It has long been my concern that religion, church and a certain fetish for our bibles is both hampering the progress of the good news of Jesus and possibly standing in the way of Jesus' will and plan. As I talked about in the last 19 or so posts, Jesus said, “And this good news of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Has Jesus returned? It wouldn't appear so. Why? Is it because Jesus was a fraud? Let apostle Peter answer that: 2 Peter 3:3-9:
Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” When they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word [logos] of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by this same word [logos] the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one thing escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
So my question remains: why are we still waiting for Jesus' return? One of the answers, I believe, is that which I discussed in the series "This Good News" here in this blog. But I believe there are multiple reasons. And another reason is that the way we live our lives and the preaching we do and our religious practices all loudly communicate the idea that God can only be had along with the trappings of religion and church and a holy book.
The biggest problem I have with this is that I actually use the bible and I find within it several key things that cause alarm bells to ring. If the bible is God's book, why doesn't God say in His book that new covenant believeres in Jesus need to add to God three things: religion, church and the bible? Why doesn't God say that? - because God cannot lie! The book specifically says we do not need these extra things. For us to add them to the word of God is to put human words in God's mouth and have Him saying things that are not part of His will and purpose. I'm not sure why many others aren't hearing and heeding the warnings. Perhaps they are: perhaps they are hearing and don't know what to do or where to turn.
For a start, I find that many have turned the bible into an idol. They actually worship it ahead of the Holy Spirit as if the new holy trinity is Father, Son and Holy Scripture. The Holy Spirit active in our lives is valued far less than the literal words of the bible and their book, chapter and verse numbers.
This same bible nowhere advises or instructs people to live by it; in fact, it actually says that true disciples of Jesus live according to the Spirit. The bible tells us that God's word is what God speaks at any point in time and it is written on our hearts in the new covenant, not in a book. The bible tells us that all scripture is God-breathed and profitable for a number of uses, but nowhere says it is a sacred text. And the bible nowhere says that non-Jews have to live by Jewish law. In fact, apostle Paul made it quite clear this is not the case.
I stand with people like Greg Boyd ["The Myth of a Christian Religion"] and we testify that it was ga ood thing to lose our religion. As the popular song says, "That's me in the corner; losing my religion". Once I lost my religion, I was transported into a beautiful revolution as Boyd calls it: the beautiful revolution that is Jesus, the kingdom of God and the good news of the kingdom of God.
What I and many others in our day and throughout history can soundly testify to is the same as what Paul taught the Ephesians: "In Jesus and through faith in Him we can approach God with freedom and confidence." We do not need any other mediator besides Jesus. In fact, only Jesus will do. We do not need religion and rites and rituals; we do not need organisations and institutions; we do not need law and written code; we do not need some sacred guidebook.
Despite the fact that many will object and disclaim and protest and vilify, it remains manifestly true that any person, in any part of the world, at any time, in any culture, in any language, in any condition can have a perfectly functional and beautifully satisfying relationship with God WITHOUT RELIGION, WITHOUT CHURCH and WITHOUT BIBLE.
This is the best news we have never heard! Be my guest and enjoy the grace of God in Jesus!
Cheers.
Kevin.
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