The Gospel of Hate- Not all Roads Lead to Heaven

As I was driving down the road, I couldn’t help but notice there were three individuals standing with signs on the corner of Maple rd- downtown Bellingham. I was compelled to pull over and talk to them.

As I parked the car and made my way across the street I noticed they were all glaring at me. I could sense this immediate tension build, the closer I approached them.

As I walked up, I introduced myself and started to ask them about what they were doing. Instantly they began to talk about Jesus and what his mission on this earth was. I noticed one of the individuals sweater read; “Ask me why you are going to Hell.” So I asked. I was told instantly that my answers could not be answered and I should ask the other two. I was confused and asked them one question; “who was hell created for?” they responded- for the fallen angels and Satan.

As I nodded my head, I asked them, “then why are you condemning people to hell….?”

They said we are not, but we are condemning Lukewarm Christians. I asked them-what church they were from, as they all smiled and laughed, as if they were not interested in truly telling me. They immediately asked what church I went to, so I said CTK downtown. They all instantly started to attack how much of a joke CTK was and how everyone there was going to burn in hell. They immedietly didn’t take me serious simply because I was associated with the church of CTK.

They started to give me reasons why; People drink there, people do drugs there, there are homosexuals and so forth..

I immediately thought of Jesus as they started to rebuke all the sin within the church…..Did Jesus not eat with the tax collectors and the prostitutes?

As we continued to talk, they started to attack me personally- “do you go out and evangelize? Do you bring people to God? If you don’t then you are not a Christian…!” They started saying how much of an ungodly person I was by just going to CTK. They started accusing me of being a huge sinner, and that I needed to repent! They started saying that I had no power over my sin, and I literally was a lost soul!…..As i stood there in disbelief I just smiled, and noticed that the man- who I later learned was the actual pastor- mentioned that I had a smirk on my face. And my smirk was condescending and I had no intentions of learning anything but was there simply patronizing them. They proclaimed themselves as professionals of God, and knew the kind of person I was. I was in utter disbelief, had my curiosity triggered some sort of anger towards me?

And all this was done with such hatred and condemnation. I was baffled, I could not believe my ears. Did these people truly believe that they were preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ? Or were they all filled with a religious spirit?

As I continued to be Spiritually attacked, It was as if God foreseen these events and a young man came walking up with his son out of know where. He immediately invited all of us to church with him. This had broken the tension that had been built. These three individuals that had been standing there attacking me for being such a sinner immediately dispersed (started climbing into their car to leave).

They must have felt the truth coming their way. Its much easier attacking a young guy like me, that is alone, than a few guys that are preaching truth.

I remember, when I was younger, roughly 22, right after being baptized, I received a gift in discerning Spirits. I didn’t realize of this gift until I was faced with a serious Spiritual attack. In fact, a demonic Spirit had surfaced himself among me. I could actually see him sweeping swiftly by my face, as I closed my eyes. This Gift has stuck along side with me, and today I was faced by three individuals that were filled with several evil Spirits. Although they preached the Gospel of Christ.

They did it out of self righteousness, out of hatred….Out of anger…..

In fact, As I walked up to them they were in the middle of an argument with some pedestrians about how they were going to hell if they didn’t repent. I was shocked…these 3 individuals were actually misrepresenting Jesus and his Gospel. They were not telling people of the truth, but condemning them for being unaware of the truth…!

So as this young man approached us and invited us to church (the young man that broke the tension), It had felt as if God had intervened. I could feel a strong presence in this young man. His heart reflected his Spirituality. He had noted how quickly those three had dispersed when they started to hear the truth. I agreed.

As me and my friend stood there talking to this young man, we were surprised how much was being said. It was as if God had sent this individual to our rescue. I was very grateful although I hadn’t mentioned anything.

As we finished our talk I was quite intrigued with how much had happened so fast. This young man reminded me of a women that had been following around the apostles. She would say things like- these men speak the truth, listen to them….However, she had possessed a spirit of religion. And they rebuked her and the spirit was lifted.

How do you know you have this religious spirit?…Did Paul not emphasize that if you have all the gifts but have no love, you have nothing?

Well if you show signs of-

You judge others by their appearance
You try to earn Gods love and salvation
You try to conform to outward holiness without inward transformation
You are always criticizing other people’s walk with God
You perform Christian duties but have no hunger for God
You desire position and honor in the church more than honor from God
Your identity is rooted in the lifestyle of a Christian instead of Christ
You project righteousness but inside you have nothing but anger and resentment

These are all things that happen when a person is religious not born again. We must distinguish the difference between being born again and being religious.

We must first, repent, then accept Jesus as out Lord and Savior. Sin no more.

Then we are to be baptized and God will send his Holy Spirit in our hearts (when we fully submit ourselves to him).

Without the power of the Holy Spirit we will not be able to conquer sin.

As I was standing there being judged by these three individuals, I couldn’t help but notice they were displaying all the signs of being religious and not Christian (Born of the Spirit). They were attacking me not because I was a sinner, but because they sensed truth. Satan will use these types of people to attack you in your life. Satan wants to tell you, that you are hopeless, that you are lost. I knew 100% in my heart that I was living in accordance to the scriptures. I knew that in my heart, I could hear the Holy Spirit talking to me. In fact, this entire situation was the outcome of listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit in my heart. When I seen them, I heard a voice saying you should stop by and talk to them.

We will encounter many people in this life, some of which will claim to be teaching the Gospel of Christ, but remember, if they are preaching anything, yet have no love, this is not of the Spirit. If they bear no Spiritual fruits, but spew out personal attacks, and anger, this is a sign of the evil in a demonic spirit. This is the sign of a religious spirit, that might of manifested from self righteousness, or self justification.

There is only one Gospel that aligns with the scriptures, its the Gospel of Christ, which is to be preached in love, not in hate!

Even if you are wrong in your beliefs, the person that is representing Christ will never attack you. They will tell you about the truth, not shove it down your throat….

Represent Jesus According to his Gospel…otherwise you might as well not do anything at all, who wants to follow a God of hate, who wants to get to know a person that condemns…We want to be accepted for who we are…we want to be told that we have been forgiven for what we have done….Don’t feed the swine pearls or they will destroy them and spit them out and then attack you!…..

I know without a doubt in my mind that I love Jesus Christ, I know without a doubt in my mind that he loves me and will always take care of me…I know that my obedience pleases him…and I am able to conquer sin through him only….

Would you like to have that power, are you tired of being a slave to sin?…..You don’t have to be anymore. Take it from someone that used to be so deep in sin that I thought I would never be free…But I was…

All I did was pray to Christ, and say; “Jesus, Forgive me, I want to be obedient, I no longer want to be controlled by sin, please come into my heart and free me of these shackles. Please teach me your ways, teach me to love like you loved, teach me to walk like you walked..”

And Jesus will give you the power through the Holy Spirit. He will send the counselor that frees you of all sin….

-Amen-