Christianity: Religion of the Prophets
The Difference Between Sunday-Centered, and Genuine Christians
Christianity: Religion of the Prophets
How would you define Christianity, or being a Christian?
Is it church bells, vestments, and Sundays? Is it bibles and your Sunday best?
Is Christianity a sermon, or sermons?
I want to look at Jesus’ model for his own religion. What did Jesus think to compare his new covenant to?
Jesus’ Idea of “The Church”
10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:10–12 (NASB95)
Here we see what Jesus thinks of a True Christian - a True Christian is a reiteration of “the prophets who were before you.”
Jesus believes a true Christian, distinguished from a false one, is indistinguishable from an Old Testament prophet, clothed in camel’s hair, or dressed in the robes of the royal court, pointing the finger at the king for his sins saying for God: “YOU ARE THE MAN.”
What Distinguishes ‘a Prophet’?
The prophets of the Old Testament were described by the book of Hebrews 11 as,
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated
38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,
40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.
Hebrews 11:37–40 (NASB95)
The prophets were the elite among the people of God. They heard every big and small thing God said - and did it (when from time to time they didn’t, they usually died).
A prophet, of course, preaches what God gives them to say, but so does a priest. What actually distinguishes a prophet, then, is not their preaching, but their razor sharp obedience to God at all costs. This is how the true Christian is exactly the mirror image of the Old Covenant Prophets.
True Christians Are The Spiritual Elites (like prophets)
Now the phrases of Jesus which talk of “those who are worthy” suddenly make sense:
35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;
Luke 20:35 (NASB95)
37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
Matthew 10:37 (NASB95)
And Jesus’ emphasis that many would assume that he would accept them on the last day, but be utterly disappointed is made clear by this paradigm:
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:13–14 (NASB95)
And:
23 And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them,
24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Luke 13:23–24 (NASB95)
In such a light, the idea that only the elite among the Christians are those who will be saved is not so peculiar.
Among the Jews (who generally were unfaithful) were the prophets (who were always faithful). So likewise among the “Christians” are the elect who actually obey the Word of God and are worthy of calling Jesus “Lord,” in truth, because they actually act like his commands are mandatory.
Now can you see that Christianity is not like Judaism - a mere religious system - but rather like the elite Jews, the Prophets.
The Jews woodenly sacrificed ad nauseam, assuming God accepted them. The prophets did not sacrifice all that often, but rather strained themselves to hear from YHWH who occasionally said things like:
3 “But he who kills an ox is like one who slays a man;
He who sacrifices a lamb is like the one who breaks a dog’s neck;
He who offers a grain offering is like one who offers swine’s blood;
He who burns incense is like the one who blesses an idol.
As they have chosen their own ways,
And their soul delights in their abominations,
Isaiah 66:3 (NASB95)
So false Christianity devotes themselves to rhythms, rites, liturgies, “services,” and assemblies - all with the assumption God is pleased with such things at all times instead of straining themselves to hear and obey the Word.
The prophets, and true Christians - that is, the elect - rather treat themselves as the sacrifice and “service.” They give their heart in obedience to God. When they perceive that there is no benefit behind “the temple of YHWH, the temple of YHWH, the temple of YHWH” they withdraw to “deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.”
The elect would rather be clod with “sheepskins, [and] in goatskins” choosing to be “destitute, afflicted, ill-treated” than to disobey the Word.
The elect experience what Jesus said they would: false Christians and worldlings “insult…and persecute you” because true Christians ARE, in some sense, “the prophets who were before you.”
Those whose portion is in this life need not apply to Christianity.
Those who will inherit while their breath breathes should take notice: the word Christian is not for you.
It is for the prophets.
(Those who always obey the Father, the Son, the Spirit, through the Word.)
God is.
Nate.
Brother Preach 💝 Thank you for the past two love letters from Yah! I usually only read the emails and today's was so good I had to come and express my gratitude for you being a true and faithful witness 🙌🏼💗🔥🕊 Burn Ever Brighter Eternal Love Light Spirit Being, Seed of The Living God We are One