Will the true worshipers of the LORD GOD please
stand up? Let’s not be of those “packaging the gospel” of whose are ulterior
motives. When my brother and I hang out we like to make fun and just joke about
stuff. One of the things he has taken to joking about lately is packaging
oneself. Packaging oneself is simply visiting or passing by 😉posh places
like neighborhoods, restaurants etc. and taking photos for the purpose of
posting them on social media as one’s everyday lifestyle. In other words, it is
portraying oneself in an advantageous way which usually in reality is a stretch
of the truth. My brother jokes about packaging himself so he can go and hang
out in high society events.
I think today that’s what Christianity has become. People are packaging themselves as Christians because they think it is a fashion statement and packaging salvation as a ticket to material success. They have
twisted the true gospel into a mere means to gain worldly riches by convincing
people that the way to prosperity is by salvation. This is not completely false
but it is a stretching of the truth- The specialty and mark of false teachers.
Jesus’ mission on earth was not to give people money but reconcile reconnect
re-establish man’s relationship with God. The foundation of Jesus’ message is
prosperity of the soul which is what will remain from what man is today. The
bible says, “Beloved, I wish above
all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul
prospereth 3 John 1:2 (KJV). John is saying to Gaius his friend just as your soul prospers (flourishes spiritually) so may you
prosper in all other things including health.
This verse talks about growing in your spirit man (relationship with God) and all other areas of your life will
grow as well (as rewards from God the father) but most importantly it is primarily a greeting and well wishes from John to his friend Gaius and not a teaching on how to receive material blessings.
The false teacher
interprets this statement backwards. He says you are a child of God you should
have all riches, that big car, mansion, and all material stuff, if you do not
there is a problem somewhere. No dear friends, these are rewards that follow
obedience and putting God first.
Case in point David was anointed and the Holy Spirit came
upon him to take over as Israel’s king from Saul when he was just a boy but he became King only
after Saul’s death at 38 years (2 Samuel 5:4). What was happening in the years in
between was hardship, battles, the risk of losing his life as Saul pursued to
kill him the whole time. It wasn’t an easy time but he kept his faith in God
and remained obedient not to sin against Him. Even when the opportunity
presented itself more than once for him to take out Saul; the one thing
standing between him and the throne promised by God he did not lay a finger on
Saul. He knew God will put him on the throne as He purposed and his only duty
was to serve God.
These
false teachers/pastors/prophets/evangelists are known to marginalize the key aspects
of the gospel like Jesus, the cross, God’s judgment and the sinful nature of
man. If Jesus and the cross are left out of the gospel then it’s no gospel at
all. If the sin of mankind and God’s judgment against sin is left out then it’s
no gospel at all. This kind of teaching turns the gospel into a human focused
religion where people dictate the terms of their lives to God as they seek after
personal successes and material possessions. Instead of pointing people towards
God, it points people towards lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride
of life 1 John 2:15-17. This type of mentality places hope in superficial
things like dreams, money, accomplishments and titles rather the biblical perspective
of a hope that is eternal.
They stress the benefits of the cross while
ignoring its claims. The cross becomes more of a means to an end. They say Jesus died for
your sins so that you can be prosperous and healthy and ignore the biblical
message that believers must also take up their cross daily and die to self in order
to live for Christ like Matthew 16:24 says. The cross demands that the
followers of Christ make sacrifices for the sake of the kingdom of God and
exalt God rather than themselves. That is why it is so hard to forgive nowadays
because it’s about us and what the other person did and not about obedience and
love towards God. That is why in looking for marriage partners it’s about
finding the person that will be this or that to us and not about us being that
great partner for the person we are trusting God for. We have forgotten that as
believers we ought to be living for Christ not our selfish desires.
True Christianity is about service to God,
pointing others to God and not to oneself. When people start idolizing you then
it’s time to examine yourself, all glory must go to God at all times. Brethren
we need to repent of this sin and return to the first love, the love of God. Lest
we get rejected like Saul was by God almighty despite having been chosen and
anointed by Him
I
have heard stories of Christians being led to do strange and dark things in the
name of being blessed financially because then that will prove they are walking
in God’s will and are true Christians-this
is what packaging the gospel is. Christianity
is not evidenced by material possessions but rather by a transformation of the
soul. Can people see a difference personality wise between who you were
before salvation and after.
Isn’t
it incredible that we live at a time when literacy levels are at the highest
they have ever been in history yet it’s when people are the most misled spiritually
through misinterpretation of the scriptures? Folks it’s not because we are
mentally slow but just because we do not want to read the word of God. No, we
do not have the time for God or fellowship.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who
will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and
his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season
and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and
careful instruction.For the time will come when people will not put up with sound
doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them
a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.They will turn their ears away from the truth and
turn aside to myths.But you, keep your head in all situations, endure
hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of
your ministry."
This
past week I have been meditating on these words of 2 Timothy 4:1-5 in which Paul who is a mentor and like a father to Timothy is giving him last words
even as his own death nears. He is encouraging Timothy to stay grounded in the
true doctrine. To remain faithful to the true gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
as handed down by the apostles from the Lord himself.
The reason for this
exhortation being the rise of false teachers among them. People that
twist the gospel according to their thinking and understanding and apply it to
suit their needs. Also Paul prophetically says the reason why the false
teachers will be on the rise is due to the fact that people will turn their
backs on the truth as sin increases and instead prefer to be told what they
want to hear. Paul’s charge to timothy is not to conform to that kind of trend
but as he was called by the grace of God through the gift given him to stay
true to that calling. In reality Paul knew for Timothy as a young pastor and
evangelist the temptation to want to be loved by the masses instead of being
persecuted for the truth will come.
I
realized truer words have never been spoken concerning our time. There is a lot
of heresy going on in the Christian world. The only way to ensure you are
worshiping God in truth and spirit and not being led astray is to master
the discipline of bible study. Go back and read what the bible says not just
accept what someone tells you. There is no shortcut brethren. I don’t think I
can stress this enough. You have to cultivate a personal relationship with God.
Truly know Him for yourself. Do not just
know about God, get to know Him. I love the words of Jesus to the Samaritan woman in John
4:22, 23 “You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what
we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it’s
here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.
The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way”(NLT). It’s like
He is speaking to each one of us individually. We can only worship in truth if
we understand who we are worshiping. Most of us are like that woman at the
well, she knew about God but did not have a personal relationship with Him and
that’s why she says later on that when the messiah comes he will explain
everything to them.
This reminds me of what a friend once said “if you are in
ministry because God called you and you heard Him with clarity then He will
also provide and your ministry will surely advance since you are operating
within His will. But if you called yourself then you will either have to be a
conman, a thief, a liar or teach people how to speak in tongues just so you can
support your ministry and get resources.” At that moment I laughed but I think
there is a lot of truth in this statement.
Instead of criticizing the people twisting the gospel, find
out for yourself what the true gospel is and distinguish these false teachers
from the true followers of Jesus Christ then have nothing to do with such as 2
John 1:9-11 tells us “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching
of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both
the Father and the Son.If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do
not take them into your house or welcome them.Anyone who welcomes them shares in their
wicked work.”
'IT'S TIME FOR CHRISTIANS TO STAND UP FOR THE TRUE GOSPEL.'
'IT'S TIME FOR CHRISTIANS TO STAND UP FOR THE TRUE GOSPEL.'
Will you be willing to
stand up for Jesus and the truth even when you are the only one?
Tells us what you think in the comments👇. If this article blessed you like,share or both by clicking the like button below.
Love muchly,
Liz.😍😍
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