Have You Added To The Gospel?

     What happened to Christians in the last 1800 years.  To be a Christian and Brother in Christ all that was taught in scripture and all that people had to believe was the following:

THE BIBLICAL GOSPEL:

Jesus Christ was born of a Virgin

The Only Begotten Son of God

God in the Flesh

Was Human and Divine

Sinless

Died on the Cross for Your Sins

Buried and Resurrected on the Third Day

Returning For us

We are called to live a Holy & Sober Life for Him

  

These days the message of the Bible has changed.  People have added doctrine of men and have required people to believe all or some of the following in order for them to be a Christian:

THE MODERN DAY GOSPEL

Jesus Christ was born of a Virgin

The Only Begotten Son of God

God in the Flesh

Was Human and Divine

Sinless

Died on the Cross for Your Sins

Buried and Resurrected on the Third Day

Returning For Us

***ADDED 

If you believe and think that you must do your wrong

If you believe and don't do you are wrong

You must believe in the Trinity or/and

You must be able to explain the Trinity Right

You must love Israel or

You must not love Israel

You must believe in the Rapture or

You can't believe in the Rapture

You must be Calvinist or

You must be Arminist

You must be baptized and

You must be baptized in the Name of Jesus or

You must be baptized in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

You must obey the Sabbath and

You must obey the Sabbath on Saturday or

You must obey the Sabbath on Sunday

     It is so sad to see and hear of Christians discrediting other believers in Christ because they do not believe in the Trinity or know how to explain the Trinity or just because they believe in the Rapture or does not believe in the Rapture.  They may say something like, "How can a person who is saved not believe in the Rapture?"

     I believe the 9 doctrines first mentioned are the only essential and clearly taught doctrines found in the Bible.  Jesus and the Apostles taught them and expounded on them.  Everything else is doctrine of men.  Not that they are bad just not necessary for salvation.  Please remember in the end it will be our faith in Christ and what he did on the cross.  The belief in the Rapture, Calvinism, Baptism, Trinity or any other thing is not going to save us.   

     If you think differently:  Let me know what and why?

    

***CLAIMER please do not read anything more into this than the point that is being made here.  Thank you.  

Persecuted in America True Story of Pastor Michael Salman - PT. 2

     On May 18th, 2012 I was sentenced to serve 60 days by the City of Phoenix Municipal Court.  I was told to report to Jail on June 17th, 2012 at 11:00 PM.    On Sunday morning of my surrender we were getting ready to do what we always did every Sunday and that is to gather and celebrate the Lord Jesus Christ with our family and friends.  The evening was always on our mind but we continued to pray to the Lord for a blessing and strength that would get us through.  We woke up and prepared to gather.  People began to show up at our home around 9:15 am.  We could tell there was a little bit of uneasiness in the heart of those who came to worship that day.  People did not know what to think or how to act.  Suzanne and I continued to Praise the Lord as normal.  While others continued to ask if I was still having to report that evening.  We answered with a Yes, and Praise God, knowing that it had to be God's will.  Even though we knew that we were being persecuted for our faith we still Praised God.  There were fleeting moments of sadness, anger and disbelief but ultimately our trust and our heart belonged to God and we had no choice but to trust in Him.
     We gathered together and began to Praise the Lord.  Worship was Spirit Filled and Suzanne and I really prayed to reach the hand of God.  We prayed fervently for a miracle.  There was no doubt that God had a purpose in all this but as humans we were really trying to figure it out.  My heart was aching deep inside and I just could not allow my flesh to have its glory.  I had to continue in faith believing that God had a purpose in this.  We worshiped and prayed that day.  After worship everyone went home.  My brother and a few other families remained and we made our way to the mall to spend some time together.  I tried to absorb my family as much as I could.  I knew I may not be able to hug them, embrace them, kiss them or see them for at least 60 days.  My wife and I clung to each other knowing that the time was going to come for us to depart one another for awhile.
     We spent time with the kids at Peter Piper Pizza.  It was not long before we found ourselves back at our home in the living room awaiting the time to depart.  Other family and friends had come over that evening and decided to spend the evening with us.  We sat and talked about what God will do through me in there.  Even though I anticipated the work of God in the Jail, I did not want to leave.  My children would come to me randomly throughout the evening and just hug me and kiss me.  They knew that it was not long before I would say good bye to them.  I embraced my wife and eventually had to depart to go to my room for a moment of reflection and composure.  I then thought that we should make a video on what was going to happen.  So my wife and I went into our home office and began to record a small Youtube video.  We finished the video, published it and then uploaded it to Youtube.  The time approached 10:30 pm and it was time for me to depart.  I needed to strength my back and straighten my knees.  I had to be strong for my family.  God give me strength I prayed under my breath.  We gathered together in prayer and wept before the Lord.  I could not hold the tears but did my best.  I kissed my wife and kids one more time and headed out the door, leaving them crying and weeping out loud.  I could hear them as I headed to the car.  My brother and close friend was driving me to the jail that evening.  I felt like I was swallowing a golf ball as I entered the car.  My heart felt like it was bleeding.  Tears started to flow down my cheeks.  I was not so much crying for me as much as I was crying for them.  I knew I would be alright and I knew they would be alright also but the separation was hard.
     As we began to drive to the jail, I felt numb.  It was surreal.  Is this actually happening??  After accepting Christ I had done my best to make sure I never find myself back in jail again and here I am going to jail.  Even though it was for the Glory of God it was still difficult.  We got to the jail.  I had brought with me a couple of bibles to hand out to others who may be waiting to go in.  Of course there were no takers.  I began to witness to others who were waiting to self surrender.  The gates opened for us to go in.  I said my last good-byes and headed inside.  The officer asked me what my charge was.  I told him it was a building occupancy code.  Of course I had to explain to him a little and he just shook his head.  He had not heard what had happened yet.  The officer asked us to take off our shoes and to put our hands against the wall.  He than began to pat search us.  He then escorted us to another room where we lined up and had to fill out a medical survey.  Once we finished that he than sent me and another guy to a 5 by 5 room awaiting processing.  He then called the guy out and began to ask him questions.  As I sat there in the room I began to count the blocks.  I began to think and meditate on what had happened and what had brought us to this point.  As I began to pray I said, "Lord, Is this how you felt when you were all alone ready to be crucified?"  My heart cried out to God.  "Lord, I am so unworthy!  Please give me strength." I told him.  I deserve to be punished for my sins but Jesus did not.  It was not long before I was called to the counter.  The officer began to ask me questions.  He then proceeded to my charge which he had me explain to him a couple of times.  About 10 minutes later he made a call to a supervisor who came to the front.  The supervisor than began to search the database.  He continued to ask me what exactly is the charge.  After no success they looked at each other and began to mumble something.  I then looked at them and asked them, what does this all mean.  The supervisor than stated that I could not be booked because they do not have this charge in their computer.  The officer informed me that no one has ever been jailed for this charge.  He then proceeded to tell me that I could go home now.
       The moment I heard that it was bitter and sweet.  Of course I wanted to go home but I did not want to go through this all over again.  I could not bear to leave my family crying again.  At the same time, I already missed my family so much.  Maybe it was God's way of intervening I thought.  Maybe someone saw the video and came to their senses.  Someone saw the video and said, we can not send someone to jail for worshiping at their home.  This of course was all faithful thinking.
     I called my wife and told her the news.  I of course could not wait for her and began to walk down the street knowing I would run into her.  There was a moment, where I feel to my knees on the sidewalk and thanked God for this moment.  Thank you God, I said, Thank you!  My wife and brother met me and picked me up and took me home.  I surprised my kids while they were asleep.  It was a moment of joy for all of us.  We spent the next day together praising God!!  We did not know what the future would hold for us yet but we knew who held the future.  The video went viral and then the phone calls began.......  PART 3 coming soon.