The Deceived Accepts Deception As Truth.
Reading this portion of of scripture from 2 Tim. 3 this morning I was faced with this startling truth...what I was taught by my denominational seminarians in that the behaviors above describe deviant sinners and pointed to the nearness of the rapture was Biblical incorrect. Instead the list of attributes in this verse reads like some traits that I have heard said, observed and have been guilty of portraying myself, are attributed to "Christians". Is it possible that our seminarian denominated trained professionals were wrong as to who this scripture applies to?
Religionist are concerned about making sure they get what they think they have a God given right to more than they are following in the footsteps of Jesus or about the plight of people's suffering. Many Christians who are unloving think they are loving because they have redefined the love of God to suite their own man-made doctrines and desire for God's blessings. Believers who believe their Christian cause is important enough to revile, disrespect, judge, manipulate and condemn people to hell, because of their way of living. When it comes to acceptance and understanding these people have a short temper fuse that blows and they turn on wounded and fallen believers and will not be reconciled to them because of the preconceived righteous virtue. These people are not grateful enough to preach the Gospel of Love and Grace without the threat of punishment and suffering in the torture chambers hell fire. People who resort to hatred and name-calling and claim they are persecuted and denied their religious rights when they cannot get their way. People who have shirked their responsibility to the poor by placing that responsibility on the government.
Paul goes on to say that these people have “a form of godliness, although they have denied its power”. Now please tell me how in the world can this verse refers to sinners...do sinners operate claiming a form of godliness. No. These are people claiming that Jesus is Savior and Lord and yet He does not have the power to save the majority of humanity from hell's eternal suffering. Or who claim that God can be kept out of places where prayer or the Bible is not allowed. Or that in-spite of translation errors, and disqualifying historical and contextual settings, claim that the Bible is infallible and without error and must be denied and fought in order to save face with God. In reality, people who look and behave nothing like the Jesus they claim to emulate.
Why is it that religionist reveal gloom and doom in favor of revealing the goodness of God as a means to repentance. There are people in religious bondage who are struggling to come out of the legalistic, manipulative, controlling, judgmental and condemning environment. Good people who desire to follow God and His ways, but are deceived into believing that maybe God is an angry God who will punish them when they slip up and fall.
Let me encourage you...no matter what judgment and condemnation may be preached at you...no matter how much fear-mongering is mongered to scare you, no matter how much you are told that God is angry, revengeful and retributive...revel in the assurance that God is a GOOD God, a LOVING God, a MERCIFUL God, a FORGIVING God and is in no way akin to the bad God religion portrays.
God is much "gooder" (I know that is not a word but you get the picture) than you can imagine, in Him there is NO DARKNESS, or forth coming torture in hell fire for eternity. The sin issue is settled because of the cross and resurrection of Jesus. There is NO FEAR in His PRESENCE. you can to DO NOTHING to make Him LOVE you more and you can DO NOTHING to make Him LOVE you any LESS! His LOVE for you NEVER FAILS!
For your FREEDOM from religious bondage Christ died and was resurrected again, accept and live in that FREEDOM!
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