TRUTH is the key word for the Church today. I have written much about it over the past year, yet many still seem more willing to gather under the banner of LOVE, GRACE, MERCY, BELIEF, and RELATIONSHIP…on and on the list goes. (I would urge you to read my previous blog which has great relevance to this subject: http://journeyinsightandlife-truths.blogspot.com/2012/06/love-perversion-satans-secret-heresy.html)And…do not get me wrong…those things are of great importance in the realm of Christianity, with each and every facet of what we label “salvation” being essential elements of what we believe as Christians. And, suffice it to say, that each and every aspect of our relationship with God is of the utmost importance.
So…what do I mean, then, when I say that TRUTH is the key word of the Church today?
There is a word which applies greatly here which I have not yet mentioned: CONVERSION.
Merriam-Webster defines CONVERSION this way:
1. The act of converting: the process of being converted
2. An experience associated with the definite and decisive adoption of a religion
In the Christian/Religious realm, we often speak of CONVERSION. We talk of “converts” as we speak of those who have become Christian…or to those who have “converted” to some other religion. Cassius Clay was the name of the most famous boxer in history before his CONVERSION to the Islamic faith…as he then became known as Muhammad Ali. Ali became a CONVERT to Islam.
In Christianity, we most often say that someone has gotten “saved”…recognizing that the convert has escaped the certainty of an eternity in hell…separated for eternity from God. This is accomplished by GRACE through FAITH in Jesus Christ: Ephesians 2:8 NKJV says “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God…” This work of GRACE in our lives is evidenced by our REPENTANCE…and it is this REPENTANCE that works in us the REMISSION OF SINS which is wrought in us by GRACE (Luke 3:3 NKJV “And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins…”).
But, in all of this, it is TRUTH which remains the KEY word for the Church today.
Again…you are probably asking “Why?”
Notice this in what I have written thus far: even Muhammad Ali was a “convert” to a RELIGION. Ali chose to place his trust and faith in the god of Islam. In doing so, Ali placed his ALLEGIANCE in that god. Regardless of our personal beliefs and thoughts on Islam, some of its tenets of faith are LOVE, GRACE, MERCY, BELIEF, and RELATIONSHIP. Now, those are not ALL of its beliefs…but those are indeed listed among its MANY beliefs.
As Christians…placing our BELIEF in the Word of God, The Bible…we recognize that Muhammad Ali has placed his faith in a FALSE GOD. When we are discussing a totally different RELIGION, it is so much easier to see the serious error and condition caused by MISPLACED FAITH. We easily acknowledge that those who follow some other religion…other than Christianity…is pursuing a god which does not even truly exist. In this way, it is easy to see that TRUTH is absent from a convert’s faith in the realm of Islamic belief.
But…what happens when, within the realm of Christianity, someone’s faith is placed in something other than TRUTH?
You see…all of the essential words regarding our SALVATION…LOVE, GRACE, MERCY, BELIEF, and RELATIONSHIP…have to have their basis rooted in TRUTH. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the embodiment of TRUTH when Jesus spoke these words: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6 NKJV) Thus, we can realize and understand that TRUTH is ESSENTIAL in our belief system.
But…too often in the Church…TRUTH is mixed with FALSE DOCTRINE. In many cases, people are becoming CONVERTS to a Christianity that doesn’t even truly exist!
Think about it!
Jesus taught this: Matthew 6:31-33 NKJV “Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Notice here that Jesus is placing the emphasis on what we are SEEKING…what we are PURSUING. In Matthew 7:7 Jesus would say “…seek, and you will find…” In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God said “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
We are called to SEEK!
WHAT we SEEK is KEY…before we even BEGIN to focus on the “how” of SEEKING!
So…again…what is my primary focus as I state: “TRUTH is the key word for the Church today.“?
I regularly write about the dangers of FALSE DOCTINE. I have given MANY ways to examine and evaluate that FALSE DOCTRINE…comparing FALSE DOCTRINE to PARASITES, COMPUTER VIRUSES, and POISON. Each of these analogies are applicable…and FALSE DOCTRINE is not only DANGEROUS, but it is also EFFECTIVE in these various ways. But, there is one way in which FALSE DOCTRINE is both DANGEROUS and EFFECTIVE that I have yet to mention: its ability to create FALSE CONVERSIONS.
I recently wrote these words in a FB post:
“A true revelation from God this morning regarding the false doctrines of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL as I pondered His Word: IF God truly wanted to bless all believers by bestowing on them EARTHLY wealth and riches, making all Christians FINANCIALLY WEALTHY, then the world would SURELY begin to want to follow Jesus....but they would do so FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS! If all Christians were promised financial/earthly wealth here on earth, people would come to Christ out of a desire for/of:
RICHES instead of RIGHTEOUSNESS.
LUXURY instead of LOVE.
WEALTH instead of WISDOM.
HOARDING instead of HOLINESS.
SUPPLIES instead of SERVANTHOOD.
OPULENCE instead of OBEDIENCE.
JEWELRY instead of JESUS.
GREED instead of GRACE.
And what we are seeing in the Church today is a group of "believers" who have NOT "come to Christ" to SERVE Him...but they have come to Christ to USE Him. In many cases, what they "believe in" is the PROSPERITY GOSPEL...but they actually do not believe in Jesus! There is a HUGE difference!”
The BIG question is: what is a CONVERT to the PROSPERITY GOSPEL actually CONVERTING to?
You see…as I have written EXTENSIVELY on this subject (and I will only briefly delve into it here again)…the PROSPERITY GOSPEL is NOT a “gospel” at all…and it is FAR from being TRUTH! The PROSPERITY GOSPEL is a FALSE TEACHING done by those who seek to USE the Word of God and Christianity as a source for GAINING WEALTH. Notice the words of Paul to Timothy:
1 Timothy 6:3-10 NKJV
“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. “
Here are the essentials of the teachings of this passage:
1. There is TRUTH. (“wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness”)
2. There is FALSE DOCTRINE. (“If anyone teaches otherwise…he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words…destitute of the truth”)
3. The PROSPERITY GOSPEL is FALSE DOCTRINE. (“he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words…destitute of the truth, WHO SUPPOSE THAT GODLINESS IS A MEANS OF GAIN.” note: emphasis added)
4. We are told to STAY AWAY from FALSE DOCTRINE. (“From such withdraw yourself.”)
5. There is a TRUE “godliness." (“Now godliness with CONTENTMENT is great gain.” note: emphasis added)
6. There is a TRUTH about CONTENTMENT. (“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”)
7. Those who seek RICHES are FALLING into a TRAP of SATAN due to GREED. (“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”)
With these ESSENTIAL truths in mind…what happens when someone is “converted” to the PROSPERITY GOSPEL?
Notice this with me: a CONVERT to Christianity…which Jesus called the GOSPEL…comes to Christ as they SEEK Him. They are placing their faith in Jesus Christ…believing that God sent His Son to earth to die for our sins, that Jesus died on the cross, that Jesus rose again on the 3rd day, that Jesus is alive and sitting at the right hand of the Father, that their salvation is by grace through faith and not by works, and that those who believe on Jesus will spend eternity with Him.
Now…a CONVERT to the PROSPERITY GOSPEL comes to Christ as they seek FINANCIAL GAIN. The message they hear is “God wants all Christians to be rich!” When they hear this, they BELIEVE it. Out of a belief that God wants all Christians financially wealthy here on earth, “converts” to the PROSPERITY GOSPEL are told that God promises that they can be rich if they accept Him as their Savior. God becomes the HUNTED…not due to love or grace or a desire to serve Him…but due to the fact that He is supposedly offering a life of wealth and luxury.
In this way…CONVERTS to the PROSPERITY GOSPEL are not “converted” to TRUTH…they are “converted” under the lies of FALSE DOCTRINE. Jesus becomes the way to FINANCIAL PROSPERITY…not the way to “truth” and “life”. The focus of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL places the CONVERSION into an EARTHLY realm…where the benefits of SALVATION are EARTHLY in nature. The focus of the TRUE GOSPEL places the CONVERSION in the HEAVENLY realm…where the benefits of SALVATION are ETERNAL in nature.
The TRUE GOSPEL brings conversion due to whom Jesus IS! The PROSPERITY GOSPEL brings conversion due to what a person can GET!
Read 1 Timothy 6:3-10 again slowly. Notice the TRUE focus of the passage…and how it deals with those who think “godliness is a means of gain.” If you have ANY doubt that this is referring to those who believe that FINANCIAL WEALTH is promised by God, look with me here:
The Greek word translated “a means of gain” is PERISMOS. PERISMOS means “a way or means of furnishing or procuring wealth” or “money getting” according to the Greek Dictionary of the New Testament. So, if we properly apply those words, we see that Paul is telling Timothy this: ANYONE who supposes that accepting Jesus (“godliness”) is “a way or means of furnishing or procuring wealth” or “a way or means of money-getting” is “ proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth...”
As we seek to reach the lost, we MUST be sure that the MESSAGE that the lost are hearing is the TRUTH. We must be SURE that people are coming to CHRIST...not TO Christ FOR or AS a FINANCIAL INVESTMENT!
We ARE saved by GRACE…but GRACE is just the “free gift” that allows us to ACCEPT truth!
Think of it this way: GRACE is the TICKET…TRUTH is the EVENT!
One last thing:
Notice this with me…GRACE is not truly even required to accept the PROSPERITY GOSPEL. It is not a “gospel” in the first place…and it is not a “gospel” that is based on SAVING a person FROM something: it is INSTEAD a “gospel” that is based on RECEIVING benefits from a “conversion”. Without Jesus Christ, we are LOST…and we are heading for hell. When we accept Jesus, we are SAVED FROM HELL..and we are saved from our sins. When we are saved, we recognize that we are SINFUL and that we need a SAVIOR. When a person accepts the PROSPERITY GOSPEL, they simply see and believe Jesus to be the way to FINANCIAL GAIN. Salvation FROM sin is not the primary issue…or it is often not even an issue at all! The primary focus of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL is NOT the need for a Savior: the primary focus of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL is the desire for financial gain!
The TRUE GOSPEL is based on the CHANGE in a MAN’S SOUL. The PROSPERITY GOSPEL is based on the BETTERMENT of a FINANCIAL POSITION.
With the TRUE GOSPEL…we gain forgiveness of sins and entrance into HEAVEN and eternity with Jesus. With the PROSPERITY GOSPEL, a person SUPPOSEDLY gains entrance into a HIGHER TAX BRACKET.
The TRUE GOSPEL is based on SEEKING JESUS. The PROSPERITY GOSPEL is based on SEEKING WEALTH.
We stand today with a choice: the choice to seek JESUS or the choice to seek FINANCIAL GAIN. It is our choice.
But remember: what we SEEK determines our DIRECTION.
We know this: seeking TRUTH…seeking JESUS…leads to ETERNAL LIFE.
I choose to seek TRUTH…and I will be CONTENT as the Lord provides the rest…in whatever portion that He deems necessary and best.
In Christ,
Ron
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