Who "hijacked" Christianity?

As reported by various national news services, one of the leading Presidential candidates spoke to the United Church of Christ national meeting in June. Illinois Senator Barack Obama stated: "Faith got hijacked, partly because of so-called leaders of the Christian Right, all too eager to exploit what divides us." He then referred specifically to issues such as abortion, same-sex marriages, school prayer and intelligent design.

Not too many decades ago, Protestants, Catholics and other groups were united in believing that abortion and same-sex marriages were wrong. They supported prayer and upheld that God was the great creator. It would have been abhorrent to think otherwise!

Who truly "hijacked" Christianity?

A similar situation is addressed in 1 Kings 18:17-18: "Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, 'Is that you, O troubler of Israel?' And he answered, 'I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and you have followed the Baals.'"

The Scriptures plainly reveal what the original Apostolic Church of God taught. For example, the Apostle Paul was inspired to write: "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

Paul continues: "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (v. 11).

The hope that Jesus Christ offers is the forgiveness of such sins and the power to repent and live a Godly way of life!

Jesus powerfully expressed: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you: depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness'" (Matthew 7:21-23).

The reality is that many give their opinions about what the faith of Jesus Christ is, but are ignorant of what Jesus taught!

In fact, Christ prophesied: "These things I have spoken to you that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me" (John 16:1-3).

Those who have "hijacked" Christianity are those who have not known Jesus or His Father and have rejected God's commandments. Those who believe and teach what the Bible commands are not the ones who "hijacked" Christianity. Just as Elijah said to Ahab: "I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord…" (1 Kings 18:18). Don't be fooled by those who say otherwise, no matter who they are.

You owe it to yourself to read the Bible and see for yourself what the Scriptures reveal.

If you want to understand what Jesus Christ truly taught His church, you will want to read our booklet, Restoring Apostolic Christianity.

You can order it online here.