“I never could believe in the Jesus Christ of some people, for the Christ in whom they believe is simply full of affectionateness and gentleness, whereas I believe there never was a more splendid specimen of manhood, even its sternness, than the Saviour; and the very lips which declared that He would not break a bruised reed uttered the most terrible anathemas upon the Pharisees.” – Charles H Spurgeon
Much of us may look upon Spurgeon’s quote and say he was wrong, my Jesus, my God is full of love and positive feelings, He was never stern and would certainly not utter bad things towards anyone. In a sense you’re absolutely correct, however look at the last word Spurgeon uses: “Pharisees.”
To the broken, humble, and those willing to leave behind every ounce of Sin, Immorality, and the Support of False Teachings and Idolatry; to those TRULY wanting to know Jesus Christ through Obedience and Dedication to His Word, who yearns for a Spirit-filled relationship with Him (not a religious system), and is willing to do a 360 degree turn from their formal lifestyle…scripture teaches us Jesus is filled with Love, Mercy, Grace, and Forgiveness.
But to the Religious, Self-Righteous, and those unwilling to commit to His Word; and to those who support False Teachings and refuse any type of correction…there was no other person in the New Testament who stood more firmly against these people, who boldly condemned them publicly, and who did not hold back from calling them for what they were: “Hypocrites, Brood of Vipers, Blind Guides, Wicked, Snakes, and Doomed for Hell” than our Lord Jesus Christ Himself! (see: Matthew 23)
The bible clearly warns us of those who will preach a “DIFFERENT” version of Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4), we see this “different” Jesus being preached by the Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, and every World Religion and New Age System out there.
However we are finding within MANY Christian pulpits, they too have concocted a “Newer and Improved” version of Jesus. The “Jesus” of today (and the Jesus Spurgeon referred to in his quote), is a Smiling, Loving, Lenient, and Compromising Jesus…the primary Goal of this so-called Jesus caters to man like a servant, able to give them whatever they want through the power of “Positive Confession”; this Jesus wants everyone to feel comfortable, never offending, always conforming to the modern world, and will absolutely never correct anyone for their sins; this Jesus wants you to love yourself, believe in yourself, and praise yourself.
Anyone who simply read through the New Testament will know, THIS IS NOT THE JESUS OF THE BIBLE.
The selfishness for only the positive, joyful, and loving messages, and for anything and everything that caters to our emotions and desires; and our strong refusal of any type of rebuke, correcting, and exhorting, have clouded our need for True Reverence to our God and sound biblical discernment. And it is because of this we are witnessing what Satan craves for everyone: that is to make us believe in, and worship “Another Jesus”, and to turn us into the very people Jesus Himself rebuked and condemned to Hell—the Self-Righteous and Religious Pharisees.
Get to know the RIGHT Jesus, the Jesus of Sound Biblical Scripture…not the man-made superficial Jesus that has DECEIVED MANY into thinking they are on the “Narrow Path” to God’s Kingdom, when truly it is the “wide-road” to eternal destruction...Now that’s something to think about.
In Christ,
Marc
1 Thess. 5:21 