The Good Of The Father (Till Flesh Do Us part) # 2187

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh 

Genesis 2: 24, New King James Translation 

If there is one thing that I am very familiar with, it's the breakup of marriages and families due to the following of the flesh instead of the spirit which brought them together in the first place.  My own father distanced himself from his family for the pleasure of following his fleshly desires.  I know a man in my gym rat community who continues in his pursuit of his fleshly desires despite the fact that he has a wife at home.  What is it about marriage that makes some people desire to seek the flesh of someone they are not joined to?  That's right, because when we take that vow to enter into a marriage relationship, we agree that we will indeed become one flesh with that person whom we are marrying.  In fact, the words "One flesh" have become deeply ingrained into our wedding vows for quite some time, for good reason.  For they serve as a reminder of just what it is that God has intended for His children.  This isn't just a religious issue, but speaks to who we are within the love of the Father Who created us in His likeness {Genesis 1:27}.  Unfortunately, many have come to see marriage as a disposable relationship.  If we find out down the road that we made a mistake in our decision to marry, we can simply abolish that union in the stroke of a pen.  But does divorce also dissolve the truth that we are one flesh with the person we married?  Some might argue that it does, that divorce is the final act.  But how does God view divorce?  Jesus was firm on this, that "Whoever should be dismissing his wife and should be marrying another, is committing adultery, and he who marries her who has been dismissed, is committing adultery."  These are the words spoken by Jesus Himself.  If anyone wonders how it is that God views divorce, simply look at the words spoken by the Son.  However, over time man has watered down how God sees divorce until it has become almost a right to dismiss a husband or wife for the simplest of reasons.  More often than not, as in the case of my own father, it is our own desires for the flesh which lead us into down that dark road. 

Jesus has spoken to those who questioned Him about the morals of divorce that, "Moses, in view of your hardheartedness, permits you to dismiss your wives.  Yet from the beginning it has not come to be thus" {Mathews Account 19:8}.  So it is that it is NOT God Who has spoken that dismissing a husband or wife is tolerated, but because of the hardness of the hearts of man.  This is the result of our following the flesh and not the spirit.  When I speak of the consequences on families brought about by divorce, I know what I'm talking about!  It is because of the actions of my father that I grew up vowing not to be like that man.  Have I made mistakes, yes.  Have I lived the life which my own father did, no.  But one thing which I do have which my dad lacked is knowing the truth of who I am in the Lord.  I'm not guided by the flesh, but by the spirit of the Father in Whom I dwell.  But how is it that we can explain the alarming rate of divorce among Christian believers?  The same cause applies in this case, those who follow the flesh and not the desires of the Father.  Some time ago, I asked a dear friend of mine, who has been married to his wife for over fifty years, how was he able to endure the years without considering divorce?  His response brought joy to my heart, in his mind, divorce "Was out of the question," Amen!  I trust this man to be following the spirit and not the flesh.  That he indeed cherishes that he shares one flesh with his wife.  Unfortunately, this is not the predominant attitude among marriage relationships today (2.4 divorces per 1,000 people).  Again, I would not base this upon a lack of commitment, but on not knowing who we are within the love of the Father.  We only need to seek the words spoken by Jesus to determine that.  For Jesus has spoken that we live within the love of the Father {Johns Account 14:20}.  Jesus in the Father, we in Him and He within us.  That's how this works.  That is how we can proclaim one flesh with our partner.  This becomes more difficult when one follows their own flesh and not the one flesh of what the Father has brought together. 

Husbands, be loving your wives according as Christ also loves the ecclesia, and gives Himself up for it's sake 

Paul to the Ephesians 5: 25, Concordant New Testament Translation 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (The Gospel Of Gloom) # 2186

 

Religion has actually convinced people that there is an invisible man living in the sky watching everything you do, every minute of every day.  And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he doesn't want you to do.  And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever until the end of time.  But he loves you.  He loves you, and he needs money.  He always needs money.  He's all-powerful, all-knowing, all-perfect and all-wise, somehow he just can't handle money 

~George Carlin~ 

I recently made a pretty important decision in my life.  A decision which I should have made long ago.  I've decided that I wasn't going to give too much credence to those individuals in my life who have grown accustomed to, shall we say, bringing negativity into my daily life.  Now, many people would say that it's not that much of a big deal, but I disagree.  Simply because of the fact that a few of those individuals that I have chosen to distance myself from are those who confess to being a Christian believer.  Think I'm off base?  Think I've gone too far?  Well, trust me when I say that I have struggled with this decision for some time, it wasn't an easy one for me.  I mean, believers are supposed to uplift each other, right?  That's what we will hear preached from the pulpits of the church.  But I've often noticed that the very preaching and teaching of those within the church can be seen as negative in nature.  But wait, how is it that the good news can be seen as negative?  Well, it depends on the translation of those who speak it.  I've had more than a few people who have questioned my use of the quote from comedian George Carlin which I often use as a precursor to my page.  But whether Carlin knew it at the time of not, he was delivering a scathing rebuke of the mainstream church we know today.  Of how congregations who have been advised to love one another instead turn to the negativity of warnings of sin and hell.  One of the individuals I have decided to distance myself from is among that crowd.  Any opportunity to discuss Jesus often turns into a condemnation of whatever sins I'm carrying with me {Paul to the Romans 3:23}.  The stark warnings of what awaits me if I refuse to repent.  Does this sound like the good news of the forgiveness we have in Jesus to you?  In my opinion, it's simply a gospel of gloom spoken by those within the church.  

A dear friend of mine recently spoke to me that the early reformers of the church never changed the doctrine of how the church views sin, only that it was forgiven by God directly, a process known as "Solo Gratia."  What Luther, Calvin and other early reformers of the church did was to exaggerate the sinfulness of man to a high degree.  Listen to any church pastor and you will hear phrases such as "Wretched sinner am I' and "sinner saved by grace."  This has been the gospel of gloom spoken by the church for thousands of years, and I want NO part of it.  My first question to anyone espousing this teaching is always, what about Jesus?  For it is Jesus Who has given Himself willingly for not only the forgiveness of sin, but that sin within us would be put to death entirely {Paul to the Romans 6:6-11}.  Yes, it is we who have perished on that cross with Jesus {Paul to the Galatians 2:20, Paul to the Romans 6:6}.  Therefore, we no longer are tagged with that monicker of sin.  That ship has sailed.  "For sin shall not be lording it over you, for you are not under the law, but under grace" {Paul to the Romans 6:14}.  In fact, for those who continue to proclaim the gospel of gloom that we continue to live in sin, Paul already has the answer for that lie.  "We, who died to sin, how shall we still be living in it?" {Paul to the Romans 6:2}.  Yet there are those entrenched within the false doctrine of the church who will say that I'm simply quoting verses to support my own narrative.  Well, if you read yesterday's page, you will see that it is the mainstream church which has created that false narrative, not me.  That narrative was born from the Nicene creed in the year 325.  The original intent of this council was to create a consistent theology among the various Christian churches, a narrative if you will.  This is the gospel of gloom which has been preached from the pulpits for thousands of years.  The theology which ignores the good news which we have through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus.  Well, I choose the good news over the bad.  

For sin shall not be lording it over you, for you are not under law, but under grace 

Paul to the Romans 6: 14, Concordant New Testament Translation 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (That Church Narrative) # 2185

 

O foolish Galatians! Who bewitches you before whose eyes Jesus Christ was graphically crucified?  This only I want to learn from you: Did you get the spirit by works of law or by hearing of faith?  So foolish are you?  Undertaking in spirit, are you now being completes in flesh?  So much did you suffer feignedly?  Since, surely, it also is feignedly?  

Paul to the Galatians 3: 1-4, Concordant New Testament Translation

The apostle Paul had a question for the believers in Galatia.  Who was it that has deceived you {Paul to the Galatians 3:1}?  How is it that you have fallen away from what you once knew?  To you, whom Jesus was put to death before your very eyes {Paul to the Galatians 3:1}.  Obviously, Paul had reason to believe that these Galatians had adopted another foreign gospel than that which he himself had spoken unto them.  To Paul, that much was obvious.  His question to them was, why?  Who had filled the minds of these Galatians with another gospel, another narrative which Paul did not recognize.  I use the word narrative in a two-fold purpose.  For I believe that in the same way the Galatians of Paul's day were subverted by someone speaking a different gospel than the one which he brought unto them, that those within the mainstream churches of today also continue to speak with a clear false narrative as well.  But, first, what is that narrative?  Well, it stems from the First Ecumenical Council which convened in the year 325 at the behest of the Roman emperor Constantine.  The main purpose of this gathering of church bishops was to gain and develop a consensus, narrative if you will, of how the concept of Christianity would be brought and taught unto the world.  This is the same church narrative that is alive and well today within the church.  This is the narrative that seemingly ignores the willing sacrifice of our Lord Jesus by continuing to proclaim that sin continues to be a roadblock in the lives of Gods children.  If Paul were with us today, I'm certain that his question would be, who is it that has deceived you?  Well, those who are willing to inquire will quickly discover who it is that has deceived us.  That being the Nicene Creed which was established so many years ago.  It is now the narrative spoken by the mainstream church. 

I have a Christian friend who has a habit of pointing out that others will take "snippets" of the scriptures in order to advance their own narrative.  I'm sorry, but this is exactly where the Nicene creed has brought us.  For the purpose of those bishops who gathered so long ago WAS to create the narrative for teaching Christ Jesus to the world.  Scriptures and gospels be damned, they wanted to tell the story their way.  The result is a religion which speaks to the love and forgiveness of God, but also preaches that sin continues to be a dominant part of the life of the Lords children.  My question to them has always been, if God has forgiven us, what sin did He leave us with?  If Christ Jesus has given Himself that sin would be put to death, did He somehow miss the mark?  Not according to the Nicene creed.  For the Nicene creed speaks to the forgiveness of Christ Jesus through His death and resurrection, but also that we need to be wary of sin.  How does that work?  Again, just as Paul once spoke to the Galatians the truth of Christ Jesus, his words continue to echo to us today as well.  For it is Paul who has spoken that Jesus died to sin "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}.  That we, as the Lords children, died with Him on that cross {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}.  So tell me, what sin remains after it has been put to death by Christ Jesus?  The evangel spoken by Paul illustrates the truth of the gospel of grace we have within Christ Jesus {Paul to the Romans 6:14}.  Yet, as with the Galatians of Paul's day, many continue to be led astray by the narrative spoken by those within the church.  THIS is what continues to bewitch the believers of today.  This is what has taken over the truth of the gospel spoken by Jesus Himself.  That not only is sin still relevant, but that it is sin which has separated us from the Father Who has created us in His likeness.  This is the narrative preached by the mainstream church. 

For sin shall not be lording it over you, for you are not under law, but under grace 

Paul to the Romans 6: 14, Concordant New Testament Translation 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (The Gospel Of Grace) # 2184

 I am marveling that thus, swiftly, you are transferred from that which calls you in the grace of Christ, to a different evangel, which is not another, except it be that some who are disturbing you also want to distort the gospel of Christ 

Paul to the Galatians 1: 6-7, Concordant New Testament Translation 

I have written many times of what I consider to be the lie spoken by the church.  That being the mainstream church's reliance on continuing to preach the relevance of sin in our lives.  Despite the truth spoken by both Jesus and the apostle Paul to the contrary, those within the church continue to preach what Paul referred to as a "Different evangel" {Paul to the Galatians 1:6-7}.  To be fair, the evangel spoken by Paul in the gospels is one of the evangel of grace which we have through Christ Jesus.  But the different evangel, the one preached from the pulpits of the church, is an evangel of more than a few things.  Those being of fear and condemnation, which run contrary to the grace which we have in Jesus.  All too often, when Jesus speaks of the grace which we have in the Father, those within the church will speak to the lie that sin is what separates us from God.  These are the ones which Paul described as wanting to distort the gospel of Christ Jesus.  That being His spoken evangel of the grace which we have in the Father {Johns Account 1:16, 1:14}.  So, if we indeed have the evangel of the grace of God the Father within us, why is it that we are so quick to revert to the different evangel spoken by the church?  Well, Paul wondered that very same thing.  Paul marveled at just how quickly those of his day could avert their attentions from the evangel of the grace of Christ Jesus to another different evangel.  I have seen this unfold in my own life in my interactions with other so called believers.  These same believers will admit to knowing of the grace we have in Christ, while at the same time adhering to the different evangel preached by those within the church.  Well, as my momma used to tell me, you can't have it both ways.  We must either adhere to an evangel of grace or the different evangel of conviction spoken by the church.  And, as the old Sesame Street TV skit used to proclaim, one of these things isn't like the other.  

Growing up in the church, I had always been always exposed to the different evangel of the mainstream church.  So much so that I came to see this as the true gospel of Christ.  Of course, this was the only teaching and preaching that I was exposed to for most of my life, so you can cut me some slack on that.  Unfortunately, this is the same place which many church going believers find themselves in today.  Admitting to the grace of God, yet following a different gospel preached by those who clearly desire to distort the true gospel of the grace of Christ Jesus.  This more than any other reason is why I continue to be so hard on those leaders within the mainstream church.  For either they don't know any better, or they do know but refuse to speak the truth of the evangel of grace.  The consequences of this are far reaching in the lives of those who desire to know and follow Jesus.  For they are taught that the grace of God somehow does not cover their offenses.  That we must continue in prayer each and every day for the Lords forgiveness.  Friends, that debt has been paid in full through Jesus!  The Father has given the right of judgement to the Son {Johns Account 5:22-23}.  Therefore, it is not God Who judges us for that which the Son has already died to {Paul to the Romans 6:6-11}.  It is Christ Jesus who became that sin which the different evangel continues to accuse us of {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}.  Jesus became that sin offering for our sakes.  As the evangel of grace tells us, there is now no condemnation for we who are in Christ Jesus {Paul to the Romans 8:1}.  And here's a hint, we're ALL in Christ Jesus!  Jesus speaks directly to this in the gospel of John.  He is in the Father, we are in Him and Christ is within us {Johns Account 14:20}.  So, tell me again if the alternate evangel spoken by those within the church truly speaks to the truth of the grace which we have in Him.  In my opinion, it's just another lie spoken by the church.  

For sin shall not be lording it over you, for you are not under the law, but under grace 

Paul to the Romans 6: 14, Concordant New Testament Translation 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (Judgemental Jesus) # 2183

 

Religion has actually convinced people that there is a invisible man living in the sky watching everything you do, every minute of every day.  And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he doesn't want you to do.  And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever until the end of time.  But he loves you.  He loves you, and he needs money.  He always needs money.  He's all-powerful, all-knowing, all-perfect and all-wise, somehow he just can't handle money 

~George Carlin~ 

Have you ever noticed that there are indeed two gospels?  We have the original gospels spoken by Jesus and penned by His followers.  Then, we have the gospel which is spoken and taught by those within the mainstream church.  Granted, while these two gospels may seem similar, they are radically different.  I'll admit that the gospel spoken by those within the church is correct in that they use the same scriptures, but I believe that is where the similarities end.  For the gospels spoken by Jesus within the scriptures speak of the freedom which we have in Him {Johns Account 8:36}.  Yet while the scriptures speak of freedom in the Son, those within the church do anything but that.  Sure, they may speak the words of the scripture, but their message to us is something altogether different.  For while Jesus speaks of freedom, those within the church speak of our bondage to sin.  While the apostle Paul lays out his case for the defeat of sin through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus, those within the church either know not his words or ignore them entirely.  For it is Paul who speaks to the truth we have in Jesus that He has died to sin "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}.  That we should "By no means to be still slaving for sin" {Paul to the Romans 6:6}.  Yet one of the lies spoken by the church is that we are indeed still slaving for sin.  In fact, not only do we need to continue to be in fear of sin and its consequences, but it is that very sin which has separated us from the God Who created us in His very likeness {Genesis 1:27}.  Of course, the church will point to the scriptures to validate their false claims.  One of the main passages used to illustrate God turning His back on His loved children is found in the book of Isaiah {Isaiah 54:8}.  However, they refuse to mention the truth that God has spoken these words to His prophet in the OLD TESTSMENT.  That's right, these words given to the prophet Isaiah were given in the days before the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  Let me tell you, a lot has happened since then. 

The truth is that those within the church have chosen to preach a gospel based on fear over the truth of the gospel of freedom spoken by Christ Jesus.  This is why I refer to there being two competing gospels.  Think I'm off base here?  Listen to any sermon spoken by a church pastor and you will more than likely hear him speak of living in fear of the consequences of our sin.  That if we fail to behave in a way approved by God that what awaits us is an eternity in hell.  Tell me, how does this mesh with the truth which we have in the evangel spoken by Paul?  How does this mesh with the words spoken by Jesus Himself, that if the Son sets us free that we shall indeed be free?  Well, it seems that those within the church see this freedom which we have in Jesus as being conditional.  We're free, if we seek His forgiveness continually for that sin which we continue to live within.  We're free, if we continue to hold to the traditions and edicts of the church.  Again, how does this jive with the gospel of forgiveness and freedom spoken by Jesus?  The fact is that it doesn't, it never has and it never will.  This is why the alternate gospel preached from church pulpits is a false one.  Yet when I attempt to illustrate this false church doctrine to other so called believers, I'm accused of cherry-picking scriptures and spreading a false doctrine.  For speaking the truth of the gospel of Jesus, I'M the blasphemous one.  Well, so be it.  Part of the reason for writing this page is to open the dialogue of the truth we have within the love of the Father with others.  Of course, this is another truth which the church continues to ignore.  That being the truth of the life which we have within the love of God {Johns Account 14:20}.  This is another truth you will never hear preached from any church pulpit.  But those within the church are just fine preaching of a Jesus Who is more judgemental than forgiving.  

If ever, then, the Son should be making you free, you will be really free

Johns Account 8: 36, Concordant New Testament Translation 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (Where Hate Begins) # 2182

 He who is not loving knew not God, for God is love 

First Epistle of John 4: 8, Concordant New Testament Translation 

One of the questions people often ask me is, how is it that God can allow such hatred in the world?  I agree that God is the creator of all that we see, of the heavens and the earth {Genesis 1:1}.  There is nothing that has ever passed His notice.  However, when we start talking about hate, we need to see it for what it truly is, and its very origins.  See, hatred does not come from God.  We're assured of this when the apostle John reveals to us the one true nature of God, and that is love {First Epistle of John 4:8}.  It is out of His love for us that He created us in His likeness {Genesis 1:27}.  It is also out of His love for us that He dispatched His one and only Son to once again reconcile us unto Himself through Him {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:18}.  I ask this question, what has the Father ever done out of His outright hatred for us?  The flood in the days of Noah?  Was that hate, or did God grieve for His children despite their wickedness?  So, we can be assured that hate DOES NOT begin with God, or within the Father.  So, where does it start?  Well, I believe that hate actually begins when mankind fails to see his neighbors for who they truly are in the eyes of the Father.  We have an easier time believing that we ourselves are within the love of God while seeing those around us as wicked and evil.  And God could never love the wicked among us, right?  Wrong!  Far too many Christians have taken upon themselves the responsibility of the judgement of God when they condemn those they see as wicked.  I have known a few self-proclaimed believers who steadfastly condemn those they view as wicked to the tortures of hell.  But is this our arena in the first place?  I was always taught that God is the only and ultimate judge.  It is God who condemns.  Yet mankind has taken this responsibility upon ourselves for thousands of years.  We condemn those around us while we speak of the love and mercy of the Father.  Hypocrites all!  Can there be any doubt whatsoever where hate has its origins?  

It is Jesus Himself Who has commanded us to love our own neighbor as we love ourselves {Marks Account 12:31}.  But how is it that I can love someone who, in my eyes, shows disrespect and unbelief towards the Lord?  Well, at the end of the day, who must they ultimately answer to?  That's right, God is the ultimate judge, not me.  God is the one Whom we turn to for justice.  I believe that the reason for Jesus calling on us to love our neighbor as ourselves is because He KNEW who we truly are in the Father.  He illustrates this point by proclaiming our life lived within the love of God {Johns Account 14:20}.  Of course, Jesus wasn't picking and choosing whom He was speaking of, but revealing to us that WE ALL live in union with He and the Father.  Jesus in the Father, we are in Christ and He is within us.  THAT is the truth of who we are in God.  And if we know the truth of who we are in the Fathers eyes, it becomes easier to love those around us.  When we see Gods children as being within His love, hate becomes something of the past.  Are there many people who actually hate themselves as much as they dislike others?  Yes, there are those who dislike the life choices they've made and therefore hold a bad self-image of themselves, but even these people have never known the truth of who they are in the Fathers love.  So, as you see, when we do not know the truth of who we really are in Gods eyes, judgement and hate become the order of the day.  There are many well meaning Christians out there who have never known a life within His love.  Therefore, they only see wickedness and unbelief and not the image of who they really are.  For their part, those within the mainstream church preach that the wicked are deserving of the punishment of hell.  This is what I was taught growing up.  That the Godly would be rewarded and the wicked punished.  Yes, while this is pointed out in the scriptures, who is it that hold the ultimate authority over such decisions?  Jesus Himself warns us of pacing that judgement upon our neighbor, lest we be judged in the same way we see others {Matthews Account 7:2}.  It is important to recall the words of the apostle John, that "He who is not loving knew not God, for God is love."  Do you really know God?  

"Do not judge, lest you may be judged, for with what judgement you are judging, shall you be judged, and with what measure you are measuring, shall be measured to you" 

Matthews Account 7: 1-2, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (Living The Lie) # 2181

 

Now, when the full time came, God delegates His Son, come of a woman, come under law, that He should be reclaiming those under the law, that we may be getting the place of a son.  Now, seeing that you are sons, God delegates the spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 

Paul to the Galatians 4: 4-6, Concordant New Testament 

This morning I pose this question, who is it that you are in the Lord?  The answer which you give will tell me a lot about how it is that you see God in your life.  Do you see God as some distant entity Who sits in heaven while judging the unrighteous?  Or, do you have a more personal connection with Him?  Far too many Christians claim that they're seeking a closer walk with God, while not having any idea what that means.  For their part, those within the church have never sought to introduce believers into a true communion with God.  In all honesty, my own perception of God radically changed only after I had been outside of the church and their teachings and theologies for a few years.  I believe that God has brought me to this place in my life in order to reveal my life within His love.  In the same way, the Father brought the man Saul to his own Damascus road experience in order that God would "Unveil His Son in me" {Paul to the Galatians 1:15-16}.  I have zero doubt that had I remained as a loyal church goer that I would not have come to know God as I now do.  How is it that I now know Him?  Well, I now have the intimate knowing of a Lord that I share my life with.  I do not live a life separated from Him, but within Him {Johns Account 14:20}.  This is Who God is to me.  Now, there are plenty of nay saying believers out there who will scoff at this so called radical belief that I have.  A belief that sinful man can not only be in the presence of, but live within God.  This isn't something that I pulled out of thin air, but the knowing I've attained through His revelation within me.  You cannot accept the revelation the man Saul experienced and expect that the very same truth of Christ Jesus within us cannot be revealed to another.  The scriptures speak to this truth.  

Aside from a few scattered Old Testament verses, the truth of our life within the love of the Father is clearly spoken of throughout scripture.  Jesus Himself speaks to the union which we share with He and the Father {Johns Account 14:20}.  He also speaks to the truth that "I am going to make ready a place for you" {Johns Account 14:2-4}.  The common Christian religious belief is that Jesus is referring to our place in heaven in this passage, but I disagree.  Because those within the church continue speak to the lie that heaven is something we earn and not the free gift bestowed by the Father {Paul to the Ephesians 2:8-9}.  This is why I believe that Jesus has spoken the truth that the Father "Will be coming to him and making an abode with him" {Johns Account 14:23}.  Our place was never meant to be outside of the Father, but within Him.  The only voice we will hear which contradicts this truth of our life within the Father comes from those within the church.  That should tell you something.  Do we accept the truth spoken by Jesus, or do we continue to believe in the lie spoken by the church?  That, in a nutshell, is the choice we have.  Trust in the religion of mankind, or in the spoken word of God.  I have chosen to follow the Father and not the words of man.  For that, I'm deemed to have radical beliefs.  But I take heart in the truth that those who opposed the teachings of Jesus considered Him a radical as well.  Those within the church will speak to the lie that sin has separated us from God, but nothing could be further from the truth.  Paul speaks to the truth that Jesus has died to sin "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}.  Sin is no longer the issue we face.  The issue we face is quite simple, do we accept God for Who He is, or do we accept the false teachings of the church?  I refuse to live that lie. 

Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone should be loving Me, he will be keeping My word, and My Father will be loving Him, and We shall be coming to him and making an abode with him." 

Johns Account 14: 23, Concordant New Testament Translation

~Scott~