Quitting Hellish Christianity: Giving up Power and Following Jesus

By Robert D. Sessford

It can be enticing in this day and age for Christians to seek influence and power in the world, yet this often means circumventing the true path that Christ has set out before us. Who would have thought that exerting power or influence over the direction of our culture might be exactly what Jesus does not want his followers to do?

Quitting Hellish ChristianityGiving Up Power and Following Jesus explores Jesuss words and thought-provoking insights when it comes to his expectations for what it means to be Christ-centeredwhich does not always mean Christian. Jesus said to his followers, If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me, and author and minister Robert D. Sessford reminds fellow disciples of Christ that it is submissionnot the swordthat Jesus expects of us. Quitting Hellish Christianity turns the lens back on evangelical Christianity and asks whether Christ is truly a symbol of a willingness to submitor if he has simply become a symbol of victory or domination against a changing, liberal world.

Evangelical Christianity can often be hellish in attitude and craving of worldly influence and power. Yet Jesuss instructions to his disciples were to practice principles of love, forgiveness, generosity, and kindnesseven toward those who say Lord, Lord and still do not practice what he commanded. Quitting Hellish Christianity can help believers determine within themselves how to obey these commands of Christand teach others to do so also.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Feb 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9781480843813

Robert D. Sessford

Robert D. Sessford has enjoyed over thirty years in the Christian ministry, affording him the opportunity to meet with many different people. From high-ranking politicians and government officials to street people, business leaders, prisoners, and musicians, each has provided him insight into the human heart and what it means to follow—or not follow—Jesus. Also married for over thirty years and father of six children, Robert is today joyfully ministering in a local church setting.

Book preview

Contents

Introduction

1    The First Great Evangelists

2    Sons Of Hell

3    Conviction

4    A House On The Sand

5    Legally Evangelical

6    Rethinking The Cross

7    God’s Kingdom

8    If I Be Lifted Up

9    A Big Rally In The Park

10    His Commands

Introduction

I want to begin by assuring (or disappointing) the reader that at no time will I label this church or that denomination as hellish. In fact, I don’t believe it is possible or advisable to do any such thing. What I am writing about is an attitude that has, I think, permeated much of our Christian culture. I am reminded of the words of our Lord: Beware the yeast of the Pharisees. ¹ It is to bring understanding about what that yeast is, and how it has affected the church, that I began writing this book. Enjoy reading—and thinking.

1

THE FIRST GREAT EVANGELISTS

You travel about on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

—Matthew 23:15

I was nineteen when I came into Christianity. I wanted a change in my life. I craved friendship and purpose, and these were provided to me by the Holy Spirit and through the church. I felt and heard the counsel and comfort of the Holy Spirit. But I soon became immersed in evangelical culture, where separation from the world (the world is your enemy), personal holiness (God is not satisfied with what you’re like, even though he made you, and now that you are a Christian, you should deny all kinds of pleasures that are connected with your humanity), and, of course, evangelism were the pillars of the culture. Ah, evangelism—that great purpose for which we were created and brought into the body. Evangelism was a paradoxical activity wherein we expressed simultaneously God’s great love for every person and his conflicting hatred for the world.

It is interesting that the message I actually responded to was that Jesus is still alive and had the authority to forgive me of all my shortcomings. Yet the message I somehow came to think needed to be delivered to the world was different. That message, now circulating around me in my newfound Christian culture, was this: God is real, and although he hasn’t destroyed you yet, he will, unless you honor him by believing Jesus is his son. You will burn in hell unless you believe that he alone can save, and he saves only those who call upon him. If you believe this, you will be saved, but in order to really please God, you must (a) participate in evangelism and (b) separate yourself from the world—from its pleasures, lusts, activities, and standards. Every church program was measured with one question: how will this reach people for Christ? I spent my time creating convicting tracts, preaching in the open air, and picketing porn shops.

I got saved when I was nineteen, and within six months, I was a pretty good Pharisee. I judged everyone else. All other groups, churches, organizations, and individuals were either for or against the evangelical gospel—and consequently, for or against God. Any person or group of people who sought to influence others to be kind, generous, patient, or forgiving without first demanding submission to Christ’s lordship was deemed to be evil. Like Satan masquerading as an angel of light, nonevangelicals were saying, peace, peace when there is no peace.²

I studied evangelism and evangelistic movements of previous generations. I read about great heroes of evangelism and analyzed their messages in an attempt to become a better evangelist. Imagine my surprise one day when I realized the history of evangelism went back even further than the book of Acts. The Pharisees were evangelists? Come again? Yes. How Jesus describes the Pharisees’ efforts to make converts could not be clearer: you travel about on sea and land to make one proselyte. The mental picture of robed Pharisees making long treks across the desert and braving the dangers of robbers, storms, and wild beasts just like the apostle Paul was not something that was illustrated in the Sunday school curriculum I was provided, but I began to picture what that could really have looked and sounded like:

Zack, a twenty-three-year-old Pharisee, about to make his first evangelistic trek, speaking with an older Pharisee named Samuel: Well, Sam, I begin my journey to Arabia tomorrow.

"The Lord bless you, Zack! God will reward you for your bravery and sacrifice. Remember what I told you: plan each leg to arrive at the next oasis before sundown.