Scripture is designed to help us “Zoom” with the risen Jesus and stay “inline” with Him. Unfortunately it is often twisted in ways that aren’t helpful. Let’s try to untangle a few Bible verses.
The Bible points us to a glorious place to meet with the living Jesus — the “innernet.” “Christ in you the hope of glory.” Jesus invented live streaming on the “innernet.” He told His disciples that “rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
Jesus said, “Follow Me.” He never said: “Do your own thing during the week, but at least go to church on Sunday.” Jesus said that His followers, “must deny themselves.” He didn’t tell them to seek self-fulfillment.
When Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is at hand,” He wasn’t referring to a human politician. When Jesus said, “Repent,” He didn’t mean for you to keep doing what you’ve always been doing. Jesus told His disciples to fish for people, not to fish for political advantage over others.
When Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted” He didn’t mean those who are retaliated against for their own meanness. When Jesus said, “To the one who knocks, the door will be opened,” He wasn’t telling us to “knock,” criticize, and insult people.
Jesus said: “Blessed are you when people insult you,” not “when you insult people.” That’s an important difference. Jesus told us to forgive, not to do everything we can to get back at people.
“The Bible calls us to humble ourselves, not to make accusations about other people. What’s it take to be taught directly by God? “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.” -Ps. 25:9 Jesus said that He came to call “sinners to repentance,” not to excuses or denial.
Jesus is knocking
On doors in hearts,
Saying, “Roll away your pride,
And let Me in.”
Jesus didn’t say that His followers need to be taught about the Holy Spirit. He said that we need to be taught by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” He never said: “Call yourselves ‘laymen’ & let the ‘clergy’ do the work.” Jesus said, “Watch out for false prophets,” not, “Believe whatever any preacher, who has a church or TV show, preaches.”
Church leadership tends to overreach, unintentionally supplanting the authority of the living Jesus. The 23rd Psalm says: “The Lord is my shepherd (pastor).” Is He yours? For me, the risen Jesus is essential. I don’t know how I’d make it without Him living inside of me.
Church on skype reduces the hype — fog machines and colored lights have much less impact when filtered thru a devise. It might also help us to untangle Scripture if it encourages to read it for ourselves.
You can’t be hateful and grateful at the same time. They don’t work together. Daily reading the Bible with an open heart will release gratefulness into your heart.
Did Jesus really say, “In the world you will have tribulation?” Yep. But He added, “But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Search Amazon for: The Joy Of Early Christianity.
