God Blog

Approaching God One Thought At A Time

If it squares with the Scripture, then let's go. If it's in conflict with the Scripture, then it's heresy.
- Randall Terry

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Seven Gospels?

"Huston we have a problem." Depending on how you define Christian "denomination" there may be hundreds of various sects. While the New Testament is written in such a way to leave "wiggle room" for doctrinal nonessentials, clearly we've far exceeded our quota.

On the one hand, with so many versions of
modern Christianity, there something for everyone. On the other, some, if not most, must in fact be imposters. This begs the question, who is the true Christ and which, if any, is the true Gospelonce for all delivered to the saints?”

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.


- 1 Timothy 4:1 NIV


The following summary represents Quantum Christianity's take on which current interpretation of the Bible’s content and context, meta messages and emphasis is most accurate:

1. Biblical Christianity: Example Paul. "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." Full understanding and radical adherence to all the Bible's promises and conditions extended by Christ to those embracing His cross as well as their own. Examples: Apostles, Martyrs, Blaise Pascal, John Wesley, Søren Kierkegaard, Hudson Taylor, Praying Hyde, George Muller, Charles Finney, Smith Wigglesworth, Evan Roberts, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Brother Yun, Jackie Pullenger, etc.

2. Quantum Christianity: Example Prophetic Christians. Designed in hope of being a bridge between 1st Century Biblical Christianity and 21st Century Modern Churchianity. Insight into full context of Scripture regarding spectrum of major crises/opportunities facing Modern Churchianity. Right yet not righteous enough to demonstrate accuracy of Bible commentary through repeated genuine and effective signs and wonders. Such broken and repentive believers are hallmarked by lifestyles of diligent commitment to personal and corporate Bible study and prayer, activism and charismatic honesty.

3. Para Church Activists: Example Hugh Ross. Specialized expertise. Examples: Pro life, payer, missions, science, the poor etc. While in many cases among the best examples of developing the vastly underrated yet extremely necessary "Living Faith" demanded of all Christians, outside their area of specialization they are less spectacular. Peter Principle. Often doctrinally entangled by some form of Churchianity.

4. Protestantism: Example Average church. Status Quo. Neither hot or cold. Blind to various doctrinal deceptions and level of worldliness ubiquitous within Churchianity. Promotion of unconditional acceptance via cheep grace. No fear of God or judgement. Decreasing emphasis on Christian disciplines such as serious and regular personal and corporate Bible study and prayer. Form of Godliness without and/or denying the power thereof.

5. Catholicism: Example Average Parish. Similar to Protestants with even greater doctrinal deception and Biblical illiteracy among lay membership. Can be more pro life and pro family.

6. Heretics and Higher Critics: Example Kenneth Copeland. From those promoting the current heretical propaganda, rather than original and miraculous Smith Wigglesworth's Word Of Faith. An apostate shadow of it's former self, devolved into various sects promoting the Prosperity Gospel. As well as ultra worldly liberal interfaith alliances. Up to and including those philosophically embracing the LGBT community. In general heretical doctrine arises from an over emphasis of certain portions of Scripture while higher criticism rejects Biblical authority to the point of relegating vital tenants to little more than fine literature and/or mythology.

7. Christian Cults: Example LDS Excessive movements, the larger posing as mainstream denominations in violation of critical Christian doctrines. These include Mormonism, Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah Witnesses, Scientology etc.



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. Interestingly, miraculous signs and wonders, such as Divine healing, receive little notoriety. What is notable is the phenomenal outpouring and infilling of the Fruit of the Spirit, as evidenced by the amazing willingness and commitment to suffer persecution to the point of martyrdom, for others and the cause of Christ! While exceedingly far less in number, a small subset of First World Christians and activists are willing to 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. Prophetic Christians: As previously mentioned, Quantum Christianity 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.



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