A strong wind not only destroys and uproots things deeply rooted, it also moves and scatters. Winds blow in ominous dark clouds as well.
The winds referred to here are the many voices and teachings of humans and their human agencies.
When Jesus came into the world, it was not with a view to calling those who did not believe him or believe in him heathens; or to condemn them to eternal punishment in a hellfire for not believing him; or making it seem that he loved those who believed in him more than those who did not.
Neither did Christ or his apostles speak of “winning souls.” This is all stuff of men. It is also presumptuous and arrogant on the part of those claiming some special and exclusive relationship with Christ that sets them above those who do not.
Jesus never did those things or had that mindset. It is presumptuous men and women and their religious systems that have done this and make it seem that this is how God and His Christ thinks.
Jesus showed his love for even the evil-doers. An adulterous woman who was brought before the Sanhedrin and found guilty and sentenced to death by stoning, Jesus did not condemn. (John 8:1-11)
Those who persecuted him and pierced him and put him to death, Jesus asked that they be forgiven. (Luke 23:34)
A condemned man who was not his follower, Jesus promised would be with him in paradise. (Luke 23:43)
All examples of great expressions of love by Jesus to the non-believer.
John 3:16 does not say that “God so loved only those who believe in Jesus”, it says that “God so loved the world” [of mankind].
That in itself shows that God and His Christ recognizes the dire state mankind is in: Innocent and ignorant sheep without a true Shepherd or Leader. Innocence and ignorance are not punished by God and His Christ, it is looked over and forgiven. And, that is exactly what Jesus did.
So what is this teaching and spirit found among so many today claiming that they “are saved” or are followers of Christ that judges other men and condemns them when they trespass or do not think and believe as they do? This is not of Christ.
Christ forgave persons like that; yet, those of these religious organizations do just the opposite of the one they claim to follow.
They have cultivated this “us versus them” (believer versus non-believer) mentality so as to make themselves special somehow in relation to God and Christ.
The Apostle Paul understood what millions claiming to follow Christ do not:
“For God does not show favoritism.” (Romans 2:11)
Christ obligates all those claiming to be his disciples to …
…love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.(Matthew 5:44-45)
He did not say judge and condemn them. It is not the place of men to condemn others to any place or condition that only God and Christ can.
In the Lord’s Prayer Jesus teaches us:
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 6:14-15)
The major part of the demonic hordes that besets all of the human family today is “religion.” Primarily what men give the name “Christianity” is the ringleader. It is a great imposter and the greatest misleader of men. It prevents the truth about Christ and his teachings from shining through. It sits as a thick dark cloud over the entire human family.
Jesus foretold its coming. He foretold that “many” would come on the basis of his name saying that “I am the Christ.” That is exactly how what men call Christianity developed. It came on the worldly scene acknowledging that Jesus “Is the Christ.” But it stops there. It would mislead many.
Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. (Matthew 24:5)
The system of religion called Christianity is “many.” It contains many denominations and they all acknowledge – truthfully – that Jesus “Is the Christ.” But its primary mission is to mislead and mislead it has done in a large way.
What men call “Christianity” has a violent and corrupt history that carries up to this day. Some nations even go as far as to say that God blesses them. This does not come from God and Christ.
The system of religion called Christianity is so powerful and influential and has such a tight hold on millions, it is very difficult for those within her to see what she really is. It has stolen and usurped sheep that belong only to the one who purchased them: The Master, Christ Jesus. It tells those sheep what to believe and think. It even gives itself the authority to do with men and women (mankind) as it pleases as if it died for them; as if it is the Lord, Master, and Judgers of them. It judges and even condemns to their created hellfire.
Popping up everywhere are persons claiming to have some special revelation from God that needs to be delivered to the people. These persons too – like their religious system counterparts – are a part of a great deception. God sent His Son – The Word of God – to us and he is all God has had to say to the world of mankind. We are instructed to keep on the watch for false prophets (in men, women, and the bulk of religious organization) and we also been instructed to listen to the person of Christ – not humans and human agencies (religious organizations and systems).
A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” Luke 9:35
What men call Christianity has been effective in a very large way in sowing the winds of confusion (Babel) and these winds have caused a scattering effect and it accounts for so many denominations within the system all with “different” and “contending” and “competing” teachings.
Each one does this “we” thing. A person within one particular stated: “We are the Trees of His Righteousness, the Anointed ones of his Pasture. We cannot quit, nor stop running the race. We counted the cost, and we dedicated ourselves to paying the price no matter what that meant. Saints, do not turn back now, do not give up, we are so close to the end of the race, to the conclusion of the war we are fighting.”
Now multiply that “we” factor by the number of contending denominations and individual self-proclaimed prophets out there and they all say they are the “we.”
Yet, they all teaching something different from the other and all claim it is from Christ.
This in itself shows why Jesus warned his followers “Watch out that no one deceives you.” (Matthew 24:5)
There has absolutely been no “watching out” for the 99.999%. There has been, however, aggressive movements by both religious systems and the self-proclaimed individual prophets to mislead. Some of this misleading is unwitting some of it is not. People often think what they do is “the correct and right thing” though it is not. Saul of Tarsus was of that sort before he became a follower of Christ. He thought in his mind and heart that it was a right and good thing to seek out and persecute Jesus’ followers. So too, those many voices (winds) that speak so as to move people and blow them into a particular frame of mind are using force, that is a strong wind, and intellectual intimidation and fear to get people to move or think a certain way. They do this while claiming they are godly or a follower of Christ. Their manner of speech is a “raising of the voice”, a yelling, a threatening, a warning and thuggish attitude towards those they speak to. They appear angry and do become angry if one does not listen to them. That in itself shows that they are not primarily concerned with expressing love. But rather, with getting others to listen to their special message. Jesus did not do that. He used love.
Christ is alive and it is him that one must listen as the Most High directed. It is a mistake to assume that a system called Christianity is the same as listening to Christ. (Luke 9:35)
I find that Christianity contends with what Jesus teaches. It “opposes” his teachings. It is “anti” to Christ’s teachings.
Once one takes courage and detaches themselves to what men call Christianity and attaches themselves to the person of Christ and become his disciples (taught by him) and not disciples of religious organizations or systems of religion, then they will understand the freedom Jesus spoke of and they will know the truth. Why? Because that which was clouding the truth – a religious system called Christianity – has been removed from before you. It can no longer act as a filter to what you are to believe about God and Christ. It will be Christ himself teaching you.
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31-32)
