Jesus is the question. Is the resurrected Jesus living in you (2 Corinthians 13:5) and directing you through out each day? Are you consistently growing in daily surrender and obedience to the risen Christ? (2 Peter 3:18)
Instead of focusing and relying on daily growing in more and more surrender to the literal presence of the risen Jesus, humanly choreographed Christianity focuses and relies on:
- Pastors,
- Church attendance
- Famous preachers,
- Sermons,
- Buildings,
- Religious programs,
- Politics,
- Entertainment,
- Hyped up events,
- Human promotion,
- Conferences and seminars,
- Rasing money,
- Financial prosperity,
- Tithing,
- Highly talented worship leaders,
- Looking good,
- Nice decorations and lighting,
- Having a great sound system,
- The size of a congregation,
- “Christian” TV, movies, music, concerts, radio, blogs, brochures, books, podcasts, streaming, and social media.
Where is the living, resurrected Jesus in the midst of all of that? When He has been set aside, ignored, and replaced by other things, we are left with “having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” (2 Timothy 3 5) Jesus said: “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’” (Mark 7:6-7)
Normalized Christianity abandons discipleship for lukewarm religion. (Revelation 3:15-16) True Christianity is radical discipleship that wholehearted follows and obey the risen Jesus instead of our human desires. (Mark 8:34) It will always be far from normal because it is supernatural. (Zachariah 4:6) Christians who demonstrate and grow in discipleship, will be seen as odd by this world. “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” (2 Timothy 3:12 NIV)
When churches or ministries won’t openly tell you where and how they are spending the money that you give them, they are hiding important things from you that they don’t want you to know. (1 John 1:7) Watch the docuseries: “The Religion Business” on Prime.
If a church or ministry isn’t doing anything inappropriate or unethical with the money that they are being given, why would they refuse to make a full financial disclosure to their members and contributors? If you are giving or tithing to a church or ministry, ask the leader or leaders to show you exactly where the money is going. If they refuse to tell you, beware! Especially ask for the top leader’s salary and benefits. Jesus calls His followers to walk in the light. Churches and ministries have no right to hide their finances.
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