The Love Ministry

2 Peter 2:18

18

For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.

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They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”

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Even in the early times of transition to new mediation, false teachings were viral. These teachings were empowerment of the flesh, and entitlement in worldliness(material favor). For, it was a great transition for those who like Solomon, used human wisdom to advance themselves in earthly ways. The concept of selflessness and the unseen qualities of God were not easy to accept, because it left no room for the vanities that come naturally to us all.

Jesus directed his disciples to abandon everything and every relationship, so they could carry his service of the Father's will forward. John the Baptist paved the way for this by never drinking wine, living in the wilderness, wearing course clothing and eating off the land. John denied himself to keep his sincerity. Jesus denied himself to do his Father's will on Earth. We deny ourselves to have the Spirit of Holiness reside in us, allowing us to recognize Christ's mediation between us and the Father.

So what does false ministry look like today?

Idol worship

Setting any heavenly or earthly form in place of faith and the Holy Spirit. Whether it is a cross around a neck, or prayer beads that repeat like a mantra any prayer, or statues of angelic forms, or statues or paintings of human saints, or images of Jesus- all of these are pagan. There is a holiness set aside for us in Spirit which recognizes our sincerity. Beyond the Holy Spirit, everything else is a manifested lie.

Privilege ministry

Having a sense of piety that empowers judgement over non believers. Having a sense of entitlement likening to that of holy favor. That separates an individual, or a group, as having less, or more favoritism in the eyes of God. Having belief that acts of selflessness, mercy, or compassion, lend to prosperity in worldly ways. None of these ideals is valid in Christ.

Freedom of the flesh

Ministries that advocate social liberties that actively empower lust or sexual immoralities. Marriages and house leaderships that condone anything that uses grace to accept the conditions of sinful living. This also includes ministry that is accepting of violence as a means to defend life.

Wealth ministry

Any and all ministry in assembly, that does not consider the commandment of treating others as you would have yourself be treated. Anyone who has more should consider those who have less, and any who have less should treat those who have more as equals in Christ. If we are not one heart and mind in Christ as a group, we are not in Christ.

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The vanities of our existence are easily found. And it is humbling for everyone, to set themselves aside to serve through Christ. This is the only way for us to have what is holy come through us in our actions. Otherwise, our best intentions are futile, and our claim of holiness is empty.

I must add this. Jesus did not feed every hungry mouth. Nor did Peter or Paul. We live in a world where inequality is rampant. Every person on the street who asks something of me, I sincerely attempt to assist. And in my heart I first feel pleased with myself, and I tell myself what I have done is good in the eyes of God. But this is not the case.

What I have done may indeed have been an act of sincere compassion or mercy. But what did I do for that soul, besides assist in keeping them in poverty? All I really did was clear my own conscience. Now if you consider that on a greater scale, if all we do is sustain a person in their helpless state, and all that is gained is our clear conscience, how is God honor through His Son?

There was a lame man who the Temple leadership set out in front of the Temple Gate called Beautiful, every day. He would receive tokens of compassion from temple followers as they entered to worship. Peter and John saw this, and they healed him by the power of God, and brought him into the Temple to testify to this healing. What can we learn from this?

We are no longer of this world, we have died of it, and what life is in us is holy and beyond the recognition of those who are still bound here. We are capable of much in our faith in Christ. Although we may not be able to heal a lame man, we can pray. We are not here to clear our conscience so to live as we desire, we are instead here to in faith be led to bring holiness into the world - light into the darkness. And we do this as we are servants and this is our tasks. We have no expectations of gain, nor of outcomes, we simply do what we have been commanded to do. Love. Love that is not human described, but love that is eternal, full, and pure.