MAKING DISCIPLES OF ALL BELIEVERS
Charles Pinkney

The world of religion, what a world! "Religion" is in reality a pitfall and a barrier to knowing "the True and Living Way." For some, Christian religion is an admirable study and vocation, for others an obligatory set of doctrines. Others see religion as a compilation of moral guidelines necessary to living a blessed life. Religions of most descriptions as defined by Margaret Mead, the anthropologist, revolves around the belief in "spirits."

Almost everyone is in their own particular place with respect to a personal belief system. Some indeed settle to believe in no god and hold to no future existence after leaving this world. Many are drawn by persuasion or convenience into the religion of their family and so remain. there are certainly myriads from which to choose. How would we graph our place as a believer or an unbeliever? Do you know what you believe? Do you know why you hold these beliefs? Some have a belief in a god of some description, others may not. Some pray, some believe in an afterlife, while others have no faith in any god nor any life following this one. We must grapple with the reality that God may not respect our philosophical or intellectual choice to believe or not to believe. The truth can not be voted upon to alter its parameters. Truth remains truth whether we choose to agree with it or not. Pilate, the governor of Judaea struggled with the immensity of the deep philosophical question, "What is truth? Truth was before his eyes, staring him in the face. At the moment he did not know it.

There are so many religions inside and outside of Christianity. Historically the people of the world have worshiped many gods and created rituals and ordinances to appease them. Within these myriad forms of belief or worship cultures have developed there own set of morals and dogma in accord with these beliefs. These values promoted unity to the greater community. But other communities have other religious beliefs that will likely generate hatred and intolerance to those outside of that faith. Today religious schisms continue to be the cause of endless contention and violence. Religious intolerance has been the cause of wars that have destroyed millions of souls. Enmity and hatred is the inevitable fruit of religion.

The crusades were a demonstration of wrong Christian beliefs. The slaughter of millions was done in name of pleasing God. Such an interpretation of word of God was certainly not in conformity to the Gospel of Christ. The crusades and the inquisition enacted through the church of Rome demonstrated an abuse of power that presumed God's rule on earth. Beware of any religion that is not only religious but political and military. The literal rule of God on earth that is now presumed and practiced by the papacy is not in accord with the word of God. That day of Kingdom rule is yet to come. In this present time we are still in the "Dispensation of Grace. It is also referred to as the "Gospel Age" and again as "The Acceptable Year of the Lord" and the "Church Age."

In the time of this writing as noted above, there is an invitation to any and all to come freely and receive without cost, participation in the life changing power of Jesus' love, and forgiveness. There is no sword to force anyone to convert, but rather the demonstration of the supernatural power of God that converts the heart and pursuades each that there is a loving God in heaven who desires that no one need to die under condemnation. "God so loved the world - - ," John 3:16 is the often quoted basic text. Condemnation never comes from the hand of a believer who is commanded to walk in the same love and forgiveness that Jesus modeled to all.

Christianity has a simple and wonderful Gospel that is:
Indispensable; (There are eternal consequences to ignore it.)
It is verifiable - - meaning it works; (It has the power to change lives) and
It's entirely free to any who are willing to believe and ask.
The aim and commission of this Gospel of Jesus Christ is to bring people together in oneness as a righteous human family living in harmony in the world.

This true gospel has 3 requirements that determine its authenticity:
(See 2Corinthians 11:vs.4)
The right Jesus, not an angel, not merely a prophet nor a good man, not a teacher, but the only begotten Son of God, the Jewish Messiah.
The right gospel, it is a gospel of good news that humanity may come to the giver of life and receive eternal life and forgiveness freely, without the mediation of a priest; nor is it a gospel of works, nor is it a gospel of faith and works; the door is open to any who call upon the name of the Lord.
The source of truth and understanding of this gospel is the Holy Bible.
The right Spirit, there are many spirits that have influence in the world. These spirits are both Godly and demonic. Spirits (not visible to the eye) occupy the atmosphere (mid heavens) and the earth and have impacted human life for thousands of years. Evil spirits described by Jesus, his disciples and apostles remain to seduce and steal from the life, liberty and spiritual potential of all, even believers. The "spirit of the world" is a spirit of self exaltation and pride. Of course modern thought and psychology thoroughly discredits any discussions involving spirits as a primitive and absurd belief system. However, it is to be noted that Jesus the Messiah came to "destroy the works of the devil," (1John3:8) Satan, the "god of this world" rules all fallen beings. It is God's purpose to restore the proper line of earthly rule under the dominion of Jesus Christ. In due time nations will recognize him as the Holy One of God, appointed Lord of all things. Evil or wrong spirits include, pride, rebellion, witchcraft, defilement, sensuality, gluttony, drunkeness, etc. These are not merely negative human behaviors or attributes but are energized by the demonic.

One God equals any other?
The broad-minded, ecumenical world would like to assert that any god is essentially at par with any other, or declare they all are expressions of the same sublime higher One.

I am now a Christian believer, but was not always so. Disillusioned by religion, sensing all of the superficialities, the hypocrisies, and the lack of any proof in the God of the Bible I went on searching and doubting, and trusting that I was good enough not to fall into condemnation in the hereafter in event that my presumptions were wrong. I had heard the term "Good News" referring the Gospel of the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). But experience in Christianity was only valued in an institutional and sentimental way. I knew the memories of a lifestyle in my childhood. During these days I yearned to touch and experience something that was real, powerful and persuasive. This, I believe, is exactly where so many seeking people are at today. Hopeful, but without proof that God is real and reachable. I was not taught that God was a reality to be experienced and the Gospel is the Power of God to effect human life in many profound ways outside of my religious experience.

An important breakthrough in our understanding is that The Gospel is the power of God. This power persuades us to believe and transforms us into a whole new person. A God of love can impact human lives in remarkable life-changing ways that may not even exist in the realm of traditional church life. This goes beyond religion to knowing a God who reveals himself as Savior and King of the universe.

Even more amazingly, the Bible proves to be entirely believable and consistent in spite of its well educated detractors, who work continuously to discredit any belief in its accuracy or consistency. Now when I hear of a God who walked with man in a spiritually perfect world, I believe it; when I hear of a God who did wonders in the days of Moses or the prophets I do not doubt for one moment; when I hear the prophecies of the appointed men of God to declare the end from the beginning I have no doubt in the veracity of any of those words.

God spoke through prophets with inerrant accuracy to declare the Messiah and his mission to redeem fallen humanity and all these prophecies came to pass. Jesus as the lamb of God came to close the divide between God and humanity. The resurrection of Yeshua, as irrational scientifically unsound it sounds on the surface, remains the foundation of Christianity. Resurrection establishes the "Power of the Gospel" and enables any believer to partake in His divine nature.

Religions of the world vary in name and beliefs. Establishing worldly kingdoms as the launching pad for those beliefs is contrary to the Gospel. Christian religions, including, Catholicism, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, and most of the Protestant denominations have distorted the simplicity of the Gospel greatly, making it formalistic and religious. Churches (Buildings with congregations) are now what people think of when we imagine Christian practices. When church leaders act as priests that control a laiety; When ceremony and ritual are the practiced; and where obligations or extraneous rules and obligations are taught; these contradict the original Gospel, i.e. the Apostolic epistles.

The New Testament Epistles define the nature and scope of being a believer and how to function in the fellowship of other believers. The realization that these plain and effective practices of the first century of Christianity were distorted and lost is now being rediscovered by many writers. God is now taking us back to the beginning and the basics which we have lost.

Introduction: "The Quest for God"

Chapter Titles