Time For Churches to Wake Up

TIME FOR THE CHURCHES TO WAKE UP

by Marga J. McCrady

There are many dropouts from the traditional churches today. Many people are searching for truth in a religion that you can actually use your brain to think with instead of just using blind faith. It has become harder and harder to buy into the concept of our savior having to be born of a virgin, as well as Jesus being used as a glorified scapegoat. There are various dogmas and creeds that insult the thinking man's intelligence.

I purchased a book called, "Why Christianity Must Change or Die," by John Shelby Spong. One comment made about this book was that Bishop Spong really demolishes the stifling dogmas of traditional Christianity in search of the inner core of truth in an effort to build a credible theology for a skeptical, scientific age.

It's time for the churches to wake up and step into the 21st century. They should ask for the scales to be removed from their eyes or the veil removed from their minds. With such resources as the Dead Sea Scrolls being published in a more user-friendly version that the layman can understand, they should stop holding on to dogmas and creeds from the Stone Age, stop trying to deny the overwhelming evidence that supports the research done by so many biblical scholars and serious men of the cloth. In addition, we are in the age of information with the Internet linking people around the world. Now, people can see for themselves that there is more material about religion than is presented in the canonized books of the Bible, as well as what is being taught in the traditional churches. Knowledge has increased, and we can, and do, understand more clearly.

In my opinion, this all adds up to more credible evidence that supports True Gospel Revealed Anew by Jesus received through Mr. James E. Padgett. Even if one is not spiritual, and finds it hard to accept these truths as presented by so many great witnesses such as Jesus of Nazareth, John the Baptist, James and 'Saint' John, today there is so much overwhelming scientific and hard physical, documented evidence that you can't dismiss all of it as being lies and/or being "of the devil."

It amazes me how funny people are: i.e., angels used to appear to people in the Bible and talk, or even transport them to other locations to reveal God's truths - and we believed it. However, when it happens in our lifetime, people automatically want to say it is evil or "from the devil."

When I first found the Padgett writings in the library, it rocked my world. However, after praying about it, it started making more sense to me that the real message, or gospel, that Jesus taught was about how to become at-ONE with our Heavenly Father by sincerely offering up to Him The Prayer found on p. 40 of True Gospel, with faith and earnest aspiration.

This clearly lined up with Jesus' prayer just before the crucifixion, where he declared:

THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE: THAT THEY MAY KNOW YOU, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you have SENT.1
He goes on to talk about God's love and glory to them [his disciples] while here, and giving them the same LOVE that the Father had given him, AND ASKED THAT THEY BE MADE ONE, "as we are one." Also, that he was not only praying for the disciples alone, but for those who would believe in their message or testimony that God had SENT him. He always used "sent," not "given" [as a sacrifice] (See John 17:3-26, New International Version (NIV) or John: 17:3-26, New King James Version (NKJV). Throughout the New Testament Jesus always referred to himself as "Son of Man" and "Son of God." He never stated from his mouth that he was God! In fact, in Mark 10:17-18 NIV (Mark 10:17-18, NKJV) when someone tried to call him "good" his reply was: "Why do you call me good? No one is good - except God alone."

I grew up reading the Bible. Also, I used to teach Sunday school when I was 15 years old. However, surprising as it may seem, it was not hard to sell me on True Gospel because even though I read the Bible on a regular basis, as well as had a personal relationship with my Heavenly Father, what I discovered was that what I heard in church and what I read in the Bible didn't always line up with what I actually experienced in my own walk with HIM.

For example, one year I finally read the Bible from cover to cover. After which, I was shocked and disappointed because of what was depicted of my loving Heavenly Father in the Bible - being an angry, barbaric god who desired blood and sacrifice in order to be appeased. This was just not true of the God I loved and served! Plus, I found it very hard to see or hear about the crucifixion in detail. It breaks my heart to see what was done to one so precious and wonderful as Jesus, or even believe how a loving Father would kill his son to save man, who has always been disobedient, hardheaded and stiff-necked toward Him from the beginning of time.

One night at Bible Study, our instructor was trying to prove a point that the churches teach - without blood there is no remission of sin. To illustrate this point, the minister went to Gen. 4:6 NIV (also Gen.4:7 NKJV) where God had a talk with Cain about why He did not accept his sacrifice. However, during the discussion He never told Cain that his sacrifice was rejected because he didn't bring a blood sacrifice, but that "there was sin at the door of his heart" and "it desires to have you, but YOU must master or overcome it."

Then the minister went to Heb.11:4 NIV (also Heb.11:4 NKJV) where the story of Cain and Abel is recounted. However, there the scripture just states that Abel had a better sacrifice. Again, no mention of a blood sacrifice being desired! So, the Lord asked me at that point, "Did the minister prove the point?" All I could say was "No." Then He said, "That was the traditional version. I am tired of men saying what they think I mean. I speak clearly and directly for myself." That was the beginning of my awakening.

In the Old Testament, our Heavenly Father desired a mutual true loving relationship like Abraham, David and others had with Him. He said that He'd give us a new heart and a new spirit so that we would be able to keep His laws (Ezek. 11:19-20 NIV, also see Ezek. 11:19-20 NKJV).

On the contrary, after coming into the Padgett writings, where I did have difficulty was in accepting the fact that there was no real Trinity. We are taught that there was the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit that make up the Godhead. However, my understanding was they were three separate entities, but worked as one, of one accord - one goal, one purpose. So, it was God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Right? WRONG!

However, again the Lord opened my spiritual eyes to see another truth buried in the Bible that let me know something was wrong with the concept of a tri-part God. The Old Testament states that the Lord our God is ONE. Plus, Jesus stated in Revelation 3:1 NIV (also Rev. 3:1, NKJV), "These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God." Then there is a cross reference that goes to Is. 11:2 NIV (also, Is. 11:2 NKJV) that breaks down the seven spirits. So it is not a "sevenfold Spirit of God" as some footnotes try to clear up in some of the newer versions of the Bible. And, if people take notice, there are no real references to worshiping the Holy Spirit in the Bible.

And yes, I remember that Swedenborg (the Seer) kept referring back to the Bible after he would have spiritual experiences when Jesus and the Celestial Angels were trying to use him to bring the truths to men, before Mr. Padgett was chosen. (This is mentioned in Vol. I of True Gospel, and also Swedenborg wrote about it on p. 210 of Vol. II.) This proved to be his downfall. But unlike Swedenborg, I've seen how the Bible has been changed even in my own time to reflect what the various denominations believe in.

As further confirmation about changes to the Bible, I have seen various books about the Bible containing errors in it. This was due in part to editors' notes being incorporated into scripture as "truth" in many instances. Yet, you will frequently hear someone say, "If it doesn't line up with the Word (the Bible), then don't believe it." Now, isn't that strange, since even our Heavenly Father warned mankind with these words:

"How can you say, 'We are wise, for we have the law (the Bible) of the Lord,' when actually the lying pens of the scribes have handled it falsely." (Jer. 8:8 NIV; also see Jer. 8:8, NKJV)
Please understand that this does not mean you throw out the Bible! You don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, as the saying goes. Even in its most watered down form, the Bible is powerful and contains truths. However, the Lord wants us to not only read the Word, but also develop a deeper, spiritual relationship with HIM.2

It used to make me angry and hurt when people rejected the truth when I tried to point out what I'd discovered, but my sister picked up on that one day. She told me, "Just tell them; and if they don't receive it, then let it go because you have done your job." I asked her how did she know it hurt me so bad - she said she could actually feel it. Then one night the Lord showed me in a dream that even if I showed my friends scriptures to back up what I said, they would not be able to receive it because their spiritual eyes were not open to these truths.

I was in search of GOD and TRUTH, and I asked my Heavenly Father for help. Thus, He sent me spiritual guides or Angels that have led me to various books, magazines, and even religious services where they discussed how Christianity has been changed since Jesus of Nazareth's time. The Padgett writings were the most profound material that really made a difference in my perception of Jesus and my Heavenly Father. Now, I'll love to see the churches embrace and incorporate the following truths into their doctrines that Jesus of Nazareth taught his disciples and followers - that our Heavenly Father is:

"… all Holy and loving and merciful, and that we are Thy children, and not the subservient, sinful and depraved creatures that our false teachers would have us believe. That we are the greatest of Thy creation and the most wonderful of all Thy handiworks, and the objects of Thy great soul's love and tenderest care.

"That Thy will is that we become at-one with Thee and partake of Thy great love which Thou hast bestowed upon us through Thy mercy and desire that we become, in truth, Thy children, through love, and not through the sacrifice and death of any one of Thy creatures…." (From The Prayer, Vol. I, p. 40, True Gospel Revealed Anew by Jesus.)

In short, he taught them how to get filled with the Father's Divine Love - which is God's very Substance and Essence, to become BORN AGAIN! Just like he had told Nicodemus. This is a spiritual rebirth. Jesus was the first to receive this rebestowal of God's Divine Love and immortality. He is our loving, big brother, the first of many Divine brothers - not God, our Heavenly Father.

Contrary to what people may think, these writings in True Gospel do not take away from Jesus' Divinity (when you tell them he is not God); but they truly demonstrate HOW HE ACTUALLY BECAME THE DIVINE, BEST LOVED SON OF GOD, not through a mythical virgin birth, but by being filled with God's Divine Love! They confirm:

  1. That JESUS OF NAZARETH IS THE MESSIAH, THE CHOSEN ONE, THE CHRIST.
  2. THE RESURRECTION THAT JESUS TAUGHT, WITHOUT WHICH OUR FAITH AS CHRISTIANS IS IN VAIN. (Vol. I, p. 94.) (Also why Mary Magdalene and two disciples did not recognize him after his resurrection. (Vol. I, p. 327)
  3. Explains that it is AT-ONEMENT, not "ATONEMENT" and what At-onement really is. (Vol. I, pp. 139-40)
For the diehard Bible scholar, the Lord says:
  1. This is not another Gospel, but the TRUE Gospel. "Forget THE FORMER THINGS: DO NOT DWELL ON THE PAST. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; DO YOU NOT PERCEIVE IT?" (Is. 43:18 NIV, or see Is. 43:18-19 NKJV)
  2. "From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you. They are created now, and not long ago; you have not heard of them before today…YOU HAVE NEITHER HEARD NOR UNDERSTOOD: FROM OF OLD YOUR EAR HAS NOT BEEN OPEN." (Is. 48:6-8 NIV, or, see Is.48: 6-8 NKJV)
  3. "To the Angel of the Church of Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. WAKE UP! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deed complete in the sight of my God…But if you do not WAKE UP, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you." (Rev. 3:1-3 NIV, or see Rev. 3:1-3 NKJV)

1: Italics added. I believe an editor added the italicized words because there was no "J" in the Aramic alphabet then, and I doubt that Jesus would have said that.
2: See Jesus' writing in Vol. II, p. 340 of TRUE GOSPEL REVEALED ANEW BY JESUS, entitled "Nothing in Existence or in the Knowledge of Man comparable to the Bible - Except the Truths That Jesus and the Celestial Spirits Have Written Through Mr. Padgett."
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