People like to hear a convenient gospel called the gospel of salvation.
Yes. The Kingdom previously unavailable but available to us now, is our salvation. Jesus taught it and died to bring it, along with a return to God's governance about. He opened a door for us once denied since the Garden, until resurrection for all was made possible. Those who spout on about salvation alone could be considered as selfish because that is a me me me thing they are happy about, a crowd pleaser that draws them into institutionalised religion. I"M saved... me me me. All this while Jesus taught the focus was to be on others. That of course, is definitely not a crowd pleaser nor a draw to a church that wants congregants and their money. People want something for themselves. When it comes to religion, what's in it for me. Self within Christianity is the wide path. Others is the narrow way.
They create doctrines while at the same time warning a simple twist of scripture is the work of the devil. I might say that this 'me' doctrine is the simple twist spoken of, where man and the Adversary turned Jesus' teachings back into being about us rather than God and others. All this can be yours and the institution accepted what Jesus would not.
Jesus's teachings were about others, so drawing people into churches under false pretenses could be the reason so many are leaving the church, save perhaps for elite and middle class evangelicals who think they have it made without needing any consideration for others. Personally, I don't ask anyone do you want to be saved. I ask what they think is wrong with the world and what do they think would be the cure. Some don't know, some think power overcomes power. Perhaps six out of ten say something along the lines of loving your neighbour. All they need then is an introduction to who coined the phrase and taught us the merits of serving others rather than self.
The problem seems to be with those who pick and chose to create their own doctrines or who follow them once established. Such as (paraphrasing), 'you are saved and may put yourself before the will of God as you need not concern yourself about others unless there is a tax incentive involved'. Or better yet, 'we are of the Kingdom and governance of God but have chosen to rejoin it's opposite, the world and governance of man for the opportunity it gives us in world power, so we have decided to ignore the Kingdom and focus on salvation.' Subtle but glaringly obvious twists... if one knows the Gospel of the Kingdom also.
© ...timothyu
Yes. The Kingdom previously unavailable but available to us now, is our salvation. Jesus taught it and died to bring it, along with a return to God's governance about. He opened a door for us once denied since the Garden, until resurrection for all was made possible. Those who spout on about salvation alone could be considered as selfish because that is a me me me thing they are happy about, a crowd pleaser that draws them into institutionalised religion. I"M saved... me me me. All this while Jesus taught the focus was to be on others. That of course, is definitely not a crowd pleaser nor a draw to a church that wants congregants and their money. People want something for themselves. When it comes to religion, what's in it for me. Self within Christianity is the wide path. Others is the narrow way.
They create doctrines while at the same time warning a simple twist of scripture is the work of the devil. I might say that this 'me' doctrine is the simple twist spoken of, where man and the Adversary turned Jesus' teachings back into being about us rather than God and others. All this can be yours and the institution accepted what Jesus would not.
Jesus's teachings were about others, so drawing people into churches under false pretenses could be the reason so many are leaving the church, save perhaps for elite and middle class evangelicals who think they have it made without needing any consideration for others. Personally, I don't ask anyone do you want to be saved. I ask what they think is wrong with the world and what do they think would be the cure. Some don't know, some think power overcomes power. Perhaps six out of ten say something along the lines of loving your neighbour. All they need then is an introduction to who coined the phrase and taught us the merits of serving others rather than self.
The problem seems to be with those who pick and chose to create their own doctrines or who follow them once established. Such as (paraphrasing), 'you are saved and may put yourself before the will of God as you need not concern yourself about others unless there is a tax incentive involved'. Or better yet, 'we are of the Kingdom and governance of God but have chosen to rejoin it's opposite, the world and governance of man for the opportunity it gives us in world power, so we have decided to ignore the Kingdom and focus on salvation.' Subtle but glaringly obvious twists... if one knows the Gospel of the Kingdom also.
© ...timothyu
