When you travel the country like I did during the 1990’s, you become exposed to various cultures, expressions and traditions. As I pursued my dreams by following my heart, God led me to nearly one hundred different churches that I attended here and there. One met in a house, another in a barn, some met in gymnasiums and schools and the most impressive had its own little city. However, what I soon discovered, their biblical messages were polar opposites.
On one extreme, I heard remnants from the Fire and Brimstone sermons of the 1970’s. These churches still believed that all dancing and music was from the devil. Pastor’s preached about burning any idol from your past, severing relationships with all non-Christians and do everything humanly possible to escape the gates of hell. This view of the Bible eliminates personality and the ability an outgoing person can have on reaching out to lost souls like the apostle Paul in the book of Acts. Meanwhile, this perspective emphasizes the Old Testament nature of God’s judgment by diminishing the love of Jesus in the New Testament. In a sense, this is just one side of the story.
On the other side of the aisle, I was introduced to the prosperity gospel. This theological position merely stresses the positives of God, neglecting any reference to failure, setback or trial. I quickly found that this rosey picture of life professed by pastors from their pulpits did not exist in my world. When I gave money in the offering plate, I didn’t receive back one hundred or one thousand fold like a few television evangelist promised. In addition, their altar call message, “just come to Jesus and everything will go well for you” was hallow. It’s no wonder that when Ghandi was alive he once said, “I like your Christ, but I don’t like your Christians.”
Unfortunately, these 2 polar opposites miss the mark of properly explaining the message of the gospel. This good news or good tidings, depending upon your translation of the Bible, can be condensed by a few verses like Romans 5:8. The baby Jesus fulfilled His purpose by dying for sinners. John 3:16 provides the answer to how people should respond to Jesus’ sacrifice. Finally, Galatians 5:6 narrows down life to own thing, “faith expressing itself through the love of Jesus.” As you travel down the bumpy road called life, test everything you hear in church with the Bible, 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 so that you can stay along the Equator, in the center of God’s will!
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 