BTZ Blog

Jesus didn't teach on "hell", at least not the religious “HELL” that is the major doctrine of the religious system, so why do those that say they are His followers teach of such a hellish torture chamber where people go where the torturing continues eternity, forever without end? By now some of my denominated friends have got their defenses up and their gospel guns loaded with scripture verse bullets that (as far as they are concerned) will blast me into the fiery hell that I say Jesus did not teach on.  The meaning of the word "hell" as it is referred to today was not taught in the Old Testament...this fact begs the question...why do denominations teach about hell the way they do?   In fact, the word Jesus uses for "hell" is not religion’s "hell", as in "a place of everlasting torment" at all, but "Gehenna",  In the New Testament, Jesus referred to Gehenna as the valley of Hinnom, where garbage burned continually, ...

Jesus didn’t go to Sunday-go-meeting church...Religious people do. Jesus didn’t start denominations...Religious people do. Jesus didn’t build denominational “churches”...Religious people do. Jesus didn’t appoint deacons...Religious people do. Jesus didn’t appoint elders...Religious people do. Jesus didn’t take a stand for “christian" causes...Religious people do. Jesus didn’t teach us about institutional churches...Religious people do. Jesus didn't teach his followers to pray to Jesus...Religious people do.  Jesus didn’t instruct people to say the “sinners prayer...Religious people do. Jesus didn’t shun sinners...Religious people do. Jesus didn't condemn sinners....Religious people do. Jesus didn’t judge people...Religious people do.Well that is not 100% true, He did judge the religious people who judged other people. Jesus didn’t legislate religious rules and regulations...Religious people do. Jesus didn’t believe the Old Testament was inerrant and perfect...

Many view my critique of religious institutions as being blunt and brutal...be assured, it is meant to be that way, for I view religion as the single most destructive force impeding the Gospel of Jesus Christ on earth  today...as it was in the earthly ministry of Jesus. My objective is to encourage believer's who are caught in these religious trappings and are deceived into thinking that religion's way is of God, to think beyond the religious box and  allow the Spirit to quench their thirst for spiritual reality, leaving religiosity behind. My harshness and even bitterness, in no way, is directed to the people caught up in the religion's trap, be they preacher or otherwise. I will be the first to admit that I have strong opposition to organized religion and its activities that so many people within its ranks consider to be "spiritual" and "biblical", I do this with the hope that some within religion's sway will be spurred towards the things tha...

I will attempt to answer the question posed to me...why is it that you have such disrespect for religion, thus denominations? Why have you forsaken the beliefs you held to for so long that you believed to be right and now believe to be wrong? I will be honest here, I do have a deep disrespect for both religion and denominations, but let me be clear, I have the deepest respect for Christ, His Church and His Gospel! Many of you in Christendom cannot understand how that can be, and view me as a deluded, disgruntled, irrational, and out of touch with spiritual reality. And to tell you the truth, if I now believed as you believe and you now believed as I believe, I would think the same of you, why? Because I would accept the deception I would be deceived by as truth, as you do, therefore, ​conclude that I have lost all my spiritual marbles. The big difference between what you believe and I believe boils down to my perspective of "Church" and the fact is...I do not be...

This is how Albert Benjamin Simpson (1843-1919) puts it. I wish to speak to you about Jesus, and Jesus only. I often hear people say, "I wish I could get hold of Divine Healing, but I cannot." Sometimes they say, "I have got it." If I ask them, "What have you got?" the answer is sometimes, "I have got the blessing", sometimes it is, "I have got the theory"; sometimes it is, "I have got the healing"; sometimes, "I have got the sanctification." But I thank God we have been taught that it is not the blessing, it is not the healing, it is not the sanctification, it is not the thing, it is not the it that you want, but it is something better. It is "the Christ"; it is Himself. How often that comes out in His Word - "Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses", Himself "bare our sins in his own body on the tree"! It is the person of Jesus Christ we want. Plenty of people get the...

Galatians 4:21-31, "Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which engendereth to bondage, which is Hagar. For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath a husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the Scripture...

I believe that the fundamental weakness of the religious system, thus the weakness of the segregated denominated church system, is that it operates and patterns itself after the worldly system’s way of getting things done. It is hierarchical in structure, positions are voted on, it is man headed, man led, man fed with man-made doctrines and teachings, man controlled and man manipulated. Most aspects of what is done within the religious denominated system is man’s doing. The religious traditions, rules, regulations and practices are man initiated and man ordained. Whatever takes place has to be sanctioned or rejected by man. The hierarchical leadership compromises scriptural truth in order to keep the people in subjection to and dependent on the religious system for their spiritual food in order to nourish the fleshly appetite of the religious system. The minds of the people within religion are minded that way and I believe that God has given them over to their religious mindedne...

I realize that the position I take regarding religion is not given much, if any at all, credence by people caught up in religion...I understand that, I felt the same way when I was caught up in its deceptive deceptions. But, when I saw the truth of the freedom that God desires and has provided for His people I chose to side with the freedom of that truth. I am convinced that religion has confused a genuine relationship with God that has left most believers frustrated, for a relationship with religion. Rules, traditions, guidelines and man-made doctrines have been established that are not God initiated, sanctioned or ordained that has segregated God's people into different denominational camps in direct violation of Jesus' prayer for the unifying of His body. This is not God's doing...it is man's doing! Only an understanding of grace and truth will unite God's people...different denominations NEVER will. In light of this, the question every be...

The greatest opposition to the influence of Christ's gospel affecting the Community of Humanity for the kingdom of God, is not opposition from the people without the religious system but, by people within the religious system. For those believers who decide not to go along with religious status-quot but rather be committed to being true disciples of Jesus Christ results in an increasing amount of persecution from those within the religious system. Most believers today are convinced because of religious persuasion that ther name-tagged institutional church has a biblical basis to exist and is the means of establishing a relationship with God and is essential for spiritual maturity. It is evident anyone who disagrees is viewed as a deserter of the faith. If a believer fails to identify the name of some denominational church as belonging to, they are treated as a person who is not in the know regarding spiritual matters...because, it is assumed, there is no way a non-church atten...

The demand of the Law is perfection...how perfect? “Be ye perfect has your Father in heaven is perfect.” The Law could not produce that kind of perfect man. So, how is such perfection attained. Jesus’ purpose was to provide salvation for the people of the world. Before we are ready to trust Christ for salvation, we need to know we are in need of salvation. Thus, the reason for the Old Covenant. Paul writes: The law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith, now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian (Gal. 3:24-25). Lets look at the sermon on the Mount...as it is called... to find the answer. This teaching of Christ is the ultimate example as to the meaning of God’s Law, it shows that the only standard that God accepts to be in relationship with Him is perfection. Jesus taught this teaching to a nation that diluted that standard and had become fixated on experiencing political deliverance. Now I can hear the religionists ask; “didn’t ...

The scripture leaves not doubt as to the answer to this question. “When the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, BORN UNDER THE LAW, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship (Gal. 4: 4-5). So Jesus was born under the law, grew up under the law, lived under the law, ministered under the law, and died under the the Old Covenant. In some Bibles the words of Jesus are printed in red, and most people are taught that they are for New Covenant people and that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are New Covenant books. But, is that the case? Many people get upset with such a suggestion, They maintain that “we have not seen Jesus with our own eyes, not heard His voice with our own ears, not felt his touch, but we have His words in red and now you are saying that it was more for Old Covenant people.” The fact that Jesus words were more for Old Covenant people does not mean that New Covenant people should not read and heed them by applyin...

Is your denomination found in scripture? Is your denomination sanctioned by Christ? Is your denominational doctrine the doctrine of Christ? Are your churches denominational rules and regulations Christ initiated? Are your denominational Sunday-go-man-led-event-driven-meetings initiated by Christ? Is the segregated denominated building you call “Church” the Church Christ established? Are these not legitimate questions every believer should ask themselves regarding the religious institution they identify with? If the answer is no to the above questions, isn’t what you are partaking in, error and not truth? So is your name-tagged denomination in the Bible? Whether you search for Baptist...Pentecostal...Methodist...Anglican...Lutheran...Roman Catholic...Presbyterian...Brethren...Seventh-Day Adventist...Independent...Non-Denominational...or any of the other thousands that exist, not one is found in scripture or approved by God. Should believers give their allegiance to som...

The Bible records the reason for the bringing in of the post-cross covenant as being man’s inability to keep the pre-cross covenant. “ If there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another (Hebrews 8:7). This verse is expressing the truth that if the Law God gave to Moses had been sufficient in accomplishing our relationship with God and what He purposed for the Community of the Redeemed in expressing Himself to the Community of Humanity, there would never have been a “new” covenant. The fact that Christ is the one that promised the New Covenant and the one that accomplished all that God wanted to do for man by fulfilling the requirements of the Old Covenant. Religionists, past, present and no doubt future, refuse to believe such a statement about the Law. However, the author of Hebrews felt no such reluctance: The former regulation (the Old Covenant) is set aside because it was week and useless (for the Law made nothing ...

Because of misunderstanding between and misapplication of the pre-cross and post-cross covenants, many people have a wrong idea concerning the Bible, thus it is misused and abused in religious "churches" all across the world. Also, people's view of God is warped and perverted. God is viewed as a two natured being, having a nature of wrath evidenced by His revenge-fulness, his judgement and killing of people, including innocent women and children, in the Old Covenant. He is viewed has a God of mercy, compassion, grace and love in the New Covenant. The idea that God is love...BUT...He is also a God of wrath is far from the truth of who God is. There is only one God and He is the "same yesterday, today and forever." "In Him there is no shadow of turning." "I am God and I change not." "God is not man, therefore he does not lie." God never "was" or never "will be" different from time to eternity. God ...

If believers are to comprehend and experience the Christ life within, we must abandon the way of religion where people are taught how to live for God and embrace the gift of God's Grace that empowers you to experience the outflow of His life in you to accomplish His purpose for the Community of the Redeemed. This is the life Paul wrote about in Philippians 3:3-11. Read it. All religions are in agreement on at least one element: the false teaching that relationship with god is attained and/or maintained by the actions and efforts of man. In the passage above Paul explains why why this is not so. Paul here talks about spiritual circumcision to emphasize the basis of salvation; 1. True worship of God is a spiritual matter...not a ritual matter. 2. Christ is the object of our rejoicing...not rejoicing in religion. 3. Our confidence is in the Spirit...not in the flesh. How did Paul know these things? He learned them from Jesus....

Denominated preachers preaching denominated sermons to denominated people who are looking at the back of people's heads and whose mindless stare befuddles the denominated preacher. A place where the Bible is elevated above Jesus and believed to be a rule book with frightening consequences and a damming document that points out people's sins and consigns people to hell while saying the Gospel is "good news".  A place where the voice of the True Shepherd is is unheard amid the bleating of fleeced sheep because of all the religious noise.  A place where the pressure to be perfect creates an atmosphere of guilt, blame and shame  followed by judgment and condemnation. A place where the written word is misused, abused and confused. A place of dead rituals rather than actually living out the gospel.   A social club that lacks socializing.  A place of division rather than a place of unity. A place of showmanship and theatrical performa...

“All men or churches not placing all in the life, light and guidance of the Holy Spirit of Christ, but pretending to act in the name and for the glory of God from opinions which their logic and learning have collected from scripture words or from what a Calvin, an Arminius, a Socinus or some smaller name has told them to be right or wrong, all such are but where the apostles were when it was said of them, "there was a strife among them who should be the greatest." And how much, so ever they may say and boast of their great zeal for truth and the only glory of God, their own open notorious behavior towards one another is proof enough that the great strife amongst them is which shall be the greatest sect or have the largest number of followers. This strife is from the same root and just as useful to Christianity as that of the carnal apostles who fought over who should be the greatest. It is not the numbers of men or kingdoms professing Christianity that is the glory of Chri...

Why is the mixing of Law and Grace not the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Because the Old Covenant and the New Covenant are INCOMPATIBLE. Therefore the mixing of the two results the truth and reality of both being compromised and thus conceals the reason for both and also results in misunderstanding the written word of God and produces theological hog-wash. A correct understand of both Covenants and keeping each in its distinct rightful place is necessary to live in the freedom and reality of what Christ has DONE for us...it has nothing to do with what we can DO for Him. The scriptures declare that the New Covenant is BETTER and DIFFERENT than the Old Covenant. “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD . “ I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD ,’ because they will all know me, fr...

So should believers be Christ-o-centric? Emphatically Yes. For starters it is the will of God that believers be Christ-o-centric. Matthew 17:5  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Phil. 2:9-11  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Jesus confirms He wants us to be Christ-o-centric. John 14:6  Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 11:25-26  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" The Holy S...

Believers are to be Christocentric and not Churchocentric. However, in reality a lot of believers are Churchocentric rather than Christocentric. Let's look at what I mean by Churchocentric. Well we are familiar with the term ego-centric meaning that one is concerned with ones-self, they are people who are self-centered and concerned about their own desires and needs. Churchocentric is where the segregated denominations have formed what they call "Church"  and are concerned with their own denominational culture all with their own different beliefs and agendas that benefit their particular brand of theology. They claim they are all based on the Bible and they have the correct theology and doctrines. I am not referring to "Church" as the Community of the Redeemed, rather I am referring to the acceptance as to what the word means culturally. Being Churchocentric is when we focus on a denominational name tagged building and what takes place in that bu...