Lessons from the Rapture

Harold Camping’s followers were sincere, but misguided. Instead of being connected to The Shepherd (Jesus), they were blinded by Mr. Camping and his doctrine. While we take turns in poking fun at them, we tend to forget that there is a chance that we may not be that different from the Camping followers. Yes, we have our scripture guns ready with scriptures to disprove Camping’s prediction. But the fact of the matter is, all of us can be misguided, if our beliefs are based solely on what’s coming from the pulpit, television preachers, traditions or books that agree with our core head-knowledge that were formed (again) solely from the pulpit, television preachers or traditions.

Contrary to popular assumption, Christianity is not about ignorantly swallowing what’s coming from the pulpit. Unfortunately that has been happening throughout generations. And this is one reason why people hop from church to church, doctrine to doctrine or sadly in some cases, abandon the journey altogether. Christianity, to me, is about an intimate relationship with Christ Jesus and His expression through us. Genuine relationships happen only when we spend quality time with the person we want to connect with. Conferences, church, Sunday school, theological knowledge or meetings cannot replace that personal connection.

Institutions might detest questions, but God is not insecure as we assume He is. We can come boldly to His throne of grace with questions that we would not dare ask our churchy contacts for the fear of being ostracized. Although there is nothing wrong with an open discussion with friends, they cannot replace the insight from the Source Himself. The Bereans did not blindly swallow Paul’s words. They did not think it was rebellious to double check the Scriptures to see if Paul was not making things up. We now have access to the Scripture in a gazillion translations and formats, but the problem usually is, we read it through our own doctrinal spectacles. Truth will not be contained or limited by a doctrine that tickles us. This is why we need to move out of the way and actively depend on the Holy Spirit to enlighten the scriptures.

Ministers should encourage the listeners to connect with the Vine, for it is from Him, the life - His life - flows. Books should connect the readers to the person of Jesus. If not, we will continue to see blunders like the May 21 Rapture Prediction happen in various shapes or forms – no matter what camp we are in. I don’t care an iota if self-serving, mindless, man-made doctrines fail. There is no sweeter smelling aroma than that which comes from the slaughter of a sacred-cow doctrine. I am concerned about the hurt that a person goes through when he realizes that he was led by the blind all along. Churchianity is oblivious to this hurt and disillusionment. And we wonder why people are leaving organized Christianity in droves. 

Unless the message connects the listeners to the Person of Jesus Christ and encourages them to depend on the Holy Spirit, they might rather be taught about cooking; for without His active presence, Christianity becomes nothing but a dead religion.

From Skepticism to Faith

Filming God: A Journey from Skepticism to Faith, by Darren Wilson is one of the recent books that has impacted me.

The book is the story about a very traditional Christian professor who grew up in church knowing about God. He says that he was a devout skeptic regarding the things of the supernatural, but through a supernatural encounter he was led to making movies (Finger of God and Furious Love) documenting God's supernatural power in action today. The book narrates his thoughts throughout this journey. But this is not just a book about God's supernatural occurrences happening today.


I was not a skeptic in the first place, so it is not just the supernatural incidents that I liked about the book. Beyond the amazing testimonies and experiences listed, I really like the fact that the author trains the reader's attention to the Source of miracles, instead of idolizing the vessels that God flows through. In the entertainment centric modern Christianity, often times, it is not uncommon to get our attention lost in what's happening on the stage/screen and forget to connect with the Source. I also loved the fact that the author emphasizes that our motive in reaching out to other people should be love and nothing else. I agree; Jesus did not come to birth a bunch of churchians. God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. It was unfathomable love that motivated His actions.






Disclaimer: The book and the DVD's are linked to my Amazon affiliated store. 100% of my cut from Amazon from the sales of Christian materials are sowed to organizations that ministers the unconditional love and the grace of God in Christ Jesus. 

Osama and Christians

Christ Jesus loved Osama Bin Laden unconditionally and He demonstrated His love by dying for him. Many say that Osama's death was justice in action. Well, from the point of view of the Scripture, (apart from His grace) how are we different from Osama? Sure, we may not have rammed a jet into a building, but unlike we do, the Scripture does not differentiate between big sin and small sin. All of us have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. Simply by breaking just one law, we break all of God's laws. In other words, a "small" lie puts us company with Osama. If that's the truth, who's going to throw the first stone at whom? None of us can play the holier-than-thou game. But in Christ Jesus, we are made righteous. It is His grace that makes us righteous; not our good works. That means, the believer's only qualification is His grace. Therefore, we cannot assume a morally superior position over Bin Laden.

That being said, the fact that Jesus loves and died for everyone does not give a person the freedom to go on a murderous rampage for whatever cause. In order to protect the its citizens from such acts, governments have established laws in place. The law of the land does not operate by God's grace; it operates by the law of sowing and reaping. Killing thousands of people gets either a lifetime in jail or death, which is what Osama just reaped. So from the point of view of the lawmakers, justice was served. However, from God's view, the price for Osama's atrocities was paid in full by the precious blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. 

Jesus said, "Love your enemies". And yet, most of us find ourselves either celebrating Osama's death or simply relieved of the fact that he is no longer in the picture. Personally, while I am not rejoicing in his death, I am not saddened by it either. And this attitude exhibited by many offends some Christians. They think we are supposed to drip with love and compassion. While I do not disagree with it at all, the issue is not simplistic as it seems. First of all, it is super easy to talk about love and compassion in a nonchalant tone when none of our loved ones were harmed by Osama's actions. If we take a moment to look at this issue through the eyes of a family member of a 9/11 victim, we would hesitate to wag that religious finger to those who do not conform to what we think is right.

Secondly, being "Christ-like" is not a show that we put on. It is impossible to live the Christian life with one's will power. We cannot, by our own strength, love our enemies. As He is, so are we (in our spirit) in this world. It is our spirits that we are one with Him, it is in our spirits that we are new creations in Christ Jesus. Our souls - which is the mind, will and emotions - unless renewed to the knowledge of who we are in Christ Jesus, thinks and acts like the old self. This is precisely why I am not sad about Osama's death, at the moment. Mind renewal does not happen overnight. But the more I renew my mind and the more I abide in the Vine, more of His abundant life will saturate and flow through me, bearing His fruit of love and compassion. We cannot create the fruit that comes from His very life. Without Him, we can do nothing. What we do without Him is religion; which talks grand on the outside, but empty within. 

Be inspired...

I just wanted to share three soul-stirring videos that I stumbled upon the other day.

Intercession


The Spirit is Willing


Depraved Indifference


by Eric Ludy, Ellerslie.com