Will Jesus find Faith when he returns?

Reading into Universalism, the Prevailing Doctrine of the Christian Church During its First Five Hundred Years Wonderful Progress of Christianity at First section., There appears to be strong attraction to Christianity, mostly unchanged and still primitive around 240 A.D.. Christianity seemed to convert whole societies with what appears to be universal salvation and with no & extremely little Trinity style beliefs. From intellectuals to poor, society thrived on Christianity. This is coming from the writings of J.W. HANSON, D. D in his book Universalism The Prevailing Doctrine of 1899 A.D.. I read these things, but take them with a pinch of salt. Evidence of something being true may come from the character of the writer, what he has done & believes, and just checking out his comments. I will read on and then check to see what others are saying about the same.

I am looking for verifiable evidences or facts. I have come to Testimony of the Catacombs section. I have read about these Catacombs (of Rome) before. I am impressed with the facts about them in this section. This is well worth looking over:

Testimony of the Catacombs.

An illuminating side-light is cast on the opinions of the early Christians by the inscriptions and emblems on the monuments in the Roman Catacombs.12 It is well known that from the end of the First to the end of the Fourth Century the early Christians buried their dead, probably with the knowledge and consent of the pagan authorities, in subterranean galleries excavated in the soft rock (tufa) that underlies Rome. These ancient cemeteries were first uncovered A.D. 1578. Already sixty excavations have been made extending five hundred and eighty-seven miles. More than six, some estimates say eight, million bodies are known to have been buried between A.D. 72 and A.D. 410. Eleven thousand epitaphs and inscriptions have been found; few dates are between A.D. 72 and 100; the most are from A.D. 150 to A.D. 410. The galleries are from three to five feet wide and eight feet high, and the niches for bodies are five tiers deep, one above another, each silent tenant in a separate cell. At the entrance of each cell is a tile or slab of marble, once securely cemented and inscribed with name, epitaph, or emblem. 13 Haweis beautifully says in his "Conquering Cross:" "The public life of the early Christian was persecution above ground; his private life was prayer underground." The emblems and inscriptions are most suggestive. The principal device, scratched on slabs, carved on utensils and rings, and seen almost everywhere, is the Good Shepherd, surrounded by his flock and carrying a lamb. But most striking of all, he is found with a goat on his shoulder; which teaches us that even the wicked were at the early date regarded as the objects of the Savior's solicitude, after departing from this life.13

Matthew Arnold has preserved this truth in his immortal verse:14

"He saves the sheep, the goats he doth not save!"
So rang Tertullian's sentence on the side
of that unpitying Phrygian sect which cried,--
"Him can no fount of fresh forgiveness lave,
Whose sins once washed by the baptismal wave!"
So spake the fierce Tertullian. But she sighed,
The infant Church,--of love she felt the tide
Stream on her from her Lord's yet recent grave,
And then she smiled, and in the Catacombs,
With eyes suffused but heart inspired true,
On those walls subterranean, where she hid
Her head in ignominy, death and tombs,
She her Good Shepherd's hasty image drew
And on his shoulders not a lamb, a kid!

This picture is a "distinct protest" against the un-Christian sentiment then already creeping into the church from Paganism.

Everywhere in the Catacombs is the anchor, emblem of that hope which separated Christianity from Paganism. Another symbol is the fish, which plays a prominent part in Christian symbolry. It is curious and instructive to account for this ideograph. It is used as a cryptogram of Christ. The word is a sort of acrostic of the name and office of our Lord.

This concern of Jesus for goats over lambs would be quite evident in universal salvation, since he shows that he loves the goats; or could this be just a glitch in the millions of Christian dead buried there. I have an intuitive belief that that when people make a statement about their love ones, it isn't a glitch, but a deeply held and believed communication.

This section An Impressive Thought contains a logical observation about the mind set of humanity in the area and of the time period. It is worth looking over. Universalism didn't spring up from Paganism or the things of the world, but was a concept coming from a foreign promotion apart from the world.

I am sorry to just say Universalism when I meant to say Christian universalism or Christian universal salvation. Universalism in Christianity was just that universalism. With the change in meanings over the years, Christian won't dare be gay now like they did for perhaps hundreds of years, because the ownership of words change over time. Now, the rainbow's ownership is trying to be claimed by homosexuals and lesbians who have already owned the word gay. I will keep my rainbow given by God and just say that we can understand each other though confusion is the promotion of those who don't want us to know what is going on.

I guess knowledge is two parts for our personal acceptance and faith growth. One is our researching and determined will to keep objectivity and an open mind, respecting the existence of just one truth, God's, not man's or other. Two is as we investigate to discover truth, it starts to build a picture and from this we let our faith in God and Holy Spirit guide us. It is by faith that we believe in Jesus & his Gospel. It will have to be of faith that we slowly attach ourselves to the truth that we discover. Once we have sided with what we find, then it is a part of our faith in Jesus.

bbbbbbb said:

You may find this meditation on the question which was, after all, asked by Jesus Himself, in Luke 18:8 interesting -

?But, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth??

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I will display the summary statement of your interesting article:

This inescapable conclusion, unfortunately, makes me anxious for Tim Wise’s audience at Providence College, the audience that reportedly applauded his attack on the Church. That his audience did not see through the sophistry of his comments is not my greatest concern. What concerns me the most is that Wise’s audience shared his worldly vision of what the Church is; his presumably Catholic audience failed to see the Church through the eyes of faith.

“But, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Otherwords, will the Son of Man find his church?

If the church is scattered around the planet within every corner and Christian organization of it, then to see faith and his church would be hard to do, he would have to call them out and they would come to him. Jesus would see his church, but they would be from all of the Earth, not an organization. The real church is within all who love Jesus and obey him.

Reading deeper in this book in the Early Funeral Emblems section of Universalism, the Prevailing Doctrine of the Christian Church During its First Five Hundred Years , I have posted some of it below:

Still more instructive are the inscriptions. As De Rossi observes, the most ancient inscriptions differ from those of Pagans "more by what they do not say than by what they do say." While the Pagans denote the rank or social position of their dead as clarissima femine, or lady of senatorial rank, Christian epigraphy is destitute of all mention of distinctions. Only the name and some expression of endearment and confidence are inscribed. Says Northcote: "They proceed upon the assumption that there is an incessant interchange of kindly offices between this world and the next, between the living and the dead." Mankind is a brotherhood, and not a word can be found to show any thought of the mutilation of the great fraternity, and the consignment of any portion of it to final despair. Such are these among the inscriptions: "Paxtecum, Urania;" "Peace with thee, Urania;" "Semper in D. vivas, dulcis anima;" "Always in God mayest thou live, sweet soul;" "Mayest thou live in the Lord, and pray for us." They had "emigrated," had been "translated," "born into eternity," but not a word is found expressive of doubt or fear, horror and gloom, such as in subsequent generations formed the staple of the literature of death and the grave, and rendered the Christian graveyard, up to the beginning of the seventeenth century, a horrible place. The first Christians regarded the grave as the doorway into a better world, and expressed only hope and trust in their emblems and inscriptions.

The author has been showing the deferences between Christians before the Roman Empire became legally Christian and afterwards. There are some stark changes. Here as shown in the Catacombs of Rome before Rome became Christian, Christians were very hopeful, cheerful and peaceful. Yet, things changed with the advent of the legal Roman Catholic Church. With the inclusion of lost souls being separated permanently from God and with the confusing Trinity theology, Christians were not so comforting, loving and cheerful. Confidence had left the faith. I would find that the early church believing in universal salvation as very hopeful, thankful, endearing, trusting, comforting and filled with joy, yet also within the same times of the most horrible persecutions. The early primitive faith had a lot that our modern one does not: joy, comfort, obedience to Jesus, trust, hope and great confidence!

bbbbbbb said:

Exactly. How could it be otherwise?

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I wish that all brothers and sisters could recognize this also. It is a common statement from the believers of different churches to think there is a great differences between the churches' Christians.

We should find the one church, but it is not of man's organization, but God's. It is by faith that it exist, and especially by those who love others, especially loving all who profess Christ as their Lord and Savior (loving him, obeying his commands). What Jesus did was even greater than that which can be imagined through man's theologies (Trinity, everlasting tormenting Hell or annihilation). I believe that the most common faith was filled with universal salvation belief. It was a cheerful and loving faith. Our primitive faith has been under attack ever since the beginning, but the persecutions somehow kept the worst leadership and faith changers out of it. Now, with Roman control of faith, it instantly started to have problems. Every single aspect of our primitive faith became a game play by most of the troubled and questionable Christian Leaders. I believe that leadership being comforted by the Roman Empire, and not be the Holy Spirit, became a haven for more cowardly spirited, politically motivated and power hungry Christians. When a soul led by Jesus came into their realm, such was a target by the others who did not follow Jesus. Checking history, Saint John Chrysostom was one such soul.

I am thinking that most of the leadership of the Church without the previous persecution was weak in the original primitive faith, and so all sorts of tares sprang up into control of the now legal Christian faith, not the one guided by the Holy Spirit. The real Anti-Christs came near the beginning of our Christian faith and have had a number one agenda in mind by following things of the world, mind and flesh; that is they must take down the primitive Christian faith to defeat and confuse Jesus' church. Jesus' church instead has become unified and found through obedience and allegiance to Christ alone. I don't believe that this was done deliberately, just that some Christians strayed from Jesus or perhaps never knew him at all.

In China, Christians are under persecutions, even those in the state allowed and controlled churches. These persecutions are very healthy for faith (even our tare laden one would greatly benefit); for in struggle, you find those obeying Christ to lead others whilst they are able to. When China finally submits to Christianity as did the Roman Empire, then comes the old Anti-Christs again to do their evil work, even though Christians may be doing this unknowingly. Yet, for now, China is changing into a heavily converted nation, seemingly adding millions each year to its united underground South & North Churches, and even with the state's authorized Three Self Church. The Chinese conversion is simply amazing, yet the authorities are persecuting most all Christians within its control. When you have to die or suffer for your faith, it is closer to the primitive faith, being more out of the control of the tares. You may say that persecution changes our faith environments to unify them and bring forth true followers of Jesus, as our leadership and help.

Thank you for responding and listening. May those of Jesus' be like bright lights amongst our darkening world. May we find the courage to believe what we find in our hearts as the true primitive faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Progressive salvation refers to the journey of a believer between conversion and death. It is one of three parts to salvation:

from: http://www.theopedia.com/Salvation

1) conversion (start of guaranteed salvation)

2) progressive salvation (efforts of following Jesus)

3) final salvation (Final salvation refers to the event of God saving his people at the final judgment, the great divide between sheep and goats, wherein sheep are identified by their work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, and accepted on the ground of their union with Christ, the righteous substitute.)




Universal salvation or universal reconciliation is the belief that God will eventually reconcile Himself with every immortal soul. That is, everyone will be saved. This doctrine has a long history.

The above from: https://www.google.com/webhp?client...maxthon.com&channel=t18&q=universal+salvation




Another view expressed about universal salvation from: Universal reconciliation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia is listed below:

Universalists espouse various theological beliefs concerning the process or state of salvation, but all adhere to the view that salvation history concludes with the reconciliation of the entire human race to God. Many adherents assert that the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ constitute the mechanism that provides redemption for all humanity and atonement for all sins.




Since in universal reconciliation, Jesus is essential for salvation, then the 1) conversion to believe in Jesus must be a part of universal salvation. This part may come to the lost, after the wrath of God and their period of punishment (eon).

Progressive salvation is sheep only salvation, whereas, universal salvation is sheep and goats will make it through the blood of Jesus, just that the goats must go through their period of punishment (wrath of God) first. Punishment as an eon would appear to be eternal since it is nearly impossible for humans to understand and comprehend such.

The punishment would be soul correcting, that which is needed, then to follow Christ to their part in salvation.

Who would be able to go through another eon of punishment period?

Salvation eventually would be complete for all.

I am thinking that the lost soul will actually agree with their punishment period upon seeing Christ and God on that terrible day of wrath.

This style of punishment makes the entire message of the Bible come together. Hopefully with our determination to save souls (to avoid the remedial and painful Godly correction of the lost souls through his individual judgments according to what each has done), we will be a part of the process of a very caring and loving universal salvation for all. Every soul that we save through Jesus & his Gospel is a part of the work that needs to be done. Sorrow will leave upon light (Jesus) entering into every single soul.

I don't really know how the primitive faith was. The argument seems to lean better towards universal reconciliation & salvation since the earliest Christians seemed to have such a powerful hope with cheer, positive revelations and no remorse. Fear of God in them was a great love & knowledge of God as their Father. They felt saved with great bubbling confidence. They were sober and aware of their place with Jesus. Universal salvation is a much greater hope and extremely positive & just judgment that nobody could really deny. A saved decent and striving holy soul would see Universal salvation as part of their faith in God's justice and hope of all mankind. Such a saved soul would only be moved with great love to reach the masses with Christ and his fantastic message.

I will read more soon in Universalism, the Prevailing Doctrine of the Christian Church During its First Five Hundred Years Have a wonderful day, sober in the greatness awesomeness of our loving Father in Heaven.

There was cheerfulness and gladness to be alive for Jesus or to die for him. This is shown throughout the Catacombs of Rome in images and words of these earliest Christians.

In the section, Cheerful Faith of the First Christians, of Universalism, the Prevailing Doctrine of the Christian Church During its First Five Hundred Years , I have decided to show the whole of it.

Cheerful Faith of the First Christians.

"The fathers of the church live in their voluminous works; the lower orders are only represented by these simple records, from which, with scarcely an exception, sorrow and complaint are banished; the boast of suffering, or an appeal to the revengeful passions is nowhere to be found. One expresses faith, another hope, a third charity. The genius of primitive Christianity--to believe, to love and to suffer--has never been better illustrated. These 'sermons in stones' are addressed to the heart and not to the head--to the feelings rather than to the taste. * * * In all the pictures and scriptures of our Lord's history no reference is ever found to his sufferings or death. No gloomy subjects occur in the cycle of Christian art." (Maitland.) Chrysostom says: "For this cause, too, the place itself is called a cemetery; that you may know that the dead laid there are not dead, but at rest and asleep. For before the coming of Christ death used to be called death, and not only so, but Hades, but after his coming and dying for the life of the world, death came to be called death no longer, but sleep and repose." The word cemeteries, dormitories, shows us that death was regarded as a state of repose and thus a condition of hope. If fact, "in this auspicious world, 15 now for the first time applied to the tomb, there is manifest a sense of hope and immortality, the result of a new religion. A star had arisen on the borders of the grave, dispelling the horror of darkness which had hitherto reigned there; the prospect beyond was now cleared up, and so dazzling was the view of an 'eternal city sculptured in the sky,' that numbers were found eager to rush through the gate of martyrdom, for the hope of entering its starry portals." 16 Says Ruskin: "Not a cross as a symbol in the Catacombs. The earliest certain Latin cross is on the tomb of the Empress Galla Placidia, A.D. 451. No picture of the crucifixion till the Ninth Century, nor any portable crucifix till long after. To the early Christians Christ was living, the one agonized hour was lost in the thought of his glory and triumph. The fall of theology and Christian thought dates from the error of dwelling upon his death instead of his life." 17 Farrar adds: "The symbols of the Catacombs, like every other indication of early teaching, show the glad, bright, loving character of the Christian faith. It was a religion of joy and not of gloom, of life and not of death, of tenderness not of severity. * * * We see in them as in the acts of the apostles, that the keynotes of the music of the Christian life were 'exultation' and 'simplicity.' And how far superior in beauty and significance were these early Christian symbols to the meaninglessness and pagan broken columns and broken rose-buds and skulls and weeping women and inverted torches of our cemeteries. We find in the Catacombs neither the cross of the fifth and sixth centuries nor the crucifixes of the twelfth, nor the torches and martyrdoms of the seventeenth, nor the skeletons of the fifteenth, not the cypresses and death's heads of the eighteenth. Instead of these the symbols of beauty, hope and peace." 18

Walking through these findings, an interesting picture occurs. Christians were almost rushing to their death for Jesus, knowing the joy on the other side.

There is another part to this that may not have been shown here. The earliest Christians were martyred by Pagans, the later Christians beyond the first 500 years, may have been martyred by other Christian brethren, which could have been confusing and setting a new tone in faith, and sadness. The ones who obeyed Jesus and loved their brethren, would most likely have the primitive faith in them and been filled with joy and forgiveness. Faith was getting weaker, because of the disunity and confusion within it.

Back to the above blue ink paragraph from the book that I am reading, these earliest Christians must have been obeying Jesus, for the lack of strife, selfishness, hatred, complaints and revenge. Instead they displayed strong faith: One expresses faith, another hope, a third charity . The last of their lives, they gave purely to Christ. Confidence is something that could be lacking in our modern faith, for we fail to follow Jesus fully. However, the first Christians before 500 A.D., glowed with desire and joy with the opportunity to carry out what Jesus asked of them, especially in martyrdom. I believe that the primitive faith was a joyous faith filled with knowledge of God and Jesus, and the purposes of Christ and his Gospel. Three words may bet describe the primitive faith back then 1) Obedience to Jesus, 2) simplicity of faith, and 3) great joy and hope.

I am afraid that today, people sort of love the world and not too interested in the Kingdom of God, especially considering the cost of martyrdom. This is to say that people of today do not believe in Jesus and don't see persecution joyously like the first real believers did. Another way of saying this is that their faith is very weak, or nonexistence.

To discover the knowledge of primitive faith is most likely done by believing in Christ. Now with theologies the way that they are, it is difficult to understand the way that theologians have portrayed Jesus & our Father. That could be another reason why, true belief is rare today.

I am sorry to say, that I need to get rest, too sleepy to continue here. Have a great day.

I have found a very early Christian Father's writing that is quite interesting. It is located at Didache. The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles (translation Roberts-Donaldson). This writing was a very old (maybe as early as 50 A.D.) instructional text for new believers, those from Pagan Gentiles, probably from rural areas.

This section is interesting, for it is a prayer for the protection and unity of God's church.

Chapter 10. Prayer after Communion. But after you are filled, give thanks this way:

We thank Thee, holy Father, for Thy holy name which You didst cause to tabernacle in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality, which You modest known to us through Jesus Thy Servant; to Thee be the glory for ever. Thou, Master almighty, didst create all things for Thy name's sake; You gavest food and drink to men for enjoyment, that they might give thanks to Thee; but to us You didst freely give spiritual food and drink and life eternal through Thy Servant. Before all things we thank Thee that You are mighty; to Thee be the glory for ever. Remember, Lord, Thy Church, to deliver it from all evil and to make it perfect in Thy love, and gather it from the four winds, sanctified for Thy kingdom which Thou have prepared for it; for Thine is the power and the glory for ever. Let grace come, and let this world pass away. Hosanna to the God (Son) of David! If any one is holy, let him come; if any one is not so, let him repent. Maranatha. Amen.

But permit the prophets to make Thanksgiving as much as they desire.

Continuing in http://earlychristianwritings.com/text/didache-roberts.html , there is a definite hint in this part of the text of the mortal sin, unforgivable sin. It seems like asking for money for oneself as a spiritual leader (or maybe as a mature Christian) is an unforgivable sin. This is important for our primitive faith saw money as a test and maybe desire of it as an unforgivable sin? The early church went over the commands and teachings of Christ as they made up the faith of Christians, not any theologies which had come up much later and were very slow in being acceptable to the churches.


Chapter 11. Concerning Teachers, Apostles, and Prophets.

Whosoever, therefore, comes and teaches you all these things that have been said before, receive him. But if the teacher himself turns and teaches another doctrine to the destruction of this, hear him not. But if he teaches so as to increase righteousness and the knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord. But concerning the apostles and prophets, act according to the decree of the Gospel. Let every apostle who comes to you be received as the Lord. But he shall not remain more than one day; or two days, if there's a need. But if he remains three days, he is a false prophet. And when the apostle goes away, let him take nothing but bread until he lodges. If he asks for money, he is a false prophet. And every prophet who speaks in the Spirit you shall neither try nor judge; for every sin shall be forgiven, but this sin shall not be forgiven. But not every one who speaks in the Spirit is a prophet; but only if he holds the ways of the Lord. Therefore from their ways shall the false prophet and the prophet be known. And every prophet who orders a meal in the Spirit does not eat it, unless he is indeed a false prophet. And every prophet who teaches the truth, but does not do what he teaches, is a false prophet. And every prophet, proved true, working unto the mystery of the Church in the world, yet not teaching others to do what he himself does, shall not be judged among you, for with God he has his judgment; for so did also the ancient prophets. But whoever says in the Spirit, Give me money, or something else, you shall not listen to him. But if he tells you to give for others' sake who are in need, let no one judge him.

I am trying to find Christianity's primitive faith. I read the Epistle of Barnabas and found myself wanting to leave it. It just sounded suspect of being rather lesser Christian writer or spiritual leader. I don't like judging, but I don't like being led unknowingly where? If I judged myself, I am afraid that my judgment would not go well, for I know myself and my weaknesses. I hope all of this will help me and perhaps others listening into being a more spiritual Christian. I want this of myself. The writings that are of God, inspired so, help me a lot to understand the importance of being as Jesus wants us to be, moral, loving, caring, meek, lowly, serving, trusting God, giving and taking Jesus' commands and teachings very very seriously.

Before closing on Didache. The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles (translation Roberts-Donaldson). , I found an interesting statement that some will not like.

Chapter 14. Christian Assembly on the Lord's Day.

But every Lord's day gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one who is at odds with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned. For this is that which was spoken by the Lord: "In every place and time offer to me a pure sacrifice; for I am a great King, says the Lord, and my name is wonderful among the nations."

The early church seem to have met on the Lord's day (Jesus' resurrection day, Sunday) and not mentioning the Sabbath Day (Saturday) as a day to meet or gather. Another thing that is very important to the faith is to confess your transgressions and be reconciled to others, as much as you are able to. The early church and faith was a holy thing before God.

Back to the Universalism, the Prevailing Doctrine of the Christian Church During its First Five Hundred Years in the section Dean Stanley's Testimony., this Dean Stanley made a comment that a void in writing occurred between Paul's last writings and almost eighty years later until the writings of the Christian fathers. However there were some Christian writings and signs from the Catacombs of Rome during this voided time. It would be best to google the Catacombs to see into this period of where the primitive faith was.

As I read about the history of the earliest Christians, I see that converted Gentiles had Pagan influences that seem to bring into the Christian faith foreign beliefs. This was happening all over the spectrum of the early forming faith. Christian leaders held foreign beliefs, but they were side notes to their faith, yet these added weight to the invasion of Paganism into early Christianity. How could any convert know how to be a real follower of Jesus with leadership bringing in their Pagan influences in these small subtle ways? They did! How? They simple obeyed Jesus before anything else, even if it were religiously required. That is the way we have people making it into Jesus' Kingdom of God. The road map is Jesus, for He stated that he was, he was their faith and religion, they had ears and they listened to him. Jesus, not the Bible, is God's living and active Word that brings life. This is true, but the road map is Jesus in the Bible. God did preserve that which wasn't important to worldly Christians, Pagan influenced Christians or other tared laden Christians. I don't believe that the teachings and commands of Jesus were considered as a threat by Satan, since humanity and flesh were not interested in them, instead they were interested in the theatrics added from Paganism, worldliness, flesh desires and the Christian organization's guarantees of salvation.

The early church was filled with faith and following Jesus. How thrilled could you be in following Pagan influences such as everlasting torment in Hell intendedly for what might appear as innocent lost souls since the Word did not reach them in time and how about the confusing three headed Trinity Gods in God? I don't think that the early church could have survived with such things to believe in and follow. Their faith was so simple and beautiful to follow. Thank goodness that they didn't have our New Testament, for it had already been corrupted bringing into it the tares growing around the world planted by Satan. This statement that I just made should offend most everyone here and in the Christian community. I don't write to attract with complimentary words readers, but I try as best as I can to see what has happened to our faith. The subtle changes in the writings with the New Testament, from many Pagan influenced Christian leaders, corrupted the dominate Christendom faiths. I don't find these changes present in the heartfelt believers of the primitive church's faith. Instead, they gladly ran into martyrdom to enter into God's perfect Heaven and Kingdom. They were taught almost directly by Jesus and his chosen disciples. They knew what to believe and who to follow. We today still have Jesus & his message, the real Word. We are helped by the Holy Spirit, but never by the tares presently within Christianity!

I can see that I should not talk to new converts, for they don't have a clue as to what I am saying. I would only present a confusing profile of the church and faith. Yet, to learned & mature Christians, I can speak about things that they relate to and may have seen or suspected. As me, they are confounded by the mire of confusion over Christendom. A new convert may leave their faith upon seeing such problems. We have to restore our faith, but we need help. God can help us and at the proper time, he will. This primitive faith will return before Jesus comes back, I believe. The world today is unlike the days of Jesus. It is less honorable, more intolerant, extremely corrupt & immoral. Christianity is its enemy. We ought to be happy if we have the primitive faith within us, that we can suffer for Christ and be martyrs for him in today's harsh environment around the world, and doing so having great confidence, gladly running to our martyrdom into Heaven itself.

There may be a time coming that faith will seem to vanish, for man will solve many of his problems here on Earth. Faith comes with need and hope, but with a peaceful and seemingly content world fashioned by technology & man's desires, faith would only exist in weakened forms by TVs, cell phones, cruise ships, parties, fancy churches, traditions, parades, museums, sing-a-longs, in-between cups of coffee and theatric plays. In China today (also in North Korea, Middle East, etc.)), there is real Christian martyrdom happening with an almost primitive faith. If Jesus came to China first, he definitely would find faith on earth. It is not that man's ability to solve world's problems, especially through his technology, causes trouble in maintaining real (primitive) faith, but for Christians not to spread the Word, making faith a sitting affair instead, and thus joining the world, Christianity will be in danger of impotency, which makes it unrecognizable. If Christians enjoy the world and not spread the Gospel of Christ, then the world becomes pleasant with the advent of man's ability of solve all its problems. Christians then loose their desire for Heaven or God's Kingdom. Man can solve the world's problems, but he can not solve spiritual matters, especially man's coming immorality and complacency. Man will say and supposedly believe that he has obtain peace. Peace is not associated with immorality. Immorality flourishes without any real faith in God & Jesus. In the end, if there is faith around, the world will hate it and those of faith will know that they truly belong to Christ.

I am wondering, if the Communist Chinese had our churches in their country, if they would consider them a threat like they do their own underground ones? The reason that I say this is that their faith is real, simple, believed, and uncontrolled by the government. Ours is real for an hour or two a week, extremely complicated making it disconnected within itself (Christendom), make-believed, and partly controlled by the government, not to mention partly controlled by immoral forces waking up.

I seem to need a rest. I have to catch up on other things for now. I am sure that I will be inspired again to return, sooner than later.