The Church of Jesus Christ (not Jehovah's Witnesses nor Latter Day Saints nor Seventh-Day Adventists nor Protestantism nor institutionalized "orthodox" religion...sorry guys!) was, is and always will be the Enemy of the State.
Which State?
Take your pick...the State of Taiwan, the State of Ukraine, the State of Nigeria, the State of France, the State of Texas...
...even the United States of America.
Hyperbole?
"Brother Mitchell, we understand that there should be a separation of Church and State, but aren't you just engaging in click-bait advertising by saying the Church is the Enemy of the State (similar to those YouTube videos that include the word "terrifying" in their titles)?"
No, Beloved Reader, i'm not using hyperbole in saying the Church of Christ is the Enemy of the State.
"Terrifying" in YouTube Video Titles
(NOTE: By the way...i hated it when, after opening a few YouTube videos with the word "terrifying" in their titles, i came to realize there was actually nothing truly terrifying involved!)
Separation?
On a second detour...
...the "Separation of Church and State" doctrine was a reaction to the abuse of papal power as the Roman Catholic "Church," in collaboration with the European aristocracy, caused the deaths of millions of European citizens in its clash with Protestantism before the arrival of Napoleon and the decline of Roman Catholic political power.
Back to Hyperbole?
Where was i?
Oh yes...
...in order to clarify my statement we must first, of course, define what i mean by "Church."
In this present context, when i say "Church" i am referring to those whom The Lord Jesus Christ Himself identifies as "members of His Body" (Ephesians 5:29,30). This is a Mystery so great that trying to address It in depth now would detract from the focus of this post. It is enough to say that those who Christ considers to be His own have received (or will receive) His Holy Spirit into their beings; This Holy Spirit, Who is Himself a member of The Eternal GODHEAD, seals those humans He has been given to by Christ for the Day of Redemption when Jesus shall return to the Earth to restore all things. In the meantime, as members of Jesus' Body on Earth and vehicles of His Will and Purpose, we are called to be witnesses to His Identity in this world until His Return (1 Timothy 3:15).
Here is where things get confusing from the perspective of both those who are Christ's, those who think they are Christ's yet are not, and those who do not and will not believe in Christ.
Forty-Five Thousand Denominations?
According to Live Science there are approximately 45,000 Christian Denominations, of which 33,000 are considered Protestant and 3,000 are considered orthodox (that which conforms to established conservative religious doctrine). Are all the devotees of all these denominations "going to Heaven?" It is with profound sadness that i must tell you No.
My point here, however is to say that an amazing amount of effort has been devoted over the centuries since Christ's Ascension to Heaven to FIGURE OUT WHO IS GOING TO HEAVEN AND WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THERE...hence the 45,000 "Christian" denominations.
He Knows
The good news in all of this confusion is that, on the human side, GOD knows His sheep. The angels know Christ's sheep. Satan and his demons know who belongs to Christ.
You can know you belong to Him. Whatever religion or denomination you find yourself in at this moment is irrelevant; the all-consuming question i put to you is this: WHAT IS THE ATTITUDE OF YOUR HEART TOWARDS THE MAN JESUS CHRIST?
Time presses on...i must continue.
NOT A RELIGION!!!
There is religious doctrine, and there is Truth.
"If you are not a member of our denomination, you are going to Hell."
That statement is a religious doctrine.
"This Jesus God raised up [physically from the dead], and of that we all are witnesses." - The Apostle Peter, Acts 2:32
That statement is the Truth.
"If you don't look, act and speak like us, you will not be saved from the Wrath of God."
That statement is a religious doctrine.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has Eternal Life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to [Eternal] Life." - Jesus, John 5:24
That statement is the Truth...
...see what i mean?
The Authentic Gospel of Jesus Christ declares the Existence of a political KINGDOM...not a religion. This KINGDOM is older than the stars, and is expressed in the men and women who belong to Jesus Christ--regardless of their religion or denomination.
The Devil understands this all too well; and when he saw that his rule over humanity was in SERIOUS JEOPARDY due to the growing numbers of people who believed in Jesus, he came up with a truly insidious and ingenious plan: CHANGE THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST INTO A RELIGION.
Up to that time anyone with half a brain understood that the religions of the world that existed before the Introduction of The Gospel of Christ were nothing more than instruments of the State to provide both meaning and a moral compass to those under the State's control. By falsely declaring the Word of Eternal Life (The True Gospel of Grace) the official religion of the Roman Empire and placing ignorant and unsaved pagans into Its leadership, Satan could dilute the Gospel and rob It of Its Awesomely Divine Power.
Irreconcilable Competitors
So you see, Beloved Reader: the Kingdom of Christ and the governments of the world are INCOMPATIBLE WARRING COMPETITORS, not collaborators...how could they be?
"And in the days of those kings the God of Heaven will set up a Kingdom which will never be destroyed, and That Kingdom will not be left for another people; It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but It will Itself endure forever. "Just as you saw that a Stone [Christ] was broken off from The Mountain without hands, and that It crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will take place in the future; so the dream is certain and its interpretation is trustworthy.” - the Prophet Daniel, Daniel 2:44,45
Though i don't have time here to discuss this passage in depth, i strongly encourage you, Beloved Reader, to read the entire Second Chapter of Daniel.
Allies do not seek to "put an end to" each other; yet this Passage plainly states that it is The Lord Jesus Christ's Intent to utterly destroy all the nations of the world that will exist at His Return, making every assembly of true believers in His Name a cell--not of terror, but of Unlimited Grace to those who surrender their earthly citizenship for a Heavenly one!
The Protestant Religion
When it became evident that the Roman Catholic Church had corrupted The Gospel of Christ (as all religions must do inevitably), a protest arose across Europe and the world. At first seeking to "reform" the heresies of Roman Catholicism, relentless persecution (and the proliferating executions of those who would not submit to the Roman Church's authority) forced the reformers to separate themselves from the "mother church" and establish catechisms that, the reformers hoped, would stand against Satan's attempt to bury The Gospel in a sea of heresy and extinguish the Light of Heaven on Earth forever.
Alas, regardless of the reformers' courageous and tireless efforts, as their generation passed into history the Enemy of the human race continued to "season" the Living Power of the Gospel with the human doctrinal condiment of "righteousness by works" which says that, under the right circumstances, a sinner can buy their way into Heaven just as they bought their way into Hell.
This idea is the very definition of pagan religion, an abominable heresy, a total contradiction of The Gospel of Grace, and a doctrine of demons.
What Now?
At last we come to the present hour, in which millions of well-meaning Christian devotees are trying to navigate their way through the dual citizenship of being an (American, Canadian, or whatever your country of origin is) and being a Christian. Everyone has assumed that, though the laws of their country may have (or have not) made a distinction between church and state, it is possible (and profitable) to be both a citizen of the world AND a citizen of Heaven...
...in most cases it is not profitable.
Even here in the United States there is a INCREASINGLY VICIOUS WAR between those who are fighting to keep all religion out of politics and those who believe a Christian United States of America is not only possible, but God's Will (the Christian Nationalists).
Both parties are dead wrong.
Feeling like i've already overstayed my welcome to your generous and precious time, Beloved Reader, I will close with the following statements that i pray will guide you--not according to the traditions of men, but according the Loving Guidance of The Dear and Precious Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ:
The world and its governments HATE both Jesus Christ and His Father (John 15:22-25). The world doesn't NOT recognize Christ as its Creator, and neither does the modern State of Israel (John 1:10,11).
Whether knowingly or unknowingly, the world, its governments, and its religions (including those religions that wear the moniker of "Christian") are heavily influenced and manipulated by Satan (1 John 5:19).
Christ Himself is neither discouraged nor limited by these facts; He has anticipated the situation and in His own earthly life set a perfect example for His Current Earthly Body's Strategy: DO NOT REPAY EVIL FOR EVIL, YET LOVE GOD'S ENEMIES THROUGH THE GRACE OF CHRIST...EVEN TO THE POINT OF DEATH (Matthew 5:38-48; Revelation 12:10,11).
Study the Scriptures (by which i am ALWAYS referring to the Holy Bible), especially the Words of Christ, Paul, Peter, John and the Letter to the Hebrews. Ask God to touch your heart to understand The Gospel of Grace, which is able to translate your and your family's souls from this world into the Kingdom of Christ! Get yourself the Hebrew and Greek interlinear manuscripts that are available both online and in mobile format, along with a concordance and lexicon. You can learn the meaning of Hebrew and Greek words without having to speak the languages.
Commit yourself to a church pastored by men WHO UNDERSTAND THE GOSPEL and can explain it in such a way that YOU CAN UNDERSTAND AND BELIEVE IT FROM YOUR HEART.
Though you may be a legal citizen of a nation of the Earth, in your heart ABANDON YOUR EARTHLY CITIZENSHIP FOR THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. The Holy Spirit will give you the discretion as to when to declare your Heavenly Citizenship and when to keep silent. Disconnect The Gospel of Christ from all the denominations you've been in and whatever ethnic group(s) you may be a member of...GOD DOES NOT CARE ABOUT SUCH THINGS (Acts 17:24-26).
For the time being the children of Satan and the children of Christ are, for all intent and purpose, INSEPARABLE (Matthew 13:24-30;36-43)...live with it! IT IS NOT THE BODY OF CHRIST'S JOB TO SEPARATE ITSELF FROM THE WORLD...but to battle heresy with Truth and Love; God will help to accomplish this if we walk according to the Spirit of God and not lean on our intellect alone (Galatians 5:16; Proverbs 3:5,6).
We are already conquerers; not due to our own wit and wisdom, but due to The Unconditionally Loving Care and Purpose of our God and Savior Jesus Christ...to Him be blessing, glory, majesty and power for ever and ever!
Amen.
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