"Religion" Is Not Working!
The message from God is gibberish to those who refuse to believe. The Bible says that!(1) If God is all-knowing and wise, it makes sense that His amazing Message would be hard for our finite brains to grasp.(2)
People who do not yet believe God's Words are supposed to be able to learn the Truth about God from something much more powerful than empty religious rituals and words. They should be able to observe Jesus’ followers and see the amazing effects of supernatural love, hope, peace, courage, and faith lived out before their very eyes. Jesus said, "Love one another as I have loved you. THIS is how all men will know you are my disciples: by your love."(3)
Jesus didn't say people would know about Him by how loud his followers sing or how often they "attend church." It's our love--our passion for God and for other people--that lets everyone know God is Alive. Why? Because a Christian's love is supernatural--above nature! It’s something so unique that when a person encounters it, they are forced to admit that they've had a brush with something Special.
Jesus’ first followers changed the world. They were ALL filled with awe!(4) Jesus’ words and His resurrected life transformed their lives. Instead of apathetic humans, they became consumed with loving God and caring about one another. For their Master had said, "Love The Lord your God with ALL your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself."(5) Their lives looked a lot like His life!
Unfortunately, today it is only rarely that people witness the amazing Life and Love of Jesus lived out by those who call themselves “Christians.” Too often, even the so-called believers are apathetic about God. Many, and perhaps most, of those who bear Jesus’ name smile real big at one another and shake hands a time or two per week but then live their separate lives for the majority of the week. That is not the amazing love that Jesus died for. No way!
God has always had something much, much bigger in mind. Even right now, there are followers of Jesus who help each other establish strong, healthy marriages. They help raise each other's children, which indeed "takes a village." Lovingly and daily, they offer God's Truth to each other in humility. The quality of Life astounds even the most skeptical observer. They care. They love. They put other peoples' needs above their own. Every day.(6) But where are the people who live like this?!?! Why are they so few?(7)
Who’s This Site For?
Much could be written about the failure of cultural christianity to express the Life and Love of God. This site isn’t an attempt to bash anyone. This site exists for those who want something more than the status quo. It is for those who perhaps have had bad experiences with religion. It is for those who have seen only a misrepresentation of the God of the Bible, but never the Real Thing--please give Him a chance!
And this site is for those who have had good experiences with religion. Maybe you've enjoyed your weekly services but when you compare your experiences to what the Bible describes, you honestly see that things aren't adding up. This site is a call to live the Life that Jesus died to make possible. To those who aren't loving Him supremely, Jesus says, “You have left your first love. Change!”(8)
So, explore this site and join with many from all around the world who are recognizing that God's call is far above any man-made system of ritual and routine. Our hope and prayer is that you’ll have the courage and faith and vision to rise above the norm and “live a life worthy of the calling He has given you.”(9)
Footnotes:
1) 1 Corinthians 1:18
2) Here's a brief summary of the "hard-to-swallow" Message: God sent His only Son, Jesus, to Earth. Jesus' death was a ransom by which He rescued us from Satan's clutches. And Jesus didn’t stay dead! He lives today. And because of His sacrificial death, we can have peace with God. We can know the Living God! But we have to believe it! We need to trust this awesome, loving, mighty God with our destinies. But none of this makes sense to unbelievers! Why was a sacrifice needed? What's the logic in it?
3) John 13:34
4) Acts 2:43
5) Mark 12:30-31
6) Hebrews 3:12-13, Acts 2:46
7) Matthew 7:13-23
8) Revelation 2:4-5
9) Ephesians 4:1
The message from God is gibberish to those who refuse to believe. The Bible says that!(1) If God is all-knowing and wise, it makes sense that His amazing Message would be hard for our finite brains to grasp.(2)
People who do not yet believe God's Words are supposed to be able to learn the Truth about God from something much more powerful than empty religious rituals and words. They should be able to observe Jesus’ followers and see the amazing effects of supernatural love, hope, peace, courage, and faith lived out before their very eyes. Jesus said, "Love one another as I have loved you. THIS is how all men will know you are my disciples: by your love."(3)
Jesus didn't say people would know about Him by how loud his followers sing or how often they "attend church." It's our love--our passion for God and for other people--that lets everyone know God is Alive. Why? Because a Christian's love is supernatural--above nature! It’s something so unique that when a person encounters it, they are forced to admit that they've had a brush with something Special.
Jesus’ first followers changed the world. They were ALL filled with awe!(4) Jesus’ words and His resurrected life transformed their lives. Instead of apathetic humans, they became consumed with loving God and caring about one another. For their Master had said, "Love The Lord your God with ALL your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself."(5) Their lives looked a lot like His life!
Unfortunately, today it is only rarely that people witness the amazing Life and Love of Jesus lived out by those who call themselves “Christians.” Too often, even the so-called believers are apathetic about God. Many, and perhaps most, of those who bear Jesus’ name smile real big at one another and shake hands a time or two per week but then live their separate lives for the majority of the week. That is not the amazing love that Jesus died for. No way!
God has always had something much, much bigger in mind. Even right now, there are followers of Jesus who help each other establish strong, healthy marriages. They help raise each other's children, which indeed "takes a village." Lovingly and daily, they offer God's Truth to each other in humility. The quality of Life astounds even the most skeptical observer. They care. They love. They put other peoples' needs above their own. Every day.(6) But where are the people who live like this?!?! Why are they so few?(7)
Who’s This Site For?
Much could be written about the failure of cultural christianity to express the Life and Love of God. This site isn’t an attempt to bash anyone. This site exists for those who want something more than the status quo. It is for those who perhaps have had bad experiences with religion. It is for those who have seen only a misrepresentation of the God of the Bible, but never the Real Thing--please give Him a chance!
And this site is for those who have had good experiences with religion. Maybe you've enjoyed your weekly services but when you compare your experiences to what the Bible describes, you honestly see that things aren't adding up. This site is a call to live the Life that Jesus died to make possible. To those who aren't loving Him supremely, Jesus says, “You have left your first love. Change!”(8)
So, explore this site and join with many from all around the world who are recognizing that God's call is far above any man-made system of ritual and routine. Our hope and prayer is that you’ll have the courage and faith and vision to rise above the norm and “live a life worthy of the calling He has given you.”(9)
Footnotes:
1) 1 Corinthians 1:18
2) Here's a brief summary of the "hard-to-swallow" Message: God sent His only Son, Jesus, to Earth. Jesus' death was a ransom by which He rescued us from Satan's clutches. And Jesus didn’t stay dead! He lives today. And because of His sacrificial death, we can have peace with God. We can know the Living God! But we have to believe it! We need to trust this awesome, loving, mighty God with our destinies. But none of this makes sense to unbelievers! Why was a sacrifice needed? What's the logic in it?
3) John 13:34
4) Acts 2:43
5) Mark 12:30-31
6) Hebrews 3:12-13, Acts 2:46
7) Matthew 7:13-23
8) Revelation 2:4-5
9) Ephesians 4:1