Too many people depersonalize things to personalize a relationship with Jesus.
“Things are not going to get better in this world corresponding to the degree people personalize a relationship with Jesus…For example, some (religious) people are totally rude to telemarketers for only doing their jobs..The world is going to get better through personal relationships with other humans,” says Michael Lilborn Williams in this week’s provocative and powerful podcast.
Why does Michael affirm this statement with such confidence? Why does he suggest, “Let’s have mercy on God”? “This is not a ‘how-to’ manual…This is where every religion gets so controlling…After predestination, there is something called freedom…The absolute resolution of predestination at the Cross resulted in the deliverance of man into absolute freedom”.
The whole shebang begins with Daniel Thomas Rouse greeting our listeners in the year 2060. Michael reminisces about the 1960’s, its music and his memories. Daniel admits his church band, “P.T. and the Holy Rockers” changed popular songs words from that era to fit their own religious narrative. Pretty, pretty funny.
This Research Ministry (AKA the Gospel Revolution) rolls on with explanations: of the importance of “Dead Poet Society” in the guys’ relational growth and dynamics, “The 7 Deadly Traits of Research”, about the teachings in the Bible prior to the Cross and their respective standing after the sacrifice of Christ, about Jesus being involved with everything and God being in total control, where is God in our lives, are God’s eyes on each sparrow protecting them all, about this week’s examination of Jesus’ command about “Fear Not” as it weaves its way beautifully through our entire 86 minutes together.
We discover yet another explanation of the word poorly translated as ‘hell’ – or Gehenna. We actually find out where it was! Not surprisingly, but nonetheless confidence-building, the Hebrew Scriptures once again break open this commandment and gives it proper placement in time and space for a specific group of people.
Hint: You’re not them. But you ARE God in the Earth and so is everyone else!
