According to the scriptures true Christianity is one of Discipleship.Then said Jesus unto his disciples, ‘If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me’. ‘Fore whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it’ (Matt 16:24, 25).
But do we have a right to call ourselves Christians? Does the Church really consist of true discipleship? Where am I going with this? Well a lot of us profess to be Christians, but are we true Christians by definition or just adherents to the faith, mere followers.
Coming back to who is the Church, well it’s you and me. But what has become of the Church today? Unfortunately the Church has become what is termed ‘Laodicea’.
The Laodicean Church in the Revelation of John
In John’s vision, recorded in the book of Revelation, Christ instructs John to write a message to the seven churches in Asia Minor. The message to the Laodicean’s is one of judgement and a call to repentance.
“I wish that you were cold or hot” (3:15-16)
“I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot. I would thou wert cold or hot. So, then because thou are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (KJV).
The Laodiceans were being criticized for their indifference and warmth in matters of faith (hence “lukewarm”).
It is believed that there is a Laodicean aqueduct in the town suggesting that both hot and cold water are useful, whereas lukewarm water is useless.
“Poor, blind, and naked” (3:17-18)
“Because thou say, ‘I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;’ and knowest not that thou are the wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; I counsel thee to buy from me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with ‘eye salve’, that thou mayest see” (KJV).
The words assigned to the Laodiceans suggest an over-confidence in regard to their spiritual wealth. They are incapable of recognizing their spiritual void.
In reference to the ‘eye salve’ it has been suggested that a medical school in or near the city housed a famous ophthalmologist (eye disease), this is very apt.
Of the seven churches mentioned in the Asia Minor, I can’t think of any church more befitting today than the last church, Laodicea.
In fact when we look at 2 Timothy Chapter 3, we see a damming self-fulfilling prophecy concerning the character we play as the scroll unrolls but more interesting is verse 8. Now although there are Apocryphal books that were excluded from the Canon there is no getting around the scripture as recorded. In fact brethren there is a lot that can be learned or gleaned from the Apocryphal books, yes a lot of it cannot be proven, most of it can be considered heretical teachings of gnostic fame but like anything there can be gleaned nuggets of truth.
Jannes and Jambres
These names appear in 2 Timothy 3:8. Origen says that there was an Apocryphal book called the Book of Jannes and Jambres which gave an account of their exploits and that the Apostle Paul’s epistle was quoting from it. Apparently there is no discovery. Whether or not found or lost, Apocryphal or not, Old Testament Exodus 7:11 or not, according to the Targums (ancient Jewish wisdom) these men had apparently accompanied Moses but their fate was short lived either at the Red Sea, Golden Calf or the Korah incident, we may never know but these men were in the company of Moses and yet perished.
It is a sobering thought when we ponder over our own spiritual decline. To be in the company of Moses a chosen disciple of YHWH.
What is driving us today? Is it self-importance, self-confidence, self-development, self-ambition, self-worth, self-preservation, self, self, and more of self?
Peoples, we are to deny self and take up our cross voluntarily and strive to be true disciples of Christ and to walk in his paths and statutes, willing to die to self and live for Christ, that is what we are told to do and together we represent the Church on earth, true Christianity, true discipleship and to proclaim his message to a lost and dying world.
Peoples, we are to examine ourselves daily. And when Barnabas sought Saul and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch (Act 11:26).
Finally, and there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, if any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosesoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:25-27).
Brethren when we see the Church today, you and I can understand why we are not a voice in Society and Government we have compromised, we are lukewarm and God cannot use us so is it he will spit us out.
Because we have slept, we have compromised ourselves, no longer a voice of Government, instead reaching for the meagre crumbs that are dished to us whilst asking for more, in the meantime Militant Islam has ramped up its agenda by gaining ground stealthily infiltrating our democratic society through our education system with our Schools and Universities, using democracy as a tool to gain more and more rights influencing legislation in both local and Federal Government. Without getting too political as this is not the forum for this paper but in emphasizing that the Christian West is weakening whilst the Totalitarian (Militant Islam) East is threatening.
This is a spiritual war and until we awaken to it the better. We Christians with our fellow Jew’s have won not just the battle but the war through Christ, but it is time to put down our petty squabbling and unite Jew and Christian and become true disciples.
By Craig McCartan
Hi My name is Craig McCartan and I have been involved with the Seventh Day Adventist Church for some 20 + years, I have been involved with the ‘Davidian Movement’ for most of that time, I have been a witness to the ‘Dead’ at Waco and have friends that got out of the ‘Waco experience ‘. These days I reside in London, I have two boys and keep a very level headed relationship to Christianity and Messianic teachings, I believe in the Holy Bible, but am not affiliated to any Christian denomination. We are Jew or Gentile as the scriptures teach and not Church of England, Pentecostal or Roman Catholic, when the Lord Jesus comes. The love of Christ is what is the difference, I urge you all to take off your labels and badges and to read the scriptures in the eyes of the Jewish Messiah and relish into a revealing and refreshing journey as the scriptures come alive.
But do we have a right to call ourselves Christians? Does the Church really consist of true discipleship? Where am I going with this? Well a lot of us profess to be Christians, but are we true Christians by definition or just adherents to the faith, mere followers.
Coming back to who is the Church, well it’s you and me. But what has become of the Church today? Unfortunately the Church has become what is termed ‘Laodicea’.
The Laodicean Church in the Revelation of John
In John’s vision, recorded in the book of Revelation, Christ instructs John to write a message to the seven churches in Asia Minor. The message to the Laodicean’s is one of judgement and a call to repentance.
“I wish that you were cold or hot” (3:15-16)
“I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot. I would thou wert cold or hot. So, then because thou are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (KJV).
The Laodiceans were being criticized for their indifference and warmth in matters of faith (hence “lukewarm”).
It is believed that there is a Laodicean aqueduct in the town suggesting that both hot and cold water are useful, whereas lukewarm water is useless.
“Poor, blind, and naked” (3:17-18)
“Because thou say, ‘I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;’ and knowest not that thou are the wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; I counsel thee to buy from me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with ‘eye salve’, that thou mayest see” (KJV).
The words assigned to the Laodiceans suggest an over-confidence in regard to their spiritual wealth. They are incapable of recognizing their spiritual void.
In reference to the ‘eye salve’ it has been suggested that a medical school in or near the city housed a famous ophthalmologist (eye disease), this is very apt.
Of the seven churches mentioned in the Asia Minor, I can’t think of any church more befitting today than the last church, Laodicea.
In fact when we look at 2 Timothy Chapter 3, we see a damming self-fulfilling prophecy concerning the character we play as the scroll unrolls but more interesting is verse 8. Now although there are Apocryphal books that were excluded from the Canon there is no getting around the scripture as recorded. In fact brethren there is a lot that can be learned or gleaned from the Apocryphal books, yes a lot of it cannot be proven, most of it can be considered heretical teachings of gnostic fame but like anything there can be gleaned nuggets of truth.
Jannes and Jambres
These names appear in 2 Timothy 3:8. Origen says that there was an Apocryphal book called the Book of Jannes and Jambres which gave an account of their exploits and that the Apostle Paul’s epistle was quoting from it. Apparently there is no discovery. Whether or not found or lost, Apocryphal or not, Old Testament Exodus 7:11 or not, according to the Targums (ancient Jewish wisdom) these men had apparently accompanied Moses but their fate was short lived either at the Red Sea, Golden Calf or the Korah incident, we may never know but these men were in the company of Moses and yet perished.
It is a sobering thought when we ponder over our own spiritual decline. To be in the company of Moses a chosen disciple of YHWH.
What is driving us today? Is it self-importance, self-confidence, self-development, self-ambition, self-worth, self-preservation, self, self, and more of self?
Peoples, we are to deny self and take up our cross voluntarily and strive to be true disciples of Christ and to walk in his paths and statutes, willing to die to self and live for Christ, that is what we are told to do and together we represent the Church on earth, true Christianity, true discipleship and to proclaim his message to a lost and dying world.
Peoples, we are to examine ourselves daily. And when Barnabas sought Saul and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch (Act 11:26).
Finally, and there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, if any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosesoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:25-27).
Brethren when we see the Church today, you and I can understand why we are not a voice in Society and Government we have compromised, we are lukewarm and God cannot use us so is it he will spit us out.
Because we have slept, we have compromised ourselves, no longer a voice of Government, instead reaching for the meagre crumbs that are dished to us whilst asking for more, in the meantime Militant Islam has ramped up its agenda by gaining ground stealthily infiltrating our democratic society through our education system with our Schools and Universities, using democracy as a tool to gain more and more rights influencing legislation in both local and Federal Government. Without getting too political as this is not the forum for this paper but in emphasizing that the Christian West is weakening whilst the Totalitarian (Militant Islam) East is threatening.
This is a spiritual war and until we awaken to it the better. We Christians with our fellow Jew’s have won not just the battle but the war through Christ, but it is time to put down our petty squabbling and unite Jew and Christian and become true disciples.
By Craig McCartan
Hi My name is Craig McCartan and I have been involved with the Seventh Day Adventist Church for some 20 + years, I have been involved with the ‘Davidian Movement’ for most of that time, I have been a witness to the ‘Dead’ at Waco and have friends that got out of the ‘Waco experience ‘. These days I reside in London, I have two boys and keep a very level headed relationship to Christianity and Messianic teachings, I believe in the Holy Bible, but am not affiliated to any Christian denomination. We are Jew or Gentile as the scriptures teach and not Church of England, Pentecostal or Roman Catholic, when the Lord Jesus comes. The love of Christ is what is the difference, I urge you all to take off your labels and badges and to read the scriptures in the eyes of the Jewish Messiah and relish into a revealing and refreshing journey as the scriptures come alive.