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July 21, 2014
“Coming Home” has many different emotions to all people. But the root of the idea of coming home brings a sense of contentment. In some way we think that by coming home we can reset the chaos of our lives and ease our burdens. Home is where a lot of us had a joyful life. That is before all the earthy chaos set in for our adult lives. But as you and I both know we can never truly go home. Things will never be the way they were and “Going Home” is always an illusion that things were perfect back then.
This brings me to the point of the last lesson the Lord had men write about “It’s Time For Just The Cross”.The Lord had me write this and now my heart more than ever is being encouraged by the Lord to proclaim to all of us that we need to get back to the basics - Christ Crucified and Risen. I have spent this past weekend compiling at least 50 pages of notes on Church History and I have just scratched the surface. Most of us go to a denomination because
1. It is close to our house
2. It is how we were brought up
3. The church seems to be thriving
Many of you may know this but I thought the Salvation Army was volunteers that just dressed up to collect money to help the poor. I did not realize
"The Salvation Army is a Christian denominational church and international charitable organization structured in a quasi-military fashion. The organization reports worldwide membership of over 1.5 million,consisting of soldiers, officers and adherents known as Salvationists. Its founders Catherine and William Booth sought to bring salvation to the poor, destitute and hungry by meeting both their "physical and spiritual needs". The theology of the Salvation Army is mainstream Methodist although it is distinctive in government and practice. The Army's doctrine follows mainstream Christian beliefs, and its articles of faith emphasize God's "saving purposes". Its objects are "the advancement of the Christian religion… of education, the relief of poverty, and other charitable objects beneficial to society or the community of mankind as a whole."The Army was founded in 1865 in London by one-time Methodist minister William Booth. Originally known as the East London Christian Mission, in 1878 Booth reorganized the mission, becoming its first General and introducing the military structure which has been retained to the present day.” The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.Wikipedia and The Salvation Army.org
For some reason when I see the Salvation Army I only see smiling faces ringing a bell with a kettle. It never occurred to me that they are an army for the Salvation of peoples souls. In another denomination
“Historians trace the earliest church labeled "Baptist" back to 1609 in Amsterdam, with English Separatist John Smyth as its pastor. In accordance with his reading of the New Testament, he rejected baptism of infants and instituted baptism only of believing adults.” Wikipedia and Church History Christianity Today
Some churches still sprinkle today for infant Baptism but the Baptist church was started to discount this practice and they only believe in full immersion. Of course they have another mainstream doctrines but the point I am making is that after “The Cross” different people started denominations based upon things that they did not like about other denominations and felt that they could do it better or it was “More Biblical” in THEIR interpretation.
Even so with the translation of the Bible from Greek - The New Testament was originally in Greek or Aramaic. Christians translated both Testaments into Coptic, Ethiopian, Gothic, and Latin. St. Jerome's Latin Vulgate was the standard Christian translation for 1,000 years. New learning in the 15th-16th century generated new translations. Martin Luther translated the entire Bible into German (1522-34). The first complete English translation, credited to John Wycliffe, appeared in 1382, but it was the King James version (1611) that became the standard for more than three centuries.
Some people will not go to a church that does not read out of the King James Bible. Some have said The New International Version or NIV was written from the King James but no it was created using the ancient Hebrew and Aramaic texts. https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/ What I am getting to is this. Many peoples ”OPINIONS” over the years have formed new denominations, NOT BY REVELATION from God but just because people interpreted the Bible differently. The more I look into all the denominations, doctrines, rituals and on and I see more chaos than unity of the Christian brethren. So in essence we even have divisions among churches on what Bible to read.
Ephesians 4:1-6 ,29-32 ”As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
If we did not have any denominations wouldn’t this be a great mission statement. But there is one even better than this and it is given to us by Jesus Himself.
Luke 10:27 “He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
When we think and pray with our “Heart ,soul and mind with all our strength” then we have no time for bickering, anger, malice, discord or arrogance. One of the last words spoken on the cross by Jesus was “It is finished”. In Greek it is one word Tetelestai.
“The word tetelestai was also written on business documents or receipts in New Testament times to show indicating that a bill had been paid in full.” Bible.org Yes, thank you Jesus for doing what we could never do and paying OUR debt in full.
All we will ever need for now and eternity is taken from the cross. That is why I love the picture of an empty cross. When Christ died on the cross He deftead sin. BUT when Christ rose from the dead He not only defeated death but for all those who believe in Him we now have a place in Heaven RESERVED. Not of anything we have done but the free gift through Grace of the pain and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The purpose of me going over Church History is not to discount any religion, denomination or doctrine. Buy I pray that in so doing that you will see how much confusion we have created in a single message to “It Is Finsihed”. Either it is finished or it isn’t! May we lay all our burdens, hopes and dreams, anger, hostility and opinions at the cross. may we all be united under the Sacrifice of Christ. Then may our time be spent NOT on creating more reasons why our opinions of doctrine are valid but go out and DO for Christ. May be help the poor instead of having another meeting. May we hold and pray for the sick instead of fighting amongst ourselves and may we love others as Jesus loves us. That is the Gospel.
Let everything else go, IT IS FINISHED. Thank you Jesus
Brad
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