Grace, mercy, and truth will be
with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the
Father, in truth and love. 2 John 3 (NKJV)
In
the precious and beautiful name of Messiah Yeshua “Jesus,” greetings.
While listening to the local “Christian” radio station I
heard, “If you’re here today and investigating Christianity…” The speaker on the radio is a follower of the
Anthanasian Creed. As one rejecting the Anthanasian
Creed I’d say if you are investigating Christianity, start with the [Bible] and
don’t stop until you trust the [Bible] alone to be more than sufficient enough
as is.
It’s Saturday. After a week of twelve to sixteen hour work
days, Anthony “Tony” needs time to relax.
Tony’s friends, Mark, Hector and Brett, who are regular church goers recommended
a movie to Tony and offered to pick up the tab.
Tony has no desire to attend a local church with them but accepted their
offer. Tony and his friends also agreed
to meet at the local coffee house after the one o’clock showing. Tony arrives at the theater, with twenty
minutes to spare. It’s time for Tony to
choose the movie.
Now
Showing
1:00—4:30—8:00
PM
Theater One Theater Two Theater Three
The Bible Anthanasian Creed Earthly Institutions Called Church
As he reads the titles, thinking of
his friends and whispering to himself, Tony says, “If this doesn’t make me want
to go back to work I don’t know what will.
They’re buying… what do I have to lose. They did recommend Earthly Institutions Called
Church. Anthanasian Creed…creeds have
something to do with church. [The] Bible,
church. Earthly Institutions Called Church
it is. I like the title and I can leave
any time I want.”
After getting what has to be the largest
tub of popcorn ever, two boxes of candy and a bottled water, bought and paid
for by Tony’s friends, he hands his ticket over to the attendant and finds his
seat.
After the movie Tony goes straight to
the local coffee house and low and behold Mark, Hector, and Brett were there to
greet him.
“Tony… over here! Let me get your coffee,” said Mark. Tony acknowledges with a hand wave to stay
put and orders his coffee. With coffee in
hand Tony joins his three friends.
Tony begins with, “After seeing Earthly
Institutions Called Church, there’s a zero percent chance of you ever getting
me to go church.”
“They’re cults… those people in the
movie aren’t saved. They don’t teach the
bible in those churches. I wouldn’t go
to one of them either. Not all churches
are like that, ours isn’t,” explained Mark.
A total stranger seated within
hearing distance of the conversation, firmly and with no introduction looked at
Tony and chimed in, “I just came from the movie myself and it wasn’t meant to
keep you from going to church, it was meant to expose false teachings. You need to find Jesus.” At that the stranger turned to walk out the door.
Touched by the stranger’s words
Tony starts to have a change of heart, “Mark, Hector, Brett, I’m sure you guys
aren’t chasing after false teachings like those cults. I think I need to find Jesus. Maybe I need to go to your church tomorrow,”
said Tony.
With a sigh of relief, “We’ll pick
you up at ten… we will do this together,” replied Hector.
It’s Sunday. Church has ended. Tony and his friends arrive back at the same coffee
house to discuss what just took place at church.
Tony begins with a soft but serious
tone, “Your pastor who speaks very highly of what he believes, made it crystal
clear. He left me no choice unless I believe
what he believes, I cannot be saved. I
can come to church with you but unless I believe what you believe, I can’t be a
member of it. What’s causing you to
believe there’s a difference between your church and those you’ve chosen to
stay clear of because I can tell you there isn’t?”
“The difference is we believe the
bible,” said Mark.
“Mark, your church, the churches
mentioned in the movie, have their own interpretations of the Bible. If there is one thing I’ve learned these past
two days, it’s that. The way I see it
the Bible’s not the problem here,” replied Tony. “I’ve been saying it all along, why I won’t go
to church. There’s no way to agree on
anything, when everyone believes their way is the only way. Remember what that man said to me yesterday? Find Jesus.
That’s exactly what I intend to do.
If the Bible is true, it will show me the way. Imagine that, what church goers have been
trying to get me to do for years a total stranger gets it done in matter of
seconds. What’s that you always
say? God works in mysterious ways.”
A person can choose to believe whatever they like, how they
explain it will reveal what’s behind it all.
There’s a good explanation as to why people just can’t seem to get along
with one another these days, in church, outside the church. They don’t trust the inspired word of God,
the [Bible], to be more than sufficient enough as is. I can’t imagine everyone getting along in a
world bent of silencing [Biblical] truths. I can only look forward to it with Jesus.
Find Jesus!
God bless.
In His Care… Jim
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