Breaking Out (draft)

 

Building a relationship with God the Father,  Through Christ the Son 

       

BREAKING   OUT!    Exploring God’s place in your life  And your place in His Kingdom            By: Sean Paul McLaws 

 

  Copyright © 2008 by Sean Paul McLaws  Self‐published under:  Broken Bondage Press    Cover Illustration:  Cover Design:  Author Photo:  Type Style Design:     All  rights  reserved.  This  book  may  not  be  reproduced  in  its  entirety  (in  print or electronic form) without written permission from the author or  the publisher. The author gives permission for quotation from this book,  with proper citation.  Note:  

This  book  is  a  manifestation  of  the  Spiritual  Gifts  of  insight,  wisdom,  teaching  and  prophecy  in  the  life  of  the  author. This book is not intended to sermonize or preach. It is not a rhetorical or “sales pitch” for Christianity,  Christian faith or Christian ideals. It is not gospel, and should not be held as such. The author is not a Minister,  Pastor, Biblical Scholar, Clergy or Prophet; the views expressed in this book are not associated with any Christian  Church, denomination, organization or foundation. The thoughts, views and opinions expressed in this book are  strictly those of the author, and are not necessarily those of the Christian population at large or the publisher.  All Biblical references are used with permission from the publisher where required. Unless otherwise noted, all  Biblical references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) and are used with permission from The  Lochman Foundation.  All  biblical  footnotes  cited  using  the  following  format.  (Bible  Version);  BOOK  AND  VERSE(S)  QUOTED;  (CONTEXT  1

REFERENCE) For Example:  (NIV); LUKE 1:1a; (LUKE 1:1‐5).  

Other Bible versions/translations and abbreviations used in this book:  (NASB) 

New American Standard Bible 

(NKJV) 

New King James Version 

(KJV) 

King James Version 

(NIV) 

New International Version 

(NSB) 

New Standard Bible 

(YLT) 

Young’s Literal Translation 

(AMP) 

The Amplified Bible 

(NLT) 

New Living Translation 

(NLV) 

New Life Version 

(MSG) 

The Message 

(DAR) 

Darby Translation 

(GNB) 

Good News Bible  

(LITV) 

Literal Translation 

All other translations given full credit in context 

 

    Preface 

This book is about faith and spirituality, not dogmatic religion. At first glance, this book may seem to be a comparative study of the characteristics of the different Christian sects currently recognized the world over. As the reader, you may have been expecting to find ammunition, in hopes that you could prove your particular Christian doctrine is right or that all of the others are wrong. You will be disappointed. I would challenge that anyone who feels the need to “bash” other denominations, mainstream or fringe, may be struggling with personal insecurity in their own faith – if this is you, this book is written for you. Likewise, if you are a “young Christian” who is just coming into relationship with God through Jesus Christ, this book may help you to explore for yourself what it means to be Christian. If you have been Christian for some time, and are seeking to develop a more deep and meaningful relationship with your Father who is in Heaven, it is my prayer that this book may help you to explore who you are as a Christian.

 

It is time to challenge long held ideology accepted ad nauseam by the Body of Christ, much of which is based on Biblical translation, not Biblical truth. This conflict between translation and truth are tools used by Satan to divide the Christian church so that he is not as threatened by a unified House. The Church today is in great suffering from this terrible disease of division. It is a Church plague if you will, with symptoms reminiscent of HIV. The body of Christ is destroying itself. Judgmental teachings being spewed from the pulpit, blindly accepted by congregations hungry for the Word of God and a lack of authenticity in the relationship between us and God are scathing blemishes on The Body of Christ. But, these are only symptoms of a Body which is attacking itself and destroying the love which God exemplified through the gift of Jesus Christ, His Son. This book then, is an opportunity to explore the very basics of what Christianity is, and what it is not. As we take this selfexamination, exploring our own hearts we can rout out the illness within our hearts, casting out that which must be cast out and accepting healing from God’s Word. By challenging the Church to embrace a broader view of Christianity, I open myself up to ridicule and scorn. Many will challenge, criticize and condemn the ideas written within these pages. To those who feel this need, you are welcome to do so. I will hold my place among the Beatitudes.

 

Introduction 

In my faith walk, I have encountered many people who profess Christian beliefs. Some Christians have found a true, authentic relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and some have not. I have met many people, good people, who attend Church; maybe the Church they grew up attending, or not, who seek an authentic relationship with God, but deep down they do not feel that relationship currently exists. They may go through the motions; diligently attend services, fervently sing in praise and worship, drop their two bits in the offering tray, and pour their hearts into prayer and The Word, yet they do not feel they are bearing the fruit of relationship with Him. Still others churchhop, seeking that one Church where they are fed, where they feel their relationship with God grow, and never stop long enough to embrace the Word of God and allow it to fill that empty spot in their hearts, that place that only God Himself can fill. One thing that I find in common with these seekers is a judgmental attitude. They are trapped within the confines of a small box of what it is, and what it means, to be Christian. It is

 

not their fault. Statements of faith have become so narrow that they judge all Churches that fall outside of their tidy little box as "off-base," untrue or even teaching false doctrine. These confined believers accept someone else's translation of the Bible and do not seek to understand, and form their own opinions; and they become closed off to the Holy Spirit. They are susceptible to the opinions and judgments of others, and they do not seek, with open hearts and minds, the truth about anything outside of their little box. This book is an attempt at evaluating what it truly means to be Christian, with the Bible as its guide and authority. Through scripture, we can break the prejudice confines of commonly accepted statements of faith in the interest of becoming a more accepting, Christ-like community – becoming authentic. On the surface, this concept appears to fly in the face of the established theology, so it is important to note that this is not an attempt to judge or even change current Christian ideals. Exploring the roots of the commonly accepted belief structures, and measuring them against black and white Biblical Truth, we can set the stage for self-discovery. And, just maybe, those who are seeking an authentic relationship with God through Jesus Christ will be freed from the cubes and confines of their current walk to follow the Holy Spirit’s prompting in their lives. I am not suggesting that you leave whatever Church you currently attend, go off and become Catholic, Protestant, Lutheran, Seventh Day Adventist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Jehovah's Witness, Baptist, Unitarian Universalist, Evangelical, Mormon, Non-Denominational, or any of the multitude of other Christian groups. Yes, I know that I bring up some very controversial sects, but I have met many people who have found

 

personal, genuine relationship with God in each of these different faith walks and conversely, the majority of people I have met in each have never found their place in the Body of Christ. So let us agree, for the moment, to put aside our prejudice to explore God’s Word without the filter of gossip, misinformation, or “man-created” statements of faith. Let us all become New Christians, like little children, with pure and receptive hearts for Jesus Christ and the Word of God. While the Christian Church at large does not embrace these concepts, the ideas and thoughts expressed and expanded upon in this book are not simply those of a rambling “heretic.” They are the views expressed by Christians like you. They may be the feelings of your neighbor, brother, mother, friend which they hold privately, while publicly accepting the confines of the statements made in which ever Church Body they claim fellowship.

 

        I. Good Roots Produce Good Fruits 

Christ teaches that we know each other by our “fruits.” He brings this concept up in many of His teachings to the multitudes and to His disciples. He also says that if the root is good, the tree will bear good fruit. So, what is the root of our Christian faith? Certainly Jesus Christ is the strength or the trunk of our faith, but where are our roots? Before we look at the roots, we should take just a moment to look at the soil... (Text and biblical reference still to be added) Looking at what happens when we plant a seed (to follow Biblical concepts lets use a mustard seed), the first thing to sprout from the seed is the root structure. Without this rootstructure, specifically the taproot, the plant cannot be nourished and grow. So, what is our taproot; The Hebrew Bible, which we call the Old Testament. Our Christianity is rooted in the Jewish Faith! Our God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Moses. The God I pray to is the very same God my good friend Simon, a Hasidic Jew, prays to. The difference (granted it is a major difference) is that Jesus Christ gives us authority to pray in His name.

 

The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ Himself was Jewish. In the book of Matthew (in the New Testament), we are given the lineage of Jesus Christ as that of King David and the Prophet Abraham of old. Jesus Christ is referred to as “Rabbi” which, loosely translated means Teacher. Jesus may also have been more than just a mere teacher. The Bible mentions that He taught within the Temple, which would have given Him a more official rabbinical role in Jewish society at the time.