I know I am going to catch some heat for this writing but I
have girded my loins, and I walk in the full armor of God. It has been written
that a prophet is never welcomed in his/her own land. I am by no means a
prophet but God has spoken to my heart, has my mind and guides my keyboard….
I once saw Billy Graham’s daughter Anne Graham Lotz on a
popular news talk program. The interviewer asked, “Are you one of those who believe that Jesus is exclusively the only way
to heaven?” He added, “You know how
mad that makes people these days!” Without blinking she replied, “Jesus is
not exclusive. He died so that anyone could come to Him for salvation.”
What a great response! Christianity is not an exclusive club
limited to an elite few who fit the perfect profile. Everyone is welcome
regardless of color, class, or clout.
In
spite of this wonderful reality, Christ’s claim in John 14:6 to be the only way
to God continues to offend. Yet Jesus is the only way—the only option that
works. All of us are guilty before God. We are sinners and cannot help
ourselves. Our sin had to be dealt with. Jesus, as God in the flesh, died to
pay the penalty for our sins and then rose from the dead. No other religious leader
offers what Jesus provides in His victory over sin and death.
This is a portion of Our Daily Bread’s reading for today, October 2, 2007 . It’s a sad
commentary on the state of “religion.”
Here we are, thousands of years after the death of Christ
and we are still arguing about the Messiah.
The gentleman asked the question in hope of laying bait for
some great argument. Instead, he received a true Christian answer; an answer
that placed the onus back at his feet.
Why are Sunday’s hours of 9 – 12 the most segregated hours
in Christendom? The hours are segregated
because we treat our religion like a country club. We limit entrance, we set
terms and conditions and we build walls. This happens within the confines of
our little Sunday clubs as well as the exclusion of “outsiders.” We exalt
ourselves over…how many times have you seen people ushered into a segregated
area? How many times have you seen people denied admittance or a sacrament? How
many people did you step over to get to church?
Who is really welcomed to sup? I don’t recall any terms…Jesus said :
Revelation 3:20 -Behold,
I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I
will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
And scripture clearly
states that there is no separation or delineation.
Galatians 3:28 - There
is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male
nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
So where do we get our “religiosity” and piety? How is it
that we’ve come to think so highly of ourselves? Satan thought more highly of
himself….look where it got him.
God is not impressed by our singing, our choirs, the size of
our churches or the money in our collections.….are you feeding any sheep is the
question? Or, are you preaching to the
choir and the “churched?” Ever heard a saint talk, giving great detail, about
who shouted, what the choir sang, who wore what, who came to alter call but
couldn’t tell you about the word and how
they applied it?
Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please
him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek him.
When is the last time that you sought God in anything that
you’ve done? Up until recently, I could hold myself accountable in that
question. I knew that God was calling me to a greater purpose but in my haste I
forgot to seek Him and ask for protection and guidance. Please believe me when
I say that protection is absolutely necessary when you seek to find you greater
purpose in Christ.
I pray that we, a collective group of believers, that
profess Jesus as Lord will take a good, long, hard look at what we call
religion and church today. I pray that we tear down the walls of separation and
derision and come to an awakening! As we
currently stand, the “church and religion” are the very things that have
separated us from Christ
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