Five years ago Steven Spielberg produced a revolutionary scientific and yet humanly emotional movie entitled Artificial Intelligence. I couldn’t help but think about some spiritual, maybe religious would be better said, comparisons. AI is much of what I believe the church has been practicing for about 150-200 years now. Artificial intelligence has led us to artificial invitations! You know the drill that religious America came up with in the 19th century; otherwise known as the “altar call“. It’s an invitation at the end of a message that manipulates most people do soing something that they think will keep them out of hell. As though saying a few words in front of a group of people is all you have to do to be IN. Worse than artificial, it’s sacreligious to me.
When an invitation, altar call, or invitation is offered. Does it look anything like what Jesus did or modeled?
The first clue or answer to that question is found in Mark 1:17-20. The first really, really Christ(ian) altar call was made when Jesus said to Simon and Andrew, James and John, “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men”. What’s that do for your theology? Where does the Christian walk really begin? Is it in a church setting? Is it when I say “forgive me of my sins“? When?
It was “net fishing” by the way! Gathering!
The second invitation was one more chapter (in Mark 2:14) over. Jesus is a little more brief. He only says “Follow me”. And he was saying that to Levi, the Roman tax collector. Wonder how it would work out if I were to say to a visistor, “hey you, follow me”- as I follow Christ (I Cor. 11:1) of course!
I’m afraid we have created a lot of artificial invitations. Not that all are or course, but God knows many are! But what and how does one do a real invitation? The invitation that Jesus offered was real and transformational. Can it be done in modern society today? Isn’t that a must and not an option?
And what about heaven’s reward?
What? What heaven?
We say come and confess Jesus and be assured of an after life. That was never any part of the teaching of Jesus, nor the invitation. His invitation was to be transformed- HERE, NOW! There was no promsie of eternal heavenly bliss in the invitations by Jesus. I don’t know about you, but this bothers me: much like so many other things do.
How far have we strayed from the real deal? How fast can we get back? Or do you think all is well, and right?
we have strayed a long way from the original teachings. Now it(alter calls) has become a religious roll call or screening for US so that WE can know who is going to heaven or not. We think we hold the ropes of the spiritual dumbwaiter and anyone who confess we “let” them in if not we lower them down. I don’t think God needs our help in that department. God want wants us to make disciples of His love. the simple gospel of love is how we get back to the will of the Father
As if WE could know anything about who is saved and who is not!
Even worst yet is the weekly walk down the isle, you know the rededication. The one that lets you sin Monday thru Saturday or sin for a few months and then walk down the isle and make it all right again. Think about it, hmmm, makes being a Christian easy. No need for transformation, or comittment, just that walk every now and then and all our sins and guilt are wiped clean. Oh boy, we’ve made and continue to make a mockery of Christianity. What is God thinking about us and our games?
Artificial Intelligence is the exact term I would use to explain what I learned before God brought me out of all the donominational thinking. It had closed up my mind…to the point I was thinking “Is this all there is??”
I wanted to be a woman after God’s own heart and knew I wasn’t going to get there by the route I was on. The stuff was pushed down my throat but not going ANYWHERE. I wasn’t growing or getting answers. I could talk the talk but was I really walking the walk??? The answer is “NO” becuase I was on the wrong road! An occasional flicker of light in the dark occurred but back to the same feeling “it this all there is?”.
I knew the “Word” words but was told every place I went, not to question or was given some religious mumbo jumbo that was suppose to pacify me and IT WASN’T WORKING! I really like living in the here and now…not waiting for the “sweet by and by.
HIS invitation surely isn’t a one time thing. I am now being transformed by small steps each day that I step into that invitation which is bringing heaven to earth.
I know that the Lord put me where I am….told me clearly to come to LRC. Just at the right time, cause you were questioning too, Ernie. And getting the truth that God knew I so desperately needed and wanted.
I am still trying to let go and let God talk to me. I love that His spirit calls to his spirit within us but I’m still learning to quiet my mind enough (that damned ego of mine!)so I can hear Him all the time and not just every 3 or 4 days or WEEKS! He does talked to me everyday, I know this to be true. ButI just want to be communicating between us and not just a monologue on my part and I have faith that it WILL happen. I didn’t expect to write all this but its “down” now so I am leaving it.
So keep on truckin’, Sir because myself and many others have joined the convoy! Thank you for being obedient to our God and Father :>
What an awesome. growing, and maturing people God is birthing in this place! May we not stop short of completing the journey! What we are experiencing may we also not take for granted- it is sacred!