Did you know that Jesus never referred to his disciples as Christian? Did you know that the word Christianity appears no where in Scripture? Did you know that the words Christian and Christians appear a total of two times in Scripture and Christian is the label outsiders gave them – not a title they gave themselves.
When Jesus was with his disciples, not once did he ever say that they were to be known as Christians. One would think that he would have told them so. In fact, what did Jesus say they were to be? At John 8:31-32 we read:
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.
His disciples.
Followers of Christ are to be his disciples.
What is known as Christianity today is not of Scripture? Even the word does not appear in Scripture. It was created by men and it was a term that just caught on. It is a great assumption and a great deception.
Today, those who are truly Christs disciples and who hold to his teachings, will find themselves polar opposites with what is known today as Christianity. Why?
Because they will find themselves in a struggle between being loyal to Christs teachings and loyalty to the Christian religions.
For instance, the Christian religions teach that the wicked will be punished with eternal hellfire. Yet, Scripture at 2 Thessalonians 1:9 teaches that the wicked’s punishment will be everlasting destruction – not eternal hellfire. Punishment with in an eternal hellfire is not the same thing as eternal or everlasting destruction. Everlasting destruction means to be destroyed forever, never to exist again. Everlasting punishment is ongoing; there is no destruction implied.
So, those holding to Christs teachings, will automatically find themselves at odds with what is known as Christianity today. Those holding to Christs teachings – as Jesus says at John 8:31-32 – are really his disciples. Then, he said, his disciples would know the truth and the truth would set them free.
Today, millions are in captivity to the traditional teachings of men such as hellfire, rapture, and trinity. They are so shackled that when shown Scriptures that plainly show there error, they defend the error. They are loyal to another Master: Religion.
Jesus aptly said at Matthew 6:24:
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
I personally have observed many who are loyal to their particular master – Christian religion – hate those who hold to Jesus’ teachings. They contend with almost everything written in Scripture.
As another instance concerning Christianity’s teaching of the trinity, 1 Corinthians 8:6 clearly states that there is but one God and He is the Father. Yet, Christianity is at odds with what is clearly stated. They say that there are three Gods.
Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
When adherents of Christianity are showed this Scripture, they pull the “taking out of context” line or they go in the attack mode and attack the person who presents such a Scripture and stands by it’s truthfulness. When the person is attacked, it distracts from having to deal with the Scripture. Again, they are loyal to their master – Christianity – rather than loyal to Christ.
As bold as this might sound, it is the truth.
Our loyalty should not be to what men established and gave a name – Christianity. Our loyalty should be to God and Christ – not religion. All true followers of Christ are not Christians, they are his disciples.
It appears from Scripture that this anomaly called Christianity will wax from bad to worse. It also appears from Scripture that it will be the instrument – the religious system – that will incite persecution and tribulation upon Christs true disciples in the days ahead in the Great Tribulation.
