Why "NEW" Christianity?

II. Timothy 4: 3-4

"For there will be a time  when people will no longer tolerate or except sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable desire to hear  new things. And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but will turn their ears towards fables."  

What exactly is this scripture talking about? And how does it relate to the so-called "New Christianity"?

Paul was speaking to one of the disciples of Christ in this passage of scripture.
His name was Timothy.
In his letter to Timothy, Paul entreats him to be diligent and to be patient in persecution. To be steadfast in doctrine. And to Preach the Word; be ready, in season, out of season.
To reprove (which means; to correct, to strongly disapprove) and to rebuke, and exhort with long-suffering and instruction (vs. 2).

Why?

Verses 3&4 give us the reasons..  
"For there will be a time (now)  when people will no longer tolerate or except sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires , they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable desire to hear new things (and try NEW things). And (because of this) they will turn away from hearing the truth, but will turn their ears towards fables." 
*italics mine*


These words are even more applicable today as they were in the days of Paul. He was dealing with the false teachers in the City of Ephesus and Crete. Who were teaching  doctrines which were NOT in accordance of what Christ taught.

Today we have numerous and many "new"  false doctrines, which also do NOT adhere to, or teach, the doctrines of Jesus Christ.  Including, but not limited to;

The New Age Movement teaches; God is all things, not the creator of all things, but he is all things. Example: God is the tree! God is the dog! I am God! I am all powerful.

Christian Science teaches that mind is the sole reality, while belief in the reality of matter is an illusion. Disease and death, being properties of matter, are also illusory, and hence disease can be healed through mental power alone. 

 Church of Scientology,  These writings describe a systematic psychological technique for purifying the mind from negative influences embedded in the subconscious mind in order to realize a state of "clear" and spiritual freedom. 

Islam,  proclaims Allah, the one God, the Creator, who is sovereign and good, who answers prayers, and who works with mankind in history by calling prophets to proclaim God's word. There is a positive affirmation of the world as God's creation and the arena where people are obligated to act ethically.
  Jesus is only one of the prophets--though titled Messiah, he has no distinctive  role in the sense that Christians ascribe to him, nor is he in any sense divine.The Qur'an, revealed to Muhammad, is the perfect and accurate record of God's message.
Islam is a religion to be practiced, and five obligations are required of every Muslim--called the Five Pillars: (1) confession of faith in God and in Muhammad as God's messenger, (2) daily prayer at the five appointed times, (3) fasting during the month of Ramadan, (4) paying an alms-tax and giving charity to the poor, and (5) pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca and its sacred shrine, the Kaaba. By fulfilling these obligations and remembering God often, the Muslim is assured of God's favor both on earth and at the judgment. 

 Not to mention, witchcraft, nature religions, spiritualism, astrology, and even our "Christianized Occultism" (for more info into what Christianized Occultism means please post comment and I will give you  a reply)

  People are gathering to themselves these false religions, which are not healthy sound doctrines or teachings.  They want their flesh to be tickled, their own impulses and passionate longings to be be fulfilled, their lusts for power and acclaim to be satisfied. They are in reality turning away from and rebelling from the truth of the Gospel which proclaims exactly the opposite!

We must die in order to have life. To be the greatest we must become the least. To be the leader you must first be the servant. In order to gain, you must give away!


Doesn't sound at all like what we hear in the "New Christianity" Does it?

More tomorrow :-]

The Emerging "NEW"? Christianity!

THIS IS SO IMPORTANT I FELT IT HAD TO BE POSTED SO EVERY YOUNG ADULT, WHO CHRIST HAS ALLOWED IN MY CARE, WOULD READ THIS AND TAKE HEED! Love Fran.  "Wide Is The Gate: The Emerging New Christianity" Today's new brand of Christianity has a different gospel and is targeting thousands of the younger generation with a so-called hip, cool, experiential spirituality, much of which is embracing a form of mysticism with the ecumenical philosophy of uniting people to work together and bring about a world of peace and harmony. This notion dovetails with the heart of New Age thinking and the utopian ideas of many world religions who all await the religious leader and dream of unity. The dangerous result of this new spirituality in the church is bringing about the rise of today's "Christianized" occultism. It's stretching its tentacles around the souls of unsuspecting youth, setting them up for the lie that subjective emotions of "power" and "experience" are "feelings" to be held higher than an objective walk in the Christian Faith, based in Truth found in the Pure Word of God. The Bible warns of great heresy and apostasy in the church of the last days. It foretells of false teachers, prophets, doctrines of lying spirits and their signs and wonders. For 2000 years, since the crucifixion of Jesus Christ the Bible has been attacked. Alongside the Apostolic Church, based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and his apostles, counterfeit Christian heretics, apostate denominations and false movements have proliferated. Ecclesiastes says, "There's no new thing under the sun". (I:9) Learn what Scripture teaches about the times we live in, the ways in which Christians are being seduced away from Biblical Truth, and the methods used by New Spirituality to usher in the counterfeit Kingdom of God on earth. Jesus said, "My Kingdom is not of this world" and "Narrow is the Way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it."

Wise or Foolish/Oil or no Oil?

Christ made provision for us to inherit the Kingdom, but The Kingdom requires preparation !

 Is Christ here yet? NO! Is he going to return? YES!

 Chapter 25

Christ gives warning and instruction for those who would enter the Kingdom!

Christ shares, through  parable, a challenge.

A Parable is a statement or short story that Christ would use to illustrate  truth, or spiritual principle.

By use of comparison the hearer can make judgement upon himself.

The disciples had  asked Jesus to explain to them when all these things would take place (the signs of his return, etc. chap 24)  Jesus gave them no specific date or time but did tell them the signs to watch for.

Here in Chap 25: 1-13 he gives the illustration of what it will be like among those who wait for his kingdom.

Five Wise bridesmaids, Five Foolish. Why?

In Jewish tradition the bridegroom would go to the brides home for ceremony. Then the bride and groom, along with a great processional, would return to the grooms house for a feast. Often lasting an entire week. The ten bridesmaids were waiting to join the procession, in hopes to take part in the great marriage feast and celebration. But, when the groom did not arrive at the expected time, five of the ten ran out of oil and had not made preparation in case of a delay.

The Five wise brought extra oil along with them.  Five didn't. The wise kept their lamps full just in case the groom didn't come at the expected time. The bridesmaids who were not prepared for a delay tried to borrow oil from those who were.

Spiritual preparation cannot be borrowed!!  By the time the foolish went to buy more oil it was too late! The groom had come and the celebration had begun. Those who were prepared went in to be with the groom, the others were locked out! (vrs 10)

This speaks about how each person is individually responsible for their own Spiritual preparation. In order to inherit the kingdom and to participate in the greatest celebration, each one must be prepared no matter how long it takes for the Lord to return for his bride.

Even if it seems the Lord is taking a long time to receive his bride, it is up to each one of us individually to keep our lamps lit and to keep oil in our lamp at all times.

So stay awake because you don't know what day or hour the Lord will return!

THIS IS THE KINGDOM

Vrs 14
This gospel will be preached! What is the Gospel?
It is the words, deeds, death & resurrection of Jesus Christ. Also, After the death of Christ, the term comprises the preaching of Jesus Christ as having suffered death on the cross to procure eternal salvation for all men , Resurrected to life and exalted to the right hand of God!
Now,
Lets look at the word Kingdom as it relates to vrs 14.

 Kingdom means:
A royal power, A dominion. A realm
But, not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or royal power to rule in a Kingdom! (the literal kingdom comes soon)
 So, Vrs 14-
"My procurement of Salvation for all men,  my words, deeds, death & resurrection (the gospel) of my realm and my dominion, my royal power and kingdom shall be preached throughout the whole world
In  verse 14, Christ is clarifying the difference between HIS KINGDOM and the kingdoms of verse 7.
His is a Spiritual God Given realm, which no man gave him nor did he do battle to obtain!
His kingdom was ordained by God  and Acquired by his willingness to suffer, his obedience to death, and his resurrection! Which along with Christ, due to our faith, our obedience, will one day soon, inherit a literal kingdom, the territory subject to the rule and kingship of Jesus Christ!
We, are on the brink, of stepping into the literal physical kingdom and rulership of Jesus Christ very soon!



Lets search into his Kingdom a little more through Christs own words. Next post.

The Doorsteps of the Kingdom

St. Matthew 24
1-14
Jesus had just finished his rebuke upon the pharisees because of their hypocrisy concerning the Law of God, which actually (their teaching) closed off the kingdom of God to men! (Matthew 23)
After Jesus finishes his denouncement  he begins to leave the temple to find a place where he can get away.
Chap 24
Before he can leave, The disciples begin to show Christ the awesomeness of their temple/church, which they believed was where their God reigned and  spoke thru the religious leaders.
Christ replies and says.."Behold!, Not one of these stones, which build up your temple shall be left upon another, these will all be torn down! His disciples, no doubt perplexed by Christs words to the "religious leaders" , his rebuke of their practices, and his statement concerning their temple, began to question him concerning these matters.
Now, this is what the Holy Spirit showed me:
The next few verses are a discourse of events which WILL (and are now) taking place as signs to watch for, which will and ARE indicating Christs return and the end of THIS 'age'. The word age is Translated 'world' in most versions of the bible. Which actually means 'age' or a previously determined period of time. The world itself will never end. It is without end. But, this age will end.
Christ answers their question but then moves into a much deeper spiritual truth which the Holy Spirit opened to my heart today.
Matt 24:7
Nations and kingdoms will rise against each other. Why?
In order to protect their kingdoms, their national heritage, their power, their land, and their beliefs! Many wars have been and are being fought even now on behalf of their kingdoms and beliefs!
Vrs 9: Christ warns the disciples of their future torment because of Their faith in his name, his sake, and his kingdom!
Vrs 10: many are going to stumble at the truth of Christs words and will rise up in hate against each other and his kingdom.
Vrs 11,12: Because of kingdoms fighting and  wars being fought, men stumbling due to truth of Christs words, the false prophets arise and succeed to mislead people.This leads to an increase of sin. This will also open the door for many more false teachers and prophets to come on the scene. . These (false) beliefs will cause Sin to become greater and will increase! Love will no longer be found because it will have grown "cold". This word "cold" actually means to evaporate!
  Love evaporates for each other and Love will evaporate for GOD!
If this isn't a picture of this world now as it is, I don't know when it will ever be!
Ah! But Christ brings them to a great Spiritual truth of hope and reward in the next verses.
HIS KINGDOM! HIS KINGDOM! HIS KINGDOM! 
They are on the doorstep.  What is the Kingdom of God?
More to come......tomorrow!