Filed under: The Gospel Of Dan
I have not accepted the futility of hope in finishing The Gospel Of Dan. In fact, I have started a section with the help of some armchair theologians including R. A. Schlarman, C. Eversole, and even the socialist dissenter we have all grown to love and hate, Michael Moore. I have taken upon myself to write an additional chapter to be included in the Canon: The Epistle to the Americans.
I feel that, through the Scot McKnight lens, we as Americans pick and choose which epistles, and even gospel stories, that apply to us, and which letters are to be read contextually, pertaining to the first century church but surely not for us. So then, “by the authority given to me by the Holy Spirit and the State of Missouri” I have written Paul’s message for us, that is, the US. I am not sure if we will include it in the Gospel of Dan, but it is definitely getting some wheels turning. I will post a new chapter over the next few days to give you some time to take it all in. Take a look-see:
The Letter of Paul to the
A M E R I C A N S
1 Paul, an apostle, not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ Himself and God Almighty who raised Him, 2 and all the brothers and sisters who are with me, to the ekklesia in the United States:
3 Grace to you and peace from our God and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from our evil modern age, according to the will of our God, 5 to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
6 I am amazed that you have so quickly and easily deserted him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- 7 not that there is another, but there have been those before you and even now some among you who have cleverly distorted the Truth of Jesus Christ that is the Gospel. 8 Therefore, let anyone who preaches a message contrary to the one Jesus Christ Himself taught be accursed. 9 For am I seeking my own approval, or the approval of God? 10 I say If I were still trying to please myself, I would not be a servant of Christ.
11 For I would have you know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was preached by me was not my own gospel. 12 And I did not receive it from any man, but I received it as a revelation from Jesus Christ, 13 the same Name in which you pray your prayers of blessing, and the same Name in which you commit the most wicked of deeds. 14 But what I am writing to you, before God I do not lie. You have deserted the Gospel and have perverted the Truth of Jesus Christ.
15 For you have heard of my former life as a Jew, how I persecuted the ekklesia of God violently and tried to destroy it. 16 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 17 But he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 18 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might continue to preach him among the Gentiles. 19 Then the ekklesia was hearing it said, “he who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy!” 20 And they glorified God because of me.
21 But now I am writing you to say that, though I am a born-again follower of Christ, you Americans have become dead-again persecutors of our Lord. 22 It seems the whip I held to beat early Christians has been turned over to you, so that you Christians can now carry on my early career of killing Christ. 23 It is the greatest tragedy of all history to see a return to my past practices of destruction of the only thing pure and True in this lowly world, 24 the Good News that Christ came to free the oppressed and heal the broken. 25 For we were appointed in the womb to carry out these tasks from God the Father, yet we, through free will, have chosen to be sons of the Father of Lies. 26 And on his lies, a new Gospel has come into fruition; one where the slaves become slave-masters, the penniless set their eyes on worldly treasures, and the ill die from the sickness of a faithless heart. 27 The Word of the LORD has seemingly returned to Him void. 28 And this my brothers and sisters is simply because the gospel we preach is our gospel, man’s gospel, and is not of revelation from the Living Christ Jesus. 29 Thus our words are not received by God the Father, as you have heard,
“your iniquities have separated you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt.
Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things.
No one calls for justice; no one pleads the case of the destitute.
They rely on empty arguments and speak lies;
they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.” [1]
30 Turn then to the Lord from your evil ways, return to the saving grace of Christ and renew your faith.
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