The Joy-Filled Kingdom of
Men
I'm not so sure I'd enjoy being ruled by the fundamentalist or theologically
challenged Christians I know. They just know that they, the true true
saints, will rule the world under Jesus Christ. This makes me nervous and I'm
not so sure it will be source of my never ending joy realized when Jesus returns
to rule us all with a "rod of iron." Somehow the use of seminars, luncheons and field trips never seems to dawn on Jesus or God as a way to better teach us poor ignorant slobs. I respond much better to genuine information and question asking. I'm just not sensing much that questions will be tolerated but rather we'd all be given a loose leaf binder with all the questions already answered..end of discussion.
It is my hope the Rod of Iron thing is made up by the men who love to rule with such things. In becoming as little children, you'd think rods of iron would be prohibited as an acceptable way to solve problems and teach truth. I know, there is a way that SEEMS right to me but ends badly, God's ways are not my ways. God does not see things as mere men do. And of course, the wisdom of man is foolishness with God, but I just thought I'd mention it. Actually the Proverbs tell us the Rod of Correction will be good for kids and a good beating won't kill them, so there ya go!
I'm not holding out a lot of hope for the Clergy I know. They don't get along very well among themselves. The screamers among them seem to compete for the recognition and preeminence and the rules they believe they will enforce upon all mankind within their reach are down right depressing and frightening. Worse yet, they don't seem to be able to agree on which rules are rules, which are suggestions and which are done away with. I do know they tend to want to be in charge and not just work for the Lord in lower positions. Everyone wants to be a King or Priest it seems. All Priests and no Indians or something like that...
In their perfect Theo-world there will be no dancin' or card playin'. No hair longer than that of the 1950's and no dresses shorter than ankle high. They will be made mostly of boring colors and put you in mind of your grandma. Clothing will be boring because that proves your sincerity and humbleness of spirit. A uniform of some sort would be even better according to some. All children will wear Y.O.U. clothing I guess. All fundraising will be accomplished selling Ten Commandment Plaques. And those tattoos are going to have to come off! Tattoo Eradicator would be a great profession to go into in this Kingdom. Tons of business.
You'll be forced, because it's the rule, to go to Bible studies on Wednesday nights and church EVERY Sunday, or Saturday depending. You'll agree that Jesus really was born on Christmas and really died on Easter for all the appropriate reasons. You will be baptised by immersion or sprinkled depending. You're repentance will be heartfelt and genuine and you will become perfect like God is, or else of course. In fact you'll agree with what you are told to agree with even if you don't. If you don't, you will keep that very very quiet. However a local pastor says that God knows our thoughts, so that will be a challenge. I just know he's gonna tell!
As far as entertainment is concerned, you will love Andy Griffith and hate American Idol. Movies will be strictly monitored and you will learn to love "The Sound of Music"and "Oklahoma" as you never thought you could, or else. Stores will close on the appointed days and times and only sell the appropriate Christian things. I imagine only Christians will be allowed to even own or run a store. Oh yeah, the non-believers will be dead.
Concerning science, well, hold on to your hats. Evolution, which is literally true, will be banned and creationism and the Fall of Man because of woman in the Garden of Eden, which is not literally true, will replace it. Your vacations will be to the Creation Museum in Arkansas or Kentucky. Science will be ever so much more easily understood. Phrases like "Quantum physics tells us," or "human consciousness studies inform us that," will be replaced by "God says." In fact, every finding of archaeology, paleontology, astronomy and every other "onomy"and "tologies" will be replaced with "God says." A degree in science won't take long at all and the answers will become so much easier to come up with on the test. All the science you need to know you will find in the Bible....mostly the Old Testament.
Clergy will replace politicians and giving to the State will be regulated by Old Testament laws on tithing and many other such things you won't believe how happy they will make you. It will be to one's advantage to become a Priest of the Most High if you ever expect to accumulate any real material wealth. The Ten Commandments will be suspended long enough to steal the unbelievers blind, rape their wives, enslave their children and kill those who can't see the light as it is revealed to them. If you should find yourself in any kind of conflict over why you have to be so compliant and believe the unbelievable, this is why Jesus has his very own rod of iron. He will convince you that you need to adjust your attitude and you will do so nicely and with sincerity. After you learn anatomy by seeing eyes and tongues dissolve in the appropriately "God is Love" wrath, , you'll feel more inclined to obey and be happy.
Now we can all hope the above nightmare scenario in the hands of Christian Fundamentalists will never come to pass. However, we have ample Old Testament predictions that Jewish fundamentalism will prevail in a very similar way. The above mentioned pastors will be forced to give up Sunday for Sabbath, Easter for Passover and Christmas for the Feast of Tabernacles. Christian Pastors , falsely so called, will be really surprised! Most will claim they are merely farmers once they see what's in for the false prophets and ministers of Satan among them.
Let's take a quick look at how happy we will be when the Messiah comes from the Jewish Christian perspective, and how deep our joy must be, or else.
Zechariah 14:
(1-2) Jerusalem under siege from the nations.
Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
See, I told ya the Ten Commandments would be suspended for the greater good! But not to worry. It's a YHVH trap and those who were gathered against Jerusalem because they were gathered there by God will be sorry they showed up....
(12-15) Enemies are forever plagued.
And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths. It shall come to pass in that day that a great panic from the Lord will be among them. Everyone will seize the hand of his neighbor, and raise his hand against his neighbor's hand; Judah also will fight at Jerusalem. And the wealth of all the surrounding nations shall be gathered together: Gold, silver, and apparel in great abundance. Such also shall be the plague on the horse and the mule, on the camel and the donkey, and on all the cattle that will be in those camps. So shall this plague be.
See, I told ya you could still have lots of good stuff if you were the chosen ones and you'd learn anatomy in new and interesting ways! A man's life may not consist of the abundance of things he possesses, but that sorry belief will be put to rest in this huge booty raid. I'm not sure there are going to be all that many horses, mules, camels and donkeys if this really is a time in the future but what do I know. It could happen.
(16-19) All the nations come to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.
And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain. If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the Lord strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
(20-21) The common is made holy.
In that day "Holiness to the Lord" shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the Lord of hosts. Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts.
See, I told ya Church was going to be a lot different and you better not be one of the not so special ones! Again, it appears horses will make a major comeback as a mode of transportation.
Doesn't being under enforced, for your own good, religious rule sound inspiring? For those who have traveled through the WCG/UCG/PCG/PKG/LCG/GCG/RCG/LSD/DDT/MSG/STP Wild World of God Church experience, what human leader, now God as God is God, would you like to be under? And you can't prefer to just be yourself and even born right the first time. You must pick one! You must feel evil, wicked, worthless, poor, blind, naked and a general loser with no hope unless you love being associated with this one and only way to be. Rather insane isn't it....
I sincerely hope this is not what "and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free," really means. Freedom under religious rule and control is truly frightening and depressing.
Remember...
" Those who can make you believe absurdities
can make you commit atrocities."
Voltaire ...
4 comments:
Since I've ventured once again into the arena of mainstream Christianity, I'm glad to report, it's been my experience that the people who hold the views Dennis expounded upon are in the minority.
Anyone who understands grace and love is not going to be nearly so rigid, elitist, or judgmental.
One thing is certain, though, such myopia is alive and well in the ACOGs.
BB
I'm sure there would be plenty of good clean fun as provided by the Young Ambassadors. I'd consider the Lake of Fire alternative.
Bob, I hope you are correct about those in more mainstream Christianity.
Growing up Presbyterian, I recall not one single weird person in the congregation. No one pushed some crazy Bible idea nor did the Pastor ever give one sermon that cast doubt on his sanity or his place in the world. It was just a nice easy going environment filled with good folks who really took care of each other when needed.
That all came later when I found the true church chock full of opinions on the why and how of topics I never even thought about much less cared about.
Dennis, that last comment illustrates something I've believed for a long time now. Former ACOGgers generally indicate that they have trouble finding a church. My advice is not to stop looking so soon. If a church seems ridiculous or seems to have a bad "spirit" (for lack of a better term), then one must walk away and continue the search. Also walk away if the pastor seems ignorant or lacking in Bible knowledge. You might have been in the right place with those Presbyterians, all along!
One of my joys in life is that I occasionally get to work on business equipment owned and used by churches in doing their work. If I get a good overall vibe and think they're on the right track, I'll tell the pastor that I, too, am a Christian, and that it's part of my own personal ministry to provide free service on machines which are used to spread the gospel. You'd be amazed at the shocked reaction this brings! Frankly, as a technical person, this is one of the few front line ways in which I can even have a personal ministry. Of course, there are a lot of churches and pseudochurches which I would not feel comfortable doing this for. But, it is one thing that certainly fills me with joy!
BB
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