An Old Product, A New Audience

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The caption for this picture is "Think on These Things" Philippians 4:8
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

I've heard it said that much of what has been communicated for some time regarding the "Good News of the Gospel" as being nothing more than a "Bloodless Stick" religion.

For those who have never read or heard Darin Hufford share, it might be an encouragement for you to read the following, "Gratefully Disillusioned" and not just because I'm directing what he shared in his article to mesh in with my thoughts here today.

The following quotes are from "Unto Full Stature".

"There was an invasion into the early church, even as there has continued to be throughout the centuries since, by a movement attempting to take over Christianity. By using Christianities' names and forms but rejecting its substance, the movement called Gnosticism has always been a subtle enemy of the Gospel.

Gnosticism, coming from the Greek gnosis ("to know"), is simply an attempt to gain full stature by seeking to know God through principles and philosophy, yet all the while by-passing the real Lord Jesus. One has described that first-century Gnosticism: "You didn't need to go through Jesus to God; if you had the key, the gnosis, you could know immediately. Gnosticism supplied mysterious formulas and passwords which gave one access to the higher world and (they thought) brought perfect union with the Divine…So Jesus was taken over, not as God becoming man, but merely as a revealer of the secrets of Gnosticism-another Jesus. Gnosticism was the word become idea."


We can seem to recognize that Gnosticism of the early church, but it is alarming how many are unaware that a modern Gnosticism in new garb is now making a subtle invasion in our churches. Only the discerning eye can detect what is wrong, for the same Bible terms are used, in fact the Bible is revered as a most significant textbook on successful living; therein they seem to find the important laws of life. Their message exhorts every man to have faith (in himself) and to cooperate with the kingdom around him if he would achieve. There are multiplied thousands who have proved these laws of the kingdom to be absolutely trustworthy. They boldly acclaim that anyone who will "believe in himself" can use this knowledge (gnosis) to realize his selfish goals. But just here is the critical issue. They are heralding the importance of "another jesus" for they have seen no real need for personal submission to the crucified and resurrected Lord Jesus.

Without the God given revelation of the identity of the invisible one Satan, being the impetus of sin within our members, is it any wonder there is virtually little resistance to becoming totally assimilated, not into the "Borg" but conforming to the spirit of this age?
If it were possible Jesus said, "For false Christs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders so as to deceive and lead astray, if possible, even the elect (God's chosen ones)."

Rich

Alive; But Dead

"Many people struggle with the question, Why am I not fulfilled when I am doing all the things that I believe God wants me to do?" It's because God's purpose is not that we should focus on doing the right things, rather, he wants us to focus on Him. Obedience occurs as we trust Jesus within us to fulfill the desires of His Father through us."

I cannot help but wonder in reading this, how does one justify their 'calling-anointing-ministry' they have...is this something even greater than trusting Him to be all He wants to be in me, through me as me?

Was Jesus actually just a self-seeking dude extremely frustrated by his extended thirty year camp out in obscurity, chomping at the bit wondering when, if he was ever going to be really completely fulfilled in walking in his ‘ministry?’
Was it really just a smoke screen He used, cloaking his pent up angst, and all the time trying to present himself as this totally dependent man trusting in his Father’s life within him?
Using my imagination here, was this a picture of the real Jesus; imagine Jesus getting frustrated while waiting for the next time Papa got around to using-working through him, here he is in a back alley doing some cool magic tricks to keep the crowds coming.

We might get offended by these questions but I see them being valid in light of so many that are still trying to obtain their ‘holy grail’ aka ministry or walking in IT.
I know first hand the endless frustration of having perused this assumed ‘calling’ on my life only to step into it not realizing He had lovingly used my selfish choices to trap me.

I am convinced that we know nothing of what Life is supposed to be all about apart from Him, Jesus saying; ‘I have come that you might have life-and having an abundance of it.’
Is The Life of the Father revealed in and through the Son, that very same life of the Father in the son through His spirit that is now in me sufficient for whatever I face, choices, decisions, life death whatever?

The self-seeking independent-self is able through the obliging assistance of the father of lies within our flesh masquerading himself in and through that independent-self and appealing to our unmet unfulfilled need to DO something, even go into the ministry, go to the mission field, take a vow of poverty, start a church, anything that would somehow fill the void of no longer being seen as just a regular Joe!

Like Tina Turner said, ‘What’s Love got to do with it’, only I’m asking what has our works got to do with adding or taking away from that which is referred to as the ‘unspeakable gift of Life’?

Is it possible that at best what most of the world as seen in our sincere but sincerely wrong fleshly attempts to portray Jesus is just the FLESH, a cheap imitation?

Rich