I asked this question several years ago and have an answer I believe but since there has been a lull in conversation, thought I would ask it again.

I had this asked to me the other night as well....

How far off is the Christianity that we teach and adhere to is from what Christ intended?

...Much.

The question came just in time. See the new post for a new article I am working on. The previous one I started is on hold. I think this one is a better start.

But to put it in preview form here, we spend too much time asking Why, When, What, Where, and How, but forget to ask Who.

We ask, What is grace when we should be asking "WHO" is grace. The answer should be obvious.

We ask, When is the end time, when we should be asking "WHO" is the end time? The answer "I am the alpha (beginning) and the omega (ending)" should make that plain.

So I started an article and giving you the opening today. Look for it in the next topic.

Once we understand WHO then we can understand the rest.

Boyd

The question came just in time.

I do my best to help.

Rather. Jesus our Anointed Prince (that's what "Christ" means after all) gathered a following; we support an organization. He said "Follow me;" we say "Believe such-and-such" and give classes on how to be a member of the organization. He said, "Greater things than these will you do, because I go to my Father;" we debate whether speaking in tongues is legitimate and question any miracle. He was casual about clothes; we're compulsive about them. He prayed for unity among all His followers; we see just how well that prayer hasn't been answered.

Yet there has always been a remnant who really believe, really love, really reach out. To spread His Kingdom on Earth, we must encourage this remnant wherever we find them--and this group is one way to do it.

How far off is the Christianity that we teach and adhere to is from what Christ intended?

Who is "We"?
Are you talking about Roman Catholics? American Protestants? The Baptists? Independents? Or are you asking about what my pastor and Sunday school teachers are saying?
Who is "we"?

As for myself, I teach what Christ intended with the light I have been given.
Are there some subtlties of Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic that may give me additional insight if I were to master these languages? No doubt! But God foreknew that people of different languages and cultures would be reading the Bible someday. Would he not have made the core teachings translate well enough across the languages and cultures that the essentials of Christianity could be successfully transmitted through the ages?
Now if we harbor rebellion in our hearts and willfully ignore even those truths that survive translation, that is a different matter and the fault for error would rest squarely on our shoulders.

I think he meant Christianity over all. I don't think he meant any one particular group. I know there are individuals out there as well as churches that are teaching the original intent, but over all, we all need much more improvement.

Boyd

I think he meant Christianity over all. I don't think he meant any one particular group. I know there are individuals out there as well as churches that are teaching the original intent, but over all, we all need much more improvement.

Exactly. There are certainly commonalities among all denominations that call themselves "The Church". There are also a lot of differences when you encompass the whole.

I can only expect you to evaluate your own group or beliefs because to analyze mine or someone else's doesn't answer the question other than to tell me that you believe you are right and others are wrong.

The problem is that we read scriptures with lenses made with 20th/21st century culture, sprinkled with a whole lot of history from the church in general.

Back to the question. I question much of what I was taught growing up. In fact, I believe that some of it is wrong. Take "naturism" for example. Walk into nearly any church, regardless of denomination or tradition and most would try to figure out how to deliver you from the evils of the practice.

What about "salvation". I don't think the version of salvation I read in the Bible quite matches up with the version I see taught in my church. I don't think being accepted or rejected at the judgement day will depend on my theology but on how I follow Christ -- not true of many.

Personally, I have come to the conclusion that anything that removes focus from Christ to put it onto this world is off base. This includes worrying about who is elected (it doesn't eliminate my responsibility to vote) or what the "mark of the beast" is or "who is the anti-christ" (all things I have heard associated with this particular election by the way.

The above paragraph is why I like what Boyd and CNC emphasize. Christ is the first and foremost.

I know that those that teach do so with their understanding of the "original intent". Honestly, I suspect that many that teach out and out heresy believe they are teaching with "original intent", even Koresh and Jim Jones. The question is do we understand that intent or have we quit searching for that intent?

"The question is do we understand that intent or have we quit searching for that intent?"

There are those, including many of us here, who continue, have continued, and will continue searching for the intent. Often, though, it's when we think we've found it that we've actually lost it, as in the cases you mentioned of David Koresh and Jim Jones. We must be like Paul and never, never, never assume we already know every aspect of God and His intent. Remember what the road to Hell is often paved with...

WAY off. Too many Christians today won't associate with other Christians because of minor differences in beliefs. There is very little unity even in a small group of Christians, because they can't agree on everything and get offended at one another. Churches split over differences of opinion. Instead of loving one another, they avoid one another or talk about one another.

I'm not going to say "Way Off", because I do know this much.

At a Promise Keepers gathering in Atlanta several years ago, the question was asked of the audience of over 10,000 pastors:
What church do you go to? About as many answers as there were people to holler them out came back as nothing but loud confusion. The speaker said he could not understand them, so he continued.

Several more questions (that required a unique answer) came back with answers that equally sounded mixed up and jumbled as they hollered out their answers at one time. Might as well have been a convention of tongue speakers with no translators around.

Then the big final question:
Who is your savior and Lord?

The answer came back in unison: JESUS CHRIST!

The whole place fell quiet for a few seconds, then busted out with cheers!

They got the message!

Boyd