"Many Antichrists Have Already Appeared"

What kind of lifestyle would Jesus approve?

"You were told that Antichrist was to come, and now many antichrists have appeared, which proves to us that this is indeed the last hour."

- I John 2:18 (NEB )

In these troubling times, as always, the test of whether someone is faithful to God is not whether or how often they say "Lord, Lord", but whether they truly follow Jesus in their daily life.

So let's apply Jesus's Beatitudes test, starting with ourselves. Are we living in the spirit of the Sermon on the Mount or by such "Me-attitudes" as the following anti-Christian beliefs?

Blessed are the haughty and the wealthy, for theirs is the promise of heaven on earth.

Blessed are those who maintain an "I'm-always-right", arrogant spirit, for they will enjoy universal acclaim.

Blessed are the proud and powerful, for they shall be lauded as the greatest winners on earth.

Blessed are the greedy, the grabbers, the graspers, for they shall be acclaimed by those who seek to emulate them in their pursuit of wealth.

Blessed are the merciless and the militarily mighty, for they shall be feared and revered as the greatest.

Blessed are men who are pleasure-seeking and sexually aggressive, for they shall be admired as Alpha males. 

Blessed are the warmongers, for they shall be seen as maintaining law and order through military might.

Blessed are those who are admired and praised by the masses, for theirs is the power to rule over them.

Blessed are you when millions revere you, show deference to you, and who flatter you, falsely or otherwise. Rejoice and be very glad! Great are your rewards!

"No one can know Christ truly unless they follow him daily in life." - Hans Denck