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[Note:\u00a0 <\/strong>This MS is available in\u00a0 <\/strong>larger font on our Brief Articles 1<\/strong>\u00a0 page.]<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Thus screamed the cover of a\u00a0Newsweek <\/em>(April 9, 2012). The cover pointed to an article inside (by Andrew Sullivan) titled: \u201cThe Forgotten Jesus.\u201d Its subtitle encapsulates the article\u2019s thrust:<\/span><\/p>\n Christianity has been destroyed by politics, priests, and get rich evangelists. Ignore them<\/strong>, and embrace Him<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sullivan\u2019s article reflects his liberal bias toward the New Testament and its authority. However, we grant him the point that Jesus has largely been forgotten in what men call \u201cChristianity\u201d today.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus\u2019 doctrine knows nothing of the hopeless multitude of schisms between Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant entities. Nor did He ever envision the thousands of distinct Protestant factions. Given the modern emanation called \u201cChristianity,\u201d it is hard to argue with Sullivan\u2019s advice: \u201cForget the church\u2014follow Jesus,\u201d radical as it may sound.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 However, the very concept of \u201cchurch\u201d (i.e., organized religion) seems superfluous to him. In this regard, Sullivan violates a cardinal rule of logic: The abuses<\/strong> of a valid concept<\/strong> cannot rightly be used to reject or oppose the concept<\/strong> itself<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That which now masquerades as \u201cChristianity\u201d and\/or \u201cthe church\u201d bears no resemblance to the religion\/church predicted and depicted in the Bible. Unlike Sullivan, our outcry against \u201cthe church\u201d is not against the concept, but against the variegated prostitution<\/strong> of it. The concept<\/strong> is solidly Scriptural:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 Jesus and His church (as He<\/strong> built it) are inseparable, as are husband and wife (Eph. 5:22\u201332). The concept, Jesus, yes; the church, no<\/em>, is fundamentally anti-Scriptural when His<\/strong> church is under consideration. The Bible teaches that those who truly follow Jesus will be in His church: So \u201cNo Church, No Jesus.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [Note:<\/strong> I wrote this article for and it was published in The Lighthouse, <\/em>weekly bulletin of Northpoint Church of Christ, Denton, TX, June 8, 2012, of which I was editor.]<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution:<\/strong> From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 0[Note:\u00a0 This MS is available in\u00a0 larger font on our Brief Articles 1\u00a0 page.] \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Thus screamed the cover of a\u00a0Newsweek (April 9, 2012). The cover pointed to an article inside (by Andrew Sullivan) titled: \u201cThe Forgotten Jesus.\u201d Its subtitle encapsulates the article\u2019s thrust:…<\/p>\n\n
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