I suppose the most important endeavor in Christianity is to expose treachery. The chief architect of deception is Satan, whose methods attract more than a few who should be considered susceptible, even while we assume the majority are wiser. How can one test the authenticity of the Christian faith and avoid deception? This aligns with the exhortation Jesus gave to His disciples, which also applies to everyone in need of truth:
“Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:4–5 NIV).
The deepest challenge at the outset is that people love Christianity, which should be appraised as the most hated religion the world has ever known. The revolutionary principles of Christianity cannot appeal to ordinary people, who assume that Jesus came to bring comfort, contrary to His own word (Matthew 10:38-39). Although more misconceptions could be highlighted, examining seven reasons for traditional Christian deceptions should suffice. There may be more, but in addressing these seven, one can be freed from the rest.
- The Inability to Separate the Spirit from the Flesh
Some people are still stuck on the racial identity of Jesus, whether He was white, black, or brown. However, the racial identity of Jesus can easily be answered by the historical identity of the Jews who were in Jerusalem at that time, since Jesus had to blend with the ordinary people of that time. His racial background was Jewish, but spiritually He represented all humanity. He was constantly in conflict with the Jews, who were unaware that racial identity was inapplicable to spiritual identity. Jewish traditional worship cannot be applied to Christianity.
Today, Jesus exists in every true Christian, whatever their racial background, so that He is never limited exclusively to that of the Jews. The dos and don’ts of the Law, while strictly applicable to the physical flesh, do not apply to God’s children. The Israelites contended with the physical application of the Law, which is spiritual. The two structures are not related and conflict with each other. The two can now relate because of Jesus’ death on the cross. God said to Moses: “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live” (Exodus 33:20 NIV).
The condition of receiving God’s Spirit requires physical death so that it may function without friction. A true Christian is not the one who racially identifies oneself, but is identified as God’s child (Matthew 23:9). The body is overwhelmed by physical appetites, the principal of which is sex. In his Gospel, John confirmed this reality: “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known” (John 1:18 NIV). Jesus became the only human having come from God. But later, John confirmed the belief that every true Christian is from God (1 John 4:6).
For our salvation, Jesus died so that, at last, humanity could see God and live. The Israelites, from Moses’ time, were not consistent with Law-keeping. They were advised of the importance of abiding by God’s Laws, summarized in the Ten Commandments. The purpose of Law-keeping was to maintain a good relationship with God. Although living in the flesh, the Israelites were exposed to Godly standards.
On one occasion, an expert in the Law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He replied, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” He answered: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbour as yourself.” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this, and you will live” (Luke 10:25–28 NIV).
The Law expert, who desired to trap Jesus, came up with a clever rejoinder: “And who is my neighbour?” (Luke 10:29). Rather than give him a direct answer, Jesus used the Parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate the significance of a neighbour (Luke 10:30–36). The parable is unambiguous. The Good Samaritan put himself in the shoes of the injured person. He did exactly what he would have wanted others to do to him had he been the one injured.
The most important aspect of the parable is its portrayal of the true significance of Law-keeping. In giving the Law to the Israelites, God intended to reveal the principle of loving one’s neighbor as oneself. Jesus illustrated this by first presenting the recognized religious authorities in Jerusalem: the Priest and the Levite. These were strict Law-keepers, but they were spiritually not related to God.
The Good Samaritan projected God’s mind. He went out of his way to help a stranger. His conduct was outside common human behaviour. He practised unconditional love, which identifies with Godly character. The Good Samaritan exercised compassion, not enforced by anyone. He took the responsibility to pay for the cumulative medical expenses rather than look for the relatives of the injured person. The Good Samaritan was therefore not of this world.
Nothing could override addressing the condition of the injured person. His pleasure was in serving human life more than in worrying about the racial outlook of the person. That mind is Godly. Ordinary humans may do so, but often advertise such kindly acts. After the parable, Jesus posed a question about who displayed neighbourliness. This was not a difficult question, and its answer reveals the significance of belonging to God as opposed to worldliness.
True neighbourliness was displayed by the Good Samaritan, whose instinct did not allow him to consider the racial outlook of the injured person. Then Jesus declared: “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37 NIV). This dispels the idea of religion when applying God’s love. The Godly culture projects one different from the rest, to be God’s child. “God is spirit, and His worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24 NIV).
- Failure to Appreciate Being God’s Child
The unbelief embraced in humanity cannot allow appreciation of being God’s child; hence, Jesus is not regarded as one of us, because He did not avoid declaring Himself to be God. My name is Masuku; a name also applicable to my son, yet people had a problem with Jesus identifying Himself as God. They avoid taking Jesus for what He said regarding humanity.
A person who has discovered being God’s child takes instructions directly from God, just as Jesus took instructions directly from God. This is very uncommon among those of this world, who instead desire to control or be controlled by others.
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:8–12 NIV).
This is a hard Scripture that should be told to those fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy (Matthew 24:5). “For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” If they were willing to accept Jesus’ word as authoritative, they would renounce their Christian ranks immediately. Authority is reserved for Christ only. One can be assigned to teach others. But converted listeners would evaluate everything said by the person standing to teach others to see whether everything they teach is according to Jesus’ word.
Failing to meet that test, such people should be avoided as contagious diseases ought to be avoided. The reason is that it is impossible for a person who assumes to be in authority ever to consider the possibility of truth coming from a person considered junior. God’s children cannot be mistaken so as to put other humans in the place of Christ. Any true Christian assumes Christ’s role of correcting while at the same time being willing to be corrected by others.
God’s children are each other’s keepers. That is why they carry different gifts, shown in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12, where nothing suggests hierarchical rankings. True Christians can never claim to be better than others, as Christ takes all the glory. They remain aware of the need to remain as humble as projected in washing each other’s feet.
- The Unwillingness to Be Criticized
God’s children feel more comfortable when criticized than when adulated in anything to do with Christianity. They actually strive to hear what critics say, hence bearing the Spirit of loving their enemies. They use criticism as an opportunity for growth in their Christian endeavors. The unwillingness to be criticized exposes a person as being of this world, disguising themselves as not of this world. The only sign by which to check whether one is on track is being falsely accused—meaning being criticized at all times. Truthful people will never feel uncomfortable when criticized. They actually celebrate new discoveries. If one is not criticized falsely, one is not God’s child.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for, in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10–12 NIV).
Criticism is the most hated of all communication methods, but Jesus says it should be the most liked of all communication techniques directed to us. Ordinary people rejoice only when praised by fellow humans. However, God’s children rejoice only when falsely accused. Rejoicing when praised by others exposes one as not being God’s child. Although not making it obvious, God’s children celebrate when falsely accused of wrongdoing in God’s work, and they take that as pleasing to God.
It is better to reject any form of veneration coming from fellow believers than to reject criticism. The only sign that you are completely lost in your Christian beliefs is when you are heaped with praise, especially when accorded the title “Man of God.” It is impossible for those of this world ever to give adulation to the person who speaks truth to power. Welcoming criticism cannot be difficult when one is aware of no longer sharing glory in this world. The mind of God’s child is not different from Christ’s mind, whose truthful teachings led to His crucifixion rather than attracting admiration from a sinful humanity.
- The Group Mentality
The only condition that keeps denominational organizations intact is group mentality. Due to a sense of loyalty in a denomination, a person would rather plug their ears against alternative viewpoints. All Christian denominations are commonly guilty of this observable reality. Those of this world feel secure and comfortable when belonging to their respective groupings, based on doctrinal positions enacted by those assuming leadership rather than God’s word. When deriving security from denominational groupings, one would not be God’s child.
What appears unknown to many Christians is that people will be judged as individuals. On the Day of Judgment, Jesus will never ask which denomination the person belonged to, but what is written in the Bible, as taught by Christ. In Christianity, nothing is as crude as relegating responsibility to a pastor and choosing to be as passive as the apathetic. This is not suggesting being a recluse, but demanding responsibility when belonging to a group.
One cannot just relax, allowing one’s group to move away from God’s teachings while they watch. This requires strength and character to confront group tendencies to move away from God’s word. Jesus belonged to a Jewish group that hated Him, but Jesus avoided separating Himself from them. He attended their religious festivals but maintained God’s standards, correcting them scripturally. One can be assertive when using Scripture, but without pomposity.
Jesus gave no one the responsibility to control others, but everyone to be the keeper of their brothers. There is no need to alter the meaning of what Jesus said in Matthew 23:8–12. The group mentality says the group is forever right and individuals are always wrong. This is how Zimbabwe, as a nation, lost it, becoming seemingly uncontrollable towards destruction. When the army staged a coup, the entire nation celebrated. However, there were few individuals who saw the wrongness in violating the constitution, viewed as insignificant.
The group mentality assumed the majority could not be wrong, even when confronted with reason by the minority. The current chaos testifies to how wrong the group mentality was. The stupidity of a group mentality also manifested in approving a flawed constitution in 2013. The 96% majority hailed the constitution as the best. However, when analyzing the viewpoint of the four per cent who voted against it, one perceives the stupidity of the group mentality. This deceitful idea of a group mentality agrees with the Israelites’ cause of failure to enter Canaan, as originally promised by God (Numbers 14).
The majority adopted what appeared wise, but as stupid as rejecting God who miraculously freed them from Egypt. Following a person merely for appearing wiser than others is acceptable to those who are sheepish and failing to take responsibility. God caused the Israelites to perish in the desert rather than reach the Promised Land in their stupid condition. Of course, there can be confusion without governance. But Christianity is directed by God Himself, where spiritual roles are allocated accordingly, without anyone assuming ultimate authority, according to Matthew 23:8–12.
- Failure to Appreciate That God Cannot Be Likened to Anything
The reason for enacting the doctrine of the Trinity, even though not recommended by Jesus, is a posture aiming at likening God to a physical personality. This is adopted from Jesus’ declaration that anyone who had seen Him had seen God. Unknown to them is that Jesus was saying this based on the unseen God in Him. Any Christian can repeat the same words uttered by Jesus without any problem, as long as they truthfully project sonship to God.
The basic principle is that God cannot be likened to individual personalities in this world, which implies the condition of the Spirit. Jesus was unambiguous when He declared that “God is Spirit” to the Samaritan woman (John 4:24). He is not identified by gender, just as Christ and any other Christian are not identified by gender (Exodus 20:4–6 NIV). Keeping God’s Commandments is facilitated by behaving like the Good Samaritan.
Becoming God’s child helps one discard falsehood about God’s identity. If one is created in God’s image, why would one look elsewhere for God’s identity? One’s own spiritual identity describes God. Of course, one does not think in terms of physical structure and then assume being the representation of God’s image. Spiritual identity refers to God’s identity in behavior and motives. The majority of people are other people’s identities, and not themselves. This is how far deception has gone in this world.
- The Idolization of Humanity
The idea of having fellow humans above others was never formulated by Christ, whose standard He projected when He was here as the Son of Man; He never honored the High Priests in Jerusalem. Jesus is our Lord, just as providing valuable information ought to be honoured. Although we worship God through Jesus, there is no instruction for us to worship Jesus, who specifically taught how to pray to the Father, and not to pray to the Trinity.
Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:16–17 KJV).
Jesus used this to stress the importance of keeping God’s Commandments. That is what true worship implies. The rest is either to vainly impress God or to impress other humans. Jesus never instructed His disciples to address their prayers to Him, but to their Father in Heaven. God’s children are in every nature Gods. The translators of Jesus’ statement attempted to relegate this point by using a small “g” on “Gods.” This is a result of unbelief and failure to understand Jesus, whom the Jews sought to stone for uttering what they viewed as blasphemy.
The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone you, but for blasphemy, and because you, being a Man, make Yourself God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’? If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand” (John 10:33–39 NIV).
How did they interpret Psalms 82:6, as highlighted in their Scriptures? This misunderstanding has caused scholars to suggest that Jesus ought to be a member of the Trinity, while failing to understand what He said: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). They relegate the same God they claim to adore by invalidating God’s children. If God dwells in His children, according to Jesus (John 14:15–18), how are they different from God?
- Failure to Appreciate the Authority of Jesus
Jesus’ words need to be taken religiously, as Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Jesus is our bread of life, deserving no mixture with other ideas. This is regardless of how authoritative others may be recognized. The pliant humanity loves worshipping humans and also loves being worshipped, while foolishly assuming to be supported by Jesus, but without any Scriptural reference to support that claim.
The only truthful datum, provable through Scriptural references, is that anyone assuming to follow Jesus ought to be the servant of all. This is demotion, which should not be mistaken for promotion. He was dehumanized by the same humanity, appearing as if now idolizing Him as a member of the Trinity. This subterfuge is observable to those cherry-picking Scriptures out of their contexts to support this Trinitarian fallacy. Otherwise, the rest continue to be confused until Jesus comes. Stubborn humanity misunderstood Him, even when He was here physically.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilisation, which lays out standards for lifting Zimbabwe out of its current economic depression and into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, offering relief to those who have witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book to be a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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