NEWS A kingdom divided...
A while back, I wrote that the future of Christianity as a world religion is bleak. In fact, it has no future. There are more than 38,000 denominations in Christianity. Christianity has fractured into tens of thousands of little pieces. There are divisions everywhere you look.
If we view the Christian religion as a whole, as a kingdom, as it were, it is clear that it has no future. Every single one of these denominations, including Catholicism, is doomed. Every single one.
Jesus told us clearly why a divided Christian religion has no future. The Lord said:
"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. " (Mark 3:24)
There are no denominations in the kingdom of God. There is only Christ. The Holy Spirit, the Son and the Father are One. They are not divided. They are One.
When you see Christ through revelation, as Paul did, all religion and religious things become unimportant. After he saw Christ , Paul had no use for his former religion (Judaism) and his religious upbringing. Here's what the Apostle said:
"If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:4-11)
Rubbish! That's what Paul considered his former religion and religious upbringing. Rubbish!
To the Colossians, Paul told us in no uncertain terms where reality is found:
"Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." (Colossians 2:16-17)
The reality is found in Christ, and only in Christ. Reality is not found in one of the 38,000-plus Christian denominations. Reality is found in Christ.
Simple, isn't it?
Paul also told the Colossians that the labels they used to describe themselves and various things were of no value either:
"... since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all." (Colossians 3:9-11)
When you see Christ, He becomes all in all. There are no other things of any importance or value. There is only Christ.
Christianity as a world religion, consisting as it does today of tens of thousands of denominations has no future. It is a kingdom divided against itself and, as a result, it cannot stand. It must fall.
We see signs today of Christianity coming undone at the seams. Many people appear concerned about this trend, but it is necessary. It is necessary because Christ must be increase. He must have pre-eminence.
There is only One Christ, and He is the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end.
May you see Christ as all in all.
Agape,
Steve
If we view the Christian religion as a whole, as a kingdom, as it were, it is clear that it has no future. Every single one of these denominations, including Catholicism, is doomed. Every single one.
Jesus told us clearly why a divided Christian religion has no future. The Lord said:
"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. " (Mark 3:24)
There are no denominations in the kingdom of God. There is only Christ. The Holy Spirit, the Son and the Father are One. They are not divided. They are One.
When you see Christ through revelation, as Paul did, all religion and religious things become unimportant. After he saw Christ , Paul had no use for his former religion (Judaism) and his religious upbringing. Here's what the Apostle said:
"If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:4-11)
Rubbish! That's what Paul considered his former religion and religious upbringing. Rubbish!
To the Colossians, Paul told us in no uncertain terms where reality is found:
"Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." (Colossians 2:16-17)
The reality is found in Christ, and only in Christ. Reality is not found in one of the 38,000-plus Christian denominations. Reality is found in Christ.
Simple, isn't it?
Paul also told the Colossians that the labels they used to describe themselves and various things were of no value either:
"... since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all." (Colossians 3:9-11)
When you see Christ, He becomes all in all. There are no other things of any importance or value. There is only Christ.
Christianity as a world religion, consisting as it does today of tens of thousands of denominations has no future. It is a kingdom divided against itself and, as a result, it cannot stand. It must fall.
We see signs today of Christianity coming undone at the seams. Many people appear concerned about this trend, but it is necessary. It is necessary because Christ must be increase. He must have pre-eminence.
There is only One Christ, and He is the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end.
May you see Christ as all in all.
Agape,
Steve
posted by Steve at
8:20 PM
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