|
GWR
05
click
below for
AUTHOR'S
VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE
Author's Brief
Testimony
Denominational
Empires, World Kingdoms
When
Religion Becomes a Worldly Empire
Jesus
when asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming,
answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming in a way that
can be observed; (21) nor will they say, ‘Look, here it
is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the
kingdom of God is among you.” Luke 17:20 - Luke 17:21 20
Denominations
(churches)' are the best known expressions of Christian religious
institutions. Why were holy wars or religious wars fought? Why
did reformations and counter reformations occur, that saw nations
pitted against nation, and men and women pronounced heretic,
imprisoned in chains, and executed by fire or by ax?
Worldly
power and dominion were absolutely NOT what Jesus planned to
actualize his kingdom. Jesus clearly stated to Pilate the Roman
governor, just hours before he was to die on the cross, that "my
kingdom is not of this world, if it were my followers would
fight."
A future time is coming when the
perfect will
come. In that day the perfect will include the personal physical
rule of Christ over an earthly kingdom. Jesus reiterated to
Pilate, "Now,
my kingdom is Not Of This World!"
Yet, earthly kingdoms have usurped the purposes and desires of
the Lord. The growth of institutional Christianity as a
political, economic and social power began quickly after the
earliest years of the faith. The life of God, along with truth
and simplicity of the Gospel began to dissolve. Individual
centers of fellowship were once Spirit led and non formalistic.
The immediacy of first hand Holy Spirit revelation and Spiritual
fellowship gave way to religious structure and formalism. The
form and power of the Book of Acts church faded from existence.
When religion has no spiritual understanding and becomes
empowered as a political force, it does its ugliest and most evil
work. That house became divided and rages against itself. "The
Spirit of Truth is exchanged for a lie. The 'Right Spirit' is
exchanged for the spirit of vengeance and retribution and the
spirit of murder.
Satan a spiritual opportunist, seeks
opportunity to usurp ruler ship of the church. Demonically
inspired doctrines creep in.
The house is divided. Vanity
reigns in gaudy splendor. Individuals rule over the common
believer. Religious empires are defended in a self-serving orgy
of blood-letting. Men come against others, maybe their own
brothers, to destroy one another in the name of God.
Where
was the wisdom and counsel of God's Word when men and nations
began to create worldly kingdoms and called them God's kingdom?
The Kingdom of God and Truth was exchanged for something else.
"My kingdom is not of this world, if it were of this world
my people would fight. But now it is not of this world."
Denominationalism continues to build its own worldly kingdoms.
They foster their own "princes and nobles" and rulers
of states. They have multitudes of lesser nobles and greater
multitudes of serfs who continue to serve the fiefdoms, while
receiving nothing more than spiritual gruel that can neither
nourish the "inner man" nor set him free. Among
the manifold
religious traditions that we are so familiar, there are too many
departures from understanding of truth. These produce detriments
to human spiritual life, liberty, power, and fruitfulness.
NEXT
CHAPTER
E
Book 1:
The
Gospel Without Religion
E
Book 2:
E
Book 3:
Mysteries
in the Bible
Index
to all Charles Pinkney Christian Titles
Resources:
Understanding Home Fellowships
http://churchinthehouse.org/
Frank
Viola
"Who's
Your Covering"
"Rethinking
the Wineskin"
Sid
Roth Guest,
George Barna
"Moving
beyond the established church"
Barna's
Book: "Revolution"
Interview
2/20/2006 http://www.sidroth.org
Sid
Roth Guest:
Tim and Katie Mather
Subject:
Open Church
http://www.sidroth.org/radio.htm
Guest:
Jim Rutz
Author
of Book: "Megashift, "
"Experiencing
the fullness of God
outside
of Institutional Religion"
Subject:
Open Church
http://www.sidroth.org/radio.htm
E
Book 1:
The
Gospel Without
Religion
E Book 2:
A
Disciples Handbook
E Book 3:
Mysteries
in the Bible Index
to all Charles Pinkney Christian Titles
|
