Living-Walk - Pure and Simple Christianity for the Rest of Us?

Another Jesus, A Different Gospel

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it! (2 Corinthians 11:3-4)

For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. (2 Corinthians 11:19-20)

My brethren, I often marvel at the patience and longsuffering of the Apostle Paul. Perhaps after our Lord Himself, no other demonstrated such complete selflessness and love towards the Body of Christ. Here in Corinth, it seems he just couldn’t win. He purposely demonstrated weakness so that the power of Christ would be manifest, and they eschewed his feebleness. He purposely asked nothing of them so that they would be the richer, and this too they considered inadequate. He loved them to the detriment and suffering of his own person, and they rejected him. In all ways apparently, they considered him inferior to the Judaizers who Paul refers to as “false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.”

Yet he loved them didn’t he? Here lies the mystery and the power my friends. Here is the true and pulsing heart of Christianity!

And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. (2 Corinthians 12:15)

Amazing isn’t it, that the more Paul loved them, the less they loved and appreciated him in return. The more he poured himself out for them - offering them the only gospel that saves and liberates, the truth of salvation and freedom in Jesus Christ alone, asking nothing from them in return - the more they rejected him in favor of others offering another Jesus, a different spirit and a false gospel.

I must tearfully confess to all of you that it grieves my spirit terribly to see this same condition all around us today. Nothing ever really changes, does it? It does not seem to be enough for many professing believers today to focus their faith and love and lives on Christ alone; to avail themselves of the simplicity (or singularity) that is in Christ. It is never enough for them!

And if it is something more they want, then the devil will be only too happy to oblige.

They must have more, more of the world’s brand of wisdom and religion, more high profile, slick celebrity types peddling a different gospel, about another christ.

And I say to you here and now (with all charity) that such small “c” christians are not free because they simply do not want to be free - to believe the pure and simple message of the true gospel. They are being devoured in our churches by every form of insidious deception because they choose to be devoured, tossed about by every wind of doctrine, the latest thing to tickle their itching ears. They are being robbed blind by these deceitful workers because they lustfully want whatever worldly thing they are promised – health and wealth, fame and fortune, trophies in heaven - you name it.

In Corinth many years ago, Paul came offering only the simple truth of salvation and freedom in Christ, asking nothing, loving each and every one of them with an abundant, heaven-sent love. He claimed nothing, offering only his own personal expression of the life and love of Jesus Christ, with all meekness, sincerity and charity. Read this letter my friends, and if it does not completely break the heart of Christ within you then I’m not sure what will.

How would such a one as Paul fare today, my brethren, in our modern context? No published works. No slick packaging or fancy suits? No high profile multi-media musical production? No “Seven Steps to Heaven” or “40 Days to Personal Gratification” type programs or methods? No eternal assurances of personal well-being, health and financial success? No exalting men in the place of God?

How would someone like the Apostle Paul fare I say? Almost impossible to even contemplate isn’t it? How far we in the modern church have fallen? How terribly sad?

I tell everyone [whose eyes touch these words] that it is a scandal to all that is holy that there are so many supposed shepherds out there getting fat off the sheep when they are charged by God Himself to protect and love and keep them!!! And it is doubly scandalous that so many of the sheep are so blindly foolish and carnal as to be duped into following such wolves in shepherd’s clothing.

Let me tell you what I see, my friends, what I believe with all of my heart the Lord sees too. Churches all around us, on every corner, in practically every town in this country are being ravaged by ministers of Satan preaching a different gospel about another christ. Perhaps your church.

Hard to fathom?

Ask yourself this… are the elders in your church anything like the Apostle Paul as conveyed in 2 Corinthians and all throughout the New Testament? Are they pouring themselves out for you, and loving you with an abundant love? Are they offering you the simplicity (denotes exclusiveness in the original Greek) that is in Christ, or another gospel, a different spirit, magnifying another christ?

And please don’t talk to me about apparent sincerity, or passion or eloquence! These very things are employed by the devil to mask reality.

Is it a spirit of fear and bondage they are offering you? Or faith and freedom? Is their christ merely an object or concept, or a living and dynamic person with whom we can relate and fellowship and love? Is theirs a gospel of works, of rules, principles and traditions, or the good news of the mystery of godliness able to ultimately restore the love of God in our blackened hearts?

And what about their personal example? Their lifestyle? Compare that to 2 Corinthians before you answer.

We are fools and blind, my brethren, for allowing so many of these wolves in our midst! We alone are to blame I tell you, and its high time we repent and return to the wondrous and powerful simplicity that is in Jesus Christ alone! He is a Person and He is alive – and my friends, He is waiting for us to return to Him, and to love Him with an unchallenged love! Why will we not come? Why is it so hard for us to just simply love and adore Him?

Why is it always Christ plus this, or Christ plus that? Oh, I know it is never presented as overtly as this, but a lie is a lie is a lie! And the father of them masterfully wields them against all and any sheep whose legs are too weak to stand.

My brethren, I am fully aware that all false ministers of death will be held duly accountable before the Almighty. Yet I am not writing to them but to you. And I am not convinced that anything will change in the present time if we wait for it to come from above (church leadership). Let us consign ourselves to the care of Our Lord and Savior, and follow Him wherever He leads. Let us search our own hearts and if there be any root of idolatry within us, let us fall at His feet in godly sorrow.

O Heavenly Father, how we have fallen, how we have been so blind as to believe we need anything else but your Beloved Son, in whom you are well pleased. Restore us O Lord, to He alone. Forgive us for the pride and idolatry that has caused us to follow those who are agents of the evil one. Purge your church, dear Jesus, of all its inherent falseness and impurity. And let all of the glory stolen from You and the Father be returned. In Christ’s Precious and Exclusive Name, I pray. Amen.

Please pray for us here at Living-Walk, that we would watch and see the Master at work, and understand what He would have us do.

Your friend in Christ Jesus,

Wayne