Perverting The Gospel of Christ

                        Perverting The Gospel of Christ<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
by Cassandrah Batya, 07.09.05
 
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
- Galatians 1:6-10
 
An error is more dangerous in proportion to the degree of truth it contains.
- Henri Frederic Amiel (1821-1881)
 
The real issues affecting Christianity today is the perverting of the Gospel of Christ and the lukewarm-ness of too many Christians who are either too apathetic or intimidated to take a stand for the Biblical Gospel of Christ.  Some Christians have chosen to remain polite, open-minded and stand cordially by while watching as Satan tries to smother the very life out of Orthodox Christianity through "slightly" perverted doctrines.
 
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?  And in thy name have cast out devils?  And in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
- Matthew 7:20-23
 
Those of us who do take a stand are called misguided zealots, fanatics and even fundamentalists, like being a fundamentalist is a bad thing.  I often wonder if people who use the word fundamentalist for negative connotations even realize the great honor they are bestowing upon the Christians they are labeling.  Every single person of God in the Bible and early Christian martyrs and saints, including the Apostles held fundamental beliefs.  A fundamentalist believes the Scripture is God-inspired and the true Word of God and are doers of The Word of God.  Even before the Scripture in the form as we know it today, there was the Torah.  And before the Torah, there were the actual tablets of the Ten Commandments, given to Moses directly from God, Himself.  It was The Word of God that brought forth the creation of the world.  The Word of God is ageless.
 
The Jewish community followed the Scripture, down to individual letters.  They even went a step further by studying the very formation of every single letter of the Hebrew alphabet because they knew these were the words of the Almighty God, The Ancient of Days, to do anything less is disrespectful and I would further add blasphemous.  They were fundamental in their beliefs of the Scripture.  So, yes, I am a fundamentalist and by all means call me an unreasonable, foolish fanatic who takes The Word of God literally, even though times have changed.  I thank you and I am humbled and honored to stand among such great renowned Biblical men and women of God who were the original fundamentalists, believers and doers of the Scripture.
 
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.  And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
- 1 Corinthians 3:18-21
 
The year, I was practicing mysticism and contemplative spirituality, I began to notice red flags when I compared what was happening to me to Scripture.  It became crystal clear to me, I was wandering down the wrong path away from God.  Once it was brought to my attention through Scripture readings that these practices were wrong, I choose not to continue down a path which separated me from the will of God.
 
This is why I have a hard time believing that certain pastors are preaching and endorsing false doctrines and teachers because things have not been brought to their attention. I have never been to a seminary school, but I can discern false doctrine through Scriptural comparisons.  Therefore, someone who has been through seminary school and is ordained should immediately know better before the rest of us lay people when a doctrine or teacher is perverting The Gospel of Christ, even if that person is himself. Yes, it's true that sincere Christians may be blindly misguided, but once a fellow Christian points out the errors of your ways according to the Scripture, you are no longer blindly misguided, unless by personal choice.
 
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.  A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
- Titus 3:9-11
 
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.  He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and Son.  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his deeds.
- 2 John 1:9-11
 
At this point, the issue is personal choice.  For me, a lowly Christian on the proverbial Christian totem pole, it was easier to say I was wrong and got off the beaten path, I had no followers or big name supporters backing me to face afterwards.  I imagine that when you are a Christian celebrity, known worldwide, it must be the hardest thing in the world to swallow one's pride and say, "Somewhere I went wrong."
 
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
- Proverbs 16:18
 
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
- Matthew 16:24-27
 
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.  And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
- 1 Corinthians 3:18-21
 
But all Christians are called to the same standards to:
 
1.  exhort The Gospel of Christ, which is salvation and grace offered to sinners who turn to Christ for repentance.
 
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
- Romans 10:9-10
 
2.  discern false doctrines and teachers based on Scripture.
 
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
- Acts 17:10-11
 
3.  abolish and turn away from such false doctrines and teachers.
 
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.  A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
- Titus 3:9-11
 
But what about those who have chosen to jump into the eternal flames with a false teacher? It has been said, that politics make strange bedfellows, what about religion?  Religion makes even stranger bedfellows.  If one chooses to defend and idolize a false teacher to the end, though obviously based on Scripture that false teacher has perverted The Gospel of Christ, then that false teacher has become the person's god.  I seriously question whether the idolater even knew Christ in the first place.
 
For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name [is] Jealous, [is] a jealous God:
- Exodus 34:14
 
The one divisive issue that is causing the major dissension among Christians today is basically this one belief:
 
The Scripture (Holy Bible: Old Testament and New Testament) is completely God-inspired, infallible, historically accurate, and decisive in all issues of controversy.
 
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
- 2 Timothy 3:16
 
This one issue is the adhesive-ness of the Christian faith.  If you remove the belief that the Bible is our standard of comparison, Christendom falls apart.  There is no clear doctrinal direction, just pure chaos and a welcome mat for Satan.

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