THE CONSISTENT & OVERBEARING RELIGIONISTS’ RESPONSE!

The False Church, The Apostate "Church:" The One-Time-a Week Home of Hypocrites and Religionists!

I am always amazed when I have the opportunity to experience, once again, the consistent and overbearing ways of the religious, bible-thumping pew-sitters (religionists), in communicating with those who won’t swear allegiance (and pay tithes) to their one-of-three-thousand-plus man-conceived versions of our Father and His Son: “churches,” denominations, non-denominations, televangelism, etc (factions/divisions).

The following comment is just another example of this way of the religionists.

“You need some serious help my brother!! You are at a place of spiritual confusion that will allow passivity to overtake you and bring you to a place of utter hopelessness. Repent of your double-mindedness and allow the Spirit of the Living God to raise you up in to a newness of life that you have only been scratching the surface of. God is with you, but are you with God??“

First, note the love of God in his opening statement: “You need some serious help my BROTHER!!” He hears, I’m sure, “You need help and I am concerned for you,” while what he writes is nothing more than an accusation that is inflammatory as well as lacking in the Lord’s grace; as, by the way, is the rest of what he writes here. Secondly, I trust no one that immediately refers to me as “BROTHER”! My true brothers and sisters in Christ and I, except for a few, and I know them and their hearts, never refer to each other as brothers and sisters, and yet we take care of each other much better than the religionists do in their crystal cathedrals! I know my true brothers and sisters in Christ, because I am led by the Spirit of God, as opposed to a man with a theology degree, in thousand dollar robes, standing on a pagan-oriented alter, on a lectern, with pagan crosses, or even worse, crucifixes (both idolatrous objects of the Vatican), and an American flag, in a million dollar-plus building that he refers to as a “church.” It’s almost comical, but not quite!

THE TRUE CHURCH OF CHRIST ARE HIS PEOPLE, NOT SOME STINKING PAGAN BUILDING WHERE PEOPLE ARE LED AWAY FROM THE LORD AND KEPT CHASING AFTER THE AMERICAN DREAM, AND THE SUPPORT OF A COMPLETELY GODLESS GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMIC-SYSTEM (PATRIOTISM: MORE IDOLATRY)!

Summary: Addressed to Eddie,

Don’t tell me I need help! Show me how I need help, and then, if you can, which isn’t always possible, unfortunately, seek to help me! Don’t accuse someone while referring to them as your “BROTHER!” I, as far as I can tell now, am not, in any way, shape or form, your brother, sir! And NEVER, I mean NEVER, be so arrogant, in your lame religiosity, as to suppose you know my relationship, or any other individual’s, with our Lord and Savior; unless, of course, you know and have invested in them and their lives, and they in you, and have been walking the same path with them. You and I have not experienced what I just described, and therefore I reject your legalism and judgment, sir!!

{On this last sentence, when I write on Spiritual issues, I attempt to write of my experiences in and out of the deadness of organized Christianity, and I speak of the whole of Christendom, not every individual (since the Lord still has some of His people in that exile): except, of course, in the case of the clergy and politicians, since they have put themselves out there to be critiqued.}

This person knows nothing about me, and he has probably not read more than what he absolutely had to read of my posts in order to attack (“rebuke,” I’m sure, is how he sees it) and insult my faith in the Lord!

This man is one of a multitude of reasons why I, and thousands upon thousands of other sons and daughters of God, throughout the earth, have left the deadness of churchiosity and have gone, instead, seeking, on our own, as the Pilgrim had, the true abundant life of Christ!

This comment is just another example of the man-conceived religion about Christ that Satan has used, for the last two-thousand years, to keep many of the Lord’s created ones away from His Way, Truth and Life.

Enough said!

PS

The thought had occurred to me, since this person left no personal way to respond, nor responded back to my comment response, that Eddie just might be an atheist playing games with me. I have had this happen before, and this is why I waited to respond this way. If this be the case, and Eddie is an atheist, then all I have to say to him is this: Eddie, if there is a literal hell at the end of this age, then have a great time there, since this will have been your choice and thus what you desired and deserve!

My hope is that this is not the case, and Eddie is just another lost soul held captive in the bondage of organized Christianity. And, if this be the case, then I hope Eddie seeks his Spirit and allows it to tear off the religious chains that, by his words here, seem to have him in the bondage our Lord came to release the Hebrews and all of us from!

“A Deluding Influence” XI

{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 (NOT ALWAYS), and I’ve decided to call them, “A Deluding Influence” (2 Thessalonians 2: 11)}

The spirit of anti-Christ is alive and well in all of Christendom: the nominal “church”. But in particular, it’s alive and well in pagan Catholicism, as the following Pew Forum article reveals.

January 25, 2010

Why some Americans mix Christianity, Eastern religions

by Mark Guarino

The Christian Science Monitor

Because she attends Catholic mass every Sunday and observes all the religious holidays of her faith, Angela Bowman may well exemplify the Latin root of the word “religion,” which is “to bind.”

But the Chicagoan also meditates several times each day and practices yoga every other week. She knows Catholicism, Hinduism, and Buddhism have contradictory elements but is unfazed by her multiple observances because, to her, “it’s all pretty much the same thing.”

“The biggest part of praying is opening yourself up to a connection with God, and I perceive clearing your mind in meditation as another form of receptivity,” says the 30-something textbook editor. Although she is a devoted Roman Catholic, she says she doesn’t “believe it’s the one true path and anything else is flirting with the devil.”

Ms. Bowman’s attitude tracks with those in a study released last month, which found that large numbers of AMERICA’S FAITHFUL do not neatly conform to the expectations or beliefs of their prescribed religions, but instead freely borrow principles of Eastern religions or endorse common supernatural beliefs. (emphasis added)

via Religion News: Why some Americans mix Christianity, Eastern religions.

"Religion is all relative, man! Be cool!"

Angela Bowman (one of “America’s faithful”?) is bound by her “religious” beliefs alright, she is the living and breathing example of “carnal Christianity” (false Christianity). Ms. Bowman doesn’t believe that the Christ is the ONLY WAY to God, yet she professes to be a Christian. She is so confused, as are so many others, that she honestly believes she can follow and serve Buddha (a demon inspired “religion”) and the Lord at the same time; as Bowman states, “it’s all pretty much the same thing.” In her absolute Spiritual and intellectual ignorance (her “delusional” state), fostered by the apostate doctrines and ritualism of pagan Catholicism (Christendom), Ms. Bowman believes she has it (“religion”) all figured out, Spiritually. But, in Truth and reality, she is just another mere pawn, a “religious” fool of Satan. Ms. Bowman, like so many other religionists, has been blinded by the god of this age:

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god 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)

Ms. Bowman, like most politically-correct Americans today (relativists), is very “open-minded”: here is what scripture has to say about this “open-mindedness”, this cultural/”religious” relativism:

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)

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 (Buddhism, Hinduism, New Age relativism). (2 Timothy 4)

Well THE TIME HAS COME, and it’s here and now!

Ms. Bowman, of course, is most likely unfamiliar with these scriptures, or any other portion of the word of God. Like Bill Clinton, and most other escapees from the lunatic ward that was 1960s America, Ms. Bowman probably would claim that the word of God is “ambiguous”. She, like Bill Clinton and the others, confuses ambiguity with not having the Spirit; without the Spirit to lead us, we cannot discern the word of God, so without the Spirit the word will appear to be ambiguous:

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. (John 14: 26)

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; 7 but we speak GOD’S WISDOM in a mystery, THE HIDDEN WISDOM which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the 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; 9 but 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.”

10 For to us God revealed them through THE SPIRIT; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

14 But A NATURAL MAN (the unregenerate, pagan, and apostate believer) 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. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST. (1 Corinthians 2)

Satan loves the “open-minded” (especially the hypocritical, “open-minded” and “tolerant” religionists like Ms. Bowman, Bill Clinton, and the like), since there’s always loads of room, in these folks’ minds and hearts, for his disembodied spirits (demons) to move in and do their best work! The fruit of these demons’ work will be the messed up, Godless, and/or apostate, lives they produce: adulterers, liars, pedophiles, murderers, or even just plain old corporate criminals!

Just as the Hebrew nation offered up sacrifices to other gods (idolatry), and, in so doing, incurred the wrath of God, many modern “Christians” offer themselves up to other gods today (third-world and “new-age” demon-inspired religions, post-modernism, Darwinism, feminism), and they will, on the coming day of judgment, incur their just punishment: which will be, depending on Spiritual salvation (“being saved”), either loss of reward, or the same punishment as the pagan, the unregenerate, and Satan: the lake of fire.

“Behold, I am coming quickly, AND MY REWARD IS WITH ME, to render to every man ACCO0RDING TO WHAT HE HAS DONE. 13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

14 Blessed are those 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. 15 OUTSIDE (of the New Jerusalem) ARE THE DOGS and THE SORCERERS and THE IMMORAL PERSONS and THE MURDERERS and THE IDOLATERS, and everyone who loves and practices lying (LIARS). (Revelation 22)

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is THE BOOK OF LIFE; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into THE LAKE OF FIRE. This is THE SECOND DEATH, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in THE BOOK OF LIFE, he was thrown into THE LAKE OF FIRE. (Revelation 20)

The lost folks on the “outside“, will consist of the unregenerate, the pagan, and those like Ms. Bowman, who chose to live an idolatrous spiritual life of convenience and hypocrisy; she had to have her worldly and spiritual cake, and eat it too, and soon her cake will turn and eat her up. These folks chose their heaven here and now, so they have no right to expect anything in the coming ages; except, that is, the judgment which will involve “loss of reward”, for the saved, and rejection, and the wrath of God, for the rest!

For more information on Catholicism and Paganism, I suggest the following text (chapter 48 to end of book):

The Church the Churches and the … – Google Books.

“A Deluding Influence” VII

{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 Apostle Paul said,

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you…

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians)

Paul also said,

…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… (2 Corinthians 6)

November 25, 2009

Legalise assisted suicide, Kirk minister says

by Melanie Reid

The Times of London

A retired Church of Scotland minister is calling for assisted suicide to be legalised so that patients could end their lives “in an ethical and merciful manner”.

Contradicting the Church’s official stance on the issue, the Rev Dr John Cameron praised the work of Dignitas, the Swiss-based assisted suicide group, and accused Britain of “exporting” its ethical dilemma overseas.

Writing in the Kirk’s official journal, he said Dignitas provided a much needed service for individuals who want to “die as they have lived”. He also said NHS claims that palliative care was available for all in Britain’s hospitals were an “outrageous untruth”.

The Church of Scotland, however, opposes Independent MSP Margo MacDonald’s controversial End of Life Choices Bill that seeks to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland. (emphasis added)

via Religion News: Legalise assisted suicide, Kirk minister says.

The Apostle Paul also stated:

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? (2 Corinthians 6)

“Reverend” Cameron is the product of an apostate “religious” system which has very little to do with the truth of God.

{The “church” of Scotland may be against Cameron’s opinion on suicide, but it is responsible for producing a person like Cameron, through its Godless, vain and empty doctrines and dogma!}

In Cameron’s ignorant and unbelieving humanism, he has received a strong delusion from the One Who created him. Thus, this “right-reverend” now believes that he, and others like him, have the right to commit self murder.

Self murder has nothing to do with “dignity”, but it has everything to do with unbelief, arrogance and COWARDICE!

“A Deluding Influence” VI

Idolatry!

{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)}

As if the ritualism of “holy water” wasn’t scripturally incorrect enough, the Catholic “church” will now have a better-than-faith-in-God way to make sure H1N1 is not spread through the use of its ungodly H2O.

November 12, 2009

In hand sanitizer we trust

by Ingrid Peritz

The Globe
Call it worship without worry: An Italian inventor has devised an electronic holy-water dispenser to reduce exposure to the H1N1 virus.

The device, already inspiring interest worldwide, uses an infrared sensor like those found in bathroom soap dispensers to squirt blessed water into parishioners’ hands. The inventor, Luciano Marabese, said he dreamed up the idea to preserve religious tradition in the face of the flu pandemic.

The high-tech creation underscores how the H1N1 virus is reshaping religious rituals as ministries struggle to spread the faith without spreading the flu. Houses of worship everywhere, including in Canada, are deploying inventive solutions to traditional rites.

At Runnymede United Church in Toronto, for example, communion bread last Sunday was served on toothpicks, like canapés. The servers didn’t wear white cloth gloves, but they did wear surgical gloves. (emphasis added)

via Religion News: In hand sanitizer we trust.

As this article exposes, it isn’t just the Catholic “church” that has become Spiritually and mentally ill, it’s most or all of Christendom!

There is nothing holy except our Lord and Savior, the Father, the Spirit, and us, if we belong to the Lord! If we need toothpicks for the Lord’s supper, and “holy water” dispensers to have faith, then we have no faith. In fact, if we must sprinkle ourselves with mystical-magical H2O to have relationship with our Lord, then we are wasting our time, since He will have nothing to do with man’s “religious” ritualism and idolatry, up to and including the eating of a ritualistic and idolatrous wafer!

Wake up, you fast asleep in those adulteress pews of churchianity, before it’s too late!

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:
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 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, 18 I 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. 19 ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 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, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING TO THE CHURCHES (ecclesias [Greek]: gatherings, not crystal cathedrals, etc).’”

To hear, we must read and seek His word through the leading of His Spirit that indwells us, if we have the Spirit? Your priest or right-reverend isn’t the Spirit of God! Turn from the lie and seek the Lord, in TRUTH and SPIRIT:

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 “But an hour is coming, AND NOW IS, WHEN the TRUE WORSHIPERS WILL WORSHIP THE FATHER IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH; for such people THE FATHER SEEKS to be His worshipers. 24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him MUST WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH.” (John 4)

"There is One Body and One Spirit…"

The following scripture reveals what the true Church of Christ (the Body) is to look like:

“Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” (age-ending generation) 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 THEY WERE CONTINUALLY DEVOTING THEMSELVES TO THE APOSTLES’ TEACHINGS AND TO FELLOWSHIP, TO THE BREAKING OF BREAD (COMMUNION) AND PRAYER.

43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and HAD ALL THINGS IN COMMON; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 DAY 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, 47 praising 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 things have changed since those first few years, and these changes, beginning, in earnest, in Constantine’s pagan empire, have only added to the Godless atheism and paganism in this world today!

October 23, 2009

1) Globally, religion defies easily identified patterns

by Peter Steinfels

The New York Times

The world is growing more religious. Or maybe it’s not.

On Friday, the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago released what it described as “the most comprehensive analysis to date of global religious trends.” Anyone studying its 9,000-word analysis and perusing 330 additional pages of references and tables will be quickly disabused of the idea that the currents of religious belief and practice are flowing in one or two or even a half-dozen clear directions.

“Religious change around the world is a complex phenomenon,” the report begins, in an almost comic understatement. “No simple description such as secularization, religious revival, or believing without belonging captures the complexity of the process.” (emphasis added)

via Religion News: Globally, religion defies easily identified patterns.

2) Hopes rising for unifying Orthodoxy’s U.S. churches

Religion News: Hopes rising for unifying Orthodoxy’s U.S. churches.

3) Former Archbishop of Canterbury branded a moaner over Rome offer

Religion News: Former Archbishop of Canterbury branded a moaner over Rome offer.

Hear ye! Hear ye! A life offered to Christ, as a living sacrifice, is not a “religion” (catholicism, protestantism, non denominational-ism, etc, ad-nauseum), it is a way of LIVING that prepares one for his or her real LIFE in the age of ages to come! And this way of LIVING is a testimony to others who are being called out and chosen by our Lord and Savior: this LIFE has nothing to do with “church” attendance, buildings, rituals or clergy…

{“Church” attendance has little to do with the imperative given in Hebrews 10:25, since the most common variety of “church” attendee (attends at least 2 times a year: Christmas and Easter) almost never associates, beyond the ritualistic, one hour on Sunday morning, with those sitting right next to them in the pews! Fellowship (the gathering together) at this apathetic level simply amounts to, “Hi! How are you? How’s business? Haven’t seen you in months! See you next Sunday… if we remember to set the alarm, that is! HaHaHa!”}

…it has nothing to do with man inspired (as opposed to Spirit of God led), self-serving and denominational promoting “ministries”, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the unregenerate and evil workings of the government it finds itself placed under! The true LIFE of Christ is just that: it is LIFE, and it can be in abundance, when or if we lose this corrupted, temporal way of living and truly seek His eternal nature and Life:

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must DENY HIMSELF (the self-life), and TAKE UP HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME. 25 “For whoever wishes to save his life WILL LOSE IT; but whoever loses his life for My sake WILL FIND IT. 26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16)

So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I CAME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY. (John 10)

In my estimation, these three articles help to reveal the sad, apostate state of the institutionalized “church”. Just as the chosen of Israel were to reveal the truth of Jehovah to the world, so the true Church (the Body) was to reveal the Christ (Jehovah) to the world. And as was the case with Israel, the institutional “church” has not only failed the Lord, in much the same way, but has also fallen away from the TRUTH and worshiped the lie:

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he (the Body, the Bride of Christ) who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 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; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 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. 11 For this reason God will send upon them A DELUDING INFLUENCE SO THAT THEY WILL BELIEVE WHAT IS FALSE, 12 in order that they all may be judged WHO DID NOT BELIEVE THE TRUTH, but took pleasure in wickedness. (2 Thessalonians 2)

If your local, neighborhood preacher or priest tells you that this scripture is referring to the unregenerate (unsaved), then ask him or her why the Lord would have to send another delusion to those who are already strongly deluded…

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is VEILED to those WHO ARE PERISHING, 4 in whose case the god (Satan) of this world HAS BLINDED THE MINDS OF THE UNBELIEVING (unregenerate) 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)

…This scripture (2 Thessalonians 2) is referring to those who profess a belief in God, and attend “church”, but, in reality, have no love of our Lord’s truth:

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 “So then, you will know them by their fruits.

21 “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. For men will be… holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these… (they will be) always learning (seminaries, bible colleges, religion degrees, etc) and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 1-2, 5, 7)

These are scriptures which most of us, who merely attend “church”, and profess belief, when it’s convenient, should take extreme heed of in these last days, or else be willing to face the loss!

Where is the unity and peace spoken of by the Apostle Paul in these three articles?

Unity of the Spirit

1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all HUMILITY and GENTLENESS, with PATIENCE, showing tolerance for one another IN LOVE, 3 being diligent to preserve the UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4)

Where is the humility, gentleness, patience, and tolerance in love, in the “churches” we see on almost every corner of town? Where do we truly see, anywhere in Christendom, the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, (which, then,) causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love?

"Do Not Be Yoked Together With Unbelievers" (Part II)

This is the second and last part to “Do Not Be Yoked Together With Unbelievers” (Part I)

The System of this World:

Nimrod's Tower

The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. The LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. “Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth. (Genesis 11: 5-9)

Because of man’s continuing desire to be equal with God, which had caused the fall of man to begin with, the Lord had confounded his speech. This punishment, by the Lord, had then forced man to divide and populate the rest of the earth, which, in turn, negated his newfound and ungodly, corporate power. For the next several thousand years, this forced separation would be sufficient to keep man from becoming too powerful, collectively.

But with the advent, in the twentieth century, of mass communications (in particular, the inter-net), and advanced forms of transportation, the world has, once again, shrunk to a size that man can manage and rule. This, then, has allowed for man to, once again, assert himself, collectively, as being equal with God.

Day by day, our world becomes ever more increasingly unified, in its power, greed, corruption and hatred of God: a common language (English), incorporated nations (the European Union), a common currency (the “euro”), and, in the near future, a “one-world” government and economy. The modern-day resurrection of Babel, in its fullness, is not too far off in the future. And its leader, the modern-day version of Nimrod {translated, “rebellious”}, might have already been born: the abomination of desolation, or the anti-Christ.

One Tall Example of Man's Progress, or One Small Symptom of a Deadly Disease?

An Example of Christendom's Idolatry & Friendship With the World!

What has been Christendom’s response to the ominous signs of Babel’s resurrection? Its response has been nothing less than to get on board and support the ungodly agendas of this current world system. In my estimation, Christendom is one of the main sources for Babel’s resurrection. In its ignorance of the Spirit’s leading, and its hypocrisy and friendship with the world, Christendom has fostered, among its Spiritually dead followers, a sense of belonging (loyalty), ownership (being “yoked together”), and even pride (love of mammon) in this world system.

The American institutional “church,” for the most part, is actively involved in the political and social affairs of this ungodly nation. The institutional “church,” in America, expresses pride (patriotism: loyalty) in the United States of America by acknowledging patriotic holidays, and displaying idolatrous American flags on its scripturally-incorrect, ritualistic “alters,” which exist in scripturally-incorrect, ritualistic “sanctuaries.” All of this ritualism is then hidden away in modern day versions of the Temple of God (“church” buildings), which, according to the word of God, no longer exists in the form of a building or tent: believers, according to the word of God, are individual temples of the Lord.

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)

Once again, the Lord stated, through His Apostle, that we are not to be “yoked,” or working partners, with those caught up in this world and its system. And yet, over and over again, I observe institutionalized believers, and their photo-op-seeking “church” leaders, taking part in and even embracing the worldly (Godless) agendas of this postmodern (atheistic/agnostic/relativistic) government, its corrupt and hedonistic society, and the power-mad capitalists who rule it.

Here are just a few examples of the institutionalized “church’s” (Christendom) friendship with, and support for, the American version of this world-system:

1) Michael Jackson died last week, and some of the first to get on board this photo-op gravy-train were two “reverends,” Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

They weren’t alone! Many “churches,” in the city where I live, celebrated Michael Jackson’s life on Sunday, as opposed to, as they claim, worshiping the Lord and seeking His will. Many of these same people, over four years ago, were crying for Jackson’s blood, when he was accused, for the second time, of child molestation.

Michael Jackson was most certainly a member in good standing, for the most part, with this world system. Jackson made millions upon millions of dollars for himself and the power brokers, in this country and the world. This, above all else, including his personal failures, secured his right-standing in this Godless, depraved world of the enemy. Jackson also paid millions upon millions of dollars to hire lawyers and pay off the families who were accusing him.

Jackson’s adult life was self glorifying and devoid of anything resembling the ways of our Lord. His “spiritual” adviser was new-age guru (“blind guide”), Deepak Chopra. Michael Jackson hadn’t turned to so-called “men of God,” like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. He had, instead, turned to the new age deniers of God and His Christ, like Chopra! So why, then, would so many institutional “churches,” and their leaders, be mourning and praising this deceased man who was so ungodly, corrupt and superstitious?

{Since I started writing these two posts, almost two weeks ago, I have seen more national news coverage on the death of Michael Jackson, then there had been for the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy. Al Sharpton spoke of Jackson as though he had been Martin Luther King incarnate. The same news teams, who had sought to portray Jackson as a pedophile, four years earlier (even after his vindication), were, over the past two weeks, almost emotional and reverent in their remarks about him. To be honest, I have found all of this to be totally disgusting, even though I know that it fits, quite nicely, into the Lord’s view of this corrupt and hedonistic world, and its unregenerate (or apostate and hypocritical) worshipers!}

2) In another example of Christendom’s friendship with the world, news articles, over the last six months, have shown an alarming trend with institutional (flag waving) “church” goers. In a Pew Forum article, it was revealed that more American “Christians” (I use this designation loosely) were in favor of the torturing of prisoners, at Abu Ghraib, than were their atheist and agnostic counterparts. Can it truly be that “church” going “believers,” in Christ, are more in favor of torturing people than unbelievers and haters of God?

What is wrong with this picture?

There are many, many more examples, such as the institutional “church’s” support for Bush and Cheney’s war in Iraq, and support, by certain denominations (Episcopalian, homosexual ministers, for instance), for “gay” marriage. But, if I were to write on these other issues, I would never finish this post.

The sad fact is, if any of us are attending an institutional “church” of Christendom, then we are partaking of an ungodly and apostate friendship with this world system. And, in doing so, we are also denying the truth and sovereignty of our Lord and His word. We are, whether we’re aware of it or not, being yoked together with unbelievers.

Here is what our Lord and Savior (the last Judge) has to say to the modern day institutional “church” (Christendom), and those who remain, BY CHOICE, in its Spiritual deadness and apostasy:

‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit (spew or vomit) you out of My mouth. ‘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, I 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. ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone (the individual) hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. ‘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. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” (Revelation 15-22)

"Do Not Be Yoked Together With Unbelievers" (Part I)

This is a follow up to a recent post, But We Have the Mind of Christ. In that post, I tried to describe how my view of the world and the worldly, up to this point in my life, has been changed, through the leading of the Spirit and the mind of Christ.

What I have always accepted, to some extent, as the norm in life, entertainment, politics, social gatherings, etc, has suddenly become anathema. I have begun, and seemingly overnight, to experience and look upon the world as the Lord views it. I believe the reason for this happening is, the Lord, over the past few years, has begun to remove the worldly scales from my eyes, so I can, now, begin to discern, more accurately, His way, truth and life. In other words, I, now, truly have the mind of Christ, which allows me to be led by the Spirit of God.

Because of this new mind and discernment, which has led to a new vision, it has become increasingly clear that I am truly a stranger and alien in this world-system. And therefore, I am now, even more than before, longing for a better country, a heavenly one.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself A PECULIAR PEOPLE, zealous of good works. (Titus 2: 11-14)

All these died in faith (those saints who died before the Christ’s sacrifice), without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. FOR THOSE WHO SAY SUCH THINGS make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a BETTER COUNTRY, that is, A HEAVENLY ONE. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11: 13-16)

This hasn’t always been an easy transition. Worldly things and events, I once looked forward to, now seem unappealing and meaningless: Christmas, Easter, sports events, and even television shows, which bore me with their Godless and mediocre fare.

I still enjoy gathering with brothers and sisters in Christ. But gone are the days when I could fully enjoy being with worldly friends. The same worldly friends who, over the years, rejected me, as well as the Lord, when I spoke of His truth and love for them. I still care about these people, but they have become strangers to me, and I to them. I have nothing in common with them, nor they with me. Nothing at all! Quite honestly, it was somewhat of a relief when these people chose to withdraw from me, since I had come to feel awkward and out of place among them.

There was an eternal reason for my awakening to the mind of Christ, and discernment of the Spirit. As with all other believers, I have an eternal purpose that the Lord created me to fulfill.

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit (“good works”), 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)

There is a price we pay (and rightly so) to experience the life in abundance that Christ came to give us:

“The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.” (Luke 10: 16)

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 10: 37-19)

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. (John 15: 18-19)

But here is our reward, now, and in the future, for paying that price:

So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I CAME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY. (John 10: 7-10)

This abundance of life is the life of our Lord, which now dwells in us. It is not this earthly, temporal life, it is something much, much better. The fruits of the Spirit: joy, love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control are the main portion of this life in abundance. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain…” This way, truth and life mindset (the mind of Christ) is how we are to live now. And this new way of life separates us from the world and those who still desire and worship what it offers.

Therefore, as the Apostle Paul made clear, in the scripture above, we are not to be “yoked together with unbelievers.”

Yoked: A crossbar with two U-shaped pieces that encircle the necks of a pair of oxen or other draft animals working together.

In the yoking of two draft animals, there will always be a larger and more experienced animal joined with a smaller and/or unexperienced one. The larger and more experienced animal will pull the largest portion of the weight. This, then, allows the smaller and/or less experienced animal to help pull the weight, but without becoming exhausted, or straying from the direction of the tiller’s reins.

Jesus said,

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30)

So the Lord invites ALL of His children to come and be yoked with Him. ALL of us can take up His yoke, and the Lord will lead us, through the Spirit and Word, to the way, truth and life. The Lord will bear the main burden (as He always has), so our portion of His yoke will be easy and its burden light!

This is what the Lord, through His death and resurrection, is offering us. But what many of us are choosing instead, even among those who believe, is the yoke and burden of this satanic world system. The yoke of following after and even promoting man’s ungodly culture, government, economic systems, and the apostate religious system of the world, Christendom, which is assisting in the resurrection of the modern day version of Babel! We must, therefore, not be yoked with anyone who worships at the alter of this corrupt and ungodly system.

I will finish this in Part II.

One of Christendom's More "Ravenous Wolves!"

Rev. Wiley Drake: One Example of the "Bad Fruit" of Christendom!

Jesus warned,

“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)

Just as the priests and pharisees, who plotted the death of the Christ, were more concerned with the nation of Israel than the will of God, so most of Christendom’s leaders, today, are more concerned with worldly political issues than the Lord’s will.

The following article speaks of a man who claims to be a minister of God, and yet his words and actions show him to be an apostate hypocrite and murderous servant of Satan!

NEW YORK ABP — A former Southern Baptist Convention officer who on June 2 called the death of abortion provider George Tiller an answer to prayer said later in the day he is also praying “imprecatory prayer” against President Obama.

Wiley Drake, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, Calif., and former running mate of American Independent Party presidential candidate Alan Keyes, said June 2 on Fox News Radio he didn’t understand why people were upset with his comments quoted by Associated Baptist Press from a webcast of his daily radio talk show.

“Imprecatory prayer is agreeing with God, and if people don’t like that, they need to talk to God,” Drake told syndicated talk-show host Alan Colmes. “God said it, I didn’t. I was just agreeing with God.”

Asked if there are others for whom Drake is praying “imprecatory prayer,” Drake hesitated before answering that there are several. “The usurper that is in the White House is one, B. Hussein Obama,” he said.

Later in the interview, Colmes returned to Drake’s answer to make sure he heard him right.

“Are you praying for his death?” Colmes asked.

“Yes,” Drake replied.

“So you’re praying for the death of the president of the United States?”

“Yes.”

Colmes asked Drake if he was concerned that by saying that he might be placed on a Secret Service or FBI watch list, and if he believed it appropriate to talk or pray that way.

“I think it’s appropriate to pray the Word of God,” Drake said. “I’m not saying anything. What I am doing is repeating what God is saying, and if that puts me on somebody’s list, then I’ll just have to be on their list.” (emphasis added)

Jesus could have called down legions of angels to destroy His Roman and Hebrew enemies, but instead, He allowed them to torture and nail Him to a tree. Unlike Wiley Drake and the other hypocritical charlatans of Christendom, today, Jesus exhibited what He taught, He practiced what He preached. Jesus was the living example of the way, truth and life that He had proclaimed.

Mr. Drake arrogantly and blasphemously claims to speak for God, as has always been the case with false prophets and teachers of Satan. Mr. Drake isn’t concerned with the Lord’s way, truth and life, he’s concerned with American politics, capitalism and the continued existence of Christendom.

Jesus had rebuked Peter on a similar issue (and Peter, by the way, wasn’t using Jesus to make a living and further his political career)! Just shortly after Peter had proclaimed Jesus as the Son of God, he would receive one of the most severe rebukes that Jesus had ever given:

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)

Unlike Peter, who thought (in error) he was defending the Lord, Mr. Drake, and his cohorts, have their minds set on the interests of democracy, capitalism and Christendom. Mr. Drake and his cohorts make their living from this apostate form of political religiosity, and therefore, what the word of God says, on any issue, is of little or no concern to them: especially if it stands in the way of their worldly agendas.

Jesus had many things to say about what His followers response should be to evil and their enemies, and what He said still stands!

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5: 9)

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5: 11-12)

“But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. (Matthew 5: 39)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5: 43-48)

Where do we hear Jesus saying in scripture, “When you have a perceived enemy in political power, then listen and I will have you pray for them to die.” When it came to government and politics, what was our Lord’s position and His commands to us?

Then they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Him in order to trap Him in a statement. They came and said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not? “Shall we pay or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.” They brought one. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him. (Mark 12: 13-17)

The word of God (the Logos: Jesus) also says,

Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, (Titus 3: 1)

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. (Romans 13: 1-7)

Evidently, Mr. Drake is not familiar with, or has forgotten or ignored, these words of our Lord. To pray for any evil to be accomplished, in the name of God, is to blaspheme: in particular, to pray for anyone to die! What does the word of God say about “imprecatory prayer”, or placing a curse on someone? How are we, as believers and seekers of the lord, to respond to persecution and evil?

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12: 9-21)

Christendom Created the Modern (Satanic) State!

As I’ve said before, Mr. Drake, and his kind, are mere symptoms of a more ominous and powerfully destructive disease: religiosity (churchianity), or Christendom. The reason we have men like Wiley Drake is due to the ungodly marriage of the apostate “church” (not the Body of Christ) with the Satanic owned and operated system of this world (the “state”).

I pray that those who are still trapped in this religious form of bondage will come out from it’s grasp and be set free by the truth:

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8: 31-32)

The entire article can be found here:

via Associated Baptist Press – Drake, former SBC officer, says he’s praying for Obama to die updated.

A Doctrinal/Dogmatic Boulder of Christendom: Calvinism & The Past It is Evidently Condemned to Repeat!

A postmodern atheist once wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Evidently, even the unregenerate can sometimes convey truth. If only the hypocritical, “seeker sensitive” and “politically correct” (“friend of the world and enemy to God”) leaders of Christendom were this aware of truth!

It seems that the five-hundred year old doctrine of Calvinism is having some kind of rebirth (“revival”), as most heretical and/or blasphemous doctrines of Christendom (the false Body of Christ) so often seem to have.

As with the Myth of Sisyphus, Christendom has been “condemned,” by its acts of heresy and blasphemy, to push the dead weight of its varied (denominational), heretical doctrine and dogma, such as Calvinism, up the religious mountain of apostasy. Christendom, unlike Sisyphus, continues this never-ending cycle of Spiritual failure with evidently no memory or understanding (discernment) of the results: the dead weight of heretical doctrine and dogma (just short of the summit) always rolls back down the apostate mountain and into the valley of spiritual confusion and, more often than not, adultery with the world. One might say that Christendom (as with Sisyphus and the boulder) “has lost its grip,” when it comes to pushing its doctrine and dogma.

Christendom is very accustomed to this repetitive, insane and disastrous routine, since this has been its method and mission (fate) for the past seventeen hundred years.

Here is Einstein’s definition for this kind of methodology:

“Insanity: doing the same (exact) thing over and over again and expecting different results.” (emphasis added)

CALVINISM:

John Calvin

John Calvin lived five hundred years ago. And evidently, he couldn’t fathom a “salvation” (spiritual salvation) “apart from works” and by “faith alone”. Calvin also couldn’t fathom the scriptures that speak of God’s sovereignty, unconditional grace and love for every human being and the rest of creation!

Here are three of the basic tenets (5) of Calvanism:

1) Total Depravity

Man is so corrupt he cannot receive the Gospel.

2) Unconditional Election

God is selective and only chooses certain people for salvation.

3) Limited Atonement

Christ only died for those who believe in Him.

First of all, the Apostle Paul affirms that we are justified, in the eyes of God, by faith alone:

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5: 1-2)

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2: 9-10)

Secondly, man, in his fallen state, is “depraved,” but this is the very reason Christ came to sacrifice Himself!

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5: 10)

Thirdly, there is no “limited atonement”! This is a blasphemous claim!

The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1: 29)

For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He (Jesus) did once FOR ALL when He offered up Himself. For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever. (Hebrews 7: 26-28)

To believe Calvin, in his claims of “limited atonement,” is to make a liar out of God and His Christ:

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. (John 3: 14-17)

“Whoever believes in” the Christ “will not perish, but have eternal life.” There is no “limited atonement!” This is nothing more than a lie of Satan, which was transmitted through John Calvin! There are some people (unregenerate) who will refuse this free offer of God’s grace, love and life. God, however, doesn’t desire for any one to be lost!

This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2: 3-4)

The terrible results of this rejection of the Lord are due to unregenerate man’s free choice and ungodly desire for what Satan and his worldly system offers.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. (John 2: 16)

Lastly, the grace we receive, through the shed Blood of Christ, totally covers our sins of the past, present, and future.

Therefore THERE IS now NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE who are IN CHRIST JESUS. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (true believers in Christ). (Romans 8: 1-4)

To change this truth, in any way, is to add to scripture and corrupt the truth of the Gospel:

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)

Have nothing to do with people who continue to teach false doctrine after you have warned them once or twice. (Titus 3: 10)

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)

We (believers) are set free from the bondage that comes from sinning: the guilt of sinning. Therefore, we desire to resist sin, we desire to “walk according to the Spirit” of God! But when we do sin, and we most certainly will, our Lord’s sacrifice, once and for all, and His intercession on our behalf, covers our sins. If we had the power, in ourselves, to stop sinning, then there would have been no reason for the Lord to come and die for us!

For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6: 14)

GRACE: unmerited favor

Mr. Calvin, in his lacking in discernment, or willful ignorance, of these scriptures, sought to reinstate the old law, which put the onus, once again, on corrupt and fallen man to somehow work his way back to God’s grace and (spiritual) salvation (legalism). This, of course, is to deny the sacrifice of Christ on the cross: no matter how convincing, to the contrary, the theological explanation. The word of God warns us distinctly not to trample on the Christ, His grace and sacrifice for us!

How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10: 29)

No human being (believer or unregenerate), including John Calvin, has ever been made privy to whom God has “foreknown and predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” Even the angels, and the rest of creation, are not privy to this information: only the Lord and Father know!

For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. (Romans 8: 19)

Mr. Calvin evidently had an inflated (prideful) sense of himself and his knowledge of the Lord and scripture. In other words, Calvin was, as with many other “professors of the word,” arrogant and prideful, which, by the way, is one of the worst sins:

“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” (1 Peter 5: 5)

NEW CALVINISM:

So now, evidently, there is a “New-Calvinism” that has reared its ugly head, as the following Pew Forum article shows. These New-Calvinists, who can’t seem to remember the ungodly affects of old Calvinism (history), will evidently be condemned to go through the same (repetitive) spiritual confusion, pain, suffering and failure of their Calvinist predecessors.

June 18, 2009

Even at 500, Calvin isn’t slowing down

by Daniel Burke

Religion News Service

Like most 24-year-old men, Stephen Jones is keenly interested in sin. But while many of his peers enjoy their youthful indiscretions, Jones takes a more, shall we say, Puritanical stand.

Last weekend (June 12-15), Jones and 4,000 other young Christians packed into a convention center in Palm Springs, Calif., to hear preachers tell them that they are totally depraved, incapable of doing the right thing without a mighty hand from God, and — most importantly

– have absolutely no control over their eternal fate.

The mind behind that message is John Calvin, the 16th-century Reformer often better known for condemning sinners and heretics than for igniting evangelical zeal…

“His theology is the hottest, most explosive thing being discussed right now,” said Justin Taylor, 32, a self-described Calvinist, and an editorial director at Crossway, a Christian publisher in the evangelical heartland of Wheaton, Ill. “What he taught is extraordinarily influential right now.”

Young evangelicals are scooping up books by neo-Calvinist authors, packing churches and conventions led by Calvinist preachers and studying at staunchly Calvinist seminaries. They’re blogging their way through Calvin’s behemoth “Institutes of the Christian Religion,” setting up Facebook fan clubs and opening Twitter feeds. (emphasis added)

Evidently, these “young evangelicals,” like many of their older counterparts, are ignorant to the very text they claim to live by: the word of God. They’re so wrapped up in this latest theological craze (“His theology is the hottest, most explosive thing being discussed right now…”) that they’re blind to the truth of God. These New Calvinists, like so many other religious fanatics, over the centuries, continue to push Christendom’s (legalistic) doctrinal and dogmatic boulder up that apostate mountain.

This man (Calvin), who lived five hundred years ago, and his damnable doctrine, are just another symptom of a larger disease called Christendom: the system of this world’s (Christian) religious structure (born of unregenerate man and Satan), which is totally contrary to the church (Body of Christ) seen in the first three chapters of Acts.

When will believers seek the Lord, His word and the leading and discernment of the Holy Spirit, as opposed to listening to and following, in a blind religious stupor, one false prophet or teacher after another: the pope, priests, evangelists, televangelsts and theologians? We are warned in the word of God, over and over again, to beware of false prophets and teachers, and test the spirits to see if they are of God:

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)

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

Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. (2 Timothy 3: 7)

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. (1 John 4: 1)

Here are the supposed basics of the New Calvinism:

Four Ways ‘New Calvinism’ is So Powerful

1. Old Calvinism was fundamental or liberal and separated from or syncretized with culture. New Calvinism is missional and seeks to create and redeem culture.
2. Old Calvinism fled from the cities. New Calvinism is flooding into cities.
3. Old Calvinism was cessationistic and fearful of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. New Calvinism is continuationist and joyful in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
4. Old Calvinism was fearful and suspicious of other Christians and burned bridges. New Calvinism loves all Christians and builds bridges between them. (emphasis added)

If this is true, then New Calvinism should be called No Calvinism. But my guess is that the heretical and ungodly tenets of John Calvin are still very much alive and well in this more “seeker sensitive” and “politically correct” version!

The following quote is the result of Christendom’s religious indoctrination:

“New Calvinism is missional and seeks to create and redeem culture.”

The true church, or Body of Christ, did have a “missional” and “redemptive” purpose. But that mission and redeeming power was lost when the Body, the Bride of Christ, acted the harlot and wed herself to Satan’s system of the world: the Emperor Constantine and his state run “church,” which became known as Catholicism.

In other words, redemption will never come through the apostate denominations (factions) of Christendom! Redemption will only come when Christ appears in the sky and begins His reign on earth. Along with the Christ will be those (“revealed sons of God”) who, as the Apostle Paul, have “finished the course,” “fought the good fight” and “kept the faith:” the “revealed sons of God” who gave up their earthly lives (while living) to have the abundance of life that Christ came to give them!

“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. “For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 10: 32-39)

Why would any believer, who is truly seeking the Lord, want to stay in Christendom’s spiritual immaturity, confusion and deadness, when they could simply “come out” and seek God, and others like them, on their own?

The entire article can be found here:

via Religion News: Even at 500, Calvin isn’t slowing down.

"A Place of Business?" (Part I)

This entire scripture reads:

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house A PLACE OF BUSINESS.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.” The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. (John 2: 13-22)

Pharisees and Scribes

If Jesus was this “zealous” then, I wonder what His response would be to the televangelists, “prosperity ministers” and politically-active evangelists (modern day pharisees and scribes) of today’s Christendom? If the Lord was this vehement with those selling sacrificial animals and exchanging money in the temple, then how much more would He be incensed with the apostate religious charlatans of today? The same apostate religious charlatans who have set out to exploit, in a capitalistic/commercial way, the Lord’s sacrifice and have subsequently made a mockery (“a stumbling block”) of His “way, truth and life” among the unsaved.

Beyond His zealousness for His Father’s house, what is the Lord truly revealing to us in this scripture? I believe He’s revealing His disdain for hypocritical and idolatrous man-driven religiosity!

First of all, I’m not a theologian. Nor do I subscribe to the notion that a college degree is required to discern and/or share the word of God with others. Scripture states that it is the spirit of God, through the word and personal revelation, Who will “lead us into all truth:”

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.“ (John 16: 13)

I’m writing here to share what I sense my spirit showing me through scripture and personal experience. I am not an authority in any way, and neither is your minister, evangelist, preacher, priest, bishop or pope: only the Lord is our authority! With this in mind then, I see no need, scripturally, for the man-made version of the Body of Christ, or Christendom: theological seminaries, bible colleges (which have given rise to secular/atheistic endeavors: “religious studies”), clergy/laity, the Vatican, church boards, religious/political activism (Sharpton, Parsley, Hagee and Jackson etc) and extravagant temples (church buildings), as well as all else involved in this ritualistic and idolatrous fraud (“A Place of Business”).

So, if Christendom isn’t the true Body of Christ (church), then what is? If we look at the Apostle Paul’s letters to Timothy, then we do see a form of organization in the Body of Christ. But this “organization” comes about by the spirit of God’s leading, as opposed to the thoughts, needs, whims and/or desires of religious man.

Christendom’s Clergy/Laity:

In the early and true form of the church, “elders” and “deacons,” as described by Paul, were made known by the Lord (through the spirit) to those in the community of believers (ecclesia). An elder or deacon was known, by the whole community of believers, to be a man of God. There wasn’t a religious hierarchy (Vatican, church board etc) that made unilateral decisions for the Body of Christ: the Body of Christ, through the spirit’s leading, and according to the “inspired” (“God Breathed”) criteria established through Paul, made these decisions. What was the criteria for being an elder or deacon:

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer (elder), 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, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 3: 1-13)

"Do not call anyone on earth your father..."

First, notice Paul’s requirement for an elder (overseer), or deacon, to be married to one woman and have control of his children and household. It seems to me that this criterion alone would disqualify every “ordained” priest, that has ever lived, from consideration? The Apostle Peter, whom Catholicism wrongly refers to as the first pope (based on Jesus’ statement to Peter in Matthew 16), was a married man.

As the following scriptures clarify, it was never the intention of our Lord for there to be a clergy/laity system or religious, hierarchical power-structure:

“Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. “They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” (Jeremiah 31: 31-34)

Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them (the disciples), “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10: 42-45)

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 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: 1-12)

Where can we find apostate Christendom in these scriptures?

I’ll continue this in Part II.