Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The Neutered Gospel

I will say the following plainly, because I could think of no other way of saying it. At the risk of bringing the readership of this blog to zero, at the risk of having to wade through dozens of less than friendly e-mails, the following must be stated, and clearly so.

If the gospel messages you’ve been hearing lo’ these many years have never once made you feel uncomfortable then you’ve never really heard the true gospel message. If the gospel messages you’ve been hearing lo’ these many years have never once challenged you then you’ve never really heard the true gospel message. If the gospel messages you’ve been hearing lo’ these many years haven’t accentuated Christ and the cross in perpetuity then you’ve never really heard the true gospel message. If the gospel messages you’ve been hearing lo’ these many years have never once stirred you to repentance, prompted inward introspection, humbled you, caused you to weep and truly see the enormity of your sin, then you’ve never really heard the true gospel message, but a neutered version wherein God is always smiling, the sun is always shining, the birds are always chirping and no matter what you do, God’s holding onto you so tight that you’ll never be able to get away.

In this brave new world of ours, pastors have redefined their roles and become life coaches, no longer preaching a crucified Christ, but rather playing the part of guidance counselor to scores of individuals that can be likened to overactive, petulant, and overgrown children who will not accept being accountable to anyone, be they God or man.

Preachers too have redefined their roles and rather than be concerned about the spiritual wellbeing of those to whom they are ministering they play the therapist, speaking soothing words, in a soothing tone, ensuring anyone within earshot that everything’s going to be alright, that God has mellowed over the centuries, and as long as they ‘bring the tithe into the storehouse’ God will overlook everything else.

It is an understatement when I say that there is enough blame to go around for the farce of a faith many are presenting, living and promulgating today, and the sheep are just as much to blame as the shepherds. In the end these so called shepherds are just giving the people what they wanted aren’t they?

If you preach the truth, if you preach the unadulterated Word of God, wherever you happen to be, you are bound to hear those famous words that seem to be on everyone’s lips nowadays: ‘That’s not the god I serve!’

I’ve heard it more times than I would like to recall, and no matter how often I hear it, it’s still shocking.

‘I don’t like your god, your god is mean, that’s not the god I serve.’

‘But all I did was read from His book’, I would retort, ‘all I did was read from the Bible!’

If you hear the truth being preached, if someone is reading out of the Bible and in your heart you say ‘that’s not the god I serve’, then may I humbly submit to you that you are not serving the true God, but a god of your own making and imagining. A god that you have fashioned in your heart who requires no submission, who requires no obedience, who requires no sacrifice on your part, but is more than happy to let you win the lotto time and again.

It is because we have refashioned and remade God in our own image that the neutered gospel is so widely accepted and received. It is because we didn’t like what God had to say that we chose rebellion rather than submission, and with hammer and chisel in hand we began to sculpt our new and improved deity.

Like the prophets of Baal however, we will know the true impotence of the gods we’ve fashioned when we need them most. When we see the gods of our own making for what they truly are, nothing more than mists and vanities, it will be too late, and though we might cut ourselves and bleed, though we might cry out to the heavens for a sign, these deities we so revel in today, these gods we so honor and worship will remain silent as the empty tomb from which the Christ, the Son of the one true God walked out of two millennia ago.


With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.

75 comments:

  1. Amen, Brother - it is time to preach the truth!

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  2. This is an absolutely WONDERFUL post that really speaks to me right now. Thank you for this timely word!

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  3. Amen Mike! May God bless you and those like you who teach the pure truth of God's Word.

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  4. This is a true word. Each of us is responsible to remain loyal to the true gospel. If I am preaching as did Jesus and the apostles, stones will fly. If, when I speak forth the gospel nobody is ever moved to want to throw me off a cliff, I am overdue for a 2 Corinthians 13:5 examination. There ought to be gnashing of teeth when the wrath of God is preached to an unrepentant heart. Part of the problem is that we are not preaching the right message. You cannot get saved until you know you are lost. We move too quickly to the "good stuff" before adequately preparing our hearer's hearts with the foundation of the wrath of God, necessitating Jesus' sacrifice of His blood on the cross on our behalf, with which He purchased for us the gift of eternal life. The connection isn't being made about WHY Jesus came to die. We forget that grace has no meaning without wrath.

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  5. Of course, there are two shoes to the gospel. I preach, but I am also preached to. If I am never pricked in the heart by the preaching I hear from the pulpit, I am not off the hook simply because I haven't access to true gospel preaching. In this case I am responsible to preach the gospel to myself, to open up the Bible, read the Word, and ask the Holy Spirit to apply it to my life. In the life of the normal Christian, there ought to be a continual move toward holiness, toward revival, a deepening awareness of lurking sin, with a constant desire to put to death everything in my life that does not conform to the image of Jesus my Lord. The savor of life unto life is only brought about by the grace of God through the conscious and determined application of the blood of Jesus as I continue as one saved, yet being saved, yet awaiting that final salvation, the blessed hope to be applied when Jesus returns.

    A great post. Thank you!

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  6. Sad but true, and the God I serve is going to bring down every idol and hireling that cares nothing about His sheep.

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  7. Thank you...wow, I can't even count how many times I have heard those comments about God. God would never send anyone to hell or a loving God would not let bad things happen. I could go on and on but you covered it.

    Blessings,

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  8. Bravo,they say the truth will set you free.Thanks for telling the truth and calling it for what it is.Keep up the good work and PLEASE keep seeing & telling it for what it is.

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  9. Yes, you are right. Only a remnant will understand, the wicked will not understand, but we will testify to them nonetheless.

    Truth by Christ alone.

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  10. Amen brother! The only way to salvation, either temporal or spiritual, is through Jesus Christ. This means repentance, obedience, and sacrifice. If the gospel doesn't make you uncomfortable fairly often, then I submit it isn't the Gospel of Christ, but the lulling words of the great Deceiver. We need to stop fearing what man may say or do, but instead we need to fear God, love God, and be His faithful servants. As we unashamedly preach repentance, it needs to be done with genuine love and understanding; but without compromise or apology. ZION can only be built upon these eternal principles.

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  11. ‘But all I did was read from His book’, I would retort, ‘all I did was
    read from the Bible!’

    2Cor 3:6 says that "the letter kills but the spirit gives life"

    Just reading the "plain truth" is a killer because the bible is Holy Spirit encrypted. When you read the surface text literally it gives the opposite meaning of the spiritual intent.

    For example -- "have you ever looked at a woman with lust? You should pluck out your eyes. Have you ever stolen? You should chop of your hands." All I did was read the bible... Hmmmmm.

    I think the world is tired of religion and all it's baggage.

    As the age of Aquarius dawns on us and God begins to pour out his Holy Spirit from above in earnest relgion will slowly die and the Love of God will finally start to spring to life.

    The "Plain Truth" of literal bible reading's days are numbered. Time to open our spiritual eyes and ears and get the real message of God's love out there.

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  12. When someone says God is mean I usually refer them to John 3:16. Can't go wrong with the basics.

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  13. Dear Mr. Boldea Jr.:

    Why haven't you specified to your intended audience what the gospel really is, and that is humanity's destiny (Hell) outside of Christ? Hell is a place where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. It is a place of billowing sulfuric smoke and torment, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for ever and ever. (Mark 9:48, Matthew 22:13, & Luke 16:28) The good news (gospel) is that God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:17) Look unto me (Jesus), and be saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22)

    Sincerely,

    Francisco Lopez

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  14. Preach it loud, preach it long, preach it without ceasing. The Truth shall make them free!

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  15. Amen and amen! I would add that those who serve the Neutered God despise True Believers and call them false, hateful and demonic.

    When a gospel produces followers with fruit like the world's, that gospel is "another gospel" and those followers are false.

    Joh 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

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  16. YEAAAAA!!! WELL DONE!! NOW THAT MY BELOVED BRETHREN IS THE GOSPEL TRUTH!!
    It's not that God, the God of the Bible is hard, harsh or mean but that like this writer says, we have ignored all the 'If's' of the Bible!! Almost all of the promises of God are yes, based on what Jesus has done for us (so are unearned) but they are in no way guaranteed to the sinner be he a professing Christian or not!!!
    This article is right on!! We have drawn to ourselves with our itching ears, teachers who will tell you how to live in THEIR opinion, and forget what God's opinion is in these things! Oh I could go on & on.
    Listen, if you truly are born-again, submission to and obeying God and His word (the Bible)is a life time goal...it is not a 20 minute sermon once a week!!
    Lord, we pray for Your Children's understanding and enlightenment and may this article bring about true repentance in the Body of Christ.
    We love You & glorify You for truly, our new life now is ALL ABOUT YOU not us!!
    In Jesus' Name I pray always,
    SissyMarlene

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  17. all I can say is, I KNOW THAT IS RIGHT BROTHER MICHAEL, I CANNOT EVEN SPEAK THE WORDS OF YESHUA THESE DAYS WITHOUT BEING CALLED A HATER AND A DEVIL AND A FEW OTHER CHOICE WORDS. PRAISE YHWH FOR THE GLORY OF GOD RESTETH UPON US.

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  18. I loved your refreshing blog so much I posted it on my facebook page. I hope to help you spread the good news. God Bless
    http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/profile.php?id=1504158939

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  19. AMEN~~~

    In the last days... MANY shall FALL AWAY FROM THE FAITH!! paying attention to SEDUCING SPIRITS and DEMONIC DOCTRINES!!

    we are truly in the last days and MANY MANY MANY have done just that..the GREAT FALLING AWAY IS UPON US..Prosperity, Blessings and LYING SIGNS AND WONDERS have replaced the true GOSPEL OF CHRIST and SALVATION! LAWLESSNESS ABOUNDS!!

    Where is the REPENTANCE and the LOVE?! Where is the TRUE GOSPEL!? There is only ONE WAY men will survive .. by hearing and receiving the TRUE GOSPEL PREACHED without compromise without reservation and without prejudice...

    THANK YOU for such a simple profound and clear message.. preasch it loud and preach it often!!

    perhaps some will wake up and listen...

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  20. Thank you for your honesty in speaking that which is unpopular. I think many times we fail to grasp the truth you share because we fail to understand God's perfectness. We are quick to focus on God's perfect love but fail to realize that God also is a God of perfect hate. God perfectly hates wickedness and sin. Because of our imperfections as a fallen creation we can neither understand perfect love or perfect hate, so we judge God and recreate him in our own sin flawed image. A God who would look at my sin and passively respond to that sin is not a God I would want to know and serve. If I passively look at my sin that is made evident by the conviction of the Holy Spirit and choose not to hate that which God hates, can I with any measure of truth claim to be a follower of Christ? It is only God's amazing grace that empowers me to respond properly to my sin and turn from it anyway. May i never besmirch the name of Christ by preaching that grace is a lessening of God's perfect hatred for sin, but a glorious power to walk in freedom from that terrible taskmaster of sin.

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  21. Amen brother. How refreshing to hear abrothe gave he ture gospel, speaking it out in love for the benefit of others. i would encourage you to continue as none of us want to ehar ' depart from me, i knever knew you'. Thanks for keeping it REAL, not liberalised. God bless you as you continue. Dom. N.Ireland

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  22. "It is because we have refashioned and remade God in our own image that the neutered gospel is so widely accepted and received. It is because we didn’t like what God had to say that we chose rebellion rather than submission, and with hammer and chisel in hand we began to sculpt our new and improved deity."

    No, it's because "For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations and their foolish heart was darkened....There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God...There is no fear of God before their eyes."

    It's always been that way, all across the world, all across the centuries. Nothing has changed except the church in America has had the idea that it would remake the world and it won't, can't. Very few find the narrow gate.

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  23. Amen! Thank you for your boldness. We need more people like you in this country - ones that aren't afraid to speak out against the heresies of this thing called a Christian religion.
    God bless you,
    Lisa

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  24. Now that is a good Word! These are the things that will lead a soul to true salvation and a true relationship with Christ. I would rather lose friends from telling them the hard truth than keep friends with lies and love them to death! Tell them the Truth and love them to life Eternal!!! I will be praying for you Michael.

    Your true sister In Christ,
    Judy

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  25. Praise be to God that His voice DOES make it through some! It is so painful to watch the world of Christians serving what they want God to be. You are NOT alone, and your words are fresh air to me. Thank you for speaking truth, I know how much heartache it takes to see it and speak it out in a world that will most likely turn their back on you for doing so. You are not alone...the same God you speak of and for dwells in me as well.

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  26. The entirety of the Gospel, or "Good News", is that there's now a new covenant established completely based on God's grace and mercy. Our salvation and relationship with God is possible only because of the sacrifice Christ made IN OUR PLACE by dying on the cross. There is no longer the list of do's and don'ts to which we must adhere to "earn" our redeemed status with God. I believe you're mixing up justification and sanctification. The Gospel message is...We are justified through Christ as a free gift. Anything else is a works-based theology. Sanctification is what happens afterwards, is a never-ending process. I believe this is most of what you're actually talking about here. The main (and most awesome) component of the Gospel is, we can never sanctify ourselves enough to be justified before God. Christ has already accomplished it for us. To think otherwise is to say Christ died in vain. Natually, I believe a truly natural and normal responses to the Gospel should always be brokeness, humility, tears, etc. When the reality hits of the shear magnitude of Christ's sacrifice, there can be no other response. But, that's the response to the Gospel. That's not THE Gospel.

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  27. GOOD PREACHING!
    We are to be living sacrifices.

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  28. Wow!
    Without holiness no one shall see God.
    This challenges me. Maybe we must be Holy to see God?
    What if John 1:12 only gives us a right to become sons and we must still “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling”
    John 1:12: But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
    Fear and trembling does not sound as good to the flesh as being wrapped in cotton wool.
    The thing is “fear and trembling” is in the word cotton wool was invented recently the same as the feel good Gospel

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  29. AMEN, AMEN MICHAEL. HALLELUJAH AND SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS!

    THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHT AND TEACHINGS OF THE TRUTH OF OUR LORD AND OUR SAVIOR. I HAVE BEEN TOUCHED THROUGH YOUR WRITINGS AND FEEL AS THOUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SPEAKING TO ME DIRECTLY THROUGH THY WORDS IN ADDITION TO THE BIBLE. I HAVE PURCHASED THE BOOKS BY WILLIAM GURNALL THAT YOU MENTIONED IN ONE OF YOUR BLOGS.

    THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR BEING THE HUMBLE SERVANT OF THE LORD AS YOU ARE AND YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR MINISTRIES ARE ALWAYS IN MY PRAYERS TO THE FATHER AND OUR LORD JESUS.

    MY NAME IS DEBRA, AND I LIVE IN NEVADA AND MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS DLLREBEL@COX.NET THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR ME TO USE MY EMAIL ADDRESS AS TO WHOM THIS COMMENT WAS FROM.

    AGAIN, I PRAY FOR OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST TO CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN ALL OF US AS WE SEEK TO DRAW CLOSE TO HIM AND PREPARE FOR THE SPIRITUAL BATTLES THAT LIE
    AHEAD. MAY OUR LORD CONTINUE HIS BLESSINGS UPON YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR WORK IN HIS NAME.

    WITH MANY THANKS

    DEBRA

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  30. Well said indeed. I'm with ya!

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  31. Right on, brother!

    See the supportive content of my British website:
    What Is The Gospel?

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  32. I am totally with you on this, we would never let a homosexual get up to the pulpit and preach, yet we let Pastors who have been and are in adultry preach, what can they teach us about trust and faith, we need the REAL GOD back in our churches. AS awidow I met a Pastor looking for wife no 5, I asked him what was wrong with wife no4, he said she was fat. Hello God!!! are you there???

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  33. Hello Bro Michael,
    This is so true and have been in alot of churches where the message of the cross is watered down.....

    When you speak of sin and living right before a Holy God, you are called a legistist.... They tell me God would not judge us like that. Then I will read them His word and they tell my well this Bible tells me different....

    Yes, Bro michael very soon they will know who the true living God is, The GREAT I AM-- YAHWEHA

    Blessings & Shalom,
    debbi rennier

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  34. This is the first blog of yours I have read and can I say, "well done". I feel both the "Yes!" and the "Amen" but I also feel the conviction of the Lord.
    Blessings
    Judy Bauman

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  35. You are spot on. I work on them just to say Jesus and explain why important to say His name. Tell them about sin and woooo..they are told they are so perfect and loved..I ground pound the Holy nature of God,forgiveness via the blood of Jesus. But one must..must..believe & OBEY..Thats the rub...means no sex, study Bible,God in all matters first..Jesus is God..only way to salvation..and the fear of God is the begining of all understanding..but naaa..web porn,sex,drugs,parties..and ministers whos greatest sermons are health,wealth,and the good life..and now they tell em you are a god...thats insain..as Paul pointed out we are to be Holy..of course we cannot be..the meaning is to strive..to be a cut above...always advancing to see the heart of God pleased..and in everything..everything give thanks..Jesus is God..said we should know the Father..and the Holy Spirit is given at a true surrender to Jesus..but today..mear mention of personal sin..most laugh or ignore..and w/ what is going on in the world..amazing they cannot see..but alas..we were told most would say to Jesus no..and Jesus would say to most before the lake of fire..thy will be done..they chose to ignore Jesus..they by choice choose hell..by choice..thank you..chuck

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  36. I assure you, the ones who DO stay will be the TRUE church and no, your readership will NEVER be zero with TRUTH (such as this posting) being presented!!

    Those who leave will take their false idols with them, blinded until the bitter end.

    THANK YOU for being honest and stating what should have been obvious from the very beginning if people would just pick up their Bibles and read instead of heading to the church for the Reader's Digest book report version.

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  37. Reminds me of a bible verse, in Judges, if my memory is correct. When trouble comes, God will tell these Christians in name only, "Go to the gods you have chosen, let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation [or distress].

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  38. Proof that your message is "right on."

    charter.com will not allow me to forward it. It is considered "spam."

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  39. A few years ago I emailed a response to a local article by a "christian" homosexual. I reminded him in no uncertain terms what the Bible says about homosexuality and the wrath that Jesus will bring upon those that reject his truth. He replied that we serve different gods. At least he recongnized that truth.

    This nation has been declining in rightiousness for so many decades. The land is now full of idols and pagan religions. It's even in the churches. The other day I was reading in Isaiah 6 and wondered. Maybe America is too far gone and God has already sent strong delusion on a nation that has rejected him for so long.

    It's the same in every country and every time in history. God only has a remnant of true believers.

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  40. AMEN Michael! And is it not true that many will come and say, " I did all these things in YOUR name" and HE will say, "Depart from ME, I never KNEW YOU!!!"

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  41. Thank You Brother - This is exactly what I needed to hear. May God raise up more prophets in these last days who are not afraid to call the children of God to true repentance and faith.

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  42. Truth transforms and sets free is received. We do not see the evidence in those that call themselves christians because they have not heard the truth, but it is coming and will spread like wild fire from sources just like you Mike, and it will bring the repentance and transformation that is needed for the Bride to hold the Glory of God and worship Him in spirit and truth!

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  43. You are right on!!!

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  44. Well said. Check out the latest post on the website, "The Watchman's Cry" about the lukewarm Laodicean church. Also, check out my blog, "The Eleventh Hour Journal" on Google. Laurie C.

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  45. Rich Withers of Spokane, WASeptember 3, 2010 at 9:22 PM

    I honestly believe that over the past forty or so years the pure, unadulterated gospel of Christ has been watered down to mere mental assent and easy believe-ism. For example, in one local body of believers in Spokane Valley, the senior pastor says: “Just say ‘Yes’ to Jesus, and if you did, then I invite you to visit the ‘Yes’ table on your right at the back of the sanctuary and pick up your free packet of materials that will help you with your walk with Christ.”

    Many believers have trusted Christ for salvation as though they have received “fire insurance” from hell, and continue to compartmentalize their lives giving part to God and keeping part for themselves, not realizing, that to God, all of life is sacred and holy. Attending a worship service once or more often each week at their local church and maybe squeezing in enough time to read through the “Our Daily Bread” each day might be the sum total of their “religious” life. But somehow, through a lack of sound teaching or maybe even a measure of willful ignorance, they have yet to embrace Christ as the “blessed assurance” of a new life being lived within them and through them.

    Many professing ‘Christians’ do not possess the very life of Christ, are not developing intimacy [in-to-me-see] with Him, are not engaged in the process of losing their life in order to gain His; and although they were called, they are not proving themselves worthy of the choosing process. They may have repeated the ‘sinner’s prayer’ and asked the Lord to forgive their sins, but they have never repented of exercising dominion over their own lives apart from God, His Kingdom authority, and His perfect will, and have never surrendered control of their lives to His righteous rule and reign. They are clueless concerning the ‘exchanged life’ and the true meaning of the Cross of Christ. They don’t realize that God desires to conquer the kingdom of “Me, Myself, and I” by the power of His love and prepare them for eternal fellowship with Himself by bringing them into oneness with Himself during this present Church age of discipleship. The genuine proof of having developed intimacy with the Lord is a circumcised heart, and that necessitates embracing discipline while receiving instruction and walking in covenant relationship with God and coming into full agreeableness with God on His terms of surrender and obedience, by choosing to be believing in Christ and responding to His grace more fully and more consistently, while being motivated by love towards Him.

    Please, let us proclaim the pure, unadulterated gospel of Christ! Then we will realize the harvest of souls for God’s Kingdom.

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  46. Rich Withers of Spokane, WASeptember 3, 2010 at 9:22 PM

    I honestly believe that over the past forty or so years the pure, unadulterated gospel of Christ has been watered down to mere mental assent and easy believe-ism. For example, in one local body of believers in Spokane Valley, the senior pastor says: “Just say ‘Yes’ to Jesus, and if you did, then I invite you to visit the ‘Yes’ table on your right at the back of the sanctuary and pick up your free packet of materials that will help you with your walk with Christ.”

    Many believers have trusted Christ for salvation as though they have received “fire insurance” from hell, and continue to compartmentalize their lives giving part to God and keeping part for themselves, not realizing, that to God, all of life is sacred and holy. Attending a worship service once or more often each week at their local church and maybe squeezing in enough time to read through the “Our Daily Bread” each day might be the sum total of their “religious” life. But somehow, through a lack of sound teaching or maybe even a measure of willful ignorance, they have yet to embrace Christ as the “blessed assurance” of a new life being lived within them and through them.

    Many professing ‘Christians’ do not possess the very life of Christ, are not developing intimacy [in-to-me-see] with Him, are not engaged in the process of losing their life in order to gain His; and although they were called, they are not proving themselves worthy of the choosing process. They may have repeated the ‘sinner’s prayer’ and asked the Lord to forgive their sins, but they have never repented of exercising dominion over their own lives apart from God, His Kingdom authority, and His perfect will, and have never surrendered control of their lives to His righteous rule and reign. They are clueless concerning the ‘exchanged life’ and the true meaning of the Cross of Christ. They don’t realize that God desires to conquer the kingdom of “Me, Myself, and I” by the power of His love and prepare them for eternal fellowship with Himself by bringing them into oneness with Himself during this present Church age of discipleship. The genuine proof of having developed intimacy with the Lord is a circumcised heart, and that necessitates embracing discipline while receiving instruction and walking in covenant relationship with God and coming into full agreeableness with God on His terms of surrender and obedience, by choosing to be believing in Christ and responding to His grace more fully and more consistently, while being motivated by love towards Him.

    Please, let us proclaim the pure, unadulterated gospel of Christ! Then we will realize the harvest of souls for God’s Kingdom.

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  47. Though your readership may be down, there are those of us who appreciate the truth, who desire to walk a walk of purity and who love to be challenged by a hard word because thereby we continue to grow more mature in Christ.

    Be encouraged brother Michael

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  48. "It is because we have refashioned and remade God in our own image that the neutered gospel is so widely accepted and received. It is because we didn’t like what God had to say that we chose rebellion rather than submission, and with hammer and chisel in hand we began to sculpt our new and improved deity."

    Amen!!

    Thank you Michael

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  49. At last a like minded, I agree 110% have been saying the same thing on blog

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  50. I'd like to know why more emphasis isn't placed on the fact that Jesus tells us quite plainly that the kingdom of God is inside us as well as all around us. This means that each and every one of us carries the divine spirit inside of us--and consequently knowing ourselves means we will know God. People have been trained to look outside ourselves when we have the answers IN us. The spirit of the divine was breathed inside of us at the beginning. We have what we need inside us but most of us have forgotten that or have been told differently. Knowing and understanding God shouldn't be made into a business of CONTROLLING the population--it should free us and make us brighter.

    Karen

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  51. Thank you Michael for speaking the truth. The other day my Pastor actually apologized for speaking out against adultery and homosexuality.

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  52. Great article, if only people could only realize the blessings of walking in obedience to the word and their light so shine.

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  53. Amen. I work at a "Southern Baptist" church and I squirm at the watered down message. The politically correct, chopped up versions of scripture from mistranslated Bibles. The church focuses on member attendance and member tithing. They do their "Bible Studies" out of workbooks written by millionaire hacks. The Bible is no longer read. "Christ Followers" merely snip a snatch of words here and there, bending them to their selfish whims.

    I well remember my days as a youth in a true God-fearing Southern Baptist church. I well remember squirming in the pew as our pastor preached long on the nature of sin. I knew then that I was wretched and in the most dire need of Jesus' sacrificial salvation! I knew it then, I know it now.

    Thanks for your blog. It reached me.

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  54. No truer words have I read for quite some time. And it is indeed well received, and deeply appreciated to know that I am not alone in my disdain and sorrow at the current state of affairs in the theosophical world.

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  55. You are so totally correct.

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  56. Amen! Amen! Amen!

    I'm sorry to say that though I've been familiar with you and your ministry for some time now, this is the first time I've visited your blog. It won't be the last.

    I know that the Lord led me here given the same types of experiences and "debates" I've been having with those He's put into my humble sphere of influence too, and your words resonated deeply with me.

    Thank you and God bless your ministry.

    In Christ,

    Jeff Radt ("JRed")
    Look Up Fellowship
    Right Now Radio
    Kingdom Bound Radio
    I Want To Believe Radio

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  57. So true and well spoken.

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  58. Amen!! Lord help us to be true believers!!! It's by His grace and mercy! Thank you Lord!!

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  59. Amen Brother Michael.
    They have chosen a gospel that tickles their itching ears.
    ;-)

    The Piper

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  60. This article deserves a big AMEN!
    Our God, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit is a loving father and also the judge of our souls. He has every right to expect us to behave like a perfect child even though we are not.

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  61. Thank you, thank you, thank you. What you said is the truth and needs to be heard by everyone claiming to be a Christian.

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  62. AGAIN I SAY(IF ALLOWED)AMEN BROTHER! AMEN

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  63. Thank you for your continued courage
    to speak the truth and give strength
    and encouragement to followers of the
    true God of the bible. The LIVING God
    God told Elijah he had reserved in Israel 7000 who did not bow the knee
    to Baal, you are one of these,Thank You in Jesus Christ our savior and
    redeemer!

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  64. Dear Michael,

    I, for one, am always grateful for your "plain" words and undiluted Bible truth. Also I am thankful for your courage as you continue to stand firm where that truth is concerned. You can never chase away the true sheep of Jesus Christ, because we hear His voice through yours. Again I find myself thanking the Lord that there is still at least one minister I can turn to with confidence.

    Prayerfully,

    Melanie

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  65. So true Michael
    We in America live in the era of Christianity lite. Nothing to heavy nothing that will "stick with us" The last thing that todays praechers want to do is risk offending anyone.

    Hisservant rich

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  66. Excellent word, Brother. Thank you and Peace be with you.

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  67. Amen! The churches are much much worse than what people realize, they really are. It's the falling away, they have fallen away. Everything you say about them is true.

    Kim

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  68. Mike Hedley. Brisbane AustraliaSeptember 13, 2010 at 6:34 PM

    Michael, I agree with your writing and would like to add a comment for consideration. The enemy uses the bad side of culture to stop us from growing in Christ. He uses this method to hold nations and towns in bondage through territorial boundry control. In most cases regardless of country or town, Christians take this negative side of their culture into the church and the leaders cater for them. If you don't believe me ask members of your church if this is effecting the church and you will be shocked to find many will think you are a crank. Dear Jesus, I pray that you will reveal this truth to us and that we can repent quickly and serve you completely in your will until the day of judgment. Amen

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  69. why is there so much rock throwing,why isnt anyone checking up on them selves,why do we always point finger at others

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