American Christianity

Posted by anointedplace on July 26, 2011 · 2 Comments 

2 Timothy 4:1-5
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

As I reflect on my previous post “religious sinners“, I ponder on the state of how people view Christianity. As being one was raised in the church by a Baptist minister, I have seen the changes. I’m quite aware of the inner workings of administrational on goings many don’t think about. I’m aware of board member meetings, funding challenges and leadership issues. I know about personality conflicts and the occasional power struggles. But what is really at the root is a lack of understanding of what’s being professed.

Some know this and do nothing because they feel helpless. Others do nothing because the confusion and chaos serves them. These others are “Wolves”, plain and simple.

I had this dream once that is forever burned into memory:

I come upon a building that is engulfed in flames. From within I can hear the screams of children wanting to escape. On a hill in front of the building a line of adult men and women just stand watching. None of them even attempt to do anything. I shout at them, I shake them and I beg them to do something but they won’t. So I rush to open the doors and the children pour out. The doors start getting heavy and harder to keep open. Eventually, I’m being attacked from inside the building. These beings stab me repeatedly to get me to let go of the doors. I scream to the others for help but they just stand there. After the piercings don’t work, the demons resort to biting me. This dream ends in me pleading for help.

I found it strange for the attackers to be dwelling in a burning building as it was normal… but I feel at times that the local body of Christ is like this building and there are some who just watch. They sacrifice the wheat to save the tares because the tares run the church.

But some don’t know any better because what Christianity is today is so far from what it really is. It is a service based business catering to people’s need for satisfaction not salvation. Salvation does not boost egos thus warranting continued tribune.

This American Christianity appeals to those interested in earning rewards or points like credit cards. Along with this we altar the attributes of God to fit our consumer model. This religion has combined many beliefs to return to Gnostic “Christianity”.

In the Gnostic mindset, the hard things or deep cutting words of God are removed. In their bible, there is no old testament and half of the new testament is gone. In this religion, no one will admit that we deserve punishment. No one makes the clear distinication between disciples of Christ and non-disciples. No one thinks “true christians” should ever suffer.

But everyone will say that a loving God don’t chastize. But everyone says people are good deep down inside. But everyone thinks that righteousness is based on deeds. But everyone thinks that you can actually be good enough to get into heaven. But everyone thinks that they are important enough to get Satan’s personal attention.

We don’t believe that our actions reflect our heart. We believe that good deeds alone can erase away sins. We believe that being “spiritual” and “religious” is good enough. We believe success is a sign of having God‘s blessing and favor. We see the bible as not being the Word of God. We see the bible as a guide and not the final written authority from God. We see the bible as not being relavent. We see the Christian life and church with carnel eyes and we don’t fear God or consequences. We see taking a definitive stance on biblical authority as closed minded. We believe in many intrepetions. We believe in relative truth and that we are only required to believe a short list of bible truths. We believe sermons are the opinions of men and to be honest most ministers preach that way.

We don’t believe in correction of any kind.  We see any challenge of lifestyle as judging. We believe that “our” good behavor can appeas or manipulate god. We believe in carnel christianity,  as long as you “believe” in Jesus you can do whatever you want. We think bearing fruit is legalism.

We believe God’s promises to the Children of Israel apply to the “gentiles”. We believe in applying the bible not being obedient to it.

We believe we dont need Jesus to get to the Father. Thus, we believe salvation is all about us and not Christ. We believe that we play a part in salvation.  We feel that it is us that finds Jesus and we accept him. Without a correct view of the cross we will Gladly pray to those who had no hand in reconciling us back to the Father. So we walk in sin, the sin of idolatry but we don’t see it that way if we make the idol “good”. We think idol worship is praying to objects only and don’t see the “things” or people in our lives as such. Even though they all rob God of your complete obedience.

We dont believe in holiness.
We think the wrath of God is not real. We believe that sin is things we do so we just change our behavior. We see nothing wrong with the things we do unless its a big sin. We believe that God loves sinners and that we love God with all of our heart.
We believe giving God thanks for things that bring us glory is pleasing to him. We believe that just because we like a person they should go to heaven.

We love the world. We think nothing is wrong with pride, big egos, and swagger. And we worship accordingly to how we worship ourselves and idols as we support the God that obeys us alone. In American Christianity, it’s always about “your” season, “your” purpose and “your” blessing. What about the Lord? What about Jesus Christ?

Colossians 1:15-20
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Hebrews 10:11-14
11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

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