The Purpose of Christ, and the Gospel he shared.

When preaching the famous beatitudes, Jesus said to those who were following and listening to him:

‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

This was a prophecy to all who would claim to follow him at that time and in the future. Salt is not just a seasoning, it's a great preservative used throughout history (which sometimes meant the difference between life and death if the salt went bad). I believe Christ used the analogy of salt as a warning to preserve the integrity of what we are called to be. Failing to do so doesn't just diminish our worth, it makes us completely worthless. Unfortunately, Jesus gave a lot of warnings and words of caution that seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

However, there is no reason for average church goers to lose hope. It is not too late to reexamine the guidance and caution that Jesus gave to us, for as long as it is called "today", we can shake out of our religious comfort zones, and really apply ourselves to the commands of our faith. I believe the guilt is in the leaders who are charged with preserving the faith, not in those who have been led astray. If someone has been offered light, but has never been led completely from the darkness, it is still possible for them to find the light, and become transformed by it. For God does not desire the destruction of the wicked, but desires that all might come to repentance and do what is good in His sight. Demonstrating our obedience to the commands of Christ can be done at any time, and will always be accepted. God demonstrates his mercy to us by every day that does not end in Judgment. The catch is this: God cannot and will not change the terms of repentance, or the rules of his Kingdom...at the same time he will not fail to meet us if we turn ourselves to face Him.

I believe if people (in their flesh) try to redefine the terms of grace, the definition and duration of repentance, and the message we are called to share, they become the salt that loses it's savor. Though they might use the same Christian terms, and act as if they believed, they are worthless to Christ and to those who would feed off their teachings. They will be "trampled underfoot" (or overcome by the "feet" of the body of Christ).

It's really amazing how the Organized Christian system works: how thousands of different people can work together, building religious empires, recruiting millions of followers on behalf of a man whom they themselves know very little about. Traditions and assumptions have replaced the raw, and powerful message that started this faith in the first place. Churches have used the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) method to compete for new recruits, and to maintain full pews.

Most modern pastors don't preach messages that will anger their rich members (though there is plenty that Jesus said on that subject). If they encounter scriptures that warn against the sort of war crimes and selfishness that the republican party endorses, they'll probably preach on something else. There are exceptions to this rule, thank God, but many pastors act this way because their incomes depend on an active and happy congregation. They work so hard at maintaining their flocks (and their livelihoods), at not rocking the boat, and preaching things that they think their congregations want to hear, that they have lost track of the very heart and soul of Christianity. To prove my point, I'm going to explore what should be a very basic and obvious question about America's most popular faith.

What was the purpose of Christ on earth?

The most tempting scripture to use in answering that question is John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life". This verse is true, and it's a great promise, but it's not the be-all end-all answer. Many trained evangelicals will say that the purpose of Christ on earth was simply to die on the cross as a price for our sins. While this is common Christian knowledge, it's not a complete answer, or even the correct answer, according to Jesus himself.
Luke 4:42-44

At daybreak he departed (the town of Capernaum) and went into a deserted place. And the crowds were looking for him; and when they reached him, they wanted to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, "I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose." So he continued proclaiming the message in the synagogues of Judea.

The purpose of Christ while on Earth was to preach the gospel (good news) of the kingdom of God. Jesus went out of his way to include the words "kingdom of God" when speaking of the good news, because there is power in his message, and the enemy of God will do whatever he can to disconnect us from that power. He knew there would be something less-than-complete, calling itself the gospel after he returned to heaven, because the church would be buried in assumptions and traditions for two thousand years before being resurrected. He knew there had to be clues for the last days people to find in the scripture. These people are not a part of the established church, just as new wine is not going to fill an old wine skin. But by the spirit they are being led to see through the facade, and Jesus knew we would need to be able to find out exactly what has gone missing from the gospel. Jesus said nothing carelessly. Every single word that comes from the mouth of the Logos (word) of God is deliberate, so that we might be able to go to the scriptures and validate what he is revealing by the spirit.

Even though millions assume it is their Christian duty to preach the gospel (good news) about Jesus; the truth is that all followers of Christ are called and commanded to imitate Christ, and by doing that, we must preach the same good news that he preached, as well as the good news about him. We cannot exclude either part from what is classically called "the Gospel", they both must be preserved and shared. That is how we obey Christ, that is how we love Christ, and that is how we can receive the promises of Christ. Thankfully, you don't have to take my word for it, when Christ is describing the end of days in Matthew 24:14, he says this:

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

The gospel is not just John 3:16, and Romans 5:8, and all of the other verses that talk about how our sins will be covered and we will be saved from the fires of hell. The Gospel is the promise made by God to us all time and time again about his coming Kingdom right here on Earth.

The Gospel of the Kingdom is weaved all throughout the scriptures. It is in the Psalms and in Proverbs, it is foretold by the Prophets, and Moses, and God Himself... In Genesis and Revelation...everywhere. It is precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little. There is no one verse or sentence that can contain the wonder of the mystery of the Kingdom Gospel. To be able to share it, we must faithfully make the ongoing effort to study the scriptures for ourselves; seeking in them clues and explanations of this coming Kingdom. No matter where you turn, you will be close to a message about the kingdom, because that is literally the cornerstone of Judaism, and Christianity (though it has been rejected by the builders). It was a message that Christ himself learned, and then shared for the rest of his life. When he was 12, he was giving full grown priests a run for their money because of his knowledge of the scriptures. To get this knowledge takes study, and dedication. We must all follow Jesus' footsteps in this regard, as in others, if we are to be prepared for what is still to come. By imitating him and by knowing what is promised, we will be able to overcome Babylon.

I would love to hear different verses that readers come across that refer to the kingdom. It really amazed me when I first discovered how much this message saturates the scriptures.

Confidence In God's Promises

Today, I'd like to focus on a couple of concepts: 1. the boldness of God's promises, and 2.the sabbath rest of the kingdom of Christ.

Hebrews 3:5-6

Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken later. Christ, however, was faithful over God’s house as a son, and we are his house if we hold firm the confidence and the pride that belong to hope.

When Israel was led from Egypt through the Red Sea, to Sinai, and onwards to Jordan, God demonstrated his power and provision to them time after time. They should have been filled to the brim with confidence in their God, but when they got to the edge of the promised land, and found out that the Canaanites were giants (around 20 ft tall), they lost heart. However, two out of the twelve spies that were sent into the land (Caleb and Joshua) had confidence and pride which belonged to their hope in God's promises, and God blessed them for their bravery by letting them lead the way into the promised land 40 years later. All the rest of Israel was sentenced to wander and die in the wilderness, forbidden access because of their unbelief. I am convinced this story is a type and shadow of the gospel of the Kingdom.

The Kingdom of God on earth is the same as Caanan (the promised land), all of Christ's followers and believers are like the children of Israel, still in the wilderness. The world is like the giants of Canaan, enjoying the fruits of this planet which are destined for God's kingdom. We must believe that the Lord God will make good on his promise to manifest his Kingdom on earth, the same way that he made good on his promise to deliver the Canaanites into the hands of Israel. As long as we are faithful, obedient, confident and responsive to God's call, we will see 1000 years of peace on Earth under Christ, as spoken of in Revelation.

According to scripture ( in 2 Peter, and elsewhere), 1000 years is as one day to the Lord, and one day is as 1000 years. I believe that this present millennium is a Sabbath, and contains the promised Sabbath "Rest" that is openly discussed in the passage below. It is important for us to study the promises of the kingdom so we can know what to look for, and how to prepare. We have to know what's been promised, so we can decide if we believe, and open our hearts to let ourselves believe. Nobody can believe what they haven't been told, or shown. This passage really spoke to me today, I hope it speaks to you as well.

Hebrews 3:7-4:13

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Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,
‘Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
as on the day of testing in the wilderness,
where your ancestors put me to the test,
though they had seen my works for forty years.
Therefore I was angry with that generation,
and I said, “They always go astray in their hearts,
and they have not known my ways.”
As in my anger I swore,
“They will not enter my rest.” ’

Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today’, so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partners of Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end. As it is said,

‘Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.’

Now who were they who heard and yet were rebellious? Was it not all those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses? But with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if not to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For indeed the good news came to us just as to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

‘As in my anger I swore,
“They shall not enter my rest” ’,

though his works were finished at the foundation of the world. For in one place it speaks about the seventh day as follows: ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.’ And again in this place it says, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’ Since therefore it remains open for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he sets a certain day—‘today’—saying through David much later, in the words already quoted,

‘Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.’

For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later about another day. So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labours as God did from his. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.

Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

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Getting Back to the Basics of Christianity.

So far this has been a really bad millennium for Christianity. The established church has been put to a very serious spiritual test in Bush's war on terrorism, and it has largely failed. In America, the "religious right" claimed back in 2000 that God appointed George Bush to be president, and that he would lead our nation into a Christian utopia. That's what he promised, after all, and since Bush publicly (and regularly) confessed that Jesus was his Lord and Savior, that meant to them that he wouldn't lie.

Right from the start, a huge chunk of voters and heavy-hitting evangelical ministers lined themselves faithfully behind Bush, and vowed to support him through thick and thin, come what may. In the past year or so, some have started to reconsider that vow, but most have just buried themselves in their political trenches, seeing reasonable arguments as attacks. They refuse to face reality, and are still defiantly on the wrong course. Bush regularly held conferences with high ranking ministers all throughout his presidency. He calmed down on the religious rhetoric significantly in his second term, but still played the faith card when he thought it would be useful. For instance, he had Homeland Security devise a plan for ministers to preach on Romans 13, and encourage their congregations to obey the government if martial law were declared.

Bush and the Religious right were thick as thieves. And yet the past eight years have been some of the most scandalous, corrupt, and merciless years in our nations history. Billions of people outside of the evangelical "fold" have suffered tremendously because of the horrible mismanagement, and devious fixation on vengeance that has led America until very recently. The whole world is now suffering some of the consequences that were lined up by this bad, foolish leadership. What's more, there's a greater price to pay ahead of us if we don't slam on the brakes and really start to take our planet and our behavior seriously. And what has happened is not simply George Bush's fault. The blame belongs to all of the "yes" men who surrounded him during his rule, all of those who could have spoken up, but didn't. This includes many of the most influential spiritual leaders in America. How could this have happened? I know that the course we took over the past eight years has run completely contrary to the basic principles of Christianity...How do I know this? Because I read the Bible, and it spells these things out over and over again. But yet, supposed "Christians" have been setting this course in action, and holding all of the power as we went astray. Are we in the twilight zone?

The "church" of the Bible is a very different creature from what we see on almost every street corner in some towns. In the early days of the church, the Holy Spirit and great blessings of God flowed through all. Everybody worked together, providing for the needs of one another. People remembered that heavenly treasures mattered so much more than any wealth on earth. Many rich people who converted also went on to give all of their possessions to the poor, and the poor were honored. It's all in the book of Acts. Nowadays, with the gospel of prosperity, many Christians truly see their possessions as blessings from God, and many of them hate the idea of their taxes being used on welfare for the poor. Plus the Holy Ghost is mostly a legend.

If you are not a Christian, I can understand why, and I believe Jesus would understand why as well. He knew there would be a lot of people who believe they know him, but don't at all. Jesus has become little more than hell insurance to millions. Christianity was always meant to be much more than what we're selling it as. A recent poll showed that the number of Americans who call themselves "Christian" is down 5%. What's more, while the number of Evangelical Christians is rising, the number of denominational, (or traditional) Christians is dropping off significantly. Why is this? What's the difference between the two?

Traditional Christianity is less emotionally appealing than the evangelical brand, but yet it's more enriching; it is not as politically charged (or in some cases, has stood in opposition to the Bush trajectory); it requires much more personal involvement, and provides far fewer easy answers (at the same time, it is weighed down by age). Evangelicalism draws people by their heart strings, promises to give them great musical entertainment each week, joke-strewn sermons full of spiritual milk, (or worse, the "gospel of Prosperity"). Church has become a great social activity, a well integrated part of the modern world. That's exactly why it's in serious trouble.

Paul and the apostles knew that if they, and future generations weren't careful, they would lose their anointing, and become harmless to their enemies. That's why the Bible has many warnings, and quotes like, "Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds". They knew what human nature would lead to, and here we are, just under 2000 years after the death of Christ, the natural result of human nature and faith. The history of the church is a blood-soaked embarrassment, and the recent power enjoyed by several Christian leaders of America has only led the world to the brink of collapse and destruction (through either warfare, the economy, or the environment...take your pick).

Those who follow Christ are in a really bad situation right now, or so it would seem. The wonderful truth is that there is a spiritual awakening taking place in certain people, even as the wheels start to fall off of the Babylonian (or world) system. God is composing events, completely engaged and involved in the world, yet still operating behind the scenes. This awakening is in some ways still underground, because the kingdom of God has not yet been established. But that time is coming, and nothing will stop it.

If the millions of people who practice the cheap, selfish, heartless version of evangelical Christianity call themselves "believers", then the awakened Christians would be "followers" of Christ. James tells us that faith without works is dead, and that is true. If you believe, and yet do not follow the commands, instructions, and guidance of Jesus, you are still in your sins. The "believers" are the established Christian power. They are very similar to the kingdom of Saul. But God's chosen followers are like the anointed David: underground, renegade, but blessed of God, and destined to enter Zion. I will be writing more about that specific comparison sometime soon, but in the meanwhile, I recommend reading 1 and 2 Samuel. There are patterns throughout scriptures: all peices of the same puzzle, working together to form a marvelous big picture.

The basics of Christianity are simple, including but not limited to the following:

Love your neighbor, Love God and follow his instructions (no matter what). Be merciful, generous, kind and selfless. (That's a very hefty burden in modern America). Seek out the kingdom of God: try to find out what it is, what it will be, and how it's supposed to come about. Remember that there can be no real rest for the world until the kingdom comes, and believe that God will use all who hope to be used to bring it about. Remember it is never the power of the person that makes a miracle, but the power of the God behind that person. Read the Bible for yourself, don't take anyone's word for it. Remember we are all on trial right now, so don't be a harsh judge. Thank God.