EXPLOITATION BY SECULAR CHRISTIANITY

This image is titled "LEST WE FORGET"  and is at the cornerstone of what I am writing about today.    Much of what passes for Christianity in this day and age is merely exploitation of the masses.   Complexity and confusion resulting in hypocrisy and bigotry.   I am not surprised by the number of people who claim to be atheists because of what the so-called church has done.  The apostle Peter writes about this in his 2nd letter.   He wrote this letter to all those who are followers of Jesus teachings and may be discouraged by what they see and hear in their world and in their own congregations.  Chapter 2 he names these problems.   What we often ignore today is that he is addressing specifically those problems with the institution and we have failed to see them in our own time with our religious institutions.  

So what does he say to the "church"?

• There are false teachers among you. - this does not mean that just because you disagree with someone that they are a false teacher. (vs 1)
• They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even  denying the sovereign Lord - Wow!  You will not see these destructive ideas coming and they are denying God in their ideas.  I'm thinking of these people who claim that when Jesus said we should "Love our enemies," and his socialist ideas of sharing, do not apply to our time. (vs 1)
• Many will follow these shameful ways bringing the way of truth into disrepute, which discredits the very teachings of Jesus that they claim to cling to. (vs 2)
• These people will exploit the Christian community  with stories they have made up.  Stories that may seem true but are not.  This happens every Sunday in just about every church today.  (vs 3)
• These people are bold and arrogant (i.e. they claim to be right and will do everything in their power to make you believe it). (vs 10)
• They seduce the unstable (vs 14) Wow, does that ring true.  The churches are full of unstable people.   And when one of these people does something horrible the church denies them.
• Experts in greed - Hmmmmmmm.   Pretty self explanatory, fund raising, fund raising, fund raising. "let's raise money to justify our existence so that we can raise more money...."  (vs 14)
• Appeals are made to the desires of human nature, enticing people who are trying to escape those who live in error. (vs 18)  In other words they prey on peoples desires, and promise a destination that does not exist.
• Promises of freedom (vs 19) one of the biggest lies of all because if you don't fit their model of what a Christian should be then you are not part of the in-crowd.  You are not free because you do not benefit - you are still the outcast.
• The message and method of operation is no different from the rest of the world - it's just wrapped up in religiosity. (vs 20-21)   It is nothing more than secular Christianity.

So, what are we to do with this brutally frank characterization of the church?   Quite simply, we need to use it to look at our own organization.   A self-examination of our own institution to see how our institution or organization may have fallen prey to this modus operandi.   In other words - get back to basics.   Study the teachings of Jesus and apply them to our individual lives.  Test our ideas and the ideas that come from the pulpit to see if they are in alignment with the teachings of Jesus.   

Sprinkled throughout this chapter, Peter makes reference to the day of judgement and he is referring to the judgement of the Church - of those who are it's leaders and promoters.

So if you suffer like I do, tormented by the deeds you see and hear about in the church, there is hope.  We just need to keep in touch with The Way, taught by Jesus.   Don't point your finger in judgement at others but point it back at yourself and ask yourself if you are living the Christian life.   

Now some may think that I have pointed my finger at others unfairly.   But I have not named people or specific institutions I have merely looked at Christianity, as a whole, as I have experienced it in America.  It is not my desire to offend anyone with my ideas but I certainly do wish people would wake up and redirect their search for the kingdom that dwells within and live their lives WITH (not for) God.

Naturally I'll be curious to see what other people may think so feel free to leave your comments.

Thanks for reading,

mobius faith