Warning
* A very long article.
* Not for lazy readers.
* Keep an open mind.
* For educational purposes only.

Let's get started!
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A godly culture is not righteousness. It is
not salvation. This is where many have
missed it. They built a godly culture and
then made it the way to heaven.


You might as well say that those who hold
the American culture would go to heaven.
Clearly, that is not true. We know there is
no correlation whatsoever between man's
culture and receiving God's life. But when
these cultures have a 'godly' tone, a
'scriptural logic', people tend to jump the
void and say, "that's the way to heaven".


It is wrong.
Your godly culture is not the way to
heaven. Jesus is.


You find that sentiment when some
persons point at others and say, 'hmm, he
couldn't stand the way of righteousness in
our church so he has gone to join the
anything-goes gathering. What a pity.
May God open his eyes before he lands in
hell.'


Meaning? Your church gathering is the
only one so righteous, every other
gathering is wrong and hell-bound? No! I
repeat, Jesus is the way.


Now, you may become a believer and say,
'Alright, all blessings are mine in Christ
Jesus. I'm a heir of God. Henceforth, this
is how I will demonstrate and carry the
life I have received.' Some people receive
Jesus, and they stop wearing jewelries,
they stop using loud make-up. They get
rid of some of their clothes. And they
start living in a 'strict' manner. It's their
culture or personal expression of what
they have inside them.


It isn't wrong to do such. What is wrong is
to make such outward stuff your
righteousness. What is wrong to do is to
condemn others who aren't doing exactly
what you're doing. The wrong thing is to
falsely say to them that they aren't
righteous, saved or accepted by God just
because of these outward matters.


Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ, wrote, 'some
of you eat anything (I eat most, Praise
God). Some of you are choosy, eating only
vegetables. (Praise God). You are the
same in Christ.' Meaning, the vegetarian
Christian is not better than the meat
eating Christian. The never-going-to-party
Christian is the same as one who goes to
parties. The Christian lady who wears
skirts is the same as the Christian lady
who wears 'trousers'.


One thing I find is that no one is
empowered to force others against their
will into a particular outlook. The
vegetarian cannot force the meat eater to
quit eating meat. And it is totally wrong
for the vegetarian to come out and say,
"meat eater, you'll got to hell for eating
meat."


I repeat, Jesus is the way.


Whatever culture you build as a believer,
make sure
*it does not compete with or try to
replace the finished works of Jesus.
*it does not cast condemnation on God's
children
*it does not bring bondage to God's
children
*you can change it as you develop,
without having to feel condemned.


Have a mind to exalt Christ with what you
do.


Some women once preached and
practiced, 'no trousers for ladies'. But
today, they wear them. Some want to
change too, but they feel self condemned
and confused. It's a sign that the culture
they have held on to is ungodly and
contrary to Christ, irrespective of the
moral points it scores in the eyes of the
world.


You must be able to break that culture
without feeling condemned.


Jesus knew the culture of his day was to
wash hands before eating. But on one
occasion, he deviated. The Pharisees said
he was defiled for doing so! What?! How
does washing my hands or not washing
them affect my spirit? Jesus went on to
debunk some other things that these
people practiced and thereby displaced
the truth of God.


When you command things that perish
with earthly use as if that is the way to
heaven, you are giving heed to demons.
Let's see an example.


Jesus said, 'Some made themselves
eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of
God...' Paul, by the same Spirit, said, 'Let
those who will, marry. And those who
won't, also do well.'


You see, there is nothing compulsory
about it. Nobody is making you do
anything. You can make yourself an
eunuch, that is, not marry. And the same
you can change your mind and decide to
marry. And in doing so, feel no
condemnation.


Now see this. Paul wrote to Timothy to
warn the church that some people are
heeding doctrines of demons,
"commanding people not to marry and to
abstain from meat."


Why is this demonic? It is contradicts
what the Lord and his apostles said at
first. These people were making other
believers eunuchs and controlling their
feeding style. That's wrong. That's wrong.


There is no basis for that in the new
testament. If YOU don't want marry, fine.
Don't force and command other believers,
against their will, to join your decision,
threatening them with curses and hell.


That's a lie. That's devilish.


Peter had a wife. Paul did not. Paul never
condemned Peter or put him down as a
bad example because of that. Neither did
Peter tell anyone that because Paul
wasn't married, he could not teach on
marriage.


Many of the apostles and ministers got
their living by the gospel. They received
income in the ministry. Paul recognized
their right to. In fact, he said, 'the Lord
has commanded that they which preach
the gospel should get their living by the
gospel.' 1 Corinthians 9:14. But he
himself did not use that right in the
church of Corinth.


It was just his decision. That others
collected and he didn't does not make
him better than they. He could have
turned around and rightly said, 'now, I
want to start receiving what's due me.'
It's wrong then when one person comes
to say, "it's wrong for pastors to receive
income in ministry. I don't."


You don't? Praise God. They do? Praise
God. The Lord, not our income stream, is
our righteousness.


Jesus is the way. Not how you dress or
what you put on. Not what you eat or do
not eat. Not how many times you fast,
pray or attend church services. No. Jesus
is the way.


Jesus is the way. Once you're clear about
that, you are good to go. Build your godly
culture, whatever suits you and do it in
the name of Jesus Christ. Rejoice in it. If
you have to change it, do. And still be in
faith. Don't be condemned by what
others do or say, neither let what you do
condemn you.


Who is it that brings an accusation to
condemn you? Christ died and rose again
for you! There is no condemnation to
them that are in Christ Jesus.
Further read: Colossians 2:13-23,
Galatians 4:6-11.



Source: Johnson Boyede

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Matthew 7:1

May God continue to enrich your knowledge.




Lovely

Nice, I most share this. The truth as it is.

Ok. Now I understand why some ladies put on skimpy dresses to church nowadays.

beautiful

hypocrite. what about guys that sag their pants, wear ear rings and style their hair to church??

mtcheeew. judging and condemning women while you're worse.

hayzed1090:
Ok. Now I understand why some ladies put on skimpy dresses to church nowadays.

Ha Ha

BRB busy for now.

CC hahn cold

Summary: Jesus is the way to heaven.

That is to say, Jesus is now a pavement everyone must walk on.

I wonder what the other 3,999 religions of the world have to say about this especially considering the fact that they are all going to hell. Oh well

Hmmmmm...