If I see aright, the cross of popular evangelicalism is not the cross of the New Testament. It is, rather, a new bright ornament upon the bosom of a self-assured and carnal Christianity. The old cross slew men; the new cross entertains them. The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses. The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it.
- A.W. Tozer |
The Anabaptists:
living as disciples
in the midst of tribulation
500 years ago, Christ again called forth a people for His own name, a people who would take up the cross daily and follow their Lord, loving not their lives even unto death. Persecuted by Protestants and Catholics alike, they did not leave us libraries of theology written with pen and ink, but the testimony of the transforming power of the gospel written on hearts of flesh.
They found little need of writing commentaries and books of systematic theology, their faith had already been delivered once for all unto the saints in the New Testament. They refused to be content with imputed righteousness but sought to daily live a life of righteousness in Christ by the grace of God through faith.
Today, as we face the coming fires of tribulation, it would serve us well to look to our brethren who have have already come through the fire and won the victory. The path we must walk is not a trail we will blaze, but a well worn path marked with the blood of the saints. Even now they whisper in our ears, "Do not fear. The Lord is with you, as He was with us." more...
Are you troubled
by the words of Jesus?
Are you troubled by the words of Jesus? Is there a gnawing sensation in your guts that Sunday morning churchianity is not even close to the call of Christ to come and follow Him? When you read His warnings to those who would follow Him, do you wonder if being sprinkled as a baby or saying the sinner's prayer really makes one a Christian? Did you ever wonder why, if the Bible warns that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted," are churches given special tax privileges and are courted by political parties?
Are you like me and when you read:
and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again,
(2 Corinthians 5:15 NKJ)
you look at your life and cry out to God, "What a worthless disciple I am. Lord change me. Make me like You. Teach me to live for You."
33 years ago, Jesus saw me laying in my own sin and vomit and bent down, washed me and raised me up. If it was not for His mercy I am convinced I would be dead and in hell today. Any form of "Christianity" that cannot do this is worthless.
That is why this web site exists, to call people to true Christianity, which is to follow Jesus with all their heart.
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True Discipleship
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Dirk Willems was born in Asperen, Netherlands, and was rebaptized as a young man, joining the Anabaptists. For this, plus his devotion to his Lord and Savior and for baptizing several other people in his home, he was condemned by the Roman Catholic Church. He escaped and while fleeing his pursuers across a frozen river, he looked back and saw one of them fallen through the ice. He turned back and saved the man's life. He was apprehended and burned at the stake near his hometown on 16 May 1569
"to live is Christ and to die is gain"
(Philippians 1:21) |
The Way of Christ
is the way of the Cross
Many put their faith in the delusions of men such as the great pre-trib rapture hoax, others are stocking up on food and guns, but all these will perish for Jesus warns that those who try to save their lives will lose their lives.
Only those who lay down their lives for Christ Jesus and the gospel will find what is life indeed and preserve them. Those who have not looked on the cross and counted the cost of following Christ will turn aside for a more inviting road.
The Reason the American Church has lost the youth is that it has lost Jesus
The siren call of the devotees of postmodernism tell us truth no longer matters to the young. Well, perhaps the "truth" evidenced in the lives of American Christians is no longer compelling to the youth, but the truth of Christ has never been more relevant. In a world where deception and manipulation are the norm, Christ shines ever more clearly as the only light of the world. If the youth reject our americanized Christianity, they are only reaffirming Christ's rejection of the lukewarm, insipid thing that is called Church in America. The youth are only obeying Paul's injunction to have nothing to do with those who "having the outward form of religion, but have denied its power." (2 Timothy 3:5)
Perhaps if we stopped trying to reach the world by conforming to it, and instead lived in such a way that Christ is evident in us, the youth might be interested again in "the way, the truth, and the life." We can never make disciples of Jesus without first becoming His disciples ourselves.
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