It’s about meeting and working for and with God you know?  This is not some subjective, self punishment exercise, masochistically believing that I will reach heaven via scourging.  Christ has done enough to fulfill the demand for payment for every sin of every person on Earth.  Don’t you get it, there is no remaining debt other than repentance, belief in His sacrifice and faith in His Sovereignty.  There are no unresolved or remaining works for our redemption.  We have been set right with God if we will but believe.  We have been set free to serve our God out of reverent love for His Majesty, Righteousness and Grace.

Why then do most human religions continue to set up, demand and subscribe to a list of pious works, that must be performed, in order, on time and ratified by professional clergy in order to avoid painful afterlife?  Why do we continue to strive when the work has already been completed by a God whom loved us so much He fulfilled that for which we always were and always will be incapable?  We remain entranced by men seeking power and fallen compulsion that Christianity cannot possibly be that simple.  We are convinced that there must be a catch, a twist, another hammer yet to fall, so we fall under the influence of religious professionals eager to take a piece of our donation in exchange for their pronouncement of our acceptable piety.  There is no one between you and God but belief in Christ Jesus.  There are no layers, catechisms, holy rights, rituals or bands that we must reach to be heard by Almighty God.

Each of you whom believe are right with God.  Each of you is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Almighty God, destined for the good works for which you were specifically designed.  Each of you has access to God through prayer, worship and direct counsel via the Holy Spirit for discernment.  There is no person whom believes that is lower than any pastor or elder.  Certainly we must respect their authority in Godly matters but they are neither our masters nor any closer to God than each of us.  We are all princes and priests through Christ and will answer to Him directly for our walk here on Earth.  None of us will report to a pastor for judgement upon leaving this Earth, we will deal directly with Christ for admonishment and reward.  There is no one between you and God, that is what Christ did for us, redemption to direct relationship with the Father.

We are free to make our own decisions, choices and mistakes.  We can neither blame our families, our pastor, our elders or our wives/husbands and kids for those choices.  We have a direct responsibility to God, certainly those in positions of authority will be held to a higher expectation because of the influence and ability to lead sheep astray, but they too will have a one to one meeting with a Holy God upon leaving this plane.  We have but one advocate before the Father and His Name is Jesus Christ.  He alone is worthy to answer on my behalf, no one else will stand for me but Christ.  That is why I stand for Him.  I hope that upon that day you all hear those wonderful words we so desperately desire, “Well done good and faithful servant”.  In Jesus Holy Name.