# 38: How, When, and Why the Islamic Extremists’ Situation Began

“On November 29, 1947, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution for the establishment of an independent Jewish State in Palestine. . . .” This resolution needed recognition from all the members of the U.N. Security council before it could take effect. The United States and the U.S.S.R. were the big super powers and therefore played a big part in its recognition. Harry S. Truman was president at that time. Truman, having sympathy for the Jews, sent a letter of recognition without notifying the U. S. delegates or the top-ranking State Department officials. Truman knew that George C. Marshall (the Secretary of State at the time) was adamantly against that recognition. Marshall was also the U. S. Army Chief of Staff and was the main architect of the Marshall Plan (European Recovery Program).

“Throughout the Roosevelt and Truman administrations, the Department of War and State recognized the possibility of Soviet-Arab connection and the potential Arab restriction on oil supplies in this country, and therefore advised AGAINST intervention on behalf of the Jews.” Truman did not take their advice. It will never be known if that influenced his decision. Then, on May 14, 1948, Israel became a state. The recognition of Israel as a de facto state inflamed most, if not all of the Arab nations. There were more than several wars between the nation of Israel and their Arab neighbors. But what infuriated the Arabs even more was the cozy friendship between the U.S. and Israel along with financial aid (gifts) the United States was giving to Israel, in addition to all the military equipment and know- how. And for the last 57 years, American tax payers (with or without our consent) have been donating billions yearly to support the nation of Israel. In the last several years, we gave as much as 3 billion American dollars in aid annually and from 9-13 billion annually in guaranteed loans. “Guaranteed” means that if Israel can’t pay them back, America can forgive them.

I personally have nothing against the Israeli/Jewish people, but at the same time have sympathy for the Palestinian underdogs who fight with stones and suicide bombers against Israel’s sophisticated weapons of war including nuclear missiles. In 1948, could anyone in their wildest nightmare have ever dreamed that the recognition of Israel as a state could have escalated into a world-wide terror network, along with the never-ending chaos in Iraq? The moral of the story is that the U.S. has made Israel the mighty and secure nation that it is.

Then, on top of that, matters were made even worse when President Bush preemptively attacked Iraq on the basis of false information that he and Vice-President Cheney slyly conjured up. Is there a solution? Yes and no. Here is the best solution, yet it will not and cannot occur: stop all financial and military aid to Israel; stop being Israel's cohort; remove every last American soldier and adviser from Arab soil, along with every American ship and all aircraft carriers out of all waters surrounding Arab lands. Arab skies are a no-fly zone to U.S. aircrafts. Close all American embassies; recall all ambassadors, diplomats, reporters, cameramen/women, and visitors from Arab/Islamic countries. On top of that, buy no more Arab oil–ouch. Doing all of that will most certainly end the animosity the Arabs have toward America. Of course, there will still be friction between Israel and the Arabs, as has been the case for over 3000 years.

By the way, the Arabs ask, “Who made the U.S. the policeman of the world? Leave the Arab/Islamic countries alone.” They say, “Let us kill each other if we choose; let us violate your standard of human rights if we choose; let us worship our faith as we choose; let us fight with Israel if we choose; and let us mistreat our women if we choose. Arabs are one big family. And without American interference, we will get along fine; even if we don't, leave us alone. In short, don’t meddle in any of our affairs. This is all that we desire.”

But because of Jewish influence in this country, and other poignant reasons, it will never happen. But I have to ask whether the Arab world can get by without all the goodies only the U.S. supplies. I don’t think so. If none of the above will materialize, what will be the outcome of this war against Islamic terrorists? Answer: there is no definitive solution, so it will continue until who knows when, maybe until the end of time. And guess who started it all in 1948? Now it’s time for someone (a country or all countries) to pay the fiddler. If anyone finds any errors in this short essay or has strong personal opinions, send in your comments. Some might ask what this topic has to do with “Religion’s Crime Against God.” You decide.

# 37: You Must Decide

Many of the principles described in this post are apparently novel and challenging in comparison to what most of us have been taught by Christian religions. Did I just make them up in order to manipulate you? If you think so, for what reason? Do I want your money? An emphatic no! Do I want you as my disciple? A disciple of what, I might ask? I am a nothing. Do I desire to start a church, and have you as a member? Absolutely not. That would be the last thing I would desire. Am I attempting to trick you into leaving your church? I am not attempting to trick you, no, but according to the New Testament, most churches are way off base in their teachings. There must be some reason why I am publishing this post. As I examine my motive(s), this is the only reason I can come up with at this time: I have an innate, uncontrollable loathing for deceivers, especially those who attempt to pass themselves off as men/women of God. I can't explain why or where it came from—don’t most of us have that trait, to one degree or another?

You may ask, “Aren’t we supposed to be tolerant of all people’s beliefs/faith?” Tolerant, yes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we must acknowledge their beliefs as truth. Therefore, I am compelled to expose deceivers (as I see them) with the truth as I read it in the Bible. The New Testament truth is many times extremely fanatical, to the point where it violates ALL rules of common sense. What do I do with those verses that express themselves that way? Do I attempt to explain them away? No! Ignore them? No. But I do try to explain why they have to be that way, and why we must somehow adhere to them. I’m aware that this doesn’t make for a popular or conducive message.

We (all of us) love to be told that we are loving, great, smart, wonderful and so on. Most of us will not accept being told, by this blog or others, that our lives are in error, going in the wrong direction, or any other negative reviews. I can truly understand that. I hate being told I am wrong except when it is true. I don’t mind being told I am wrong when I am in accordance with the Bible. Now you must decide whether I am a deranged but cleaver manipulator, some sort of religious nut, or a person who is attempting to spread the truth in a manner (which rubs us the wrong way) that has not been used before, to any great degree. If you believe I am in error, too fanatical or whatever other reason, send in your comments. I will respond to all that require a response.

# 36: Desire Equals Poverty

“. . . poor yet making others rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” 2nd Corinthians 6:10. What did the Apostle Paul mean by these words? It seems to be an oxymoron—note the first five words: “. . . poor yet making others rich. . .” He was poor materially, yet he had the ability to make others rich spiritually. When a person responds to God’s call, that is true riches. When experiencing that type of wealth, all other types of riches are devalued and placed in the hands of those in dire need, or with other means of giving God glory. “. . . having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” How can a person have nothing, and yet possess all things? It doesn’t take material riches to possess great wealth.

Paul’s devotion to Jesus Christ made him so wealthy spiritually that these spiritual riches were much better and more valuable than material wealth. Most modern commercial Christians cannot identify with that concept. To have little or nothing, or to be in need, has a negative connotation in today’s Christian circles; Christian people having little materially are falsely pitied. A genuine attachment to Christ has strange implications; again, that is not understood by most of us. In fact, I am not aware of any denomination in America that expounds this way of life.

The old alibi is this: why can’t a person have both money and God? It is for the simple reason that money and God are in conflict with each other. And when the situation arises, material wealth will always have the last say. I mentioned this principle in a previous post, so I won’t elaborate. I doubt that many, if any, will respond to this esoteric principle; nevertheless, I am inspired to write concerning it.

Now let me provide a short background on my personal life, and how this principle of “having nothing but possessing all things” has affected me. Again, my personal testimony will have no impact unless a person desires to experience what I and hopefully others are experiencing. I was curious about spiritual matters at an early age; don’t ask me why. I was raised a Catholic. I abandoned that religion when I was still a teenager. For a while, I was interested only in my secular work, and didn’t think much about spiritual matters. In my early thirties, after a personal tragedy, I started to become interested in Godly matters again. To make a long story short, I inquired at every possible denomination—independent church, cult, small groups, and whatever else there was—to find an organization that preached and taught the New Testament. All my efforts were to no avail. I knew I needed Christian fellowship and would starve spiritually without it.

All this time, I was never in any material need. I was, to a large degree, financially independent. Without any true fellowship, I trudged along seeking to learn more of God on my own. I knew what the Lord wanted of me, concerning my finances, but I wasn’t ready or mature enough to obey. Slowly but surely, it started to happen, first mentally and then in reality. Material things didn’t seem to have much value any more. Again, with no pretense, this was actually happening. Material wants were being replaced by spiritual values. The contentment I used to seek in material wealth wasn’t what it was trumped up to be. It did not fill my inward emptiness. Then, I realized there was something giving me more contentment with less of everything materially than I’d ever had. Now I am at a point in my spiritual experience where I can identify with the Apostle Paul, and I know exactly what he meant by 2nd Corinthians 6:10.

This didn’t happen to me over night; in fact, it is still happening. By being obedient to the above-mentioned principle, most of the other hard-edged Bible verses were coming to life. I gave up all hopes of finding a group that believes in the New Testament verbatim. But my joy hasn’t stopped increasing. I have come to the conclusion that DESIRE MAKES POVERTY, and that wealth and contentment come not from what one has, but from what one is inwardly. I started this blog as a means of sharing with others what I am now experiencing.

I came to the conclusion that many Bible verses cannot be understood until they are experienced. Contingent on experience, the Bible therefore is written in a secret code that only truly active believers can ever fully understand. Please send your comments and describe what is happening in your life. Are you completely satisfied with your Christian experience, or do you need the material world to supplement your joy and contentment? Thanks, and God bless!

# 35: Self-Examination

At its very best, how inadequate this physical life is in satisfying our innermost needs.

We were inherently designed with a need for greatness which this world cannot offer.

As human beings, we were intuitively created to live in perfection. Unknown to most, this is what we are all seeking from the day we are born.

The inadequacies of an imperfect world (and the world’s inability to give us the perfection we desire) can lead some to a search for inward perfection. Once knowledge of this perfection is made available through the power of belief in God, then one can not only tolerate all the dignified selfishness in this world, but even thrive with the joy that comes from living the truth.

When a person is doing the things of Christ with the right motive, she or he won’t find time to do “important” things which aim at self-betterment.

If you were Christ and you wanted to make sure your followers carried on the work you started, would you be content with the way the Christian churches are finishing what you started? Does anything remain in the church that resembles what Christ did and the way He lived? In my perception of Christian religions, there is not much similarity. Read the New Testament again and look for likenesses. I doubt you will find many.

This is the gripe I have, and I am sure Jesus feels the same. What right do the religions have to call themselves Christ-like ones (Christians)? Christ has been waiting patiently for over 2000 years for the pseudo-church that carries His name to self-destruct. I don’t think it will be long. He is waiting for a few courageous souls, along with a few powerful angels, to live out their part as mentioned in the book of Revelations.

When we are content living in the frailties and joys of humanity, there is little chance or reason for us to seek anything better. That is one reason money is harmful—it makes life comfortable. Comfort is a precursor to contentment, and contentment closes the door to spiritual reality. Nowadays, it doesn’t take a lot of money to live in mesmerized comfort. Then, religion becomes a means of getting God to sanction one’s easy lifestyle. This is the ambience that type of lifestyle creates: “He is a Christian and he is well off; therefore, it is okay to be comfortable, have money, and be a Christian.”

In America, this attitude has caught on like wild-fire in the last hundred years, especially in the charismatic and the prosperity “Praise the Lord for it” religious movement (Trinity Broadcasting Network). I say, “Holy bull.” It is not about whose religion is wrong and whose religion is right, but whose religion is wrong and whose religion is more wrong.

The only commodity of true value we possess is what we believe. When the quality of our belief is extremely inwardly satisfying, we are wealthy beyond expressible words. When the quality is less than satisfying, we are paupers without knowing it. That is to say, our belief can make us or break us.

Is there anything that Jesus Christ did or was that He wouldn’t want us to do or be? If not, then that is the answer to what the Christian life should consist of.

One of the biggest diversions in organized Christianity is that they put too much emphasis on the grandeur of the future and not enough on the present-day hell we must go through—with joy.

What do we have in common with God? We have the ability to love and be loved. Also, through the power of uncompromising belief, we have the ability to control the physical. Being like Him is what we need to satisfy our innermost needs. If a person delves deep enough, one will discover that we and God are made up of the same essential ingredient: belief. There is one big difference, however: God is going in one direction with His belief, while we may be going in two directions.

# 34: Challenging Questions, etc.

People who are content with what this world offers do not need what God offers, except to complement their present contentment.

Why does God require His people to love Him with their all?

What does it mean when God says to “love Him with your all”?

Is it possible to love God with one’s all and still live in the physical world?

What must a person do and not do to love deity with one’s all?

The main reason God desires us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is so He doesn’t have to play second fiddle to the physical world.

Every imperfect food subtly poisons the body, while every imperfect thought overtly poisons the mind, body, and soul.

The most exciting activity in the world is becoming more like Jesus every day. Praise God!

To understand God more completely, we must personify Him to the greatest degree possible without His greatness and glory. By faith, we must deify ourselves by accepting and living out all that Christ did for us (giving us His status).

Christ came to destroy self-centeredness, which is the origin of all sin.

Life is not worth living if one is not living for a great cause. Let me live like Jesus or let me die. If God could combine all His gripes that He holds against the Christian religion into one sentence, it would be this: they don’t teach, and they especially don’t model, the potential all people have to become powerful, walking, breathing, human Christ's.

If I can’t love God with my all, I don’t want to live at all.

What would you and I give to become a God of selfless love?

Do we who belong to Christ have hard-core evidence, besides the Bible, that God loves us?

In what way does God love His own that He cannot love the lost?

Religion, which is supposed to embody goodness and love for neighbor and God, is most often nothing more than promotion of self and family.

People do not become followers of Christ with their mouths or minds, but with their lives.

The Good News which Jesus preached via the Bible is bad news to those who “have it made” on earth.

Self-importance can never properly and permanently be devalued until something of much greater value is first discovered and embraced.

Giving is quite often tainted with self-advancement because of tax write-offs for churches and charities (lowering the amount due to the IRS.)

When someone is actually experiencing the love of God, everything else is trivial. When someone does not have that love, nothing is trivial.

What is more important to a person, what one actually has or what one believes he or she has?

# 33: Ultimate Ambition & Little Gems

Could you imagine a conversation between a father and his children such as this: “I am going to teach you the right way to live, but I am not going to teach you everything I know because I don’t want you to be as good and powerful as me”? Could you imagine Jesus saying the above statement to His disciples (us)? Ridiculous. There are no limits to the goodness and power we can achieve while Christ is our paradigm. We may set goals as to our limits, but they are faults. Pure, unadulterated belief in God has no limits. When the Bible says, “We are created in the image of God (Christ),” that means we have the capability to be like Him while in a physical body. Jesus indisputably proved that fact. He said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father,” and He lived accordingly. The Christian motto should be, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Christ.” Now that we have read these POWERFUL words, what are we going to do, and how are we going to live?

To reach its full potential, belief in God must not be in competition with any other beliefs that are of great value. In fact, if a person is not single-minded in his or her belief in God, it will amount to nothing more than some form of self-centered religion. Belief in God will lose every time when one’s belief in worldly things is of equal (or greater) value.

God has so much goodness and love to give away, but there are not many takers; what a waste.

When we care for ourselves more than for God, we are in essence saying, “We are more important than God.”

For me to claim that I am a Christian tells me that the Bible doesn’t mean what it says.

There is no goodness within if it is not lived out.

Belief, when not put into action, is of no value.

Reality is in the eye of the believer.

It is hard to believe that God’s saints and the vilest of men/women are made up of the same physical material.

Godly love is meant to connect people.

Another name for the devil could be “The Distracter.”

# 30: Words of Wisdom and a Father's Instructions

The pain we personally make in our lives creates despondency, while the pain God creates for doing His will generates strength.

Let me live like Christ or let me die. No in-between.

All lifestyles produce emptiness except the one that aims at having the goodness and power of Christ.

Who wants to live an empty life? Not me. We were meant to be powerful gods in this world; praise the Lord now and forever. Life is not worth living unless one is living for the greatest cause on earth; nothing else will satisfy. Praise, honor, and glory to Him who is almighty.

Christ lived as He did not only to save us, but more as an example to show us how to live.

A person cannot function without a body, but that does not mean he or she is nonexistent. The body is not the person. The real person is invisible and occupies no space, but cannot make his or her will known without a body. At death, a person loses only the body. At that time the real person, now invisible, is totally incapacitated (asleep).

To worship God in spirit, people must devote all their time and energies to Godly things, save the absolute necessities.

Out of necessity, God was destined to become man, and also out of necessity, men/women were destined to become gods.

My God (Jesus Christ) is a God of the underdogs.

Belief that is dressed in the true knowledge of God is what real life is all about.

One can’t love God with all one’s heart, mind, soul, and strength, unadulterated by worldly competitors, unless one believes God with all one’s heart, mind, soul, and strength.

A father was about to instruct his children on a very short lesson that could change their complete lives. He started out by saying, “The reason your mother conceived you, with my help and permission, was so all of you could someday be like us. All that is necessary is to believe you can accomplish that task. And if you really believe it, you will live exactly the same way we do and obey everything we command. Of course, because you are young at this time and lack experience, you may slip and fall on occasion. That is okay. I just want to know who is aiming in the right direction. To those, I will give my full attention. It wouldn’t be smart to force any of you to obey me, as that would only create rebellion. To those of you who do things your own way, I will still love you by desiring the best for you, but that broken-hearted love doesn’t condone your lifestyle, nor will it do you any long-term good.”

The moral of the story is this: do you and I really believe that Jesus wants us to live exactly like Him while we are in a physical body like He had? The answer is an astounding, YES! Quite often, we are so content to just live on the peripherals of Christianity—which is not Christianity—never thinking that we are wasting the great potential we have to do the same work Christ did. We don’t desire to live this Christ-like life to earn our salvation; we desire to live like Jesus because it is within our means once He counts us as His own. Belief, especially in God, is that powerful. We have all the abilities necessary to do all that He tells/commands us.

# 29: Laziness, Worship, Goodness and Godliness

We all are guilty of being lazy, to one degree or another, although many of us may deny it. Could we classify laziness as sin? Yes and no. Laziness is a precursor to an attitude of: “If I really don’t have to do it, I won’t.” Strange to say, there is no room for lazy people in the realm of being disciples of Christ. We can tolerate being lazy, to a small degree, in worldly duties, but when it comes to spiritual matters, even the least bit of laziness will propagate mediocrity. And mediocrity is like having one foot in the Devil’s door. There is one way most Americans are not lazy, and that is in eating; many of us have an addictive infatuation with food.

Nowadays, there is very little in this world that is conducive to Godly morals. No matter where one turns, the masses in America condone, if not promote, the overt corruption of moral values. There always was corruption in the world, but now it is accepted by most as an alternative lifestyle. I believe the biggest contributor is television. By and large, television networks, out of financial greed, give us the type of programming that receives the highest ratings. Therefore, television is a good barometer of what Americans are made of.

Here is a sure-fire method of telling if one REALLY worships Christ. A person will always actively desire to become like the one she or he worships. How much do you and I desire to be like Christ? Do we really worship Him, or are we only fooling ourselves? Life is too valuable to play the part of a fool. Fools—hopefully not us—seldom know they are fooling themselves. This irony is a serious accusation that we must give careful consideration to without self-imposed credulity. Do you remember all those people who worshiped Elvis (and many still do)? They wanted to look like him, sound like him, and make body gestures like him; that is, they wanted to be another Elvis (if they were males). And females were flipping their lids over this man (their god). That is real worship.

Many people mistake having good morals, kindness, generosity, love, gentleness, consideration, and understanding as Christianity. This is just one of the evil one’s great deceptions. Although Christianity encompasses all of the above traits, they are a result of our belief in Christ and not the essence of Christianity. The closer a religious group appears to be the “Real Thing” without actually being genuine Christians, the more dangerous they are to the cause of Christ because they can more easily deceive many into following them.

At this time, although we may not know who the real Christians are, we can know for certain those who are not by looking at their self-centered lives; a person can be extremely generous, if one is wealthy, and still self-centered. To sum up, we must never equate goodness and generosity with Godliness.

# 28: Living for Another, and a Few Notes

Genuine Christianity is a way of life that calls for much self-sacrifice, self-denial and hardships. It is good for the young to hear what Christianity is all about and to practice the moral part of it. But to force or even coerce them into a life of self-denial is cheating them from experiencing, first-hand, the emptiness of worldly attitudes, habits, and material things. They will think, “I wonder how it would feel to have this or do that. Am I really missing out on something special?” Let them get it out of their system. Prohibition is conducive to enticement.

At any age, we cannot force Christ onto someone. We can force Christian ways on them, but that is not Christianity. In fact, I believe a person should be at least 25to 30 years old before he or she makes a lifetime commitment to living as a clone-of-Christ-in-the-making. We can teach them religion by forcing them to go to church before they are aware of their right to religious freedom, or we can teach them Christ by showing them what He is like. When they ask, we can teach them with our mouths. I am not talking about teaching them good morals; after all, many atheists have excellent morals. I am talking about teaching them that genuine Christianity is living one’s own life for another person: Jesus Christ.

When God can operate in a person unhindered by self-agenda or self-promotion, then He can do through that non-existent person all He desires. At that time, God’s full power will be activated to do what He inspires that person to ask for.

We must desire all other people to be better than ourselves in every way possible, hopefully in ways which bring them closer to God. What was Jesus’ motive for living a perfect life? His motive was obedience to God’s seemingly absurd dictations stating that He will be the first man to live a sinless life. What is our motive to live a sinless life? Do we say, “That is impossible”? Read the book of 1st John and take what the author writes literally.

The spirit of God does not occupy space. It is incorrect to say, “He is here,” or “He is not there,” or, “He is everywhere.” God just is—period. God is made up of intelligent belief-type energy with a personality and a will. That personality chooses to be a God of love.

All belief is made up of energy. When we think a thought, we are producing permanent invisible energy. Therefore, we must be very careful of not only what we do, but also what we think.

# 27: Prayer and Oppression

First Thessalonians 5:17 says, “. . . pray continually. . .” This Bible verse may be one of the most difficult to adhere to. Is it a command or a suggestion? The Bible is not a book of suggestions as some would have us believe. The New Testament is a book of commands. I would add the word “concentrate” along with “pray.” Why and how could a person pray or concentrate continually on the things of God? There is only one way: to have dire need for God, and such a strong love for Him that one can’t take Him off her or his mind, the same way we felt toward our first puppy love. This attitude of need is not found in America. And the love most Americans have for God and His Christ is superficial. Just to say, “I love Him” is all that is needed as long as one is “good.” Ha, ha.

Indeed, there are many ingredients needed to make up a genuine Christian. When even one of those ingredients is missing, the end result could be cosmetic “Christianity.” One vital (though negative) ingredient is oppression. When Christians are a threat to the status quo (having supernatural powers, not just mighty-sounding words), they will be oppressed by the religious hierarchy and totalitarian, tyrannical, and dictatorial governments. With that oppression come persecution and hatred. That type of attitude, to my knowledge, is not available in America. This type of oppression, out of necessity, brings people close to God and to each other.

What reason do we in America have for getting close to God? Why do we need God in the first place other than for “eternal life”? When a people’s mere existence is threatened because of their vibrant worship of Christ, then one must draw close to God out of necessity.

The main way to get close to God is through constant prayer and a desperate need to understand what this frigging—excuse my French—world is all about. I don’t have to mention most of the other necessary ingredients because they have been, and will continue to be, mentioned in this blog.

# 26: God Demands More Than Our Money

Regular and systematic giving for the cause of Christ—especially to a church—can be very dangerous, if not deadly. The reason is that after a while, if one’s status of being saved remains the same, it is much easier to give regularly than to go out and actually do the work of Christ. Before the time of Christ, giving a tenth was a very minor part (merely a tax). The essential part was, and still is, a little more trying and time-consuming: “. . . justice, mercy, faithfulness and the love of God.” Matthew 23:23. Also see Luke 11:42 about the active part of Christianity: “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.”

One CAN’T engage in these most important aspects of being a disciple of Christ while sitting in one’s easy chair or resting on one’s laurels. One might ask, “What is the cause or work of God?” As seen in John 6:29, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.” I put it this way: to continue exactly what He started, showing the lost world what He and His Father are like, and what He expects from those who take on His name. We are His feet, mouth, hands, and mind.

I am sure anyone who knows the contents of the New Testament can come up with at least a dozen or so seemingly legitimate excuses as to why the last statement does not apply to everyone. The most prevalent alibi would be: I don’t have the power which He had to heal the sick and raise the dead. That is the problem! Why not? Another more common excuse is that just about everyone has heard the gospel message and they don’t want to be bothered. This is true.

Can you imagine Jesus proclaiming the Good News without the power to do miracles? His message was so radical–ours should be the same—that they would have laughed Him back to where He came from. If one lacks the power of Christ, it would be better to stay home and think of a better way of spending one’s money and life. All I can say is this: the word “Christian” means Christ-like one, and “disciple” means to learn to live a disciplined life as taught by the Commander and Chief. End of argument.

# 25.B: Absolute Certainty and Contentment

Most people who call themselves Christians, and are living according to what they believe is right in God’s eyes, truly believe with all their being that they are saved and destined for heaven. And yet no one, not a single person on earth, can know with absolute certainty if they have been accepted as one of God’s chosen ones, regardless of how loud they claim salvation. So what is the solution to the false assumption that one’s sincere belief may be concocted? Answer: to live one’s life exactly as Jesus Christ prescribes in the New Testament with no excuses for ignoring the active commands which are hard-edged and seem totally contrary to nature and human logic. 2 Peter 1:10. "Therefore my brother, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

By belief in God through Christ, we all were meant to become powerful gods in physical form. When there is any type of dissatisfaction in anyone’s life, the reason, most often unknowingly, is because we are not living as we were meant to live. In other words, the only lifestyle that can bring total satisfaction and contentment is actively living the life of a powerful god of love.

If this statement is true, we can see why there is so much unhappiness, strife, and evil in all the world. To put it another way, no matter what goals a person has, if by some chance they are reached, they may ask themselves, “Now what?” As King Solomon said years ago, “All is meaningless [emptiness].” There is nothing in life that can permanently satisfy, short of living as a powerful clone-of-Christ-in-the-making.

# 25.A: God's Replacement

I am not sure if we who call ourselves Christians are aware that the Bible always speaks positively of the poor and harshly toward the wealthy, without exception and without mentioning the middle class (if there was such a class). Our attitude is just the opposite in our affluent culture of today. We envy the wealthy and desire to be like them, and loathe the poor, or at least don’t want to end up like them. What is the reason for this extreme difference/change in attitude? It seems something or someone is out of whack. Another attitude that has changed is how we treat our enemies. The New Testament in several places speaks of how we must have love for our enemies, yet nowadays we are ready to retaliate harshly against anyone who dares to cross us.

We Americans go one step further to protect our homeland. We even strike preemptively against anyone we think might be a threat to our national or personal security. Again, why this change in attitude? Aren’t we supposed to be a Christian nation? What I am about to write breaks my heart, but I must speak up. I am an American, born in America; all my life, I loved being an American and was proud of it. But at this time, I can’t say I am proud of being an American. My country offers many seemingly wonderful amenities in comparison to other nations. But with all that this country offers, the most prevalent of all is the desire and possibility to become wealthy.

When a desire for wealth comes before a desire for God and Jesus Christ, guess what? Wealth becomes our God. We have abandoned Jehovah God and made our god out of money. And for that reason, God for all practical purposes has abandoned this planet. That is a horrible thing to say, and I hope it isn’t true.

What should God do when He has been abandoned? Another reason for His displeasure is our mighty armed forces—the greatest in the world and the mightiest in all human history. Jesus said , “. . . for all who draw the sword, will die by the sword.” Matthew 26:52. Was He speaking about individuals or also nations? You will answer that correctly if you are familiar with the Old Testament. Also in Matthew 10:23, Jesus said, “When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another.” Jesus also speaks on the same subject in several other verses. According to the standards set in the New Testament, I ask this question: is this “Christian” country going in the right direction? God desires us to feel/be secure in His love and protection, and not in military might and money.

What I am afraid of is what God did to the nation of Israel in the Old Testament. Will He also do that to our great "Christian” country? Almost every time the nation of Israel turned its back on God, He would raise up a nation more wicked than them and devastate the whole Jewish nation almost to smithereens. This is also evident by the ten lost tribes of Israel. Where are they? Or are they in existence anymore? Judah is the only one left. When I see on TV the extreme unprecedented hatred bin Laden and other Arabs have toward America and Israel, I wonder if they are the ones that God is raising up to do us in. Don’t scare me, will you? Please send your comments; this post could affect all of us in America.

# 24: God is Disappointed and Angry and The Big Scam

Just because God is Spirit, He does not want to remain in hiding. He would love to show Himself, especially His awesome power, for all to see; this is His most earnest desire. He did just that for a very short while as He displayed Himself to a few thousand people through Jesus Christ. He was hoping to continually display Himself through those who call themselves His disciples. What a shame; what a waste. God is disappointed and angry, to say the least, at Christian religions in general, though there are a few small enclaves hidden here and there that know His desire and pain and are working to accomplish His will.

You may ask, “Isn’t He a God of love?” Absolutely! But that love doesn’t stop Him from getting angry at those who claim to believe in Him and then do their own little thing in His name. Most Christian religions are a scam to get naive and gullible people to give their hard-earned money to leeches who claim to be men or women of God (the clergy). The clergy intimidates and gives guilt trips in the name of God. They have been doing a great job of getting unearned money; in fact, if one is a good showman/woman, their business could become extremely lucrative. The helpless parishioners don’t dare hold back their money for fear that God might think they are stingy or greedy. The clergy’s ploy is, “God loves a cheerful giver.” “Love your neighbor as yourself,” is the second-greatest commandment. It doesn’t say to love your neighbor by giving to your pastor. I would go so far as to say that this is a form of legal and well-thought-out Mafia thievery. Yes, it is a perfected spiritual form of organized crime. If you don’t give, God will get you or bring hard times to your life. It is a perfect plan to get unearned money, and worst of all, the IRS approves of the whole thing under the guise of “Donate to one's religion as a tax deduction in the name of charity.” No doubt there are many underlying motives behind why people give, but I believe the main reason is that on their own they wouldn’t be able to understand the things of God and Christ, and they think a learned person of God must teach them.

Instead of giving to one’s church, one can easily do more good for God if they take their tithe, or whatever one calls it, and go out and find those who are in real need and spread the Gospel of Christ in that way. Of course, it would take much more effort to do that than to just drop the ransom money—give or you die—in a basket and pray that God will bless you. That giving is not only the lazy way out, but it deprives the giver the personal joy of spreading the Good News of Christ.

The needy world has a right to say, “First feed me, or pay my rent, or buy my kids’ shoes, or pay my heating bill, and then tell me about—or better yet, show me—Christ.”

# 23: A Great Showoff

God showed us His love for mankind by giving us His Son. In what other ways does He display His love for us? He displays His love by overtly revealing Himself to all who truly desire to know Him. This is not a wishing game, as wishes don’t count. God runs an all-or-nothing business. It is very risky to put all of one’s eggs in one basket, especially when the basket is invisible. Another way God displays His love is to inspire those who make every effort to live up to the perfection of Jesus Christ. God would love to be a showoff.

He desires to manifest Himself in the material world through His followers. The reason is that God is not ashamed of who He is. And when His followers display His awesome power, then all will see what God is really like. Also, some will desire to be like Him. There is no other way. Goodness never desires to hide but to propagate itself. His disciples are the way God chooses to accomplish this.

I have been engaged in a crusade of desperately attempting to make some sense of the differences between the teachings of Christianity and the teachings of the Bible. I have come up with a myriad of explanations. Could I somehow lump them into one concise answer? Here goes. God is not as real as the physical world to most, if not all religious people. Certainty will always triumph over speculation. How can a person make the invisible God not just AS real but even MORE real than the material world? There is one answer: when the physical world becomes so distressing, in one way or another, that one desires to leave this world. If and when that situation becomes a reality, then a great need for anything better (Christ) will materialize.

Then, God has literally put His foot into one’s door. In short, the physical world must be devalued into a next-to-nothing situation. Then, God will have little or no competition. I truly believe that this could be the answer to religion’s problems. However, don’t look for any monumental solutions. And what is my excuse? Though I believe and teach what is in the Bible, my life does not completely coincide.

#22: One Liners Worthy of Mention

The words of God are of little value if the power of God is not displayed in the life of the author.

The things we love the most, like friends and family, are, most often, the biggest distractions that keep us from giving our all to God.

What people believe about themselves is the truth to them regardless of whether it is actually true. That is scary.

The Bible was written in a secret code. The only ones who will be able to decipher it correctly are those who . . . . Even that is of little value if that info is not put into action.

When Christianity, Christ, and the Bible—which should be synonymous–are put into the hands of religious but ungodly men and women, the result is religion of worthless passivity.

The term “ungodly” refers to anyone who lives in a manner where caring for themselves and their family, even being overly concerned about one’s spirituality, takes priority over all else.

Requests to God are unheard if one personally does not first do everything possible to make conditions favorable concerning that request.

The problems and joys of family life will steal one’s devotion from keeping one’s mind and life on Christ’s business.

What is the most tightly held secret in the mind of God? It cannot be known until it is experienced. The answer: to experience the power that Christ had over the physical. A modern term is “mind over matter.” To know what I just wrote does not reveal the secret. That secret is what Jesus unsuccessfully attempted to teach us. It was unsuccessful because it seemed so unnatural; it violated all rules of physics.

A person is not fit to live if one is afraid to die.

Jesus was God’s greatest miracle. God’s second-greatest miracle was to create physical free-will agents that have the potential to believe Him, with their lives, in the same manner as He believes.

The mind, mouth, and heart are prone to lie, but the life seldom lies.

The body is of little value except to nourish the brain with oxygen, blood and other nutrients so that the mind and body can function and allow the real person (the inner being) to express itself through the belief process.

# 21: Logic of the Miracle

In the miracle birth of Jesus, God created a sperm containing His divine nature that attached onto Mary’s ovum. Why didn’t God also create the egg with His nature instead of using the one which Mary’s body produced? Jesus needed a human nature to be completely human. Mary’s ovum did just that. If the egg was also divine, Jesus wouldn’t have had a potentially sinful human nature, and it is this nature that makes us human. If Jesus didn’t have a human nature, He wouldn’t have been able to sin. If Jesus wasn’t completely human and didn’t have a potentially sinful human nature, He would not have been qualified to sit in our place. And why would He deserve glory, honor and praise if living a perfect life was not the most stupendous and difficult human event that ever occurred in all of history? He couldn’t have done it without genetic help from His Father.

We also are given spiritually genetic help from Jesus by believing He gave us His Spirit–we live by faith. God empowered Jesus, and Jesus empowers us. God’s plan to bring a few of us into His presence was, and still is, perfect.

Now that God has done His part, it is our place to bring His perfect plan to completion by believing (having faith) and living according to all that Jesus teaches (the active: our part, along with the passive which has already been accomplished: God’s part).

The battle we are engaged in with our human nature is the same battle Jesus had. Jesus’ divine nature won over His human nature by believing in what His Father said. We too can win that battle if we believe that Jesus gave us His victory and live accordingly. As I always say, it won’t be easy.

# 20: Be Like Jesus: The Best Christian

Have we been going in the wrong direction with our intellect? I am not saying I don’t enjoy all the conveniences that modern science has given us, but imagine if all the energy we expended in the pursuit of technology in the last hundred years or so was directed in knowing the secret ways of God and creation—we might now be living in a Godly world. Therefore, to become what we were meant to be, we personally must change directions if we desire to learn of God’s secrets. That direction is to acknowledge the awesome power of belief. In fact, I believe that inquiring about and applying God-type belief in our lives holds the secrets to knowing the reason for the vastness of the universe and the art of creation.

His secrets are available to anyone who is willing to seek Him/them with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. That doesn’t leave room for much else in life. Without a doubt, Jesus Christ was the best of all men and women. When we sing the song, “Be like Jesus is my song,” do we really mean it? If we do, then nothing in our lives will satisfy until we are doing everything in our power, with the inspiration of God, to be the best Christian (disciple of Christ) in the world.

Again, it is not religion’s rules or regulations (or even God’s written law) that coerce us to be the best—it is Christ’s Spirit within that compels. Praise God!

Short note: Evil will always desire to destroy good, and even though evil will eventually self-destruct, for love’s sake (love for God and neighbor), we must put up with this enemy and thrive.

# 19: Inside Story and the Embarrassing Riddle

Christian belief is probably the most misunderstood concept of all religious doctrines. First of all, Christian belief is not a passive word but an active word. Christian belief will always be displayed by an action. A person can believe that the world is round and that the earth circles the sun once a year, etc. However, that kind of belief is not what makes God real in one’s life. The belief that the Bible refers to will always invoke a response. Let me give a vivid analogy to make my point clear. Electricity may be in a wire, but that electricity is of no value until a light bulb or some other apparatus is made to function with that electricity. What I am saying is that electricity may be in the wire, but it is valueless until it is activated.

Belief is identical to electricity. Through the workings of the brain, humans have the ability (all the necessary equipment) to believe. We are like a wire with electricity in it. But that ability to believe is of no value if it doesn’t spring into an action. No matter how loud a person says they believe in a certain Christian principle, until that belief produces an action, it is worthless. No one knows for certain whether electricity is in a wire until it is activated. No one can be certain whether a person believes until that belief produces a coinciding action.

To put it plainly, a person can’t say they believe in Christ and then live like an atheist. Belief is not Christian belief when there is no action. It can’t be put any simpler. Of course, the only standard as to what Christ desires of those who claim to believe in Him comes from the Bible. We know many believe in Christ in a false way (for self-promotion) which is not according to the Bible. That also is of no value to Christ.

Humanity's vast ability to acquire intelligence was given to us through God’s—not Darwin’s—evolution process, not only as a means of improving our physical lives and environment, but as a way of bettering ourselves in a spiritual way by learning of God and what He is like. The knowledge of all the intricate sciences we have acquired in this last century is stupendous to say the least. And yet, with all this knowledge, physicists are not able to create life from inanimate material. Along with that inability, they have not been able to figure out where the physical substance (energy or whatever) came from that started or preceded the “Big Bang.” At that point, the laws of physics break down. Every physicist knows that and yet hasn’t been able to solve this EMBARRASSING RIDDLE.

# 18: Apologies and Complacency

Although this blog has done its share of bad-mouthing the clergy, I must apologize to a few of the clergy that are not in the category I described. I am referring to those who truly desire to teach and live as described in the New Testament. They are the ones that ought to get their hands and eyes on this blog. They, more than anyone, will recognize that most of the words written herein are seminal words of God that often transcend the material world. If you recognize that there is something extremely different in this spiritual material, let your church leader know about it. You will be blessed for it. Maybe! But I must give a warning: If one preaches according to this blog, if even to a small degree, church membership will drop.

Let me tell you that God receives more glory and joy from ten people who are willing to change whatever in order to conform to His ways than ten thousand stiff-necked people who go to church as a matter of duty, or to show off their holiness and piety. Now, for the rest of the people-pleasing clergy that believe big numbers mean spiritual success, they will laugh this blog off as the words of a frustrated lunatic. If they didn’t, I would believe I am also nothing but an ear-tickler.

Remember, one can be extremely religious and still not be in the least bit spiritual. How so? A religious person will worship “god” while concerned about worldly matters and self-interest. A truly spiritual person lives in a way that displays the truth according to what the New Testament dictates and lets the chips fall where they may; and they will fall. Click on # 2: “Hard-Edged Bible Verses.” That post will put to shame all atheistic clergymen/women who claim to preach the Bible.

As hard as we have it in going the “straight and narrow,” Jesus had it even harder. He was the forerunner. His only role model was the invisible God. Our role model is human and showed us the difficulty of going the right way. Never forget the word “few,” as in, “Many are called but few are chosen.” Are you and I one of the few? I would love to say yes about myself, but most likely not. We may think because we know Christ better than the next person, and because we paint ourselves pretty, we make ourselves believe we are one of the few. Once we think that, we naturally slack off, allow secret pride to set in, and are most likely doomed.

Here is a good example: If our goal is to possess only a million dollars and no more, would we continue to struggle to get that million once we have that million? Common sense says absolutely not. There are dozens of Bible verses that say to seek the Lord, seek the Lord, seek the Lord. It never once says that once you have found Him, you can relax and go into your easy chair.

To sum things up, complacency in religion is the serial killer of billions of naively religious people. It appalls me to think that many millions of “Christians” are not aware of the fact that Jesus had to earn His righteousness by living the perfect life. Through belief, however, we are given our righteousness (actually, Jesus gives us His righteousness). All we have to do is believe we possess the goodness of Jesus Christ and actively make every effort to live up to that very same status.

# 17: Ultimate Challenge

It was not easy for Jesus to live a perfect life. Human nature, which He genetically received from His mother, continually (though unsuccessfully) badgered His divine nature which was inherited from His Father. If it took little or no effort to live as His Father required, why does He deserve glory, honor, and praise? On the contrary, it took every fiber of believing strength He could muster to fulfill what was required of the first human God.

The main element which gave Jesus His great strength against all odds was the belief which His Father inculcated in Him, which dogmatically confirmed that against all odds, He could and would overcome. When it comes to making Jesus our ultimate role model (Holy Grail), we too will have to go through a constant battle. We have a human nature that is tremendously powerful. We are also given God’s divine nature which is even more powerful; if we possess His nature, we can’t help but apply it. In order for God’s nature to triumph over our human nature, we must believe with all our being (that means our lives) that it is possible to win. Don’t let anyone tell you that it is easy to live the genuine Bible-based Christian life; it is extremely difficult.

Anyone can say, “I believe and now am saved; I am heading for heaven, I am born again, I have eternal life and nothing or no one can stop me.” Those kinds of people are a dime a dozen and not worth much more. That is the biggest fallacy that religion has contrived, from my observation post—this fact that seems strangely irrational. If one goes through the complete New Testament, there is not a single verse where individuals claim to have eternal life, are asked if they have eternal life, are born again, are going to heaven, are saved, have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and savior, or claim to be Christians. Why does organized religion make such a fuss about their eternal future and desire their status be made known before men and women? Today has enough worries of its own. Only God knows for sure who will be with Him in eternity, regardless of how loud our claims are shouted.

It is imperative for us to understand that our only duty is not to be concerned so much with tomorrow (eternity) but to have an uncompromising and active desire to live our lives as clones-of-Christ-in-the-making. Amen and Amen!

# 16: Continuing #15 and then Confusion

All this spiritual work is done for one main reason: to get closer to Christ. The closer we are to Him, the more real our belief becomes. As God becomes more real, the doubts in our lives will start eradicating. Then, we will be able to present our requests to God and know with certainty that they will be fulfilled. Without a doubt, our requests will have no self-interest but only to make Christ known as He desires to be known. It is quite simple to write these words down on paper, but to put them into practice is extremely difficult, if not next to impossible. If that wasn’t so, the world would be full of Godly faith.

Confusion

We, as humans, are two in one. We are totally physical like animals, and we are invisible (spiritual) which is beyond the physical. Most of us live on the physical plane, not even knowing much, if anything, about the invisible. Here is the problem: only material events and things can satisfy the physical person—e.g. when things happen in our lives that are pleasant, we experience happiness. That happiness satisfies the physical being while leaving the invisible person starving. Although only our animal part is satisfied, we feel completely satisfied. False satisfaction is not only sad, it is disastrous. The reason is because things and events that satisfy the spiritual part of us are distasteful to our human emotions. That invisible part of us is the part that is meant for God to occupy. Satisfying our human desires does not make God happy.

In ending, as long as we are content and believe that life is good, we don’t have a ghost of a chance to see what a really wretched condition we are in. We are no more than happy-go-lucky, intelligent, self-centered, human animals.

# 15: Distractions and Other Thoughts

Life is great when a person is living just to die for a great and noble cause. When a group of people are not Christians, the ethics of “an eye for an eye” should be applied. Grace only applies when Christ truly is one’s leader, which is confirmed not by what one says but by how one lives. When grace is practiced without Christ, the result is debauchery. That is, when unbelievers are forgiven for deliberate and premeditated wrongdoing, grace is made into an old Santa Claus. With those thoughts in mind, anyone can see why the legal and penal systems in America are in shambles.

Christianity is not so much a religion, but a way of life in which God is worshiped apart from the physical. This is what I mean: the formalities or morals that religion imposes are not of spiritual substance. The Spirit of God is the impetus that dictates to one’s mind what to believe, how to live, and how to love. If the inspiration is accepted, it will eventually enter the heart and materialize in the life.

Are you ready for this one? What hard-core evidence can we display beyond a shadow of a doubt in the court of God’s law which tells Christ, the holy angels, and doubting humanity that we believed and obeyed what He commanded? In other words, what tangible, undisputable proof can we present that we are real Christians? As mentioned in a previous post, most of what we do on earth is a distraction from keeping our minds on spiritual matters. The way to minimize these distractions and still be able to function in our sophisticated society will, at all times, be a great challenge.

The reason I coined what we do as “satisfying distractions” is because normally what we do in the course of a day gives us some form of satisfaction. It is this satisfaction that is harmful to our relationship with Christ. For when we are satisfied with whatever, it is impossible for spiritual substance to satisfy us—our spiritual satisfaction, if any, becomes superficial. Of course, what satisfies most is of greatest importance to us, whether we admit it or not. Even if worldly matters and spiritual matters were to have equal importance in our lives, the winner would always be the visible.

It is next to impossible to make God and Christ real—not that they aren’t real—when our lives are full of very important things we are so used to doing. When attempting to clean our lives of earthly distractions, we must be certain that we aren’t left in a vacuum. That empty area must quickly be filled with spiritual substance. If it isn’t, stop there. Don’t do any more cleaning until that time slot is filled with Godly affairs.

The most important activity that is needed in everyone’s life is prayer and fasting. The fasting from food, for a time, deprives us of our most basic satisfaction: desire for nutrition. When done with the right motive, fasting is pleasing to God and should bring us closer to Him. Fasting just for the sake of fasting is of little value to God, though it will have some physical health benefits. What is your reaction to this esoteric and off-the-wall post? Let us know.

# 14: Wrong Motives in the Back Pocket

Here is what I call a holy crying shame: then charismatic men and women who know little or nothing of God’s purpose read the Bible with the wrong motives (self-betterment) and decide to start a new religion, cult or denomination. Most will emphasize certain pleasing sections of the Bible that tickle them pink and downplay other passages which rub them wrong. What becomes the end product is a religion that is man-made to please the desires of sincere but gullible people. To repeat, this is the crime I am attempting to expose. You may ask, “Why?” Because this is the crime that God desires to expose through anyone who has the intestinal fortitude to go against most of what religion has been teaching for the last 2000 years. Words alone will not have the power to expose anything. Words alone will be the start of a new religion. Unless the power of Christ to perform miracles and other supernatural phenomenon is incorporated in the exposing, it will not happen.

Many may say that the words in this paper are the groans of a disgruntled lunatic. I don’t know if I am such, but one thing I know for sure is that life has no permanent value or contentment, living on the natural plane. If, for some reason I can’t live as the designer planned (as a living Christ), I don’t desire to live at all. Living as a Christ is everyone’s potential destiny, if we just can believe it.

It is difficult for the religious to seek God because the “goodness” of their religion (being saved, being born again, having the Spirit of God, and many other religious goodies) stands in the way. What reason do they have not to believe their church leaders? With all these “valuable assets” in their back pocket, what would motivate them to seek God when they already have Him?

As Christ’s followers, with all the goodness and belief we could muster, we deserve only one title: good-for-nothing wretches—hopefully God’s wretches! If we see ourselves as any better than that, we had better have a good look at real goodness (Jesus Christ).

Our natural desires, which feel totally normal and which we certainly couldn’t live without, are a stumbling block and hinder many from seeking God. In other words, how could these natural desires which give us a great and necessary feeling of satisfaction be a hindrance to seeking God? You may be asking, ”What are these desires that are so harmful?” The answer is anything the physical world gives that seems to give inward satisfaction by making life feel great.

# 13: Clones-of-Christ-in-the-Making

All those who become His disciples would learn how God desires humanity to live, and pass it on to the next generation. If, by some chance, the teachings and life of Jesus Christ are taught and lived in a degenerative manner by those who profess to be Christ’s followers, guess what? We end up with Christianity which has been corrupted from as early as the first century and has continued to degenerate until the 21st century, and doesn’t have even a slight resemblance to what the founder desired.

In essence, what I am propounding is that Christianity is nothing less than a number of clones-of-Christ-in-the-making, showing what Christ is like by teaching others how to live as God desires and then pass it on in its original form. Passing it on is one of the most important parts of Christianity. If it is not continually passed on, or if it is passed on in a distorted manner, it will most likely end up as some form of synthetic Christianity.

I in no way desire to belittle the Bible; it is the only writing that tells of God’s plan as to how His Christ has accomplished the impossible and amazing feat of living exactly as His Father God desires. That part of the Bible is as immutable as God Himself, along with the moral standards it sets. But many sections of the Bible are out of date and irrelevant, and therefore do not apply to our modern times. The writers of the New Testament wrote with the only knowledge they had of how the earth, moon, sun and stars functioned. That is not an error. Mark writes, “With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.” Mark 4:33.

Let me give an excellent analogy: Henry Ford in the early part of the 20th century was making an excellent automobile for his time—the Model T Ford. It was the best that the average person could buy. Now, in the year 2005, if someone wanted the best auto made and for some reason, Ford was still making the Model T along side the new 2005 models, which one would the public buy? Oh, it would be nice to have an antique auto in mint condition, but for general use, it wouldn’t be practical in this modern age. The basic design is the same: the Model T had four wheels, an engine, a steering wheel, and several seats, yet there were few other similarities to our modern cars.

The Bible is the same. Our general knowledge of the laws of physics and all the other sciences nowadays is many times more than the early writers could ever dream of. Therefore, any Bible verses that are contrary to present-day knowledge and facts must be updated, at least in our understanding of the Bible, without taking away the authority of God’s word. If we don’t, what has happened and will continue to happen is that some of the greatest minds in the world will continue to shun God and the Bible as an out-of-date book that is made only for the unlearned and foolish.

I truly believe that God and modern science (evolution, biology, archaeology, etc.) could easily blend and become coauthors of what God, Christ, and the Christian life are all about. That is, in part, my seemingly impossible mission.

# 12: Wasted Lives

When people do not live up to the potential expectations of the One who designed them, it is not only sad for the Designer but also devastating for the humans who have lived wasted lives. Through the power of belief, all humans were meant to become extensions of Almighty God. If you were The Invisible God, what would be the most effective and convincing way to display yourself to humanity so that they too could also become powerful gods? Remember that God desires to make Himself visible through people who not only believed in His existence but also obeyed what He commanded.

I am sure there may have been many ways for God to propagate Himself into humans, but what was the best way? One difficulty is that it was impossible for a spirit being (God) to teach and show His creation what He is like without some sort of visible, physical body. Of course, God could have come to earth in the form of an angel or some other heavenly form, but angels and the like would only terrify most people. God doesn’t want people to come to Him out of fear. Therefore, scare tactics were out of the question. He could have come as a fully-grown man or woman, but what about his childhood and where He came from, if and when He was asked? He couldn’t lie; He would have to tell the truth and reveal how He took the form of a human but wasn’t really human like the rest of humanity.

Here is another problem that would come up: He would have to teach not only with words but with His life. If He said—which He did—“I am your example as to how you should live,” the response would certainly be, “Sure, You can live the perfect life because you are not fully human as we are.” Therefore, as anyone can see, coming to earth in that manner wouldn’t work.

The only possible and practical way He could come to earth and show mankind what He was like was to come to earth as a baby who was fully human. Yes, God came to earth in the body of baby Jesus. But what would happen when He became an adult and finally died or got himself killed? Who would show, not so much tell, the next generation of humanity what God was like? Here is where genuine active Christianity—not holy words or even an inspired book—comes into play.

# 11: Made Pure and Holy

Because of man’s sin-nature, we could never be in the company of a perfect God. How could a chosen humanity overcome this flaw? There is no possible way, unless God could somehow make believers pure and holy. Here is where belief and grace become inseparable partners. Since belief is the most valuable commodity to God, He figured out a way before time began to use belief to overcome our sin-nature. If a person wholeheartedly believes in God’s plan to make him or her perfect, then God would count that belief as righteousness—that is grace at its highest level.

That plan was to give His only perfect son (God with a human nature) in marriage (figuratively speaking: the closest bond possible where all parties become one) to a believing humanity. It certainly would be a disgrace if God allowed His son into His presence but rejected His bride. In return, through belief, the bride (genuine Christian) must promise to continually aim in the direction of living up to the status of her bridegroom, even though the complete transformation will not take place in this life.

That transformation is the Christian life which God will bring to completion in His presence. It is not merely the transformation process in this life that is of value to God, but one’s coinciding belief in God’s ability to perform what He has said. Though this principle is simple in theory, it is extremely challenging, to say the least, to believe and especially implement.

# 10: Necessary Distractions Get in the Way

It is difficult, to say the least—if not impossible—to make the Invisible God as real as the visible world. The only possible way this can be accomplished is to keep the invisible on one’s mind and in one’s life at all times. That in itself would be extremely difficult to do. When the invisible is not as real as the physical, the physical wins as to who gets the most attention and is the most valuable.

If the above statement is true, which I truly believe, then we can see why God or Christ is not visible in today’s world. Christ cannot make Himself real or active in a life that is dominated by things, obligations, and the desires that money can satisfy, regardless of how good or necessary they may be. So, when the Apostle Paul wrote to “Pray continually,” he knew what he was talking about. When people have Godly matters on their minds at all times, the result will be Christ-like actions.

This, very likely, is one of the most important principles in living a Christ-like life. You may ask, “Does a person have to live in the above manner to be saved, born again and be a follower of Christ?” Let’s answer that question with a question: How can a person be doing God’s business and his own business at the same time? You cannot have two masters. That is the main reason why Christ or God is not visible in this world. We have many who claim to be living for Christ, but in reality most are living to further their own cause in the name of Christ. That is the essence of religion: me, me, me, my salvation, my eternal life, my family. My, my, my, in the name of God. Until “self” is out of the picture, Christ is powerless in those lives, and if they know it or not, they may be pseudo-Christians. Will the real Christian please stand up?

Exactly what did Jesus Christ bestow on His followers by His life, death, and resurrection? By His life, Christ showed His followers how to live and to prove to the world that a man or woman can become a powerful god. By His death, He died in our place, but just as importantly, He showed us that death is not to be feared. By His resurrection, he gave us the most important of all gifts: his status as a risen God. The sad thing is that this precious gift is of no value if it is not believed and acted upon, to actually live the part; in pragmatic terms, it is beyond easy description.

After Jesus’ resurrection, He had powers which He didn’t have before. That was the reason He said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” [emphasis added] John 14:12. Do we see any such things happening nowadays? Absolutely not. That can only mean that Jesus was mistaken, or that present-day religion is mistaken.

I strongly oppose any religious talk that states: “That power was only for the disciples in that period of time and wasn’t meant for us.” The reason Christ’s resurrection power is not available to present-day “Christians” is because our lives are full of pleasing and satisfying distractions which we feel we can’t live without or don’t feel it is necessary to live without. Remember, all that the world considers as satisfying is a hindrance to the worship of God.

In order to remove doubt from one’s belief, he or she must be so close to Christ that when a request is made to God, that person will be absolutely certain of the result. That certainty can’t come when a life is full of necessary worldly matters. “The worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and desire for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” Mark 4:19.

Therefore, the secret is to get as close to Christ as humanly possible, with no excuses. Then, Jesus Christ will become visible again with power, in the lives of His disciples.

# 9: A Message for Evangelicals, Pentecostal, Assemblies of God, etc.

It is extremely important to be absolutely certain that our lives and beliefs are in accordance with the New Testament Scripture, and not only in harmony with what our church pastors/ministers preach. That is to say, anyone who is serious about their Godly devotion must make sure they are not being tricked or deceived. This is truly a life-or-death situation. Repeating, the only way we can tell is by comparing our personal value system with the teachings of Jesus Christ.

When going through the four Gospels and Epistles, not one positive or good word is mentioned concerning financial or material prosperity for Christians. According to any good dictionary, the words “wealthy,” “rich,” and “prosperous” are synonymous: having more than one needs. We must remember that in this ungodly world, prosperity is the most coveted lifestyle. Jesus said, “What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.” Luke 16:15.

Contrary to the comfort and security wealth gives, much is written on the benefits of being needy for Christ’s sake. One might ask, “Is there something ludicrous with Jesus’ teaching?” Some might think so. We must remember that the word “prosperity” is a euphemism (pleasing and modern synonym) for the word “greed.” One’s rebuttal might be this: Is it wrong to be prosperous and at the same time be generous with that wealth by giving 10% of one’s income to his or her church? Answer: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were wealthy and they were disciples of Jesus. Agreed, but how long could they hang on to their wealth/prosperity once they became active disciples, with all the poor Christians in Jerusalem? Not very long.

Quoting the book of Acts, “There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need .” Acts 4:34-35. Another refutation goes something like this: The wealthy can give more money to their church than the poor or average person, making them more valuable. Answer: yes, while the prosperous live it up, indulging in their wealthy, wasteful lifestyle.

Then others will point to the wealth Abraham and Solomon had, as depicted in the Old Testament. That was before the Christian era. Christ made it extremely clear, over and over again, that being prosperous and being His followers clash. One more alibi to legitimize Christian prosperity: The Apostle John in his letter to Gaius writes, “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well,” 3rd John, second verse, New International Bible. The out dated King James version reads this way: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

It is certain that the Apostle John is not referring to financial prosperity, which some claim. Remember that the Apostle John was in the company of Jesus for three years and knew well all the nasty things Jesus said about wealth. There are many reasons for the negative effect of wealth on Christians, but the main reason is that the Christian community has or should have equality in distribution of wealth to whomever is in need. Another argument is that money talks and has power to override what is right and just in God’s sight. Still another rebuttal is that the prosperous were in better standing with God, because God blessed them with money. If that were true, then all Christians would desire God’s blessing of wealth, so they too could put more money in the church coffers and give God the credit for their prosperity, all the while living it up (the good life).

Another argument goes something like this: God wants the very best of everything for His people. Granted, the very best is spiritual wealth: to be like Jesus. That is the paradigm that every genuine Christian should make as their holy grail.

Therefore, it can be emphatically stated that there is not one word in the New Testament to substantiate or legitimize financial or material riches. That is not to say a wealthy person cannot become a Christian, but to remain wealthy is where the heresy starts. This statement will be extremely hard for wealthy people to swallow. It is easy to understand that anyone who relinquishes their wealth for the sake of being obedient to God’s word must be out of their mind according to the standards of this world. And that is what it will take for the rich to become genuine Bible-believing Christians.

Therefore, we all must let the millions of people entrenched in the prosperity movement know that they are treading on a deceptive and deadly theology.

To determine if what is written in this short essay is true or false, click on the Table of Contents post # 2 “Hard-Edged Bible Verses.” That would be a good section to copy. Show it to your church leader(s). Ask for a response. Or give it to a friend who is caught up in the prosperity movement. Or give them the address to this blog. Get involved. Let us hear what you believe.