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 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-perfect, all-knowing and all-wise, somehow he just can't handle money
~George Carlin~
Somehow, I've become associated with one of "Them." Despite the fact that what I believe in my heart speaks to a God seldom preached of in the mainstream church, I've become known as one of those damn Christians. I see it as being guilty by association. So, how is it that we've arrived at this point? How is it that we who believe in God have become so reviled? Well, I'd say that we as believers shoulder much of the blame for this. We're the ones who have demeaned others in the name of the Lord. We're the ones who have demanded a certain standard of behavior from others while seldom adhering to it ourselves. All, of course, in the name of God. Granted, not all believers fit this stereotype, just enough to leave a majority of the world with a bad opinion not only of the followers of the Lord, but of God Himself. When I frequented the mainstream church, I was witness to many people who were shunned or turned away for one reason or another. From the way you were dressed to the way you expressed your heart felt worship to the Lord, it seems as if someone was always critiquing you. Like I said, I've been there. This is not to say that every congregation is this judgmental, and I've been witness to a few that weren't. Yet, somehow believers got it in their heads that we are not simply the voice of the Father speaking through us, but his mighty Christian soldiers ready to fight for His all-perfect plan for the world. So it is that the almighty God, the creator of all which we see, has suddenly recruited the assistance of those who believe. Does anyone but me see an issue with this? Whatever happened to trusting in the Lord? Whatever happened to trusting in God instead of fighting for what we perceive is His desire? Somewhere along the way, the believers in the Lord got derailed.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but tests the spirits to see if they are of God, for many false prophets have come out into the world
First Epistle of John 4: 1, Concordant New Testament
Like I said, I have found a belief in the Lord which is spoken by the apostle Paul in his evangel. I can honestly say that this evangel is far different from that which I have heard spoken from any church pulpit. It is Paul who speaks of our true image in Christ Jesus {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 3:18}. It is the apostle John who speaks to the one true identity of our life in Him {Johns Account 14:20}. Do not be misled that if you follow the truth of the evangel of Christ instead of the separation theology of the church that you are somehow going against the scriptures. Nothing is further from the truth. I believe in the truth of the spoken evangel that sin is no longer an issue for me {Paul to the Romans 6:10}. I believe that we have been created in the Fathers likeness {Genesis 1:27}. I also believe that the mainstream church has been in error for speaking to our separation from God. And it is this theology which we speak to the world. A theology not of the true love of God, but of His judgement upon the world. Folks, that ship has sailed! We have been found guilty without a doubt. Yet through the love and grace of the Father, He has provided our redemption through the sacrifice of the innocent on the cross {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}. Make no mistake, God did not send Jesus into the world to judge it, but that ALL the world would be saved through Him {Johns Account 3:16-17}. Jesus has also spoken that we are not to judge {Mathews Account 7:1-5}. This means those who we feel are going against the Lord as well. For God does not call on us to enforce His rules, but to exhibit His love through us {Johns Account 13:33-35}. Do this, and we might not be seen as those damn Christians.
~Scott~