6/27 A Summary on the Counterfeit Religious System

February 7th, 2013

6/27 A Summary on the Counterfeit Religious System

So far in our Blog on the Challenges to Christianity, we have been looking at the fifth issues Jesus Followers must face – that of the Counterfeit Religious System. Jesus and the Apostle Paul warned us that there were be imitations of the real Good news.

They warmed such groups would come who would aim for the power and glory as a selfish ambition for recognition beyond what the Holy Spirit would give. The major aim would be to draw people away from the truth in Jesus’ message of grace versus works.

There would be some who brought legalism, ‘religion’ and rules not set by Jesus. As we have pointed out so far, we can find all kinds of such teachings. Replacing the simplicity of the Gospel of Good News with ‘doing’ rather than ‘being’ has become our challenge to the Christian faith today as well.

We journey through some terms in defining what we mean by ‘the Church’ and saw that the Bride is Jesus Followers. The Church is the group of people who have accepted His love and sacrifice rather than a building or a set denomination. We traced the traditions of the Jewish wedding as the model we find in being a Jesus Follower.

We have also looked at various readers’ opinion about the organised, religious ‘church’ as a way of seeing where the hearts of His people are today. Many have pointed to the need to ‘do church better’, to get back to the methods used in the book of Acts as a way forward.

It is this claim that we investigate in our next section. We shall put the ‘Emerging Church’ further under investigation to see if there is merit it these claims. Words like ‘compromise’, out-of-date leadership, even abusive leadership have been presented in our blog.

Where is the group known as the Christian Church going? What do we need to reach the modern world in the years of 2000’s? Have we failed to engage the youth around us or are the traditions of doing church getting in the way of finding Jesus Christ?

We shall touch on some of these issues as we continue with the topic of ‘the Emerging Church and its reality in our world today. So join us for Part Three: ‘The Emerging Church – Continuum of Beliefs’.

Susanne Fengler, Blog Author

www.christianfoundations.jesus-treeoflife.info

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Filed under: Challenges to the Christian Faith

A Word from the Lord:

"I have followed the flight of an eagle with My eyes. I have seen the mighty fish in the sea and they all give Me great pleasure ..… but do you know the greatest of all My creation is the Adam and Eve I created?

"Time has not changed My joy in seeing mankind grow. However, My heart has been saddened when I know the pleasure I wish to give My people, give to you My child. My ways are meant to be light, My burden easy. Religions and rules make the heaviness I wish to lift from My people.

"I long to draw you closer, to teach you deeper things of My Spirit. I need you to let your Heart rest in My love, to rest in My peace. I know the paths ahead for you. I have planned and will provide many treasures you have yet to see. Look for My hand and let Me guide you.

"I do know of your beginnings, of the painful places you have walked in your life. I have provided healing and grace to get up and go on … but know this, My child - I have never left your side. I have always walked with you, even when you cannot see My hand in your life. It is in times like this that I wish to grow your faith and trust.

"I have treasured your growth in following Me … and I want you to continue to seek Me for who I am, not what others have said about Me - or what the groups around you think.

"Look for Me and you will see Me in many layers in your life. I know your future; I know the dark places ahead and the places filled with sunshine and light. You will find Me in both places as I am moulding you and teaching you to walk with Me.

"Trust Me as you see the world around you. I will never leave you or walk away from you as I love you with a deep everlasting love. Yes, even when you make mistakes or take your eyes off the track. I am here! Rest in My peace and continue to let me fill you with My ways, with My treasures."

From Your Lord Jesus, your loving Father God via the Holy Spirit.

If you would like your own personal Word from the Lord, come find me on
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Who is Susanne?
I am the wife of an amazing husband, Daniel. I have been working on my 'hobby' of website design for over three years. Made any money... well...not enough to pay for our hosting account at Hostgater....but that's partly what a hobby is all about.

I've enthusiastically jumped into blogs with 'a warehouse of great info' we have collected over our 20 plus years of counselling and mentoring. So, please take advantage of the years of wisdom we have gathered.

We have dedicated this blog to build hope that everyone out there can really, really hear from God and that is our heart's desire! He gives us true focus, sets our priorities and build our faith in His love.
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Facing the Orphan Spirit

To begin this section, let me tell you a story. 'Jenny' grew up in a semi-Christian home where she went to Sunday School every Sunday. It was probably more so that her parents had Sunday morning to themselves, away from their 4 children that they were sent to church. For whatever reason, little seeds grew in Jenny until she was a 20 year old and working in the church office.

She enjoyed her work and 'served well'. She even had a t-shirt made that said 'Steward of the Most High God'. She often marked her folders as 'Jenny, Steward of God'. This sounded like a good saying and to her, even sound doctrine … but it wasn't the whole truth. Something was missing.

She thought about leaving this group and looking for another church. Working in the church office made her feel like she belonged somewhere. She was the 'Helper to the Pastor' and that was how others saw her too.

They were her 'authority', her source of comfort and didn't they have the final say on what the Bible said? She wasn't really 'close' with any of them anyhow; none had tried to help her grow spiritually. She kept the rules of the church but quietly thought about 'church hopping someday'.

When she had a good day at work, she felt God smiled at her, even though her peers frequently excluded her in their church activities. She had her job with the church and they didn't. "Maybe they are just envious", she thought. "I need to protect what God has given me, especially since they don't understand me."

More and more she felt guarded and distrustful of others in the church and sometimes - if she let her thoughts go there - even felt the church pasters and leaders weren't doing the very best as stewards that they could have. "God was sole owner of everything and He had given me a job to do!" … and that was that as far as Jenny told herself.

So that was Jenny until the day her Mother died and she faced some hard truths. She was independent and could take care of herself but what about her family? One or two of the pastor's wives stopped by to offer their sad words but few others came.

The funeral wasn't very impressive as their money had been used for doctors. Jenny felt alone and lost, wanting to be loved by those she served but somehow, all this need and pride was mixed with isolation and being alone.

Sad and lonely, she went for a walk. "There's got to be more to God than this!" She began to question if she even knew the real Jesus and His love for her. At first, she didn't really feel like she could talk to HIM, the One who walked beside her. She didn't feel worthy; maybe she hadn't done enough? She was only His Steward …. but He saw her as so much more!

As Jenny walked and allowed His love to penetrate her independent, self-sufficient Heart. Her view of her walk as a Jesus follower began to change. Her view of being that 'Steward' began to melt into another sense of being His child first.

She began to feel gratitude for what the Lord was doing for her … and for her family. Never having known her biological father, she began to sense she really had a Father who just might cared for her. As the tears rolled down her face, she could she had turned her back on the real Source of her comfort, turned to the pastors who could never fill that need inside.

She could see that believing she was 'only His steward' had robbed her of knowing she was His child. Taking care of His things had replaced knowing she owned these things as His heir and beloved daughter.

She returned to the home she knew with greater peace than ever. She removed the labels 'Steward of God' of her folders and books. She replaced the labels with 'Growing child of God'. What a difference she felt!" (Names and places have been changed to protect 'Jenny's identity.)

As we begin this Stage 4 in our series From Slave to Bride, join us to find answers for your own life.

Christian Foundations