The Hijacking Of Christianity

How has Christianity been hijacked and what can we do about it? Part 1 of 6

This era bears a striking resemblance to the time when churches grappled with the issue of slavery. While many congregations recognized its inherent inhumanity and the urgent need for its abolition, others, unfortunately, aligned themselves with the prevailing political and social norms of their regions, which supported the institution of slavery. When many states tried to secede, this division ultimately led to the devastating Civil War, a conflict that tore the nation apart. No one really wins a war, it’s just a matter of who is least destroyed.

Similarly, today’s churches have a crucial role to play in championing what is humane and just. What is humane is loving of others, and what isn’t loving therefore, cannot accurately represent the teachings of Jesus. However, another Civil War is certainly not the answer. What is?

Podcast show links with added content: Substack, YouTube video, Spotify, and Apple podcasts. These appear a day after blog-article posts.

Hijack of Christianity. Satan in church image by Microsoft Designer.

The power of truth must be our weapon. Jesus himself spoke truth, and those who resonated with it followed him. Just as in his time, new generations today, Millenials, Z, and A, resonate with Jesus’s authentic truth and readily recognize the false and often harmful portrayals of Christianity that have emerged. It is this inherent truth that will ultimately prevail.

Reference verses

Jesus said:

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35

“You will know them (his followers) by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.” – Matthew 7:16-20

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16

““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” – Matthew 7:21-23

“And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 22:39

“Jesus answered them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray.’”- Matthew 24:4

What does Gen Z eat? Not avacodos. If you own a restaurant or want to provide snacks, you’ll want to know. It’s “The salty, briny, lemony, garlicky rise of ‘pick me’ foods.” How pickles and olives became the avocado for Gen Z.

The hijacking of Christianity

Religion is a very powerful force and many powerful people have hijacked it for their own purposes over the last 200 years. Some of it is hardly recognizable today.

I don’t have a problem with different denominations emphasizing different things. People are not all the same, and different things resonate with them. My concern is when they go off the rails to be mired in the swamp of rotten purposes.

Hijacking the original purpose: the Ephesus church in Revelation

To understand how Christianity can be hijacked, it’s helpful to look at a historical example. The book of Revelation offers a powerful case study in the church at Ephesus. This early church, while outwardly zealous, had lost its way.

Jesus said to the Church of Ephesus, which was screaming about sin, in Revelation 2:1-7, “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember, then, from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first.”

They neglected their first love, which is love of God and Jesus, and the resulting works they neglected to do are charity toward others. Just as the Ephesians were called to return to their first love and their works of charity, perhaps the modern church needs a similar call to action.

The evangelical influence, while in itself is worthy in its 200 years of existence, has been hijacked by many to isolate their congregations from “the world,” which is the harvest field Jesus sent his followers to. They overemphasize personal salvation and exclusion while ignoring the social justice demands of the prophets and Jesus. This echoes the failing of the Ephesian church.

The purpose of the church is to show others the way of life Jesus showed us, so that others want to be part of the spiritual domain [kingdom] of God, which is here and now. There is no better way to show this than by acting out of love for them.

Conclusion

Christianity is not about screaming about perceived sin, over which we are not the judge.

Christianity is about acquainting people with the way to live, as demonstrated by Jesus, so they enter the “spiritual domain” [kingdom] of God that is here, now, and is spiritual not physical. It’s about love, which encompasses all human action and activity.

“Outrage (righteous wrath) can be good if it compels us to positive action but not to hate.”
– Dorian Scott Cole

“With hate, we have more to lose than gain – break the cycle” – Dorian Scott Cole

Probability Space

What probability spaces can we open in our minds to demonstrate the love of God and our own love of others, to help the world be a better place for all, so that people want to follow the Way Jesus showed us to live?

(A probability space is where all of the elements necessary for something to happen are present and it’s almost inevitable. All it takes is intention.)

Potential Space

If you think creatively and allow your mind to wander and explore, how can we reflect the love of God for all, and our own love for all, through our government?

(A potential space is a virtual space in our minds where entirely new things can take shape.) More: Is Music A Form Of Prayer?

Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. This helps me improve my work.
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Below is information for church planning to minister to new generations, building a community of action, service opportunities, education opportunities for new generations, and descriptions of the author’s nonfiction books.

Church planning season – strong impact course

How can churches minister to new generations if they won’t come to church? The church has been losing people at 1% a year, and now most of new generations won’t come.

I developed and presented a course on understanding and working with new generations. I would like to say I had rave reviews, but on a scale of 1 to 5 it averaged 4.5. Well, some people were raving.

The course helps people understand new generations, their values, and their differences. It helps people understand how to build a bridge to them and minister to them. The old worn-out things we used to do don’t work, and for good reason. This solutions focused course enables people to find new ways, appropriate ways, to minister to these generations in their local circumstances. It’s for church groups and generates deep discussion. </p>

Free video preview of the course

Course on Udemy: <a href=”https://www.udemy.com/course/understanding-and-working-with-new-generations/learn/lecture/46266901#overview”>Understanding and Working with New Generations</a>

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– Dorian

Our answer is God. God’s answer is us. Together we make the world better.

Restore and recreate. Take time to celebrate life. Laugh, sing, and dance regularly, even every day. Happy. This is why we dance to celebrate life: Reindeer actually running and dancing.

Building a Community of Action

New Way Forward community

Can we make positive change in our world and end a lot of suffering?

Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf, said: “Although the world is full of suffering, it’s also full of the overcoming of it.”

The human spirit yearns for a world without suffering, but it’s through facing challenges that we progress. The world isn’t perfect, but together we can create a future with less hardship. Famine, discrimination, gun violence, and injurious economic and educational disparities are complex problems, yet understanding their root causes empowers us to find solutions.

Launching in first quarter 2025, the New Way Forward community will connect individuals seeking practical solutions and creating lasting change. We’ll focus on understanding problems and their solutions, and how to effectively create change.

Join us in building a brighter tomorrow! New Way Forward on Facebook.

Civic service opportunities

Do Unto Others Kindness Campaign, and civic engagement.

UCC service opportunities.

PC USA programs and services.

United Methodist Church Volunteer Opportunities.

Join or support Zero Hour and amplify the voices of youth organizing for climate action.

Peoples Hub. Resistance, Resilience, Restoration, Re-imagination. Online Popular Education. For movement workers to learn, connect, collaborate, and strategize – in and across the disability justice and solidarity economy movements.

Stakeholder Capitalism – a video podcast series from the World Economic Forum. Can capitalism be made to work for all of us – and to improve rather than destroy the state of the planet?

General service and aid opportunities (on One Spirit Resources Website). To add your service opportunity to the One Spirit Resources list, contact the author (me) through Facebook Messenger. Note that I only friend people I know.

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Education Opportunities for new generations

Becoming an Entrepreneur – MITx online

Evaluating Social Programs – MITx online

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Bible scripture verses are New American Standard Version (NASB), unless noted.

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Author and books

Appease the Volcano: What does God require from people? The voices of the ancients from many religions echo much of the same things: It starts with law, then mercy and forgiveness, then love. Love is a major emphasis in all major religions and replaces law.

The Prophetic Pattern: Ancient and Modern Prophecy: How to distinguish the intent of various types of prophecies and oracles, both ancient and modern.

Preparing For the Future Of Work and Education: Analysis of the kinds of jobs that AI and Robotics will displace, and the educational requirements for them. AI will replace or augment thirty percent of jobs. This is an in-depth analysis citing many authoritative sources.

Author Website: Dorian Scott Cole