The Great Commission I

My focus here is on taking the gospel to the world; and not on taking the Urantia Book to the world. (However, it is noteworthy to say that CMC does both.)

The Urantia Revelations make two things very clear:
1) Personal, private ministry ('as you pass by') - your character and your one-on-one interactions proclaim truth, beauty and goodness, transforming lives.
2) Public ministry - proactively taking the gospel to people on a massive scale, from city to city, country to country. 

We see both in Melchizedek's Earth life. We see both in Jesus' Earth life. Jesus encourages us to do the same today. People who are only focused on private ministry should not tear down those who are focused on both private and public. We are a team! 

The Master sent out Kingdom believers TO PROACTIVELY GO TO VILLAGES AND CITIES TEACHING AND PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM... How can we effectively take the teachings of Jesus to every part of the planet - reaching thousands and millions, at a time, if we do not engage in some form of "conscious, calculated organization"? 

The Master commanded us to take his teachings all over the world. He led by example by sending out believers to different places to reach out to others; to preach and teach - publicly. Jesus had an "organized movement" in place. Different people had different tasks. For example, Matthew Levi was a fundraiser. Judas Iscariot was their treasurer. Simon Peter was an eloquent spokesman - preacher and teacher... There was a sustainable structure in place. 

To take the gospel to villages, cities and countries all over the world would require SOME (or A FEW) faith-liberated individuals to put in 20, 30 or even 50 hours of work per week. It requires a well coordinated and sustained effort. It requires planning, time and money. It requires setting up a structure - a 'movement'; an 'organization'; a 'church' or whatever is needed to get the job done. Let's not deceive ourselves. There's really practically no other way in this day and age.

A key objective for us is to clearly understand the duties and responsibilities placed on us, by the Fifth Epochal Revelation or the FER (The Urantia Book) and also those placed on us by the gospel message. They are greatly interrelated but they are not exactly the same. The FER may experience 'slow growth' but the gospel message does not have to. The majority of humans on Earth may not be ready for the FER but they are ready for the gospel teachings. Lack of understanding of this vital fact is a major reason why we are not doing so well - globally, in obeying the Master’s command. 

Some readers frown at Public Ministries because of the abuse they see amongst some tele-evangelists and some Church or Religious leaders. These things should not and must not make us reject "organizations" and public outreach work. Some humans may abuse power, authority, finances, etc but that does not mean the WORK ITSELF should not be done.

We have a great book - the Urantia Book, filled with nuggets to equip us with wisdom, knowledge and understanding. If any group of people should do better, then I think we ought to be that group. I see nothing to fear or be worried about. The Master knew quite well the fallibility of humans yet out of faith and trust, he commissions them to work under an umbrella as an organized team to do Public Outreach Work. With the knowledge we have, we should be able to do better than our 'stigmatized' tele-evangelist brothers and sisters... ...But should we fail, we learn, we grow, we evolve. We get wiser. There's really no other way.

 ‪#‎OneLove‬ ‪#‎Peace‬ ‪#‎Namaste‬

Picture Art of FOGBOM by Tery McCade.

Jesus and Atonement

King David saw into the mind of God concerning blood sacrifice:

Psalm 51:16-17, “For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart - These, O God, You will not despise.”
Psalm 40:6, “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.”

And also:
Jeremiah 7:22-23, “For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’”
Matthew 9:13, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

In conducting the Passover Supper Ceremony, Jesus always intentionally did not include animal food – like lamb meat because he abstained from the slaughtering of animals. (The Jews upheld the spilling of blood as a requirement for the forgiveness of sins or the atonement of sins). He always opted for a bloodless passover ceremony. This practice and attitude of Jesus shows clearly that God the Father does not require blood sacrifice in order to forgive sins. Jesus even forgave people their sins before he died. His blood wasn’t spilled then! For example in Matthew 9:2, “Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.’”

For the forgiveness of our evil deeds/sins/iniquity => for our salvation, God simply asks for repentance from the heart; a broken and a contrite heart. Jesus came on the scene and made it all clearer: He revealed that when we get an understanding of and embrace the LOVE of God in such a way that we surrender our all to God, and allow our hearts to forgive others, inasmuch as we seek God's forgiveness, therein is our salvation. This process allows us to see God as a loving Father and to see other people as our brothers and sisters. We also acquire the faith to believe that our eternal future is secured in God (or in God’s plan).

For our salvation, there's no need for animal sacrifice; the sacrifice of the village King's first son or the sacrifice of an innocent girl or man captured (kidnapped) by the King's guards. And of course, no need for God to sacrifice an innocent Jesus. Stop and think for a minute: To punish an innocent man for the deeds of wicked or guilty offenders.....is it justice?

To understand the, “Gospel of Salvation”, we must look at what Jesus did and taught about SALVATION. Our major focus must be, "The gospel according to Jesus". And not the, "The gospel according to Paul". Paul's version of the gospel is mixed up. It has Jesus' version in it but mixed up with the olden Jewish version of atonement and with his own concocted version of "the fall of man", "the original sin" - of the spiritual death of everybody from birth due to the fall of Adam, the first man. By the way, we know Adam was not the first man. Before Adam and Eve came, there were Andon and Fonta. After Cain killed Abel, he relocated to another place and married there. That tells us clearly that there were humans living in other communities outside the Garden of Eden. And thank God for the Urantia Revelations (The Urantia Book). The first couple (Andon and Fonta) walked on Earth about 1 million years ago. Adam and Eve came about 38,000 years ago. Please, do the math. 

Jesus never taught or endorsed the atonement doctrine “as a must requirement for the forgiveness of sins.” He chose to go through the death on the cross, knowing fully well that one of the blessings that would accrue would be the final liberation of ‘many’ from blood sacrifice. Hence he said in Matthew 26:28, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Take note he said, “My blood… which is shed for many…” Shed for “many”. He didn’t say, “Shed for all”. He knew there were and would be “many” who would fervently cling to atonement/blood sacrifice. His death on the cross took care of those people - the “many”. It helped to deal a great and final blow to the barbarism of blood sacrifice. He became, as it were, the last sacrifice. But he didn’t have to do it. It was not a must requirement for salvation. ...and a prophet Isaiah, foresaw the sufferings of our Jesus... 

Salvation comes as a result of an understanding appreciation of God’s powerful divine love - be it at the cross or outside the cross (the cross apart). For example, there are other inhabited planets, where the people there (so-called aliens) get saved and they know nothing about any cross. But the love of God is available. Paul's or Christianity's doctrine of salvation is strange and impractical in many other inhabited planets. Would Jesus have to go there and die again? Or who is going to travel there to share the atonement doctrine? How are they going to get there? :) However, Jesus' salvation message (mentioned in an earlier paragraph above) is applicable to "all" here on Earth and in every other planet inhabited by mortal intelligence. And there are lots of them. Go figure! :) 

...Also, Jesus never taught the original sin doctrine (the spiritual death of every child due to the fall of Adam and Eve). Even the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke to a large extent, show that Jesus didn't teach all that. Our dear brother Paul and his associates came up with all that! And mixed them up with Jesus' gospel of, "You are sons and daughters of God. The Kingdom of God is within you. God’s love and salvation are obtained by grace through faith and faith alone; not of works; not of blood sacrifice." The atonement doctrine is a man-made doctrine. We may say, "It is not of God. It is not of the Devil. It is of man." 

By the way, a major reason Paul taught the atonement doctrine (and in some places, promoted it AS A MUST REQUIREMENT) was to win over many Jews to his Christianity. But of course, history shows that he did not succeed. For the most part, the Jewish community blatantly refused to be swayed by Paul’s salvation message. Our great brother, Paul did a lot to promote spiritual growth and enlightenment. Yes! But his diluted and mixed up message of salvation has created a confusion that persists to this day. It will take some time but this planet would mature to the fullness of the knowledge of the truth. Amen.

Hosanna! Hallelujah! #OneLove #Peace

Art piece by Tery McCade.

The Power of Decision-Choice

A "SWOT analysis" can be applied in making choices. Before you choose, stop, pause, and consider your "Strengths", "Weaknesses", the "Opportunities" and "Threats" that are related or connected to the choices before you. Bring in "SWOT" to your decision-making process! And bring in "Prayer" and "Meditation"! Glory to God! Amen.

"The Universe awaits your choice to see what you will make real in this life and then as a result of your choice, realities can be made manifest and will be used to the glorification of the Father." Tap into the power of decision-choice today! Shalom and Hallelujah! 

Let us work together to encourage people to tap into their God-given powers of Decision-Choice, bringing in prayers, meditation and heart-felt worship. There is this all-important factor of closeness to God that is realized! It is also important to note that when more individuals engage in this, an inevitable outcome would be peace, safety and security in our communities all over the world. 

I delivered a message titled, "The Power of Decision-Choice". I'm telling you my dear, this message is very powerful. It has viewpoints, nuggets and suggestions that will add transformative value to your decision-making behavior. Click to listen today! Hosanna! Hallelujah! 

Please, take a listen: https://soundcloud.com/christ-michael-center/the-power-of-decision-choice

Thank you and #OneLove 

- Pastor Karo.


NB: Art Work by brother Tery McCade.

"I Surrender All"

Hello! Greetings and Salutations!

Please, what do we really mean when we say, "I surrender all to God"? Surrendering all to our Heavenly Father implies we welcome Him to sit at the throne of our hearts; to be the 'man' in charge of our lives. We willingly welcome Him into the citadel of our lives. Please, listen closely and be blessed! 

https://soundcloud.com/christ-michael-center/i-surrender-all