Posted in Authority • Church • Daily Living • Law • Whole Bible Christianity book

Part Bible Church Power Failure

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Chapter 1, A Part Bible church, ‘Whole Bible Christianity’

There are four reasons for why I call the church a part Bible kind of church. First, there’s a power failure. When we get together in groups we need a few rules, but formal organizations tend to drift, and they don’t correct easily. We’ve got a situation very similar to the first century when Jesus and the apostles contended with the Pharisees and Sadducees. Second, the teaching is empty. People are either leaving or not coming into the church because the thin gruel of watered down Bible truth doesn’t connect people to God. Third, the church by and large elevates tradition and dogma over the plain reading of the Word. We have to get endless explanations from the leaders to match what they say with the Word, and end up memorizing dogma instead of God’s living oracles. Fourth, the part Bible church literally splits up the Word and parcels it out, taking the blessings for themselves and forcing others (the Jews) to take the curses. Chapters and verses make it easy to separate teachings better left together. ‘Old’ and ‘new’ are convenient ways to ignore the parts we don’t like. ‘Red letters’ make it seem like we’re really focused on “important” pieces when really it just makes it easier to redefine words granting ourselves permission to sin.

Posted in Authority • Bible • Church • Daily Living • Whole Bible Christianity book

Form of Religion but No Power

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Chapter 1, Part Bible church, ‘Whole Bible Christianity’

Israel transformed God’s kingdom to man’s kingdom by holding to a form of religion but denying the power of it (2 Timothy 3:1-9). The church, which started out with a good foundation in the first century, has sadly done the same thing. Organizations do this. They start off okay, but drift into self-protection and failure to speak the Word, just like Israel did. Dogma, tradition, and complicated theologies eventually substitute for the simple straight talk from God.

Some things I say in this book might sound like unfair blanket statements. Until you realize that all who claim church membership or have a Christian name tag are not all in the Body of the Christ. Around the year 325 A.D. the Roman emperor Constantine made his version of Christianity the official religion of the empire. Everyone had to convert. Or else. This conversion was often nothing more than slapping Christian labels on pagan practices and being anti-Jewish. The slapping was literal in some cases because he chiseled off idol’s names and re-chiseled on ‘saints’ names. He tried to switch the real Sabbath to Sunday, and ‘Christianized’ pagan feasts that have come to be known as Christmas and Easter. If you wanted to get the empire off your back and do some business, you had to at least look like a Christian on the surface.

Constantine’s pragmatism reared its ugly head again in the revivals of the 1800’s. Preachers and evangelists of this time thought they should reduce the biblical message to ‘whatever gets them in the door.’ So they watered down the Bible to make it more palatable, and comfortable. Perhaps we could even say ‘ear tickling.’ This is where raised hands and going forward came from, which some famous evangelists of the 20th century raised to an art form.

The result is that we have a large population of church-goers conditioned to expect this and perpetuate it, as if it really means salvation. The enemy’s tares of “seeker friendly, spiritual but not religious” teachings were sown under the cover of seeming to advance the Kingdom. But when we sacrifice truth on the altar of expediency, we fill our buildings and not our hearts.

You may recognize that Constantine’s version of “church” still exists today. When I mention the church (little ‘c’) in this book, I’m including everyone who wears the name, even though most don’t truly play on God’s side in the game.

Posted in Church • Law • Whole Bible Christianity book

Part Bible Church

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First chapter, section on the Part Bible church, ‘Whole Bible Christianity’

The biblical body of Christ eats and drinks the whole of the Word with a soft heart of flesh full of the Law. In contrast, the modern church is fed a thin, part Bible gruel of empty, cracked dogma sold by a stone-hearted, failed power structure which routinely squashes calls for a return to the new covenant. It has kept some of God’s Word and assigned the parts it doesn’t like to the outer darkness of ‘old’ or ‘Jewish’ or outdated.

The part Bible churches are not that well versed in the Bible, but seem to be extremely well versed in anti-Law teachings using what I call the ‘favorite 16’ verses. These are the same few references used over and over again to justify lawless behavior. The church is okay with this because they can keep down “heretics,” meaning anyone who doesn’t agree with the governing leaders. The churches fail to properly equip the saints, and at the same time the system is geared to stop those people who offer healthy correction from the Word. Like whole Bible Christian thought.

Sitting in judgment on which parts of His Word we will follow and which parts we won’t robs it of effectiveness and starts us down a slippery slope to complete lawlessness. Even atheists know better than this. Ayn Rand for instance said (speaking of morality in general):

“The spread of evil is the symptom of a vacuum. Whenever evil wins, it is only by default: by the moral failure of those who evade the fact that there can be no compromise on basic principles.”

Posted in Bible • Church • Reward • Whole Bible Christianity book

We Don’t Get Punished

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From the book, ‘Whole Bible Christianity’
Then there is the idea that we don’t have to do the Law because we don’t get punished right away. This is a typical attitude from Christians, which many don’t say aloud. Usually this objection comes up when speaking of the (perceived) small commands such as avoiding pork and shellfish. Because God does not seem to stand around and whack us upside the head with a stick when we don’t obey, some think that implies permission to sin.

11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil. (Ecclesiastes 8:11 NASB95)

But we really should make sure of our idea of punishment. Connection to actions is not always seen. We may not be immediately punished with a lightning bolt or by the ground opening up and swallowing us (Numbers 16:30). But that doesn’t mean we won’t suffer when we ignore His command. Many times suffering is slow in coming because God wants us to repent.

We have no idea of the effects of eating flesh that is not food. For instance, we don’t know for sure whether some of our diseases come from ingesting pork or shellfish on a regular basis. Science doesn’t know enough to figure it all out because it’s too complex.

Many effects of sin take a while to manifest, such as a pregnancy or disease from illicit sex. God is gracious in protecting us from some consequences of sin on some occasions. But should we continue to presume on, or cheapen, His grace this way?

1What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? (Romans 6:1-2 NASB95)

In addition, how does this idea of avoiding immediate punishment fit in with love? Is it part of love to say I can do what I want because I’m not being hit with a stick? Not really. Love means God gives us commands that are good for us. A loving response is to do whatever He asks, simply because He asks. He is the source of light and life and love, so when we do what He says we share in His goodness at the same time.

Posted in Church • Whole Bible Christianity • Whole Bible Christianity book

Where Are the People to Stand in the Gap?

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From the book, ‘Whole Bible Christianity.’
I see a lot of people’s web sites that express all sorts of seemingly ‘loving’ statements like “Jesus is my bestest friend and goodest buddy.” But where are the people to stand in the gap? Will the people who call themselves after His Name cut and run at the first sign of trouble? If I am wrong, then I need help. But where is the help? Where is the Scripture? Where are the solid answers?

Has Christianity sunk so low that instead of boldly proclaiming the truth and suffering persecution for it we have turned into a bunch of whining crybabies who retreat behind our stained glass windows to suck our thumbs because somebody said something to ‘hurt our feelings?’

(Check out this article by Dave Daubenmire from a few years ago title ‘Good for Nothing Christianity’ for part of the inspiration behind these comments.

 

Posted in Authority • Church • Whole Bible Christianity book

Whole Bible Christianity no church in the Bible

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From the book ‘Whole Bible Christianity.’

There is no church in the Bible. Yep, I know, I’m going to get some heat for this, but it’s true. Not a single one of the denominations, organizations, or clubs, Catholic or Protestant, that exist now, are mentioned anywhere. Every group calling itself a ‘church’ (or synagogue) uses the name trying to get biblical recognition and authority. The truth is that any group of people doing what God says is part of His One Body. Those who don’t are not.

It’s important to get your mind around this idea, because many churches (and synagogues) have usurped God’s authority, and have led people down a primrose path to a destination different than what He wants. Most churches are not living the new covenant, though they represent themselves as if they are. Some good has been done in the churches, but the main claim to fame for most churches is making more churches. “We’re important because there are a lot of us” seems to be the sentiment. Understand, I am not speaking of the many individuals who manage to find and teach God, who behave in many ways as He would want. But when people get together in a group, frequently the focus changes from the Bible to “the church.” We have to decide – are we going to defend our club, or cling to God?