Religion's Crime Against God

Have American Christians been going in the wrong direction as to what we have been storing in our hearts? The heart is the secret place where we store our most valuable possessions; and only two individuals know what it contains: God and ourselves. There are times, we attempt to fool ourselves as to its contents, but we can‘t deceive God. God knows what’s in everyone’s heart. No doubt, there are many things we can store in our hearts, but in essence, it all breaks down to three categories: Family and friends, things and pleasures of material value, or God and all that He stands for. Which one is most valuable to you and I? Remember what we claim, may not be the truth. We like to deceive ourselves for various self-centered reasons. Nevertheless, no matter what we desire to make ourselves believe, the truth of the matter is: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21. Which one will it be: loved ones, worldly pleasures or Godly values? Some will say “Can’t I have all three?” Let me answer that question by quoting Luke 16:13, “No man can serve two masters. Either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other." To put it another way, if a person was forced to choose only one, at the expense of the other two, his/her choice is where the heart is. "You cannot serve both God and money.” For those of us who believe in this type of thinking, are in for a pleasant surprise.

As Christians, not many of us were told that the desire for wealth, worldly pleasures and love of family and friends, could put us in serious trouble with God. Mark 4:19 puts it this way, “. . . but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” The sad fact is, we have been told, by you know who, the exact opposite. Now what are we to do? Should we believe God or believe what we and the world have been told since day one? In order to unscramble this serious contradiction, we must examine the whole picture.

Let us try to figure out and understand why this principle is an absolute biblical truth. To do that, let me quote one section of the New Testament most ignored by the clergy, as it applies to our Christian lives: Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure [singular] is, there your heart will also be.” The majority of the clergy have deleted these three verses from the New Testament with their contriving sermons in ever way possible; what they have produced is today’s organized religion per se.

What is highly valued and sought after in America? Answer: ‘The American dream,’ which is to have things of material value and security from unforseen needs or poverty. That is the exact opposite of what the Bible says. As Jesus said in Luke 16:14, “What is highly valued among men is DETESTABLE in God’s sight” [emphases added]. Jesus couldn’t have made it any clearer, to the point where it would be impossible to water-down. Well, if the church couldn’t make it more palatable for the parishioners, they just simply ignore it. This next statement I say in an unequivocal way. There is no room for compromise, let alone abandonment of this verse. Since the evil one knows where men/women are most vulnerable: [survival of the fittest]; this is where he played his trump card; the Christian church blatantly played into the devils hand. And the devastating result: there is little chance of anyone abandoning the precious holy grail of American Christians. There just is no legal defense or excuse for such a grievous offence toward the Holy Scripture. There isn’t any more to be said, except we are seeing just one of organized religion’s crimes against God.’

Now on a positive note; let’s see how we can store up treasures, be what they may, in heaven. The most valuable treasure is believing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We can not do that with only our mouth and mind but must be with our lives. The next treasure is obedience to all Jesus Christ's commands in the New Testament. And lastly, love for God with all our might and love for the needy. Those who have those three treasures stored in their heart, have wealth beyond description. If one could put the value of that wealth in monetary terms, one could easily be a spiritual multibillionaire. Okay, sounds great, how can one be certain they are not deceiving themselves? Easy answer: When the things and pleasures of this world start and continue lose value, and at the same time, Jesus Christ emerges more and more clearly each day in one’s life; that is the evidence of certainty, as to where one’s heart is.

When one claims Jesus Christ as lord (boss of their life) and things of the material world are still precious, that is clear evidence of false Christianity. We must keep this verse in mind. “What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.” Was Jesus a radical to expect this much sacrifice from His disciples (Christians)? Some will say, “ That was just Christ’s opinion." God’s truth is not an opinion. Am I a radical for bringing up this,‘the-heart-tells-the-truth’ subject in the open, and then, in such a brutally candid way? Some will say. “That is just your opinion.” I don’t think so.

# posted by JC @ 6:49 PM