Only a fraction of Christ’s Words and Deeds are recorded in the Gospels (John 21:25). Truth be told, Jesus says more in the Old Testament than He does in the New Testament (wink).
Much of what is recorded of the Savior’s Words in the Gospels, however, are disturbing, frightening, intimidating, enigmatic, mysterious, controversial and (to be honest) downright insulting (i.e., calling the scribes and Pharisees a “generation of vipers”).
Don’t get me wrong; many of Scripture’s most assuring, encouraging, comforting and hope-filled words fall from the Lips of Jesus during his earthly Ministry…if you’ve spent any time around Christians, Christian media or the Bible you’ve probably heard and remember many of them. These are the sayings of Christ evangelists use to draw men to Faith in Christ, and that is good and well.
Nevertheless, Christ didn’t seem to express any reluctance frightening the seventy to five hundred men and women (1st Corinthians 15:6) who followed Him as disciples to the point that many of them stopped being disciples and ceased from following Him (John 6:66). If today’s preachers and “televangelists” made such statements as Christ’s more controversial ones the foundation of their sermons and outreach, how many “mega-churches” would be left? Would Christian denominations be able to maintain their 501 status with the federal government–or even keep their doors open?
What about you? What could the Son of God say to you that would cause you to walk away from your ONLY DEFENSE against the Wrath of God???
“If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple…so then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.” – Jesus Christ, Luke 14:26, 27, 33
Hang on…it gets better!
“If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter [eternal] life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the Eternal Fire.” – Jesus Christ, Matthew 18:8 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it.” Jesus Christ, Mark 8:35
No voice in the entire New Testament spoke more about Hell and the Lake of Fire than Jesus Christ; this is serious stuff. But do you know what scares me even more than the things Jesus said? I am TRULY FRIGHTENED when church folk explain away and water down the things Jesus said as though they have more authority, knowledge, experience and wisdom than the Person Who spoke these words in the first place!
Do you really believe that the One Who claimed to be the Way, Truth and Life wasted any of His time EXAGGERATING??? Is it even possible for Jesus Christ to SAY SOMETHING HE DIDN’T MEAN FROM THE BOTTOM OF HIS PURE, DIVINE HEART???
Hmmm…there’s something to think about.
Another question we should consider: IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE SAVED AND NOT BE A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST? The consensus among today’s American churches would probably be a resounding “Yes.” I would certainly feel better if I could escape the Wrath of God and NOT hate my family, NOT hate my life, NOT carry the instrument of my own execution every day and NOT give up all that I own…
…hmmmmmmmmm…
All I can say is that if your answer to my questions in this blog is “Yes,” you’d better be DAMN sure.
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