This is time to dispel falsehood in Christianity, into which no-one should be engaged for lacking other things to do. The easiest mission in Christianity is telling people to have faith in Jesus. But such faith does not necessarily require commitment to Christianity.
However, what has been obscure, all along, is that Christianity is the only thing to be engaged in, after accepting baptism. This calls for sobriety, for those appreciating the necessity to be engaged in the Lord’s business.
The ultimate goal for humanity is to attain eternal life. This is possible through Jesus who took full responsibility to remove the impediment. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Obviously, for those believing in Jesus, no other undertaking can be more serious in this life. Jesus never indicated that His disciples would have it smooth-sailing. While this may be unbelievable to the clergy and ordinary members alike, the life of a Christian is just as unpopular as it was in Jesus’ time.
During Jesus’ time, people benefited immensely. They had their loved ones healed of physical deformities and other inconveniences—as experienced at that time. But most of those beneficiaries were not, necessarily, invited to follow Christ.
Just having faith in Jesus does not make one a Christian. Of course this may be too strong for those used to hearing that the mission of Jesus was to encourage those benefiting from Him to repent?
Deception will remain, until Jesus’ second-coming. Yet Jesus also promised that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His Church (Matthew 16:18) The numbers for true Christians may appear discouragingly low.
However, it is also encouraging to know that God is not, necessarily, interested in numbers, but willingness to accept that everything He says is truthful. Believing in Jesus means willingness to discard own ways, and clinging on to Christ’s ways, without fear. See [Believing in Jesus is different from having faith in Jesus].
What appears as the most difficult task is to reverse the embedded falsehood, right across the communities of baptized members in Christianity. Apparently, at their conversion, the majority of those Christians were never given chance to seriously consider Jesus’ caution in (Luke 14:25-33).
The reason for omitting such an important procedure at conversion could be that Christianity is taken as a casual matter, instead of being a matter of life and death. Only a deceiver is the one who tells converts that Christianity is trouble-free. Jesus advises consideration of high costs before commitment.
What currently prevails is that only those being considered for pastoral responsibilities are expected to count the costs, before ordination? The rest are only encouraged to be faithful tithe-payers for the pastor’s upkeep? See [Revealing the Christ in Jesus]
While ordinary members are expected to serve, it is at their pastor’s discretion. Obviously, under those circumstances, lay members cannot even exercise liberty in serving according to their God-given responsibilities?
The most disturbing revelation is that the current authoritarian arrangement has got no scriptural reference to support it? Quoting the Levitical priesthood and some citations From Paul’s epistles, cannot substitute the authority of Jesus?
However, if Christianity was as simple as using the regulations of the Levitical priesthood, early Christians would not have experienced persecution. Jesus instructed that the disciples were to be guided by the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit of Truth, representing Christ (John 14:15-17).
This does not require taking lessons in seminaries? It also does not require vetting by ‘senior’ pastors? It also does not require consideration of groups that appear as doing the right thing, as compared with others?
The responsibility of preaching the gospel was first conferred on the apostles. However, that mission was not supposed to end with those early disciples, but would continue with those for whom Jesus prayed in John 17:20-21:
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe you have sent me” (ESV).
Obviously, this Scripture invalidates the ideology of structural rankings in Christianity? Neither does it indicate that those coming later would be inferior to the original apostles?
This is just as Jesus meticulously taught that in His Kingdom, the greatest was to be the one playing the servant’s role? (Mark 9:33-37). Now here is the bad news to the Christian community, especially pastoral leaders who have all along taken comfort in the current hierarchical structures in Church.
All that has got to come to an end, with immediate effect, as time has come that the name of the Lord cannot continue to be abused. The current rank structures have got nothing to do with the principles of Jesus Christ.
However, those desiring to continue with the comfort in the current arrangement may continue, at their own peril. Jesus is, right now, calling upon everyone to stop messing up His authority.
This is just as serious as Jesus considered it serious when He turned the tables upside down, at the temple, driving out the money-changers (John 2:13-17). The Christian Church belongs to Jesus and Him alone. This is the time for the abusers to heed this warning, without delay.
It may be difficult to move away from current traditions, as most Christians are used to assuming being spectators. But all Christians are supposed to exercise full time commitment, if heeding Christ’s instructions.
Those sincerely desiring to be on the Lord’s side, please be counseled by the following Scripture: “……‘As servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20)
The experiences of Jesus and the apostles are recorded as not having been so pleasurable. These were punctuated with responsibility and sacrifice. This exposition could trigger another provocation for persecution. Most likely, this may be viewed as disturbing the current tranquility in Christianity.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). His work is similar to what prevailed in the first century. Those appreciating His call ought to realize that the responsibilities bestowed upon Jesus and His early disciples are not different from current Christians.
Pastors have all along been the ones assumed as carrying the responsibility of preaching the gospel, while the so-called laymen have been on Holiday? This must now come to an end. Those pastors are just as human as everyone.
On being called to engage in full time ministry, most would-be pastors, are known to raise questions about remunerations, etc. I know that the same applies to those now seriously considering what is now being advocated here. But nothing is new.
Christian calling is similar to how the early disciples were warned before committing themselves to follow Christ. Christians need to focus on Jesus more than anyone else. See [Genuine conflict is between good and evil].
Jesus Christ never received a salary from anyone. Neither did anyone of those apostles survive on tithes and offerings? But the early Church, after the Pentecostal phenomenon, had everything in common. Their resources were distributed equitably (Acts 4:32-37).
However, this exposition is not suggesting that the early disciples’ method of financing should therefore be taken as doctrine, necessarily. Jesus remains the only authority, in Christianity. His teachings override everything. See [The wrong way of Church financing].
All Baptized members ought to have counted the cost, before accepting baptism into Christianity (Luke 14:25-33). I suppose all are forgiven, as long as not having been aware of what they were doing? This is one of the reasons for validating the grace and the mercies of our Lord.
The challenge arises when deliberately ignoring what God has succinctly revealed through these expositions. As long as someone reading this finds it making sense, God is talking to that person. The parable of the sower gives a detailed reality of how God’s word settles on different individuals (Matthew 13:1-23).
The New Civilization website is not sponsored by anyone, except God, for the benefit of those reading and analyzing these expositions. I suppose gone are the days that the author should be credited with the things of God. Those appreciating what is exposed here as coming from the Lord, should respond accordingly.
There is need to take responsibility, before heralding the gospel of God’s Kingdom, which cannot necessarily be popular. If it was not popular in Jesus’ time, it still cannot be popular today.
Blessed are those realizing that a Christian cannot be committed to Christianity and be engaged in other activities again. This is a full time commitment for all baptized members. Indeed there is no way a person can be a Christian on reason of lacking other things to do.
Those who followed Jesus, for physical benefits, were not, necessarily, Christians (Luke 14:25-33). There was nothing wrong with benefiting from Christ’s activities, as long as not claiming to be Christ’s follower. Those who benefited from Christ’s activities, were not necessarily Christians.
Unless guided by truth, one cannot be a Christian. The services of websites, such as this one, may serve as resource, for those desiring to access more information, concerning provisions of true Christianity, as long as appreciating that this is God’s work. There is no need of putting responsibility on other fellow human beings.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing reliefs to those having witnessed strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. In a simple conversational tone, most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long awaited providential oasis of hope.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99
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