"Churchianity" often is the Devil's tool!
By Bob Barney
Forward: The Plain Truth will be doing a series on "why you do what you do" and how many things that we do everyday has some surprising origins. I think our readers will find many of these articles very amusing and informative. In today’s article, the subject is more like why do others tell you what to do, and why do you allow it?
For years I have read the Bible for knowledge, inspiration, fun and comfort. I know that many of you do too. The biggest seller of all time is a perfect handbook given to us by our creator. The Bible is now translated in thousands of languages with many contradictions to the original languages it was originally written in, yet God’s message, regardless of the version you use, comes through. I agree that every version has wrong translations and on matters of the "jots and tittles" (For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled) that confuse the wise and learned. However, God has miraculously been able to do the most important thing in all of these versions, God has been able to get Their message of salvation to everyone who wants it or needs it. The most important aspect of God’s handbook, that we call the Bible, is that God does not expect any of us to be very bright! Even unto Moses, God only asked him easy questions… Like, "what’s in your hand?" Moses was carrying his staff at the time and didn’t have to worry about failing a tough final examine from teacher-God!
All humor aside, Jesus made it clear that he came to make it easy to enter His rest! You read that right, He made it easy! "For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light." Jesus plainly said, and also " At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." Babies aren’t able to read very well, get the point here? If we bring God’s word close to us, we will understand the message!
Many of us all live hard lives, often just a few moments away from poverty and despair and many of us are plagued with guilt and fear of what will happen to us when we die, or when our loved ones die. Many of us live with fears daily and can’t overcome the plagues of this world. This leads to loss of faith and the wrong-headed idea that others are better than we are. We try to be good, but we can never be as good as mother Theresa or the countless martyrs that died for Christ in bygone years. Honestly, don’t you often think this? I hope so.
Friends, the more you are worried about your salvation, the more you are apt to get it! God wants us to try harder, knowing that His reward has already been bought and paid for, by the blood of Jesus Christ. You have been purchased and then redeemed by the great living God of the universe and God does not fail! God will not fail you either. Ultimately, it doesn’t require anyone to follow the Sabbath, or Sunday. It doesn’t require you to do anything but love God (and that is the Father and the Son) with all your heart and soul and do the best you can do and ALWAYS ask for forgiveness when you can’t do the right things. Open your heart and your mind and allow God to talk to you through any version of the Bible. The more you study, the greater your reward. Remember the parable about the three men with the three coins? The one that made the most of his investment got the most in return, but everyone will get their reward in the measure that they worked for it. Yes, "work".
Too many preachers and Christians worry about doctrine. Doctrine is important. Reading the Bible and obeying God’s word is important, but Jesus said that his yolk was easy and his burden was light, are we going to call him a liar? Many ministers of God do exactly that when they preach doctrines of heaven and hell. Don’t allow anyone to ruin your relationship with God that Jesus died to give to you. He made it easy, don’t burden the load down with man made nonsense. Follow God only. If you do this, no matter whatever happens to you in this life, you will have won everlasting life in the world to come.
If times are bad for you, or even if they are good for you right now, realize this. You are important to God. It doesn’t matter which church you belong to or what holy days you follow, love Jesus and God the Father with all of your being and read Their WORD! Jesus is called "The WORD OF GOD." The Bible is the physical form of Jesus Christ on this earth. He will never reject you because you followed the wrong doctrine out of ignorance. It doesn’t matter if you believe in the Trinity, going to heaven or hell when you die or what day is the Lord’s day. What matters is what's in your heart. Please don’t let humans tell you what is in your heart, don’t let human’s imprison you with their doctrines, instead be free and follow God the best way you can. Open your mind and read God’s word plainly and don’t allow anyone to tell you what it says. Prove everything and take nothing for granted. Do this and you will be a part of the true church of Jesus Christ.
