DID YOU KNOW?
The following are some thoughts of an older guy looking at this “Christianity” thing and consists of some things found to be true, from this older guy’s subjective perspective. These thoughts are not PC (politically correct), and should alienate maybe 40% of all readers.
To be PC, at this time in America, means to believe that homosexuality is OK, that Islam is a religion and is OK, that Islam means Peace rather than what is really means, “Submit” and it is OK to kill both newly born and unborn baby’s. Those who believe this are sometimes called Leftist Liberals which is a broad term and also includes people who feel that God changes, and this God adapts to the times or that He isn’t really important in the overall scheme of things and we have to be tolerant of Atheist’s, Humanist’s, Rationalist’s and Relativist’s. Let’s all be happy and get along.
In general, the inhabitants of America and most churches of today meet the requirements Paul wrote to Timothy about, in his second letter: “2Ti 3:2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God– 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”
Essentially, this means a church (form of Godliness) may look good on the outside, but there is no love, no Gifts of Power from Holy Spirit God as noted in 1 Cor. 12,13, and 14. Without love for others, it is pretty much useless to “do church”. Soup kitchen’s, and nursing homes are a much better place to invest. However, with considerable time investment, it is possible to find a place that truly meets the definition of a “true” church. This would include Messianic Jewish places of worship.
Did you know God promised His Chosen Jewish people a Messiah? Jeshua (Jesus) was the Messiah. He came first as a Lamb of God, and will come again for believing Gentiles, and for His Chosen People — as a Lion. So if a Jewish Rabbi is called a Messianic Rabbi that means this Rabbi knows Jeshua came first as a Lamb of God and will come again. Does that mean he is a Christian? Sort of, but Jeshua (Jesus) came first as a Jew and God kinda put a “block” in the Jewish mind until all the Gentiles had “come in” – meaning they realized that Jesus, was God, who redeemed them by dying on the cross for them. And Jesus called the Gentiles “my other flock” in John 10:16.
Did you know that Christ is not Jesus’ last name? It comes from Greek and is used as a title not a name. Actually the words Christ, Mishiach, and Messiah, all mean the same: “Anointed One”. When Jesus comes the second time, (Second Coming) His followers will not be here. He will meet them in a cloud and call them up to Paradise first.
Sound too good? Just take a look at this:
1Co 15:51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed–
52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
And here’s some more:
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
(NIV)
(More of Did You Know to Come)