|
GWR
05
click
below for
AUTHOR'S
VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE
Author's Brief
Testimony
Denominational
Empires become Worldly Kingdoms
When
Religion Becomes a Worldly Empire
Jesus
when asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom
of God was coming, answered;The kingdom of
God is not coming in a way that can be observed;
(21) nor will they say, Look, here it is! or
there it is! For, in fact, the kingdom of God
is among you. (Luke 17:20 - Luke 17:21 20
)
Religion
as church denominations are the best known
expressions of Christian religious life. Why
were holy wars or religious wars fought in
past generations? Why did reformations and
counter reformations occur causing nations
to be pitted against nation, and men and women
pronounced heretic, imprisoned in chains, and
executed by fire or by ax?
Worldly power and dominion were absolutely
NOT what Jesus directed to actualize his kingdom.
His apostles and disciples have always been
sent out as sheep among wolves. Jesus clearly
stated to Pilate the Roman governor, just before
he was crucified, "my kingdom is not
of this world, if it were my followers would
fight." However it is clear that a
future time is coming when the perfect
will have come. In that day the perfect will
include the personal physical rule of Christ
over an earthly kingdom. Jesus reiterated to
Pilate, "Now, my kingdom is Not Of
This World!" Yet, earthly kingdoms
have usurped the purposes and desires of the
Lord. The growth of institutional Christianity
as a political, economic and social power began
quickly after the earliest years of the faith.
The life of God, along with truth and simplicity
of the Gospel began to dissolve. Individual
centers of fellowship were once Spirit led
and non formalistic. The immediacy of first
hand Holy Spirit revelation and Spiritual fellowship
gave way to religious structure and formalism.
The form and power of the Book of Acts church
faded from existence. When religion becomes
bereft of spiritual understanding and becomes
a political force, it does its ugliest, most
evil work. The spiritual house became divided
spiritual and secular and raged against itself.
"The Spirit of Truth is eventually exchanged
for a lie. The 'Right Spirit' which is self
denial or selflessness is exchanged for the
spirit of pride and supremacy. The final fruit
of worldly power is domination, control, vengeance,
retribution and the spirit of murder.
Satan always a spiritual opportunist, seeks
an opportunity to subvert and to usurp control
of the church. Demonically inspired doctrines
creep in gradually until the house is divided.
Vanity in the name of religion reigns in gaudy
splendor. and individuals rule over ordinary
believers. Religious empires once established
must defend their stronghold of power even
with wars and bloodshed. When mere men demand
to rule worldly kingdoms they are known to
raise up swords even against their own brothers,
and to destroy one another in the name of God.
The wisdom and counsel of God's Word which
cautions us that we are not to war and contend
against the natural man but against 'spiritual
powers in heavenly places,' is abandoned when
men and nations create worldly kingdoms and
called them God's kingdom? The Kingdom of God
and Truth taught in the gospel is exchanged
for something without eternal substance. As
Jesus explained to pilot, "My kingdom
is not of this world, if it were of this world
my people would fight. But now
it is not of this world." Denominationalism
continues to build its own worldly kingdoms.
They foster their own "princes and nobles"
and rulers of states. Great religious denominations
though they have largely departed from the
faith at once presented by the apostles continue
to set up heirachies of authority assigning
their own rulers, lesser nobles to set themselves
over multitudes of serfs who continue to serve
the masters of religious fiefdoms. Those called
the laiety always segregated from the priest
class are served the usual rations of spiritual
gruel that does little to nourish the "inner
man" nor set him free. Among the manifold
religious traditions of which we are familiar,
there are many serious departures from understanding
of truth brought forth in the earliest days
of the gospel to the gentiles. We have suffered
a gradual trasformation into forms of godliness
and away from the promise of living as a new
creation with liberty in a regenerated spiritual
life, alive in righteousnes, power, and fruitfulness.
NEXT
CHAPTER
E
Book 1:
The
Gospel Without Religion
E Book 2:
A
Disciples Handbook
E Book 3:
Mysteries
in the Bible Index
to all Charles Pinkney Christian Titles
Index
to all Charles Pinkney Christian Titles
Resources:
Understanding Home Fellowships
Frank Viola Interviews a typical church-goer
(Discussion of Open Church)
Frank
Viola
"Who's Your Covering"
"Rethinking the Wineskin"
Sid
Roth
Guest, George Barna
"Moving beyond the established church"
Barna's
Book: "Revolution"
Interview 2/20/2006 http://www.sidroth.org
Sid
Roth Guest:
Tim and Katie Mather
Subject: Open Church
http://www.sidroth.org/radio.htm
Guest:
Jim Rutz
Author of Book: "Megashift, "
"Experiencing the fullness of God
outside of Institutional Religion"
Subject: Open Church
http://www.sidroth.org/radio.htm
|
