Christianity Broken

By D.K. Grooms

What our Christian forefathers knew and embraced as faith and what we call faith today are vastly different beliefs; Christianity is truly flawed. In Christianity Broken, author D. K. Grooms provides refreshing insights into this lapse, and he shows how Christians can make a personal decision to enter into a more intimate relationship with their faith.

Based on his experiences as a pastor, Grooms addresses the brokenness of modern Christianity and, with the aid of Scripture, shows what has happened in the church to cause this break in faith to occur. Christianity Broken details the personal connection that is available to the born-again children of God, and it encourages Christians to make a solid commitment to God.

Through a thorough inspection of the Word of God, Grooms provides a deep understanding of the Christian faith, explains what can be done to attain eternal life, and shows how to begin and maintain an important relationship with God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Aug 9, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462040254

D.K. Grooms

D. K. Grooms served in the US Navy and entered full-time ministry in 1987. Grooms founded Operation Humanity, Power House, Freedom House, and Rock Solid Truth. He has pastored at Abundant Life Church in Moline, Illinois, for twenty years. He and his wife, Linda, have three daughters six grandchildren and one great grandchild

Book preview

Contents

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1

How Is Christianity Broken?

Chapter 2

What Is Eternal Life?

Chapter 3

Perfect Love Casts Out All Fear

Chapter 4

Eternal Life Manifested

Chapter 5

Life, and That Abundantly

Chapter 6

How Personal Is This Relationship?

Chapter 7

Relationships in Darkness

Chapter 8

No Freedom in Error

Chapter 9

Value and Worth

Chapter 10

Discipleship in Relationship

Chapter 11

Continuing in His Word

Chapter 12

Truth Alone Does Not Make You Free

Conclusion

Foreword

I have always wondered what motivates people to read the books they do, especially those who truly want to understand and know more about their Christian faith. Is it simple curiosity that drives them? A lot of people are certainly curious, or is there something within them that they can’t quite put their hand on?

It is unusual to find a person today who longs to know more about the deep things of faith and the God they serve. These people, it seems, have a spiritual itch that desperately needs to be scratched. You’ll find them reading everything they can get their hands on, that they feel might help satisfy their searching and longing soul. These people have heard countless messages and untold teachings on the ways of God, but for them the glass still remains half full. Where do I go next? they ask.

Having so many questions, but getting so few answers, these people feel frustrated in their search for truth, yet they know there must be answers somewhere. Their spirit senses their longing and encourages them to keep looking, that the answers are well within reach. The Word of God says in Matthew 5:6, Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. What a wonderful promise for you and me. It also proclaims in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. It clearly states that we human beings can know the deep things of God, here and now.

Being hungry spiritually is a driving force that can be fulfilled only if we trust God to lead us to the source of refreshing. Man cannot lead you there—only God can. So, if you are one of those people, or you feel compelled to find truth, no matter what it takes, then this might be just the book for you.

Sadly, most church members honestly believe the church is just fine the way it is, in spite of noticeable shortcomings. But you’ll have to decide for yourself. You may well be surprised at what you’ll learn by reading this book. It may unlock the mysteries you’ve been seeking answers to.

When I sought the Lord for an appropriate title for this book, I felt impressed by him to call it Christianity Broken. Without question, I knew in my heart of hearts that this was indeed the perfect title, but one which would no doubt cause serious controversy among believers. My hunger and zeal to see captives made free is my only purpose in writing this book. It’s because of my unconditional love for the body of believers—God’s church—that I even considered such an undertaking. But God’s word to me to write this narrative was reason enough. He knows you are seeking and wants to reveal himself to you. That can only happen because of love.

Over the past several years, there have been some very distressing and sobering issues that I felt were being ignored in favor of doing business as usual. The church is my family, and I want them to understand the truth of the church’s complacency in light of God’s word. I now understand that the church is badly broken. Only when we individually and collectively accept that things are broken will we make any effort to correct those problems. Unfortunately (and perhaps profoundly), the church would argue just the opposite. In the eyes of the average Christian, they’re convinced that everything is fine.

Considering these critical issues, it’s my hope that you will indeed read the book through completely, that you’ll be challenged and changed by what you read. The result will be a newer life in Christ and with the Father. After all, isn’t that really what you wanted anyway?

This book is all about freedom. Freedom that will cause such a restlessness to arise within you that you’ll not be content until you possess every last bit of his glory. If you read it, you’ll be changed by it. I guarantee it!

Preface

A) Some tips for reading this book:

There’s a tremendous amount of information in this book, and it can seem somewhat overwhelming when you first read it. So I’ve got some tips to help you get the most out of this book.

Once you’ve read the book, put it aside for a couple of weeks and simply digest everything you’ve read. After a brief period of time, pick the book up again and reread it. This time, read each of the chapters independently of the others. Take time to look up the referenced scriptures in that specific chapter, reading and meditating on them so you’ll have clarity. Read them till you understand the context of the chapter in which they are found. Spend quality time carefully considering the issues revealed to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand how these elements apply to you specifically.

Do this with regularity, and you’ll find that the truths I’ve explained will take hold of your life and become real to you. Your relationship and intimacy with Jesus Christ and the Father will blossom and grow in ways you never thought possible. It’ll be the most glorious and rewarding adventure of your life.

Remember, Christ does not want us to be ignorant of his word or the things that were done by him for our benefit. He is with you to help you be all that you can be.

B) The importance of understanding the Bible, God’s word to you:

It is really quite easy to misquote scripture these days, especially in light of the growing number of easy-to-read Bible translations we see on the book shelves. Correctly interpreting and studying passages of scripture is the responsibility of each one of us.

Casual readers of the Bible often find themselves confused because of these easy-to-read Bibles. Some of them are beneficial, especially for the new Christian, but not the serious student.

Serious study of God’s word is encouraged, but there is a tremendous cost. The cost is in both time and effort. Nothing comes quickly or easily, regardless of the vocation. You have to have a serious longing in your heart to know the deep things of God, beyond what you hear in a traditional church setting, spiritual truths that make you free.

Beyond just wanting to understand what the Bible is telling us, you’ll need to start by doing some serious digging. Get yourselves a version of the Bible that hasn’t been watered down for simplicity or for easy reading’s sake. I highly recommend the King James or New King James Version, with a companion Strong’s Concordance and a book that interprets English into Greek. This will teach you the true meanings of the words you read, in the context of the passage you’re studying.

Never pick out a single scripture verse and make up a story that sounds good using it. Read the verses before and after it to gain a proper perspective of the whole passage. The books of the Old and New Testaments were not written in the fashion we see in our Bibles today, with verses and chapters. The church added them to make it easier to read. They were written as letters to the various churches. A letter is not choppy, but should read easily, with the intent of the writer being quite understandable.

Introduction

Don’t be deceived: the Christianity we’ve grown up with is in a very sad state today. What makes it sad is that most believers just don’t believe it. Our Christianity is not the Christianity of our fathers and forefathers. We talk as though it is, but it is not. There are colossal differences from what our Christian forefathers knew and embraced as faith and what we call faith today. No one seems interested in discussing the issues of our faith that are flawed, nor do they desire to confront any problems that might alienate them from their friends in the church.

If you remember what you were taught in school, you’ll know that Rome didn’t fall in a single night. It was a progressive destruction that was so thorough it left Rome a mere shadow of itself and its former glory. Erosion that was so complete, it lulled people into believing the later glory of Rome was no different than its former glory. They allowed themselves to be deceived because it still felt good to them on the outside. Just like a frog in a pot of water, we too like the warm fuzzy feeling of our surroundings and hope nothing will change. Tragically, what we enjoy isn’t really real or good for us. It’s a death sentence to those that remain there too long.

When people finally wake up to the reality of what has been happening with their faith and the church they attend, they’ll no doubt question God and wonder what on earth happened to them.

The Christianity we claim to love and pin our hopes on is in fact broken. Like Rome, the erosion of our faith has resulted in a devastation that’s nearly complete. The former glory is gone. But how can that be? you say.

Countless Christians would argue that the Christianity they know isn’t broken at all, but vibrant and alive, even during these tumultuous and troubling times. They’ll tell you that church attendance, though in noticeably smaller numbers, is still proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel and doing good deeds in their communities for mankind. They might even argue that there’s actually more unity today than there has been in previous years, especially among the various denominations. They’ll point out that major efforts are being made on every front to bring cohesiveness to all believers, and unity of faiths. To them, life seems good and God is pleased with their efforts.

Maybe the thought of a broken Christianity sounds blasphemous to you too; perhaps it stirs up a bit of anger. If you’ll remember from scripture, such were the times when Christ spoke of similar issues. Didn’t he challenge the thoughts of men concerning their faith and relationship with God? Weren’t they the ones who steadfastly obeyed the laws they’d received through Moses? Didn’t they have their religion down pat and perfected, believing God was thoroughly pleased with their performance? I’m sure they would argue in the affirmative.

Surely these holy men, the Sanhedrin and Pharisees, thought to themselves, How dare this Jesus stand in opposition to the church of God and the religious practices we have grown to love? These leaders of the faith were so angry they tried repeatedly to kill Jesus, to silence this perceived heresy. They hated the truth bearer. They hated what he represented. I wonder today if we too hate the truth?

Perhaps we should be more attentive to matters of our faith as God speaks of it in his word. Over the past many years, I have witnessed the ongoing deterioration and destruction of what we call Christianity. Everywhere I turn, I’m confronted with the reality of what has taken place. The things I read and hear shout loudly the truths of what has really happened to us. Satan, our professed enemy, has been quite effective in our world these past many years, specifically in the lives of Christian men and women and the churches they attend. He has successfully broken down and eroded our faith through a barrage of misinformation and lies concerning who we are in Christ and in this world. We all know that Satan is both a liar and deceiver; somehow believing we have him right where we want him. This hater of all things holy has been quite busy and effective in the Christian church as a whole. Satan has deceived multitudes about the true condition of the church. The result is predictable. Countless Christians still believe everything is fine.

I’ve witnessed this deterioration firsthand, both as a pastor and from outside the pulpit. As Christ wept bitterly over Jerusalem, so I too weep over a people separated from him. Scripture says in Luke 13:34, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together,