Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Straight From the Horse’s Mouth (11/14/13)
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TITLE: May I Use Your Name? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ramona Cook
11/19/13 -
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One of the ladies made a point of doctrine concerning the fact that Jesus is the only path to God. John 14:6
As I looked at the face on the other side of the table I saw that she was peering through eyes that were condensed in size by a frowning brow, and she was shaking her head in disagreement. I thought, "Can you believe this?"
Quickly there was recall to my mind of an address made by C. S. Lewis to a graduating class of "preacher boys," as he dubbed them. He reminded them that they would be standing in pulpits preaching the message of Jesus to many people during the years of their ministry. He cautioned them that they must decide if they really agreed with Jesus regarding the teachings that Jesus taught. He told them, "If you cannot agree with Jesus and the way Jesus taught His principles and doctrines then you should start your own religion, but call it by your own name."
The point is well made is it not? You nor I can change Christianity. Jesus is the founder of Christianity and until He changes it, it remains as He taught it. So why does anyone ever identify themselves as one with Christ, "Christian," and then deny the things that Jesus Himself taught as truth?
What does it mean to be a Christian?
Being a Christian means that I am one with Jesus, that I am in Him and He is in me; we are one. I must agree with Jesus if I am to be a Jesus follower, a Christian.
Jesus calls each of us to be a follower of Him. We do not choose Jesus and then tell Him that if He will follow us we will get Him in tune with the correct policies of today.
We cannot be a true Christian if we cannot agree with Jesus in all that He has said; we would then be a Christian in name only.
During the week before His Crucifixion Jesus warned His followers and Disciples to be alert and prepared and to not allow themselves to be deceived. He told them that there would be false purveyors of information among them even saying that Jesus is the Christ, but giving otherwise false information. Those persons are willing, or unwilling plants of the devil, who are on a mission to confuse and change the Gospel of Jesus. Some of them stand in our pulpits, denying the Scriptures as complete truth and applauding activities that God calls an abomination. Luke 21: 7-8
Is there no fear? Do these people not see Jesus as a living and awesome God? Do they think His words of promise of Judgment are empty words?
Jesus promises all of us that He will judge us for the good and the bad done in this body as true followers of Himself; however some will say to Him how well they served Him but He will tell them to go away that He never knew them, meaning that they never had a relationship with Him; they were Christian in name only. Matthew 7:21- 23
This is a weighty contemplation, but one worth considering: am I really a follower of Jesus, or do I only use His Name? Do I believe all that Jesus has said? Do I live by what I read in the Scriptures?
How will I ever know, if I never read my Bible? It is there, after all else is said and done, that I find what Jesus spoke as truth. Luke 21:33
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I especially thought that this was true: Some of them stand in our pulpits, denying the Scriptures as complete truth and applauding activities that God calls an abomination.
Excellent work! Keep your helmet of salvation on and never leave home without the gospel armor, as Christians we're prepared as God's soldiers.
God bless~
What you say has happened and has caused the variety of "churches" with a "variety" of doctrines.
Each one is challenged to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling - because we will be judged on our own doing and not by what this group or that group teaches. We will be judged by the word of God.
Keep writing.