"My Thoughts"

Friday, January 23, 2009

Do Evangelicals represent the Church of Jesus?

IS THE EVANGELICAL OR CHARISMATIC WING OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH A CULT?

The answer is no, especially when you look at core beliefs, HOWEVER:


Although most believe in very literal (& correct in my opinion) interpretations of the Bible, most act in ways that are contrary to scripture and yet have the audacity to condemn Churches such as the Later Day Saints (Mormons) on their interpretation of scripture (which I agree is twisted), but yet most Mormon live the simple teaching of the Bible.

Example, Matt 22: 37-39 37
Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself".

After speaking with a good friend at my Church (Bethany Presbyterian) as to both of our experiences in many Evangelical Churches and since both of us had somewhat different life experiences that left us both feeling like we "sucked", the light finally came on that part of the problem was almost EVERY Evangelical/Baptist Church I (and my friend) attended had the same message and that is "I SUCK".
Besides NOT being Biblical, it simply goes against human nature.

Yes we ALL need a Savior and fall short of God, HOWEVER we ARE created in his image (Genesis 1:27; So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them).
Also what I find both sad and frustrating is that these same Churches like to relate God as our Father, and a Father punishes his children for poor behavior, which I agree, HOWEVER what loving Father tells their children they suck and that they are "bad".
Sorry, but I disagree with most Evangelicals that we are inherently bad/evil (we are created in God's image, not Satan's), some may be such as Adolf Hitler whom Jesus death and resurrection is still the propitiation for, but this is one of those mysteries that we in are finite minds likely will never understand (1 John 2:2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for[a] the sins of the whole world.)

Back to what the Lord may think of us; Job 1 verse 8: -Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."

To balance the above passage, Job later said this: Job 19:25 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

Unfortunately many Evangelicals continue to judge me and my family and are often my harshest critics, quite bluntly if even a few of these Evangelicals stood up for was the truth, my family and my daughter would not be in the situation we continue to find ourselves in today.
All I heard in most sermons (& this includes radio sermons) is how much I "suck" and what a despicable person I am! I am not saying there is not a place for human judgment, as the Bible is clear you will no them by their fruits, however none have EVER checked to see what was truly happening (the real fruit), and quite honestly the fruit of many of these evangelicals is quite rotten when I look how my family was destroyed and how I CONTINUE to be judged by them (such as for helping a co-worker here in Oregon and ditto in California, does not the Bible say that Christ went out among the sinners!!!!!)

Many would do well to understand this passage from John 1:43-51:
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."
44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
46 "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.
"Come and see," said Philip.
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."
48 "How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."
49 Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
50 Jesus said, "You believe[a] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." 51He then added, "I tell you[b] the truth, you[c] shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."


To me the above shows how Jesus sees the good in us even when we have issues of our own.

What has been so frustrating, painful, etc. is that these so-called Evangelicals have made pronouncements on me without even knowing what is going on.
For instance I had a lady from a Calvary Church of So. CA counseling my wife though her postpartum issues after my son was born (he was very sickly and later diagnosed with autism). She made up her mind that I was being too hard on my wife, including withholding money from her (she did not try and find out that my wife and the many she was having an affair with had run up $80,000 in debt).

She called the LA Sheriff who after looking over the records I showed him told the lady she owed me an apology, she refused. During this same time period my neighbor was VERY judgmental on both me & my wife (yes my wife had, was having an affair that the end result later would be severe emotional harm to my daughter, yet the "Christian" thing to do would be to Love the sinner and hate the sin, but they chose the opposite). Mean while these so-called Christian neighbors told me I was too easy on my wife, totally the opposite of what the Baptist Church and the lady from the Calvary Church stated. This was quite hard being judged from two opposing sides, so I could do no right.

I made a decision to move my family (right or wrong) via prayer and with some input of the few friends (mostly non-Christian) that stood by me (& my sister in Oregon). This of coarse resulting in me trusting others to run my business who it turned out did not have my best intentions in mind (I should have bankrupted, but Chapter 7 would have resulted in lost jobs, so once again I put others ahead of myself, only to get stabbed in the back).

Here in Oregon the judgment has been even worse, and even with my online business where I spend 90% of my time answering other questions, emails, phone calls, fixing their web sites all the while spending little time trying to bring up my business I am still not doing enough in some persons eyes.
I have almost 0% of my back links from others (about 1 in 250) and this shows how much people continue to take advantage of my help.

I am trying to spend more time collecting recyclables, however I get blasted for this too, with a recent incident where a bystander jumped in on a gasoline station attendants attack of me.
See: "Grants Pass Poor Morals; Recycling

I am getting off subject somewhat, but the bottom line is I am thankful for my one Christian friend who shared his similar story of the "you suck" gospel of Evangelicals and as well as my Sister Jan.
However most Evangelicals (some even family) continue to judge me harshly totally oblivious to the harm it has caused me and my family. My daughter is very suicidal and if EVEN ONE Christian would come forward to befriend her would help greatly (she has some friends, but they are not in position to help as they have much on their plate or are not Christians).

For me, just having a few persons here in Grants Pass acknowledge what they have said/done is wrong and try and help could do wonders as well (not to mention having a few persons help me with some REAL links to my business on line)

Unfortunately this quote seems to be all to true:
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

My contact with Charismatic Pentecostals has been even worse with most stating this is happening ONLY because I lack faith (ignoring the fact that my move to So. Oregon was an act of faith that I am now paying dearly for). I will save this thought for maybe another day.

What I believe is that the Evangelical Churches in America (maybe elsewhere) need to re-think there personally destructive gospel of “YOU SUCK” and realize that it is not only un-Biblical, BUT DESTRUCTIVE. I know for me is after my 4th & 6th grade teacher told me that I was a vegetable and would not amount to anything (she made sure the WHOLE class knew this as well), I mostly heard how much I sucked in Church as well (until I found a Church that does not preach this). These same persons that preach and live his Gospel mostly like have never been brought to the pits of despair (I know this from their view of suicide and overly literal view of Cor. 10:13).
I know the only point in my life I was truly accepted was when I was a pilot and working on my commercial license, then the criticism I received was as it should be, for my mistakes, HOWEVER I gave this up for my family and now I get and hear criticism everywhere for everything, usually NOT for my mistakes, but based on the “you suck” perceptions.

I will end by saying praise the Lord that I still have a few friends (although mostly non-Christian such as at Everything Aquatic), as well my friend Roger here in town, Bob in Central CA. and others.

I will also add that I think this is why God grants us this time on Earth is to serve others, however many think ALL service should be beat them on the head Evangelism or things done in public view (95% of my service has been done discretely in private).
I would refer to this article as well:
Conservatism vs. Capitalism; A True Conservative

My prayer is for others who have turned from God (such as my father and others I know) because just these views of the Evangelical Church will realize that they do NOT represent Jesus’ Love!

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