This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says to his people: “Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you, filling you with futile hopes. They are making up everything they say. They do not speak for the LORD! They keep saying to those who despise my word, ‘Don’t worry! The LORD says you will have peace!’ And to those who stubbornly follow their own desires, they say, ‘No harm will come your way!’ “Have any of these prophets been in the LORD’s presence to hear what he is really saying? Has even one of them cared enough to listen? Look! The LORD’s anger bursts out like a storm, a whirlwind that swirls down on the heads of the wicked. The anger of the LORD will not diminish until it has finished all he has planned. In the days to come you will understand all this very clearly. “I have not sent these prophets, yet they run around claiming to speak for me. I have given them no message, yet they go on prophesying. If they had stood before me and listened to me, they would have spoken my words, and they would have turned my people from their evil ways and deeds. [Jeremiah 23.16-22]
I am so glad this is all just "Old Testament" and has no application for us today.
I am glad that "in Christ" we all have hope and peace. And, I am so happy that we have preachers declaring this week after week.
I am so glad that we don't have all the worry of idolatry and greed today.
I am so comforted that even though Jesus' life began preaching repentance and ended with a gruesome death on a cross, that as we take up our own crosses, our yoke is easy and our burden is light. Pity those poor fools early in Christianity who died trying to actually be like Jesus... It's a shame they couldn't see Jesus as allegorical and just live their lives.
I am soooo glad that "fearing God" just means to respect Him. I mean, everyone deserves respect, right? Think about Buddah, Mohammad, and all the others whose stories are still with us today. They deserve respect too.
What a blessing it is that we have debt, insurance, medicine and technology today to help out our faith. How did people ever live without these things? Thank God these things now exist so that even if we have no faith at all, they provide immediate gratification and relief from all the bad things that happen to good people. It's so cool that the the world is blessed by the same things we are blessed by except we just say "God blesses us."
It's great to know that we have turned from our evil ways and deeds so we don't have to feel guilty or responsible for all the bad things going on all around us. Thank God all those hellfire and brimstone preachers are finally behind us for the most part.
I admit, all the things the old prophets wrote can sure cause a little anxiety, but at least we have modern "prophets" who preach that all is well "in Christ" and that salvation is free and easy.
I guess I am still a little confused though about something Jesus said:
You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.13-14]
What a relief that most everyone agrees with me that we are all okay as long as we call out to Jesus - as long as we say, "Jesus" and call it faith and that we don't have to concern ourselves so much with all that old fashioned "repentance talk."
Go to church if it's convenient. God knows your heart though and everyone understands if you don't make it - remember Jesus' yoke is easy and His burden is light! Happy Sunday everyone!
Father in heaven, This is what most of us really want to hear. May the sarcasm found here shake anyone who reads it to their core and effect radical transformative change in their life. So be it.
No comments:
Post a Comment