Hearing

The Inclusive
Word of God
In Our Hearts



In this flier Ill share my personal critique of
Christianity as an insider and share why Gods
word is the inspiration rather than the law of my
life.




William Redondo (c) 2008
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May your past find deep healing
In Gods present embrace
And may your future
Flow out of that same embrace
Until all is well with your soul:
Forever young,
Forever joyful, forever in love!

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Table of Contents

Why Im not Denominational ............................... 4
Why Im not Evangelical ...................................... 4
Why Im not a Fundamentalist ............................. 6
Christianitys exclusive god .................................. 6
Thoughts on Law VS Inspiration ........................ 11
Christ, Culture and the sins of Christianity ......... 12
Cultural Freedom ................................................ 13
Reality Check ..................................................... 16


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Even though Ive had denominational, evangelical
and fundamentalist tendencies in the pastI now
consider myself simply a follower of God in Christ
and in his creation.

Why Im not Denominational

Denominations are sectarian meaning they favor
and exalt their form of Christianity over others. In
so doing, they develop a self-righteous and
prideful demeanor, we please and serve Gods
purposes more than others. We are right others
are wrong or at least not as right as we are!
Denominationalism is why the one Church of God
is divided in so many odd shaped puzzle pieces
that supposedly fit together. Denominations that
give themselves too much self-importance
transform into cults and make their members
servants of elitism, disunity and darkness.
Why Im not Evangelical

Evangelicals prime goal is to save souls for a
heaven that is dissociated from the earth. For
evangelicals what is important is heaven not
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earth, we are here on earth with the sole mission
of gathering souls for heaven, whether or not a
person is saved is all that really matters. Such a
view makes it easy to exploit and destroy mother
earth. Furthermore most evangelicals have an us
versus them mentality, we are the saved and
everyone who does not share our urgency to save
or be saved is worldly and lost. Because the saved
have this simplistic world view and a sense of self-
importance (Gods favorites on a mission) they
tend to impose their experience and culture
(Christianity) on others. Historically, evangelical
missionaries who represent the most zealous
evangelicals have been responsible for helping
destroy indigenous cultures by their efforts to
evangelize the world. They have done this by
joining forces with colonialist powers who want to
civilize the earth in their image! Ironically the
destruction of culture and the environment can
be laid at the feet of those out to save the world!
No, Im not an evangelical. Im not interested in
evangelizing (destroying culture and the earth)
but embracing and loving people until they start
to realize the presence of God that has always
been there! We want them to experience heaven
on earth and live connected to all things in a
respectful manner, here and now!
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Why Im not a Fundamentalist

Fundamentalism is interested in the spiritual-
political control and conquest of the world. When
it achieves these goals it makes its religious world
view the law of the land and shows little tolerance
for anyone who trespasses the status quo. A
fundamentalist state is the worse form of
totalitarianism because it believes that it is
divinely ordained and pleasing to God, even as it
executes those who trespass its laws.
Christianitys exclusive god

Denominationalism, evangelicalism and
fundamentalism are the problem; they do not
offer hope but despair and division. The proof is
in the fruit: Christianity is the most divided
religion on the face of Gods earth, the opposite
of what Jesus desires for his people (John 17:21)
and the reason why multitudes stay away from
organized religion. So whats the problem?
All three, denominationalism, evangelicalism and
fundamentalism are based upon an exclusive view
of God and his purposes. Even though they teach
God wants to convert and include everyone, the
emphasis is ultimately exclusive: All are invited
but few measures up and are accepted in the final
analysis. Why?
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The reason has to do with the image of Gods
character as perceived by these religious groups.
Gods image is rigid and demanding. To be
accepted, one must believe rightly and live rightly
as defined by Gods word. Those who dont are
excluded; hence most Churches based on their
concept of God have an exclusive stance towards
those outside their ranks. Here is the problem as I
see it: Gods standard of correct doctrine and life-
style is interpreted differently by each Christian
sect and therefore the underlying conviction is
God has his favorites, i.e. The ones whose faith
and deeds line up most truly to his word. In this
scheme, right doctrine leads to right actions.
However, if this is true then the only honest
assessment is because Christianity is so divided
it must be based upon false doctrine. The false
doctrine consists of the church using the word in a
manner contrary to Gods intent or purpose.
The purpose of Gods word is reflected in the
nature of the Hebrew alphabet and writing which
lacked vowels. Therefore in order to be read,
they had to be added to, inspirited by the readers
breath And there was no single, definitive
meaning; the ambiguity entailed by the lack of
written vowels ensured that diverse readings,
diverse shades of meaning, were always possible
the absence of vowels lent a deeply interactive
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or interpretive character to the Jewish
communitys understanding of its own sacred
teachings The spell of the Sensuous, David
Abram, pgs. 242-243. A classic example of the
interactive or interpretive character of the written
Hebrew text is The Name of God: With the
Temple destroyed and the prohibition on
pronouncing The Name outside of the Temple,
pronunciation of the Name fell into disuse.
Scholars passed down knowledge of the correct
pronunciation of YHVH for many generations, but
eventually the correct pronunciation was lost, and
we no longer know it with any certainty. We do
not know what vowels were used, Tracey R Rich,
Judaism 101, http://www.jewfaq.org/name.htm.
Torah called for a living and dynamic response
The Hebrew Bible is not a set of finished stories
and unchanging laws; it is not a static body of
dogmatic truths but a living enigma that must be
questioned, grappled with, and interpreted afresh
in every generation, Ibid, p. 244.
We must remember that one of the dominant
polemics in St. Paul and therefore the NT is
against the rigid use of the word, as law. Paul
reminds his hearers over and over again that the
word, is Good News: It is about a big hearted
God who loves the world and includes it in Christ!
The words intent is inclusion whereas the laws
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aim is exclusion-condemnation not the Good
News that Jesus embodied!
If Gods word was not meant to be the law of the
land which determines whose in and whos out,
then what is its purpose? Isnt its main purpose to
speak to man's heart and set him free to live as a
child of God? Sadly however the word has
become an instrument of bondage by being
enshrined as the law of the land. This always
leads to a static, legalistic and correspondingly
exclusive view of Godbut God is inclusive and
his word is living and life-giving, its very nature is
inclusive!
God has included himself in every bit of his
creation; every animal, bird, fish, plant, flower,
tree, rock, river, star, water, breath, etc. He
addresses us through all he has made as well as
through every word of wisdom regardless of what
tribe, Jewish or pagan it originates from. Every act
of kindness is Gods kindness. Every loving
sacrifice for the community is Gods sacrifice. God
has included himself because he wants all
nations, people, tribes and languages to reach
out, find him and count themselves included, Acts
17. Therefore Gods word spoken to our hearts
throughout creation and in the voices of many
peoples all tell us we are included because God is
an inclusive Creator. It is in hearing him speak
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words of belonging that we are set free! This
freedom imparts eyes to see everyone/thing
included. They are only excluded by the ignorance
of not hearing Gods lullaby and staying away
from Gods embrace!
Much of Christianity therefore is bankrupt
because it has become exclusive by not hearing
the inclusive lullaby of its God. Its experience is
divisiveness which proves its understanding of the
word (doctrine) is false, in the case of Christianity;
right doctrine does not lead to right actions! The
very foundation upon which Christianity is built is
a wrong understanding of the words purpose.
The word is not primarily a standard for right
behavior (legalism) but a song or lullaby of
belonging to God in Christ and in his creation. The
lullaby speaks to our hearts and helps us embrace
Gods heart which is at the heart of all things in
heaven and earth. As we enter into this kingdom
we find ourselves living in peace with all things
because we realize their inclusiveness in God. Im
not denominational, evangelical or a
fundamentalist because the God I serve in Christ
Jesus and his creation is inclusive, while
denominationalism, evangelicalism and
fundamentalism represent a false understanding
of Gods nature and his word.

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Thoughts on Law VS Inspiration

To be inspired by the word is to be influenced by
God to speak, act or create for the common good.
The law is rules of conduct established and
enforced under the threat of punishment.
Inspiration is fueled by love whereas law runs by
the fear of punishment.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives
out fear, because fear has to do with punishment,
1 John 4:18.
Through the law we become conscious of sin, our
pending judgment and condemnation.
Through Jesus we become conscious of Gods
loving acceptance and forgiveness!
Salvation is not about us rising to Gods standard
but about God lowering himself to our sub-
standard. Isnt this the meaning of the
incarnation, the humility and death of Jesus? He
included himself in our dilemma so that we might
belong to him!
Gods word will inspire you towards unity, but the
law will divide and kill.
We however are not under the law but grace and
freedom!
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We do not obey to belong; rather because we
belong we obey! The former is legalism while the
latter is grace. We are saved because God has
included the world in Christ! Salvation brings both
a sense of belonging and obedience, both travels
together in the kingdom of God!
Christ, Culture and the sins of Christianity

Christ did not come to do away with indigenous
cultures, languages and religions but to bring
them to a fuller expression of Gods Spirit. His
intention was to introduce the good news of
forgiveness through the death and resurrection of
Jesus and pour out his Spirit upon those who
believe so as to guide them into his way, truth and
life. The Spirit has the ability to speak through the
cultures, languages and religions of indigenous
people and bring them to a fuller and more God
pleasing expression. There is no culture, language
or religion that the Spirit cannot speak through.
Likewise there is no one Nation that has a
monopoly on the Spirit who seeks to manifest
himself in every people, language and nation. God
desires that each people group bring the riches of
their cultures with them when they walk with
God, Isaiah 60:5, 11. When one culture tries to
impose its Spirit inspired traditions on others it
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violates the will of God to manifest himself in the
diversity of human culture.

Cultural Freedom

There is one truth, which radiates out like the rays
of the sun to all the earth. Wherever those rays
of light are found they lead back to the source,
the sun. Wherever Gods truths are found they
lead back to their source, and those who pay
attention and follow their path find God. God is
found in the religions of the world because it is
the nature of God to be present in and through all
things regardless of the shadows of darkness that
might diminish his presence.

At her inception the New Testament church
struggled over the question of whether or not
pagan converts had to convert to traditional Old
Testament religion. The consensus was that new
converts did not have to adopt Judaism to live as
followers of Christ. In place of imposing a legalistic
burden upon pagan converts, it was recognized
that the Spirits presence was sufficient for
leading the converts into the way of Christ. The
simplicity of the Christian way was forgiveness
through faith in the crucified Christ and new
spiritual power through his resurrection:
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Everything else would flow from this relationship.

Forever, the norm of freedom not conformity was
established as the way by which Christs kingdom
would express itself and find a home in every
tribe, language and nation.

The cruelest injustices have been committed and
continue to be committed by exporting and
imposing ones cultural expression upon others.
While Christs Spirit transforms cultures into
better cultures he does not condemn one culture
and replace with a foreign one. Gods agenda is
not to Americanize or Christianize the world!

Because of Christianitys failure to live by the
principles of spiritual freedom, future generations
fell into an imperialistic stance towards non-
Christian cultures. The resulting colonialism
whereby church and state advanced together in
the name of Christ and civilization forcefully
subjugated the world to itself. Wherever colonies
were established the indigenous populations
were indoctrinated, civilized and assimilated or
enslaved and destroyed in the name of god and
progress. Indigenous lands were confiscated and
exploited while their original inhabitants were
marginalized and forgotten.

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The dominion references in the Old Testament
book of Genesis were used to justify the forced
submission of pagan people to the advancing
storm of the sons of thunder and their wrathful
god. The spiritual and political conquest of the
world was perceived as the manifest destiny of a
people in service to God! Christianized European
powers viewed themselves as Gods agent in the
world.

Instead of adhering to the simplicity of the
Christian way, which the early church had
recognized as fundamental to true Christian
missions, the European church became
oppressors instead of servants of mankind.

Christianity did not allow Christ to be born into
the cultures of the world but insisted on a
doctrine of dominance and insensitivity. The voice
of God in paganism became the enemy to be
defeated and replaced instead of appreciated as a
vehicle for true conversion.





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Reality Check

A person does not have to convert to
Christianity to follow the way of Christ.
They can follow him in the context of their
own culture; they do not have to adopt a
foreign culture (Christianity).

When a person follows the way of Christ in
their own culture, certain traditions and
ceremonies are confirmed and celebrated,
while others are transformed.

The indigenous worldview is closer to the
biblical worldview than the western-
rationalistic worldview. Therefore it has
much to offer sincere seekers of creation
oriented spirituality.

European and American missionaries have
committed and continue to commit grave
injustices against indigenous cultures
worldwide in their attempt evangelize the
world. In the name of Christ they commit
cultural genocide. Much of the riches of
the tribes and nations have been lost
because of insensitive and over-zealous
religious crusaders. By joining forces with
the political expansionistic powers that be,
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these crusaders have proven themselves
to be the beast of Revelation 17:12-14 and
the doomed world system which will fall
never to rise again, Rev. 18. From its ashes
we look forward to the restoration of
tribal cultures, languages, the
environment, threatened and extinct
creatures and the unity of all life!

While the light of God shines throughout
creation and in the words and actions of
holy men, sages, song writers, poets,
prophets and artists it shines most brightly
in the face of Jesus.

Love suffers birth pains which bring forth
renewal and new life.


May your past find deep healing in Gods
present embrace and may your future flow out of
that same embrace until all is well with your soul:
Forever young, forever joyful, forever in love!

William Redondo