# 62: It Wasn't Meant To Be This Way

Since today’s Christian religion in America is mostly oriented toward fulfilling the superficial desires and wants of Americans, there is substantial Biblical evidence that what we call Christianity is far removed from what its original intention was. What I am saying is that there is something dramatically wrong in its structure. First of all, Christianity was always meant to be minute in comparison to the world population. In Matthew 22:14, here is how it reads: “For many are invited, but FEW are chosen.” In the six Bibles I am quoting from, the word “invited” is used in five and the word “called” is used once. The other word that can be disputed is the word “few.” How many are a few? We will rely on Webster again. “Few”: a small number; scarce; rare; a small select group; not many. Another verse that gives substance to my thesis is in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life and only a FEW will find it.”

Let us add several more verses to corroborate the above verses. “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, FLEE to another.” Matthew 10:23-24. It isn’t that Jesus Christ didn’t desire a large group, as the Apostle Paul says in 1st Timothy 2:4: “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.” But the truth of the matter is this: “Lord, are only a few going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make EVERY EFFORT to enter through the narrow door, because MANY [the religious], I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” Luke 13:23-24. The key words are “EVERY,” “EFFORT,” and “MANY.” Are you and I making every effort to be the absolute best Christians in the world? The answer most likely is no. That is the reason there will be only a few Christians, because most of us take a lackadaisical approach to our religion, and unfortunately depend on greasy grace (which doesn’t exist) to slide us through to heaven.

I truly believe that genuine Christians were never meant to be the majority in a large country like ours. Where can we flee when we are persecuted? Persecuted for what? Our lifestyle blends in so nicely with the ungodly population because we live exactly like them, except we may get dressed up on Sunday morning and do our little thing. There are at least half a dozen verses that say we will be persecuted and hated. Why should we be hated? What are Christians supposed to be doing that would make non-Christians hate us? Jesus Christ was hated and persecuted, and so were many of the early Christians because their strange way of life and their living testimony revealed the evil and hypocrisy of other religious people of their time. Should we be doing the same?

There is another verse that I have never heard mentioned by any of the clergy or lay people. In fact, I don’t think most Bible scholars even know it exists. It is in 2nd Timothy 2:3-4. “Endure hardships with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in CIVILIAN AFFAIRS–he wants to please his commanding officer.” Other Bibles say almost the same thing “. . . entangle himself with the affairs of this world.” Another says “. . . tied up in worldly affairs.” In essence, they all say the same thing. [Bible verses are emphasized by using upper case letters.]

If this verse has any value, we missed the mark to such a great degree that a book can easily be written on the subject. To make a long story short, no Christian is to get involved in politics or other worldly affairs, especially warfare. This is why: first, we (genuine Christians) are citizens of another Kingdom that transcends our citizenship as Americans. What interests us—or should interest us—and what interests people of the world are completely contrary. We desire to promote the life and ways of Christ and please our commanding officer (Jesus Christ). On the contrary, the worldly population, led by President Bush, desires to promote the welfare and security of this country by going to war with every nation that may be a “threat” to our national security.

That is the reason we would be persecuted and hated if we were doing our job of being obedient to our Christian Constitution (The New Testament). I am certain these subjects are new to many people who claim to be Christians. What I need from those that believe I am way off base is a good Bible-based rebuttal. If I get no creditable rebuttal, that means the Bible is correct and organized Christianity is in error. I am sure no one expected to click on to such a serious topic, and it is serious. Genuine, American Christians are between a rock and a hard place, with no place to flee.