The Billy Goat “But” Gospel

The Billy Goat “But” Gospel

by Gary Amirault

Have you ever heard of the But Gospel? More than likely, if you live in a Christian country, it is the only gospel that you have probably fully heard. The true Victorious Gospel of Jesus Christ is rarely ever fully heard because it is usually butted out by a Billy Goat Christian quick to crowd out the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and His disciples. Let me explain.

The Victorious Gospel of Jesus Christ says that “God is Love,” a love that “never fails,” a love with Whom “nothing is impossible.” This love seeks and saves those who are lost and does not give up until He finds every single last sheep (soul). Jesus said “And I if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw (drag in the Greek) all mankind to Myself. This is spoke signifying what manner of death He should die.” (John 12:32, 33) This love/God “will have all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4, KJV) Paul, the apostle to the nations was faithful to the victorious Gospel. “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance and to this end we both labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God who is the savior of all men, especially those that believe. These things command and teach.” (1 Tim. 4:9-11)

I could probably go on for several hours pulling out scores of Scriptures declaring God’s sovereignty, power, omniscience, perfect will, His perfect plans and desires for mankind, His faithfulness to fulfill His oaths and promises but long before I could present my case for the Victorious Gospel of Jesus Christ, a typical Evangelical Christian will “butt in” cutting off this glorious message with something like, “Yes, God is love, BUT He is also holy and just. A just God is too holy to tolerate sin in heaven and therefore must consign all wicked (and/or unbelievers) to eternal damnation in Hell.” If I try to continue to present a scriptural case for Christ’s complete victory on the Cross, the Billy Goat Christian will butt in once more with front legs raised, then a quick drop of their horned head to firmly smack the little sheep trying to bring glory to his risen savior by charging him with “That’s heresy!” Or “That’s Universalism. No Bible-believer believes in that!” That usually ends the discussion and often the friendship. I’ve been through this scenario many times.

Where did we get the idea that God’s holiness and justice somehow stands in contrast or opposition to His nature which is love? Is God a schizophrenic? Is He double-minded? Or have we projected our own double-mindedness on to the image of God?

The source of our hypocrisy and inability to harmonize all of God’s attributes stems from having been seduced by a teaching that Paul, the apostle to the nations, warned the Galatians about — mixing the Mosaic Covenant with the New Covenant, mixing law and grace — mixing the blood of bulls and goats with the blood of Christ. He stated in Galatians that mixing the two would cause one to fall from grace, the very power that brings the gifts and fruit of the kingdom of God into our lives. Mixing Law and Grace produces that nasty, ugly Pharisaic Spirit. This demonic spirit is even worse   and more deceiving in someone who calls themselves “Christian” than one who says they are Jewish. Self-righteousness just plain old stinks! And it blinds! The problem with self-righteousness is that the person wearing that gaudy religious robe cannot see their blindness nor nakedness.

We all know of the classic story by Hans Christian Andersen The Emperor’s New Clothing. An Emperor who cares for nothing but his appearance and attire hires two tailors who promise him the finest suit of clothes from a fabric invisible to anyone who is unfit for his position or “just hopelessly stupid”. The Emperor cannot see the cloth himself, but pretends that he can for fear of appearing unfit for his position; his ministers do the same. When the swindlers report that the suit is finished, they mime dressing him and the Emperor then marches in procession before his subjects, who play along with the pretense. Suddenly, a child in the crowd, too young to understand the desirability of keeping up the pretense, blurts out that the Emperor is wearing nothing at all and the cry is taken up by others. The Emperor cringes, suspecting the assertion is true, but holds himself up proudly and continues the procession. (summary from Wikipedia.)

Oh, how true this story is in Judaism and Christianity today. In John the ninth chapter Jesus heals a blind man and Israel’s leadership tries to use the miracle as an excuse to arrest Jesus because He did it on the Sabbath. On that occasion, Jesus said He “‘came into the world to bring everything into the clear light of day, making all the distinctions clear, so that those who have never seen will see, and those who have made a great pretense of seeing will be exposed as blind.’ Some Pharisees overheard him and said, ‘Does that mean you’re call us blind?’ Jesus said, ‘if you were really blind, you would be blameless, but since you claim to see everything so well, you’re accountable fore every fault and failure.'” (John 9:39-41, The Message) There are some reading this section right now that if you stop and ask the Holy Spirit to step into your reading time and search your heart, will be set free from religious bondage that will allow you to see more clearly than you have ever seen. Ask the Holy Spirit to put you in a state of honesty, trust, humility, believing that the Holy Spirit is able to heal and set things right. Ask Him to reveal to you all pretenses put up to make yourself look good at the expense of others and God. A self-righteous Christian (or any other religion) cannot see their nakedness, blindness and deafness. The fear of possibly being unfit for a position in heaven is so terrifying that they continue the charade. For millions upon millions of Jews and Christians, to face our own hypocrisies, false pretenses double standards and false standards of judging oneself and others is simply too much for their pride to bare. They prefer to remain in their sins rather than coming to the humble position of admitting their own nakedness and blindness. To those rich in garments of pride and self-righteousness, Jesus would say, “You’re stale, You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, ‘I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’ oblivious that in fact you’re pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless. Here’s what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that’s been through the refiner’s fire. Then you’ll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You’ve gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see.” (Rev. 3:16-18, The Message)

When a religious Billy Goat Christian says “God is Holy, He cannot stand to be in the presence of sinners,” how do they reconcile that the fact that “While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” How do they reconcile  the fact that Jesus ate and drank and touched AND forgave sinners! “God WAS IN CHRIST reconciling the world unto Himself.” Where do Christians get the idea that God can’t hang with us while He is perfecting us, whether on the side of the grave or the other? How is it that we get trapped into believing in our own self-righteousness when in fact even little children can see right through that clothe and see our corrupt nakedness? Well, we get some of those ideas from the Mosaic Law, a law that demanded sacrifices and all sorts of rituals which Paul called useless and empty. God is “holy” separate from man in that He is not a liar. He is not a hypocrite. He does not break His Word. When He says He sent His Son into the world to save it, He meant it! When Jesus said He would draw/drag all mankind to Himself (who is love) He is capable of doing that despite the fact that the vast majority of the church doesn’t believe Him! Dear reader, think! If God says He will save the world and you don’t believe Him, doesn’t that make you an unbeliever? Doesn’t that make you a liar? Doesn’t that make you and idolator. And aren’t you blaspheming God by calling Him a failure, one who can’t do what he wanted to do?

The other part of the double-barreled attack on the Victorious Gospel of Jesus Christ is “God is just. He must punish sin.” And what they imply by this punishment is that the perpetrator must experience suffering and estrangement from God for all eternity! Imagine yourself bringing 10 children into this world. And in your own eyes, you see each of them as rotten and wretched worthy only to be tormented day and night forever and ever. But if any of them before a certain age say some magical words and follow your instructions perfectly and feign love towards you in such a manner that you believe them, you will keep them for the rest of their lives. But the others who fail the test, you will consign to a dungeon in which you have placed some insane and demented souls who love torturing children. No SANE human being would do to their own children under the banner of holiness and justice what traditional Christianity has ascribed to God, the Father of all living souls. So I must conclude, as any other loving, healthy parent must conclude, that the Billy Goat “But” Gospel is a lie of the highest order injected into humanity by the father of all lies, Satan, Himself.

God is love, a love for whom nothing is impossible. He sustains and keeps His words and oaths. He never breaks His promises. He is faithful. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He tells you to overcome your enemies with love because that is how He will overcome all of His enemies. In His mind, the work of the cross for all mankind is already finished because the “Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world” was slain “from the foundation of the world.” It was always in His mind to redeem and reconcile His estranged children. What He purposes, He accomplishes. I could spend many more hours using the Scriptures and the testimony in my own life preaching and teaching in this article the “Victorious Gospel of Jesus Christ,” but this is after all a blog, which by its nature is meant to stay short. Visit lovewins.us and tentmaker.org for articles, books, music, videos declaring openly, without buts, that Victory of the Cross of Christ. Jesus Christ, Savior of the whole world, which includes you, your family and friends and even your enemies.