Month: January 2019

I know that many people believe Jesus told harmless, little white-lies in order to make a point. That is to say, He knew the truth about a topic, but actually said something completely opposite or wrong in order to make people think or re-consider an idea. I\’m not one of those p

In 2017, I wrote about Breaking Your Jesus Paradigm.  Today I’m adding an additional thought which I originally left out: how the common doctrine of miracles feeds into and prepares for, the eventual acceptance of the anti-christ.

When your belief system enables you to assign significance or value to a person just because of a miracle, then you have been taught to follow a wrong sign.  Jesus Himself said

“… An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet;\” (Matt. 12:39)

So, dare I ask: how many signs were given to that generation?  If your answer is greater than one, then you can be forgiven: you\’re probably just like me, having spent a good time in the average church.

The one sign given to that generation was the resurrection, and that sign was not performed by Jesus, but by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:11).  In doing so, Jesus was glorified by God (John 17:1)

Contrary-wise, the anti-christ will perform signs for the purpose authenticating himself, thereby deceiving many:

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.  And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. (Rev. 13:13-14)

Performing a sign for the purpose of self-authentication is deception, it is self-glorification: which is plainly and simply, an act of bragging.

Contrast that with love –

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Cor. 13:4-7).

The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:8)

Summary

I would suggest that it is time we re-think the doctrine of self-authentication and self-glorification, and relegate it to the heresy that it actually is.

https://goo.gl/YyCVeD

I’ve been told I use strong words herein. That may be true.

But I really want us to consider that how we think, feel, and respond directly affects our relationship with God. And when our thinking, feelings, and responses push us away from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we’re working from a place that is not ordained by God.

Illegitimate Christianity

When events occur in your life, and your response to that event pushes you away from God rather drawing you closer God, then you are responding based upon a belief system that is incorrect.

That is what I call illegitimate Christianity: belief systems built upon doctrines of demons designed to damage your relationship with God, wound your soul, steal your peace and joy, and destroy your ability to function in your God-given purpose, thereby stealing the reward that would otherwise have been due to you at the judgment seat of Christ.

Our beliefs systems shape how we interact with everything in this life and in the life to come. When our interaction with God does not result in the fruit of the spirit, then we have believed, and consequently acted upon, a lie. The solution is to know the truth:  and the truth will make you free (John 8:32)

Lies push us away from God, they inhibit our ability to pray, study God‘s word, fulfill His purpose for us, or choose the correct path.  They cause us to perform works that do not result in the fruit of the spirit.  It is those things that are founded upon doctrines of demons, which, unfortunately, we have many times learned them in church.

Awareness and Responding

Being aware of your state of mind is the first challenge.  It’s so effortless to automatically respond to stimulus in our lives.  We can arrive at the place where we merely run on auto-pilot: responding to one thing after another without giving any thought as to the why we said that thing, why we did that thing.

A Short List of Illegitimate Christianity

• Improper fear of God
• Depression
• God the Mighty Smiter
• Anger when studying the Bible
• Avoiding bible study and prayer
• Anger
• Co-dependence
• Lust
• Immorality
• Racism
• Ungodly responses to stimulus
  • Being triggered into bad behaviors, feelings, actions

Start 2019 off on a good foot: Begin finding freedom from addictions and objectification. 

Here’s a starter list to get you going:

1. Understand and eliminate soul wounds caused by (a) others and (b) bad theology.
2. Identify and eliminate triggers of bad behavior.
3. Do not suppose that success gained by using technological controls (DNS/URL filtering) is evidence of a changed inner man.
4. Re-train your brain: unlearn female objectification.
5. Replacement behavior –
   • Train yourself to “look the other way” when you see something tantalizing
   • Include and design a practice that makes use of objects or things that trigger desire, covetousness or lust (cars, food, hobbies, sports, politics, etc.)
6. Learn to re-focus desires towards your spouse
7. Exit illicit and harmful relationships.