A current struggle of mine is the state of the "church." First, I would like to break down the word "church" and take it back to the Greek word ἐκκλησία (ekklēsía) Greek Strong's Number 1577. The basic meaning is "called out." What exactly are we called out of? We, the ekklesia, are called out of the world system. We are called out of a life of sin. We are called out, into the Kingdom of YHWH through Yeshua the Messiah. We are called to come out and be separate (2 Cor 6:17).

The "church," as well as other Americans, was recently polled, the results are found in Associate Press article entitled Religious Americans: My Faith Isn't the Only Way. "....57 percent of evangelical church attenders said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with traditional evangelical teaching. In all, 70 percent of Americans with a religious affiliation shared that view, and 68 percent said there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their own religion." "...By many measures, Americans are strongly religious: 92 percent believe in God, 74 percent believe in life after death, and 63 percent say their respective scriptures are the word of God. But deeper investigation found that more than one in four Roman Catholics, mainline Protestants, and Orthodox Christians expressed some doubts about God's existence, as did six in ten Jews. Another finding almost defies explanation: 21 percent of self-identified atheists said they believe in God or a universal spirit, with eight percent "absolutely certain" of it."

Some (57%, perhaps 'majority' would be more appropriate) members of the "church", or ἐκκλησία (ekklēsía), or "called out ones," believe that many religions can lead to eternal life. There is a truth there. EVERY religion leads to eternal life, of some sort. Which religion leads to eternal life in the Kingdom of the Creator? Only One. Is this a 'religion?' No, and that is the difference. Christianity is the only 'religion' where a person can have a relationship with the Creator, through His Son, Yeshua, who was executed on a cross to fulfill the law that blood must be shed for the remission of sins (Lev 17:11,Heb 9:22). He also rose again, being seen of many witnesses. Seated at the right hand of the Father, He is our Advocate with the Father.

A man calls himself "a Christian" and is suposedly identified with Christ, accepting His sacrifice on the cross as payment for his sin, yet denies He is the only way to heaven... Is this the mark of a true "Christian." Is this someone who is "called out?" The answer is NO. Does it sound harsh to say that Evangelical Church goers who do not believe Christ is the only way will not inherit the Kingdom? Sure. And? Sorry? He, Yeshua, Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living Elohim (God) says "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." Did He stutter? He who calls himself a Christian and does not believe this truth is no Christian.

So, who are the true Christians? Who is the church? Are you called out? Do you believe that Yeshua is "the Way, the Truth and the Life?" Can anyone come to the Father through any other way but through Him?

I challenge you to give up your petty excuses for why you can't come out and be a true Christian. Is it hard? Sure. Will you be different than the world? I would hope so. Will you be different than "mainstream Christianity?" Most definitely. Are you worried about being identified with Christ? Are you worried about being persecuted for your belief, even from among the pews? Now that's something. Being persecuted from within the "church." Get ready for that.

Seek YHWH. Abide in the Messiah. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Pursue knowledge, wisdom and understanding. Walk in agape-love. Come out from among them and be separate. Be a peculiar people (1 Pet 2:9). The world will not understand you, will not receive you. It did not receive Yeshua, either (John 15:18). Marvel not (1 John 3:13). Even some of the "church," or more appropriately "nominal Christianity" will not receive you.

Rom 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."


Take it seriously, Christian. Persecution will come. If not for you, for your kids. If not for your kids, for their children. Where does it start? Right now it starts with you. Are you ready?

'Tis been quite a while since my last post. Perhaps I have just been so busy! I have been a daddy for 8.5 months. Levi is doing so well! Crawling, pulling up... He even likes his daddy much more! Check out more on him and Onna at afamilyexperience.blogspot.com. Rather that duplicate what Onna has, which would be an injustice, I have decided to go a different route on my blog. I would like to write about church things, Christian things. Not that my son and wife do not matter, but Onna already has that covered. I want to write about things that have eternal consequences. I want to talk about abiding in Yeshua, being yielded to the Holy Spirit, walking in agape love, building on the foundation with gold, silver and precious stones and worshipping YHWH forever. Since we are already in eternity, might now be a good time to pick up these things?

But, here is a more recent picture of Levi...