IT IS TIME!!!!

Allright it is time....*groan* still this long till GWB is out!!!!

Acknowledging Christ

I was recently studying Matthew 10, and found many interesting concepts to consider, some that I have expounded upon in an earlier post entitled Discipleship. I would like to look now at verses 32 and 33. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father. (NASB) Simple verses to understand, and yet so true. Are we willing to acknowledge Christ before others? As Christians, that should be our primary aim and focus. It is the essence of what makes us Jesus zealots.

But now lets look at the other side of the picture. How often do we deny Christ. How often are we in a group setting and someone makes some vulgar joke and we let it go uncontested. What if someone takes the name of the Lord in vain? Do we just say nothing, hoping to appear as part of the in-group, and in essence denying Christ? I know I am often guilty of denying Christ. There are other ways, too. Let's strive toward the crown so that when we get in the presence of our heavenly father, we do not hear the terrible words, “I never knew you.”

Looking away from the cross

Did you ever think about how many people are wearing crosses around their necks today? And its not just Catholics anymore. There is way too much focus on the cross today. Take Mel Gibson's Passion for example. Everything was focused on the sufferings of Jesus with only one brief look at the resurrection scene. As Christians, the cross was the lowest point in our salvation process. As Jesus' disciples looked with dread on the cross, they knew their Lord was dying. The cross was Satan's greatest victory. Still, we can and should appreciate the work that Jesus did on the cross, for us. But in my opinion, there is way too much emphasis placed on the cross today. We should be looking at and enjoying the power of the resurrection! I believe this is just too tell-tale of a trend that is going on in modern Christianity's attitude. Rather than living in victorious Christian living, they instead stoop to commemorate the defeats and losses we have had. Let's be looking ahead, with the resurrection in our hindsight, and the crown straight ahead!

Switch Gears

Okay, now that I have started this website off with some doctrinal views and opinions, I think I will branch off into the specifics of modern Christianity and society. I'll keep you posted!

Differences between Anabaptists and Evangelicals

If you are an evangelical and reading this, I will be the first to say that it is not my intent to offend anyone. I have quite a few evangelical friends, and I am not in any way questioning their sincerity, and certainly not their salvation. Having said that however, we do disagree on some doctrines, and it is these that I wish to briefly mention here.

We disagree about the relativity of church to state. We are at odds about the methods used for being in the world, but not of the world. We have different views about how grace affects our life after we are born again. And perhaps most importantly, is the way we interpret scripture, Anabaptists taking a strict and non-changing literal view, and holding the New Testament above the Old.

However, perhaps what has made Anabaptists stand out the most is their radical two kingdom belief. This belief strongly influences my own life—spiritually and physically. For instance, how can I go to war if Jesus plainly taught that His kingdom is not of this world? How can I even consider going to war when there is the possibility of shooting down my own brothers in Christ? Ephesians 6:12 says: For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. So you can see that the real war is not the USA versus everyone else (for the US is not God's chosen nation), but God's chosen people, Christians, versus Satan's kingdom. My membership is to another kingdom, and I am simply an ambassador to this temporary kingdom. My homage, respect, and honor all go to another Commander-in-Chief (sorry, Bush).

Having said all this, I conclude that many doctrines of evangelicals are scripturally incorrect. They have arrived at this point because of compromises throughout the ages, and at last arrived at the point where evangelical youth act no different than the world's youth, engaging in premarital sex, drugs, and other shameful acts. And the problem is, most of them don't even know its wrong.

Later on, I may touch on some of the things I only briefly mentioned. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,

Free Radical

Discipleship

So just what is discipleship? What does it involve? As Jesus zealots, we are disciples of Jesus Christ. We follow His teaching. We follow His example. And we modern-day followers have a special advantage, the leading of the Holy Spirit.

We see Jesus's first command about personal discipleship in Matthew 4:19-- He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” We also see their immediate response. At once they left their nets and followed him. Are we willing and striving to be fishers of men? It all starts with leaving our nets and following immediately.

In Matthew 10:34-40, we see the extreme implications of the radical call that Jesus makes to all who would be a member of His kingdom. “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” Are we truly willing to be a Jesus zealot?

My friends, let no man deceive you. Salvation is not without a price. Jesus died and suffered horribly for us, but now he is calling all men to repentance, and a personal walk with him. We cannot earn our salvation, but we can devote our entire lives in gratitude to the One who has saved us. Can faith alone save us? NO! It is a the combination of faith and works. James 2:14--What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

James 2:26 says: For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Are we seeing dead faith today? Dead Christianity? Modern evangelicalism has reduced it to a science. Say this prayer word for word, and you go to heaven, no matter what you do! The Bible clearly teaches that to be a Jesus zealot, one has to follow Jesus with his whole soul, strength and mind. What about you? Are you like the lukewarm church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-18)? I challenge you to a closer walk with God, and to truly be on fire for Jesus Christ. In closing, let me say that I am not perfect, but I am still trying, and by God's grace, continuing on the upward way.

For Him and His kingdom,

Free Radical

Note: All scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible

Anabaptism

Hey thanks disciple, hoping this is gonna be fun. But first, you may be wondering, just what are Anabaptists? Many times called the radicals in earlier times, we still hold fast to many of the same radical beliefs, especially taking literally the sermon on the mount. But the main focus of Anabaptism versus Evangelicalism is the emphasis on personal discipleship. I believe pop Christianity has made it too easy to "become saved", therefore emphasizing a grace theology. Jesus' teachings centered on the kingdom of God, and i believe the Christian life is a journey.
Though i have only scratched the surface, hopefully you will be hearing more from me shortly.

for the kingdom,
Free Radical

Welcome to Jesus Zealots!

Welcome to Jesus Zealots! What are Jesus Zealots? They are those of us who have decided to zealously follow Jesus irregardless of anything else. We are crazy about Christ! This blog is brought to you by two young Anabaptists and I promise that we will pound discipleship all day long! We will try to give a critique of modern society and challenge you to view the world like Jesus would have us view and change it.

For Christ and the Kingdom of God!