Christian Living

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During the ministry of Jesus Christ on the earth, He gave His disciples some key commandments to follow. One main commandment is found in the Holy Bible in Matthew 28:19-20. These words of Jesus were spoken to His disciples prior to His return to Heaven. These words of Jesus admonished His disciples to carry on His ministry during His absence from the earth. These words of Jesus expressed the true manner in which His good news (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) should be presented throughout the earth after He ascended to Heaven. These words of Jesus also have been called the "Great Commission." Jesus said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Also, another similar scripture can be found in Mark 16:15-16. Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Therefore, from these two sets of scriptures, Jesus presented the true manner in which His gospel was to be presented to mankind. However, as centuries have passed, the true sinless Gospel of Jesus Christ has been distorted.

Historically, the distortion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ originated during the Middle Ages, A.D.500-A.D.1500. It was during this thousand year period that the Roman Catholic Church claimed that salvation was obtained by works. In other words, an individual would have to perform the rituals demanded of him/her by the Catholic Church in order to go to Heaven. In fact, an individual could actually buy certificates of indulgences from the Church that basically forgave him/her of the sins he/she had committed. However, this distorted view of Christianity was challenged on October 31, 1517. It was on this date that Martin Luther posted his infamous Ninety-five Theses on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. Martin Luther who was a member of the Roman Catholic Church bravely declared that this distorted view of the Gospel of Jesus Christ should not be preached by the Catholic Church anymore. It was at this time that the Protestant Reformation began. Martin Luther proclaimed that salvation is obtained only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, not by some kind of work’s religion.

Eventually, the Protestant Reformation spread the true Gospel of Jesus Christ all over Europe. Fortunately, the new religious movement made its way to America with the first English colonists. But, as centuries have passed, religious leaders have tampered with the Biblical views of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a result, many ministers in America are using their pulpits to preach a gospel that is contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ. They are preaching a post-modern world social and/or political gospel. This distorted gospel has no eternal value. This distorted gospel will not save any individual from his/her sins. This distorted gospel will not heal any individual, since faith in Jesus Christ is not necessarily the focal point of these new manmade gospels. However, this distorted gospel that is being preached in many churches in America today will destroy individuals and entire nations.

What is a social gospel? Basically, a social gospel brings the sins of society into the church. Of course, as Jesus stated in Luke 14:23, He wants social outcasts in His Church. He said, "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." But, Jesus intended that those who come into His Church would accept His Plan of Salvation. However, those who preach a social gospel attempt to get their church to accept the sins of the society at large. A prime example in post-modern America would be homosexuality. Too many American churches are arguing over whether or not homosexuality is a sin. But, why should any born-again Christian see the need to discuss this topic in church. The Bible explicitly states that it is a sin in the eyes of God. As stated in Romans 1: 26-27, "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: or even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet." This scripture should be enough proof for any Christian or Christian church in the United States that homosexuality is contrary to God’s Plan of Salvation.

Large numbers of people probably would not accept true salvation in a church that preaches an unscriptural social gospel. Also, even though these preachers and churches do many good things for people in society in the name of Jesus Christ, the works that they do might not be accepted by God. As Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." However, Jesus does expect Christians to do good works on the earth in His name. As recorded in Matthew 25:40, "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." But, these works would have no saving value, unless the person performing the works first accepts Jesus and His Sinless Gospel by faith.

What is a political gospel? A political gospel brings the politics of the society at large into the church as a major topic of discussion. Therefore, those who preach a political gospel promote their views of America’s political affairs, instead of concentrating on God’s Plan of Salvation. A prime example would be the recent turmoil caused by the reported anti-American political messages that former pastor Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. preached at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. A church pulpit should never be used to preach anything contrary to God’s Love for sinners of all races, creeds, and colors. Also, the political views of a minister should never be given center stage in God’s Christian Church. God and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ should always be the major topic of discussion in Christian churches. The gospel that is preached from a church pulpit must line up with the Word of God. The preaching of any other gospel would be blasphemy to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, since faith in Jesus Christ is the only path to Heaven. As stated in John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." But, despite the fact that other religions denounce this scripture as a sign of the self-centeredness of Christianity, this scripture from God’s Holy Word speaks for itself.

The true Gospel of Jesus Christ must be preached in all churches in the United States. If America’s distorted Christian viewpoints are not replaced once again with the truth, as recorded in the Holy Bible, American ministers and their churches will be held accountable for the spiritually dead nation that the United States is rapidly becoming, even though 80 to 90 percent of Americans claim to be born-again Christians. However, if all Christians return to their first love, the Lord Jesus Christ and His true Gospel, God might truly bless America as a nation once again. As Jesus stated in Matthew 6:33, while giving His great Sermon on the Mount, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you." Therefore, God will never accept any distorted, manmade social and/or political gospel that would permit unrepentant sinners to go to Heaven. The true Gospel of Jesus Christ is based on the fact that sinners must ask forgiveness for their sins and that sinners must acknowledge that true salvation comes only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Any other route to Heaven would mean Jesus died on the Cross of Calvary in vain.

However, America’s post-modern church acts as if Jesus Christ did die in vain. In fact, the post-modern Christian Church has indirectly provided propaganda fuel for the many anti-Christian forces in America. The sin of Christian individuals and Christian church organizations have made nonbelievers view Christianity as a joke. It began when high profile fundamentalist ministers were caught committing the sins that they preached against. When these men fell from God’s grace, many Americans lost interest in Christianity and its tenets. Then the sin of a few men spread to entire religious movements. Of course, as well-known church organizations abandoned their own Biblically-inspired doctrines, more and more people have abandoned their own Bible-based religious beliefs, too. As a result, the Christian Church in America is setting itself up for severe persecution in the years to come.

What specific sins are destroying the Christian Church in America? The sins of adultery, fornication, and homosexuality have overtaken every nook and cranny of the post-modern Christian Church. The Christian Church has evolved into a breeding ground for sexual promiscuity. Unfortunately, there are many examples to verify that sexual misconduct has occurred and is still occurring in the churches of America. But, what has caused this increase of sin in the Christian Church? According to David Kupelian, vice president and managing editor of WorldNetDaily.com and Whistleblower Magazine, the answer is contained in the Bible in Revelation 3: 15-16. It reads, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” In other words, Christians are not as close to their God as they need to be. As a result, they are easily persuaded to follow the dictates of society instead of the dictates of their God. Therefore, as Mr. Kupelian stated, “Christians have stood on the sidelines during the breathtaking transformation of their once-great Judeo-Christian culture into today's neo-pagan, Sodom-and-Gomorrah-style freak show.” (1) Thus, it is the lukewarm American Christian Church that could be responsible for the Christian Holocaust that could possibly be right around the corner.

What are some of the sins of the American Christian Church and how are they negatively affecting Christendom in America? How will these sins discredit the Christian Church? How will these sins become the catalyst for America’s Christian Holocaust? First, adultery is rampant even in most churches in the United States. According to Dr. Clay Nuttall, moderator for the International Businessmen’s Fellowship of North America,

The real shock is the level of sexual immorality in the church today. The light attitude toward divorce, adultery and fornication in the membership of the church is staggering. Marriage vows mean little, and churches are filled with huge numbers of the divorced, as well as those who have been involved in sexual sins. A light attitude is invading churches about sodomy and unmarried people living together, much of which reveals an unbiblical view of repentance and forgiveness. (2)

Also, Dr. Nuttall states,

A recent survey of evangelical teens claims that up to sixty per cent of these teens have been involved in sexual immorality at least once. Much of this has come from the "dumbing down" of sin. Churches celebrate fornication with public weddings for those who have public sin outside of wedlock. The end result is that the rest of the teens detect an implied message----"go and do likewise." The clear lack of repentance on the part of the offenders is really the heart of the matter. This is not about our extending forgiveness. It is about their lack of repentance and unwillingness to receive true forgiveness. (2)

Ultimately, Dr. Clay Nuttall concludes,

Much of the above problem in churches has to do with the large numbers of people on church roles who repeatedly demonstrate that they are unsaved. It would do a church well to be slow to speak of the immorality of this society when weekly they tolerate, defend and therefore encourage spiritual adultery. You see what I mean now, in the churches adultery has become the not-so-scarlet sin. At this point no one has to wonder why we have gone "soft on sin." Where is the condemnation of evil in the pulpit? The fire is gone out, and damnation is reserved for the conservative separatist who dares to make an issue of iniquity. (2)

Adultery in the American Christian Church is just as dominant as the plague of adultery in society at large. Of course, as a result of the sin of adultery, there are many divorces in the American Christian Church, too. Therefore, if the Christian lifestyle is no different than non-believers, then how can Christianity succeed in its efforts to save the world from their sin? This is one reason Christians are being persecuted more than ever before. Non-believers do not see a godly lifestyle in many of the people who profess to be Christians. In turn, they do not respect Christians for their faith, as they did years ago. Eventually, as is seen in America today, persecution replaces respect.

The second major sin in the Church is fornication. Sex before marriage, pornography, and homosexuality are alive and well in the American Christian Church. Since many Christians are lukewarm, their attitudes toward sin have changed. Also, since denominations are made up of these individual lukewarm Christians, they have changed their views on sins that are explicitly condemned in the Bible, God’s Holy Word, too. As a result, fornication is not viewed as sinful as it was fifty years ago.

Unfortunately, some Christian denominations in America openly accept sin in the Church. At their recent conventions in June 2006, the Presbyterian Church and the Episcopal Church have passed measures to ordain homosexuals and lesbians as clergy members of their denominations. According to Verna Gates, a Reuters’ journalist, “The new policy was approved on a vote of 57-43 percent among 500 church representatives at the biennial meeting of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. It gives local church organizations more leeway in deciding if gays can be ordained as lay deacons and elders as well as clergy, provided they are faithful to the church's core values.” (3) Jon Walton, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in New York’s Greenwich Village, states, “It permits local governing bodies to examine candidates on a wider criterion than sexual orientation ... it allows these bodies to look at the whole person and not categorize them.” (3) Finally, Kim Clayton Richter of Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta says “You cannot pick out two or three passages to prove your point. You have to look at the whole witness of Jesus Christ. We've changed our mentality on slavery and the role of women. We have to change with reality.” (3)

The Episcopal Church view on homosexuality made the headlines in 2003. When the denomination approved an openly gay bishop Gene Robinson, it appeared that the denomination would split on the issue of homosexuality. Also, during the same convention, the Episcopal Church recognized homosexual unions. Even though the Episcopal Church is divided on this issue, the damage has been done. The liberals in the movement are for the acceptance of gays and lesbians and the conservative members are against the pro-gay rights agenda in the Episcopal Church. Sadly, more and more delegates are voting for the recognition and acceptance of homosexuals in the church as members and clergy.

It is very difficult to understand how any church denomination would vote in favor of permitting homosexuals to be church members and clergy. The Bible that these denominations preach from on a regular basis emphatically condemns homosexuality. In Leviticus 20:13, an Old Testament book, God through Moses states, “If a man also lies with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination.” However, many people believe that Old Testament scriptures don’t apply to mankind since Jesus died on the cross. But, there are New Testament scriptures that express God’s view of homosexuality, too. In Romans 1: 26-27, as stated earlier, Paul the Apostle states, “For this cause God gave them up to vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.” From the message in these scriptures, it is obvious that God recognizes homosexuality and other forms of fornication as sin. Therefore, the sin in church must be driven out immediately.

The third and most deadly sin of the American Christian Church is abortion. The purposeful killing of millions of innocent, unborn babies is an abomination in the eyes of God, the creator of all mankind. In the eyes of God and mankind, self-defense and punishment for murder are the only permissible reasons for killing another person. However, abortion is the killing of a person (Yes, an unborn child is a person.) for the wrong reason. An unwanted pregnancy is not a viable reason for murdering an unborn child. Unfortunately, many of the people who have abortions in America are members or attend the lukewarm churches in the United States. These people put convenience ahead of morality. They usurp powers that are only given to God the Creator. But, these same people would be against the Jewish Holocaust that occurred in Germany during World War II. They would also be against the ethnic cleansing that has occurred in other parts of the world in the last twenty years. Needless to say, these same people do not see the correlation between the Jewish Holocaust, ethnic cleansing, and abortion. When God’s Church supports abortion and rebels against the Creator, they could only expect to face serious consequences sometime in the very near future.

What are the consequences that American Christian Churches are encountering because of the sin that exists in the Church? First and foremost God will not bless a church or an individual that is sinning. God and Satan cannot abide in the same dwelling. Second, the Church in the United States will lose its influence on unsaved people. They will not accept its hypocrisy which is a stench in the nostrils of God. Third, God has a strong personal view toward people who compromise on spiritual matters in their life. As stated earlier, God will spue these type people out of His mouth. Finally, God will place conflict in churches or in individual lives that accept or recognize sin in His Holy Church. This is the reason that modern day churches are having so many problems. They are preaching a social gospel instead of a sin-cleansing gospel. When church denominations spend more time fighting among members over the acceptance of homosexuality and other forms of fornication, they are missing the mark in the realm of spirituality. They must return to their commitment to a Holy God that hates sin in the world and especially in His Church. The death of His Son Jesus Christ paid the debt for the sins of mankind. Therefore, God has a vested interest in His Church and His followers. But, if they fail to confess their sins and return to God, God will have no choice but to punish America. Will America’s Christian Holocaust, the severe persecution of those who follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, intensify? The answer is unequivocally “Yes,” if the prophecies of the Bible are true-and they are!

Since the American Christian Church has rebelled against God, it is now headed on a collision course with those forces in America that hate “all” Christians. Unfortunately, some of these anti-Christian forces abide in the pews of the churches in America. These are the people who have placed material gain and the preaching of a social gospel ahead of the true principles of Christianity. They are Christian in name only. The spirit of God does not lead them. Their new master controls them. They hate true Christianity and the forces of good in America. Just as local leaders in Germany during World War II supported the Holocaust either directly or indirectly, the members of America’s Christian Church who have sold out to sin will be leaders in America’s Christian Holocaust. These will also be the people who will report Christians to the one world government leaders of the near future. Of course, most Americans might not believe that a one world government and a one world religion will be established. But, it will!

Remember, in the future and possibly now, true Christians will be made aware that all politicians, educators, businessmen, and even ministers do not have their right to freedom of worship at heart. Keep your eyes open and keep abreast of the new laws and new judicial decisions in America that pertain to religious issues. Christianity will eventually be labeled the number one enemy of the state. In fact, last spring, a document from the Department of Homeland Security was leaked to the general public. It labeled American Christians as “potential terrorists.” Has the United States government lost its collective mind? Also, what is the current count of the number of deaths caused by terrorism in America by the followers of Jesus Christ?

In conclusion, the distortion of the true gospel of Jesus Christ and the sins of America’s lukewarm Christian Church are the major reasons for the increase of persecution toward Christians in the United States. As God observes the activities of His blood-bought Church through His Son Jesus Christ, He becomes deeply grieved. As a result, the sins of lukewarm Christians in the His Church will cause God to turn His back on His own Church, just as He did throughout the Old Testament days. When His people rebelled against Him, He normally punished them by permitting enemy nations to take them captive and rule over them cruelly. Will this same scenario take place in America?







References


1.Kupelian, David. “Why Christians Are Losing America” WorldNetDaily. 18 June 2006.

2.Nuttall, Dr. Clay. “Adultery, The Not-So-Scarlet Sin” Bible Truth” 19 June 2006.

3.Gates, Verna. “US Presbyterian Church Opens Doors to Gay Clergy” Reuters. 21 June 2006

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