Purposeology 101
		   The Ticket to Heaven may not be so secure


   Life's a funny thing.  You want it so much, you grab it and hold on tight.
Seems logical, doesn't it?  I mean.. if you hold a rope lightly in tug-o-war,
it's gonna slip out of your hands ; or if you hold on but don't dig in your
heels and feet, you'll be pulled over the line, and lose.  So.. it makes
sense that the only way to have a fulfilling life is to fight it out -- to
dig in with all you are and pull out a life that you'll never regret.  Seems
logical, doesn't it?
   It's not that simple though.  I know that millions of people in this world
put years upon years of hard effort into life, only to find more years of
hard effort ahead of them ; and when it comes to the end of their lives, all
they have is a hope that somehow their next "experience" of life will be
better.. more worthwhile.. more fulfilling.  Tons of Christians have this
idea -- that their belief in Jesus will bring them eternal life.. and a
freedom from all the drudgery that this life has brought them.  There's one
small problem -- most of them are wrong.
   Sounds like sacrilege doesn't it?  I mean... with all that's on this
webpage preaching the Gospel, how can I go about saying that most Christians
aren't going to inherit the eternal life God has planned for them?
   I am well aware that what I'm saying is going to shake up a few (well,
probably more than a few) foundations in people's lives.  But I care enough
to do so.  I care enough to speak up for what Jesus wants said -- even if
just about everyone who reads this hates me for it.  I care enough to tell
you all what needs to be said.. not to attack you, but to help you realize
the danger of the situation that you.. and most of those around you are truly
in.
   Jesus came into this world as a child.  Not as the omnipotently glorious
person He truly is.. but as a peasant child.  Why..?  Because God wanted to
reach people who would truly want to hear Him -- Not those who prefer seeking
for the answers in king's castles.. or university libraries.. or temples of
enlightenment.. but those who purposefully choose to pursue the most
important things in life:  Love and Worship.  It was only as a small child,
that Jesus could best witness the truth of God's own willingness to reach
down to us.. as tiny as we are in comparison to Him.. as frail.. as needy.
Only by reaching down and taking upon Himself our weakness, could Jesus truly
testify of God's desire to reach down to us.. in our weakness and confusion..
and show that He not only cared for us, but loved us so deeply that we could
not begin to measure it.. loved us so astoundingly that omnipotence took upon
Himself weakness.
   So.. why is it that so many "Christians" are going to not end up where
Christ is?  Really.. it's their own fault... though the church-proper isn't
helping all that much.
   See.. God's love is a love that few people take much time to consider the
depths of.  A lot of this is because.. at least in my society.. people are so
caught up in the huge amount of ways that one can "enjoy life".. much because
they are lacking peace and fulfillment in their hearts.. that they are
ignoring some of the most simple answers that Jesus said.  These answers, of
course, are *very* hard to handle.. because they bring one.. very..
important.. thing ------ death.  Jesus wasn't lying when He said that those
who followed after Him would be called "Beelzebub" even more than He was.
And of course.. this means that, just as Jesus was scorned by His own
generation, so we shall be scorned all the more.  Yet in today's society..
Christianity has become both a political force that people use to champion
"Christian" causes, and an acceptable mantlepiece.. that people look at and
admire now and then.
   But isn't this what Jesus wanted?  Isn't using force or politics to fight
for Christianly morals and human rights something that Jesus truly advocated?
If you open a Bible to a very seldomly quoted passage Matthew 5.. at verse
38.. you will find one of the most world-shaking and heart-breaking
statements that you will ever come across.  From this verse.. on through
verse 48.. Jesus talks about something that is *UNHEARD* of in today's
world.. at least in western society -- the notion of not just having a
heartfelt desire to see our enemies one day suffer for the wrongs they've
done.... not just feeling a hope inside that they'll someday realize how much
suffering they've been causing, and how wrong they've been behaving.. but
having the very same love that Jesus.. not only had for those who stood by
Him (*cough cough* -- none) but a love that ached inside to bring life to the
worst of those who brought about His death.  Yes.. ACHED!  Jesus was aching
inside that these people.. who were causing His death.. were so lost.. and in
need of the peace and fulfillment that only He could bring.  *YOU* try
thinking what it must have been like.. when those whom Jesus' own power was
sustaining (without which, nothing alive could exist.. save God, Himself)..
those whom Jesus had an instrumental hand in the knitting together of in
their mothers' wombs.. those whom Jesus watched and knew through every moment
of their lives.. ended up not only casting Him aside.. but absolutely
destroying His physical life on this planet.. all because He loved them
enough to tell them the truth.. and point them all to the ONLY way to live
forever.
   The passage in Matthew 5:38-48 is, in my opinion, one of the most
important in the entirety of Scripture.  Many Christians know of the passage
in 1 Corinthians 13.. about love... and what it truly is.. but few dare to
truly begin to die to themselves enough to love.. you got it.. EVEN THEIR
ENEMIES!  Paul pointed to the fact in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 that.. without
love.. he was *NOTHING*.  It didn't matter if he did tons of miracles.. or
sold all his possessions.. or could understand the reasons why things are
the way they are.. or even let himself be killed for Jesus... this would not
matter at all.. if he did not have love in his heart.  And.. in this world..
one thing that people.. including many so-called "Christians"... end up doing
is only "loving their own".  But Jesus spoke about this very thing in this
chapter.  In verses 46 and 47.. Jesus says that if we merely loved those who
loved us.. then what good was it/"what reward have you?"
   This little habit of mankind needs to be extinguished once and for all....
but it's not going to be eradicated until Jesus returns.  My shorthand term
for this whole idea is "Themism".. (pronounced Them-izzum).  We do it so
often all over this world it's just grotesque!  We all prefer to grow into
our little groups of those who are all "like us".. who all share a common
bond.. a common ideology... a common trait.. and we eschew those who most
need the love that we can give them.. who don't share such a bonding.  Take
for example.. how you probably act when rooting for a sports team you have an
affinity for.  Do you enjoy booing the other team when they do well..?  Or
maybe as in basketball.. shaking tons of visually distracting equipment and
yelling out "airball!!!" while the opposing team attempts a free-throw..?
I'm sure you can think of tons of other examples where you.. (probably cuz
you are finding a sense of belonging, and self-worth in the achievements of
this group or individual, as well as the commaraderie that you experience
through relating with those who share your affinities) cheer for your own..
rather than cheering for everyone.
   We all enjoy doing it.  Plus.. so many of us are so hurt by all the pain
we experience in our world.. much of it stemming from the lack of love and
intimacy we got as a child.
   Ahh.. yes.. intimacy.  This is the key to so much love and fulfillment
that it's astounding.  But... so many parents are so busy doing their own
thing.. that they fail to see their responsibility to not only spend time
with their child doing things.. but spending deep.. one-on-one.. heartfelt
time talking about what matters in our hearts.. what we truly value inside.
And I don't mean just the adults talking and the kids listening.  Lectures
work in school.. but they're nasty in the real world.. and horrendous in
families.  Parents take far too little time to endear their hearts to their
kids.. and help their kids see the parents' own feelings.. flaws.. desires..
failures.. -- in est.. they refuse to be REAL with their kids.  And as a
result.. kids not only wonder if everything around them isn't even real.. but
they, themselves, put on facades.. and hide behind them.. just as their
parents taught them to do through example.
   So why aren't we intimate..?  It's purty simple.. we refuse to be.  We,
often out of fear, and often out of lack of respect for our kids, refuse to
let the deep parts of our hearts show.. thinking that we'll just end up
pummeled and attacked and destroyed.. lying in a heap on the ground.  Showing
our own weaknesses isn't something that makes you "cool" in today's world..
cuz so many people take advantage of them.  But tons of preachers have burned
out.. and fallen from grace.. cuz they tried to live up to an image of
perfection.. rather than letting their faults show from the beginning... And
tons of people are dying.. many of them believers in Jesus.. many of them
not.. because they don't really believe that they are worthwhile in God's
eyes.  I know.. for me.. I've had an extremely tough time believing that God
loved me.. much because my father.. my peers.. *and* many people at church..
just kept me at a giant's arm's length... if not a pier's length.  I wasn't
enveloped in love.. as I so needed to be... Rather.. I was simply allowed to
falter and stumble around on my own.. why?  Because nobody reached out to me
and spent time talking with me about who God really was and what He really
wanted.  Oh.. you may be thinking.. "But you didn't ask!!?"  How can we
expect people.. who have been pummeled by society.. and families.. for
years.. even decades.. to get up the courage to ask for help.. when we have
all been teaching them how unworthy of consideration their own feelings are?
It's just not all that logical!!
   And of course.. when you are hurt by so many who have claimed to know the
truth.. (the "church" especially).. you may not only distrust those who claim
to know the truth.. but.. turn your hatred upon them.. as *well* as the One
whom they claim to stand for.. and everything He stands for.  And thus..
those who truly *do* know God.. are going to be ***tremendously*** attacked..
all because of how the attackers view those who have hurt them.  And *in*
such a situation.. the absolute BEST thing you can do.. is bare your heart..
be real.. show your flaws.. *AND* not only *LET* your attackers hurt you..
but give them every opportunity to *KEEP* hurting you.. all to let them see
just how much you love them -- enough to let them take out their pain on
you.. with you not only receiving it.. but showing them love in return!  In
my experience.. when you do this to those who attack you.. one of two things
happens -- either they turn away in disgust.. thinking you're nuts.. or..
they break wide open inside.. and realize that somebody must truly love them.
   Isn't this what we want???? Isn't this what JESUS WANTS??????
   All over the world.. we are legislating Christianity.. or we think we
are.  We are legislating the Christian morals that are supposed to come.. not
from an acceptance of following a country's laws.. but from a deep.. loving
"worship" of Jesus and God... which must take place.. not merely in the
mind.. but in the heart.
   But what about worship?  Personally.. I know that word makes a lot of
people cringe... if not sink into an ecclesiastical stupor.  Tons of us are
trained to sing songs.. maybe lift our hands.. and are taught that *that* is
worship.  Still others of us think about God as merely a Tyrant in Heaven..
who wants us to cower before Him and exalt Him and sing to Him as pieces of
scum before the only worthwhile entity in existence.  But is this right???
   Truly.. just like love.. real "worship" is a condition of the heart.  It
is a decided continuance of action.. by choice.. to do that which will bring
pleasure to God's own *REAL* tender and *LOVING* heart.  Yes.. God has a
heart.  It may not beat and send liquid around a physical body.. but.. it is
just as real.. and just as feeling as our own hearts (soul-hearts, and
physical hearts) are.  He feels to a depth that none of us will ever truly
understand.  And He only wants that which is.. truly.. good!!!  -- not good
as we limited humans who enjoy pleasing ourselves may define it.. but good as
can only be defined by a person who is *PERFECTLY* and *TOTALLY* good.  Of
course.. people enjoy the refusal to worship because.. due to the curse of
sin in our lives.. we naturally want to do that which will immediately please
ourselves.. and not that which will bring the best benefit to everyone.  We
naturally do selfish things.. and not things which God wants... because the
things that God wants are guaranteed to bring us a LOT of pain in this life.
I struggle with this, myself.  I have my own fears.. especially of my
father.. for he has hurt me so deeply in my life many times.. both in growing
up and as a young adult.. including regarding the call on his life from God..
both to love everyone.. and to surrender to God's desires to live for Him.  I
struggle a lot with just what to say around him.. to help him see God..
because I'm afraid he's just going to stomp upon me again and flatten my
heart once more.  But one thing I'm learning.. thanks to God's message
through one believer.. is that "Whatever hurt this world hits you with, Jesus
can.. and will heal it.. so long as you continue on with Him."
   Worship is *NOT* just singing.. though singing *can* be worship.. (and not
all singing unto Him truly *is* worship).  Worship is *not* just preaching
the words Jesus said.. though this *can* be worship.. (and again.. may not
be).  True worship is a decided effort to live for God.. for Jesus.. for who
they really are.
   But.. there's the problem.  See... tons of people *****ALL***** over the
world *ALL* think they know who God and Jesus are.. and what they truly
want... or if they matter.. or even exist.  Even in churches.. tons of
pastors.. educated from doctrine-to-doctrine.. generation-to-generation..
choose to become convinced that they really *know* God and Jesus.  This is
one thing that gives pastors *power* -- their desires to stick to their guns
without moving... for who's gonna trust a pastor whose doctrine changes from
week to week?  But the problem is.. even though a good deal of truth *has*
remained.. an awful lot has also been *LOST* through the commercialization of
the church.. and through the refusal of those beneath misled pastors to stand
up to them long and hard enough that they back down and realize their errors.
Yet this is nothing new.  Throughout the ages.. including in Jesus' time..
the "spiritual-leaders" have been those who do not really know God.. but who
manipulate their way up the ranks one way or another.. all thinking that they
are the priveleged few who are elected to know the truths of God.. and who
are sent to lead the masses.  Problem is.. so many enjoy the notion of being
a chief.. that they spend so much time learning doctrine and teaching it..
all to the detriment of finding out who the real God truly is.. and living
humbly and servantly for Him and for all others.  Many pastors today have
spent so much time with so many things.. that they are neglecting the
necessity to get one-on-One with God.. not just now and then.. but *OFTEN*.
And so.. they fall away from any chance of truly knowing Him.. in exchange
for the "duty" of serving Him (or actually.. the Him they think He is).
   So how do you find Him?  How do you find out who the real Jesus is, what
He wants, what He stands for, and what He deserves?  Tons of people would say
"The Bible."  I would agree.. with two reservations -- 1) The "inerrancy of
Scripture" is hogwash. 2) Just because you read the Bible does not mean you
are willingly pursuing God/dying to yourself/living to love Him.. and thus,
just cuz you read it, does not guarantee you will find the truth.
   First.. Number 1.  A lot of Christians enjoy saying that the Bible is
perfect.. and even call it "God's Word".  I can guarantee you.. I can find an
error/mistranslation in every version you hand me (that I can read).. in
usually very little time.  Tons of Christians enjoy calling the Bible God's
Word because.. for one.. it gives them a sense of strength.. just carrying
something "perfect" around with them.  Plus.. if you say it's inerrant, then
you can also easily conclude that your own vision is clear when you read it,
and that you don't need to work hard to understand what is beneath the words
-- a meaning which only God's Spirit can provide.  I have struggled for more
than a decade with certain accepted "truths" of Christendom.. truths which I
could not accept.. because of how I was hearing the words of the Bible in my
heart when I read them.  These include the notions of 1) Jesus is God 2)
There is no way to lose your salvation/All those who believe in Jesus will
go to Heaven 3) Divorce and remarriage are usually valid 4) Sinners deserve
hell 5) A person *can't* hear/sense God's "voice".  I'm not going to go into
these now.. but.. I can tell you.. none of them are true.  Yet because I held
onto such beliefs.. I was cast aside by just about every Christian I spoke up
about these things to.  It hurt!  Believe me on this.  And as a result.. I
have struggled for a number of years... just trying to find my faith and
really come to know who God truly is -- to find out whether I was right.. or
wrong.  It's only been within this past month or so.. that I'm finally
finding the security that I need.. in the real God.. to *KNOW* that.. not
only am I right.. but.. that, as long as I keep relying on God.. though I may
end up hurt in the extreme by most if not all of this world.. I *CAN* make it
through this life.. and *NEED NOT BE AFRAID* of all that man can do to me.
   Number 2.  Reading the Bible is meant to be a time of prayer.. more than
an excursion into just another story.  It is meant to be a time where you
open your heart unto God.. and *ASK* Him to speak to your heart.. to destroy
everything in you that is getting in His way of being the God of your life..
and to build up *in* you whatever *HE* wants.  The Bible *IS* a very inspired
and God-breathed book.  But.. it is a SPIRITUAL one as well.. so.. you cannot
hope to truly see the depths of what's being said.. unless you humbly ask for
God to help you see what it's saying.. *AND* trust that God *WILL* show you.
Without both that asking *and* that trusting.. nobody can hope to truly
understanding God's message to us.. which is overflowing through the Bible's
pages.
   Christianity today has taken up a stand as a powerful (although declining)
force in the world.  But this force is not the force Jesus wants it to be.
No government can exist without some ability to prevent it from being taken
over.. and thus.. from the smallest daycares to the largest countries..
people have adopted the notion of using force to prevent such from
happening.. as well as protecting the "wellfare" of its citizens.  But what
is real wellfare?  Is it having 50 restaurants you can choose from every
night?  Is it having all the latest computer games and software?  Is it
making so much money that you can retire at 30?  Jesus said for us to not
store up treasures on earth.. where thieves steal and moths and rust
destroy.. but to store them up in Heaven.. where none can take them away.
And this is the problem.. cuz so many Christians (or so-called Christians
anyway) are holding onto that which this life can provide.. rather than using
it all in order to bring others unto the only thing that matters -- a
relationship with the PURELY and PERFECTLY loving Jesus Christ.. and His
Father.. God.
   See.. so many Christians.. as well as this world.. are all focussed on
"rights" -- or.. what humans "deserve".  But.. in so doing.. they write God
out of the picture.. because God hasn't given man *ANY* rights.. only
responsibilities.  Mankind is responsible to God to treat each other
lovingly.. and not only that.. but in the New Covenant, to die.. giving away
our all.. so that even our most painfully present enemies might find eternal
life.  Oh yes.. some of us enjoy our rights.. and say inside "Heh.. that scum
doesn't *deserve* to know Jesus' love.. or peace".. but to you I ask.. "do
you?"  And this is something you cannot legislate.. unless God were to take
total control of a country.. like He did originally with Israel.  Any country
where God is refused His place as ultimate ruler (both in name, and in
practice) *may* bring worldly prosperity upon itself or the world for a
time.. but.. it won't last.  God does *NOT* like to be left out of *ANYthing*
He's created.  He *DESERVES* to rule.  He *ALONE* has rights.. including the
right to *ALL* of our submission unto *EVERYTHING* He wants us doing -- 
simply because He *IS* God!  And it is not only our duty.. but our
*PRIVELEGE* to follow His desires of perfect love unto mankind.  To do any
less is to refuse to be loving... and God, though He does endure with us for
a time.. *SHALL* reach the end of His patience -- with any person, or society
of *any* size that refuses to let Him *BE* God.
   This is exactly why Jesus' message is so hated.. because He calls us all
to "Love The Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength" and
"Love your neighbor as yourself" (giving your neighbor what would best help
him or her to find and know real love in their hearts.. both now.. and for
eternity).  And with our natural desires to *HATE* what God stands for.. but
pretend *we* are righteous.. and not Him.. pretending/believing that *WE*
know what we're doing.. and that the truth about God is actually a lie.. we
all are averse to listening to Jesus' call on our lives.  This is *WHY* the
Bible calls it "taking up (y)our own cross".. cuz it's going to be painful..
it's *GOING* to hurt.. but.. in response, God *SHALL* provide for us for
eternity.  It's really worth it.. isn't it?
   Don't enjoy your life if you're not living for God.  It's only going to
bring you pain in the long run -- even if you claim to be a Christian.  For a
true *CHRISTIAN* is a "little Christ".. and will be hated and despised for
being one.. perhaps even, as Cassie Bernall was.. killed.  But my question
is.. when those who are beside you.. who claim to be Christians.. are
attacked.. are you going to love the attackers enough that they see God's
love and compassion in you?  Or are you going to judge/punish them for their
sin.  The choice is yours to make.  It's all up to you.
   So what *is* purposeology 101?  It's a continuing decision to live.. not
for enjoyment of life.. but for God -- trusting that He will take care of
*EVERYTHING*... if we, not merely believe in Him.. or in Jesus.. but die to
ourselves and live as His servants.  The prodigal son had a home waiting...
will you?