Who and Why

 ARE WE AND WHO SHOULD WE BE?
<a private letter to Christianity>

If it is true, as we have been told, that all are one under Jesus and it doesn’t matter what fellowship we choose to attend, why do we continue to meet in uncomfortable halls when other "churches" can be so much more sensually inspiring. Conversely, if it is the traditions which have bound us to a way of doing things, why have we not gone off with our more conservative brethren. Why are we still here?

Is it that we sense God may have something planned for us; that He has a purpose for all that we have experienced? In an address titled The Transformative Power of Education, noted educator Dr. Lorraine Monroe emphasized, "THE FURTHER AN ORGANIZATION STRAYS FROM ITS ORIGINAL REASON FOR BEING, THE CLOSER IT COMES TO FAILURE! With that in mind, let’s look back on what it was that drew us to this fellowship in the first place.

What GRABBED us when we first heard the message proclaimed by Mr. Armstrong? Was it, "Keep the Sabbath, Do away with Christmas, Clean and Unclean Meats," or any of those other doctrinal side issues? Or was it something else; some missing dimension in our lives? Some deeper meaning to our existance?

The "big issue" today is to preach the Name of Jesus, an issue which, despite accusations to the contrary, was not ignored in times past. It just wasn’t emphasized. Why? Because it is covered to excess by everyone else. To stand out from the pack, something different, a missing perspective. Such as, what IS IT THAT PEOPLE NEED? WHAT IS MISSING? HOW ARE THEY HURTING? HOW CAN WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

BY MERELY PROCLAIMING THE NAME OF JESUS? Jesus’ Name has been proclaimed around the globe for millennia, and has been used to enslave rather than free the soul of mankind. Religion has a black eye because of this penchant to control rather than serve. But, you may argue, proclaiming Jesus can’t be wrong? Isn’t that our commission; to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus to the world?

Yes, that IS our commission. But, how are we to do it, is the question. The Epistle of James proclaims, "If a brother is naked and hungry, proclaiming, ‘Be warm and filled,’ doesn’t do it. Well, today people are NAKED of purpose, direction hope. People are ENSLAVED by their fears, prejudice, vain efforts. People are HUNGRY for direction and meaning. Simply proclaiming the Name of Jesus is a VAIN EXERCISE. It is, quite literally, using God’s Name in VAIN. That, brothers and sisters, is SIN. We can and must do FAR more.

Back during the Inquisition, in order to save the Soul, torture was applied to the body.

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The life of the individual meant nothing to the Christian leadership - except as a means to acquire wealth from the oppressed masses. The Basilica of St. Francis of Assissi is a case in point. This giant temple of extravagance was built to honor a man who

professed a life of humble service to the needy. It is only fitting that the recent earthquakes in Italy have brought this point to the forefront of public / religious discussions. His belief was that wealth should be distributed to the benefit of the poor and abused. How best can we distribute the wealth God has provided to us? What IS the wealth which God has provided us?

Let’s go back to that first question; what has drawn us to our fellowship in The World Wide Church of God? Was it not a hope for the future? Was it not an assurance that God is not a vengeful hanging judge in the sky. That the angry bearded white man in the clouds is not the true God; but, rather, that God is the Compassionate Creator with a PLAN to bring ALL peoples to loving UNITY yet preserving our diversity. Just check out what paul says in Romans chapt. 14.

I remember when I was a teenager involved in the fundamentalist Awana organization. I was motivated by a desire to "save" my friends and family from the torment of hell fire. I felt that any who did not accept Jesus in this life (and in the regionally proscribe method as well) would be doomed to such a fate. What a relief it was to come to an understanding that God was much greater than I had ever been led to realize.

Of course, i still believed that all would be led to accept "God’s Law" in the regionally proscribed manner. My orientation had not changed, just my timetable. Now, with all the revelations which have come forth, a much more merciful understanding is possible. We now realize that focus is on the Author of Salvation, not on the shadows which led up to His manifestation. We also realize that doctrinal side issues are just that and matter only to those who consider them personally sacred. The only universal constant is Jesus and The Resurrection. But, just because we were misdirected in some areas doesn’t mean that we need turn our backs on those issues which gave us stability in this life.

Mainstream Christianity still proclaims "One way - My Way!" as a whole. One of the criticisms of the basically valuable "Promise Keepers" movement is that it has the same underlying viewpoint of "If you don’t accept what we proclaim, you may not be Christian." The general view is still that the "good" go to heaven and the "bad" go to Hell: that today is the only day of salvation: and that we understand and have God in our pocket.

Well, as far as the last point is concerned, were we not absolutely CONVICTED of our beliefs. God led us to be SO SURE of those things which were shown to be wrong. If we could be wrong about that, we could be wrong about other things - and so could all of Christianity! Maybe, just maybe, this is something God has led us to see and contribute.

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So, let’s look at the basics. When Mr. Armstrong's message grabbed my heart, it was in reference to "The World Tomorrow." In proclaiming this good news, he often referred to the two basic ways of life, THE WAY OF GIVE vs THE WAY OF GET. God’s

way is the "way of give;" humanity’s way, motivated by Satan, is the "way of get. It comes right down to the basics of open communication. Finding out specifics about the "other" without monopolizing about the self. Once the NEEDS and INTERESTS of others are determined, then providing support, encouragement, interest, commiseration is the next step. We need to be able to identify with the issues relating to our fellow brothers, whatever their cultural / ethnic heritage.

The Apostle Paul gives great advice when he cautions, "If any thinks he know anything, he knows nothing of that which he ought to know." That tells me that all those things which I have grown up believing, may be in total error, that I cannot look at what another believes and discount it as wrong, that Paul’s admonition "I am determined to know nothing among you except Christ and him crucified," tells me that it is our commission to crucify ourselves among the peoples of the world.

The Book of James gives direction in how to best apply the Name of Jesus in this endeavor; and Paul, having come from those who were the "self appointed protectors of the faith," gives many lessons of what to avoid.

Brothers, we have come through a controvercy which parallels that of the original first century birth of Christianity out of Judaism. Paul is our guide in this transition. He affirmed the rights of Christians to hold to personal agenda, but not to allow those personal traditions to interfere with the Work of Jesus, Rom. 14:20-22.

Whether of old traditions or newly acquired freedoms he warned, "All things may be lawful, but all things may not expedient. Whatever causes a weaker brother to stumble is of sin." It once again comes down to caring about others.

We understand and trust that God knows best. Because of this we should expect to deal with physical and emotional adversity. God has not called us to a lifetime of joyful acquisition of physical baggage. Our purpose is to show the Work of God’s Love in our lives. to not return evil for evil, to learn to subjugate our frustrations and deal patiently with those to whom we would ordinarily have nothing good to say.

Life is for teaching us that we know nothing; only then can God begin to teach us about "caring and sharing." Life is for teaching us the VALUE of THAT and only ADVERSITY TEACHES ANYTHING.

So, what could be our special niche in the order of things secular? Just what was our original reason for being? Was it not to teach God’s Way of Give as opposed to Satan’s Way of Get? Isn’t that why God put on Jesus and taught us what real giving love looks like? Isn’t that the point most of Religiosity misses. Isn’t everything else a side issue? So what do we teach?

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WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE?

WHY DO THE INNOCENT SUFFER?

WHAT IS TRUE BELIEVING?

If we can properly explain this and teach the meaning of it and show it in our living,

THEY WILL COME AND DESIRE TO KNOW MORE.

THE WORLD IS LOST AND LOOKING FOR A MOMMY WHO KNOWS ITS FATHER!!!