Getting Rid of Evidence

When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus. … The Pharisees then said to one another, "You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!"[1]

And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. … He has been raised from the dead, … some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, "You must say, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.'"[2]

As I read these excerpts I wonder how it was possible for people not to be move toward belief by the undeniable miracles surrounding Jesus life and resurrection. If it were not for the human proclivity toward seeing only what one believes, there would be no answer to the Jews’ behaviour, other than sheer obstinacy. The latter seems more probable for those religious leaders who orchestrated Jesus’ death. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, there was not a shred of doubt regarding that miracle. The sister of the dead man, hearing that Jesus wanted the stone moved from the entrance to the tomb, remarked that it would be unwise because of the smell of decay. A number of mourners from Jerusalem witnessed Lazarus coming out of the tomb wrapped in burial cloth. The chief priests did not challenge the fact that Lazarus was raised from the dead, their remedy was to kill him and get rid of the evidence.

At the time of Jesus’ death the Jewish leaders asked Pilate for guards to prevent anyone from removing his body. Those were the same guards that reported to the chief priests all that had taken place. I ponder on what might have been in their report. I doubt they would have included the part about them being so afraid they fainted. Whatever was in their report it left the priests convinced that Jesus had risen from the grave, which was their worst nightmare. Jesus had told them he would rise from the grave, which was why the priests insisted that guards be placed at the tomb site. Faced with the undeniable miracle, the priests paid to have the evidence countered by lies. The Council, priests and Pharisees, had in their possession the ancient Hebrew Scriptures containing the writings of the prophets. Those scriptures included prophecies of Jesus the Messiah. At that time and throughout history religious leaders used scripture to support their own inclinations and teachings. The tendency to see what one believes is taken a step further by people seeing what they want to see in scripture. One of the main pieces of evidence against Jesus being the Messiah was that he came from Galilee. Anyone at that time could have verified Jesus’ birth place by researching synagogue records. The religious leaders were content to believe anything that opposed the claims of Jesus.  

There is no excuse for the antipathy displayed by the Jewish leadership for Jesus. Behind their hatred was a paradigm which compelled them to reject and murder the Son of God. Not, compelled as one pulled along by an unbreakable chain, but by a paradigm which supported their traditions. They were blinded to real truth, because their “truth” rested on the acceptance of a paradigm which had no place for a non-political Messiah. The Jewish leadership was material, and scripture was used for their convenience. Tradition was more important than truth. We might consider how any religious group could become so entrenched in its own traditions so as to reject the Son of God. If we choose to think about that, we might start by looking at the Roman Church, because the “church paradigm” pervasive today started with it. Despite the Reformation, despite what’s called the restoration, despite every modification made to Christian churches, the paradigm that evolved from the Council of Nicaea is the same paradigm governing every church, and denomination.  

The first change in the “church paradigm” must be that believers are encouraged by fellowship in egalitarian gatherings. Christians should not submit to membership in churches, since they are already citizens in the kingdom of God. The “church paradigm” needs to be aligned with the concept of the family, the body, and the kingdom. Christianity cannot be institutionalized and be the family of God, the two concepts are very different. The church is an added feature which does not fit into the metaphor of the body of Christ. Believers are members of that body, Jesus is the head. The church organization fragments the kingdom of God. It is not appropriate to have schisms and cliques in the kingdom. That is what the “church paradigm” has introduced. The simple assemblies of the early Christians, has become the tool of the devil to causing harm to the body of Christ. It initiates division in the family of God, and adds confusion in the kingdom. John the Baptist played supporting role, at the right time he told his disciples, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”[3] The Church needs to break with tradition, to break away from the paradigm that has kept it as an institution; to be a gathering of saints.

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[1] Joh 12:9-11, 19

[2] Mat 28:2-4, 7, 11-13

[3] Joh 3:30 

Let My People Go!

The journey from Midian back to Egypt was difficult for Moses. He was apprehensive about the task God had commissioned him to accomplish. Fortunately, Aaron his brother met him on the way and together they mulled over plans to speak to the elders of the Hebrew people. The children of Israel had entered Egypt under a banner of protection, due to their relationship with Joseph who had risen to great prominence in the country. The family was assigned a place in Goshen to care for their animals and build their lives. Some time later, a new pharaoh came to power, who didn’t know Joseph, and who was fearful of the increasing number of the descendants of Jacob. Thus it was that the children of Israel became slaves in Egypt. Some four hundred years after Joseph, Moses was told to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. Their destination was the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses remembered like yesterday, the event forty years earlier which led to his flight from Egypt. When an Egyptian overlord was beating a Hebrew, Moses intervened killing the Egyptian. Not long after, he attempted to reconcile two Israelites, when the aggressor asked if Moses was going to kill him, as he did the Egyptian. Moses remembered the stinging words made at that time, “Who made you a ruler and judge over us?”[1] Now back in Egypt, Moses and Aaron summoned the elders. Aaron the spokesman for Moses, spoke all the words of God. His words, confirmed by miracles, moved the elders to believe. It is recorded that, “The people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had given heed to the Israelites and that he had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.”^[2]

Moses and Aaron while breathing a sigh of relief that things had gone well with the Hebrew leaders, were sobered by the task of going before Pharaoh to tell him what God wanted. On their arrival before Pharaoh they announced God’s demand;

Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, “Let my people go, so that they may celebrate a festival to me in the wilderness.” But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should heed him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go."[3]

Unperturbed, Moses and Aaron told Pharaoh that the God of the Hebrews had revealed himself to them, instructing the Hebrews to offer sacrifices. The Hebrews would be in grave danger should they neglect to worship as required by their God. Pharaoh obstinately refused to give in to God’s demand. Instead, Pharaoh added hardship to the already weary brick makers’ task; they would have to gather straw for themselves. And, there would be no reduction to the number of bricks required. Prompted by this, the Israelite supervisors went and spoke to Moses saying, “You have brought us into bad odor with Pharaoh and his officials, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”[4] Moses spoke to God about the adverse conditions, showing his frustration, “Since I first came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has mistreated this people, and you have done nothing at all to deliver your people."[5] On this one commentator wrote; “What perversity of the natural heart! They call upon God to judge, whilst by their very complaining they show that they have no confidence in God and His power to save.”^[6] I’m not sure we should be critical of the frustration of the Hebrews. None of those living at the time would have known anything other than their subservience to the Egyptians. Everyone then living, had been born into slavery, as had their parents. Yes, the people complained about the situation, but it was all they had ever known. What they saw was that Moses had just made life a whole lot more difficult for them. After hundreds of years in captivity, adversity had become the norm for the children of Israel.

Pharaoh stubbornly resisted God’s command. He also rejected the advice of his own magicians and advisers. His obstinacy caused immense grief and suffering to the Egyptian people. From the first plague to the last, the impact on the Egyptians escalated with each new plague. Anguish over the last plague moved Pharaoh…

Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his officials and all the Egyptians; and there was a loud cry in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead. Then he summoned Moses and Aaron in the night, and said, "Rise up, go away from my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD, as you said. Take your flocks and your herds, as you said, and be gone. And bring a blessing on me too!" The Egyptians urged the people to hasten their departure from the land, for they said, "We shall all be dead."[7]

One would think that as a result of the suffering felt by every family in Egypt, including his own, Pharaoh would have recognized the hand of God in rescuing the Hebrews. However, it wasn’t long until Pharaoh had second thoughts about releasing the Hebrews. He mustered his army, led by many chariots, and pursued the people of God. The Hebrew people when they saw the Egyptian army in the distance, forgot the wonders and signs performed by God in rescuing them. They despaired, and cowered in fear:

As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, 'Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."[8]

It is not for us to criticize or disparage a people who were hemmed in by the sea in front of them, on both sides endless wilderness, and to the rear, the quickly approaching army of Egypt. Servitude in Egypt was a better alternative to being slaughtered in the wilderness, and for many that appeared to be the imminent consequence of their escape. However, God opened a way for the Hebrews to escape through the sea. The path that took them to freedom would turn out to be the path that led to the destruction of the entire Egyptian army. One might think that experiencing a miraculous redemption from slavery, and a miraculous escape through the sea, the Hebrew people would have great confidence in God. If there was any, that confidence was short-lived. The people constantly rebelled against Moses and God, which turned out to be calamitous for them.

In the homes of Hebrews there would have been great fear anticipating the final plague. Their instructions were clear, but never having experienced anything as terrifying as what was about to take place, there was hope mixed with fear. There was no doubt that night, that every Egyptian family would mourn the loss of loved ones. All that Moses had said would happen in the previous demonstrations of God’s power, happened as he said it would. There would be no change; tonight Egypt would cry. Most of the plagues had not taken place in the land of Goshen, God had spared the Hebrews. But this night the Hebrews had been warned to do exactly what God had commanded them, or they would suffer. That night they would be exempt from sorrow only if they did what they had been told to do. A lamb had to be slaughtered and some of its blood put on the door frame, sides and top. Future generations would see the Passover as a celebration of God’s redeeming Israel from slavery. However, that first Passover was frightening even for the most faithful, each one hoping the required preparations were successfully carried out, so that the family would be safe. As required most had killed a lamb and placed its blood between themselves and the angel of death. Late that night, groans and wails of despair echoed throughout Egypt, while silently Israel breathed a sigh of relief, whispering prayers of thanks for being saved by the blood of a lamb.

The many times God provided for them, the many times God lifted them up, the descendants of Jacob, should have been filled with awe and faith. But the record of their journey does not support that supposition. There were a few people who never wavered, their trust was firmly planted in the Lord their God. But, for most it was not that way, faith lapsed, trust waned, and their zeal for the journey failed.

The rabble among them had a strong craving; and the Israelites also wept again, and said, "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic;  but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at."^[9]

God never abandoned them to the perils of the wilderness, he constantly nurtured and cared for them. But, they grew tired of the food God provided and longed for the foods of Egypt. Eventually, the children of Israel reached the Promised Land. But, none of the older people lived to enter the land, the forty years wandering in the wilderness as punishment exacted a heavy toll.

The price paid by the children of Israel pales in significance to the price God paid to redeem mankind. The account of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, offers a mere glimpse into the reality of what actually took place. We may speculate on why Jesus had to die. We can plod through volumes of theological conjecture, trying to understand the mind of God. In the end, it comes down to faith. As humans we are incapable of understanding the divine purpose or the infinite intent. We are not required to understand, we are required to believe.

Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.[10]

We don’t have to understand what God has done for us, we have to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, and that by believing we are given life.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.[11]

As I reflect on the results of human interference and meddling in God’s plan, I wonder if it is not time that once again God would give the order to “Let my people go!” But, let us go from what?

Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, 'You will be made free'?"[12]

A similar statement and a similar response. The Jews by the time Jesus was on earth had developed a system of religion quite unlike what Moses intended. Had you asked the religious leaders, they would have justified their religion as being God’s law. Ask any Church today about its uniqueness, and its leaders will go to scripture to defend its doctrines and practices. Christians live in a fog of confusion. Every Church promotes its beliefs, every Church claims to be right. Every Church presents itself as the means to acquiring life. Unheard by religious leaders is God’s order to let his people go! Believers don’t have to quit going to church, but they have to realize that Jesus alone is the source of life. There are social and emotional benefits in church affiliation, and as long as these are not confused with spirituality –enjoy the fellowship. Always keep in mind your devotion to Jesus, and that he alone is the Saviour.

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[1] Exo 2:14

[2] Exo 4:30, 31

[3] Exo 5:1, 2

[4] Ex 5:21

[5] Exo 5:23

[6] Kiel & Dilitzsch Commentary

[7] Exo 12:30-33

[8] Exo 14:10-12

[9] Num 11:4-6

[10] Joh 20:30, 31

[11] Rom 8:1-4

[12] Joh 8:31-33  

Personal Responsibility

When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves.

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.

For the world is in a bad state, but everything will become still worse unless each of us does his best.[1]

Viktor Frankl has more credibility to me than just about any other in the same field. The simple fact is that his theories were tested under the most heinous circumstances and proved legitimate. The quotes above are all from Frankl’s book, Man’s Search for Meaning. It appears clear from Frankl’s writing that people need to be responsible and exercise their right to choose. The choices we make in life eventually define who we are.

As an old man, Joshua summoned the people of Israel, their elders and leaders. He reminded them of all the good thing God had done for them. He assured the people that God would fight for them as long as they remained faithful. He called on Israel to make a choice:

Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.[2]

On that day the people chose to serve God.

The presence of Jesus compelled his contemporaries to make a choice as to who he was. People at that time were divided in what they though; he was a good man, he was a deceiver, the Messiah, not the Messiah, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. His disciples recognized him as, “…the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”[3]

And there was considerable complaining about him among the crowds. While some were saying, "He is a good man," others were saying, "No, he is deceiving the crowd."[4]

Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from."[5]

When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, "This is really the prophet." Others said, "This is the Messiah." But some asked, "Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he?[6]

Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, "Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?" They replied, "Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee."[7]

"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."[8]

There were other reasons why the religious elite did not accept Jesus for who he claimed he was, but the clincher came from scripture –he came from Galilee. The Jewish leaders publicized their decision to reject Jesus on their assumption he was born in Galilee. I have wondered why Jesus didn’t tell them he was born in Bethlehem. I expect he knew that where he was from wasn’t the real reason they rejected him. In reality Jesus was a threat to their position politically, and a window into their hypocrisy. Any one of the leaders could at any time have gone to Jesus’ home town synagogue and verified the place of his birth.

The most important choice humans face is whether to believe Jesus was/is the Son of God. It doesn’t matter what you choose as your political position. It doesn’t matter what a person chooses as life’s vocation. It doesn’t matter what one believes about any number of things, but it matters what you choose to believe about Jesus. People at the time when Jesus lived on earth held different opinions about him. Today, there are still many opinions. To believe Jesus is who said he was, is a choice. Options from long ago recorded in scripture are: he was a good man, he was a deceiver, the Messiah, not the Messiah, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Currently a choice that appeals to some is to be an agnostic.  An agnostic is, “a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God.”[9] Another modern choice is atheism. An atheist is, “a person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods.”[10] Some people prefer humanism. Humanism is, a philosophical and ethical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, and generally prefers critical thinking and evidence (rationalism and empiricism) over acceptance of dogma or superstition.[11] I suppose pantheism should be included since it is the motivation behind much of the climate change propaganda. Pantheism is, “a doctrine that equates God with the forces and laws of the universe.”[12] There is a long list of alternate choices to believing Jesus is God’s Son. Many people believe that everything came from nothing –evolution. Some scientists would have people believe that evolution is undeniable, but that’s a lie. Evolution is a hypothesis founded on the belief that, out of nothing, the entire universe with all of its intricacies and order, just happened. Evolution is a faith-based philosophy that can no more be proven, than I can prove the existence of God.

Whether we want to or not we will choose either to believe in Jesus, or to reject him. I have chosen to believe that Jesus was/is the Son of God. He came to earth to establish the kingdom of God on earth. He gave his life as a sacrifice for sin, through which we can be saved by believing in him.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.[13]

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[1] Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

[2] Jos 24:14, 15

[3] Mat 16:18

[4] Joh 7:12 

[5] Joh 7:26, 27

[6] Joh 7:40,41

[7] Joh 7:50-52

[8] Mat 16:13-16

[9] Oxford Dictionaries

[10] Ibid

[11] https://en.wikipedia.org

[12] https://www.merriam-webster.com

[13] Joh 3:16-18

Walk Just as Jesus Walked

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments. Whoever says, "I have come to know him," but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says, "I abide in him," ought to walk just as he walked.[1]

A poignant reminder that we are human, and as such we will sin. Along with the warning that we will sin comes the basis of hope, that Jesus is our advocate, pleading our case before the Father. Not only is Jesus our advocate, he is “the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Our relationship with Jesus is manifest in our obedience to his commands, this is evidenced in our lives, that we walk just as he walked. Looking at the Christian religion in the present day, one does not see believers walking as Jesus walked, but generally representing one denomination or another. The kingdom of God is not fragmented, the family of God is not divided by conflict. The Church on the other hand is fragmented and in conflict, it does not represent the kingdom or the family of God. Believers do represent Jesus. In the simplicity of John’s instruction, we see the love of God toward humanity; he knows we will sin, and has paid the price of redemption in his Son’s sacrifice. We can see ourselves in the impetuous act of Peter as he walked toward Jesus on the water. Like Peter, we lose focus at times, and like Peter we have to call out to Jesus to save us.

"Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"[2]

It can be noticed that John offers no remedy other than Jesus. The Catholic and Orthodox Churches believe in the sacrament of penance.

Christians are therefore advised to reclaim the beauty of the Sacramental confession. Why sacraments do not change us in that we bring nothing to them. Every sacrament of the Church has the power to change people for good and bring salvation to their steps. Every sacrament is a door to the sacred. Let us use the opportunity God gives us in the Sacrament of reconciliation well. The Three Acts of a Penitent in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.[3]

These Churches have formalized sacraments. Other Churches have various rituals offering the same result. All of which are unnecessary. John was clear that our advocate is Jesus. No sacraments, no traditions, and no hocus pocus, only Jesus.

Many of us are not prepared to walk just as Jesus walked. A cursory reading of the gospels offers a view of Jesus’ life. He did not align himself with any of the Jewish groups. Jesus obeyed the Law. He taught in synagogues. He represented God in all that he did. Jesus was the message, his life exemplified God’s love and grace. Disciples of Jesus are required to represent him –to walk just as he walked. It is sad, but most Churches do not provide the support or encouragement disciples need, they are engrossed in the institutional priorities of being a Church. If you are able in your church to walk just as Jesus walked, that is a good thing. As a member of a church or not, the requirement is the same. Our relationship to God through Jesus is personal. Each disciple is a citizen of the kingdom, each disciple is a child of God. Each disciple has the responsibility to walk as Jesus walked.

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[1] 1Jn 2:1-6

[2] Mat 14:28-31

[3] Rev. Fr Emeasoba Gabriel

Only Jesus

"Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.[1]    

There is no doubt God determined that the path to life is through his son. Jesus of Nazareth is the, path, the way, the door, to life. Nothing could be simpler, yet man has taken upon himself to embellish and modify that simplicity, encumbering disciples of Jesus with doctrines, traditions, and churches. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees…

…for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God. You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.^[2]

Through the prophet Jeremiah God announced that the new covenant would be written on human hearts.[3] Look around, do you see believers wearing the helmet of salvation[4], or as Paul told the Thessalonians, “…let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”[5] What you may see, is people on their way to their particular church, to listen to its preaching and follow its rules. Christianity today is represented by institutional groups, rather than the way God planned. As Jesus was the representative of God, believers are to represent Jesus, not through a church, doctrine, or tradition. As an old hymn said, “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me, all his wonderful passion and purity…” That would be a good starting place.

In the old system, the temple and the synagogue were not to set rules –the law was preeminent. Isaiah ptophecied the time would come when religious leaders would usurp the law’s authority, taking upon themselves the right to set rules. It was those rules which Jesus denounced. From the institutionalization of Christianity under Constantine, the Church has taken on itself authority it has no right to. Jesus is the only avenue through which people can approach God. When a church functions to support individuals as they walk with Jesus it provides a much needed service. When a church establishes programs and mission activities, organizing religious life for members, it has gone too far. The church is not the path to life, only Jesus holds that position. The church is not a vehicle delivering believers to God. Whenever the church takes upon itself any priority role to act as a medium between a believer and God, it becomes a hindrance to that believer. Church organizations are at best social clubs, but most times, they are much worse than clubs. The reason for this is, they teach believers that joining the church and following its rules is the way to life. Church programs are not the same as living for Jesus. Preachers aren’t paid to live godly lives; they live godly lives, and are paid to work with a church, to preach and teach in that locality.

"What must we do to perform the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."[6]

There are many believers who attend churches and yet maintain their individuality in serving Jesus. Christian unity exists, despite divisions and rancor among churches. “…God's firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’”[7] thank goodness, it is through Jesus we come to God. There is no church that has everything right. As someone said, “we can’t all be right, but we can all be wrong.”

Our focus should be on Jesus –only Jesus.

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[1] Joh 5:19-29

[2] Mat 15:6-9

[3] Jer 31:33

[4] Eph 6:17

[5] 1Th 5:8, 9

[6] Joh 6:28, 29

[7] 2Ti 2:19