THE MISCONCEPTIONS OF JESUS CHRIST

 

                There are three things in life that are in constant battle with us living a life for Jesus Christ; they are the flesh, the world, and Satan. Any one, or a combination of the three, are at work to distort the truth of God for its own. According to the flesh, it’s known as double-mindedness (James 1:8). According to the world, it’s known as false christs' (Matthew 24:24). And according to Satan, he’s known as a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8). When we live our lives for Christ we must live by His standards. In all things. Whenever we allow an inch of compromise with any world view, we are no longer living by God’s standards. But the root of the problem isn’t the compromise in and of itself, it is the misconception of those world views. The definition of misconception is stated as “a view or opinion that is incorrect because it is based on faulty thinking or understanding.” So you see, if the basis of our thinking or understanding is wrong to begin with, then our view or opinion will be wrong because of it.  This is where the flesh, the world, and Satan come in. As we’ll see with the following examples, the easy part is identifying what’s wrong with the view, but we must identify the faulty thinking which leads to the wrong view or opinion.

                Same-sex marriage – Yes we are gonna go ahead and get this one out the way! Probably the most talked about issue in this lifetime is the topic of same-sex marriage. There are so many people who don’t have a problem with same-sex marriage. This view (which is wrong) is usually supported by the notion that those individuals are not bothering them in any way. Now we know what the Word says, but just to confirm, let’s take a look. Genesis 1:27-28 tells us “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” The purpose of marriage is to procreate, something same-sex couples cannot do. Genesis 2:24 tells us “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Leviticus 18:22 tells us “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.” So what is it that people (even some Christians) are accepting to the view of same-sex marriage? What is the misconception of Jesus Christ?

                The rainbow – Today the rainbow is viewed as the symbol for the LGBT community. The bright colors are to show one’s allegiance to others just like themselves. However, the true meaning of the rainbow is found in Genesis 9:13-16. The Lord said in His Word, “I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.” This is the true meaning of the rainbow. So why do people replace the true meaning of the rainbow with the false meaning? What is their misconception of Jesus Christ?

                Honoring father & mother – Society has been slowly pushing upon teenagers that they are older and more responsible than they truly are. That is why you have more shows targeted at teens that are more adult oriented. Things of this sort causes teenagers to believe they don’t have to listen to their parents because they are old enough to make their own decisions. On the other hand, society has also pushed the notion that single family homes is the way of the world. Well, if the father (or mother) isn’t around to raise the children how can they properly be honored? And we know what the Word says. Exodus 20:12 tells us to “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” And Ephesians 6:2-3 says to “Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” What people don’t understand is that if you don’t honor your father and mother here on earth, how can you expect to honor our Father in Heaven? So why do people have no regard for their parents anymore. What is their misconception of Jesus Christ?

                Living a life of independence – This one is huge. In this life today, independence shows your power. It shows your success and achievements to others that you made it on your own. You hear it all the time – ‘I made it on my own’; ‘I did this by myself’; ‘I opened my own doors, nobody opened them for me’. Having independence is viewed as you are in control of your own life. You are your own god (little g)! Well, we know that the Lord didn’t create us this way. We are not to go through this life alone. Acts 17:26-27 tells us “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” If we learn to live independent of anyone or anything, then we will not seek the Lord in all things. So why do people want to live their lives independent of God? What is their misconception of Jesus Christ?

                Going to church on Sunday – Uh oh! You may think I’m transitioning from non-Christian folk to Christian folk. That is far from the truth. Keep in mind there are non-Christians who go to church, as well as there are Christians who believe same-sex marriage is okay. So each of these examples encompasses every single person. As far as going to church on Sunday, people have the view that that is enough for God; or they have fulfilled their commitment and requirement to Him. I even heard someone say once that you can believe in God and not go to church and still go to Heaven. That would be similar to saying you can get drafted to the NFL, never go to practice and still make it to the hall of fame. You see how ridiculous that sounds. Going to church on Sunday is very important, but going to church on Sunday shouldn’t be the end of it. Think of a college class. You had your lecture class with about 150 students where you just listened to the professor for 50 minutes. You took notes and the class was over. There was no back and forth dialogue. Ahhh, but you also had a study group associated with that class. There may have been 5 study groups to pick from that each had 30 of the 150 students in each group. Now in the study group is where you get to ask questions and get feedback from the assistant. Well, that is how it works for going to church. Sunday is like your lecture. But then you have Prayer & Bible Study (every Tuesday @ 6pm), and also a mid-week worship service (Coffee, Tea & He every Wednesday @ 7pm). These times allow you to ask questions and get feedback to have a better understanding of the Word. Speaking of the Word let’s see what it tells us. Hebrews 10:24-25 says “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” The Lord wants us to not only go to church on Sunday, but the other days as well. So why do people believe that going to church on Sunday is good enough? What is their misconception of Jesus Christ?

                Christians are hypocrites – This is one that makes you defensive when you hear it. Let’s look at the definition of hypocrisy. It is defined as “the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform.” So if someone speaks a belief in one way but acts the complete opposite of their belief then that would be a hypocrite. The key word in that definition is behavior. One wrong choice does not determine behavior. It is repetition of it that makes it behavior. Because of the false notion that once you become a Christian you are no longer allowed to sin, once a sin is exposed (which is why we must watch what we say and do), a Christian is a hypocrite. Even when someone makes a wrong decision years ago, the fact that they’ve turned their life over to Christ still makes them a hypocrite. The Word tells us in Romans 3:23 that “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” And what counts as sin? Galatians 5:19-21 tells us “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” I believe that covers everybody. So why do people believe the notion that Christians are hypocrites? What is their misconception of Jesus Christ?

                God is love – The statement is actually 100% correct. God is love. The problem is the application of this statement. People aren’t saying God is love. What they are really saying is God is only love! This allows people to make decisions based on their feelings regardless of what they are, because….. God is love! The problem with believing that God is only love is that you ignore that God is also holy. To be holy means to be sacred and separated from the world. And not separated in a sense to be secluded but rather not doing the things of the world. There are many scriptures that let us know that God is holy. Psalm 99:5 tells us to “Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool – He is holy.” Psalm 99:9 tells us to “Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.” The other problem with believing that God is only love is that you ignore that God is also truth. And the amazing thing about God’s truth is that it’s the truth whether you believe it or not. Again, there are many scriptures that let us know that God is truth. Romans 2:2 tells us “But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.” And 1 Thessalonians 2:13 tells us “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” And finally, Deuteronomy 32:4 tells us “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.” Now for some reason people only want to focus on God’s love and not on any of His other characteristics. So why do people believe that God is only love? What is their misconception of Jesus Christ?

                The answer. God’s authority. That is what’s missing from all of these examples. Matthew 28:18 tells us “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”” All authority. Not some, not most, but all. When we don’t have God’s authority present in our lives then we think that it is okay for same-sex marriage. When we don’t have God’s authority present in our lives then we believe the rainbow signifies the LGBT community. When we don’t have God’s authority present in our lives then we don’t honor our father & mother. When we don’t have God’s authority present in our lives then we believe in living a life of independence with no regard of others. When we don’t have God’s authority present in our lives then we believe that only going to church on Sunday is fulfilling God’s will for our lives. When we don’t have God’s authority present in our lives then we use the excuse of not going to church by saying all Christians are hypocrites. When we don’t have God’s authority present in our lives then we only focus on God’s love while not incorporating any of His other characteristics. Whether it’s our flesh, the world or Satan (his demons), they are at work on integrating faulty thinking and understanding to our basis in order for us to remove or sequester God’s authority. So let’s keep in mind what Malachi 3:6 says….. “For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” God does not change!