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Pet Theology and Mind Set
Understandably, those disenfranchised and outside looking in have always found it difficult to relate to Christ the Caucasian. As a result, some strongly reactionary elements are convinced that Jesus is African, or of whatever ethnic persuasion. Predictably, on the flip side, there are those who have identified the Aramaic speaking Jesus with skin darkened by heritage and the Mediterranean sun, as a blue eyed, Aryan.
Plumb Line of Truth
In flesh and blood, Jesus Christ was born a Jew. As the Son of God, through
His death and resurrection:
"He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the
face of the earth." (Acts 17.26)
"Jew and Gentile are all the same in this respect. They all have
the same Lord." (Romans 10.12)
"There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female.
For you are all Christians - you are one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians
3.28)
"Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider
and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From
now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ."
(Colossians 3.11)
"If anyone boasts, 'I love God,' and goes right on hating his brother
or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the
person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see? The command we
have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got
to love both." (1 John 4.20-21)
The Politically Correct Cathedral of Contemporary Christians
Pet Theology and Mind Set
"God is no longer our heavenly Father, the Patriarch. He is now
She our heavenly Mother, the Matriarch.
Jesus is no longer the Father's one and only Son, but Person, along with
others of similar ilk. We are all sons and daughters of God.
The Holy Spirit is neutered to "It."
The Cross is brass, glass, or smooth wood, and costs nothing. Certainly
not blood.
The Bible is one of the great books of Western literature.
Hell is a state of mind; think positively. Don't worry be happy!
Love covers everything and certainly does not require obedience to outmoded
commandments.
You are free to follow your heart wherever it may lead you because all
roads lead to the same God anyway."
The Plumb Line of Truth
"It is written." Jesus Christ on various occasions authenticating
the authority of Scripture.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3.16)
"Our Father in heaven..." Jesus Christ telling us how to pray
(Matthew 6.9)
"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." God the
Father speaking audibly as Jesus the Son was being baptized in the river
Jordan. (Matthew 3. 17)
"For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and
sister and mother." Jesus Christ (Matthew 12.50)
"When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all
truth."
Jesus speaking of the Person of the Holy Spirit (John 16.13)
"If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up
his cross and follow Me." Jesus Christ on the cost of discipleship
(Matthew 16. 24)
"Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins."
(Hebrews 9.22)
Jesus spoke as much, if not more, about hell as He did heaven: "You
snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?"
(Matthew 23.33)
"I have not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill
them."
(Matthew 5.17)
"This is My command: Love each other." Jesus to His disciples
(John 15.17)
"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can
understand it?" God to Jeremiah the prophet - (Jeremiah 17.9)
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads
to death."
(Proverbs 14.12)
"I (Jesus) am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through Me. (Jesus)" Jesus Christ (John 14.6).
The First Church of Good Works
Pet Theology and Mind Set
This group has always been a target for the die hard salvation by grace only crowd. Or fundamentalist versus liberal. One says pray for the poor man when he shows up on your doorstep, the other says invite him in and feed him. One talks, the other acts. The answer again is balance.
Plumb Line of Truth
"Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the
initiative and do it for them!" (Luke 6.31 - The Message)
"Love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus on the second commandment
(Matthew 22.39)
"You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I
can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and
faith, fit together hand in glove." (James 2.16-18)
"I know your works, with a reputation of being alive but you are
dead."
(Revelation. 3.1)
"I'm after love that lasts, not more religion. I want you to know
God, not go to more prayer meetings." God to Hosea the prophet -
(Hosea 6.6 - The Message)
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.