Dear Christian,

 

This month's article is an opportunity to "muse" about our Christianity as a new year begins. This is an opportune time to reassess our thinking, our faith, and our relationship with everything and everyone we encounter. So, this is a personal letter from one Christian to others -- or to some who may be contemplating a true Christian relationship with God.

 

We at this website are independent of all denominational affiliation and thinking. We do not make it a point to force our viewpoints on anyone -- although we love to share; and we think we have much that is very worthwhile to be shared. We simply offer whatever Scripturally-backed information we can find for the consideration of others who may be seeking better answers or better understandings than they currently have.

 

We have made no secret about our understanding that "Christianity," as it is generally known and promoted, has strayed about as far as it is possible to get from the teachings of our Lord Jesus and his appointed Apostles. Most of Christianity offers no rational answers to what is happening around us.  It goes from the extremes of ranting and raving about the horrible things about to happen (particularly to unbelievers) to, on the other side of the question, a complete lack of knowledge or care -- only thinking about personal welfare after death. We find this deplorable!

 

 

PROPHECY

 

We live in a day when prophecy is being fulfilled in many areas -- and in a day when much more stunning and beautiful prophecy is about to have its fulfillment. Any number of prophecies can be mentioned here; but for the purpose of this letter, we will do only generalizing while FOCUSING on the main point of ALL prophecy. Please consider the kind of inspirational joy found in a simple two-sentence prophecy found in Isaiah 14:7 --

 

    The whole earth is at rest and is quiet. They break forth into singing!

 

Can we IMAGiNE that? This will happen shortly after another short prophecy from Psalm 46:10 happens.  The noise of mankind's final uproar will be interrupted by God, Himself, as He orders --

 

    BE STILL!  And know that I am God!  I will be exalted among the heathen.

    I will be exalted among the nations.

 

The point of prophecy escapes nearly everyone. And until that point is recognized, there will be no comfort for humanity.  Nearly NO ONE -- even though so many pray for it -- truly believes that God will intervene and establish a wonderful life-giving, peace-giving, and incredibly beautiful new government and society on this earth. "Thy Kingdom come" has been prayed billions of times.  But it seems nearly no one seeks it, expects it, or -- to our shame! -- WANTS it!  But all prophecy is worthless without this as its objective.

 

 

DOCTRINE

 

"Doctrine" simply means TEACHINGS. And there is NO SOURCE for teachings coming from God other than the Bible.  Some of us might not even be aware of it, but there are major churches which actually believe that their authority is so great that they can over-ride the Bible by their own pronouncements and traditions.  We can only witness and imagine how this has affected Christian doctrine!  

 

Doctrine, too, is primarily aimed at the promised Kingdom. And most doctrine stems from an original promise made to Abraham. (Paul calls this promise "The Gospel" in Galatians 3:8.)  The original statement is in Genesis 12:3 -- "In you, all the families of the earth will be blessed."  THAT is the promised Kingdom on earth!  THAT is the "Gospel."

 

Doctrine, at least for the moment, is provided for those who have a relationship with God.  It does not affect the rest of humanity. God will teach the great majority of humanity once the Kingdom has come -- not before. (Isaiah 11:9)  Nearly none of humanity is currently under judgment for understanding or lack thereof -- nor for behavior.

 

Doctrine is inseparably related to the promise of the Kingdom on earth. And so many erroneous doctrines deny and contradict that promise. We will list only a few of the basic errors which help to blind the majority in "Christendom."

 

    -  It is WRONG to say that we have immortal souls.

    -  It is WRONG to say that we aren't dead when we die.

    -  It is WRONG to say that all people are now being judged for their eternity.

    -  It is WRONG to say that there is a place of eternal torment.

 

But there is a doctrinal position that is true -- that unites all Scripture behind the promise of "Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven."  

 

    -  It is TRUE that there are TWO SALVATIONS for mankind. A very few

       will be resurrected to a spirit or heavenly existence. The vast majority

       (billions!) will return to be resurrected for an everlasting and joyous life

       on earth as human beings. God never intended to take humanity off the earth!

 

    -  It is TRUE that God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten son

       so that they might gain that promised life. It is thus TRUE that "God is love" --

       He is not "out to get" everyone who currently opposes Him.

 

    -  It is TRUE that God PERMITTED EVIL for a good reason. That reason is

       for the education of all intelligent beings so that, BY FREE CHOICE, they

       will ultimately conform and WANT to conform to His simple rules for

       an eternity of gladness.  Even the world acknowledges that "Experience is the best teacher." That idea was God's invention!

 

    -  It is TRUE that God possesses certain character attributes which cannot be violated and which function in perfect balance with each other. These include LOVE, JUSTICE, POWER, and WISDOM.  It is only because of these that evil could be permitted with its righteous punishment of death -- and YET the race can ESCAPE that death penalty's justice eventually by the justice-satisfying RANSOM sacrifice of Jesus.

 

    -  It is TRUE that God has dealt with different groups of people at different times

       because He is preparing to use them for different purposes once the Kingdom

       is established.

 

 

CHRISTIANITY

 

The current age, devoted to Christianity, is for the specific purpose of developing a personal, intimate, royal, "divine" family for God -- to exist on the plane of existence which only He has occupied in the past eternity. This "family" will also be used as the administrators of the Kingdom of God as it RESTORES humanity to perfection. (Acts 3:20, 21; I Corinthians 15:24; Revelation 20:6)  This "family" is referred to as "The Body of Christ," "The First Resurrection," "The Church," and a number of other descriptive titles.  God has restricted the number (Revelation 14:1) of those to be in that group, and He has considered others who make claims to it as "tares" -- imposters who consider themselves "Christians" but are not so recognized by the Lord. (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43; Matthew 7:21-23)

 

Here, of course we meet the point of this month's article.  If we are the Lord's (Christians), we have the need to establish that fact firmly and actively in our minds, hearts, consciences, focuses, and actions.  We need to meet and talk often with others of like precious faith.  (Hebrews 10:25)  We need to "press down on the mark for prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14) before the age of selection of the Church concludes. And the signs of Scriptural prophecy show that conclusion to be near.  For the sincere Christian, there is no time to delay careful self-examination and zealous dedication.

 

 

 

POLITICS, ECONOMICS, RELIGIONS, SOCIETY

 

If we are "New Creatures in Christ Jesus," we "have this treasure in earthen vessels." In other words, our spiritual thinking is often beclouded by the interests of our flesh and the world around us.  This should not be! And we must struggle mightily with this problem, overcoming it only with the Lord's help.  We must be "transformed by the renewing of the mind" -- learning TO THINK DIFFERENTLY!  (Romans 12:2)

 

It is in harmony with our allegiance to the incoming Kingdom on earth that we have no part in political matters. They are of no interest to us, and we can have no effect on them. We are incapable of knowing who the Lord wants temporarily in power. He is maneuvering earth's affairs so that man's old and corrupt ways of doing things will perish -- to be replaced by the incoming Kingdom. That cannot and will not be accomplished by the efforts of mankind. Knowing and believing that would make us never express our preferences regarding His will. He will raise up or cast down earth's rulers by His great wisdom.  It will all make the Kingdom come at the perfect time.

 

Economics, of course, are a part of man's system of things. Our flesh, of course, likes the stability of predictable and comfortable monetary arrangements.  But God will do away with all such things which create inequalities, power structures, etc.  We need only watch and give the Lord thanks for whichever way He decides to manage such matters.  Economics and economies will disappear along with everything MAN depends upon and has ruined!  And, along with their disappearance, poverty will also disappear!

 

Since most of the world's religious structure -- including much of Christianity -- is man-centered, somewhat corrupt and insincere, and has nothing whatsoever to do with the incoming Kingdom of God on earth, why, oh why, would we want to deal with it, be concerned over it, or even waste time on it?  As the Psalmist wrote (Psalm 76:10, KJV), "The wrath of man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain." It is a wonderful promise in all of these areas of politics, social matters, economics, and religion. And its functional meaning for us is, "Don't worry about it or get involved in any of it!  God has every detail under perfect control."

 

Man's society has been developed over the last six thousand years. The Lord will undo it all before and during the Kingdom as He brings man back to perfection and harmony with God.  Here, again, we have a whole category of things about which we could now worry -- morals, fairness, our part in global warming, immigration, homelessness, jobs, social honesty, prejudices -- and the list could go on and on.  But, as the Psalmist has told us, we (as Christians) have no need (no right!) to worry.  Everything is in Divine hands!

 

As we should be able to see, there is NOTHING that is not subject to the Biblical teaching of the incoming Kingdom of God on earth. We should not only pray for it, but rejoice in it, and make ourselves ready (by the "renewing of our minds" -- Romans 12:2), make ourselves faithful (all with the Lord's help), to be members of its administrators! What an unspeakable calling!

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May we be blessed during the incoming year by watching as the Lord changes things in order to destroy evil completely. May we be blessed with the peace that comes from believing God. May our characters better be conformed to the standards set before us -- particularly if we are the Lord's sincere disciples.

 

 

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