"Well, what kind of flavors do you like?"
"I like it sweet, but not sweet!"
"Ummmm............."
When I get customer's like this, it absolutely drives me crazy. I mean, don't ask for something that you may or may not like. Now, I will help guide you and make suggestions, but ultimately it comes down to this. It has the same flavor and the same coffee. But the truth is that there is no difference in your drink versus the lady behind you that orders the same thing. "Well, I can cut back on the amount of pumps which reduces the sweetness in it, but it's still the same." When someone adjusts something to make you happy, there is a root or a base for it. The same goes for Christianity today.
I have so many people walk through my door and alter their drinks and make it to where they feel great about drinking it. That gives them the control over their happiness. Whenever you get control over a situation, that is a form of power that we get a rise out of. Whenever you are looking for a good place to eat or drink, you have to go to different places. Someone may have the best fajitas or the best steak that you have ever had, but that food has a beginning. Eating or drinking something today comes from a animal. With Christianity today, there is a root or a rock.
With Christianity, there are so many denominations today that people participate in today, that it is literally hard to keep up with the growth of churches. The churches today are having a major impact on society today. The debate in New York today over a mosque being built 2 blocks from the Twin Towers location has spread all over the world. As you can see, a faith has a major impact on the world today and will only get worse. Now, I don't agree with the Muslim faith and alot of the other religions that are out there. With Christianity, there is a common ground, Jesus. Most churches today believe and teach that Jesus is the only to the Father. But there are some that adjust the teaching of Jesus to fit the people.
This is where people get a different flavor, but yet it has the same ingredients. But unfortunately, some people like to throw in their own little ingredients to make it taste better for the customers or the congregation. This is what some call "watering down the Truth." This is the power or that "feeling good" about the Gospel. With so many preachers and evangelists speaking the Word of God in this world, it's hard for some to distinguish the truth and teachings of Jesus. Church has been a part of this great nation since it's birth and was found on Biblical principles. Since those times, the church has been kicked to the curb because of society and being "political correctness." You can say the same with coffee today. The company that I work for is known for it's coffee and has taken a great stance on being "politically correct." Yet, in 2009, they donated over a million dollars to the LGBT Foundation.
Do I agree with that? Absolutely not! But they do it to make sure that they try to make everyone happy. To some extent we all do that. I want to make sure that everyone of my customers walk away from my bar happy and satisfied each and every time. Does it always happen? No, but I will always do my best to make sure that they leave satisfied. That goes the same for church today. We want church to makes us feel good about ourselves and that we can call ourselves Christians. Unfortunately, we visit many churches to get the "feeling" that we want. Now, I do believe that to some extent you have to have some comfort level with the preaching and the people around you. When I first attended the church that I now attend, I went as an unbeliever. I would have never in a million years thought that I would attend that kind of church. People walking up to me and hugging me, shaking my hands and all up in my business. That wasn't my thing back then. That literally kept from going to church for the longest time. But I didn't know what it was at the time either. I wasn't looking for a church. Someone invited and I went. That was it.
Today it's alot different. I love the church that I attend and even though many times I have wanted to leave and find another church, the truth is, I don't think that I could. I remember one guy that always gave me a hug whenever I saw him. David was a sweet and loving soul who loved Christ with all of his heart. He had some physical issues, but that didn't stop him from showing me what it was like to feel at home. I was very saddened to learn that when his family moved, that I wouldn't see him much anymore. He helped me see that church was about not only the Word of God being preached, but a sense of belonging. If you saw David, you wouldn't think that he would belong in church, but the truth is that David didn't let his physical issues stop him from loving on God and his children. Church today has a common theme that I see today, making you feel good.
Let me just say this. If you hear the Word of God preached and you don't get offended by it, you are at the wrong church. Huh? That's right! There are so many times that I hear the Word preached and it literally makes me mad, but the truth is, that if I didn't know what it was and digged into the scriptures myself, it could lead me down a path of stupidity. If you hear the Word preached and all they talk about is how much God loves you, and that's it, that's not enough. With all the denominations that there are in the world today, many churches have watered down the "Gospel" to a great extent. Some churches preach that healing and miracles don't happen anymore. That God is still mad at you. That Jesus was "PLAN B." My favorite one that I heard from Andrew Womack was this, "the church is the new mafia. They want your money and attendance, AND they will make sure that God protects you until the next service."
Now even though these people maybe preaching these type of services, most of them preach that Jesus was the Son of God who came to Earth, was crucified for our sins and raised from the dead by the Holy Spirit. That is the main ingredient for Christianity today. Jesus is the ONLY WAY into Heaven! Jesus is the only thing that matters when it comes to church. If you here someone else teaching something other than that, RUN!!! That is a doctrine of the enemy!!! If you think that just being a good person is going to get you into heaven, you've got another thing coming. JUDGEMENT!!!
I am sorry for all of you Oprah fans, but she is wrong to think and tell everyone that being a "good person" and there has to be "another way into heaven" is really going to work out for you in the long run. But that is a whole different story. Back to my main point.
Guys, it is simple and not hard to figure out. I like in the book of Revelations and the letters that were written to the churches, that they all had some sort of issue. But the truth is that they believed that Jesus was the Son of God, God was Holy and that was it. That is the "main ingredient" for Christianity today. God has a Son by the name of Jesus who came to Earth who lived and walked this planet for 33 years old and was crucified for our sins and was raised from the dead after 3 days. That is the purpose and the truth about the Christianity. Now, there are pastor and preachers that add extra ingredients or "teachings" that may not be in line with the Word of God. These are the people that say that God loves you no matter what.
The teachings of Jesus are so much more than just what is being heard in the church today. It has applications that can be used for daily living or even harder situations. But, this is where the church comes into play as well. The church has speak the Word of God in love and truth. The church isn't about the building, it's about what is being preached within it's walls. I heard my Pastor said one time "it's better to have a few father's in the faith, then ten thousand teachers." Ten thousand teachers have all sorts of ingredients. Too many ingredients have can make for a bad piece of cake. It can give you a funny taste in your mouth. With the Word of God preached in the right manner, with love and compassion, you should always walk away with a God taste in your Spirit.
That is the Word of God...
Guys, my encouragement for you is only this.
When you go to church as a new or a mature believer, be careful, look at the list of ingredients that the church is using to speak the Word of God. What I love about the Word of God is this...
I either get a revelation from the Word that can leave me somewhat dissappointed or the greatest feeling in my Spirit that God has given to me through His Word. His Word, His Son, His Spirit..........His ingredients...
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