“…And You Have No Need For Anyone To Teach You…” (1 John 2: 27) [Follow-Up]

This is a follow-up post to “…And You Have No Need For Anyone To Teach You…”

Have any of us, while reading the first three chapters of The Book of Acts (if we have ever bothered to read the Word for ourselves), considered why the Lord had allowed His initial true Church, His Body, to be persecuted by the heathens, to be broken up and scattered throughout the known world at that time? And going even further, have any of us considered why the major city churches mentioned throughout the new testament (Antioch, Philadelphia, Laodicea, Smurna, etc) had all disintegrated by the end of the 1st century? If the Lord had wanted His Church, His Body, to remain as large city churches, then why did he allow them to be broken up and scattered? Is our Lord weaker than his enemy, Satan? Of course not! The Lord allowed His Church, His Body, to be scattered throughout the known world so the Gospel might be spread to all nations of the world.

But I also believe that the true Church, the true Body of Christ, was never intended to become a worldly organization that resembles fallen man’s corrupt way of doing business! The “church,” today, amounts to nothing more than 3000 + small businesses and corporations that don’t pay taxes (come to think of it, the “church” is truly like American corporations, since American corporations pay no taxes also!) The false “church” the world knows today began almost two-hundred years after the true Church of Christ (the ecclesias: the gatherings), which Paul had established, deserted the Lord, and Paul, and fell apart:

15You are aware of the fact that ALL WHO ARE IN ASIA turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains; 17but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me— 18the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus. (2 Timothy 1)

Note that many of the city churches, beyond the Greek, were in Asia!

The “church” the world knows today began in Rome and was founded by a pagan, Roman emperor, Constantine. This “church” was the work of Satan, and it was accomplished through the fallen nature of man, which drives his need for political/social control and power. This “church” had and still has nothing whatsoever to do with the first-century ecclesias the Lord had established through the Apostle Paul. Read the first three chapters of The Book of Acts, and see how the true Church, the true Body of Christ, is described, and then tell me I’m wrong:

42They were (believers) continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

43Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

44And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;

45and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

46Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,

47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2)

How often do you, or anyone else in your “church,” devote yourself to the Word of God, fellowship, in its true sense, and prayer, not just for you and family but for others also? Do you even know the person sitting next to you in that pagan pew? Would you sell all you own so that none of the people in your “church” would be homeless, without food and clothing, or without proper medical care? You know the answer! The combined wealth of this dead religion you call “Christianity,” and its ungodly denominations and non-denominations (FACTIONS), the things you refer to as “church,” could, but never will, make sure that no person in this country, and probably the entire world, would ever be homeless, without food and clothing, or without proper health care again. But, instead of this happening, most of you are “far-right-conservatives” who cry out, when confronted with the financial crisis the peoples of this world are experiencing, “Let them die!” or “Get a job, ya lazy bum!”

Woe to you, HYPOCRITES, liars and frauds! Woe to you who seek after man’s religion about God on Sunday morning, for 45 minutes, and walk around the rest of the week as though you are pious and righteous men and women. Hypocrites! Fools!

If this offends you, then I am beside myself with joy! You need to be offended, and you need to repent, to turn away, from your religious/political stupor and seek the forgiveness and counsel of the Lord and His Spirit! Come out of the deadness of this false religion about God and begin to live His Way, His Truth, His Life! But I digress.

Satan counterfeits everything the Lord brings into existence. But Satan’s greatest counterfeit of all is the religion referred to as Christianity, the religion born out of Roman paganism. A religion that is now divided into 3000 + denominations and non-denominations throughout the world, none of which truly represent the Father and His Christ!

So, if you go to a building on Sunday mornings where there is a steeple, an alter, an American flag (idolatry), candles and candle sticks (idolatry), a crucifix (more idolatry), and a man or woman wearing robes and “teaching and/or preaching the word of God,” then you are taking part in nothing more than pagan ritualism and idolatry, the pagan traditions of Christianity that make void the Word of God. What you are taking part in is anything but the Way, Truth and Life of our Lord. As was the case with the temple in Jerusalem, after the Hebrew leaders had blasphemed the Spirit of God, the Lord nor His Spirit is in this pagan, ritualistic building (“church”) you have been indoctrinated into believing is the true Church, the true Body of Christ!

Here's the real fruit of the Christian Religion!

1Then God spoke all these words, saying,

2“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3“YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.

4“You shall not make for yourself AN IDOL, or ANY LIKENESS (crucifixes, crosses, statues of “saints” = idolatry) of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth (flags, patriotic oaths, etc). 5“YOU SHALL NOT WORSHIP THEM OR SERVE THEM; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. (Exodus 20)

22Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. 23All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” 24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”

25And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26“If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27“If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 28“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29“Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

The Unpardonable Sin

30“He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

31“Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32“Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matthew 12)

1Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2“Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” 3And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4“For God said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,’ and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH.’ 5“But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,” 6he is not to honor his father or his mother.’ AND BY THIS INVALIDATED THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR TRADITION. 7“You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:

8‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS,
BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.

9‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME,
TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’” (Matthew 15)

For the sake of your denominational or non-denominational TRADITIONS, you have invalidated the Word of God. In vain, you worship God, since you teach and preach the precepts (the doctrines, theology and dogma) of your particular brand of the Christian religion: your “church,” your denomination or non-denomination, your social and business club!

Wake up, sleeper! Come out of this religious deadness and into the Life the Lord has prepared for you! Don’t be like the Hebrews of Jesus’ day, who stood by while listening to their apostate, evil religious leaders, and not be ready for the second return of Christ in great power and glory. This time, neither man’s religion nor government will overcome the judgment and wrath that this evil world rightly has coming to it! This is still the age of grace, the age of God’s favor, but I believe His patience is wearing thin, and this will be the last time that His wrath will be poured out. If you doubt this, then look around you and consider the natural disasters that have plagued humanity for the last 5 or 6 years: the tsunami in Asia (2004), Hurricane Katrina (2005), the tsunami in Japan and the earthquakes, floods, and fires that have ravaged the US of A this year.

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. (Romans 1)

14“Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. (Deuteronomy 10)

Wake up out of your democratic-capitalist/religious and idolatrous stupor and recognize that the Lord is warning us of impending disaster. Wake up or be unprepared for what is coming!

Is The “Apostasy” (“A Great Falling Away”) Upon Us?

Satan’s ultimate plan, the attempt to destroy the TRUE Church of Christ (the Body, the Bride), may be coming to its failed end:

14The LORD God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
Cursed are you more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you will go,
And dust you will eat
All the days of your life;

15And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He SHALL BRUISE YOU ON THE HEAD (a fatal blow),
And you shall bruise him on the heel.” (Genesis 3)

Through the effect of two of Satan’s most manipulative devices, moral-relativism and political-correctness (tolerance), the nominal Christian “church” appears to have completely fallen away from the Truth of our Lord and Savior.

{Moral relativism and political-correctness have evidently given birth to a new form of tolerance: “A postmodern attempt to force a total acceptance (even an embracing) of what is totally unacceptable to most people, and the Lord.” Tolerance has evidently become the dogma of the postmodern/atheist religion.}

The following article, I believe, reveals the effect of moral relativism and political-correctness (tolerance) on the nominal “church”. The “church” Satan created, almost two-thousand years ago, to carry out his perverse and destructive will: The apostate “church” born of a pagan emperor (“Constantine the Great”) for a pagan-political purpose.

Another Step Closer To A One World Religion: 50 U.S. Churches To Read From The Quran On Sunday

The three main pillars of the “New World Order” that the global elite want to bring about are a one world economy, a one world government and a one world religion. A lot of attention gets paid to the development of the first two pillars, but the third pillar gets very little attention. But the truth is that a one world religion is getting closer than ever. “Interfaith” conferences and meetings are being held with increasing frequency all over the globe. Major global religious leaders are urging all of us to focus on our “shared” religious traditions. The belief that all religions are EQUALLY VALID PATHS TO THE SAME DESTINATION is being taught in houses of worship and at religious institutions all over the globe. This “interfaith movement” is being promoted by NGOs, “charitable foundations” and top politicians and it is being backed BY BIG MONEY all over the planet.

Now some U.S. churches are trying to take things to another level. On June 26th, the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. and approximately 50 other churches in 26 U.S. states will publicly read from the Quran during their Sunday worship services.

This is all part of an interfaith project being promoted by the Interfaith Alliance and Human Rights First. The theme of this Sunday is “Faith Shared: Uniting in Prayer and Understanding”, and the goal is apparently to show how much CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IN THE UNITED STATES respect Islam.

The following are some of the other prominent U.S. churches that will be doing Quran readings this Sunday….

*Christ Church in New York City

*All Saints Church in Pasadena, California

*Park Hill Congregational in Denver

*Hillview United Methodist in Boise, Idaho

*First United Lutheran in San Francisco

*St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Honolulu

In all, churches in 26 U.S. states will be participating. (emphasis mine)

via Another Step Closer To A One World Religion: 50 U.S. Churches To Read From The Quran On Sunday.

The Apostle Paul warned the Thessalonians of a great falling away, or apostasy, that would occur shortly before the return of Christ in great power and glory:

1Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless THE APOSTASY COMES FIRST, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. (2 Thessalonians 2)

Note that this scripture is referring to believers, not the unregenerate; the unregenerate are already deluded, since they deny the existence of our Father and His Son. Also note that the “deluding influence,” which God will send those who have no love of the TRUTH, comes before the “lawless one” (“the abomination of desolation,” the anti-Christ) is revealed. It is my opinion, then, that the Lord’s deluding influence has been sent, and this is why we see Christian denominations (“churches”) aligning themselves with the pagan and unregenerate in this world. If I am correct in my opinion, then the appearance of the “lawless one” can’t be too far off in the future. Again, this is only my opinion, my sense of things, and it’s based on scripture, the leading of the Spirit in me, and the state of this decaying world around me. I am not predicting any date or time, nor would I ever! And I admit, openly, that I might be completely wrong about this. But as Christ told His disciples, ““Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, WHEN YOU SEE ALL THESE THINGS, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” (Matthew 24: 32, 33) I believe I sense (“see”) things (world economic issues, severe natural disasters, the Godless and perverse nature of humanity), through His Spirit, that point to Him being “RIGHT AT THE DOOR:”

20‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22‘HE WHO HAS AN EAR (an ear located in the heart), let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” (Revelation 3)

The Lord’s message, here, is no longer addressed to a church, a gathering of people, it is, instead, addressed to the individual. So, perhaps, we should be considering how to seek a personal relationship with Christ, beyond, that is, attending “church,” and being “good little boys and girls who never sin.” Our Lord is seeking what He has always sought, first and foremost, a personal relationship with each and every one of His children, the children He set free by His crucifixion and resurrection. The Lord’s statement, here, is made to the Laodicean Church (and the individual): a church (a gathering) that existed at that time. But I believe this scripture, as with all of the Revelation, is prophesying about our time, here and now. Here is the Lord’s rebuke of the Laodicean Church:

15‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit (VOMIT) you out of My mouth. 17‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. (Revelation 3)

Doesn’t this scripture paint a vivid picture of the organized “church” that exists today? Could it be that this is the reason for the sudden massive departure of many young believers from the “church” (Why teens, young adults are leaving American churches)?

Paul also warned Timothy that many believers, just before Christ’s return, would turn away from the TRUTH:

1I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4)

This is how Paul describes the character of these particular believers at the end of this age:

“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money (“SELF-ACTUALIZATION” AND GREED). They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 THEY WILL ACT RELIGIOUS, BUT THEY WILL REJECT THE POWER THAT COULD MAKE THEM GODLY. STAY AWAY FROM PEOPLE LIKE THAT!”

6 They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of[a] vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires. 7 (Such women are forever following new teachings, BUT THEY (RELIGIOUS MEN AND WOMEN) ARE NEVER ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH.) (2 Timothy 3 NLT)

Muslims, while not denying His existence, and professing Him to be “a great prophet,” openly deny Christ’s deity and, therefore, deny the ONE WHO sent Him:

20“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me RECEIVES HIM WHO SENT ME.” (John 13)

Throughout the years, I have heard so-called Christians state, “There is more than one way to God.” And yet scripture, the written Word of God, says there is but ONE WAY!

Jesus states, unequivocally,

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER BUT THROUGH ME.” (John 14: 6)

In The Book of Acts, we hear Peter procaliming to the Hebrew rulers,

“Rulers and elders of the people, 9if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11“He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. 12“And there is salvation IN NO ONE ELSE; for THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN that has been given among men BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED.” (Acts 4)

Here is one of the main sticking points for relativistic/politically-correct individuals who stand firm on the Spiritually blind notion that ABSOLUTE TRUTH doesn’t exist. According to these individual’s retrograde-inverted philosophy, there is no right or wrong/good or bad, there is no single prophet or “religious figure” greater than any other. In this horribly confused, and mediocre, system of Satan, an African trinket is equal in artistic value to Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. In this Darwinian/atheist reality, Jesus Christ is no greater than Mohammed or Buddha, who were mere fallen men. Thus these unregenerate/pagans hate our Lord and Savior, and simply because He claims to be the Son of God and THE ONLY WAY to eternal salvation. Little do they know that their hatred for our Lord, and His Truth, is due to the fact that they cannot Spiritually discern His Truth:

6″…Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;

9but just as it is written,
“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD,
AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”

10For to us God revealed them through the Spirit…

14But a natural (unregenerate) man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised…“ (1 Corinthians 2)

Politically-Correct Postmodern Propaganda!

The nominal “church” has come to this apostate state by yoking itself (“being bound”) together with the “natural man”. Paul warned the Corinthians against taking part in this kind of Spiritual adultery:

14Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

16Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,
“I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

17“Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord.
“AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN;
And I will welcome you.

18“And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6)

If the great falling away is upon us, then, perhaps, it’s time for all who are Spiritually asleep to awake and become prepared for what might be coming next:

11Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

14For this reason it says,
“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.”

15Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16making the most of your time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5)

It doesn’t take a prophet to sense that the return of Christ might not be too far off in the future. Just check out the economic state of this world, and the “natural disasters” that seem to appear, new, every day. Then, if you’re still not impressed, just take a good look at the ungodly state of most human beings around you. Perhaps, it is that time, spoken of in the Word of God, when many, or most, believers will love themselves, and this world, so much they will be fast asleep when Christ comes for His Bride:

3As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

4And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6“You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8“But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. (Matthew 24)

“A Deluding Influence” X

“Mr. Potato Head-like spiritual identities….”

{I have decided, from time to time, to post certain items that I sense (through my Spirit, hopefully) speak to many of the issues I write on. These will be short snippets, and I’ve decided to call them, “A Deluding Influence” (2 Thessalonians 2: 11)}

What’s wrong with the “religious” picture painted in the following Pew Forum article?

January 3, 2010

Opinion: The fact of the matter. Or not.

by Barry Goldman

Los Angeles Times

I once asked my Aunt Mary what her beliefs were on the subject of life after death. She said: “Whatever Jews believe, that’s what I believe.”

Aunt Mary’s view was that there were people whose job it was to consider such things. She was not such a person herself, but she was completely confident that the guys assigned that task were doing their job, and it was all written down in a book somewhere. If you were sufficiently interested, you could look it up.

This view is in decline. A new poll by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life concludes: “Large numbers of Americans engage in multiple religious practices, mixing elements of diverse traditions. Many also blend Christianity with Eastern or New Age beliefs such as reincarnation, astrology and the presence of spiritual energy in physical objects. And sizable minorities of all major U.S. religious groups say they have experienced supernatural phenomena, such as being in touch with the dead or with ghosts.”

What is striking about the Pew study is not the prevalence of superstition and hocus-pocus, alarming as that is. It is the feeling that we are free to choose from a broad, cafeteria-style menu of superstitious hocus-pocus. Charles Blow in the New York Times called it the construction of “Mr. Potato Head-like spiritual identities….”

Christians, for example, do not believe in reincarnation. At least not according to theology classes in the seminaries. But the population likes the idea. And people like the idea of being Christians too. So they just choose to believe in both. It is a kind of democratization. People feel entitled to make choices about things that used to be within the exclusive purview of the priestly class. That’s fine, I suppose, and consistent with our American mythology. We like to think we are a nation of individualists who make up our own minds. But what are the limits to this inclination? (emphasis added)

via Religion News: Opinion: The fact of the matter. Or not..

The nominal “church” has created quite a “religious” joke among the unregenerate, with all of its “seeker sensitive” and “politically-correct” “outreach” to the “unsaved” world. Unfortunately, it is the Lord’s Way, Truth and Life that suffer the slings and arrows caused by this less than mediocre, hypocritical and Spiritually ignorant religiosity.

In the Spiritual apostasy and deadness of the nominal “church”, many pew sitters, as this article reveals, have turned to ungodly, superstitious beliefs; in order to fill up the Spiritual void left by the priests, reverends, ministers, pastors, and popes, and their distorted ungodly doctrines of Christendom.

Therefore, we, who are earnestly seeking the Lord and His Truth, must come out from this Spiritual blindness and death. We must seek the leading of the Spirit through the word of God, so that we may know what the Lord’s Truth is, and what His will and purpose are for our lives! We may want to start this process by considering these verses:

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4)

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. (2 Peter 2)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. 4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4)

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 “Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 “But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6)

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ (Matthew 7)

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men (believers, not the unregenerate!) will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these… 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3)

Sound familiar? It should! These scriptures describe, in detail, the ungodly and hypocritical dealings of Christendom, which take place, throughout this country and the world, every Sunday morning!

“A Deluding Influence” V

{I have decided, from time to time, to post certain items that I sense (through my Spirit, hopefully) speak to many of the issues I write on. These will be short snippets, and I’ve decided to call them, “A Deluding Influence” (2 Thessalonians 2: 11)}

The following article speaks for itself!

November 10, 2009

E.T., Phone Rome. Vatican calls in experts for conference on possible alien life

by Ariel David

The Associated Press.

Four hundred years after it locked up Galileo for challenging the view that the Earth was the center of the universe, the Vatican has called in experts to study the possibility of extraterrestrial alien life and its implication for the Catholic Church.”

The questions of life’s origins and of whether life exists elsewhere in the universe are very suitable and deserve serious consideration,” said the Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, an astronomer and director of the Vatican Observatory.

Funes, a Jesuit priest, presented the results Tuesday of a five-day conference that gathered astronomers, physicists, biologists and other experts to discuss the budding field of astrobiology _ the study of the origin of life and its existence elsewhere in the cosmos.

Funes said the possibility of alien life raises “many philosophical and theological implications” but added that the gathering was mainly focused on the scientific perspective and how different disciplines can be used to explore the issue. (emphasis added)

via Religion News: E.T phone Rome: Vatican calls in experts for conference on possible alien life.

This is just one of many areas where the Catholic “church” (Christendom) is Spiritually deluded and, therefore, has been given over to a depraved mind:

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen…

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind… (Romans 1)

“Men Who Suppress the Truth in Unrighteousness” (Follow-Up)

This is a follow up post to “Men Who Suppress the Truth in Unrighteousness.”

The following Pew Forum article reveals another example of the apostasy happening in the institutional “church” (Christendom).

September 1, 2009

Protestant churches shift slowly toward gay equality

by Wendy Cadge and Laura Olson

The Boston Globe

American religious organizations have rarely been leaders in national movements for gay rights. With few exceptions, they have been opposed or uninvolved. Yet some are slowly changing their views as they grapple with questions about homosexuality in light of public debates about same-sex marriage and increased visibility of gay men and lesbians in American life. Mainline Protestant denominations in particular are slowly, but deliberately, adopting more tolerant stances – leaving conservatives rather than liberals to split off from their churches.

The 4.6 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ELCA is the most recent example, voting last week to allow people in committed same-sex relationships to serve as clergy. Until this vote, gay men and lesbians could be ordained only if they remained celibate. Gay and lesbian people in the ELCA may now be ordained provided they are single or in a “publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous same-gender relationship,” similar to the requirements for heterosexual clergy. Gay men and lesbians can be clergy, in other words, and have sex in lifelong relationships. While several mainline Protestant churches have supported gay civil rights since the 1970s, they now grant the civil right of equal employment to their gay and lesbian pastors.

The ELCA didn’t make the change lightly. Its recent decision followed a 15 -year process of internal study and reflection. When three Lutheran groups merged to form the ELCA in 1988, two of the three groups viewed homosexuality as “biblically a departure from the heterosexual structure of God’s creation.” National church leaders began studying and considering homosexuality in the early 1990s – and received 20,000 responses to a draft social statement. In 1996, the denomination called for all individuals to be respected regardless of sexuality and in 2001 initiated a churchwide study.

Our research on these education processes – which involved people gathering to read and discuss information about sexuality – revealed differences of opinion about homosexuality in most ELCA congregations. As recently as 2005, national church leaders voted to maintain church policies barring non-celibate gay men and lesbians from ordination. Last week’s decision shows that ATTITUDES and DOCTRINE ARE EVOLVING, particularly because gay and straight church activists worked to keep gay rights on the denomination’s agenda. (emphasis added)

Yes, the ungodly attitudes and doctrines of apostate and/or unregenerate man are “evolving” backwards, or devolving, in an intellectual, emotional, physical and Spiritual sense. Each generation, since the fall of Adam, has become increasingly less than the generation before: a little less physical, mental, emotional, moral and Spiritual than the divine Creator had intended. Man is not progressing, as he blindly and wrongly believes, he is instead, with every successive generation, becoming less than those who have come before him.

Watch the nightly news and see how vile man has become: self obsessed, ruthless, perverse and vicious. Oh yes, man’s worldly (passing away) knowledge and technology grows day by day, but man himself continues to decline and become less than God created him to be, little by little, day by day:

“Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. “But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and KNOWLEDGE WILL INCREASE.” (Daniel 12: 3, 4)

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; AVOID SUCH MEN (believers) AS THESE… ALWAYS LEARNING and never able to come to THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH. (2 Timothy 3: 1-5, 7)

The Unregenerate Tail is Wagging the Apostate Religious Dog Again!

This is a fascinating quote:

When three Lutheran groups merged to form the ELCA in 1988, two of the three groups viewed homosexuality as “biblically a departure from the heterosexual structure of God’s creation.”

So, originally, two out of the three apostate entities had viewed homosexuality as a “departure” from heterosexuality, or the way God created man to be. Thus, evidently, the perverse and ungodly minority has, once again, won over the “religious”.

Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless THE APOSTASY COMES FIRST, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction…

Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end BY THE APPEARANCE OF HIS COMING; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason GOD WILL SEND UPON THEM A DELUDING INFLUENCE (believers) so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged WHO DID NOT BELIEVE THE TRUTH, but took pleasure in wickedness. (1 Thessalonians 2: 1-3, 8-12)

Let us listen to the Apostle Paul and obey the word of God!

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world (the unregenerate), or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any SO-CALLED BROTHER IF HE IS AN IMMORAL PERSON, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN (believer) FROM AMONG YOURSELVES. (1 Corinthians 5: 9-13)

How much clearer can our Lord be? We must come out from this kind of hypocritical, apostate religiosity, or stay and take the chance of being coerced and destroyed by its fraudulent message and “father”:

“You are of your father (Satan) the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8: 44)

The entire article is here:

via Religion News: Protestant churches shift slowly toward gay equality.

"Men Who Suppress the Truth in Unrighteousness"

The Apostle Paul stated, and without hesitation,

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of MEN WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS… (Romans 1: 18)

The apostasy (“strong delusion”) of the institutional “church” (IC) continues on toward its final destiny, as the following Pew Forum article reveals:

August 21, 2009

ELCA validates ‘chaste’ same-sex relationships

by Jeff Strickler

The Minneapolis Star Tribune

One vote. That was the margin Wednesday by which the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America churchwide assembly approved a social statement that, among other things, acknowledges the validity of same-sex relationships that are “chaste, monogamous and lifelong.”

The margin was so close that Bishop Mark Hanson, the ELCA leader who presided over the vote, hesitated before announcing the outcome. Rules required the social statement to pass by a two-thirds vote; the final result was 66.67 percent.

“I thought it was going to be close, but I doubted very much that it would come out at exactly two-thirds,” said the Rev. Peter Strommen, chairman of the task force that drew up the social statement and pastor of Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church in Prior Lake.

Close as it was, the vote bodes well for a proposal to repeal a ban on gay and lesbian ministers from leading churches unless they promise to be celibate. That motion, which is to come up for a vote Friday afternoon, requires only a simple majority to pass. (emphasis added)

The word of God evidently means nothing to this apostate denomination of Christendom. The following scriptures make it perfectly clear the Lord intended marriage (“relationships”) to be between a man and a woman:

The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE; and they shall become ONE FLESH. And the man and his wife were both naked and were NOT ASHAMED. (Genesis 2: 22-25)

…‘If there is a MAN WHO LIES WITH A MALE AS THOSE WHO LIE WITH A WOMAN, both of them have committed A DETESTABLE ACT; they shall surely be put to deatH. (Leviticus 20: 13)

For this reason God gave them over to DEGRADING PASSIONS; for their women exchanged THE NATURAL FUNCTION for that which is UNNATURAL, and in the same way also the MEN ABANDONED the NATURAL FUNCTION of the woman and BURNED IN THEIR DESIRE toward one another, MEN WITH MEN committing INDECENT ACTS and RECEIVING IN THEIR OWN PERSONS THE DUE PENALTY OF THEIR ERROR… (Romans 1: 26-27)

What could possibly be the “DUE PENALTY” which these men and women with “DEGRADING PASSIONS RECEIVE IN THEIR OWN PERSON”, beyond physical illness and death? If we can open our Spiritual eyes to see the truth, then we’ll have our Lord’s answer: alienation, isolation, mental/emotional illness and immaturity. We must take off the politically-correct, rose-colored glasses of this Godless, relativistic world-system, and then we should be able to more clearly observe and discern the attitudes and actions exhibited by most (not all) homosexuals: overtly confrontational and PERVERSE actions carried out in a spitefully arrogant way, which forces those who disagree to either turn away or stand against the manipulation and, thus, be labeled a “homophobic”.

{NOTE: In America, “tolerance” of other’s beliefs and opinions, on any issue, is subject to the politically correct minority (postmodern-atheists) who now seem to have complete control (through the liberal media, government and Hollywood brain-washing machine) over “ethics” and “morality”. If a person’s beliefs or opinions fall outside of the postmodern-atheist’s ethical and moral “standards”, then that person is either shunned, labeled (racist, sexist, homophobic), or shouted down. The free and open discussion of ideological differences has evidently become verboten in America!}

PERVERSE: 1. Directed away from what is right or good; perverted.
2. Obstinately persisting in an error or fault; wrongly self-willed or stubborn.

It would seem, from all of the postmodern manipulation and politicking, that homosexuals are no longer satisfied with mere acceptance. Homosexuals now seem to want, beyond mere acceptance, our ENDORSEMENT and HONOR of their “lifestyle” choice.

Homosexuality is a sin before God, because it is unnatural (perverse) and leads not only to illness of the body but also the mind, heart and spirit, as the Apostle Paul states here:

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a DEPRAVED MIND, to do those things which are not proper, BEING FILLED WITH ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, WICKEDNESS, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are GOSSIPS, SLANDERERS, haters of God, INSOLENT, ARROGANT, BOASTFUL, INVENTORS OF EVIL (“Gay Pride”, etc), disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, THEY NOT ONLY DO THE SAME, BUT ALSO GIVE HEARTY APPROVAL TO THOSE WHO PRACTICE THEM. (Romans 8: 28-32)

“THEY NOT ONLY DO THE SAME, BUT ALSO GIVE HEARTY APPROVAL TO THOSE WHO PRACTICE THEM.” Sounds a great deal like the homosexuals and apostate clergy in this article, does it not?

So now, not only does this denomination desire to endorse and honor homosexuality in the world, but it also, as with many other apostate denominations, seeks to condone a homosexual “lifestyle” among its “ministers”:

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, MUST BE ABOVE REPROACH, the husband of ONE WIFE, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, FREE FROM THE LOVE OF MONEY. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, HOW WILL HE TAKE CARE OF THE CHURCH OF GOD?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have A GOOD REPUTATION WITH THOSE OUTSIDE THE CHURCH (the unregenerate), so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3: 1-7)

Does this scripture, in any way, shape or form, describe the “clergy” we see in this or any other denomination today? Not even close, in my estimation! And this Lutheran denomination, as with many others, seeks to totally do away with this God inspired model (“Overseer”) by rebelling against His word, which openly and unashamedly condemns the destructive and perverse SIN of homosexuality: the sinner will not be condemned, unless he or she rejects the truth and grace of our Lord and Savior, in this day of salvation:

And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,

“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”

(Luke 4: 16-19)

And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— for He says,

“AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU,
AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.”
Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”

(2 Corinthians 6: 1, 2)

There is a reason why the Lord declared certain things “unclean” or sinful which goes beyond His allowing us to be tested (Job). The Lord declared, for instance, that the Hebrews not eat certain animal and insect life, because He knew they couldn’t prepare certain animals (shell fish, etc) properly and would thus become ill or even die (“unclean”). In the same sense, the Lord knew sexual immorality (sin) could lead to diseases (syphilis, HIV-AIDS, gonorrhea, etc), beyond those of our soul, mind and spirit, which would make people ill or even lead to death. The Lord created everything, including us, so Who better to instruct on the issues of living?

But the Lord’s main reason for considering sexual immorality such a destructive sin is still this, it is a sin unlike all others, in that it affects people, negatively, on the inside and out, as the Apostle Paul states here:

<em>Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is OUTSIDE THE BODY, but THE IMMORAL MAN SINS AGAINST HIS OWN BODY. Or do you not know that YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS IN YOU, whom you have from God, and that YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN? For YOU HAVE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE: therefore glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6: 18-20)

The clergy in this apostate denomination are suppressing the truth of our Lord in unrighteousness, and there will be Spiritual ramifications for this type of overt rebellion against God.

Many will probably claim I’m being “legalistic” here. They will say, “The law was fulfilled in Christ and therefore, no longer applies to us.” I would strongly disagree with anyone who claims the law no longer applies to our lives, and then point them to these scriptures:

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I DID NOT COME TO ABOLISH BUT TO FULFILL. “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. “Whoever then ANNULS one of the least of these commandments, and TEACHES others to do the same, shall be called LEAST in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called GREAT in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5: 17-19)

“IF YOU KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. (John 15: 10)

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ IS BORN OF GOD, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—OUR FAITH. (1 John 5: 1-4)

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. (John 14: 12-15)

It is scripturally correct to say that we are not (Spiritually) justified by works, but of faith alone that no man should boast: we are shielded by our Lord’s grace, and not under the law. But as our Lord points out, the law (God’s righteousness) still stands, and it will, through our Lord’s sacrifice, accomplish all that was intended by the Father’s will. If we truly love our Lord and Savior, then we should desire to have everything that is of Him, and therefore, we must obey His (TWO) RIGHTEOUS COMMANDMENTS which fulfill the entirety of the law:

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is… THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ “The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12: 28-31)

If we truly love the Lord and are seeking His kingdom to come, then we’ll also love and seek to keep His righteous truth in the word, which tells us, through the Spirit, that homosexuality is a destructive sin against man and God.

Sometimes we have to stand against the sin of someone we care for, in order to truly love and serve them. Therefore, if we truly love a homosexual brother or sister (believer), whom the Lord has brought into our life, then we should never take part in enabling them to continue in this painful and ungodly “lifestyle” choice. Those of us who are of the Christ, and equipped with His Truth, should stand against this lie of the flesh and its master, the evil one, even if that means losing a brother, sister or close friend. Their eternal life is much more important than our relationship with them and this temporal life.

Martin Luther

Martin Luther would be outraged at this apostate religious entity which carries his name, but not his love of the Lord and His truth.

For those of us still taking part in this type of apostate religiosity, and troubled by these Spiritually irreconcilable issues, I would encourage you to seek the Lord, through prayer and His word, and then try to sense His leading. Perhaps it is time to come out from this religious confusion and into the Light of our Lord and Savior?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the LIGHT of men. The LIGHT shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1: 1-5)

The entire article is here:

via Religion News: ELCA validates ‘chaste’ same-sex relationships.

For more evidence of this apostate confusion and subsequent scriptural error, here is a follow up article on the Lutheran “church” and homosexuality:

Religion News: Congregations deal with gay ruling by Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

"What Fellowship has Light with Darkness?"

The full scripture states:

YOU ADULTERESSES, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Note that James addresses those he’s speaking to as “adulteresses”. James is not speaking to the unregenerate person (unbeliever) here, he is speaking to those who claim to be of Christ (believers) and yet, by their actions (“fruit”), have been shown to be Spiritually confused or charlatans. An unregenerate person can never be an adulteress, since they have never truly believed and professed their faith in Christ and His sacrifice.

The following Pew Forum article deals with the issue of a supposed believer in Christ seeking friendship with this unregenerate world:

August 22, 2009

Obama wishes Muslims a blessed Ramadan

by Christina Bellantoni

The Washington Times

Continuing his administration’s outreach efforts to the Islamic world, President Obama has recorded a video greeting to Muslims as they begin their annual holy season of Ramadan.

The president used a few Arabic words and described in the video the origin of the holiday and its importance, noting it is a time of festivity but also of devotion and reflection.

The holiday is marked with a month of fasting from dawn to sunset, when Muslims break their fast with a prayer.

“These rituals remind us of the principles we hold in common and of Islam’s role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings,” said Mr. Obama in the video.

Earlier this year Mr. Obama offered a similar message of friendship in a Web video to mark Nowruz, the Iranian new year. (emphasis added)

According to the Lord’s truth, President Obama doesn’t really have a choice on this issue (or any other, for that matter), since he gave up that choice when he decided to worship at the alter of American politics, wealth and power (idolatry): this world system. Mr. Obama, in effect, has chosen which god he will serve, and thus our Lord’s truth is, once again, ignored:

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. (Matthew 6: 24)

Mr. Obama, since his idolatrous choice, has evidently found himself having to take the paths (like the one in this article) which seem to be right in his own eyes, and yet will always lead to the wrong destination:

All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the LORD weighs the motives (Proverbs 16: 2)

Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts. (Proverbs 21: 2)

There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 16: 25)

Mr. Obama, as with most Americans, is very much like a child who has decided his parent’s counsel is outdated or invalid. Accordingly, the Lord’s way, truth and life, is no longer of any value to this atheistic/postmodern-relativistic nation, nor to those supposed believers in God, like Mr. Obama, who seek to align themselves with this Godless religion. These arrogant and God hating souls have sought to replace the Lord with a scientific/metaphysical fabrication (evolution: Darwinism): an unsubstantiated fairy-tale created by our Lord’s enemy, Satan. Meanwhile, Christendom and her apostate followers, like Mr. Obama, have merely stood by (or helped) as this ungodly and perverse, humanist religion has attempted to erase the Lord and His truth (absolute) from every aspect of American life, including the institutional (adulteress) “church”:

It is a trustworthy statement:
For IF WE DIED WITH HIM, WE WILL ALSO LIVE WITH HIM;
If we ENDURE, we will also REIGN with Him;
IF WE DENY HIM, HE ALSO WILL DENY US;
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2: 11-13)

Therefore, Mr. Obama, in his lacking of Spiritual discernment, follows after what seems to be right in his own eyes, and this, of course, only leads to more societal confusion and error.

************************************************************************************************

This post is not intended to be an indictment of President Obama alone. I could have made the same statements about George Bush, John McCain, or any other government official. This is an indictment of a society which hypocritically claims faith in God while serving at the alter of democracy (rights, entitlements: desires of the flesh) and capitalism (greed, power: “mammon”): the world-system of Satan.

This is an indictment of Christendom, which falsely represents itself as the Lord’s representative (and substitute savior and king) on earth. This apostate religious entity serves at the alter of this government’s ungodly statutes and agendas, while it seeks to usurp the divine authority of our Lord and thus make a mockery of His sacrifice and truth (the word of God).

Therefore, I believe it is way past the time, for those who live for Christ only, to speak out against the lies of this Satanic world and its apostate institutional “church”, and let the light of our Lord shine through: without apologies and attempting to soothe the “seeker” who is overly “sensitive”. I believe the time is way past due, for those who live for Christ only, to stand against the apostate hypocrisy of their institutionalized “churches” (denominations), and come out into the light that shines, in these last days, on the remnant of God:

And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for THE TIME IS NEAR. “LET THE ONE WHO DOES WRONG, STILL DO WRONG; and THE ONE WHO IS FILTHY, STILL BE FILTHY; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.”

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and MY REWARD IS WITH ME, TO RENDER TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO WHAT HE HAS DONE. (Revelation 22: 10-12)

The Lord is referring to believers, as well as the unregenerate, in this verse: “Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy;” The Lord, I believe, is telling us to let those in the “church”, as well as the unregenerate, who love this world more than THE TRUTH of God, His Christ (“adulteresses”), to their own devices and ways. The salvation of the obstinate unregenerate is not our responsibility, it is their’s alone. If we have presented the gospel to the unregenerate…

But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, (2 Corinthians 4: 13)

and they have rejected us and their Lord and Savior, then this is their lot in this life and the next:

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god (Satan) of this world has BLINDED the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4: 3, 4)

In the same way, we are not responsible for the Spiritual lives of those who, although Spiritually saved, reject the truth of our Lord, and who have returned to wallow in the cares and desires of this decaying and corrupt world.

{I am not suggesting, by any stretch of the imagination, that all who attend “church” fit into this definition. I know and love many who have a sincere heart for the Lord and love and serve others. I have been, and still am, blessed by a few of these believers. However, I am still concerned for their Spiritual growth in the Lord, and that they not be disqualified from the prize.}

There is a reward (a prize) beyond spiritual salvation for believers, and that reward is to reign with Christ in the coming age of His glory and rule. This was even a concern for the Apostle Paul (not salvation, which is a free gift from God, but the prize which is a reward, based on works, from our Lord):

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the PRIZE? Run in such a way that YOU MAY WIN. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I DISCIPLINE MY BODY AND MAKE IT MY SLAVE, so that, after I have preached to others, I MYSELF WILL NOT BE DISQUALIFIED. (1 Corinthians 9: 24-27)

If Paul is concerned about disqualification, then shouldn’t we be even more concerned?!

Our Lord makes it clear that there is a reward, beyond Spiritual salvation, that must be earned by works:

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and MY REWARD IS WITH ME, TO RENDER TO EVERY MAN (believer as well as unregenerate) ACCORDING TO WHAT HE HAS DONE. (Revelation 22: 12)

For the believer who is bound together with the unregenerate, and their ungodly ways, it is either a premeditated act of unbelief or a conscious/unconscious loss of love for the truth of God. It is either one or the other! We have only two choices as believers: believe and be saved, Spiritually, and then seek first and love our Lord and His truth, or… believe and be saved, Spiritually, and then live our lives like the unregenerate in this world. The second way will lead to our disqualification (to reign) in the coming kingdom of our Lord.

We are called, by the Apostle Paul, to be looking patiently and hopefully for the return of our Lord:

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be ALERT and SOBER. (1 Thessalonians 5: 1-6)

How can we be Spiritually alert and sober if we’re wrapped up in man’s religiosity and worldly ways? IT’S OUR RESPONSIBILITY (one of a select few), according to the word of God we profess to believe and follow!

The entire article is here:

via Religion News: Obama wishes Muslims a blessed Ramadan.

"Personal Ethics" & "Morality": The Worldly Wisdom of Apostate Christendom

The Apostle Paul commands,

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,

“I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
“Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord.
“AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN;
And I will welcome you.
“And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”

Says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6: 14-18)

Once again, the Vatican (Christendom) seems to be ignoring the word of God. Or, perhaps, the Vatican, in its religious arrogance, has lost the love of The Truth, and thus, the Lord has sent them a strong delusion.

If any one is a teacher of any other kind of doctrine, and refuses assent to wholesome instructions–those of our Lord Jesus Christ–and the teaching that harmonizes with true godliness, he is puffed up with pride and has no true knowledge, but is crazy over discussions and controversies about words which give rise to envy, quarrelling, revilings, ill-natured suspicions, and persistent wranglings on the part of people whose intellects are disordered and they themselves blinded to all knowledge of the truth; who imagine that godliness means gain (in this world). (1 Timothy 6: 3-5 Weymouth Version)

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God… Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a DELUDING INFLUENCE so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe THE TRUTH, but took pleasure in wickedness. (2 Thessalonians 2: 3-4, 8-12)

Some will claim that this last scripture is referring to the unregenerate. But if that is the case, then why would God send a “deluding influence” to those who are already deluded (the unregenerate, the “unsaved”), to those who hate The Truth of God?

The Apostle Paul, here, cannot be referring to the unregenerate. Paul can only be referring to those, professing belief, who were never actually saved, or those, professing belief, who have returned to their own vomit:

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep…

These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2: 1-3, 17-22)

There seem to be many “believers” who fall into this category. Jesus referred to these “believers” in this parable:

“Hear then the parable of the sower… “The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. (Matthew 13: 18, 20-21)

According to our Lord, the political and social issues of this world system are not the domain, nor concern, of the sons and daughters of God.

Politics are not the task of a Christian. (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

As the Apostle Paul commanded, “We are not to be bound together (yoked) with the unbeliever (unregenerate),” in any way: politics, social issues, business, and, in particular, marriage. Political and social issues are of this world and its system: a system ruled by the enemy of God!

And yet, as the following Pew Forum article reveals, the Vatican evidently believes the Apostle Paul, and the Lord as well, are out of touch with reality, or badly mistaken:

August 5, 2009

Top US Catholic bishop: Global economic crisis caused in part by people abandoning ethics

by Jonathan J. Cooper

The Associated Press

PHOENIX AP — The top Roman Catholic bishop in the United States said Wednesday the global economic crisis was caused in part by people abandoning personal ethics, and he’s calling for increased morality in business.

Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago and president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the pursuit of fast profits undermined the financial markets’ ability to regulate themselves.

“An economy that substitutes efficiency for morality will end up both inefficient and immoral,” George said in a speech Tuesday, the first night of the three-day annual convention of the Knights of Columbus, one of the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organizations.

George said a restructured global economy is emerging, and it should promote development in poor nations while helping poor people in rich countries. Investment money from poor nations is flowing to rich countries, worsening the poverty in poor nations, he said. (emphasis added)

“Personal ethics” and “morality in business” seem to be the answer to this whole economic crisis, according to this confused bishop of Christendom!

Note that this bishop (“holy man”) takes the Lord completely out of the conversation by suggesting that man’s irresponsibility, in his pursuit of mammon, or wealth and power, can somehow be solved through his “Personal ethics” and “moral” business practices. The bishop’s emphasis here is on man’s self reliance and action, as opposed to seeking the Lord Who is the way, the truth, and the life.

All of this is the influence of postmodern/atheism on the institutional “church” (IC). As opposed to the institutional “church” influencing and altering the unregenerate in this world, the “church”, instead, has been altered by the Godless ideology of the unregenerate.

The bishop in this article, as is true of his pope, will never use the word of God (The Truth) to convict the world and its system. The Vatican is a friend of this world, while the word of God is “politically incorrect” and hated, thus the Vatican and the word of God are incompatible. Christendom, except for the more “politically correct” verses (those that don’t convict), is evidently ashamed of the word of God and has, thus, turned its apostate back on the Truth of our Lord. Therefore, it is unlikely that this world will ever hear Catholic leaders, or their followers, rebuking or exhorting those who are lost in this corrupt and decaying world:

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3: 16-17)

With all of this in mind then, it shouldn’t be a surprise when this bishop suggests, without any mention of the Lord, or scripture, that “personal ethics” and “morality” are key to preventing financial crises in the future. After all, this is just an example of the lame and superficial advice that is passed off as wisdom in this corrupted, ungodly and foolish world.

**********************************************************************************************

“THEREFORE, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE:”

This strong exhortation from the Apostle Paul warns us not to be bound with the unregenerate. But what about those who are saved, spiritually? Those who profess belief in God and attend “church”, but have no real love for the truth and life (the “tares”) of our Lord? What about those who are saved, spiritually, and yet live like the unregenerate? I don’t necessarily mean living in a blatantly sinful way, but in a way that exhibits a strong love for this world system: a system that is opposed to the way, the truth, and the life of our Lord.

“And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and THE WORRY OF THE WORLD and the DECEITFULNESS OF WEALTH CHOKE THE WORD, and IT BECOMES UNFRUITFUL. (Matthew 13: 20-21)

All believers were chosen by the Lord to produce (“good”) fruit that would remain:

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. (John 15: 16)

According to the Lord, any fruit that is not of Him (fruit that will not remain) will be burned up in the coming day of judgment:

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “So then, you will know them by their fruits. (Matthew 7: 15-20)

Here is our Lord’s warning to those who may be (spiritually) saved and yet continue to love this world and its decaying fruit:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ (Matthew 7: 21-23)

Although saved, Spiritually (salvation), these people have lived a life of friendship with this world and its ways, thus they have received their reward, here and now. Therefore, when the Lord returns to rule for one thousand years on the earth, these believers will not be among those who will receive the prize and rule with the Lord:

And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. “Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy (believers, not the unregenerate).”

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Blessed are those (believers in the churches, not the unregenerate) who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city (the New Jerusalem: the “thousand year reign”). Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches (the true church: The Body of Christ). I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” (Revelation 22: 10-16)

In closing, here is what the Apostle Paul states:

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. (Colossians 2: 8 )

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (Colossians 3: 1-2)

The entire article can be found here:

via Religion News: Top US Catholic bishop: Global economic crisis caused in part by people abandoning ethics.

"A True World Political Authority"

The following scriptures have either been deleted from the Catholic bible, or the pope is totally ignorant of their message:

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,

“I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord.
“AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN;
And I will welcome you.
“And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”

Says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6: 14-to end)

Jesus rebukes Peter, in the following scripture, for having his mind set on the temporal issues of man (just like the pope), as opposed to having his mind set on the eternal will and plan of God:

From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” (Matthew 16: 21-23)

{Note: According to Roman Catholics, the Apostle Peter was the first pope. This then, in my mind and heart, makes this last scripture even more pertinent to this post!}

How much clearer can these two scriptures be? Believers are the temple of God, and we are not to be bound together (yoked), or in partnership, with those of this world and its system of Satan. We may know, work, and even associate, to some degree, with the unregenerate, but we are not to be involved in their worldly ways and agendas: business, entertainment, beliefs, and, in particular, marriage. We are to “come out from among them and be separate,” as the Lord commands! And, as believers, we are also to have our minds and hearts set on the eternal interests and sovereign will of God, as opposed to the temporary, corrupt, and ineffective plans of man!

The following Pew Forum article shows how the pope views this world in an evidently much different way than our Lord.

July 7, 2009

Pope says lack of ethics wreaks `havoc’ on global economy

by Francis X. Rocca

Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY — A lack of financial ethics has wreaked “havoc” on the global economy, Pope Benedict XVI writes in a new encyclical released Tuesday July 7, and calls for a “true world political authority” to ensure international cooperation, peace and environmental protection.

The encyclical on globalization, Caritas in Veritate Charity in Truth, is Benedict’s third and the first to focus on Catholic social teaching. Encyclicals are among the most authoritative papal documents and largely serve to map out the priorities and concerns of the CURRENT pope.

Formally addressed to Catholics and “all people of good will,” the 144-page document emphasizes the moral causes for the vast economic disparities between rich nations and the underdeveloped world.

“The causes of underdevelopment are not primarily of the material order,” Benedict writes, but “in the lack of brotherhood among individuals and peoples.” (emphasis added)

Jesus, in the parable, “The Sower of the Seeds,” says,

“And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (Mark 4: 18-19)

Sounds to me as if this scripture is referring to people like the current pope: who, according to this and other scriptures, is spiritually misleading 1.1 billion Catholics around the world. Pope Benedict XVI isn’t alone here, since the papacy has always been a source of spiritual confusion and apostasy (as is the case with all other denominational heads of Christendom). This pope is just carrying on the fine tradition of his power hungry and greedy predecessors, as well as the Hebrew Pharisee:

“You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God IN ORDER TO KEEP YOUR TRADITION. “For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH’; but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; thus invalidating the word of God BY YOUR TRADITION which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.” (Mark 7: 9-13)

According to Catholic doctrine, the TRADITIONAL roll of the pope has always been to rule, as if appointed by God to an earthly throne. Yet the word of God tells us that there is only One King, and He is the Christ.

The list of scripturally incorrect traditions, rituals and teachings of Catholicism (along with the rest of Christendom) would take up several posts. Just suffice it to say that this article, and a million more like it, reveal the pope for who he is (an apostate), and what his religion stands for: the desires of this world and its system, apostasy!

For those who find my remarks insulting and/or offensive, in regards to the pope, here is my response: The pope is just another man and nothing more. The word of God says that he’s a man and nothing more also! In fact, Jesus, when it came to man exalting himself, stated,

“The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses (under the Law); therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. “But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. “They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. “But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. “Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. “But the greatest among you shall be your servant. “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (Matthew 23: 2-12)

How does this scripture NOT convict the pope, cardinals, bishops, etc, who live like earthly kings, answer to being called, “father,” and exalt themselves above everyone else?

Pope Benedict XVI is merely the result of a pagan emperor (Constantine), some seventeen hundred years ago, making a political decision for his empire. The “Bishop of Rome” was merely a political strategy enacted to save the Roman State from inner turmoil, and nothing more. Little did Constantine know that his state-run “church” would become Christendom: friend to the world and the Great Harlot, of Revelation. On this basis, then, I make no excuses or apologies for my position. I will never apologize for the word of God, or its Truth!

Here are, in my opinion, some of the more memorable quotes from this article:

1) “Pope Benedict XVI writes in a new encyclical released Tuesday July 7, and calls for a ‘true world political authority’ to ensure international cooperation, peace and environmental protection.”

A “true world political authority” headed by whom: the governments of this world, or the Vatican “yoked together” with the governments of this world? It seems that the “great harlot,” of Revelation, is in a rush to fulfill biblical prophecy:

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality.” and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus… (Revelation 17: 1-6)

Papal Encyclicals: Who Needs the Word of God?

2) “Encyclicals are among the most authoritative papal documents and largely serve to map out the priorities and concerns of the CURRENT pope.”

All authority is of our Lord and Savior! And the worldly “priorities” and “concerns” of this pope, or any other false prophet/teacher of Christendom, are “foolishness before God:”

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ( Matthew 28: 18 )

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS”; (1 Corinthians 2: 19)

And what Jesus said to Peter, in the following scripture, I believe, applies to this pope:

But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” (Matthew 16:23)

3) “all people of good will,” and “the moral causes for the vast economic disparities between rich nations and the underdeveloped world.”

How many “people of good will” can we truly find on this planet? Not that many! And there have always been “disparities” between the rich and poor in this world, as scripture makes clear:

as it is written,

“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
“THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
“THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;
“WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”;
“THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.”
“THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.” (Romans 3: 10-18)

“For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. (Matthew 26: 11)

4) “‘The causes of underdevelopment are not primarily of the material order,’ Benedict writes, but ‘in the lack of brotherhood among individuals and peoples.’”

There can be no “brotherhood” between individuals and people, until Christ is at the center of every person’s life. And this won’t take place until He comes (the second, and final, time) to rule in power and Glory!

Therefore, once again,

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; (2 Corinthians 6: 14-16)

What's Wrong With This (Religious) Picture? Who's Being Worshiped: Man or The Lord?

The pope, the “church,” ” authoritative encyclicals,” and all else of Christendom, are nothing more than man’s religiosity: or the reshaping of the Lord into an image that suits man’s worldly/fleshly desires.

It seems that, more and more, everyday, the Book of Revelation becomes clearer to me. Chapter seventeen, of the Revelation, discusses the entity referred to as “the Great Harlot.” This Harlot, or religious system, will be held responsible, by the Lord, for the ways of this corrupt world, since it took the good message of our Lord (the Gospel) and used it for evil. According to the Christ, this entity, which I believe to be Christendom, committed adultery with Satan and his world-wide, ungodly political system, and will pay the price for its actions on the day of judgment.

I encourage everyone to look at articles like this one, and at the “churches” they attend, and then seek the Lord, through the Spirit’s leading, to discover what His will is for them!

The entire article can be found here:

via Religion News: Pope says lack of ethics wreaks `havoc’ on global economy.

****P.S.****

Also, if you want more evidence of Pope Benedict’s apostate alliance with this world and its system, then check out these other Pew Forum articles:

Democrats, progressives find unlikely ally in Benedict XVI

Religion News: Anglican and Roman Catholic leaders say the market is lacking morals.

"But Wanting to Have Their Ears Tickled…"

"Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling." (Proverbs 16: 18)

Paul, the Apostle to the gentiles, exhorted and warned Timothy:

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to HAVE THEIR EARS TICKLED, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4: 1-4)

The following Pew Forum article is just another example of the great falling away, or apostasy, of the institutional “church:” Christendom.

June 30, 2009

Church-state divide looms for Episcopalians on gay marriage

by Daniel Burke

Religion News Service

Episcopal bishops from the six states that have legalized same-sex marriage are requesting permission to adapt their church’s venerable prayer book for use at same-sex weddings.

The proposal presents a new challenge to the Episcopal Church as it seeks to balance respect for gay rights with fellow Anglicans’

widespread condemnation of homosexuality.

The request from bishops in Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont will be debated at the Episcopal Church’s upcoming July 8-17 General Convention in Anaheim, Calif.

Even though the Episcopal Church has taken a liberal stand on gay issues, including installing an openly gay bishop of New Hampshire in 2003, its rules and liturgy continue to define marriage as between a man and a woman.

The bishops’ proposed resolution asks for permission to offer a “generous and flexible response” to same-sex couples seeking to be wed in the six states that have legalized same-sex civil marriage.

“Right now the state’s definition of marriage and the church’s definition of marriage are in conflict,” said Bishop Stephen Lane of Maine, where gay marriage became legal in May. “We’re asking for some flexibility to adapt the prayer book so a blessing could be made for a same-sex couple.” (emphasis added)

Here are the four quotes in this article that really trouble me, Spiritually!

Apostate Quote, #1:

“Even though the Episcopal Church has taken a liberal stand on gay issues… its rules and liturgy continue to define marriage as between a man and a woman.”

Note this: “Its rules and liturgy continue to define…” This is a religious denomination that supposedly represents the Christ, and yet it isn’t the Christ’s Word, nor the Spirit of God, that defines what Episcopalians believe. It is, instead, the “rules and liturgy” of the Episcopal Church that “define” what this congregation can and will believe.

Anyone should be able to discern, in this quote, that Episcopalian “rules and liturgy” are not worth the paper they are written on. If a portion of this denomination has “taken a liberal stand on gay issues,” then its conservative “rules and liturgy,” on this issue, have been nullified. If Episcopalians had been “defined” by the word of God, as they should have been, then there would have been no “liberal stand on gay issues” to begin with!

These Episcopalian “rules and liturgy,” as with other denomination’s dogma, are of man’s own making, and they come from his need for control of everything, including his “belief” in God. Institutional “church” (Christendom) rules, liturgies and doctrines, as opposed to the Lord and His Word, have become the source of spiritual direction and worship for many “church” goers. I hear many Sunday-morning “warriors” proclaiming, “What we (fill in the denomination: Episcopalians, etc) believe is…,” as opposed to, “We, as seekers of the Lord and His will, believe what the word of God, through His Spirit, reveals to us.” The word of God warns us of man’s religious rules, liturgies and doctrines, and those who create and enforce them:

If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that GODLINESS IS A MEANS OF GAIN. (1 Timothy 6: 3-5)

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. (Matthew 7: 15)

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be FALSE TEACHERS among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. (2 Peter 2: 1)

“Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. “Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15: 13-14)

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4: 1-4)

Apostate Quote, #2:

“We’re asking for some flexibility to adapt THE PRAYER BOOK SO A BLESSING COULD BE MADE for a same-sex couple.”

This is one of the most Spiritually ignorant and yet, revealing statements I have heard from an apostate “minister” of Christendom!

What is a “prayer book”? I thought prayer, as the word of God points out, was communing with God, through His Spirit, on a deeply personal level:

“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. (Matthew 6: 7-9)

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; (Romans 8: 26)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 4-7)

Do heavenly blessings flow from our Lord’s love, grace and righteousness? Or do heavenly blessings flow through the constant manipulations (“adapting”) of a man-inspired “prayer book”?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (Ephesians 1: 3)

Apostate Quote #3:

“The bishops’ proposed resolution asks for permission to offer a “generous and flexible response” to same-sex couples seeking to be wed…”

Apostasy!

This quote, in my opinion, is the very definition of Christendom’s “seeker sensitive” proselytizing technique, which keeps the “church” buildings operating and the clergy from having to find real jobs.

In order to pay for its enormous operating expenses, the institutional “church” {IC} must put aside the word of God and its truth. The IC knows people don’t want to hear that God’s Son had to come and die for their sins. The IC knows the carnal, or liberal, “church” goer hates to be convicted of sin (wrong doing), and he or she never wants to hear anything like,

“One thing you lack: go and sell all your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me,” or “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it,” or “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick.”

Here then, according to my experience, is the IC’s true (“politically correct” and “seeker sensitive”) position on speaking and teaching the word of God. And this friend-to-the-world position, in reality, is just another way of taking care of business:

“People need to be built up, not torn down. They need to be reassured that, no matter what they do, or what they love and seek most, God loves and accepts them as they are. People don’t want to be reminded of the bad things they’ve done, they just want to concentrate on the few really “good” things they’ve managed to accomplish, and there’s nothing wrong with that. They want a well deserved pat on the back, and we’re there to give ‘em what they want! After all, people have scraped and clawed, connived and cheated all week, and the last thing they need to experience, in ‘church,’ on Sunday morning, is hearing about their distaste for the truth of God, and their worldly ways of going about life.”

In other words, people don’t want to hear the awful truth about themselves, their family, their friends, their business associates, this nation, or the world. People just want to HAVE THEIR EARS TICKLED, so they can go about their temporal lives, Monday through Saturday, as they please. As long as they “keep the sabbath holy” (which, by the way, was Law to the Hebrew only), then they have paid their dues to God. They also want the Lord’s blessings in all ways, but with no investment in Him, His way, truth, or life: “Just bless us, Lord, so we have an easy time of it, and we get everything we want in this life.” How convenient! How totally American!

Apostate Quote #4:

“Right now the state’s definition of marriage and the church’s definition of marriage are in conflict…”

The man-made, and corrupted, “state’s” definition of marriage should never be in line with the physical and Spiritual joining of a man and woman, which is found and defined in the word of God:

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2: 18-25)

With all of this in mind then, why should I, or any other seeker of the Lord, be surprised by articles like this one? We must face the truth! The IC, in order to be “politically correct” and “seeker sensitive,” is going to pass over the word of God, and thus maintain its friend to the world status It has no choice. The IC, in its apostate state, must turn its back on the Lord and His truth, in order to survive. So, if the IC isn’t going to address its pew sitter’s desperate need for Christ, in a scriptural, truthful way, then it certainly isn’t going to stand against the ungodly and worldly trends such as “gay marriage”.

I hope I’m not the only believer who can see the utter Spiritual confusion of this apostate denomination of Christendom. This is not the church (Body of Christ) that Paul speaks of, nor the one exhibited in the Book of Acts. This type of “church” is the result of seventeen hundred years of Spiritual adultery with this world system and its leader, Satan.

I cannot, for the life of me, imagine how anyone, who is truly seeking the way, truth and life of our Lord, could possibly remain in this apostate form of religiosity. I encourage anyone who is experiencing this kind of Spiritual confusion and error, in their “church,” or “fellowship,” to come out from that darkness and start living in the light and life, in abundance, of our Lord!

The entire article can be found here:

via Religion News: Church-state divide looms for Episcopalians on gay marriage.