Why is it important to recognize the identity of Christ?

[Imagican]

I believe that I should clarify a bit of the REASONING behind my adament stance on the identity of Christ.

I am well aware that many have been led to believe that Jesus Christ IS God Himself. I am also well aware of WHERE this understanding originated.

My concern is that we NEED to KNOW 'who' Christ IS in order for our worship to be directed in the 'proper' direction. For we have been WARNED that there ARE 'gods many' and those that would come and offer a 'different Christ'. We have been WARNED not to follow in such direction.

This is WHY I have been SO adament in my defense of what IS offered in scripture verses what 'men' have 'come along' and offered in it's stead.

MOST that believe in 'trinity' and that Jesus is JUST a 'part of God' would offer that scripture DOES indeed LEAD us in this direction. I do NOT agree. I believe that Jesus PLAINLY stated WHO His is and that it is nothing other than the 'wisdom of men' that created 'trinity' and the beliefs that it entails.

What is MOST important is that we FOLLOW Christ. That we OBEY His commandments in that we lOVE God above all else and LOVE our neighbors AS ourselves. That we DO these things in rememberance of HIM in no way takes away from our devotion to God.

Christ TAUGHT US how to pray. Words from HIS OWN MOUTH. He also told us that ANYTHING that we ask in HIS name would be granted us from GOD. We NEED to remember these words. We NEED to PRACTICE these words. For we NEED God in our lives and the only way that we have been offered in assurance is THROUGH Christ Jesus.

My ONLY concern is that NO ONE allow 'man-made' beliefs to 'get in the way' of the TRUTH. Whether 'trinity' was EVER meant to be understood by men or NOT, the important issue is that we NOT allow 'myths', 'philosophical teachings', or ANYTHING get in the way of the TRUTH. NOT OUR TRUTH, but THE TRUTH.

So, we have been instructed BY Christ to pray TO the Father IN HIS NAME. This is a 'simple one' that has NOTHING to do with 'theology'. For those that accept The Word, this is SIMPLE. We NEED to offer OUR LOVE to God and to each other. This is a BASIC SPIRITUAL NEED.

What we have been offered is the MEANS to acheive the potential that we were designed for. And THAT potential is that we LEARN to experience LOVE. The love that God has offered usward through His ONLY begotten Son. The example offered so we NO LONGER have to 'guess' at WHAT love is. The example was offered us in that God sent His ONLY begotten Son to SHOW us what 'true love' IS. And the example is clear: He LOVED us even while were His ENEMIES and LOVED us enough to DIE FOR US.

The Law was MEANT for a 'teacher'. This is CLEAR in the teachings of Christ as well as His apostles. They were MEANT to 'teach' those that they were given to ONE THING: LOVE. Instead they became FOLLOWERS of the LAW without LEARNING what they were designed to teach.

Then God SENT His Son so that the Laws would BE fulfilled. That the EXAMPLE would be offered and those that could SEE It would recognize WHY the 'law' was offered.

NOW, where do we go from here? We GROW UP. We follow and LEARN so that we can become ADULTS in Christ. So that WE TOO can BECOME and BE The sons of God AS WELL. We SHOW others, NOT merely through WORDS, but THROUGH EXAMPLE, that there IS hope in Christ and we CAN learn to offer that which is MOST important in our 'Creation': that we SHARE our LOVE with God and each other.

I'll continue this in another post soon,

Blessings,

MEC

 

[Imagican]

What IF:

Satan IS coming. He will one day be manifest upon this planet in the flesh. When He gets here, he will demand to be worshiped AS God.

Is there ANY doubt that he has a 'plan'? That he has been working 'over-time' to MAKE this scenario possible.

Now, WHAT ONE THING could he institute that would aid his plan that MOST?

I'll give you the answer to this: CONFUSE US. Make it as HARD as possible for us to tell the difference between him and God.

Crazy huh? If you think so then you really haven't been paying attention.

What Satan wanted MORE than anything was 'TO BE GOD'. His desire was much the same as that involved with MOST MEN; they desire to BE their 'own gods'. He has used this to his advantage since the 'garden'. Remember what he told Eve in order to persuade her to 'eat the fruit'? He didn't REALLY LIE. What he told here is that IF she ate the fruit, her eyes would be opened and she would then be "LIKE GOD", knowing good and evil. This 'desire' contained within the heart of Eve made the temptation TOO GREAT.

We STILL deal with the SAME temptation. Satan is still there offering the SAME thing. But I believe he has taken it WAY deeper than mere 'temptation'. He has instituted a means to confuse MOST of those that profess a belief in the One True God. He has instituted a system that teaches a 'different' god to be The One True God.

Question: How hard would it be, if given, let's say TWO THOUSAND YEARS, to create a 'different system' than the one introduced by Christ. A different 'belief system'. Kind of like, 'a new world order'. How difficult do you truly think that it would be if given TWO THOUSAND YEARS and unlimited resources. A controllling government, an organized religion, and UNLIMITED resources?

We can clearly see that Communist Russia was able to COMPLETELY 'brain-wash' those that they ruled over in less than A HUNDRED. What do you reacon that these MEN could accomplish if given TWO THOUSAND YEARS? Satan is a 'BIT' slicker than ANY MAN.

Now the point: What IF. What IF 'trinity' was instituted simply to CONFUSE us about the identity of God and His Son? For we were warned NOT to follow the wisdom of men in our understanding of God. Yet in this doctrine we can PLAINLY see an 'attempt' at defining and labeling something that IS UNABLE to be adequately defined or labeled BY US. That is WHY He sent His Son to us. To TELL us of the Father and ensure us that HE IS HIS SON.

Yet we have 'trinity' that comes along THREE HUNDRED YEARS after the death of Christ teaching us a 'different Christ'. Different in SAME manner that the SAME people that created THIS 'philosophical idea' introduced worship of Saints, worship of Mary, (The Queen of Heaven as they call her), bowing to MEN, the 'vicar of Christ', pagan holidays galore, and an insistance that WE are UNABLE to UNDERSTAND God, an insistance that THEIR RULES MUST BE FOLLOWED or they have the POWER to DENY one's Salvation.

Study it's record; 'trinity'. People have been tortured and murdered in order to stiffle ANY resistance to it. Even NOW, there are those that INSIST that one MUST accept and believe in 'trinity' in order to 'be saved'. A doctrine introduced BY MEN that was NEVER offered up by God, Christ OR His apostles but taught to be PARAMONT to Salvation. Imagine that.

The apostles taught ANYTHING but this 'three part God' thing known as 'trinity'. NEVER was it introduced in scripture or teaching of ANY kind offered by God through HIs prophets OR HIs OWN SON.

Now, what IF? What IF to worship ANYTHING other than God HIMSELF AS God HIMSELF is to worship a 'false god'? You can now SEE that 'trinity' introduces a NEW god in the PLACE of the Father of Jesus Christ. By saying that Christ IS God is to 'create' a god that NEVER WAS in truth. For Christ OPENLY stated that He is THE SON OF GOD, NOT God HImself.

Look guys and gals, I could pick up a rock and CALL it God. I could call Beni Hindi God. But that does NOT make EITHER SO. For there is ONLY One TRUE God. He IS the Father of Jesus Christ. He is CHRIST'S God as well as OURS. There is ONE 'begotten Son' who IS Jesus Christ. To 'create' ANY OTHER understanding is to go BEYOND The Word and introduce one's OWN 'creation'. Whether it be a 'church' or an individual, NO ONE has ANY ability to 'create God'. He HAS introduced Himself to us THROUGH His Son. His Son has bare witness TO The Father who IS God.

Now, other than my speculation as to WHY 'trinity' exists, EVERYTHING that I have offered IS Biblical. I have offered NOTHING that does NOT conform to scripture which we were TOLD TO DO.
My speculation may well be mine own, but it is based on an understanding of PAST and FUTURE events that HAVE and will SURELY take place.

Take it for what it's worth. If you somehow find PEACE and the love of which we have been commanded in 'trinity', by all means, go for it. But from my perspective, I have witnessed NOTHING beneficial in such definition or understanding. It actually goes AGAINST what is offered and therefore, IMHO, can ONLY hinder one's walk, if not actually LEAD in a 'different' direction.

Blessings,

MEC

 

[butxifxnot]

You have some very poignant thoughts. *nods* If only more people would look objectively at things they take for granted.

I have to say, though, 'that' your 'usage' OF partial QUOTES and 'capitalization' is little 'odd'.
;) I'm just messing with you.

 

[Imagican]

Much like 'prophecy', there is quite a bit offered in The Word that was NOT MEANT for those it was 'given to' to have a complete understanding of it.

Revelation is a prime example. There is little doubt that John had LITTLE understanding of what he penned. It was NOT MEANT for him, but for those of the future that would recognize his words once they were revealed.

In this same light, the 'stories' that we've been living with were 'created' when our knowledge was VERY limited. Since then, we have learned MUCH. Why is it NOT possible that the story of Christ was NOT meant for all at the time it was written. But was MEANT to appeal to and be understood by those that were MATURE in Christ.

For we have been told that the words of God are but FOOLISHNESS to the World. And what separates the world from those that truly love God? For it seems that Christianity as a religion has flourished IN The Word. Yet the community as a whole has seemed to have completely MISSED the message. How often do you hear AMONG the Christian community, "they need to hand that guy'', or ''Bush was RIGHT to destroy Sadam Hussein"? "I'm not giving that bum any money, he's just going to use it to buy dope"? I could go on and on but I'm sure that my point has been made. And these those that profess to FOLLOW Christ.

Those that follow Christ have been COMMANDED to separate themselves from the World. Yet, all it takes is a 'trip' to the local church and it becomes IMMEDIATELY apparent that they have done ANYTHING BUT.

Now, how is it that there is so LITTLE reflection of Christ IN our churches? So many will ridicule the Catholics for thier elaborate Cathedrals yet built THEIR OWN. So many will point out the stauary and say that this is against what God has taught us. Yet fill their churches with stained glass, fancy carpet and pews, and they ALL must have an elaborate podium. Hmmmm.......All this for the Love of God and our neighbors? People PLEASERS is what the Christian community has become.

Now, instead of continuing to 'rant' about the STATE of the churches, let us concentrate on the WHY. How do you reacon we CAME to this point? Thru TRUTH? Hardly. Itching ears desiring THEIR will be done. A desire to hear what THEY WANT to hear. And there will ALWAYS be those that are more than willing to come along and offer this very thing.

This all goes along with the opening topic. It all boils down to the IMPORTANCE of being ABLE to recognize the TRUE identity of Christ. For I can ASSURE you that I could pick up a grape and CALL it Christ.

If one FEARS death, they are NOT following the TRUE Christ. If one does NOT LOVE their NEIGHBOR, they are NOT following the TRUE Christ. If one LOVES this world and the THINGS in it, they are NOT following the TRUE Christ. If they are NOT willing to SUFFER for their faith, then they are NOT following the TRUE Christ. And these are ONLY a 'beginning'. For we have been offered MUCH more that it TAKES to follow the TRUE Christ.

How MANY Christ's exist? If there ARE churches teaching a 'different Christ', how MANY do you suppose there TRULY are? For there ARE denominations galore. MANY MANY MANY today calling themselves NON-denominational, yet teaching mostly the SAME watered down message. Are these ALL refering to the TRUE Christ when they teach? For IF they were TEACHING the TRUE Christ, then what is HAPPENING to the message?

Blessings,

MEC