The Gospel according to ............
The Gospel according to….
Have you noticed that each year around holy week the Christian community and specifically the Catholic Church are confronted with television specials that call into question the beliefs and practices of our faith.
The ideas and questions raised are not new as a matter of fact they are centuries old, but come packaged in wonderfully colored wrapping paper that attracts many.
The gospel of Judas and the Da Vinci Code are examples of Gnostic gospels. Gnostics teach that they have acquired a special knowledge that only they possess. This mystical knowledge attracts many but this secret information lacks one very important element truth.
Gnostic gospels are not the only gospels in our society that keep inquirers from the true gospel. Our society today is inundated with a number of false teachers who garner multitudes of followers.
The Gospel according to Physical Fitness:
There is absolutely nothing wrong with watching our weight and exercising to help maintain a healthily life style. The practitioners of the gospel of physical fitness however are consumed with being fit and ignoring the spiritual well being of their soul.
The Gospel of Finance:
Being a financially responsible individual is a goal we all should strive to achieve. Being good stewards of our resources helps us maintain a balance between the spiritual and temporal gifts of time talent and treasure.
There is nothing wrong with having money. There is nothing wrong with having a great deal of money. Managing a great deal of money however carries with it a tremendous amount of responsibility.
Followers of the gospel of finance are single minded in their focus. Their focus is to acquire as much money as possible. No it’s more than just having money they want all the money.
They risk family, their health in fact they will risk every thing to make a dollar. Their focus is so singular they are spiritually blind.
The Gospel of Happiness:
Do we have a God given right to be happy? Can we pursue happiness at all costs? We have two misconceptions about happiness. First we think happiness is obtained apart from ourselves (external gratification) happiness equals things. We have so much stuff we have to rent storage space because we can’t get it all in the house. We search and search for the one thing that we think will make us happy.
Secondly we have no idea what constitutes true happiness. Happiness is within not without. Jesus said my peace I give you. To be happy requires that we find peace. Psalm 1 says happy is the man who walks not in the council of the ungodly nor stands in the way of sinners but his delight is in the law of the Lord. If you don’t know what you are looking for it’s hard to find.
Those who are proponents of the gospel of happiness will try any number of addictions in the pursuit of happiness. Only to find that happiness is not found in addiction.
So if the Gnostics don’t have the answer, physical fitness, finance and the pursuit of happiness aren’t the true gospel where do we look.
Well my money is on Jesus, based on the teachings of the Church, tradition and the Bible there is ample evidence that the teachings of Christ is the one true gospel.
Have you noticed that each year around holy week the Christian community and specifically the Catholic Church are confronted with television specials that call into question the beliefs and practices of our faith.
The ideas and questions raised are not new as a matter of fact they are centuries old, but come packaged in wonderfully colored wrapping paper that attracts many.
The gospel of Judas and the Da Vinci Code are examples of Gnostic gospels. Gnostics teach that they have acquired a special knowledge that only they possess. This mystical knowledge attracts many but this secret information lacks one very important element truth.
Gnostic gospels are not the only gospels in our society that keep inquirers from the true gospel. Our society today is inundated with a number of false teachers who garner multitudes of followers.
The Gospel according to Physical Fitness:
There is absolutely nothing wrong with watching our weight and exercising to help maintain a healthily life style. The practitioners of the gospel of physical fitness however are consumed with being fit and ignoring the spiritual well being of their soul.
The Gospel of Finance:
Being a financially responsible individual is a goal we all should strive to achieve. Being good stewards of our resources helps us maintain a balance between the spiritual and temporal gifts of time talent and treasure.
There is nothing wrong with having money. There is nothing wrong with having a great deal of money. Managing a great deal of money however carries with it a tremendous amount of responsibility.
Followers of the gospel of finance are single minded in their focus. Their focus is to acquire as much money as possible. No it’s more than just having money they want all the money.
They risk family, their health in fact they will risk every thing to make a dollar. Their focus is so singular they are spiritually blind.
The Gospel of Happiness:
Do we have a God given right to be happy? Can we pursue happiness at all costs? We have two misconceptions about happiness. First we think happiness is obtained apart from ourselves (external gratification) happiness equals things. We have so much stuff we have to rent storage space because we can’t get it all in the house. We search and search for the one thing that we think will make us happy.
Secondly we have no idea what constitutes true happiness. Happiness is within not without. Jesus said my peace I give you. To be happy requires that we find peace. Psalm 1 says happy is the man who walks not in the council of the ungodly nor stands in the way of sinners but his delight is in the law of the Lord. If you don’t know what you are looking for it’s hard to find.
Those who are proponents of the gospel of happiness will try any number of addictions in the pursuit of happiness. Only to find that happiness is not found in addiction.
So if the Gnostics don’t have the answer, physical fitness, finance and the pursuit of happiness aren’t the true gospel where do we look.
Well my money is on Jesus, based on the teachings of the Church, tradition and the Bible there is ample evidence that the teachings of Christ is the one true gospel.
