God Blog

Approaching God One Thought At A Time

The Spirit-filled life is not a special, deluxe edition of Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people.
- A. W. Tozer

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Half The Gospel

With scores of Christian sects proclaiming a myriad of different belief systems, clearly few if any of today’s denominations present the whole Gospel. If the Bible is authentically the word of God then might even well intended errors of omission and/or addition prove hazardous? Can we discern among the many Christs the One true? If we believe, teach and/or obey half a gospel, does it matter which half?

I said it once; I’ll say it again: If anyone, regardless of reputation or credentials, preaches something other than what you received originally, let him be cursed.


- Galatians 1:9 MSG


Churches far and wide enjoy the privilege and responsibility of heralding the gospel of Christ. Its good news that millennia after Jesus walked the Earth teaching and healing, raising the dead and dying for the sins of mankind, the message of God’s
love and mercy is alive and well. Centuries may have blunted the edge of our initial excitement, nevertheless the thought of God becoming man, redeeming humanity and ascending to Heaven on our behalf still ranks as the best news of all time. Little wonder then that hundreds of millions feel confident that belief in this fact alone represents most, if not all, the New Testament has to offer.

Nevertheless, like creation, Scripture is quantum in nature. Augmenting rather than diminishing the gospel, Jesus both
promises and requires more than simplistic comprehension and commitment. Throughout the accounts of Christ and Book of Acts, the Bible’s underlining method and message is show and tell. In fact Jesus and His apostles preferred style was to first perform a wondrous miracle (show) and then having captured everyone’s full attention, preach (tell) the good news of the Kingdom. A fundamental principle continued in the Epistles. One exemplified in a favorite passage of clergy and lay leadership alike:

• “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom…” 1 Corinthians 2:1-4a New King James Version.

Other than
“in fear, and in much trembling” this passage sounds somewhat in keeping with much of modern Christianity. After all, why dilute such a glorious story? Yet tragically few today are prone to finish, much less appropriate, the rest of the verse:

• “…but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:4b-5 New King James Version - Emphasis QC’s

“Huston, we have a problem.”
Teaching the correct message, that is doing justice to at least the repeatedly emphasized tenants of Scripture, is at best only half the gospel. A half hard to come by these days. According to this passage and elsewhere, the other indispensable half is found in the “demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” As mentioned, if written by modern Christianity, the Book of Acts would sadly have to be retiled the Book of Words, a spiritually inconvenient truth humorously captured by my friend Philip C. Brewer
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Embracing only half the gospel, an unfortunate rarity today in and of itself, is problematic enough. Further daunting may be the fact that according to Scripture, each half is interdependent on the other. The lack of one all but ensures serous deficiencies in the other. Admittedly a hard saying. Who can hear it? Should such an assertion prove true, there must be a compelling explanation for the nearly wholesale acceptance, by so many denominations, of various partial gospels.

Perhaps more than most, Christians value a sense of belonging. Whether attending a particular church or denomination by default or for personal concerns, millions feel content within their own faith community. Over time, with or without a great deal of thought, a good percentage come to adopt much of their organization’s belief system. Such behavior is reinforced in a variety of ways, from shared experience with family and friends, to repeated exposure to doctrine and lifestyle.

Most are comfortable attending church with little worry regarding its Biblical homogeneity. Yet it’s highly unlikely that with scores of
Christian sects proclaiming a myriad of different beliefs, today’s denominations present the whole Gospel. Thus to a lessor or greater degree, most if not all, are at odds with Scripture’s ultimate Author. If the Bible is authentically the Word of God, then in regards to doctrine and practice, might even well intended errors of omission and/or addition, prove hazardous? Are we discerning among the many Christs the One true? If we believe, teach and/or obey half a gospel, does it matter which half?

Amidst the hustle and bustle,
temptation and deception of modern life, belief in the authority of Scripture is in sharp decline. A spiraling decent hastened by unprecedented levels of Biblical illiteracy and prayerlessness. Within modern Christianity, even among those claiming to embrace the whole of Scripture, there are sharp disagreements as to its correct interpretation and emphasis.

Just a few major areas of contention include the definition and importance of such foundational principles as
faith and works, repentance and salvation, righteousness and sanctification, morality and discipleship, worship and communion, prayer and Bible study, the Holy Spirit and Satan, spiritual gifts and eschatology.

Major diversity regarding spiritual truth presents a serious challenge. Add wholesale inclusivity as a crowning virtue to the mix, and we have the kind of seeker friendly model that reduces the likelihood of offense. Yet, according to Scripture, truth is not based on consensus. In the same way the answer to a calculus equation is rarely the average of even educated guesses, so too Biblical truth does not change to suit personal points of view.

As stated, spiritual truth,
while itself objective, is primarily subjectively discerned. Even the objective teaching of Scripture must be interpreted and applied. For this reason utmost care should be taken throughout the process of considering and discussing potentially divisive, albeit important topics. On the one hand, we hardly wish to be unnecessarily Procrustean in our thoughts or dealings with others. Demanding one size fits all cuts expression and creativity off at the knees. On the other, sacrificing truth merely to avoid upsetting the status quo is foolish and self defeating.

While
Biblical Christianity allows for flexibility in the understanding and practice of unessentials, the Scripture repeated requires unity and obedience to its core teachings and principles. With Hell to loose and Heaven to gain, it’s easy to see how vital it is that our version of Christ and His Kingdom be as accurate as possible. Christians, as earthen vessels, are not to be cracked pots. Pun intended.

Unfortunately, hundreds of millions believe, teach and obey only a portion of the Gospel. Fortunately one can carry some water, even ”living water,” in only half a jar. Split horizontally, half it’s contents, such as Scripture’s conditional promises and the more miraculous gifts of the Spirit, would likely be lost. A vessel spilt vertically, by presumption over faith, expressed through greatly misguided doctrine and lifestyle, carries little or nothing.

This principle is reinforced by the first and final chapters of the Bible’s last letter to Christ’s churches. John warns against failing to accurately understand and appreciate the integrity of not only the
Book of Revelation, but by extension the entirety of Scripture:

• “A revealing of Jesus, the Messiah. God gave it to make plain to his servants what is about to happen. He published and delivered it by Angel to his servant John. And John told everything he saw: God’s Word— the witness of Jesus Christ! How blessed the reader! How blessed the hearers and keepers of these oracle words, all the words written in this book! Time is just about up.” Revelation 1:1-3 The Message - Emphasis QC’s

• “I give fair warning to all who hear the words of the prophecy of this book:
If you add to the words of this prophecy, God will add to your life the disasters written in this book; if you subtract from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will subtract your part from the Tree of Life and the Holy City that are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18-19 The Message - Emphasis QC’s

The crucial role of correctly interpreting and implementing Biblical teaching is reinforced throughout both the Old and New Testaments:

• “The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” Isaiah 29:13 New International Version - Emphasis QC’s

• “But don’t look for someone to blame. No finger pointing! You, priest, are the one in the dock… You stumble around in broad daylight, And then the prophets take over and stumble all night.
My people are ruined because they don’t know what’s right or true. Because you’ve turned your back on knowledge, I’ve turned my back on you priests. Because you refuse to recognize the revelation of God, I’m no longer recognizing your children. The more priests, the more sin. They traded in their glory for shame.” Hosea 4:1-7 The Message - Emphasis QC’s

• “Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures—either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God’s Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working.
Trivialize even the smallest item in God’s Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won’t know the first thing about entering the kingdom.” Matthew 5:17-20 The Message - Emphasis QC’s

• “After this a lot of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: “Do you also want to leave?” Peter replied, “
Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We’ve already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:66-69 The Message - Emphasis QC’s

• “
Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God’s people. Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they’re not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul… Meanwhile, God’s firm foundation is as firm as ever, these sentences engraved on the stones: God knows who belongs to him. spurn evil, all you who name God as God.” 2 Tim 2:14-19 The Message - Emphasis QC’s

• “
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12-13 New International Version - Emphasis QC’s

• “
Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I’ll handle the works department.” Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove. Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That’s just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?” James 2:4-20 The Message - Emphasis QC’s

The afore mentioned passages represent just the tip of the iceberg of hundreds, if not thousands of verses, directly and indirectly warning of the need to
“take care how you hear” and “judge with righteous judgment” when dealing with the Word of God. Nevertheless, in actuality it’s all but a certainty that even studious church leadership, much less casual Christians, are bound to miss or misrepresent certain Biblical truth. All the more so in light of epidemic levels of temptation and deception leading hundreds of millions of believers into entitlement and sin.

The questions then become what are the most prominent
variations of the Gospel? Which offer the most Biblically accurate Jesus? On which tenants of Scripture does the Bible place the greatest emphasis? The answer to these questions determines to what degree we, as individuals and churches, possess the whole gospel or even part. And if part, which?

Discussing such research is problematic for a variety of reasons. These include allegiance to religious tradition and theological training, sense of community and lifestyle choices, subjective emotionalism and spiritual experience. With 2.5 billion confessing Christians, there are millions of personal variations of how and why, not to mention what, we believe. Some base their faith on feelings, educated or not. Millions of well meaning believers can cite a handful of the Bible’s many and precious promises, but fail to heed Scripture’s even more numerous
conditions and commands.

Those
realistically hoping to base their faith on the Bible must appreciate that almost any point of view can seemingly be substantiated by Scripture. With over 31,000 verses to choose from, it’s far too easy to under or over emphasize important Biblical truths. All the more so given the fact that clergy and laity alike frequently confuse the comforting and familiar with Divine Spirit and truth. Failing to appreciate the full context and meta-messages of Scripture has left hundreds of millions vulnerable to a myriad of bad doctrines. Including the ever popular cheep vs. costly grace.

Another mitigating factor is the degradation of societal norms. Christian
standards are in deep decline while Me-ism enjoys a meteoric rise. Even in the face of such recent ethical upheavals as previously inconceivable levels of promiscuity and affairs, abortion and divorce, few modern Christians seem much the wiser.

Those aboard a great ship may feel little or no sense of momentum. So too, Churchianity. Rather than responding in troubled
brokenness and heeding James’ advice,  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray,” a majority of believers prefer to make merry. Raising presumption to an art form by orchestrating the most inappropriately intimate worship in history. Thus the vast majority of believers hardly notice the progressive decline of Christianity into Churchianity.

This is not to say salvation belongs to only those perfect in doctrine or even behavior. Nor is all error purposeful. The Bible does however demand that each of us attempt to educate and exercise our souls and those of others:

• "Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things." 2 Timothy 2:3-7 New Living Translation

In a single passage Paul likens Christians to athletes, farmers and soldiers as an example of the kind of dedication genuine and discerning faith
requires. Notice such effort is not optional. Elsewhere we are warned to work out our “own salvation with fear and trembling." Paul notes that without due diligence, even having been instrumental in preaching to others, he himself might become disqualified.

Of Paul’s three examples, the least dedicated is likely to be the athlete. Soldiers, literally having the most skin in the game, put their lives and units on the line. Farmers must be diligent or face eventual bankruptcy or starvation. Athletes, particularly non professionals, have only the the honor of winning
"the prize" at stake. Even so, many high school teens train 15-20 hours a week.

So how do modern Christians compare with the amateur athletes Paul describes? Not well, when the average church attender stops and prays or reads the Bible only a few minutes a day. If that. This begs the question, if we continue to neglect such easy tasks as
talking to God or studying His Word, how will we ever grow strong enough to be as diligent on behalf of the Kingdom as athletes, farmers and someday soldiers?

With both temporal and eternal issues at stake, let us by
brokenness and repentance work through our issues with and approach the Everlasting God. With reverent fear and due respect, let us rightly study and be studied by Scripture to learn what God requires. Let us invest hours as if they were minutes practicing the all but lost art of intercession, daily and strategically coming “…boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive his mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need.” Let us learn to listen and intercede with, wait on and wrestle with God in hopes of pre-revival repentance and a New Pentecost.

Together, let us set our sights on heeding the the Bible’s
prophetic advice for such a time as this. We may yet find the wherewithal to call the Sacred Assembly for the purpose of true Biblical unity and reformation. Above all, let us endeavor to keep the genuine bonds of faith in love, not growing weary in well doing:

• “Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.” Galatians 6:7-10 The Message - Emphasis QC’s

May God guide and accept our efforts to know Him, answering Paul’s great prayer that we might
“be filled with all the fullness of God” in hopes of experiencing the joys of His Kingdom, Power and Glory forever. Amen.


Deeper Dive


It's estimated that globally there may be as many as a billion Protestants. With the above categories identified, it seems helpful to drill down deeper as to which of today's Christian models might be nearer the all important 1st century Biblical Christian ideal:

1. 1st Century Biblical Christianity: As the originators and recipients of Pentecost's fire and empowerment as recorded in the Book of Acts, Christ's apostles were the founders of Christianity. Authoring the New Testament letters, through them and their missionary zeal they evangelized and discipled the original Church to withstand extreme resistance and persecution. To the point of eventually bringing Rome, then the world's greatest military, political and religious power on Earth to bow its knees to Christ. Thus becoming the Divine model for Christendom throughout all ages.

2. Persecuted Church: Today's Persecuted Church continues the costly mandate and mission of the 1st century Christians. This included innumerable Third World missionaries and believers daily baring their cross while proclaiming Christ's. See Nick Ripken and Voice of the Martyrs, Brother Yun and Pastor Brunson. Far less in number, some First World Christians and activists do the same.

3. Puritan Holiness: One of the smallest subset with Christendom are those embracing extreme sanctification, at least by today's standards. Such doctrine and lifestyle is more common in impoverished nations facing far less bombardment by levels of worldliness and entitlement, temptation and deception. In the modern world, such radical discipleship witnesses to one of the main differences between cheap and costly grace. The latter being the authentic grace of God presented in Scripture. Examples include John Wesley and Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finney and Smith Wigglesworth, George, Mueller and Evan Roberts, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Jackie Pullinger, Leonard Ravenhill and David Wilkerson. Old and new world puritanism may differ, but both are radical expressions of commitment to Christ's in the face of worldly influence and onslaught, more recently exemplified in the Russian Church's costly overcoming of Communist persecution and tribulations. See Nick Ripken's Insanity of God and podcast Witness and Persecution Season 1 Episode E9 "Devious Persecution." GB also highly recommends reading the 1996 testimony of Olga, a 19 year old Russian immigrant's "Visit to the entrance of Hell."

4. Quantum Christianity: As previously mentioned, QC was developed in hope of being a better Bible bridge for billions, spanning the growing gap between 1st Century Biblical Christianity and 21st Century Modern Churchianity. With the goal of more fully equipping Prophetic Christians to walk in the Spirit in light of the vastly degrading times and season thrust upon us by the devilish geopolitical era in which we live. QC identifies Conflict Theology as the very context of Scripture, differentiating between Christianity as a Cruise vs. Battleship and Christians as civilians vs. Kingdom Citizen. Soldiers.

5. Modern Christianity: An umbrella term, Modern Christianity represents many of the hundred plus denominations having fragmented Christianity. Many promoting various Christs and versions of Scripture. Major categories include Charismatics and Cessationists, Evangelicals and Fundamentalists, Denominational and Community Churches, Missions and Activist Organizations, Home and Small Group Fellowships. Most in keeping with at least some of Scripture's requirements for Biblical Churches and Fellowships.

6. Churchianity: Somewhat synonymous with Modern Christianity, Churchianity implies greater doctrinal and/or lifestyle error within or without the denominations previously referenced. Up to and including heretical movements. Including versions of prosperity gospels, particularly that of the Word of Faith Movement.

7. Emerging and Emergent Church: The Emerging Church seeks "the deconstruction of modern Christian worship, modern evangelism, and the nature of modern Christian community" by embracing a post modern theological fluid, thus worldly, interpretation of Scripture and church, morality and lifestyle. Featuring the development and promotion of progressive Christianity. Including rewriting some or all of the Bible.

While disagreements abound in regards to many, if not all, facets of the above Protestant models, it should be noted that 1-3 are in perfect keeping with the tenets and tenor of Scripture. Exemplifying evangelism and discipleship. Differing modestly, though not necessarily insignificantly, as to what degree certain doctrines are highlighted and
emphasized. Making these the safest bet and educated guess.

Models 5-6 embrace certain aspects of elementary truths. The
milk vs. meat of Scripture. Often prematurely assuming salvation by substituting presumption for faith and christianized worldliness for sanctification. Thus promoting half the gospel or less.

Model 4,
Quantum Christianity, is designed to promote Prophetic Christian understanding and compliance to models 2-3, with the goal of achieving original 1st century perspective and power in our 21st century Christian experience. Thus fully entering God's Rest and becoming entirely New Creations. The ultimate objective of Biblical Christianity.

Forty years of strategic service and research suggests modern Christianity’s Biblical report card looks something like this:

  • 1/3 of our teaching and preaching, prayers and worship, evangelism and discipleship are in keeping with the fuller content and context of Scripture. 👍

  • 1/3 of our teaching and preaching, prayers and worship, evangelism and discipleship are at lacking or at odds with the fuller content and context of Scripture. 😔

  • 1/3 of the most vital aspects of Scripture’s content and context are entirely missing. 😬
This goes a long way to explain why a Quantum Christian perspective, that embraces ALL aspects of Biblical truth equally and simultaneously, without over emphasizing or under emphasizing any, is so important.

Hence Jesus’s use of
“Man shall live by EVERY word that proceeded from the mouth of God.”

We all have valuable subjective experiences in our journey to know, and be known by the Lord. Still, the Bible was Authored as an
objective point of reference to be sure we don’t lose our way on our journey to maturity and perfection (both emphasized in the New Testament).

Again, this includes substituting or enlarging one or more aspect of God’s Divine attributes and nature over others. Either by reason of personal experience or denominational doctrine.

The following
silly quick video of drawing cartoon faces illustrates the point. All 10 minutes are pretty interesting and funny, but you can skip to the end if you’d like to see 20 differences of subtle changes and their effect on perceived outcomes.

When it comes to our relationship with God, we all agree various verses on His interaction with humanity begin to paint a picture of nuances between Divine
mercy and forgiveness, faithfulness and love, in light of repeated examples of His commands and warnings, holiness and judgment

It’s easy to see how the passages we choose to
emphasize and/or omit shape our perception of God’s range of emotion regarding both those outside and inside Christ’s Church.

As well as His acceptance or rejection of our thoughts and attitudes, words and deeds (or lack thereof).

In this
simple video example, the expression on God’s face are easily manipulated through even slight alterations of His eyes, ears, nose and mouth…

It’s been said God created man in His own image, and since then we’ve been returning the favor…

Limiting God in this way is an extremely common and costly mistake. Both temporally and eternally. One often accentuated by the worldview we use to read and interpret Scripture’s
meta messages.

Such errors are frequently supported by our individual current circumstance.

For example, the Bible repeatedly warns, directly and indirectly, not to confuse the praises of men with God’s anointing. His blessings as His approval. Financial and worldly freedom as His favor. Or vice versa.




Seaworthy Metaphors


With Hell to loose, and Heaven to gain, few questions in life are as important as where God draws the line in regards to Biblical Salvation. What does Scripture teach we must do to be saved? Is following Christ, the authentic Jesus, different in the the modern world than the 1st century?

When aboard a massive ocean liner, in certain respects it doesn’t seem as if you’re moving. Because you’re not, when judged by those around you aboard ship. To plot your course and speed, you need a waypoint off ship.

The same holds true for entire generations. There may be no sense of momentum, because we’re all aboard the same massive ocean liner. But actually, we may be moving at a rapid pace, into dangerous waters. Or in our case, questionable if not heretical doctrine and
worldly lifestyles.

As noted above, few recognize the growing gap between 1st century
Biblical Christianity and 21st century Modern Churchianity. Or even the requirements of salvation popularized by a pair of well known sermons by two of the primary architects of the 18th century First Great Awakening.

Jonathan EdwardsSinners In The Hands Of An Angry God may simultaneously be the most famous and infamous sermon of all time. Lightyears from the “cheap grace” of modern Christianity, it’s as interesting as it is a difficult read.

While not
religiously correct, the God of the Bible is simultaneously awe-full and awful, and should be approached as such. While Churchianity considers itself exempt from judgment, Jesus and His apostles tell a different story.

Fully grasping the message and exacting meaning of this sermon is crucial if we are to recover even a fraction of what has been lost. Beginning by developing living faith rather than presumption, whereby we assume salvation rather than seeking and serving God acceptably by means of serious sanctification and radical discipleship. All necessary foundational requirements should we realistically hope to experience Biblical Revival, much less Kingdom Reformation, in our generation.

Instead of reading
GodBlog's classic 18th Century version, we highly recommend downloading "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God: Updated to Modern English Kindle Edition" by Jason Dollar. It can be read for $2.99 on any device by downloading the Kindle app or simply on the Amazon cloud. It is a far easier and meaningful read when updated into modern language and format. The author also includes a balanced introduction and second sermon entitled "Love The Sum Of All Virtue" to present Jonathan Edwards in a more accurate light.

Nevertheless, reader be warned. When Edwards uses the phrase “Born Again” in the 18th century, it is not with the same flippancy as in the 21st, whereby we erroneously grant blessing to have our cake and eat it too. Doctrinally justifying continuing our pursuit of the Christian/American Dream, while living
mostly worldly lives.

To understand the difference, you will need a sermon by his contemporary,
John Wesley, founder of the once puritan Methodist Church, entitled "The Almost Christian.”

Another crucial consideration is that of the
Cruise Vs. Battleship analogy. While you won't find it taught in seminaries or churches, Conflict Theology is actually the underlying context of Scripture. Widely recognized for nearly two thousand years, the modern world long ago changed course, sailing far from puritanical definitions of repentance and morality, faith and discipleship and sanctification and holiness. The result has been the nearly wholesale substitution of assumed salvation for repentance, presumption for faith and inappropriate worship for sanctification.

Decades old, the increase of
temptation and deception, has resulted in a devilishly cunning strategy of incrementalism that over time has all but uprooted millennia of spiritual and sociological gains. Part and parcel of the dramatic and disastrous deterioration in the Times and Seasons in which we live, and vastly worse on the horizon. Evidence of the spirit of the Antichrist terraforming the entire planet for the beginning of Divine judgment and Great Tribulation.

If Christianity’s a cruise ship, sailing merrily from here to Heaven, then certainly Christ’s costly atonement is more than sufficient passage. The cross of Jesus is indeed all anyone could ever need. If however, Heaven and Earth are at war with fallen angels and devils, Christianity is a battleship and we must follow our Commander and Chief’s example and directives by daily shouldering our own.

Even if Christianity could be likened to a pleasure cruise, given
Churchianity’s collision course with so many modern temptations and deceptions, up to an including immorality and the blood red mountainous iceberg of abortion, in certain respects might even many well intended ministries be reduced to simply arranging deck chairs on the Titanic?

So is Christianity a cruise or gunship? We must decide. And do so quickly and carefully. Military directives and drills, cramped quarters and sea rations, would be absurd on a pleasure cruise. So too, civilian itineraries and activities, opulent suites and sumptuous banquets, would be anathema during a time of war
.

Click here to read QC's parable, "
Water World: Cruise Vs. Battleship."

Much has been lost and our situation dire. Nevertheless, QC dares to
hope against hope that while as in the account of Christ's debut miracle at the wedding feast of Cana, we have clearly run out of wine, still today Mary's perfect intercession, through timely and appropriate brokenness and repentance, yields insight as to how we may yet find Jesus has once again saved the best for last.

For additional information see GB's Seven Gospels?



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