DOCTRINES, LIP SERVICE AND SELF DECEPTION

Greetings in  the name of Jesus:

As I begin this series of discussions I already know that there will be disagreement with what I say here to a point, but the whole point here is to begin a discussion on things.  I have found that truth isn't something that people in general get too excited about; especially if that truth goes against a preconceived idea that has been planted within them along the way.

 As I have continued to study for myself the words and the message of Christ I am continuing to find a difference in what the doctrines of our established churches and the original message brought to us by Christ tells us.  I have begun to view these doctrines as a catalyst for division between most Christians even when they claim love and the Lordship of Christ over their beliefs.  I have now for many years made the statement that if we simply would follow the exact teachings of Jesus Christ we would find no reason for the thousands of individual denominations we now have, and I believe that would open the Christian to one another in a way that would bring back the true power of God's Spirit being able to work in the church as it did in the first century.


The first of many things that is needed is to understand the purpose for the church that Jesus established was not to bring our own brand of Christ to this world, but to reflect the light from Christ in our personal life to a very dark place.  What that means is quite different than trying to convince someone to join a club or an organization of people to do good works.  In the first section of this discussion I need to point out that the majority of differences found from one denomination to another deals with a worship style or personal attitude which has very little to do with scripture or with the focus of salvation in Christ and mostly to do with individual preference or comfort.

  If we begin to view these things in terms of what God has actually commanded from us as His people we will find that very little of what we are doing right now in our churches reflect the message that Jesus gave to us.  Those who would point out the few chosen verses that they are basing their beliefs of separation from others on merely are using the bible in the wrong ways.  Instead of it being used to reason together and get a deeper understanding of God's word it is being used as a tool to argue with.  The only real doctrine that we should be consistent with is that which has already been laid down for us.  When we begin to want to lay claim on a particular doctrine that we want to hold close to us we begin to move away from the original doctrine of Jesus Christ, and that can be dangerous.  What should we hold up consistently?  Paul wrote much about his belief in Christ, but one of my personal favorite verses is 2 Timothy 1:12 " I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day".  Just as with Paul people today want to be able to follow a source of power that they can see and touch.  It is because of that Paul had to continuously write to churches asking them the question " Who is it that you follow?"  Some wanted to follow Peter, and some Paul; while others looked to Barnabas, or Apollo; but Paul said we must follow Christ alone...and that is the same thing I am saying today!

  The word of God has several different uses that help us all to grow stronger in Christ, but adapting customs and answers given to problems and fires that have been recorded in the church by Paul and others is not the same as following the foundations of Christ that have been laid down for us to build upon.  The church has been established to be a family where new Christians can learn and grow up strong in a safe environment that is protected from the deceit of this world.  As we get into these discussions a little deeper I want to deal with some of the issues that have developed because of our constant desire to control within the church.  May you richly bless God through uyour life in Him.


THE UNWORTHY SERVANT