by Trent - from November 2005
Gail had an AWESOME rant about how the churched masses are being duped by the religious form of Christianity that is the norm. I share her experience of being called out from that garbage.
I share in her urgency and passion. I cautioned her about where the real problem lies:
The pew and the pulpit. Who is to blame for the mess? From which will come the deliverance?
The clergy is basically doing exactly what is required of them by the membership. If they weren't then the clergy would be replaced. The problem is in the pew. The people WANT a mediator/priest.
In the day of Christ, people were supposed to raise up their own offering. They were lazy and found that they could hire a professional to do it for them. That way, rather then tend to their offering and bring it to the temple, then could just mind their own business and bring a bit of money. At the temple they could just buy a bird and be done with it.
The money-changers were a symptom of a deeper problem. They were the hired professionals to do what the people were supposed to do on their own. And of course, the quality suffered. These were not unblemished offerings. These were discounts and bargains ... purchased at the last minute.
John 2:16
To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare {{{{you}}}} turn my Father's house into a market!"The "you" in that verse is commonly thought of as the people that sold doves. But, that is not the "you" that made it that way. The "you" is everyone that would go to the temple to buy a dove from a professional.
I say all of this to show a parallel. Christ in you, is having a hard time putting up with a institutionalized church where you pay a professional to do your worshiping for you, and we just sit there as spectators. That same passion He is speaking into your heart is not so different then what He said 2000 years ago.
Get these paid preachers out of the pulpit! You, the pew, have warped what the assembly is all about! You are supposed to have something to share with everyone on your own, not pay some professional to come up with something crappy instead!
You only need speak to Me and accept My forgiveness, and forgive yourself also and be joyful. ~ Jesus [Letters from God and His Christ - Volume 6 - Understand Love, Know Forgiveness, Partake of the Whole Fruit of the Spirit and Make It Part of You]