Here’s the review:

”As I listened to these simple words, I realized that I say thank you so many times each day, and do I say it to Jesus that much? No, sadly no. It’s really nice when I hear a song for the first time and it opens my eyes and my heart.”

Amazing Grace may be one of the most iconic Christian songs ever written; Christian and non-Christian alike have heard it sung so many times that we’ve almost become numb to the real meaning of the song.  When I wrote my version I had no intention of sitting down and writing a new version of “Amazing Grace”.  I had no goal in mind other than expressing to God what was in my heart at the time- that His grace is so WONDERFUL, and so AMAZING!  The original words to Amazing Grace came to my mind at the time, but a new melody to express those words came out of my mouth!  It was just me, Jesus and my guitar when it happened; and so I decided to record it just like that- as simply as it came to me.

I was so happy that my first reviewer of the song “got it.”  They heard in the song what I felt when I wrote it- God’s grace is amazing and when we truly grasp that, thanks to Him will flow from our heart and lips.

I’ve spent most of my life being amazed by Jesus- I have no clue why He would love me as He does.  I certainly don’t deserve it, and yet, His tenderness, gentleness, and love are always there for me even when I’m at my worst.

I hope my song helps you to really hear the words that John Newton wrote so long ago when he penned Amazing Grace.  I hope by the time you’re done listening to the song you’re also “giving thanks to God” saying “Yes!!! Thank you Jesus, You are AMAZING!”

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” – Colossians 3:16

I was 23 when I first came to see the glory of Jesus.  At the time I was just looking for some kind of spiritual reality- I never dreamed I would find what I was looking for in the face of Jesus, but that’s exactly what happened.  I was searching for the meaning of life and what I found was the Living God in the person of Jesus Christ!  I will probably never be able to fully convey just what an amazing discovery that was.  I had been to church, heard about Jesus plenty of times from various people and in various ways- but had never found HIM.  He was what I was looking for and I didn’t even know it!

What I discovered very early on in my “awakening” was that the world didn’t revolve around me as much as I once thought it did; it revolved around Him.  That was quite a revelation- Jesus is the Alpha and Omega; Beginning and End; First and Last. He created everything and everything was made for HIM.  I was totally blind to that for most of my life but then suddenly I could see- it all made perfect sense: I’m just the creation, He’s the creator… This is all about Jesus!  He’s life, and to know Him is to enter into what life is all about.  (John 10:10, 1 John 5:11-12)

The glories of Jesus Christ

It’s impossible to see Jesus and not understand that worship should be our first impulse.  You can read the full description of John’s encounter with Jesus in Revelation 1:9-17, but let me just quote how John described seeing His face:

“His face was like the sun shining in all it’s brilliance.” (Revelation 1:15)

Beholding the Lord Jesus John could only say, “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead.” (Revelation 1:17)

All one need do is open a bible and read to see description after description of His glory, power, and love- there is no one like Jesus, in heaven, on earth, or under the earth; He is exalted to the highest place. (Philippians 2:9)

Of this Jesus the Word of God says that “nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 8:39)

Reaching up and letting go

When I started the year out I had it in my heart to do some songs that were totally focused on Jesus.  Over and over again I felt God turning my heart to this one thought:  “Let Jesus be your one desire; let Him be your focus.”  I decided to record “Worship Jesus” as my first song this year because I felt it conveyed the heart of what God was speaking to me concerning Jesus.

When I worship the Lord, I often raise my hands (Psalms 134:2), reaching up in adoration.  Before I became a Christian I never would have thought about raising my hands to praise the Lord, but after coming to know Him it’s something that I do spontaneously- as we sing His praises we reach up to Him with open hands, desiring nothing but to embrace Him.  True worship (as the bible describes it) is to essentially do the same with our lives: We are to let go of everything, holding nothing back, and offer ourselves completely to Him.

“Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1)

The act of raising our hands in worship reflects what we are to do in practice with our life- we come with empty hands, reaching out for Him alone.  To be very honest though we must admit that there are often many things in our life that we hold on to, that in truth, we should let go of if we are to fully embrace Jesus.  Letting go of one thing to embrace another of far greater worth is the idea here, and we often fool ourselves into thinking we can hold on to Jesus and our earthly treasures.  In “Worship Jesus” I sing:

“Let all of your treasures go until Jesus is all that you hold…”

I’m not about to say that any of us do this perfectly, but that is the goal, and we will never fully worship Jesus until we are willing to let go of the things in our life that He has put His finger on and spoken to us about.  How can we reach out to grab hold of Him if our hands are full of other things that fill them?

No condemnation

Do you think to yourself, ”I will never measure up to such high standards; there is too much about me that falls short to worship God like that”?

Then come and fall at His mercy seat!

In the third verse of “Worship Jesus” I sing:

“Worship, don’t be afraid of His acceptance- just worship- His blood will surely grant you entrance.”

The scriptures tell us that we have entrance into His presence, not by our works, but through the blood of Jesus.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19-22)

I think it’s important to say that we can only ever enter into God’s presence through the blood of Jesus Christ.  We are never worthy on our own, however good we may think we are at any given moment.  Only the blood of Jesus gains us access to come before a Holy God.  Why do I point this out?  Because there are those who think they are not ”good enough” to come to God, and, of course, they are right- in ourselves we aren’t ”good enough”.  But instead of coming to the mercy seat of Christ and entering into worship, some let their guilt of falling short prevent them from coming to Him.  They fear that He will not accept them if they come, so they shy away.  These people need to understand that God has made a way for them to come freely into His presence:

”In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” (Ephesians 3:12)

So come and worship Jesus!  Don’t let anything stop you from coming before Him.  Bow down and worship- open your heart and be amazed by Jesus!

”He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:15-20)

As we worshipped the Lord in song this last Wednesday I was taken on a journey in time: As I sat there in a living room with a small group of believers, listening to the piano and hearing the voices of those around me singing songs of praise to Jesus, it brought me back to a time in my life 21 years earlier!  The memories came flooding back of a time two decades ago when I once sat in a living room 1400 miles away from the living room I was now in.  I remembered how it was: the joyful praise- how it seemed to glow with the presence of God as we use to gather together worshipping the Lord.  I thought to myself, “This is just the same- the same presence; the same Jesus; He has not changed, He is just the same as He’s ever been!”

And then it occured to me- “He is still the same, but almost everything in my life is different!  Almost everything in my life has changed over the last 21 years!”  I’d gone through many different cars; lived in so many different places; and I can’t even fit into the clothes I used to wear!  Yes, it’s the same face I see in the mirror- but I know I’ll never be mistaken for being 29 again.  

Oh, and I’m married (something I was beginning to think would never happen!).  I have 2 cats, and I’ve actually lived in one place long enough to frame pictures on the wall- what a change from the days I roamed the earth living out of a suitcase as I once did as an itinerate evangelist/musician.

Yes, almost everything has changed.

The last 21 years have not only brought new people into my life, it has taken many of the people I loved most out of my life- my mom, my dad, my step-dad, my grandparents… have all left this earth.

Most of the people I once knew and spent time with in the various churches I have been a part of have come and gone too- their lives also changing, rearranged, and moved around in ways they couldn’t imagine.  I thought, as I worshipped, about them.  Some had held on to their faith, and some had seemingly walked away.  I thought of a woman who at one time literally radiated the Lord in her life, whose family poured out Jesus in their giving and love, and how all of that was gone now through some very bad choices.  Jesus was once everything to her, but that seems a distant memory now.  And she’s not the only one: too many friends have fallen away, quickly or by degrees; they testify to me about myself- unlike God and just like them, I’m just as subject to the influences of life and to change.  If I’m honest, I’ve had my share of drifting from Jesus; of being up and down, closer and farther away. 

Of course, many changes over the last 21 years have also been good ones: It’s true my Mom died of cancer, but 10 years earlier she gave her life to Jesus!  She’s now in heaven- what a change that must be from being here on earth!

And it’s also true, that yes, I’ve seen friends walk away from God in the last 21 years, but I’ve also seen others grow in their love, and service, and commitment to Him.  And while I can remember fondly the churches I was once a part of while I traveled singing and sharing the gospel; and while it is true we all have gone our separate ways for the most part as things have changed in each of our lives, yet here I was sitting in a living room worshipping Jesus with people I never knew existed 4 years ago!  That’s pretty awesome!

And do you know what I realized as I sat there in that living room, reflecting on past and present?

I realized the amazing thing is, that through it all, one thing had not changed- Jesus was the same as He’d ever been!  As fresh, as pure, as life-giving as the day I first met Him- He was just the same! 

What an awesome revelation!  Though the whole world may change- Jesus is constant.  I’m so glad I know Him.  I can’t imagine going through life without Him.  In a world that is constantly changing in every way imaginable, He is eternal and sure.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” -Hebrews 13:8

With the economy the way it is everyone’s talking about the fall of the dollar, a possible new world reserve currency, and of course, hyperinflation.  Gold and silver prices have gone through the roof as people rush for a safe haven.  In answer to one blogger’s question as to how much time they’d have to prepare if hyperinflation hit, one person commented:

“By the time you realize that hyperinflation has set in it will already be too late.”

That pretty much sums it up.

According to one article on CNBC on the subject, “The worst hyperinflation situations of all time”, hyperinflation is like having the price you paid for your cup of coffee double in the amount of time it just took you to finish your first cup!  “What? You’d like another?  That’ll be twice the price please!”  Hyperinflation can be so rapid that it literally can happen overnight.

Sounds like when it comes to hyperinflation if you haven’t prepared ahead of time, you’re going to be out of luck!

I hope you didn’t come here looking for financial advice because I have none to give you. But it’s not lost on me that Jesus is going to come back to this earth faster than any hyperinflation could ever occur.

“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”  (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

His return is going to catch a lot of people by surprise, that’s why Jesus tells us:

“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.”  (Matthew 24:44)

When the event happens; when Jesus returns; if you’re not ready it will already be too late!

Being ready for Jesus’ return is far more important than being ready for hyperinflation

I care about our finances, otherwise I wouldn’t be online trying to learn as much as I can about where we’re heading economically.  But losing money, as bad as that’d be, is nothing compared to those who could potentially lose their very soul and be eternally separated from God if they are not prepared for eternity.

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)

As I was online today searching for information on the economy I came across an interesting post.  Someone had said it’s better to be prepared for hyperinflation and not be caught off guard, and used Noah and the ark as an example.  Of course not everyone likes hearing from the bible (especially on a thread about the economy).  One guy called the story about Noah “a fairy tale” and said the bible used scare tactics to control people.  It reminded me of this verse:

“Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.  They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:3-4)

As I said earlier, I can’t offer you any advice on hyperinflation and whether we’ll actually see it in the USA or not, but I can offer you something FAR more important- the “advice” I gave our skeptic of the bible:

Something bigger than hyperinflation is coming.  Don’t be so quick to dismiss what the bible says, it has a better track record of predicting future events than any stock market expert. 

“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37-39)

It’s not a fear tactic to tell the truth.  Better to know the facts and be prepared than be suddenly surprised- by Jesus or hyperinflation!

Welcome to God’s Word where the poor in spirit inherit heaven’s Kingdom, and the meek inherit the earth!

In reading God’s Word we see that small, seemingly insignificant things, can grow to be greatest of all (Matthew 13:31-32), and there is one thing worth having that is worth losing all other things to attain:

Jesus is the pearl of great worth.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:45-46)

Jesus- despised by the world, but chosen and precious to God- is declared in God’s Word to be “before all things”. (Colossians 1:17) And so He is!

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17)

Every now and then there are people who come along and give us glimpses of  God’s Word lived out; they help us to see that which is unseen and to put reality in proper perspective. When Brother Lionel sings his song “Jesus Before Anything” I get a glimpse of how things are supposed to be; and one day WILL BE on earth as it is in heaven; I get a view of the Kingdom of God- where Jesus rules and reigns and is the supreme joy of every heart.

Watch this video and try not to smile! If you’re like me you’re going to find yourself saying “YES!”

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

Jesus is the ultimate “YES!” Every good thing of God finds it’s fulfillment in Him, and He is indeed “before anything”!

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

I’m grateful for those in the church who point me to eternity. As I read through my bible I find that over and over again the great men of faith have had eyes to see that which is eternal.  We read that Moses was able to turn his back on the treasures of Egypt because he saw eternity:

“He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” (Hebrews 11:26)

We’re told in the New Testament to “seek the things that are above”:

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:1-2)

The great need of the church in this hour is to be able to see and articulate that which is eternal. 

Scripture directs our attention to eternal things because, first of all, our God inhabits eternity.

“For thus said the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity…”  (Isaiah 57:15)

If that is not enough of a reason (and it should be!), we have another-  the things we can see with our eyes and hold on to with our hands are all temporary; this world is passing away! 

The Church is the world’s witness of eternity; we have been given eyes to see that which is invisible.  How terrible then, if the church should lose it’s sight!  What do we have to offer the world, if not eternity?

Seeing Jesus correctly

It’s impossible to grasp who Jesus really is without a vision of the eternal.  The reason so many see Jesus as a “good teacher” but fail to knowledge Him as their “Lord” is because they have faulty vision- they see only that He was a good man, not that He is KING OF KINGS and LORD Of LORDS. 

“On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:16)

The clearer our vision of eternity becomes the more sobering the reality is- Jesus who has come to save, will one day judge the world!  He will reign and rule!

Christians at the judgment seat of Christ

Even born again Christians often fail to appreciate who Jesus is.  We see Him as “a friend of sinners”, the Lover of our souls, the Lamb of God who takes away our sins- and thankfully He is all of that and more!  But do we understand that we will one day appear before Him at the “judgment seat of Christ”?  What did the Apostle Paul know that we seem to have missed when he said:

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”  (Philippians 2:12)

What did the writer of Hebrews know that would cause him to say: “… so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” ?  (Hebrews 12:28-29)

One of the most recognized phrases among Christians is, “We walk by faith, and not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)  It’s used all the time to talk about the “faith walk” and Christians the world over use it in the general sense to talk about the necessity of “walking by faith”.  But have you read the sentences before and after that verse?  They deal with death and facing eternity, and appearing before the judgment seat of Christ.  Talk about sobering! 

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)

I’m trying to think of how many times in the last 26 years I’ve heard the message of “walking by faith” connected to the judgment seat of Christ.  I’m not honestly sure I can think of a single instance in my own experience!  But God makes that connection- as we walk by faith we should be seeing eternity; and as we see eternal realities we are made aware of who God is- and that one day we will be appearing before Him as He sits in perfect judgment.  Do we see what John saw; even have a glimpse?

“When I saw Him I fell at His feet as though dead…” (Revelation 1:17)

May we have a vision of eternity and the Eternal One.

“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)

Note what the Apostle says- “ I resolved”. Paul had a settled determination that he would not be moved from proclaiming this one thing- Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)

I can’t help but notice that his passion for a single-hearted focus on Jesus was not what he saw happening in the Church in Corinth. As I read the letter he wrote to the Corinthians one thing is plain- He spends a great deal of time telling them it’s not about them! They’d been making the Christian life to be all about themselves, lifting one man up as greater than another-making it about the ones who ministered, instead of making it all about Jesus.

We do the exact same thing today… with our preachers, teachers, ministers, musicians, authors… those with gifts of healing, faith, prophecy…

How many wonderfully gifted men and women of God are put up on a pedestal? Read through the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians and see how many times Paul admonishes the Corinthian church not to do that! Men bragging about men, enamored with God’s servants.

It’s not about the servants- it’s about Jesus.

“Therefore as it is written: “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31)

He called the Corinthian church, “mere infants in Christ” Why did he say that? Because they were bragging about the servants of God that they followed and loved! (1 Corinthians 3:1-9)

Now put yourself in Paul’s place- on his visit to Corinth all he’s determined to focus on is just one thing; all he wants to do is talk about Jesus. He’s locked into this single obsession- Christ and Him crucified. And what does he find when he visits this church? People who are caught up in following other people- everyone had his own favorite preacher, and everyone thought their preacher was the best! How disappointing. Paul couldn’t have been very happy with that. His letter reveals that he wasn’t- it really weighed on Him.

This is not what the Christian life is about! This is supposed to be about Jesus Christ and Him crucified- not your favorite minister; not your favorite band; not your favorite author- not about us, but about Him.

“What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow… (1 Corinthians 3:5-8)

Only servants- it’s not about us, it’s about Him.

As I read the first few chapters of Corinthians I feel the troubled soul of a man whose heart beats for Jesus- and hates to see the glory that Christ alone deserves going to anyone else.

“Therefore as it is written: “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31)

As I opened up the paper this morning I noticed the obituaries:

A 14 year girl had died in an automobile accident, and below her was the name of a 97 year old woman who had also died the same day. It reminded me of why the bible says:

“As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’  I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)

We have no guarantee of tomorrow, so the bible tells us not to put off the issue of eternity. One may live for 14 years, another for 97- since we have no idea when we will be leaving this world we better make some decisions now, before it’s too late.

The newspaper said the authorities didn’t believe speed or alcohol were involved in the young girl’s accident. Two vehicles collided and her time on earth was done.

The strange thing about life though is that time doesn’t necessarily make us any wiser. The 14 year old could have given her life to Christ, and the 97 year old may not have! In this case I don’t know what decisions where made by the two concerning Christ.

Giving your life to Jesus

One thing I do know is that every day on this planet young people die who have already given their life to Jesus. They came to Jesus and received Him even though they were young. When death came they were prepared.

Thankfully, there are also those who’ve lived full lives of many years who have also “given their life” to Jesus- when death comes they too will be ready.

It’s the ones who never “get around to it” that the bible’s concerned about. Like a voice pleading from eternity come the words:

“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

14 or 97- Who will leave this earth first? Don’t be so quick to say you know! In the case of our town both ended up dying and leaving the same day.

It would be wonderful if both did, in fact, belong to Jesus… and they just may have! One thing is certain- a very young woman and a very old woman both left this world on the same day and will face eternity locked into the choice they either did, or didn’t make, concerning Jesus Christ.

Since none of us knows when we will be leaving this world the bible clearly tells us to not put off until tomorrow the single most important decision a person can ever make.

Now is the time to make decisions about eternity. What if tomorrow never comes? We can be sure that for everyone of us there will be a tomorrow that doesn’t come- we will wake up in a place outside of this world and be faced with heaven or hell as our final destination. How wonderful, whether we are 14 or 97, if we find ourselves in heaven! How tragic and horrible to be faced with hell for eternity because we never received Christ as our Lord and Savior; because we never gave a thought to what would happen after we die.

Here are just a few of the things Jesus says about eternal life:

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though He dies…” (John 11:25)

“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise Him up at the last day.” (John 6:40)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36)

Give your life to Jesus today

Since you have no idea what the span of your life will be, why would you ever put off such an important decision? I hope today will be the day you give your life to Jesus!

For more information please read, “Heaven, Hell and Eternal Life”.

“We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved.” (Acts 15:11)

I would like it if I never heard another Christian use the word “Christianity”.

You will never find the term used in the Word of God.  You never find it used in the book of Acts. Never in the teachings of Paul, or Peter, or John, or any other inspired word of scripture. We are never told to preach the message of Christianity, or some such thing as that. The term is absent.

I have disliked the use of the word for a long time.  My reason for feeling this way is simple- it obscures what we have really been called to preach… Jesus!  If you will read through the book of Acts you will see everywhere the glory of preaching Jesus.  The passion to proclaim HIM!  Not a religion, but the person, Jesus Christ- our Savior, our Lord, the Son of God- Jesus!

I’m not just arguing about words.  Our words reflect our thoughts.  Our words display our inner thinking.  What we say, has a lot to say, about what we believe.  The words we choose are an open window to the condition of our heart.

No religion here

Why don’t we see the term Christianity in the Word of God?  I believe it’s because the writers saw Jesus.  They lived with Him, and for Him, even to the point of death.  And for what, to create another religion?  They preached what they knew, and what was for them true- And what they knew was Jesus.  He had come, He had died, He had risen from the dead.

This Jesus was their Savior and Lord… not a religious system.

Well, the world has never been comfortable with Him, or his name.  It’s much easier for the world to hear “Christianity teaches” than to hear “Jesus says”.  Christianity isn’t a stumbling block, but Jesus certainly is.  Start to talk about Jesus, use His name, and people squirm.  The world likes much of what He taught, they just refuse Him!  Strange!

The term “God” is also well liked by the world.  That is until He’s made personal.  Talk about God and everything will go along pretty well, until of course, Jesus is mentioned.  The idea here is to keep God generic.  The world gets nervous about making God specific and personal.

In love with Jesus

The Church, however, has always loved the name of Jesus.  We are after all the bride of Christ.  And what bride doesn’t like hearing her bridegroom’s name?  It’s Jesus this, and Jesus that, and how wonderful is Jesus!   This is what you see in the book of Acts.  A church that won’t stop, can’t stop, using His name!  Even with the threat of death, they go right on talking about Jesus.  It’s all about Jesus; they knew that.  So He was, therefore, the focus- it was always about a person, never a religion.

I have a jealousy for the name of Jesus; I have a jealousy for Him.  If the world wants to treat what we have in an impersonal way, let them.  But I’m never going to make it easy for them to believe that what I have is just some religious system.  Like it or not, He is personal, extremely so.  I want the whole world to know it.  I don’t want anyone to be confused about that fact.

I don’t want anyone to somehow think that what we have is just religion.  Let’s make it clear to the world…we love Jesus.  We preach Jesus.  We follow Jesus.  It will make them very nervous to hear talk like this, but at least we will not be guilty of lulling them into the spiritual sleep of thinking that mere religion can save them.  We know it can’t, and for this reason alone we should do everything we can to help them avoid the trap of “religion”.

Followers of Jesus

We do Him no honor by using the term “Christianity”- We just make it easier for people to avoid Him; to think that “going to church” or “being religious” is the same thing as knowing Him.  By using the term “Christianity” we imply that to become a Christian you join a religion as you would a social club.  God doesn’t tell us to join anything- He tells us we must follow one particular person.  It’s possible to join a church, and yet never follow Jesus!

Our job as Christians is to point people away from religion and manmade ideas so that they can become followers of Jesus.  I hear Christians say all the time that the bible is our instruction book from God.  All I can say is, “We’re not following His instructions too well!”  We are to preach JESUS.  We are to tell people to follow HIM.

I’d rather have Jesus

Well, maybe we have just fallen into using the term “Christianity”.  Perhaps it’s nothing more sinister than that. (Although I doubt it, I think the devil loves it when we make God religious and impersonal.  He hates the name of Jesus.)  But let’s say that it’s just something you never gave much thought to.  If so, than maybe you should think about it- and consider stopping the practice.  I have given you a lot of reasons for not using the term “Christianity”, and I can’t think of any good ones for using it!  Certainly the name of Jesus is preferred to the term, “Christianity”.  Isn’t it?

Isaiah foresaw what every true believer in Jesus Christ has come to know: Jesus is wonderful! There couldn’t be a more apt description of the Savior than that, and Isaiah puts it first in the list of titles that describe Him.

“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.”

-Isaiah 9:6-7

You can’t read that without getting the picture- Jesus is indeed wonderful! Christians have gotten used to calling Him, “Wonderful Counselor”, and that He is- but if you look at the footnotes in your bible you’ll also see that the passage can be rendered with a comma: “Wonderful, Counselor…”

I read the passage with a comma because Jesus isn’t just a wonderful counselor- He’s just plain wonderful in whatever aspect you look at Him!

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given…

And He is WONDERFUL!