Wow. I left organized religion a few years ago, after a childhood full of religious trauma. I don't see myself going back anytime soon. But this? THIS! This is all I've been trying to communicate to my family. That many of their practices, expectations, rules and judgments are completely separated from the loving God and Jesus they taught me about. It was powerful to see you get emotional about the possibility of leading people away from Jesus. I didn't know I needed to hear that from someone. ❤
@@schannstewart9385 Research Gnosticism, you will find a totally different message than the one Christianity imposed. For me, the Christian not matter of the denomination, are the cult of The Antichrist (those one that oppose the message of Jesus Christ). And with all this that I'm seeing with the MAGA movement and conservatives around the world, I think Donald Trump is the path to the Antichrist.
Rev. Ed, your earlier message regarding the "Anti-Christ" really stuck with me this week. That and the one about "They Chose Barabbas". I hope these reach the masses.
I parted ways with organised religion many years ago when the pastor of my church started preaching hatred of the adherents of other faiths. I came to the understanding that organised religion is no more than crowd control. However, I did not lose my faith and take great comfort in your openness and honesty.
God's religion is organized. Always has been, whether you like it or not. As the apostle Paul stated in his letters to the Corinthians, God is not the author of confusion. He is a God of order. Ppl hate organized religion because they want to live however they want without any accountability to a higher power.
@theeternalsbeliever1779 If you read the rest of Corinthians, it is Paul admonishing them for splitting away from the true faith. Even in Paul's time, Christianity had begun to fracture into different sects. Since then, we have had 2000 years of further fracture. A true Christian should "clothe themselves in love", not preach hatred.
I had given up my faith in God until I saw your videos, Rev Ed. You lead me back to God in the worst year of my life. You did that. Your love of Christ is greater than your love of doctrine and because of that, I am no longer lost. Thank you.
I agree with you, Rev. Ed! It all comes down to whether we are leading people toward or away from Jesus. To many people, we are the evidence of Him and His goodness and mercy and grace....living epistles. And I believe all of us fail at times, but He washes us clean, and as we keep looking at Him and His loveliness; the more we behold Him, not ourselves and not at others in comparison, or condemnation; the more we will radiate His Light and Love.
Indeed, as we need to remember King David wanted to build God a Temple as stated in 2 Samuel 7 7 King David was living in his palace, and the Lord had given him peace from all his enemies around him. 2 Then David said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I am living in a palace made of cedar wood, but the Ark of God is in a tent!” 3 Nathan said to the king, “Go and do what you really want to do, because the Lord is with you.” 4 But that night the Lord spoke his word to Nathan, 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Will you build a house for me to live in? 6 From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until now I have not lived in a house. I have been moving around all this time with a tent as my home. 7 As I have moved with the Israelites, I have never said to the tribes, whom I commanded to take care of my people Israel, “Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?” Thus, how can we contain God and his love for us in a physical location? Thus, I truly believe this world of God's creation is the temple universal, with Christ's as the high priest. Thus wherever we are we can be in community and relationship with God, through his Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit sent through the blessings of God and our LordJesus Christ to guide and instruct us throughout our lives. May Christ's Peace be with you and yours no matter where you may be in your spiritual journey.🙏🕊❤️
Thank you Rev Ed! Placing human rules as gatekeeper to Jesus is a great way to do the opposite of what we are supposed to do. God help us see ourselves!
You went full on hard on my favourite part of the new testament. Thank you. One of my favorite aspects of this story is that the thief in his most desperate time isn't wishing harm on others, he isn't denying something is wrong to garner favor with others. That's a role model worth esteeming imo.
Right! The thief on the cross didn't respond to an "alter call", repeating a magic formula whispered in his ear by a "called" individual. Was he "elect"? I think not....this situation turns on a dime....a human being, in the worst of situations, acquiring BELIEF at that moment. Thank you, again for this video!
Just as important as the question of leading to or leading away is the question "Are calling people to or *pushing* people away from Christ?" I see all to many self-professed Christians who tell people "You can't be a Christian if you ", as if they are the head of the membership committee of belief. That kind of thing is guaranteed to make people say "If that's what your religion is all about, I want nothing to do with it."
Thanks Rev Ed - I am Catholic and have drifted further and further from the organized religion of a physical church - basically going to mass. Often dismayed by the hypocrisy of the parishioners who act one way during mass and as soon as they leave the doors of the church they act differently/contrarily. I must admit, though, that I do find comfort into going into a church or a chapel, taking in the atmosphere when there is no service going on. Where I can pray and reflect on my own in the quiet. It feels just a little more like I am in a special place with the Lord.
That's a really good point. I never considered that he was never baptized. I left organized religion many years ago. After years of watching the world and this last election, i realize now that many in organized religions are guilty of the same error as the faithless. Greed. As US citizens it is our job to defend freedom. Not to worry about the judgements that are jesus. 2 Timothy 4:3-4. Mark 12:17. I find myself comforted by your words. Thank you for your insights.
My friend, I loved your message tonight. One of the things that fills my heart with joy is knowing that Jesus is the one who decides what happens to every single person who has ever been.He decides their fate, not a church, not a doctrine and that fills me with delight because I absolutely trust His love and compassion and so I can trust His judgement with everything and everyone. When you said," He will lead people to or away from Christ." it brought chills because of how true it is for every believer the verse, " whatever you do for the least of my brother's" would certainly indicate every believer has a responsibility and an ability to help his fellow man.
Amen! I get that it is so tempting to say " Oh, thank you Jesus! Now, I will clean my life up" because it is outwardly measurable. But, I think Jesus would rather have us say; "Oh, thank you Jesus! Now I help me to love you and love others with all my heart, soul, strength and mind!"
Ed, I really love the videos of yours I've watched. Please keep it up! I'm sharing these with those I think need to hear this, and those that feel the same.
Great message! I listened to it twice. I have been part of a very small minority for the last 33 years. That’s when I became a follower of Christ/born again/spirit filled believer. I have always believed that salvation is Jesus Christ plus nothing. The thief on the cross did mark a box. The only box that leads to heaven. He understood very little. He did have just a little bit of faith that Jesus Christ was different. That he could be who he claimed to be. The thief put this little bit of faith that he had in Jesus. And that’s all it took.
The answer to that question is answered by looking at the actions and rhetoric from The Church today, and the evilgelical support for a certain hate-filled vengeance seeker, and comparing it to Matthew 25. No. They are antithetical to every bit of His teachings.
Amen. I want to point out a thing that I have believed for a while is that the simple way is often the way that we should go. We get so caught up in making rules and what if we do this what if we do that that we miss the simple way the simple things that we should be doing for Jesus Christ and for ourselves.
I have had so many people tell me through the years that I’m lost. They based this upon something they added to the cross. I have had untold numbers. Tell me that I’m lost every time I sin. Then you gotta get re-saved. I have been saved for 33 years and I never been lost for even 15 minutes.
Although I'm a Southern Baptist,I greatly admire you and your take on Christian Theology. In a world of Mega Churches and Televangelists,you stand out.😮😅😊😢
You are amazing. You truly seem to embody Christ. It is so upsetting to me how many preachers lie. Those lies separate Gods children from him. They claim it is for God , yet it is truly for their own selfishness. To create the world they want . Not the world our father would want. Our father just wants us to love and do for others. To spread his love. His love that is within us. Thank you
You help me be able to accept the teachings of Jesus. I like your ability to emphasize on the love aspect. I also appreciate you calling out Christian nationalist for failing to spread the message of love and perverting it to fear, control, and hate.
The difference between the good thief on the cross next to Jesus, and me, is that I am not at this moment staring death obviously in the face. (At least not that I know of!) My Catholic faith structure isn't just rules. I am challenged to become as much like Christ as I can, living as long as God grants me. I don't just see regulations, I see help, logical answers to many of my questions, and love. I see Christ in the workings of my church. I guess it's a different perspective on this. I appreciate your videos, and thanks for reading.
Do we lead people to, or away, from Christ and his teachings is a key question, and i think i get 'why' it chokes you up like that. As a Tarot card reader, I'm a sinner... or worse...by many a religion's rules, but I take my role/gift seriously, and always take care to guide others with, and toward, the kind of love, acceptance, and service that Christ (and other) holy figures have preached. If more religions dealt with things the way you do, I might, actually, get on board. Bless you for taking your role the way you do, and for sharing your faith, thus, when it's needed so very much!
"The Church" is Jesus so yes it is always on the same page as Jesus but it is humankind's version of church where the differences come in. I appreciate your messages
Thank you for this. We need more of it from those in authority in the church. Too often these people have focused on power, on controlling their congregation. Hence the rules for salvation they preach. But underlying much of their teaching is one particularly nasty bit of theology, the doctrine of Original Sin. This took form many, many years after Christ, (Augustine, around 400 AD and Anselm around 1000) but it has become foundational in many traditional churches. This is an irrational and amazingly unjust doctrine. Good people are supposed to believe that they are somehow guilty of something they never did, never even thought of doing. And it is an immensely cruel doctrine. Good people go to their graves terrified of eternal torment. It should end. But don't expect it to. It is just too useful to the religious Establishment.
Jesus wanted us to be led by the spirit fragment of our Divine Father-friend that indwells our minds. Since it's so hard to hear, we have to learn how to go into the stillness and quiet the mind, so his voice can be heard. At first, it will just be simple stuff that serves as a warmup act. As we get better at taking its suggestions to heart and putting them into action, we prove our willingness to be led, and the suggestions get more difficult, they will take us out of our comfort zones into a world of relationships and psychology and personal growth. Difficult at first, but pretty soon the rewards and ah-ha's begin to pile up.
Any thoughts on Opus Dei? I was brought up Catholic and have known about this organization since the 1980's. At first I thought they were a pious organization doing the "work of God." When I went to a Catholic college, I was warned by some sisters concerning Opus Dei's anti-Christian behavior and to stay away from them. Present day, I am shocked by how many members of the Supreme Court, Federalist Society, Heritage Foundation/Project 2025 are members or associated with Opus Dei. The organization has a long history of working with authoritarian regimes starting with the Spanish Civil War and the dictatorship of Francesco Franco for 50 years. Opus Dei does not represent the Catholic Church. I feel helpless and that things are out of our control. I pray there are enough safeguards in place to keep them in check. I hope I'm not over reacting.
I would not diminish the incredible confession of faith uttered by the thief on the cross, but I 100% agree about religion not having anything to do with our salvation. Do we know and love Jesus? Does He have our whole heart? That is all that matters. Everything else flows out of that.
The state of the Church, writ large, is horrific. It’s been declining for a long time, but the pace and degree has gone more rapidly off the rails during the past 30 or so years. And I think it applies equally to the more “conservative” and the more “liberal” churches and denominations, but in ways that are expressed very differently. I have strong opinions about where that dynamic places us, but won’t express them here since it’s such a divisive subject. But we’re in a deep mess, and the gravity of it is equally obvious in many secular areas.
Jesus saw into the guys heart and knew right away that the guy was sincere and automatically accepted him. The other guy tried to put Jesus to the test, just as satan did with Jesus in the wilderness. It's too bad for the guy who tried testing Jesus and now he awaits his eternal judgement.
The churches (and people in the churches) should STRIVE to remain on the same page as Jesus. Due to sin, they'll wander and err, but when they notice it, they will return, if that is what they are striving to do.
Revelation 13:3 [3]One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast.
I struggle with the idea that some people think I'm not a true Christian because I don't say the magic words. I don't call Jesus my Lord and Savior, I don't like taking communion, I don't pray the sinners prayer. I'm a pastor's daughter who taught me to follow the teachings of Jesus, and to watch what people do, and ignore what they say. They show you if they are Christians, not tell you
"Is The Church On The Same Page As Jesus?" Which Church? Some churches are, but I have not see one Evangelical church that is, and too many Catholic and Protestant mainline churches also are not doing what Jesus said to do to varying extents. The RCC and SBC problems with child abuse, but there are plenty of other examples. This is why "Not Religious" is growing.
Jesus consistently told ppl to listen to Moses and constantly referenced ppl to something Moses wrote when delivering an edict on how ppl are supposed to live. Jesus was against FALSE religion, not religion in general. Does it make sense to believe that the God who gave us the Torah is anti-religion? Ofc it doesn't.
That's not the slightest bit true, as passages like Eph. 2:2, 2 Cor. 4:4, Rev. 12:9 and a number of Jesus' own statements talk about Satan rules this world as its god. This theology of yours' is an example of the kind of deception that Satan foisted even on the world of religion, especially traditional Christianity: the gospel of the false Jesus.
While there are Churches and Christians who are not in-line with Jesus (bordering on their being apostate), there is a rather sizable 'faithful remnant' that is.
From one degree to another, all churches have drifted away from the Word of God with their traditions. What worked back then isn't working today. What good works are you doing? Is a question everyone should ask themselves because that's the problem. People aren't loving God or doing good works. Most don't go to church. Even less, read the Word. Even less, do good works. It's our fault that the world has so many problems. That can mean only one thing, the body is full of idols.
Jesus is not divided, but churches are. 💔🛐
So True
Father Ed,I wish we had more Christians like you.😮😅😊😢
Amen
Proof of the Church's divinity is that we Christians haven't destroyed it with our unfaithfulness
Real truth. Amazing that people don't mention the elephant in the room ??
Wow. I left organized religion a few years ago, after a childhood full of religious trauma. I don't see myself going back anytime soon. But this? THIS! This is all I've been trying to communicate to my family. That many of their practices, expectations, rules and judgments are completely separated from the loving God and Jesus they taught me about.
It was powerful to see you get emotional about the possibility of leading people away from Jesus. I didn't know I needed to hear that from someone. ❤
...and GOD spoke... I bow ... ✨
Same here. It's been 20 years
Same! Love this dialogue. It gives me hope ❤
Go back to Jesus dear brethren♥️He will never leave or forsake you😔
We make serving God and loving God more difficult than it needs to be.
Exactly!
@@schannstewart9385 Jesus in his original texts and his message, did not promote the worship of any god, nor did he want to become an idol.
@DeviaNZe
Exactly
@@schannstewart9385 Research Gnosticism, you will find a totally different message than the one Christianity imposed. For me, the Christian not matter of the denomination, are the cult of The Antichrist (those one that oppose the message of Jesus Christ).
And with all this that I'm seeing with the MAGA movement and conservatives around the world, I think Donald Trump is the path to the Antichrist.
Rev. Ed, your earlier message regarding the "Anti-Christ" really stuck with me this week. That and the one about "They Chose Barabbas". I hope these reach the masses.
I felt it too when he said they chose Barabbas...
Bless you 🙏. Bless us all. Amen. Thank you
Leading people to, or away from, Jesus is what all Christians need to be concerned about. Not just the clergy.
I parted ways with organised religion many years ago when the pastor of my church started preaching hatred of the adherents of other faiths. I came to the understanding that organised religion is no more than crowd control. However, I did not lose my faith and take great comfort in your openness and honesty.
Couldn't have said it better myself! thanks!
God's religion is organized. Always has been, whether you like it or not. As the apostle Paul stated in his letters to the Corinthians, God is not the author of confusion. He is a God of order. Ppl hate organized religion because they want to live however they want without any accountability to a higher power.
@theeternalsbeliever1779 If you read the rest of Corinthians, it is Paul admonishing them for splitting away from the true faith. Even in Paul's time, Christianity had begun to fracture into different sects. Since then, we have had 2000 years of further fracture. A true Christian should "clothe themselves in love", not preach hatred.
I had given up my faith in God until I saw your videos, Rev Ed. You lead me back to God in the worst year of my life. You did that. Your love of Christ is greater than your love of doctrine and because of that, I am no longer lost. Thank you.
Praise God! Thank you for your testimony.
That's awesome!
@KaciCreates Praise God! Thank you for sharing this.
Rev. Ed, wow. Comfort and joy. ❤
I’m so glad I found you 🙏🏽 I feel the same way.
I love you for this little clip alone. It really touched me. You describe a god I would willingly follow.
Thanks Rev Ed... God Bless 🕊️
I agree with you, Rev. Ed! It all comes down to whether we are leading people toward or away from Jesus. To many people, we are the evidence of Him and His goodness and mercy and grace....living epistles. And I believe all of us fail at times, but He washes us clean, and as we keep looking at Him and His loveliness; the more we behold Him, not ourselves and not at others in comparison, or condemnation; the more we will radiate His Light and Love.
God, and Jesus are much more than the building followers meet in. It's the people gathering to share in their faith.
Indeed, as we need to remember King David wanted to build God a Temple as stated in 2 Samuel 7
7 King David was living in his palace, and the Lord had given him peace from all his enemies around him. 2 Then David said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I am living in a palace made of cedar wood, but the Ark of God is in a tent!”
3 Nathan said to the king, “Go and do what you really want to do, because the Lord is with you.”
4 But that night the Lord spoke his word to Nathan, 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Will you build a house for me to live in? 6 From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until now I have not lived in a house. I have been moving around all this time with a tent as my home. 7 As I have moved with the Israelites, I have never said to the tribes, whom I commanded to take care of my people Israel, “Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?”
Thus, how can we contain God and his love for us in a physical location? Thus, I truly believe this world of God's creation is the temple universal, with Christ's as the high priest. Thus wherever we are we can be in community and relationship with God, through his Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit sent through the blessings of God and our LordJesus Christ to guide and instruct us throughout our lives. May Christ's Peace be with you and yours no matter where you may be in your spiritual journey.🙏🕊❤️
Thank you Rev Ed!
Placing human rules as gatekeeper to Jesus is a great way to do the opposite of what we are supposed to do.
God help us see ourselves!
Thank you for leading me closer to Christ.❤
God's compassion towards us doesn't need any explanation. And this is the case with the criminal on the cross.
This really goes to a good place in my heart.
You went full on hard on my favourite part of the new testament. Thank you. One of my favorite aspects of this story is that the thief in his most desperate time isn't wishing harm on others, he isn't denying something is wrong to garner favor with others. That's a role model worth esteeming imo.
Right! The thief on the cross didn't respond to an "alter call", repeating a magic formula whispered in his ear by a "called" individual.
Was he "elect"? I think not....this situation turns on a dime....a human being, in the worst of situations, acquiring BELIEF at that moment.
Thank you, again for this video!
I’m glad that God is so much bigger than we give him credit for being. And kinder. And with a better sense of humor.
Not laughing
He's perfect Love ❤️🔥👑🔥
*Can’t you see this is the last act of a desperate man?*
“I don’t care if it’s the first act of Henry the V.”
@@MarcosElMalo2 hey, don’t leave! Love the Blazing Saddles reference, by 5he way.
@@mariannegiesler9159 we are made in his image. I think he laughs, because I do. And cries. And forgives. And loves. And despises hypocrisy.
Im not entirely sure why, but you've got me crying like a really tired toddler today.
Whew.
I get it.
same...
@@kariburlon5790 I don’t know. I am guessing. But it might be a detox of what people. Man. Have said to you that made you feel some kind of way.
You're not alone...
We are all very tired and emotional right now. We need each other. Peace to you my friend.
And he was a thief all his life i love that this was written one of my favorite verses 👑🔥🙏🏼
Really good, Ed!
Thank you Reverend
What an insightful message. Found your channel about a month ago. Much-needed messages.
Just as important as the question of leading to or leading away is the question "Are calling people to or *pushing* people away from Christ?" I see all to many self-professed Christians who tell people "You can't be a Christian if you ", as if they are the head of the membership committee of belief. That kind of thing is guaranteed to make people say "If that's what your religion is all about, I want nothing to do with it."
If all Christians agreed on what the Bible teaches there would be only one denomination, one doctrine.
Thanks Rev Ed - I am Catholic and have drifted further and further from the organized religion of a physical church - basically going to mass. Often dismayed by the hypocrisy of the parishioners who act one way during mass and as soon as they leave the doors of the church they act differently/contrarily. I must admit, though, that I do find comfort into going into a church or a chapel, taking in the atmosphere when there is no service going on. Where I can pray and reflect on my own in the quiet. It feels just a little more like I am in a special place with the Lord.
That's a really good point. I never considered that he was never baptized. I left organized religion many years ago. After years of watching the world and this last election, i realize now that many in organized religions are guilty of the same error as the faithless. Greed.
As US citizens it is our job to defend freedom. Not to worry about the judgements that are jesus. 2 Timothy 4:3-4. Mark 12:17.
I find myself comforted by your words. Thank you for your insights.
Thank you -
Love you, Rev. Ed❤️❤️❤️
COMPASSION. EMPATHY. LOVE.
☮️and❤️
Bobby Lee
Rev Ed glad that God led me to your podcasts...(hint your leading people toward Christ) Amen.
My friend, I loved your message tonight. One of the things that fills my heart with joy is knowing that Jesus is the one who decides what happens to every single person who has ever been.He decides their fate, not a church, not a doctrine and that fills me with delight because I absolutely trust His love and compassion and so I can trust His judgement with everything and everyone. When you said," He will lead people to or away from Christ." it brought chills because of how true it is for every believer the verse, " whatever you do for the least of my brother's" would certainly indicate every believer has a responsibility and an ability to help his fellow man.
Short answer, Nope not by and large anyway. Padre Ed, you are an exception and a breath of fresh air. Bless you and the Creator keep you always.
Amen! I get that it is so tempting to say " Oh, thank you Jesus! Now, I will clean my life up" because it is outwardly measurable. But, I think Jesus would rather have us say; "Oh, thank you Jesus! Now I help me to love you and love others with all my heart, soul, strength and mind!"
Ed, I really love the videos of yours I've watched. Please keep it up! I'm sharing these with those I think need to hear this, and those that feel the same.
thank you once again for your wise words!
Great question, Father.
Thank you, Rev Ed. Thank you.
Profound! I never in all my years added that element to that crucifixion story. Kudos and God bless.
As always, thank you for the food for thought!
Thank you for a thoughT provoking message leading me to Christ
Great message! I listened to it twice. I have been part of a very small minority for the last 33 years. That’s when I became a follower of Christ/born again/spirit filled believer. I have always believed that salvation is Jesus Christ plus nothing. The thief on the cross did mark a box. The only box that leads to heaven. He understood very little. He did have just a little bit of faith that Jesus Christ was different. That he could be who he claimed to be. The thief put this little bit of faith that he had in Jesus. And that’s all it took.
The answer to that question is answered by looking at the actions and rhetoric from The Church today, and the evilgelical support for a certain hate-filled vengeance seeker, and comparing it to Matthew 25.
No. They are antithetical to every bit of His teachings.
When, Lord, when did we see you?
You make very profound points. Too many people will use scripture instead of lean from it. Its hubris to not ask this question.
That's why our actions are so important!
Amen. I want to point out a thing that I have believed for a while is that the simple way is often the way that we should go. We get so caught up in making rules and what if we do this what if we do that that we miss the simple way the simple things that we should be doing for Jesus Christ and for ourselves.
I have had so many people tell me through the years that I’m lost. They based this upon something they added to the cross. I have had untold numbers. Tell me that I’m lost every time I sin. Then you gotta get re-saved. I have been saved for 33 years and I never been lost for even 15 minutes.
Current church is like the Pharisees.
Not all. Maybe not even most.
Absolutely! I've been saying this for a long time! Added rules and regulations that you have to do in order to be considered a "true believer"
I ❤ listening to this guy. It's late at night and it's relaxing 😌
"Is The Church On The Same Page As Jesus?" Not for centuries...
And yes, you shared it on your Facebook.
Love all😊 and times
Although I'm a Southern Baptist,I greatly admire you and your take on Christian Theology.
In a world of Mega Churches and Televangelists,you stand out.😮😅😊😢
To be a christan All it is to love and give your heart to God. Amen
You are amazing. You truly seem to embody Christ. It is so upsetting to me how many preachers lie. Those lies separate Gods children from him. They claim it is for God , yet it is truly for their own selfishness. To create the world they want . Not the world our father would want. Our father just wants us to love and do for others. To spread his love. His love that is within us. Thank you
Great message. Thanks for your work !!!!
You help me be able to accept the teachings of Jesus. I like your ability to emphasize on the love aspect. I also appreciate you calling out Christian nationalist for failing to spread the message of love and perverting it to fear, control, and hate.
Amen
"Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there." I'm noticing that He doesn't mention brick and mortar, or denominations, or the Pope, or...
Thank you
Amen! That's a question I should be asking myself daily.
Amen!
👍😇🤍
The difference between the good thief on the cross next to Jesus, and me, is that I am not at this moment staring death obviously in the face. (At least not that I know of!) My Catholic faith structure isn't just rules. I am challenged to become as much like Christ as I can, living as long as God grants me. I don't just see regulations, I see help, logical answers to many of my questions, and love. I see Christ in the workings of my church. I guess it's a different perspective on this. I appreciate your videos, and thanks for reading.
Amen! 🙌🙌🙌
Love St. Dismas. The only saint canonized by Jesus himself.
I've always had a problem with those who want to shrink God down to human sized. My idea of a God is something as big as the Universe, and then some.
So true churchers are.
It's the most important thing for a believer, too 🌾
Do we lead people to, or away, from Christ and his teachings is a key question, and i think i get 'why' it chokes you up like that. As a Tarot card reader, I'm a sinner... or worse...by many a religion's rules, but I take my role/gift seriously, and always take care to guide others with, and toward, the kind of love, acceptance, and service that Christ (and other) holy figures have preached. If more religions dealt with things the way you do, I might, actually, get on board. Bless you for taking your role the way you do, and for sharing your faith, thus, when it's needed so very much!
37 Because no word shall be impossible with God.
Yeah. Yeshua. What's a brother For...
King
Ragnar YAHUWAH ADONAI
Agreed
It's about power, jesus is just a prop for big business religion, its always been about power.
Any religion is only as good as its ability to bring the individual closer to God (whatever name you prefer)
"The Church" is Jesus so yes it is always on the same page as Jesus but it is humankind's version of church where the differences come in. I appreciate your messages
Thank you for this. We need more of it from those in authority in the church.
Too often these people have focused on power, on controlling their congregation. Hence the rules for salvation they preach. But underlying much of their teaching is one particularly nasty bit of theology, the doctrine of Original Sin. This took form many, many years after Christ, (Augustine, around 400 AD and Anselm around 1000) but it has become foundational in many traditional churches.
This is an irrational and amazingly unjust doctrine. Good people are supposed to believe that they are somehow guilty of something they never did, never even thought of doing. And it is an immensely cruel doctrine. Good people go to their graves terrified of eternal torment.
It should end.
But don't expect it to. It is just too useful to the religious Establishment.
The thief WAS saved , period, doctrines serve nothing but man’s ( no Gods) wishes, let’s get back to that simplicity Christians! Love this channel
The Anglican Church. Same amount of pageantry. Half the guilt. 😊
Jesus wanted us to be led by the spirit fragment of our Divine Father-friend that indwells our minds. Since it's so hard to hear, we have to learn how to go into the stillness and quiet the mind, so his voice can be heard. At first, it will just be simple stuff that serves as a warmup act. As we get better at taking its suggestions to heart and putting them into action, we prove our willingness to be led, and the suggestions get more difficult, they will take us out of our comfort zones into a world of relationships and psychology and personal growth. Difficult at first, but pretty soon the rewards and ah-ha's begin to pile up.
If you get in "trouble" for this Rev it's good trouble. The kind of trouble Jesus caused.
Any thoughts on Opus Dei? I was brought up Catholic and have known about this organization since the 1980's. At first I thought they were a pious organization doing the "work of God." When I went to a Catholic college, I was warned by some sisters concerning Opus Dei's anti-Christian behavior and to stay away from them. Present day, I am shocked by how many members of the Supreme Court, Federalist Society, Heritage Foundation/Project 2025 are members or associated with Opus Dei. The organization has a long history of working with authoritarian regimes starting with the Spanish Civil War and the dictatorship of Francesco Franco for 50 years. Opus Dei does not represent the Catholic Church. I feel helpless and that things are out of our control. I pray there are enough safeguards in place to keep them in check. I hope I'm not over reacting.
You seem like you could be a very wonderful Rev this was a beautiful message lose the political stuff and preach on messages like this
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Really, all we have to do is, accept that since The Cross we've been accepted, period.
I believe that in every generation Satan uses one popular figure as the Anti-Christ.
I would not diminish the incredible confession of faith uttered by the thief on the cross, but I 100% agree about religion not having anything to do with our salvation. Do we know and love Jesus? Does He have our whole heart? That is all that matters. Everything else flows out of that.
If more of them heard your teaching, I wouldn't hate Christians as I do.
The state of the Church, writ large, is horrific. It’s been declining for a long time, but the pace and degree has gone more rapidly off the rails during the past 30 or so years. And I think it applies equally to the more “conservative” and the more “liberal” churches and denominations, but in ways that are expressed very differently. I have strong opinions about where that dynamic places us, but won’t express them here since it’s such a divisive subject. But we’re in a deep mess, and the gravity of it is equally obvious in many secular areas.
Jesus saw into the guys heart and knew right away that the guy was sincere and automatically accepted him. The other guy tried to put Jesus to the test, just as satan did with Jesus in the wilderness. It's too bad for the guy who tried testing Jesus and now he awaits his eternal judgement.
The churches (and people in the churches) should STRIVE to remain on the same page as Jesus. Due to sin, they'll wander and err, but when they notice it, they will return, if that is what they are striving to do.
Revelation 13:3
[3]One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast.
I struggle with the idea that some people think I'm not a true Christian because I don't say the magic words. I don't call Jesus my Lord and Savior, I don't like taking communion, I don't pray the sinners prayer. I'm a pastor's daughter who taught me to follow the teachings of Jesus, and to watch what people do, and ignore what they say. They show you if they are Christians, not tell you
Same page? Right now, I'm not sure we're even in the same book!!
"Is The Church On The Same Page As Jesus?"
Which Church?
Some churches are, but I have not see one Evangelical church that is, and too many Catholic and Protestant mainline churches also are not doing what Jesus said to do to varying extents. The RCC and SBC problems with child abuse, but there are plenty of other examples.
This is why "Not Religious" is growing.
Jesus was against religion, so we made a religion about him.
Gotta love humans.
Jesus consistently told ppl to listen to Moses and constantly referenced ppl to something Moses wrote when delivering an edict on how ppl are supposed to live. Jesus was against FALSE religion, not religion in general. Does it make sense to believe that the God who gave us the Torah is anti-religion? Ofc it doesn't.
We are ALL saved. Jesus took care of it for everyone. All we need to do is recognize it, embrace the love of it, and act accordingly.
That's not the slightest bit true, as passages like Eph. 2:2, 2 Cor. 4:4, Rev. 12:9 and a number of Jesus' own statements talk about Satan rules this world as its god. This theology of yours' is an example of the kind of deception that Satan foisted even on the world of religion, especially traditional Christianity: the gospel of the false Jesus.
These people are not the Bride of Christ. Period!
While there are Churches and Christians who are not in-line with Jesus (bordering on their being apostate), there is a rather sizable 'faithful remnant' that is.
From one degree to another, all churches have drifted away from the Word of God with their traditions.
What worked back then isn't working today.
What good works are you doing? Is a question everyone should ask themselves because that's the problem.
People aren't loving God or doing good works.
Most don't go to church.
Even less, read the Word.
Even less, do good works.
It's our fault that the world has so many problems.
That can mean only one thing, the body is full of idols.