The Test for Leprosy

First off if anyone can tell me where the title of this post is from,(hint: Song Title) then they are amazing.

Its a test of ones musical prowess. From now on I think I will use some reference for my titles, regardless of relevance or not.

Now to the nitty gritty... haha

So lately I have been reading alot. I mean more than I normally do. Between all my homework and stuff, and I have come across something that is kinda disturbing to me. After researching, and through personal experience it has become a big enough thought distraction to where it will take blog form.

The topic is: Christians living and Pastors preaching a "Me-centered" gospel, which essentially is a Christ-less form of Christianity.

Living as Christians in a culture where wealth and luxury is very prevalent, I know that it is hard for us to not focus on what we do ourselves everyday. It is embedded so deeply into our thoughts and minds, that it is hard for us to really understand what Christianity is about. Now I don't claim to be an expert at all, but when I read and understand my Bible I do my best to learn things that I otherwise may not have paid attention too.

The issue at hand is the fact that so many churches nowadays preach something that is not at the focus of Christianity, they preach how to be rich, how to have a perfect family, perfect marriage, perfect job etc... I know that churches do this, because I have been there and seen it. This is not what Christianity is about, in 1 Corinthians chapters 1 and 2 Paul very plainly states what his job is to do.

Preach Christ and him Crucified: 1 Corinthians 1: 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles

€œWhen was the last time you heard the Gospel message of Christ crucified for our sins preached to the BELIEVERS in church instead of the unbelievers?

For me... The answer would be so long ago, that I really don't remember. And this is a problem, because for me, a believer my whole life, 15+ years, to have not truly understood this concept, in the sense that it should be, is sad... Really sad.

Now I am not saying I never understood it until now, cause I always did understand it, but the way that the church preaches to us, "believers", is different from the non believers in the sense that the church teaches us the law and how to live right, and they get sidetracked from teaching us that no one is perfect and no one can get to heaven by being good; "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" Eph 2:8.

The way the church preaches on living your "right/best/awesome/amazing life now", and trying to focus on doing right works more than faith, at least to the Believers of their congregation is just a little off from what scripture says: Romans 9:30-33 addresses this perfectly:

30What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone." 33As it is written:
"See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.

Paul eloquently puts it in the sense that the Gentiles, or more simple minded folk, have understood righteousness, and have therefore obtained it through faith. Whereas the Jews, or the more educated, never received righteousness because they pursued it through works which is a backwards way of thinking. According to God, but not according to our culture, which is why it is hard to comprehend sometimes.

I have seen this being preached so often that it is really hard for me to sit through a sermon anymore, and actually have confidence in the person preaching. I just want people to be thinking for themselves, and really try to understand the word for themselves, and although it may be hard to "think on your own" it is rewarding, and you may understand much more about what Christianity truly means.

I want to urge people to not focus as much on the works that surround faith, but the faith that should be the cause of good works, cause I know many preachers and churches are misconstrued on their idea of what this is.

I know this is long but hopefully it makes you rethink the way that you pursue God and seek righteousness. Works will never get you there, unless you are perfect, and as far as I am concerned, I never will be perfect. Only Jesus will ever be.

This is open for discussion, and I will gladly talk about, and dialogue with any one who wants.

Thanks for reading.

Austin Death.