OUR STORY
Letter from Christine Jones
I grew up in the early 60's in a normal Christian home where we attended a local Methodist church. I went through Catechism in my teens and then promptly left the church and entered the world. The whole “Christ died for my sins” was a concept that I never really understood yet I went to church, Sunday school etc but never really understood all of it. Yes, I knew he “died “ for my sins but I did not understand why “dying” was the requirement and who made up this requirement? Why was death the only way that this could be rectified? It seemed to me that sin was something God hated so He was the one that could established a different requirement. Seemed weird to me. Why death? Why not something else?
Then there was this whole trinity thing defined as “three heads in one” or “three persons in one” combined with The law being done away with when Jesus died on the cross. If they were One then why would Jesus do away with what he said for us to do forever? But if they are separate persons, then did the son do away with His Fathers instructions? Wouldn't that make him a rebellious son?
My church taught that the Old Testament was full of rules and regulations that reflected God as mean and even brutal sometimes. But, Jesus came and loved us. He walked out the law perfectly so we do not have to. He loved us to death (literally) and gave His life for us. He even said no greater love is this that a man lay down his life for his friends. Jesus was my friend but the Father.....I feared! The Father was mean.
This scenario developed a mind set that Jesus came to save us from the Father. He came to do away with His Fathers instructions so He could initiate His own. We know that He was sent by the Father to die for us. Well, if the father was sending Jesus to this horrible death on a cross knowing that Jesus was sinless......If he was going to do that to his only son, then what is He going to do to me (knowing that I am a sinner)? And then I confirm my understanding of this horrible God by how he treats those unbelievers after they die (some people that are maybe nice people but just do not believe in Jesus). He has them live forever in burning torment just to flip them over to burn on the other side for eternity. Does that sound like love?
As a result, I feared reading the Old Testament. But Jesus also said “the volume of the scroll was written of me”. At that time, there was no New Testament scroll. Jesus also expanded His suffering and resurrection outlined in the scroll to the disciples on the road to Emmaus after his resurrection. Could I do the same thing? Could I teach Jesus by only using the Old Testament? If not, then I was not a very good Christian. So my studying began.
The biggest “ah-ha” moment and one that changed my life was when I understood WHO Jesus was. Read the teaching “Who do you say that I am?”. This caused me to literally fall face down on the ground and worship Gods character of love, infinite mercy and grace while remaining true and just and holy. The awesomeness of that revelation compelled me to keep that at the center of my ministry. In addition, it revealed how church traditions disfigured the character of God. My mission ever since has been to reveal Gods true character to others while dispelling traditions that do not reflect Him.
It is time that we unscramble the worship system that has been handed down to us form our ancestors , as if it was from God himself, and discover the truth of what Gods Word actually says, His true character, grace and love without preconceived ideologies and begin walking in that rather than the willful ignorance of the traditions of men. I pray these teachings reveal His loving character and encourage you to deepen your relationship with Him. Blessings!