09.07.2013

  • A Letter to Richmond, VA (Revised Version)

    This letter was first published in 2005. I am re-releasing it in 2013 as a revised version....

    An Open letter To Richmond, VA

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    Concerning the City of Richmond, VA and the Greater Richmond Area; including the counties of Hanover and Henrico

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    Recently I overheard a woman comment that I am "that "A****le who thinks that he is the only one going to heaven!" I see that I have been both misunderstood and maligned due to the spiritual blindness that would attempt to overthrow those who have chosen to oppose anyone who truly seeks serve Christ and obey God's will. I will address both her accusation and correct her attitude with the love of Jesus Christ and the truth of the Bible (God's Word) as my witness and sure foundation.

    I do not think that I am the only one going to heaven. But I do know what Jesus Christ said and is still saying to the Church, the lost, and the feel-good, secular- humanistic and self-serving philosophies of liberals today. There are not many ways to God, there is still only ONE WAY—Jesus Christ. Any other avenue to fulfillment and peace is a way that is opposed to the righteousness and truth of God's will—which is clearly revealed in the Holy Bible. Not the Koran, not the Watchtower Society, not the Book of Mormon/Pearl Of Great Price, not the Roman Catholic perversion of the scriptures (which change the gospel which was originally written by inspiration of God's Holy Spirit and trusted by the New Testament church), not by any Sunday-morning preacher/prostitute and not by any other Denominational creed, theology, writing or sacred book which departs from the eternal and absolute truth of God's Word.

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    Christ said in John 14:8, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." What part of this is not crystal clear?
    He spoke further in John 15:4-7, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned."

    I do not think that I am the only one going to heaven. But the Bible says that only those who follow after God's truth and righteousness will be blessed. The Bible says that those who depart from the truth of God's Word will go to hell. I cannot preach, share, or warn anyone, including my company and fellow coworkers, of anything besides what the Bible teaches.
    I will not compromise or depart from the ABSOLUTE TRUTH and eternal unchanging mind of Jesus Christ—you have nothing to offer me that is better than eternity with my Lord and Savior, and you have no threat or attack that is worse than an eternity in Hell with satan and all those who tried to live life on their terms.

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    I will not apologize or allow accusations of intolerance and insensitivity to deter me from praying and weeping over your soul. I will not be ashamed of Christ; Romans 1:16-17, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith [Habakkuk 2:4]."

    I will not be condemned because I tried to warn others of the foolishness and terrible end that comes from a life of pride, rebellion, and self-satisfying lifestyles. Jesus said, in Matthew 10:27-28, 32-34, "Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the air, preach on the rooftops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell…therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword."

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    We all want peace, and unity-but there is no peace and unity that will endure outside of Jesus. What Christ means is that the only true peace you and I can ever know or have is only obtained by a life lived by a BORN AGAIN faith and regenerated heart in Jesus. Any other way will eventually end in lies and confusion. Anyone who chooses to live for Jesus WILL be hated, mocked, and scorned by the wicked hearts of this present world. Those who profess Christ and are loved and thought popular by the lost are either liars or extremely weak, shallow, and lukewarm in their supposed faith! Think I'm crazy?
    Read John 15:18-23 with me, "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master." If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake [established religion is threatened and convicted by true Christianity and excuses its fear and unbelief in Jesus' name!!], because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father [God] also."

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    Show me a self-professing Christian who is loved and accepted by the world and the wicked, and I'll show you a person who has compromised and forsaken the straight and narrow highway that we must walk if we want to please Christ and make it into the Kingdom-Matthew 7:14.

    I do not think I am the only one going to heaven. But I believe what the Bible says when it indicates that there will be more people in hell than in heaven, Matthew 22:2-14, Romans 1:18-32. There are several hundred million Muslims in this world, at conservative estimate. Are they all going to hell? If they repent of sin and dead religious works and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior they won't. Is that fair? There are large numbers of Roman Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and other religious cults in the world today who base their salvation on works, as if they can buy God off by just doing a little bit more...are they going to hell? Not if they repent of their sins and approach Jesus Christ directly on the basis of what He did on the cross; on His sin-atoning death and literal physical resurrection three days later. Is that fair?

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    Jesus died for our souls, and only asks that we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, as King of Kings, as the only begotten Son of God. He spilled His all-powerful, soul-cleansing blood, dying the torturous death of a convicted and despised criminal, dying a bloody and brutal death, for your pride and hatred and selfish desires.
    I'd say your free gift of salvation because of what He did on that heinous cross is more than fair! I'd say that He didn't have to die for any of us—but He did. I'd say that it was extremely lenient, loving, and merciful of God to provide a way for my atonement that doesn't involve my having to do any kind of work to earn His forgiveness! He loves you and me more than we can comprehend.

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    So what is your excuse for hating His love? Why would a drowning man or woman spit upon the free life raft that has been sent their way? What can you say to One who would give His life so that you could be free from the guilt and condemnation that you feel deep within your heart during those quiet moments when you wonder if you have done enough "good things" to be a "good person"?

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    How much is enough? What do you have to do to earn a place in God's kingdom? You gave a bunch of money to the poor-you're a good socially conscious liberal—but did you give enough to cover the wife that you cheated on, or the lies you told, or the hatred you felt in your heart when you met someone who challenged your worldview? You have been a faithful supporter to your preacher and your church and you may even be a deacon or sing in the choir but is that enough to cover all these years of gossip, slander, and hypocrisy? Have you gotten your praise on with enough gusto to earn some sort of forgiveness for your divorce and remarriage? Have you thought enough proud thoughts of all your years of service to the ministry to erase the false teaching you've been feeding your congregation?

    So to the lady who thinks me wrong for preaching about a new life in Jesus Christ, the genuine Christian life of absolute surrender and uncompromising conformity to God's Word and authority over your life, I say to you…..that I love you with all the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. I will pray for you, not to prove a point, but because I don't want you to die in sin. I want to love you more, to weep for you, and with Christ's strength and grace I will. I forgive you, for I know that your reaction is a direct consequence of spiritual blindness and a lack of discernment regarding God's will for your future and what His Word says. I forgive you, because my King and Lord, Jesus Christ, commands me to.

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    Simply acknowledge your need. Only admit your inherent wickedness. Just confess and cry out to Jesus. I can't make you believe in Jesus, nor do I want to force anyone to share my beliefs—and no none can ever accuse me of berating or coercing anyone to live for Christ—your freewill is the crucial ingredient to your salvation through Jesus Christ or your eternity in the lake of fire. So please, think of eternity....

    There is no karma, there is no (genuine) idealistic "peace, love, and unity" brought about by the efforts of men, there is no nirvana, there is no nothingness, there is no cosmic consciousness or oneness. There is only eternity, either in the presence of Almighty God and His Son, Jesus Christ, or in hell, forever separated from God's unchanging love—separated by your choice and rebellion, separated by a short lifetime of dead religion and your seeking to please your selfish desires.

    Your destiny is only a breath away, like a candle flame's flicker. What will you choose? Please, dear heart, choose LIFE!!

    Love in Christ,
    Sean

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