthew 23: 13-15.
When the professed people of God are uniting with the world, living as they live, and joining with them in forbidden pleasures; when the luxury of the world becomes the luxury of the church; when the marriage bells are chiming, and all are looking forward to many years of worldly prosperity--then, suddenly as the lightning flashes from the heavens, will come the end of their bright visions and delusive hopes... Maranatha, Ellen G. White, Page 263.
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