REAL (13):Breaking some myths around the crucification and resurrection of Jesus

Breaking some myths around the crucification and resurrection of Jesus

Dr Josimar Salum

“NOW AFTER the Sabbath, near dawn of the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to take a look at the tomb.” Matthew 28:1 AMP

Let us also take a look, but on what Scriptures tell about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

In this first verse of Mathew 28 we have to understand that Sabbath starts on Friday around 6 PM and ends around 6 pm of our Saturday. In our calendar (solar) Saturday ends midnight. In the Jewish calendar (lunar) the Sabbath like any other day of the week starts at dusk and ends at dusk, it is not precisely in a specific time, but simply at dusk. 

Let us then assume based in Scriptures that the expression "after Sabbath" meant after the seventh day of that week, on the first day day near dawn (around 6 AM), it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to take a look of the tomb.

“AND WHEN the Sabbath was past [that is, after the sun had set], Mary Magdalene, and Mary [the mother] of James, and Salome purchased sweet-smelling spices, so that they might go and anoint [Jesus' body]. And very early on the first day of the week they came to the tomb; [by then] the sun had risen. And they said to one another, Who will roll back the stone for us out of [the groove across the floor at] the door of the tomb?” Mark 16:1-3 AMP

Jesus died and was buried right before sunset of that evening. The next day Jesus died and was buried was a Sabbath. Jesus died at 3 pm in our calendar. Here it lies a question: In what day of the week Jesus has died? We will see clearly that Jesus had died in the fourth day of that week which would correspond to our Wednesday afternoon and not on the sixth day of the week or in our Friday. Please, keep reading.

“Now from the sixth hour (noon) there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour (three o'clock).” Matthew 27:45 . We have already mentioned intrinsically that in the Jewish calendar a day which begins at sunset complies of night and day and is basically divided in 12 hours of dark and 12 hours of light. 

“When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 

And Joseph took the body and rolled it up in a clean linen cloth used for swathing dead bodies And laid it in his own fresh (undefiled) tomb, which he had hewn in the rock; and he rolled a big boulder over the door of the tomb and went away. 

And Mary of Magdala and the other Mary kept sitting there opposite the tomb. 

The next day, that is, the day after the day of Preparation [for the Sabbath], the chief priests and the Pharisees assembled before Pilate And said, Sir, we have just remembered how that vagabond Imposter said while He was still alive, After three days I will rise again. Therefore give an order to have the tomb made secure and safeguarded until the third day, for fear that His disciples will come and steal Him away and tell the people that He has risen from the dead, and the last deception and fraud will be worse than the first. Pilate said to them, You have a guard [of soldiers; take them and] go, make it as secure as you can. So they went off and made the tomb secure by sealing the boulder, a guard of soldiers being with them and remaining to watch.” Matthew 27:57-66 AMP

“As evening had already come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, [the day] before the Sabbath, [Deut. 21:22, 23.] Joseph, he of Arimathea, noble and honorable in rank and a respected member of the council (Sanhedrin), who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, daring the consequences, took courage and ventured to go to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.” Mark 15:42-43 AMP

“And if a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death and [afterward] you hang him on a tree, [Josh. 10:26, 27.] His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day, for a hanged man is accursed by God. Thus you shall not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance. [Gal. 3:13.]” Deuteronomy 21:22-23 AMP

We have just read Matthew and Mark's narratives to help us begin to clarify and break some myths around the crucification and resurrection of Jesus. And we must be open attentively to what they say as it contradicts some centuries of tradition imposed to us even this day. The importance of this is to establish truth and to help us think according to Scriptures as they testify about Jesus.

First let us continue to read the way Luke has written:

 “This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and rolled it up in a linen cloth for swathing dead bodies and laid Him in a rock-hewn tomb, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation [for the Sabbath], and the Sabbath was dawning (approaching). 

The women who had come with [Jesus] from Galilee followed closely and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they went back and made ready spices and ointments (perfumes). On the Sabbath day they rested in accordance with the commandment. [Exod. 12:16; 20:10.]” Luke 23:52-56 AMP

Two expressions got my attention: the day of Preparation and the Sabbath that was approaching. And there is a day between the Sabbath right after Jesus was buried - remember He had to be buried before Sabbath - and the Sabbath, the seventh day of that week.  The women rested on that Sabbath, bought the perfumes on the next day and only went to the tomb before dawn of the first day of the week. Jesus died. On the day 1 they have rested because it was a Sabbath, on day 2 they bought the specialties and you will see that on day 3 it was also a Shabbath (the seventh day of that week) in which they also have rested until they went to the grave before dawn, which it could have been around 6 AM.

Jesus was buried at the evening of the first day after He died. It was the day of preparation for the Sabbath, a special Sabbath. By now I presume you have began to figure out that it could not been Friday (or the sixth day) the day Jesus died because the next day He died there was a Sabbath, but not one they had to observe on the seventh day.  

Please, keep reading what John has written. These words has blew my mind long time ago because if Jesus died on Friday afternoon how He could have been buried for three days if He was risen  at dawn of the first day, the day we call Sunday?

 “When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, It is finished! And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from hanging on the cross on the Sabbath–for that Sabbath was a very solemn and important one–the Jews requested Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken away.

And he who saw it (the eyewitness) gives this evidence, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe also. For these things took place, that the Scripture might be fulfilled (verified, carried out), Not one of His bones shall be broken; [Exod. 12:46; Num. 9:12; Ps. 34:20.] And again another Scripture says, They shall look on Him Whom they have pierced. [Zech. 12:10.] 

And after this, Joseph of Arimathea–a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews–asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate granted him permission. So he came and took away His body. 

And Nicodemus also, who first had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, [weighing] about a hundred pounds. So they took Jesus' body and bound it in linen cloths with the spices (aromatics), as is the Jews' customary way to prepare for burial. 

Now there was a garden in the place where He was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever [yet] been laid. So there, because of the Jewish day of Preparation [and] since the tomb was near by, they laid Jesus.” John 19:30-31, 35-42 AMP

Remember that according to Scriptures Jesus should have been buried 3 days or He would be raised from the dead on the third day. Definitely He could not have died on Friday or on the sixth day of that week. And He could not have resurrected on Sunday or on the first day after the week He died. 

Some say that this does not matter, so I ask: Truth doesn't matter? Of course it matters and it is essential to break religious mindsets that altogether with many myths clouds the mind to perceive that Truth that sets people free.

“For I passed on to you first of all what I also had received, that Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for our sins in accordance with [what] the Scriptures [foretold], [Isa. 53:5-12.] That He was buried, that He arose on the third day as the Scriptures foretold, [Ps. 16:9, 10.]” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 AMP

In that expression "for that Sabbath was a very important Sabbath" shines light so we may understand well all these Scriptures. 

“On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord's Passover. On the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. [I Cor. 5:7, 8.] On the first day you shall have a holy "calling together;" you shall do no servile or laborious work on that day.” Leviticus 23:5-7 AMP

So here are my conclusions I would like to submit to you:

Jesus died on the first month of the Jewish calendar which does not correspond either to March or April of our calendar. 

Jesus died before Passover which is easy to conclude. But Jesus died before that holy "calling together" which was also a Sabbath as Jews should not "do no servile or laborious work on that day."  

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had already all the products to prepare the body of Jesus to burry Him and they surely did right after the day He died, in the evening of the following day. Yes, they have buried Jesus in that evening, in the beginning of the Sabbath which was not the seventh day of that week, but the special Sabbath they had on that week before Passover. Sabbath is a day of rest and not necessarily the seventh day.

Jesus definitely did not die on the sixth day of that week because Mary Magdalene also wanted to purchase more products to cover the body of Jesus and they had to wait the Sabbath until the following day to be able to buy the products. That Sabbath was not a referral to the seventh day because on that week they had two Sabbaths, one after the preparation for Passover, a very important one like John described and also the regular seventh day, the Sabbath in which Jesus was raised from the dead. 

Why Jesus was raised from the dead at the end of Sabbath, which it correspond to our Saturday late afternoon, before dusk. Jesus was not raised from the dead on the first day of the week.

It is also true that when Mary Magdalene  went to the sepulcher for the second time - the first time was when she saw where Joseph and Nicodemus laid the body of Jesus, and then the second time when she went before sunshine on the first day of the week and Jesus was already resurrected. 

The myth of Sunday morning that centuries of religious traditions have perpetuated can not resist the Truth Scriptures brings. Even so Jesus was raised from the dead in any time of the day around the world, because all times, all parts of the day, either dusk or dawn are experienced all day long by all peoples.

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not risen; And if Christ has not risen, then our preaching is in vain [it amounts to nothing] and your faith is devoid of truth and is fruitless (without effect, empty, imaginary, and unfounded).” 1 Corinthians 15:13-14 AMP

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REAL (12):Business x religion

Dr. Josimar Salum

Before we begin to share thoughts about entrepreneurship and business according to the kingdom we must establish a solid base. A house that is built upon sand perish. If we build Truth upon myth Truth will be lost. The greatest challenge in our walk with God is to have His solid foundation built upon the right soil. For years we have continued to do things in Church and in life without any good results because they were done upon a false foundation. 

If we don't break chains of religious mindsets we will not be free to be and to do what Jesus wants us to be and to do in our lifetime. Business is not about religion. A religious spirit is not confined to church, but also it manifests in the market. There is nothing more damaging to entrepreneurship than a religious world view. 

People think prayer will solve everything. That is not true. 

I understand that prayer is vital to our relationship with God. But it is fact there are many people per example that buy bikes, cars and other stuff without any prayer and succeed. They are not even believers. Some are atheists. Believers pray to buy something which can show their dependence on God, but it is the dependence that counts. In our case there is much more involved than prayer in buying a bike. You can pray as much as you want but you will need knowledge, experience, and some other things to buy the right one for the right price. Oh! Yes, someone can give you one for free. But usually in life when it is men related there is nothing free.

If you are in your house praying and praying for your needs but don't move in action to work and do whatever it takes to feed you and your family you will die of hunger. Dr. Paul Taylor crafted a word: Soulutionist. You are the solution of somebody's problem. The same Jesus who teaches us to pray is the same that commanded us to work. 

The main thing that confuses believers in the matters of life, faith and everything else is wrong interpretation of the Scriptures and Christian traditions. 

 “Thus you nullify the scriptures of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.””

Mark 7:13 NIV

The key to interpret Scriptures is Jesus, You have to interpret the Bible through Jesus. Jesus is the Key of Bible interpretation.

The work of Jesus on the cross is a finished work. There is nothing to be done regarding our faith, salvation, redemption and so on. What Jesus dismantled on the cross and it is included all religious activities, Christianity has remounted during the last centuries and we today keep doing the same within our Christian churches. 

People can twist the meaning of what we are saying if they don't want to honestly address the fact that beliefs can be based not in Jesus, but instead on human traditions, originated in misguided Bible interpretation and as results of things they have learned without questioning them to get assured they were right. 

The difference between a parrot and a baby is that a parrot learns to talk hearing people talking over and over the same words, but as they get older they never can say a word by their own.

If you are born again from the Spirit of God He lives in you. And though you can learn from other people of God you have the responsibility to think for your own and to check it out what you are learning through the Scriptures according to Jesus, the Word.

As we enter in this new journey we have to be careful to avoid disrespecting pastors and other leaders of our communities. I have met people that became rebellious and bitter towards their leaders. They begin to think that now for knowing "truth about some things" they assume they can despise those who are invested in authority. Absolutely not. Transformation comes when you are able to educate and not to revolt against your parents and your leaders. Any of us can run into the same mistake of thinking that we are better because we know more. Knowledge without wisdom can be a disgrace! 

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

James 3:13-18 NIV

A bumble heart and a meek spirit always prevail. After more than 35 years leading people I am more convinced that the best is yet to come if I keep my mind open to learn even from those I don't agree with. 

REAL (11):The foundation to our faith is Love

By Paul Taylor

The foundation to our faith and the Kingdom of God is very simple. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39

How can we mistreat anyone if we are truly a believer in Jesus Christ? You may not like a person for many reasons, but that does not give you the right to hurt them. We are all created in His image, but are uniquely different as we reflect the beauty of our Creator! It is our differences that make the world a beautiful place. We must all embrace the fact that we are not all alike, and see our differences as a positive and not a negative. Paul describes this in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.

Why have we allowed man to divide us? Racism or tribalism or really any kind of "ism" is man made. A child is not born a racist! He has to learn that from someone! God's word tells us that we are all created equal! Male and female, black and white, Jew and gentile, Catholic and protestant, Hutu and Tutsi, Muslim and Hindu. We are all people created in His image and we must love each other because God is love! He loved us before we accepted His forgiveness! Can we love others before they accept our forgiveness?

Forgiveness is two-fold. We are all forgiven by God! Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world! BUT have we received His forgiveness and confessed our sin? If Jesus could forgive us before we confessed our sin, can we forgive others even if they do not confess their sin or understand their part in missing the mark? That is what sin means, to miss the mark! This is what will heal our land, our relationships and marriages. This is what restores our souls! When we are reunited with God first and our fellow man second. Try it today! No strings attached! Even if that person does not respond to your forgiving them.

Jesus did! Thank you Lord for forgiving me, even while I was a sinner, separated from you! Thank you for restoring me to my Heavenly Father and giving me the ministry of reconciliation to the world! Amen!

REAL (10): A prophetic word for Burundi

I was praying for Burundi today and this is what I heard the Lord say, "These are my special people because I have heard the cry of those who suffer.  I hear the prayer of the poor and needy.  Many have taken advantage of these people, but I will defend them from those people who want to do them harm.  If they will call on My Name I will hear their prayer and will deliver them from all their enemies.  I will bring peace to this nation and will show them the fruit of peace and unity if they will only put down their violence and will trust Me to defend their cause.  Who will humble themselves and be the first to forgive?  It is My power to heal, but they must forgive one another and forget the past.  The past is the mirror of failure and pain, but I have not called them to look at the past.  I have called them to step into a new day.  A day of hope, compassion and prosperity.  The past can never give them any hope because you can not change what was, but you can change what will be! 

Look to the future, but not through the mirror of the past, but through the lens of My promises for this nation.  If they will only believe, every promise in My Word is theirs.  I promise to prosper them and to give them a hope and a future.  I promise to be with them and they will walk in My favor.  But they must believe that I AM is with them and that I love them and will keep My Word that I have spoken.  Burundi can and will be healed if they will turn their heart toward Me and look into the mirror of My Word.  For I will do them no harm, but will wipe away all tears, remove all pain and change the path they have walked on for many years.

It is time for a new path!  The path of the righteous that leads to favor, fruitfulness and freedom.  I always have a plan to bless My people!  So they must choose blessing and then they will receive that which they have chosen.  Out of the mouth the heart speaks.  What will be their choice?"

I pray and choose blessing for Burundi.  I speak blessing over them and that a new day is here.  That a spirit of forgiveness and compassion will hover over this nation.  In the name of Jesus!!!

Dr Paul Taylor 

REAL (9):The Kingdom and the Church

Don't get caught up in where you meet with people (in a building or any place else) and share the Word of God, encouraging each other in the faith. That is not important. 

What is important that you do gather together!  I do go to "churches - buildings where a particular church meets - all the time to speak or be part of the gathering of the body of Christ. But I also know that if I don't go to "church" I am alright. God is not going to punish me because I have fellowship in many ways with other believers and in many different places.

I can tell you this from experience that if the church building was destroyed for some reason, a huge part of those people would not know what to do!  If something happened to "their pastor" they would not know what to do!  This is a real problem. Why?  Because these people do not understand what we are teaching. They are held captive to the traditions of man and they do not know how to hear God for themselves. It is interesting that the Prophet Amos spoke to this problem. 

Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord God, that I will send a famine on the land. Not a famine of bread, nor of thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. Amos 8:11

The Church is dynamic. In time there is church only if we are gathered. Or better, the Body of Christ only manifest if we are together.

The Kingdom manifests Himself. The Kingdom is the eternal realm that manifests in time and in space. But before time and all creation was created and men made there was the Kinngdom. 

John the Baptist started preaching: Repent! 

You can't never understand the things of God if you don't change your way of thinking. That is what repent means indeed. You may be a Christian though has never changed the way you think according to the thoughts of God. Actually as we became Christians most of us if not all of us have gained some thinking that are only religious and contradictory to the Kingdom of God.

The Church of God is based in the expression "one another" Love one another, forgive one another, support one another, comfort one another and so on

The Kingdom of God is a commonwealth. There is no Kingdom of it is made of one ruler. We all are one but only if in Jesus, in Him.

We have to pull down the strongholds of selfish, independence and loneliness of the people.

In the Church and in the Kingdom of God there are no such things as I, Me, Myself, You, his/her, himself/herself. There is no Self!

Jesus said: if someone wants to follow me, you have to RENOUNCE, RESIGN YOURSELF. Do you know why? Because you will not be the only one following Him. There will be others and there is no way you can follow him alone.

The Kingdom of God is here means that the King is here. Jesus was born! The Kingdom was there because Jesus was there, present.

The kingdom is in your country,  because the King's Kings are in there, in US, etc. As ambassadors of God you are not merely representatives of God. You are the Kingdom. 

That is why Jesus said: if they receive you they receive Me. As those received Jesus they have received the One who sent Him.

God wants relationship with me but a relationship that is reflected in my relationship with others.

Church, again, means assembly, gathering not necessarily in the format of a worship service!

How can I be an assembly or a gathering by myself?

It is is the same thing as saying "I have the mind of Christ". No, I don't have the mind of Christ individually. The Church, the Body has the mind of Christ, not an individual. Only the Head has the mind of the Christ in His own, even so He shares His mind with us, the Body of Christ.

Once again, the Church of God is based in the expression "one another"! Love one another, forgive one another, support one another, comfort one another and so on.

Once again, the Kingdom of God is a commonwealth. There is no Kingdom if it is made of just a ruler. We are all one but only if in Jesus, in Him. That is why the King has made us kings. We are reigning with Him. Like Dr Paul Taylor once said: God did not make man to rule over other men. God did not make man male to rule over man female, in other words, He did not intended that man would rule over woman. God is God alone, but even Him became flesh, became men, so men - men and women who in Him are One as He is - shall reign with Him.

We have to pull down the strongholds of selfish, independence and loneliness on is and among the people.

Jesus said: if someone wants to follow me... It means you have to RENOUNCE, RESIGN YOURSELF. Do you know why? Because you will not be the only one following Him. There will be others and there is no way you can follow Him alone.

And Jesus did not die just to save us from sins. He died to restore to His priests and kings all things.

Josimar Salum & Paul Taylor 

REAL (8):Pontien questions about institutions, buildings and churches

Often, people say the Church when they want to say "a religious institution, an association of people who organize themselves and make their constitution and build a hall whereby they gather to pray, worship, teachings,..".  But as you said, the Church is not a building but is me, you or any believer or an assembly of believers...

My questions are the following: 

1. If we do not have those buildings (called churches by most Christians), how will it be to teach one another,  new believers,(1 Corinthians14:23-40) ... and What about Ephesians4:11(...he gave some, apostles; ..prophets, ...evangelists... pastors and teachers).

What again about Hebrews10:25: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;  but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as u see the day approaching. Also, 1Timothy5:1-5( on verset5).

Other question is:

What is the difference between the Church(building) of the NY and the temple of the OT? And what is their difference between the two and the Synagogue?

My last question: 

As we see all these things( that you taught us in the conversation), what can  we do as Servants of God according to the Bible? How?

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Pontien u have great questions. 

I will try to answer them in order. I am sure Josimar can fill in anything I leave out. 

1.  We have limited ourselves because of our thinking as to where we can teach or minister to people about the Lord. As has been said we r having church right now even though we r not physically together. I know businessmen who have Bible studies at their place of business. Others meet over coffee or lunch. Those in China that have to meet secretly meet in a field. The place is not important, as long as we gather to encourage, teach and pray with others. Acts 2:42. Nothing is said about a building. 

Meeting in what is called a church building is not our objection!  It is thinking that the building is holy and is the church. Remember we r trying to change thinking. Once thinking is changed the rest will take care of itself. It is important that none of condemn others because they may not understand what we r sharing. We must always remain humble before the Lord. Where u meet is not important, but what u think and understand is vital to building the Kingdom of God. 

Many Christians will be saved and go to heaven but they will not walk in the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. They r saved but they have little understanding of the King and His Kingdom. 

The 5 fold ministers do not need a church building to function.  When I went to Burundi the first time we met at the college. When we went to Madagascar this past summer we met at a hotel but much was accomplished around the dinner table in small groups. In these meetings we functioned in all the 5 fold gifts. 

U see Hebrews 10:25 fulfilled in the book of Acts as they met daily in homes and on the street, etc. the same is true today but sometimes with modern technology we meet on the phone or through email or the web. Thank God for technology!

2. The difference between the the NT church and OT temple. God allowed things in the OT that were not allowed in the NT. Acts 17:22-32. In the OT things were different because the Holy Spirit had not been sent because Jesus had not redeemed mankind. They need physical things that represented God because it was not the fullness of time for Christ to come. So Israel was a reflection of God to the world that did not know Him. Just like the Church, the people is a representative of God to the world today. 

Even in the OT God wanted to meet with the people (Ex. 19,20), but the people chose Moses to go to God for them. Today people have chosen ministers to go to God for them but it is not to be that way!  Man still is choosing physical buildings and people over personal and intimate relationship with God and man. 

So in reality because of religious teachings there is not a lot of difference between the OT temple and today's church. Jesus never desires this nor did he teach it. 

3.  What can we do today?  Have our minds renewed (Romans 12:1,2), think like God (no limitations), be sons of God and discover our identity, purpose and pursue this to the glory of God!  If we will all just be what He created us to be we will build His Kingdom and not our churches. His Church will be built upon the Rock Christ Jesus and the gates of hell will not prevail against it!

We will continue to discuss how we can do this as we move forward.  U r already doing it but u don't even know it because it doesn't fit in the mold of the religious system!  Keep believing for the impossible!

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I will contribute with these two verses 

“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”

Colossians 2:16-17

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

Romans 15:4

We already trained to read the Bible with our preconceived ideas. When we read the word church for example we immediately think about t building or a group of people doing religious staff, praying or preaching. 

We need the have new thoughts that come from God instead on relying on our traditions to try to understand what the Bible says. 

Jesus is the Living Word and He wants relationship.

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We are not Christians, we are followers of Jesus Christ

By Josimar Salum, based on an article by Ed René Kivitz 

We are just followers of Jesus Christ. We follow his footsteps. And if he died, also we died. And if he was resurrected by the power of God, we will also be resurrected at the last day. And now we no longer live for ourselves, but for our God who gave us life when we live for others.

We have no temple or altar, because we do not do animal sacrifices. We need not go to the temple or offer anything in any altar because Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  

We do not offer more sacrifices on the altar, because our life is a sacrifice to God. We give ourselves over to our God as a living sacrifice, the true act of worship is to live for him. Everything we do, we do for the glory of our God. In fact it is not what we do or do not do it is the act of worship, but we ourselves, that is, our life itself, consequently, everything we do is an act of worship. We take care of people, those who are close; all that cross our path. This is worship.  

For the same reason also we do not have priests, because we do not need people to make sacrifices for us on an altar or in a temple, because our life is that it is the sacrifice, the altar is the Cross of Jesus and we are the temple. Alone, individually I am not the temple, we, collectively, are the temple. And we are priests, but none of us are a religious authority. We have no one greatest among us, only Jesus Christ. Only Jesus is greater! He is alive among us right here, right now! And we have no holy men in our religion. There are holy men around the world, but NOT holy men of religion. In fact, we do not have a religion.

We do not have a sacred day. Sunday is not the the Day of the Lord, every day is the Lord's.  Our ancestors had a holy day: the Sabbath. But that was in the time when we needed to go to the temple to take animals so that our priests sacrificed them. Now that we surrender to our God as a living sacrifice, the true act of worship is to live for him. And we live for Him living for our neighbors in any day, any time.

Let us be clear: we do not have a religion! We are followers of Jesus, we are not Christians because Christianity is not the religion of Jesus Christ. Christianity is the religion of Constantine, the Roman emperor. Because it was Constantine who began reassembling all that Jesus Christ had dismounted. It was he who began to build temples dedicated to God, officiated a day of the week for worship, invented to worship God is something that is done in temples, appointed priests, and started this mess that you see. 

Jesus taught that we do not need temples, altars, priests, sacrifices and holy days. Ah! He taught that He loved us as we love each other, serve each other, pray for each other, build each other, comfort each other, support each other and serve each other. We are not independent, neither we act independently, we depend on God and we are His body as we are individually members of one another. We are His sheep in His Church and we are His disciples in His Kingdom and thus never act independent of each other, we are never alone. Yes, Jesus taught that God is Spirit and they that worship him, must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Jesus Christ is God.

REAL (7): Jeremie questions about why we want to make members for our churchesand not disciples for the Kingdom

In the response of question 3 there is a statement that has touched me. 

The statement is this : " why we want to make members for our churches and not disciples for the Kingdom?" 

Some people say that we are making disciples of churches not disciples of Christ. In fact this is a big challenge for the young generation in the church today especially in some part of Africa where life is hard. People consider the church as their own business. Where people plant churches for the wrong motivations such as money orientation, churches planted out of conflict (i mean when an elder or a Pastor is in conflict with his senior he just goes out and plant his church to show his senior that he is able), fame... The place where when you talk about the church growth they understand numerical growth, because of the emphasis they put on the tithes and offerings,where a big number of Christians equal to a big number of money. Churches are like clubs always in conflicts and competitions, churches demonize and criticize other churches it is as if we are serving two masters. Someone estimate that 80% of church growth result from believers changing churches. The consequence of this is the lack of unity and cooperation in the body and the lack of strength for the Christian to challenge, influence and conquer the World. 

My questions are these. 

Is it possible that we can make an effective church leadership? How can you encourage the persons who think to be used by God to make a change?

GIVING SOME IDEAS ABOUT JEREMY'S (BURUNDI) THOUGHTS 

Jeremie, great question and I can give some ideas so we ALL can think about

1 - Jesus never commanded to plant churches. Jesus commanded to make disciples from all nations. The theology of planting churches is not in the Scriptures. Paul in Acts  went from city to city making disciples. We don't plant forests, we plant trees that become a forest. 

Nowadays usually to plant a church means to secure a place, somehow provide a structure to that place and then put a sign outside and it is called a church. Let us then convert people to the church. 

We are not suppose to convert people to the church anyway, but we are ambassadors that reconcile people with God. (I Corinthians 5)

It never occurs in our minds that the same church model we have in Burundi is the same model we have in America, England. We Brazilians who receive he gospel of salvation from American and English  missionaries also received their church structures with leadership and this goes to Luther from the Protestant Reformation who simply copied the Protestant structure from the Catholics. Catholic and Protestant leadership structures and leadership models are the same.   

And there is a leader called a pastor for every "church" as there is a Catholic priest to every parish and like you said well, among Protestant Christians and so called Evangelicals and Pentecostals  80% follows the pattern of a division in a "church" from any motive and then someone start another one to preach the same "Christ". Is it the Same Christ and the same Gospel how they are divided? (Galatians 1)

It is this you refereed to already and it is sad. Yes, it is a systemic business and not the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But understand that in the midst of this confused inherited system there are serious men and women of God that don't do better because they don't know how. Yet!

2 - Money is the driven force of this world and it is the driven force of churches all around the world. Even it is the main hindrance when we want to "send a missionary" to the field. So different from what Jesus said and planned. 

“These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.

And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.”

Matthew 10:5, 7-10

Why we have to think that "to move" the kingdom we do need money. Well, money should be the consequence not the cause! 

-–

This is excellent perception concerning what is going on around the world. It is not just an African problem. The competition between churches in the US is fierce. So much so that many people chose not to go to church. The testimony of the church is such that many people do not want to hear about God. It is very sad. 

The answer is what we r sharing. There must be a change in our thinking and understanding of the Kingdom of God. If we realize that we r all called to build His Kingdom through living a life that is dedicated to Jesus then the competition will seize. We will realize that we r all one in Him!  Leaders will desire to make disciples for the Kingdom and not there own little church. We will also realize the importance of every person in the Kingdom and not just as a tithe giver or what they can do for my church. We will begin to care for all people even if they never go to our church or even believe in God. God loves all people!  When the church begins to live this way the world will take notice. 

We will begin to change the world from every area of society!  Right now we r trying to change it from within the broken system of the church rather than being the church and pursuing our purpose and destiny for the Kingdom of God. 

Hope this helps. Yes we can train leaders in the body of Christ but they must have a change of mind and heart.

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These churches are not the Church of God. JESUS HAS JUST INE BRIDE. Baptist church is not the church of God. AG is not the church of God. Catholic church is not the Church of God. These churches were never meant to exist according to the NT. There is one flock and one Shepherd. We are the Church even though separated and divided by these littles churches. Like Paul said we have to love each other and in our hearts there must be no division whatsoever. We are not members of a church. We are individually members of the Body of Christ 

But not of a church. Individually we are members of one another. Please, seize the difference!

“For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 12:4-14, 16-21

We are all leaders in the Body of Christ! According to Scriptures we are all Ministers (servants)! There is no clergy and lay people in the Church of God!! Training leaders means equipping the saints, all saints

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech YOU (every believer in Ephesus) to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, (EVERY BELIEVER HAS A CALLING) with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the EQUIPPING OF THE SAINTS for the work of ministry (MINISTRY IS ALL KIND OF SERVICES), for the edifying of the body of Christ, till WE ALL  come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 

that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 

but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the WHOLE BODY JOINED AND KNIT TOGETHER j by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16

REAL (6): We are not Christians, we are followers of Jesus Christ!

We are not Christians, we are followers of Jesus Christ

By Josimar Salum, based on an article by Ed René Kivitz 

We are just followers of Jesus Christ. We follow his footsteps. And if he died, also we died. And if he was resurrected by the power of God, we will also be resurrected at the last day. And now we no longer live for ourselves, but for our God who gave us life when we live for others.

We have no temple or altar, because we do not do animal sacrifices. We need not go to the temple or offer anything in any altar because Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  

We do not offer more sacrifices on the altar, because our life is a sacrifice to God. We give ourselves over to our God as a living sacrifice, the true act of worship is to live for him. Everything we do, we do for the glory of our God. In fact it is not what we do or do not do it is the act of worship, but we ourselves, that is, our life itself, consequently, everything we do is an act of worship. We take care of people, those who are close; all that cross our path. This is worship.  

For the same reason also we do not have priests, because we do not need people to make sacrifices for us on an altar or in a temple, because our life is that it is the sacrifice, the altar is the Cross of Jesus and we are the temple. Alone, individually I am not the temple. Collectively we are the temple. And we are priests, but none of us are a religious authority. We have no one greatest among us, only Jesus Christ. Only Jesus is greater! He is alive among us right here, right now! And we have no holy men in our religion. There are holy men around the world, but NOT holy men of a religion. In fact, we do not have a religion.

We do not have a sacred day. Sunday is not the the Day of the Lord, every day is the Lord's.  Our ancestors had a holy day: the Sabbath. But that was in the time when we needed to go to the temple to take animals so that our priests had to sacrifice them. Now that we surrender to our God as a living sacrifice, the true act of worship is to live for Him. And we live for Him while living for our neighbors in any day, any time.

Let us be clear: we do not have a religion! We are followers of Jesus, we are not Christians because Christianity is not the religion of Jesus Christ. Christianity is the religion of Constantine, the Roman emperor. Because it was Constantine who began reassembling all that Jesus Christ had dismounted. It was he who began to build temples dedicated to God, officiated a day of the week for worship, invented to worship God is something that is done in temples, appointed priests, and started this mess that we see today. 

Jesus taught that we do not need temples, altars, priests, sacrifices and holy days. Ah! He taught that He loved us as we love each other, serve each other, pray for each other, build each other up, comfort each other, support each other and embrace each other. We are not independent, neither we act independently, we depend on God and we are His body as we are individually members of one another. We are His sheep in His Church and we are His disciples in His Kingdom and thus never act independent of each other, we are never alone. Yes, Jesus taught that God is Spirit and they that worship him, must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Jesus Christ is God.

REAL (5): KEYS OF THE KINGDOM

KEYS OF THE KINGDOM 

Paul Taylor:

Our thinking must change and will change when we discover that the Church is not the Kingdom of God. It is in the Kingdom but the Kingdom of God encompasses everything that is created. In the beginning was the Word....All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life.... John 1:1-4

The Kingdom of God is about Life!  Not just church life. We r His children. He is concerned about all aspects of our lives. Where our children go to school. Where we will go, even to play soccer with friends. He never leaves us!  

Josimar Salum:

1) Paul and Andre emphasized we are Kings and priests. What does it mean being kings and priests? What verses of the Scriptures can reveal these truths?  

2)Those who have been born again are kings and priests. If you are a pastor or an evangelist, per example, it doesn't mean you are more anointed than a carpenter, a Doctor, a businessman or a teacher. How you and I can bring the influence of the Kingdom into air daily lives? How can we rule financially, in our schools, in politics, etc?

3) The gifts and the work of the ministry are not just for church, but for anywhere there is a need. What about the gift of discernment helping us to close a business deal? The gift of knowledge to open doors for our orphanage kids? The gift of wisdom to help us get the resources we need to run a shop, a daycare?

4) Andre referred to that we need believers outside the church that will make things different within the church. What things? Church people tend to see the things in the world from a "local church perspective". Usually we want to make members for our churches and not disciples for the kingdom? Can we think differently? What are these concepts needed to be understood so we can be successful?  Why worldly people don't pray, don't fast, don't even believe in God and they are successful in their businesses? 

Camila spoke about the prophet making no distinction between ministry and outside of the ministry. Life is ministry. Anything can be a ministry. 

For God there are no more altars in churches. The last altar was the cross of Jesus. Religious people build altars, Jesus disciples build His kingdom.

Paul Taylor

We r doing our best to provoke u to think, ask questions, search the scriptures and to expand your understanding of why Jesus gave His life for the world.  

Once u begin to think with a renewed mind (Romans 12:2), you will better understand God's will for your life and His Kingdom. 

We MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS BIGGER THAN ANY CHURCH, CHURCH SERVICE OR PERSON OTHER THAN JESUS!!! 

We collectively have the mind of Christ. That is the reason we need to be in church so Christ can express fully through us.

Ask the Holy Spirit to open your understanding so that u can begin to know your identity, purpose and pursue your destiny with passion!

Your life will never be the same. U will have discovered the freedom that Jesus came to give us!  U will be able to worship God with your life and not just singing on Sunday morning or evening. 

KINGS AND PRIESTS

Revelation 1:6 says “and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:6

Jesus Christ has made us kings. That is why He is referred to as "The King of kings."  What does a king do?  He rules or governs the people of his domain. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE WERE NEVER CREATED TO CONTROL OR DOMINATE OTHER PEOPLE.  

Our leadership is like that of Christ. We r to be Servant leaders that lead by example not by might, by force.

Jesus gave us authority, not power to lead or govern. 

Authority is the skill of getting people to willing do your will because of your personal influence. 

Power is the ability to force someone to do your will because of your position or might. 

Many believers confuse these two words. We have authority in this world and power against the devil or evil. DONT CONFUSE THE TWO OR U WILL HURT MANY PEOPLE AS U TRY TO LEAD THEM IN LIFE. We also called to be a righteous king and most of all a servant king!

A priest is one who intercedes for others. That is our spiritual responsibility. Again just like Jesus who intercedes for us and the people of the world. 

The problem is that believers try to be priests in places where they have been called to be kings. This is not to say that we can't pray for people on the job because we r always spiritual beings and God is always with us. But there is a time for all things and we must discern when to apply say compassion on the job and when to fire the person who was stealing money from u. 

Let me ask this question. In scripture who did more for Israel (OT) or the church in the NT, kings or priests?

Was David a priest? Daniel? Abraham?  Moses?  Solomon?  The answer of course is no.

David was a "politician". He was a king! Daniel, Moses, Solomon were also men of the state. They governed people. Abraham was a farmer, he owned thousands of cattle and was involved in the matters of nations around him.

We are a royal priesthood, but we should discern the differences of the roles of a priest from the roles of a king. 

The first people in the OT to be filled with the Spirit of God and wisdom were not priests, but artisans that built the tabernacle and the garments of the priests. Ex. 31:1-4; 28:3. Marketplace people!

In the NT the disciples were fishermen, a tax collector and other various occupations but none were priests. Even John the Baptist who could follow the priesthood like his father did rather serve God in the desert, far away from the temple.

Of all the miracles in the Book of Acts of the Holy Spirit, 39 total, none happened in a church or synagogue!

My point is that western civilization and originally Constantine made ministers and priests religious leaders (clergy) and all the others lay people or secular.  U will not find clergy and secular in NT scripture.  Jesus Christ has made us ALL KINGS AND PRIESTS. 

That does not mean there is no place for the 5 fold ministry among those who gather together. Some are called to be Apostles, prophets,evangelists, teachers, and pastors.  They have gifts to do that work, BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE THEM MORE ANOINTED THAN THE PERSON CALLED TO BE A CARPENTER OR BUSINESSMAN OR FARMER. We are now both kings and priests to our God.

Who anoints us?  A Bible College?  A pastor or church leader?  Only the Anointed One, Jesus Christ!  He has anointed everyone who He has chosen and dwells in!

The key is you must know who u are (your identity), and your purpose and that u are anointed, then u will go forth with authority, and confidence!  Now u can move mountains because of the anointing that flows through your life.