I believe that it is important to share just where we stand. So many people say that they stand for something, a principle, way of life or in a way of belief as in religion. When you begin to ask about the things in which they believe, it might not always line up with the category in which they have placed themselves. America is called a Christian Nation and by what I have learned 87% of Americans call themselves Christians. But what does it really take to be placed in that category. What religion must one be in to be called by such a name? I am, and our ministry that was not formed under a “religion”, do lay claim to the name of Christian. Even though I know I fall short of the true meaning of what the word Christian means, to be Christ like.
Let me tell you the cores of what I believe. First I believe that there is but one God. He is called by several names because of the different languages, but let me stress that though a language might have a different name, the god that might be worshiped may not be the Creator God. In Bible scripture, they tell of several gods that were worshiped, the Asherim goddess, Baal, etc. Paul spoke to the Greeks, "I see that you are a religious people, but there is an alter on the hill with no name written on it, He is the true God".
I could go on and discuss theological beliefs. I could tell and give scriptures to support what I believe but why? I listened to one pastor speak about the need for forgiving others and if you did not when you died before you forgave them you would go to hell. With in seven day, out of the same translation of bible another pastor spoke about how you can backslide and still be saved and go to heaven. So who is right and who was wrong? What do we teach to be correct with everything? As I as writing this, the Holy Spirit came into the room with me and His power overwhelmed me. A feeling of love and sorrow combined, a feeling that I know because I know how He comes to me. He might come to another in a different manner. I was teaching in a church to a group of youth on how if you are seeking God He will reveille Jesus to you. The religious people in the church became up set because this is not how it should be. So how should it be? Is God not able to do whatever He wants to, when He wants to and how He wants to? If He can’t do this, then He is not the God that I know.
And Jesus is not the Jesus that I know. Jesus can appear to any one that He would like to, whether they have ever read a bible or not, He is not confined within a book, He is real! His virgin birth, His earthly life and ministry and His death on the cross, were all real, His resurrection was real. He is as real today as He was then!
The problem is that man through their thinking and forming of religions, because of their taught patterns and idea that they are right, has diminished the real meaning of the cross. They have made Heaven into the idea of “Disney Land in the Sky” somewhere and the precious blood that Jesus shed made the yellow brick road to get there.
Let’s get real, if just for a moment. Jesus and salvation is about one thing. His act giving His life and the way that He lived His life is a picture of what we, as people should be doing. To give our life for one another not to see how many people we can use to get to the top of what ever. His blood that was shed was to build a bridge to God to cover the things that are known as sins. What might be “my” sin, might not be the same as what is your sin. A sin is a thing or act that causes a wall to be erected to block off the relationship with God. Jesus in the Act of shedding His blood covered those walls, those great canyons that cause a division from God and a person. There is no magical 1, 2, 3 thing that you can do to change that. There is no other way; it is only through His blood that makes the different no matter what you want to believe. It is not about a structure of religion, a tradition; it is about a relationship with God. A relationship when you know when the Holy Spirit walks in the room with you. A relationship where you have a two-way conversation with Jesus and with God the Father. When I pray I still cannot come boldly before the thrown. I ask Jesus to walk in with me. It is an act of Honor because He is God!
I could go on, but why? If you do not have a true relationship with God, then any thing else that I would say would become more controversy and would not be used to build up the Kingdom. I am, and our ministry is all about building the Kingdom, showing the love that God has placed inside of me. Showing His love through repairing homes for the elderly, showing them honor for “who” they are. We teach of the love and power that comes from the Creator, the Giver of Breath, from GOD.
This is who we are and what we believe!