To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Sat, 28 Jul 2001 12:19:47 -0500
Subject: HF040 - Has Christianity Accepted Jesus?
Hebraics,
This is Bible Study HF040 - Has Christianity Accepted Jesus?
In this study we will discuss some high notes and some low notes
concerning Christianity. Some of what I offer will seem bleak. But
the truth of the matter is that no Christian has to worry about the
bleak. The path of the righteous only gets brighter. Biblical
Christians have the high road. Let's begin with a view at how certain Jews
see Christendom.
Some many years ago a questionnaire was sent to known Jewish
leaders in America and in Europe, asking them to share their
thoughts about Jesus. The response was amazing. Just about
every single respondent had good things to say of Jesus, but not
so much good about the Christian Church.
Here are some of what respondents had to say:
"The orthodox Christianity of today [Jesus] would scarcely
recognize, as its chief dogmas were unknown to him."
"The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone
of a new world."
"The crown of thorns on his head makes him only the more our
brother."
"Has Christianity accepted Jesus?"
It was this last statement that grabbed my attention. Is it not
extreme to hear a Jew say, "Has Christianity accepted Jesus?"
How dare they put the shoe on the other foot. But, on second
thought, perhaps it isn't such a brazen question after all. Is it not
possible that many Christians are preaching a Jesus of their own making?
And is it not possible that many people who take up the name Christian,
have never actually received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior?
Did not Paul himself say that it is possible to preach another
Jesus? Did he not say that believers could open themselves up to
a different spirit from the Holy Spirit? And did he not say that it is
possible to preach a different gospel? (Cf. 2 Corinthians 11:4)
Think about it. If we Christians were all preaching the same Jesus,
would we not all love one another unconditionally? After all, is this not
the kind of love that Jesus came to give us? He said, "By this all men
will know you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John
13:35)
How many sectarian groups are there today who make claim to
being the true church, and who sniff at other Christians? And how
many Christian groups today worship the bones of dead men, or
glory in a mother goddess, or preach everything except the gospel
of Jesus Christ? Or, how many Christians today see Jesus as only
a babe in a manger, or at best, leave Him hanging on a cross?
Listen to another respondent: "You (Christians) have tried
everything to get the Jewish people to understand Jesus of
Nazareth, except for one thing, love. Try that, for they believe in
love; and you believe in love. Let both the Jew and the Christian get on
this common ground, and have respect for the honest convictions of one
another, and then both may clasp hands and look into each other's eyes,
and repeat the words uttered alike by Moses and by Jesus: 'The Lord our
God is one God. And Thou shalt love.'"
Are these charges against Christians true? Yes, in many instances
they are most certainly true. Christianity is a vast sea of peoples of
divergent views. You actually have Christian groups who do not believe
that Jesus is the Messiah. Then you have Christian groups who hold to
Jesus with all their hearts, minds, and strength. And this is the greater
truth.
The greater testimony is that there are truly those who belong to
Jesus Christ, who know Him, who love Him, and who have the very
nature of love flowing in their hearts. And it is this nature that
causes all these true believers to love one another, and to
especially love the Jesus of the Bible. The identifying mark of a true
believer will always be the love of Christ.
Part of the problem stems from the fact that the visible Church at
large is a mixture of tares and wheat, of fleshly and spiritual, of the
mature and the immature, of the misguided and of those who have spiritual
depth and insight. Certainly some Christian gatherings will have a greater
percentage of actual believers, but the picture still remains the same.
The Lord will give the angels the charge of separating the true from the
false at the end of the age. But in the meantime, God's true people will
always be like lights shining in a dark place.
Perhaps it should also be said that God's true people will never be
found clumped together in a way that it could be said, "Here is the
Church." The people of the Lord will be found sprinkled around in all
places. Jesus said that we are the 'salt' of the earth. Salt cannot be
used as a clump. It has to be sprinkled and scattered. God's true church
is not an institution. Jesus said that His kingdom was not of this world.
And here is where we learn to trust the Holy Spirit to place us where we
need to be.
However, there actually is an apostate Church in the earth. She is
often seen in her ecclesiastical systems, but her true depth is
beyond our vision. She is a merchandiser of souls. And she rules
over the hearts of kings and presidents. She is described in the
holy writ as "Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots and of the
abominations of the earth." (Revelation 17:5) This system goes
back into ancient times, long before Jesus appeared in human
form. She has been able to change her clothing through the ages.
But she is always the same sorceress. She beguiles and devours.
Even the Jews have come to recognize this ancient apostate
system. Another respondent quotes Jesus, in saying, "As He
(Jesus) foretold, many were called by His name whom He knew
not, and who knew not Him - false prophets who came in sheep's
clothing, but were, within, ravening wolves. Sometimes these
wolves tore the Jews, sometimes they tore one another, and
sometimes they tore the real Christians."
Isn't it interesting that the Jews say there are 'real' Christians who
have suffered along with them at the hands of apostate Christendom. If the
figures were gathered, it would be found that a great many more true
Christians have lost their lives at the hand of this abominable system
than have those of the Jews.
But how can we say that Mystery Babylon today takes on the
guise of an apostate Christendom? One reason is because God
has many people in her. His call to them is, "Come out of her, my
people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her
plagues." (Revelation 18:4) This tells us that the apostate system
actually has born-again people in her ranks.
Well, this apostate system is regaining its strength. And it will
continue to regain strength, until a voice is heard from heaven,
saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a
dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and
a prison of every unclean and hateful bird." (Revelation 18:2)
What is it that gives mystery Babylon her power? Her power is
sorcery, pure and simple. Sorcery is defined as the use of an evil
supernatural power over people and their affairs; witchcraft; black
magic. (We have dealt with this issue so I'll try not to be too
repetitive here.) And sorcery has power to mesmerize the minds of
entire people groups. How do you think Hitler was able to stupefy
and entire nation, including those who called themselves Christian?
From the very pulpits, Hitler was being extolled as a great leader.
Another recognizable sign of this apostate system is her major
goddess figure. A great many Christians today are beginning to
turn to this goddess figure for answers. And many of them are
feeding into the 'goddess' unknowingly. She is sending out
messages around the world. Her false prophets and prophetesses
are making inroads into every kind of group. Peoples are being
conditioned so that when the time is right, they will flow right along
with the appearance of antichrist.
But what about Jesus? Are we to become negative, distrustful, and
overly suspicious about everything? Are true believers to pick up a
persecution complex? Far from it. We already know who wins. And
besides that, all true
Christians have an inside track on the happenings in the earth. As for our
walk with Jesus, the prophet said, "He will be the stability of your
times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord
is His treasure." (Isaiah 33:6)
And so, there is no comparison to be made. Those who are truly
born of God's Spirit, that is, those who have received Jesus Christ
as their personal Savior, are the winners. We know the Shepherd's
voice. So we can say 'yes' to our Jewish friend, "True Christians
have accepted Jesus. This is what we are all about."
Have you accepted Jesus? He is the 'Shepherd of Israel.'
The study is open for discussion.
Shalom in Christ,
Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace
of God; that no root of bitterness springing up
causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)