There is an acceptable Christianity and there is an unacceptable Christianity in the earth today.
Acceptable Christianity is that which is tolerated and even supported by human government. It fits right into the narrative of the world system, Satan’s kingdom of darkness, which we know primarily as a financial one.
The early church described in the New Testament is an example of unacceptable Christianity. Even though it provided more support to its surrounding society in caring for the poor and the diseased than the world had ever seen. It was still unacceptable because it was invisible and it was uncontrollable by the governments of its day.
How authorities react to unacceptable Christianity may vary from country to country and century to century. But murder and persecution is a common response.
Jesus Christ is invisible to human government, they cannot get a grasp on him so his affect seems scary to them. He terrifies Satan, the temporary head of the world system. The one thing he and they feel compelled to do, control the people. Is the one thing they cannot do with his followers.
So they invented acceptable Christianity, most famously and effectively done by emperor Constantine in Rome. He essentially invented a Christianity that fit into his kingdom, thereby disfiguring and mutilating it and dethroning Jesus Christ. Acceptable Christianity is a human religion where Jesus is a mascot, not a king and not a Lord.
Acceptable Christianity has a leash around its neck being held by the state. That leash is both financial and hierarchical. Acceptable Christianity operates by business and entertainment principles. It’s mission always evolves into works that are primarily natural (mostly financial) and humanitarian rather than spiritual in nature. The lifeblood of acceptable Christianity is money, lots of money.
The lifeblood of unacceptable Christianity is Jesus himself and therefore money is of far less consequence. Acceptable Christianity can be big and popular and political. Unacceptable Christianity is small and financially irrelevant, politically disregarded by both sides.
But God has chosen the weak and poor things of this world in order to shame the rich and powerful. Don’t be mistaken there is a very good reason that he has chosen the poor and the weak.
Genuine Jesus followers who can not tolerate the counterfeit Christianity may be able to hide within the walls of acceptable Christianity. But sooner or later when the leashes come out to tie her down she just has to let her light shine. This gets her into trouble, the biggest trouble Christians get into is often with other Christians who are bogged down in legalism or toxic tradition.
Jesus’ call to his followers is to “come out from among them and be separate.” Be loyal to him financially, be loyal to his hierarchy, make him the dominant central king in your life, no longer just a respected mascot. Be unacceptable to the world system, make the right enemies. Consider yourself honored when they come after you with insults and maybe worse but make sure it’s because your Christianity is unacceptable.
