But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; Galatians 1:15-16
Religion has been prevalent since ‘the fallen’ entered the scene on earth. And that same type of drive to create religion was certainly prevalent during the time of the apostle Paul. Paul understood the religious nature of Judaism better than most, certainly better than the first twelve chosen by Jesus. Jesus didn’t choose those men because they were well steeped in theology and doctrine within Judaism, it was because of their ‘hearts towards God’. Judas was most likely the most steeped in educated Judaism out of the twelve and we know what that caused in him.
Since Paul’s day so very much of ‘Christian’ activity has been about furthering the ‘movement’, the propagating of a teaching, and furthering the interests of an institution. It is not a movement, nor to establish a movement on the earth and to get ’followers’, members, or support. It is not an institution, even though we might call the “church” an institution. The church has no existence in the thought and heart of God APART from the revelation of Jesus Christ, AND it is judged according to the measure in which Christ the Son of God’s LOVE is in evidence BY it’s existence. It is NOT a testimony, if by you mean a specific form of teaching and a systemized doctrine.
We all have in our minds a certain arrangement of truth, and that truth is couched in certain phraseology, a form of words, and then that speaks about ‘the testimony’; it is NOT the testimony in that sense. It is NOT a denomination, and it is NOT a non-denomination, and it is NOT an inter-denomination. It really is NOT Christianity in the way we think it is. It is NOT ‘the work’ — in which we are often giving ourselves that we are interested in, or out in ‘the mission’.
It is ONE thing … it is CHRIST!!
Like Paul says, “That I might preach Him!” If that had remained central and preeminent all these horrible disintegrating jealousies would never have a chance. The complete wretched mess that exists in the organization of Christianity today would never have come about. All these other ‘things’, movement, mission, a teaching, a testimony, a fellowship, a doctrine have taken the place … of Christ. Religious leaders have gone out to establish, produce and manufacture another religion. Is Christ really their work or is it something else? So what is the answer to all of this mess?
An inward revelation of Jesus Christ is the …cure. That comes via the Holy Spirit. Is that too sweeping of a statement? What we now see really represents the absence of an adequate inward revelation of Christ. What we see is …religion without the Holy Spirit.
For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. Acts 1:5-8
Have you been baptized by the Holy Spirit? Are you His witness? Or are you part of an institution, a social club, a religion and following ‘their’ rules? Or are you part of a ‘movement’ that is the answer … instead of … the single answer… Christ… in you? Are you possessed by His Spirit, hear His Voice, and following His instructions? If not, … then you are NOT His true witness.