Reality will always assert itself eventually. Truth will always show itself to be truth. Apple trees will always produce apples and not oranges. Poke weed will never produce blueberries. Thorn bushes will never produce figs. Water hemlock may look like wild carrot, but you'll only eat it once.
For decades Southern Baptist influenced American Christian Evangelical Protestantism promoted itself as the only "real Christianity" through television, mega churches, recording brands, publishing houses, media, and political influence. It took off even more and enculturated even more with prosperity gospel teachings and preaching. Every other Christian denomination and practice was condemned as heretical, especially the Sacramental denominations. Now look at it. one third of its membership gone over the last twenty years. Thousands of churches closed. Pastors resigned in shame. Wracked with scandal after scandal it's collapsing under its own weight because it did not stay connected to the Head. It did not follow the Way Jesus Christ taught but the practices of greedy and predatory con men. It did not worship the only true God, but a picture of him formed from its own imagination. And now, blinded by the darkness and wandering it follows not the voice of its Shepherd, but the voice of a Beast calling it to dine. Reality will always assert itself.
The Shepherd cries out, "Open your eyes! Look where you're going!" Return to what Jesus Christ taught. Live as He taught, walk as He walked. Turn around. Love one another, love the person next to you, love your enemies, because love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The person who doesn't love doesn't know God, because God is love. The person who says he is in the light but walks in darkness is a liar and the truth is not within him, but if you agree with Him about your error He is trusted and right and will drop all of these errors and will make you clean from them. Have mercy on the widow, the orphan, and the foreigner. Care for the poor and destitute. Defend those who cannot defend themselves. Operate by the Spirit and do not be enslaved by your own flesh's fear, anger, or cravings.
Remember the terms of discipleship. If you love anything more than Jesus Christ, you cannot be His disciple. If possessions, relationships, or even your own self-identity are more important to you than Jesus Christ, remove them or you cannot be His disciple. And if you cannot do this, then do not speak evil of Him by calling yourself by His name.
Do not judge those on the outside. Don't judge and you won't be judged. Forgive one another. Give expecting nothing in return. Publicly rebuke leadership that is in error as Jesus did with Peter. As Paul did with him too. Pick up your cross and come behind Him.
Hear His voice. He's begging you. Hear His voice before you are devoured.
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