Kingdom 103: Religion and the Kingdom
My question to you--what part does religion play in the Kingdom? The answer...none at all! However, the organized church has made it innocuous (harmless, not controversial, not offensive, of no consequence). We, as citizens of the earth, place high regard for religious leaders; especially those in the Catholic church. We even consider the Pope as infallible. There was a book written by a Roman Catholic bishop entitled "The Infallibility of the Pope, Scripturally Examined". In it, he shows that there is no scriptural basis for the infallibility of the Pope. Where do we get these crazy ideas? Keep in mind, the Catholic church is a religion, not a Kingdom government. The Lord Jesus made it quite clear that the Kingdom won't come in a physical appearance. “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” The Kingdom of God is the Word living in you. In essence, the Holy Spirit residing in your mortal body.
Do not be deceived. There has been no infallibility in the Roman Catholic--nor any other church--except that it has been infallible to be fallible like the rest of us. The only way that many so-called believers and religious leaders are deceived is because they fail to obey the Lord God's Son (Jesus the Christ). But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. They are too busy manipulating the scriptures to deceive God's people for their money or their allegiance. Many preachers and teachers are too busy trying to keep the members in line by following their rules and bylaws, when all they have to do is obey the Word themselves. On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. He was speaking of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit links you up to the Kingdom. Keep this in mind, the organized church has made the Holy Spirit an "it" and the Kingdom off in the future. It puts its ideas (that are contrary to the Kingdom) into hymns in hidden ways; for example, "I love thy kingdom, Lord...the Church our blest Redeemer saved". You don't save the Kingdom. The Kingdom saves you. "I'll fly away..." "We shall all rise to meet Him...", "When we all get to Heaven...", etc. I'm sure you can list many more! The organized church holds the best life of the Kingdom far off in the future, but that isn't the Kingdom. You get into the organized church by joining and abiding by their bylaws and membership requirements. In the Kingdom government, you get into it through Jesus and being born again. There is no other way.
We also render the Kingdom inoperative in our life by identifying the Kingdom coming in the future with the return of Christ. But, the Lord Jesus taught that the Kingdom was present now. He went out preaching and teaching the Kingdom: From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. He sent His disciples out with the same message. Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.
Luke 17:21 Matthew 6:33 John 7:37-39 Matthew 4:17, 23 Luke 9:1-3
~~W.R. Luchie
Do not be deceived. There has been no infallibility in the Roman Catholic--nor any other church--except that it has been infallible to be fallible like the rest of us. The only way that many so-called believers and religious leaders are deceived is because they fail to obey the Lord God's Son (Jesus the Christ). But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. They are too busy manipulating the scriptures to deceive God's people for their money or their allegiance. Many preachers and teachers are too busy trying to keep the members in line by following their rules and bylaws, when all they have to do is obey the Word themselves. On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. He was speaking of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit links you up to the Kingdom. Keep this in mind, the organized church has made the Holy Spirit an "it" and the Kingdom off in the future. It puts its ideas (that are contrary to the Kingdom) into hymns in hidden ways; for example, "I love thy kingdom, Lord...the Church our blest Redeemer saved". You don't save the Kingdom. The Kingdom saves you. "I'll fly away..." "We shall all rise to meet Him...", "When we all get to Heaven...", etc. I'm sure you can list many more! The organized church holds the best life of the Kingdom far off in the future, but that isn't the Kingdom. You get into the organized church by joining and abiding by their bylaws and membership requirements. In the Kingdom government, you get into it through Jesus and being born again. There is no other way.
We also render the Kingdom inoperative in our life by identifying the Kingdom coming in the future with the return of Christ. But, the Lord Jesus taught that the Kingdom was present now. He went out preaching and teaching the Kingdom: From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. He sent His disciples out with the same message. Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.
Luke 17:21 Matthew 6:33 John 7:37-39 Matthew 4:17, 23 Luke 9:1-3
~~W.R. Luchie