Email Messages
This is a sample of what you have been missing if
you aren't receiving our email newsletter. Click
here to subscribe.
I suppose the argument I hear most against the
Gospel that I share
is this: "That is a very self-serving doctrine you're
teaching".
Yes, I'm sure we have all heard that one. Then the accusations begin to
fly and with them demands for "good" conduct, performance, and
works become the call of the day.
Yet, the same ones that so freely throw these judgments around are
indeed the true insulters of the Gospel message.
The refreshing breeze of the Gospel we believe and share lies in the
very thing that those who oppose it are most upset about. NO
WORKS, NO CONDUCT MONITORS, NO JUDGES NEED APPLY. We already have been
introduced to God and His Redeemer. And the very sad reply by the
weakening voice of Evangelical Christianity's system of works and
legalism is a limp noodle compared to the power of the Gospel.
The fundamental basis of the legitimacy of the Gospel is not "a
changed life." If it is, then no one is an example of God's grace.
For which fool would say, I have changed "enough" to
have earned God's favor. And here is where the double talk begins. Even
though
almost no Christian would ever say they "deserve" God's favor,
most would defend themselves by saying, "but I DO try! And YOU
should, too."
Well, I greatly cheer on all good effort, on all levels. Yet, I do
totally reject the self-serving, self-righteousness of these flimsy
"good deed" doctrines of "trying." As if that
somehow would excuse SIN.
No prophet, no disciple, not Jesus ever said God loves those who
"try" or
rewards "good effort". All teaching in the scriptures and the
Bible
emphatically state that God only demands "perfection".
Now, because of the cross, we have a choice. Either to dedicate one's
life to "do as good as you can" or to NEVER trust our
relationship with God to our own inconsistent nature but only to His
nature of perfection and holiness. And, I could add, you might not be a
human if you are perfected in yourself.
Yes, its double talk and hypocrisy to say you must "do" right
to be right with
God and then claim Jesus as the one you put your trust in. It's just so
much double
talk, self-serving, self-righteousness.
One of the doctrines I taught while I was a part of the word of faith
movement was, confession of God's promises will bring God's promises to
you. I now see that mindset and teaching as a direct insult to the
message of the cross. While the positive confession message seems to be
a good thing, it actually only exists because of the sin, guilt and
judgment consciousness
preached by the same people! We first get blasted with "what the
problem is" then
they conveniently teach us how to solve "the problem" they
helped create in the first place.
Talk about self-serving doctrines!
Does anyone out there believe the problem of sin, guilt and judgment was
resolved at the cross?
Well, I do! And I will share it as long as God sees fit to allow me.
ALL preachers of works, sin, guilt and judgment are saying, "the
cross was insufficient!"
I would rather be a liar than make God out to be one.
This line of thinking goes back to the first Adam. Adam after eating of
the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil told God his problem was that he
was naked. Being naked wasn't the problem. The problem was the inclusion
of the
knowledge of good and evil into his life.
So, the rigorous, stale, harsh drumbeat of religion goes on, with it's
obsession of what is right and wrong, "morality", and good vs.
evil. Preaching the doctrines that cause fear, anger, depression, and
mental illness. Then it claims to have the answers for the very
conditions that their doctrines of shame, guilt and judgment produce!
Yes, a very self-serving doctrine indeed. And that's the most reserved
observation I will share just now.
Your friend,
Michael Williams
|
