Pro-Christ

And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” John 6:42

Fasten your seat belts. This month is my most radical column to date.

At the risk of shamelessly plugging my novel, I must say I have been surprised and dismayed by the response of some of my brothers and sisters to my dramatization of God’s use of human beings toward His purpose. The book gets a bit gritty in places, too gritty for mainline Christian publishers, but those scenes haven’t raised even one eyebrow among my fellow believers. However, wave that red cape of God’s power resting on a mere mortal, and Katie bar the door! The hackles rise and teeth start a-gnashing.

Now I’m just using the book as an example. I could have written it differently, and the price for expressing my vision of the truth is mine alone to pay. No, I’m more concerned about a much larger issue than one work of fiction by a lesser writer. I’m concerned about the spirit of antichrist in the church.

Whoa! Back up! You lost me there, sister!

Give me a few more paragraphs to explain. The sixth chapter of John’s gospel is an interesting read, especially if you chase it with a look at the same apostle’s first epistle. John coined the term “antichrist”, meaning opponent of Christ. Opponent of the Anointed One. Many of the Jews who had been following Jesus couldn’t take the idea that this man—this man who had grown up among them; this man whose lineage had been questioned; this carpenter for Pete’s sake—was anointed with the power of God. How dare him make such a claim? Who did he think he was?

They became so offended that John 6:66 (an interesting verse with an even more interesting number) records that these disciples withdrew from him. Compare with 1 John 2:19. Why were they offended? Why were they against Christ? I assure you, it wasn’t because he was a nice guy. They weren’t merely against a man. They were against the anointing (the power, the Spirit) of God on a man. They were, in its purest definition, anti-Christ.

The Bible says that Jesus was the firstborn among many brethren. The Lord himself said the works He did, we would do also, and greater works. Jesus compared himself to a kernel of corn, which bears fruit when it falls to the ground. What kind of fruit does a planted kernel of corn bear? More corn. What kind of fruit does a planted Anointed One bear? More Anointed Ones.

People don’t mind praying for healing. But God forbid He should minister that healing anointing through the hands of a man. People are happy to receive supernatural answers to prayer. But God forbid supernatural power manifesting through today’s believers as it did through Jesus. That attitude, beloved, is antichrist and we better run like crazy from it. We should purge it from our thinking like leaven from the Passover bread.

God has ordained to use men and women to carry out His purpose with power in the earth. Get used to it. It’s the only way it’s going to be because it is His will. He will have people, willing people, who are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation. It is the ultimate Power To The People.

There. I’ve said it. I’m done. Be blessed!

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