One of the biggest mistakes in traditional Christianity is the mistranslation of two words into “eternal” that actually mean an age- a stated period of time. From this St. Augustine came up with the eternal hell and punishment reward system. God is so UN-LOVING that He came up with a plan to send 90% of His created beings to an eternal hell, and especially infants and babies who’ve not been ritually baptized or old enough to say the name of JAY-ZUS! How can the church keep peddling such blatant and obvious crap? Continue reading ‘An Eternal Hell Isn’t LOVE!’
Monthly Archive for July, 2007
Life is full of special interest groups. There are all manner of civic and social clubs you can join- some with secret vows. Many groups have stiff membership qualifications, while others are more inclusive. Of all such groups, I find it odd that the one entity that should be the most inclusive, is not. Denominations and churches in America particularly are always drawing LINES, and setting up standards for who is IN and who is OUT! Here’s my take. Continue reading ‘My Circle Includes YOU’
I don’t use the over-worked and Hollywood-church hyped hell concept: I believe in divine judgment. In other words, instead of believing that a God who came up with a plan for 90% of the world to be eternally tormented in some sort of physical-spiritual fire, I believe in a God who is JUST! Tell me, where’s the justice in infinite torment for finite sins? Come on! Surely you give God more credit than that! Don’t you? Here’s what I’ve gleaned by the Spirit about divine judgment. Continue reading ‘Explaining Divine Judgment’
The church may lag behind most other institutions in keeping up with the times, and exponential changes that we’re seeing; however, she will have to inevitably change. The Spirit of God will keep pulling and tugging on our individual spirits, and us collectively (church), until we get there. It is just a part of the nature of the church to be conservative. With the tremendous amount of information and discoveries that keep coming (including archaeological finds) at us, no one can “hold the fort”. Continue reading ‘The Winds Of Change’
Everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die. You’ve probably heard that. Everyone is sick and tired of their life, but no one wants to change. I wonder how long it will take before we get it? How long before we come to grips with the reality that CHANGE is the matrix of renewal. Continue reading ‘Matrix Of Renewal’
After a week of writing and reading about the Kingdom NOW, it’s time to put on those $150 Nike shoes and get about Just Doing It! It’s so much easier to read about something, even discuss stuff, than it is to do it, engage life, and risk loss. Risk is always a factor of life; however, when it comes to following the Spirit and being a “follower of Jesus” and not just a “student of the Word“, you’re going to enter some scary rooms. Fundamentally, following the Spirit of God means you’re not following your ego- you’re not in control. You know how difficult of an assignment that is now don’t you! If Jesus did it, we can too! Continue reading ‘Experience The Spirit NOW!’
What we say, what the church usually preaches, and how we act, seems to be stripping the spiritual gears of our lives. The church says that God is omnisicient- the people agree. We add to that the fact that God is omnipotent- the people agree once more. And then the church preaches about the power of hell, how sin rules our lives. And, how the reward of our free will (which is now more powerful than God- thus subverting God’s will!) places us in an eternal fire- forever and ever, without end! SAY WHAT? Continue reading ‘It’s Common Sense To Me!’
July 27, 2007 - Numerous times throughout the Gospels the Pharisees and non-religious wondered and asked aloud about where He received the power and authority to speak as He did? How was He able to do such miracles? A minimal review of those same Gospels will show that Jesus was led by the Spirit. And guess what! That same Spirit is waiting on us to engage Him in advancing the Kingdom of God… and even greater ways than Jesus did (John 14:12)
Ok, know-it-all, what’s your insight to this fifth era that we’re in or coming in to? Obviously, I have shared with you a little history: like 2,000 years worth. And where are we, where is the church, after those 20 centuries? Not nearly where I think we should be- for me. Not even close! I believe it’s time for Reformation Part Two. In fact, I think it’s been underway for some time now: maybe 15-20 years. A survey by George Barna clearly indicate that the CHURCH as an institution is crashing- like falling fast and hard. In the Northwest, here in America, less than 3% of the people attend church regularly. It’s even worse in places like England. But, at the same time, people are more an more interested in SPIRITUAL things. The church has abandoned it’s spiritual job and has taken up the part time work of building TV ministries, hundred million dollar buildings, and personal ministries for the leader(s) that allows them to have their own private jet, million dollar annual incomes, and multiple homes in different nations. Wonder what the apostle Paul would have thought? Continue reading ‘# 5- The Kingdom Is NOW!’
It’s Him Again!
Most people will not recognize the title above as that of a book by the same name. The author is not well known, nor would anyone probably recognize this Dutchman who goes by the name of Cornelius van Peursen. His point is one all too often missed by a church that wants to draw lines in the sand and say who is OUT and who is IN. Not allowing people to share in or take communion makes no sense to me. Is the Eucharist only for Roman Catholics, and what’s the need to make second class citizens out of those who don’t profess Catholic beliefs? Second-class citizens can’t take the wafer, but must cross their chest with their hands and receive instead a blessings. They are “marked” as outside the Holy Roman Catholic heirarchy. Such division and separation that’s not needed at all. Not at all! Continue reading ‘It’s Him Again!’