HOLY LEAVEN
A VISION OF THE LOST
By Gen. William Booth (Founder of the Salvation Army)
I thought this vision would be an inspiration to those who read it so I have placed it here alongside my writings. - (Placed here 2-29-12)
On one of my recent journeys, as I gazed from the coach window, I was led into a train of thought concerning the condition of the multitudes around me. They were living carelessly in the most open and shameless rebellion against God, without a thought for their eternal welfare. As I looked out of the window, I seemed to see them all... millions of people all around me given up to their drink and their pleasure, their dancing and their music, their business and their anxieties, their politics and their troubles. Ignorant- wilfully ignorant in many cases- and in other instances knowing all about the truth and not caring at all. But all of them, the whole mass of them, sweeping on and up in their blasphemies and devilries to the Throne of God. While my mind was thus engaged, I had a vision.
I saw a dark and stormy ocean. Over it the black clouds hung heavily; through them every now and then vivid lightening flashed and loud thunder rolled, while the winds moaned, and the waves rose and foamed, towered and broke, only to rise and foam, tower and break again.
In that ocean I thought I saw myriads of poor human beings plunging and floating, shouting and shrieking, cursing and struggling and drowning; and as they cursed and screamed they rose and shrieked again, and then some sank to rise no more.
And I saw out of this dark angry ocean, a mighty rock that rose up with its summit towering high above the black clouds that overhung the stormy sea. And all around the base of this great rock I saw a vast platform. Onto this platform, I saw with delight a number of the poor struggling, drowning wretches continually climbing out of the angry ocean. And I saw that a few of those who were already safe on the platform were helping the poor creatures still in the angry waters to reach the place of safety.
On looking more closely I found a number of those who had been rescued, industriously working and scheming by ladders, ropes, boats and other means more effective, to deliver the poor strugglers out of the sea. Here and there were some who actually jumped into the water, regardless of the consequences in their passion to "rescue the perishing." And I hardly know which gladdened me the most- the sight of the poor drowning people climbing onto the rocks reaching a place of safety, or the devotion and self-sacrifice of those whose whole being was wrapped up in the effort for their deliverance.
As I looked on, I saw that the occupants of that platform were quite a mixed company. That is, they were divided into different "sets" or classes, and they occupied themselves with different pleasures and employments. But only a very few of them seemed to make it their business to get the people out of the sea.
But what puzzled me most was the fact that though all of them had been rescued at one time or another from the ocean, nearly everyone seemed to have forgotten all about it. Anyway, it seemed the memory of its darkness and danger no longer troubled them at all. And what seemed equally strange and perplexing to me was that these people did not even seem to have any care- that is any agonising care- about the poor perishing ones who were struggling and drowning right before their very eyes... many of whom were their own husbands and wives, brothers and sisters and even their own children.
Now this astonishing unconcern could not have been the result of ignorance or lack of knowledge, because they lived right there in full sight of it all and even talked about it sometimes. Many even went regularly to hear lectures and sermons in which the awful state of these poor drowning creatures was described.
I have always said that the occupants of this platform were engaged in different pursuits and pastimes. Some of them were absorbed day and night in trading and business in order to make gain, storing up their savings in boxes, safes and the like. Many spent their time in amusing themselves with growing flowers on the side of the rock, others in painting pieces of cloth or in playing music, or in dressing themselves up in different styles and walking about to be admired. Some occupied themselves chiefly in eating and drinking; others were taken up with arguing about the poor drowning creatures that had already been rescued.
But the thing to me that seemed the most amazing was that those on the platform to whom He called, who heard His voice and felt that they ought to obey it- at least they said they did- those who confessed to love Him much were in full sympathy with Him in the task He had undertaken- who worshipped Him or who professed to do so- were so taken up with their trades and professions, their money saving and pleasures, their families and circles, their religions and arguments about it, and their preparation for going to the mainland, that they did not listen to the cry that came to them from this Wonderful Being who had Himself gone down into the sea. Anyway, if they heard it they did not heed it. They did not care. And so the multitude went on right before them struggling and shrieking and drowning in the darkness.
And then I saw something that seemed to me even more strange than anything that had gone on before in this strange vision. I saw that some of these people on the platform whom this Wonderful Being had called to, wanting them to come and help Him in His difficult task of saving these perishing creatures, were always praying and crying out to Him to come to them!
Some wanted Him to come and stay with them, and spend His time and strength in making them happier. Others wanted Him to come and take away various doubts and misgivings they had concerning the truth of some letters He had written them. Some wanted Him to come and make them feel more secure on the rock- so secure that they would be quite sure that they should never slip off again into the ocean. Numbers of others wanted Him to make them feel quite certain that they would really get off the rock and onto the mainland someday: because as a matter of fact, it was well known that some had walked so carelessly as to lose their footing, and had fallen back again into the stormy waters.
So these people used to meet and get up as high on the rock as they could, and looking towards the mainland (where they thought the Great Being was) they would cry out, "Come to us! Come and help us!" And all the while He was down (by His Spirit) among the poor struggling, drowning creatures in the angry deep, with His arms around them trying to drag them out, and looking up- oh! so longingly but all in vain- to those on the rock, crying to them with His voice all hoarse from calling, "Come to Me! Come, and help Me!"
And then I understood it all. It was plain enough. The sea was the ocean of life- the sea of real, actual human existence. That lightning was the gleaming of piercing truth coming from Jehovah's Throne. That thunder was the distant echoing of the wrath of God. Those multitudes of people shrieking, struggling and agonising in the stormy sea, was the thousands and thousands of poor harlots and harlot-makers, of drunkards and drunkard makers, of thieves, liars, blasphemers and ungodly people of every kindred, tongue and nation.
Oh what a black sea it was! And oh, what multitudes of rich and poor, ignorant and educated were there. They were all so unalike in their outward circumstances and conditions, yet all alike in one thing- all sinners before God- all held by, and holding onto, some iniquity, fascinated by some idol, the slaves of some devilish lust, and ruled by the foul fiend from the bottomless pit!
"All alike in one thing?" No, all alike in two things- not only the same in their wickedness but, unless rescued, the same in their sinking, sinking...down, down, down... to the same terrible doom. That great sheltering rock represented Calvary, the place where Jesus had died for them. And the people on it were those who had been rescued. The way they used their energies, gifts and time represented the occupations and amusements of those who professed to be saved from sin and hell- followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. The handful of fierce, determined ones, who were risking their own lives in saving the perishing were true soldiers of the cross of Jesus.
That Mighty Being who was calling to them from the midst of the angry waters was the Son of God, "the same yesterday, today and forever" who is still struggling and interceding to save the dying multitudes about us from this terrible doom of damnation, and whose voice can be heard above the music, machinery, and noise of life, calling on the rescued to come and help Him save the world.
My friends in Christ, you are rescued from the waters, you are on the rock, He is in the dark sea calling on you to come to Him and help Him. Will you go? Look for yourselves. The surging sea of life, crowded with perishing multitudes rolls up to the very spot on which you stand. Leaving the vision, I now come to speak of the fact- a fact that is as real as the Bible, as real as the Christ who hung upon the cross, as real as the judgement day will be, and as real as the heaven and hell that will follow it.
Look! Don't be deceived by appearances- men and things are not what they seem. All who are not on the rock are in the sea! Look at them from the standpoint of the great White Throne, and what a sight you have! Jesus Christ, the Son of God is, through His Spirit, in the midst of this dying multitude, struggling to save them. And He is calling on you to jump into the sea- to go right away to His side and help Him in the holy strife. Will you jump? That is, will you go to His feet and place yourself absolutely at His disposal?
A young Christian once came to me, and told me that for some time she had been giving the Lord her profession and prayers and money, but now she wanted to give Him her life. She wanted to go right into the fight. In other words, she wanted to go to His assistance in the sea. As when a man from the shore, seeing another struggling in the water, takes off those outer garments that would hinder his efforts and leaps to the rescue, so will you who still linger on the bank, thinking and singing and praying about the poor perishing souls, lay aside your shame, your pride, your cares about other people's opinions, your love of ease and all the selfish loves that have kept you back for so long, and rush to the rescue of this multitude of dying men and women.
Does the surging sea look dark and dangerous? Unquestionably it is so. There is no doubt that the leap for you, as for everyone who takes it, means difficulty and scorn and suffering. For you it may mean more than this. It may mean death. He who beckons you from the sea however, knows what it will mean - and knowing, He still calls to you and bids to you to come.
You must do it! You cannot hold back. You have enjoyed yourself in Christianity long enough. You have had pleasant feelings, pleasant songs, pleasant meetings, pleasant prospects. There has been much of human happiness, much clapping of hands and shouting of praises- very much of heaven on earth. Now then, go to God and tell Him you are prepared as much as necessary to turn your back upon it all, and that you are willing to spend the rest of your days struggling in the midst of these perishing multitudes, whatever it may cost you.
You must do it. With the light that is now broken in upon your mind and the call that is now sounding in your ears, and the beckoning hands that are now before your eyes, you have no alternative. To go down among the perishing crowds is your duty. Your happiness from now on will consist in sharing their misery, your ease in sharing their pain, your crown in helping them to bear their cross, and your heaven in going into the very jaws of hell to rescue them.
Now what will you do?
I saw a dark and stormy ocean. Over it the black clouds hung heavily; through them every now and then vivid lightening flashed and loud thunder rolled, while the winds moaned, and the waves rose and foamed, towered and broke, only to rise and foam, tower and break again.
In that ocean I thought I saw myriads of poor human beings plunging and floating, shouting and shrieking, cursing and struggling and drowning; and as they cursed and screamed they rose and shrieked again, and then some sank to rise no more.
And I saw out of this dark angry ocean, a mighty rock that rose up with its summit towering high above the black clouds that overhung the stormy sea. And all around the base of this great rock I saw a vast platform. Onto this platform, I saw with delight a number of the poor struggling, drowning wretches continually climbing out of the angry ocean. And I saw that a few of those who were already safe on the platform were helping the poor creatures still in the angry waters to reach the place of safety.
On looking more closely I found a number of those who had been rescued, industriously working and scheming by ladders, ropes, boats and other means more effective, to deliver the poor strugglers out of the sea. Here and there were some who actually jumped into the water, regardless of the consequences in their passion to "rescue the perishing." And I hardly know which gladdened me the most- the sight of the poor drowning people climbing onto the rocks reaching a place of safety, or the devotion and self-sacrifice of those whose whole being was wrapped up in the effort for their deliverance.
As I looked on, I saw that the occupants of that platform were quite a mixed company. That is, they were divided into different "sets" or classes, and they occupied themselves with different pleasures and employments. But only a very few of them seemed to make it their business to get the people out of the sea.
But what puzzled me most was the fact that though all of them had been rescued at one time or another from the ocean, nearly everyone seemed to have forgotten all about it. Anyway, it seemed the memory of its darkness and danger no longer troubled them at all. And what seemed equally strange and perplexing to me was that these people did not even seem to have any care- that is any agonising care- about the poor perishing ones who were struggling and drowning right before their very eyes... many of whom were their own husbands and wives, brothers and sisters and even their own children.
Now this astonishing unconcern could not have been the result of ignorance or lack of knowledge, because they lived right there in full sight of it all and even talked about it sometimes. Many even went regularly to hear lectures and sermons in which the awful state of these poor drowning creatures was described.
I have always said that the occupants of this platform were engaged in different pursuits and pastimes. Some of them were absorbed day and night in trading and business in order to make gain, storing up their savings in boxes, safes and the like. Many spent their time in amusing themselves with growing flowers on the side of the rock, others in painting pieces of cloth or in playing music, or in dressing themselves up in different styles and walking about to be admired. Some occupied themselves chiefly in eating and drinking; others were taken up with arguing about the poor drowning creatures that had already been rescued.
But the thing to me that seemed the most amazing was that those on the platform to whom He called, who heard His voice and felt that they ought to obey it- at least they said they did- those who confessed to love Him much were in full sympathy with Him in the task He had undertaken- who worshipped Him or who professed to do so- were so taken up with their trades and professions, their money saving and pleasures, their families and circles, their religions and arguments about it, and their preparation for going to the mainland, that they did not listen to the cry that came to them from this Wonderful Being who had Himself gone down into the sea. Anyway, if they heard it they did not heed it. They did not care. And so the multitude went on right before them struggling and shrieking and drowning in the darkness.
And then I saw something that seemed to me even more strange than anything that had gone on before in this strange vision. I saw that some of these people on the platform whom this Wonderful Being had called to, wanting them to come and help Him in His difficult task of saving these perishing creatures, were always praying and crying out to Him to come to them!
Some wanted Him to come and stay with them, and spend His time and strength in making them happier. Others wanted Him to come and take away various doubts and misgivings they had concerning the truth of some letters He had written them. Some wanted Him to come and make them feel more secure on the rock- so secure that they would be quite sure that they should never slip off again into the ocean. Numbers of others wanted Him to make them feel quite certain that they would really get off the rock and onto the mainland someday: because as a matter of fact, it was well known that some had walked so carelessly as to lose their footing, and had fallen back again into the stormy waters.
So these people used to meet and get up as high on the rock as they could, and looking towards the mainland (where they thought the Great Being was) they would cry out, "Come to us! Come and help us!" And all the while He was down (by His Spirit) among the poor struggling, drowning creatures in the angry deep, with His arms around them trying to drag them out, and looking up- oh! so longingly but all in vain- to those on the rock, crying to them with His voice all hoarse from calling, "Come to Me! Come, and help Me!"
And then I understood it all. It was plain enough. The sea was the ocean of life- the sea of real, actual human existence. That lightning was the gleaming of piercing truth coming from Jehovah's Throne. That thunder was the distant echoing of the wrath of God. Those multitudes of people shrieking, struggling and agonising in the stormy sea, was the thousands and thousands of poor harlots and harlot-makers, of drunkards and drunkard makers, of thieves, liars, blasphemers and ungodly people of every kindred, tongue and nation.
Oh what a black sea it was! And oh, what multitudes of rich and poor, ignorant and educated were there. They were all so unalike in their outward circumstances and conditions, yet all alike in one thing- all sinners before God- all held by, and holding onto, some iniquity, fascinated by some idol, the slaves of some devilish lust, and ruled by the foul fiend from the bottomless pit!
"All alike in one thing?" No, all alike in two things- not only the same in their wickedness but, unless rescued, the same in their sinking, sinking...down, down, down... to the same terrible doom. That great sheltering rock represented Calvary, the place where Jesus had died for them. And the people on it were those who had been rescued. The way they used their energies, gifts and time represented the occupations and amusements of those who professed to be saved from sin and hell- followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. The handful of fierce, determined ones, who were risking their own lives in saving the perishing were true soldiers of the cross of Jesus.
That Mighty Being who was calling to them from the midst of the angry waters was the Son of God, "the same yesterday, today and forever" who is still struggling and interceding to save the dying multitudes about us from this terrible doom of damnation, and whose voice can be heard above the music, machinery, and noise of life, calling on the rescued to come and help Him save the world.
My friends in Christ, you are rescued from the waters, you are on the rock, He is in the dark sea calling on you to come to Him and help Him. Will you go? Look for yourselves. The surging sea of life, crowded with perishing multitudes rolls up to the very spot on which you stand. Leaving the vision, I now come to speak of the fact- a fact that is as real as the Bible, as real as the Christ who hung upon the cross, as real as the judgement day will be, and as real as the heaven and hell that will follow it.
Look! Don't be deceived by appearances- men and things are not what they seem. All who are not on the rock are in the sea! Look at them from the standpoint of the great White Throne, and what a sight you have! Jesus Christ, the Son of God is, through His Spirit, in the midst of this dying multitude, struggling to save them. And He is calling on you to jump into the sea- to go right away to His side and help Him in the holy strife. Will you jump? That is, will you go to His feet and place yourself absolutely at His disposal?
A young Christian once came to me, and told me that for some time she had been giving the Lord her profession and prayers and money, but now she wanted to give Him her life. She wanted to go right into the fight. In other words, she wanted to go to His assistance in the sea. As when a man from the shore, seeing another struggling in the water, takes off those outer garments that would hinder his efforts and leaps to the rescue, so will you who still linger on the bank, thinking and singing and praying about the poor perishing souls, lay aside your shame, your pride, your cares about other people's opinions, your love of ease and all the selfish loves that have kept you back for so long, and rush to the rescue of this multitude of dying men and women.
Does the surging sea look dark and dangerous? Unquestionably it is so. There is no doubt that the leap for you, as for everyone who takes it, means difficulty and scorn and suffering. For you it may mean more than this. It may mean death. He who beckons you from the sea however, knows what it will mean - and knowing, He still calls to you and bids to you to come.
You must do it! You cannot hold back. You have enjoyed yourself in Christianity long enough. You have had pleasant feelings, pleasant songs, pleasant meetings, pleasant prospects. There has been much of human happiness, much clapping of hands and shouting of praises- very much of heaven on earth. Now then, go to God and tell Him you are prepared as much as necessary to turn your back upon it all, and that you are willing to spend the rest of your days struggling in the midst of these perishing multitudes, whatever it may cost you.
You must do it. With the light that is now broken in upon your mind and the call that is now sounding in your ears, and the beckoning hands that are now before your eyes, you have no alternative. To go down among the perishing crowds is your duty. Your happiness from now on will consist in sharing their misery, your ease in sharing their pain, your crown in helping them to bear their cross, and your heaven in going into the very jaws of hell to rescue them.
Now what will you do?
TRULY WORSHIP OR HAVE A BARBECUE
Things sure have changed since I was a child. The church service is just one example. Many of you can well remember as I do how we did things. We used to sing from hymnals and every pew had at least one. There was the standard blue book which consisted mostly of hymns in the southern gospel tradition while some churches had the Brown Book which consisted mostly of the more traditional hymns by Charles Wesley and the songwriters of the 1700’s. During song service everyone stood and turned to a certain page and song service was led by one person who stood behind the pulpit. We had very few choruses and there was little talk of praise and its importance.
Somewhere around 1980 things began to change. A single song leader was replaced by a “Praise Team.” The hymnal was replaced by overhead projectors and eventually by computers and video projectors. The songs changed both in content and style. Seminars were held which encouraged us to sing songs directly to God speaking of His glory and majesty. Praise became synonymous with worship. You weren’t worshipping unless you were praising and praise was advanced as the true and principle means of worship.
Today, many if not most churches follow this format. Praise teams lead worship songs while in some churches dance teams worship God with choreographed movements practiced for hours. In other churches young people enthusiastically jump while others freestyle dance with frenzied excitement as a way to express their joy in the Lord. Every song must speak of God’s majesty accompanied by large bands filled with musicians playing enthusiastically. Old hymns (whether traditional or southern gospel) and songs of evangelism (Come Unto Jesus, Now is the Time, Reach Out and Touch the Lord, the Lighthouse, etc) have faded away in place of songs of praise.
Many wars have been fought, mainly between the young and the old, over which style of songs were going to be sung in the church services. Everyone seems to have their preferences. My kids think I’m crazy because I like the old Gaither style of music but I also love “Shout to the Lord, Amazing Love, Blessed Be the Name of the Lord, and just about anything by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.”
Some of you may have assumed by what I have written so far that I am against, praise teams, or contemporary songs. None of that is true.
I do believe everything that is done in church ought to be done decently and in order. I do believe some of the “dancing” done in churches is irreverent and more concerned with having fun than glorifying God. However, I have seen some new and beautiful expressions of praise which enhance the church service.
My concern is not with styles or hymns versus choruses but with the shift in what constitutes worship.
Praise is wonderful and Biblical. The largest book in the Bible is a book of praise. Praise and thanksgiving are legitimate ways of expressing love toward God. They are offerings which can be acceptable and well pleasing to God. However, praise at its very best, is not the principle means of worship. Worship is best expressed by a life of purity and consecration to God. The Psalmist said it best when he encouraged us to “Worship the Lord IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS.” (Ps. 29:2)
It seems strange to me that today’s “Christianity” does more talking about worship than ever before while at the same time living as unholy as anytime in Christian history.
I find it amazing and alarming that people will go to church and sing all kinds of praise songs, kick off their shoes and dance all over the building then leave service and have sex with their boyfriend or girlfriend, cuss like a sailor, get drunk with their buddies, talk bad about their fellowman, commit adultery with someone else’s spouse and violate God’s commandments in a variety of ways. Brethren, these things ought not so to be.
“Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” I believe the Psalmist was inspired to encourage worship of God by purity and the consecration of our lives. In fact, I don’t think God is impressed or blessed by praise which is offered by people who willingly ignore His commandments. People sing “He is Lord” and think God is moved but Jesus said, “Why call ye Me Lord, Lord and do not the things that I say?” (Luke 6:46)
One of the great scriptures used to support the “Praise & Worship Movement” is “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” (Heb 13:15 KJV) This is indeed a wonderful scriptural admonition to be obeyed, however we must be careful to offer this sacrifice in the manner God has designed for all sacrifices.
In 1 Samuel 15 Saul was sent to destroy the Amorites who had oppressed and murdered their Jewish ancestors as they passed by them on their wilderness journey to the promised land. Saul was told to totally destroy them and their livestock as a judgment from God. You know the story how Saul was rejected by God from being king because Saul disobeyed and returned with the Amorites’ flocks, herds, and their king in tow. The prophet Samuel confronted him upon his return and asked why he had not obeyed God and destroyed the livestock. Saul’s response was that he had brought the animals back to offer as a sacrifice to God. Surely Samuel would see the goodness of his deed. Samuel’s response was very different than Saul had expected and is very telling about how God views sacrifices. “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” (1 Sam 15:22 KJV)
Today people bring God the sacrifice of praise. They dance, play, sing, shout and more but they don’t live in obedience to God’s commandments. People need to understand “God would have obedience not sacrifice.” If you’re not going to obey God then don’t think your offerings and sacrifices of praise are any more acceptable to God than Saul’s nor do they impress God.
Jeremiah the prophet lived at a time when his nation was backslid. They were serving various idols, living lascivious lives, and yet they still visited the House of God to bring an occasional offering. Finally God told Jeremiah to go stand at the door of the Temple and wait for the people to bring their offerings. When they arrived Jeremiah told them, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:
But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.” (Jer 7:21-23 KJV).
In other words, God told them, “Go home and have a barbecue. Eat your offerings and sacrifices yourselves. I don’t want your sacrifices. When I spoke to your forefathers, the essence of My conversation was not about what offerings to bring. I told them to OBEY MY VOICE and then they would be my people.” If the people of Israel were not going to obey God’s commandments then God didn’t want them to bother bringing sacrifices.
I have little doubt God sees it the same way today. If people aren’t going to obey the commandments of God then their sacrifices of dancing, shouting, songs of love and adoration mean nothing to God! Jesus said, “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Matt 15:7-8 KJV)
How many people gather in churches every Sunday and honor God with their lips while living a life of sin which issues from a heart far from God?
Isaiah had a similar response to Jeremiah’s about service offered without holiness. The people of Israel were suffering for their rebellion. Their country was desolate. Their harvests were small. Their enemies threatened them on every side. In response they set themselves to pray and fast and yet there was still no relief from God. How could God not respond? Didn’t God see them praying and fasting? Surely God would be impressed by their 24 hour prayer chains and 30 day corporate fasts. These are noble practices indeed. Yet God didn’t respond. God didn’t send relief. Isaiah explained why in Isa 58:5-7. “Is it such a fast that I have chosen ? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I have chosen ? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?”
In other words, “If you really want Me to hear you then DO RIGHT, TREAT YOUR BROTHER RIGHT, OBEY MY COMMANDMENTS. If you are not going to do right, then don’t even bother praying and fasting.” Even prayer and fasting are unacceptable if a person does not choose to repent and live right!
Jesus clearly taught this principle in Matthew 23 when He condemned the Pharisees for their long prayers which were offered at the same time they were oppressing widows. Don’t you see the heart and priorities of God. GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED BY WORDS IF OUR LIVES REFLECT REBELLION.
Several years ago, there was a famous television show called “Leave It To Beaver.” One of the characters was a teenage boy named “Eddie Haskel.” Eddie was an expert at flattery. He would do all kinds of bad things and instigate his friends to do the same. Yet, when Mrs. Cleaver came around, he would change his attitude. “You sure do look lovely today Mrs. Cleaver.” His statements were filled with flattery which masked his true intentions and his true behavior. Flattery is insincere and it is used to deceive the recipient. You flatter someone to get what you want. The words don’t come close to conveying your true feelings. Flattery only conveys what you think the person you are speaking to wants to hear. It’s like the husband who wants to go golfing but he is afraid his wife might not approve. He starts out his conversation by saying, “You sure are a good wife.” Any statement like that is usually a signal to the wife that her husband wants something. “What are you after” or “What have you done this time?” Everyone likes to receive praise but flattery can be insulting. It’s almost as though you are questioning my intelligence. “Do you really think I don’t know what you’re really after or what your true intentions are?” I’m afraid praise is nothing more than flattery if it isn’t accompanied by a sincere heart evidenced by pure actions. Do you really think God can’t see through your words of “Praise?” Do you really think He’ll change His mind about sin if you flatter Him enough?
I am tired (and many others with me) of a Christianity which confuses the unbeliever. I’m tired of fraudulent “Christians” who shout their shoes off on Sunday and then live like the devil the rest of the week. They confuse the potential believer and drive them away from God and their lifestyles, done in His name are insulting to God. I am tired of lying, cheating, fornicating, adulterous, immoral, people who attend church and shout their shoes off with no intention of living and walking like Christ. I believe people want to see the real thing!
Why is that people want to give God everything but what He wants? We have lost the principle of worship. He is “worth” more than a few words which are shown to be insincere by the conduct of the one which is speaking them.
It’s easy to praise but worship demands sacrifice. Someone has said, “Talk is cheap.” Another person has said, “Actions speak louder than words.” If you’re sincere about worshipping God do it by offering your life. Live praise and worship. Live in such a way that your words have clout.
Let’s praise Him with music and songs. Let’s praise Him enthusiastically with all our might but let’s praise Him in the beauty of holiness.
Somewhere around 1980 things began to change. A single song leader was replaced by a “Praise Team.” The hymnal was replaced by overhead projectors and eventually by computers and video projectors. The songs changed both in content and style. Seminars were held which encouraged us to sing songs directly to God speaking of His glory and majesty. Praise became synonymous with worship. You weren’t worshipping unless you were praising and praise was advanced as the true and principle means of worship.
Today, many if not most churches follow this format. Praise teams lead worship songs while in some churches dance teams worship God with choreographed movements practiced for hours. In other churches young people enthusiastically jump while others freestyle dance with frenzied excitement as a way to express their joy in the Lord. Every song must speak of God’s majesty accompanied by large bands filled with musicians playing enthusiastically. Old hymns (whether traditional or southern gospel) and songs of evangelism (Come Unto Jesus, Now is the Time, Reach Out and Touch the Lord, the Lighthouse, etc) have faded away in place of songs of praise.
Many wars have been fought, mainly between the young and the old, over which style of songs were going to be sung in the church services. Everyone seems to have their preferences. My kids think I’m crazy because I like the old Gaither style of music but I also love “Shout to the Lord, Amazing Love, Blessed Be the Name of the Lord, and just about anything by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.”
Some of you may have assumed by what I have written so far that I am against, praise teams, or contemporary songs. None of that is true.
I do believe everything that is done in church ought to be done decently and in order. I do believe some of the “dancing” done in churches is irreverent and more concerned with having fun than glorifying God. However, I have seen some new and beautiful expressions of praise which enhance the church service.
My concern is not with styles or hymns versus choruses but with the shift in what constitutes worship.
Praise is wonderful and Biblical. The largest book in the Bible is a book of praise. Praise and thanksgiving are legitimate ways of expressing love toward God. They are offerings which can be acceptable and well pleasing to God. However, praise at its very best, is not the principle means of worship. Worship is best expressed by a life of purity and consecration to God. The Psalmist said it best when he encouraged us to “Worship the Lord IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS.” (Ps. 29:2)
It seems strange to me that today’s “Christianity” does more talking about worship than ever before while at the same time living as unholy as anytime in Christian history.
I find it amazing and alarming that people will go to church and sing all kinds of praise songs, kick off their shoes and dance all over the building then leave service and have sex with their boyfriend or girlfriend, cuss like a sailor, get drunk with their buddies, talk bad about their fellowman, commit adultery with someone else’s spouse and violate God’s commandments in a variety of ways. Brethren, these things ought not so to be.
“Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” I believe the Psalmist was inspired to encourage worship of God by purity and the consecration of our lives. In fact, I don’t think God is impressed or blessed by praise which is offered by people who willingly ignore His commandments. People sing “He is Lord” and think God is moved but Jesus said, “Why call ye Me Lord, Lord and do not the things that I say?” (Luke 6:46)
One of the great scriptures used to support the “Praise & Worship Movement” is “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” (Heb 13:15 KJV) This is indeed a wonderful scriptural admonition to be obeyed, however we must be careful to offer this sacrifice in the manner God has designed for all sacrifices.
In 1 Samuel 15 Saul was sent to destroy the Amorites who had oppressed and murdered their Jewish ancestors as they passed by them on their wilderness journey to the promised land. Saul was told to totally destroy them and their livestock as a judgment from God. You know the story how Saul was rejected by God from being king because Saul disobeyed and returned with the Amorites’ flocks, herds, and their king in tow. The prophet Samuel confronted him upon his return and asked why he had not obeyed God and destroyed the livestock. Saul’s response was that he had brought the animals back to offer as a sacrifice to God. Surely Samuel would see the goodness of his deed. Samuel’s response was very different than Saul had expected and is very telling about how God views sacrifices. “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” (1 Sam 15:22 KJV)
Today people bring God the sacrifice of praise. They dance, play, sing, shout and more but they don’t live in obedience to God’s commandments. People need to understand “God would have obedience not sacrifice.” If you’re not going to obey God then don’t think your offerings and sacrifices of praise are any more acceptable to God than Saul’s nor do they impress God.
Jeremiah the prophet lived at a time when his nation was backslid. They were serving various idols, living lascivious lives, and yet they still visited the House of God to bring an occasional offering. Finally God told Jeremiah to go stand at the door of the Temple and wait for the people to bring their offerings. When they arrived Jeremiah told them, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:
But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.” (Jer 7:21-23 KJV).
In other words, God told them, “Go home and have a barbecue. Eat your offerings and sacrifices yourselves. I don’t want your sacrifices. When I spoke to your forefathers, the essence of My conversation was not about what offerings to bring. I told them to OBEY MY VOICE and then they would be my people.” If the people of Israel were not going to obey God’s commandments then God didn’t want them to bother bringing sacrifices.
I have little doubt God sees it the same way today. If people aren’t going to obey the commandments of God then their sacrifices of dancing, shouting, songs of love and adoration mean nothing to God! Jesus said, “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Matt 15:7-8 KJV)
How many people gather in churches every Sunday and honor God with their lips while living a life of sin which issues from a heart far from God?
Isaiah had a similar response to Jeremiah’s about service offered without holiness. The people of Israel were suffering for their rebellion. Their country was desolate. Their harvests were small. Their enemies threatened them on every side. In response they set themselves to pray and fast and yet there was still no relief from God. How could God not respond? Didn’t God see them praying and fasting? Surely God would be impressed by their 24 hour prayer chains and 30 day corporate fasts. These are noble practices indeed. Yet God didn’t respond. God didn’t send relief. Isaiah explained why in Isa 58:5-7. “Is it such a fast that I have chosen ? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I have chosen ? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?”
In other words, “If you really want Me to hear you then DO RIGHT, TREAT YOUR BROTHER RIGHT, OBEY MY COMMANDMENTS. If you are not going to do right, then don’t even bother praying and fasting.” Even prayer and fasting are unacceptable if a person does not choose to repent and live right!
Jesus clearly taught this principle in Matthew 23 when He condemned the Pharisees for their long prayers which were offered at the same time they were oppressing widows. Don’t you see the heart and priorities of God. GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED BY WORDS IF OUR LIVES REFLECT REBELLION.
Several years ago, there was a famous television show called “Leave It To Beaver.” One of the characters was a teenage boy named “Eddie Haskel.” Eddie was an expert at flattery. He would do all kinds of bad things and instigate his friends to do the same. Yet, when Mrs. Cleaver came around, he would change his attitude. “You sure do look lovely today Mrs. Cleaver.” His statements were filled with flattery which masked his true intentions and his true behavior. Flattery is insincere and it is used to deceive the recipient. You flatter someone to get what you want. The words don’t come close to conveying your true feelings. Flattery only conveys what you think the person you are speaking to wants to hear. It’s like the husband who wants to go golfing but he is afraid his wife might not approve. He starts out his conversation by saying, “You sure are a good wife.” Any statement like that is usually a signal to the wife that her husband wants something. “What are you after” or “What have you done this time?” Everyone likes to receive praise but flattery can be insulting. It’s almost as though you are questioning my intelligence. “Do you really think I don’t know what you’re really after or what your true intentions are?” I’m afraid praise is nothing more than flattery if it isn’t accompanied by a sincere heart evidenced by pure actions. Do you really think God can’t see through your words of “Praise?” Do you really think He’ll change His mind about sin if you flatter Him enough?
I am tired (and many others with me) of a Christianity which confuses the unbeliever. I’m tired of fraudulent “Christians” who shout their shoes off on Sunday and then live like the devil the rest of the week. They confuse the potential believer and drive them away from God and their lifestyles, done in His name are insulting to God. I am tired of lying, cheating, fornicating, adulterous, immoral, people who attend church and shout their shoes off with no intention of living and walking like Christ. I believe people want to see the real thing!
Why is that people want to give God everything but what He wants? We have lost the principle of worship. He is “worth” more than a few words which are shown to be insincere by the conduct of the one which is speaking them.
It’s easy to praise but worship demands sacrifice. Someone has said, “Talk is cheap.” Another person has said, “Actions speak louder than words.” If you’re sincere about worshipping God do it by offering your life. Live praise and worship. Live in such a way that your words have clout.
Let’s praise Him with music and songs. Let’s praise Him enthusiastically with all our might but let’s praise Him in the beauty of holiness.
THE NEW NORMAL
Recently I overheard two women having a conversation in which one woman told the other, “You know, she’s the only normal person in that family.” (I was hoping she wasn’t talking about my wife or daughter or mother). It caught my attention because I had been thinking lately about what constituted “normal” human behavior and who decides what normal is? We know there are certain physical traits which constitute “normal.” If you go to the doctor, he will determine whether you are sick based on whether you meet certain standards of normalcy. For instance, a temperature of 98.6 is normal and if your temperature varies from that number then you are sick.
In today’s world of relativity it’s a wonder people haven’t objected and stated, “Don’t tell me I’m sick. What is normal for you may not be normal for me.” When it comes to behavior it definitely happens that way. What is normal for you may not be considered normal by someone else. The question is who defines what constitutes normal human behavior?
When you think about it, Christians should have a ready answer to that question. To Christians the Creator, the manufacturer of human beings, is the one best suited to tell man His intention for His creation and God did just that. He wrote a book dictating it to men by moving on them to record His instructions. He then supernaturally preserved those instructions through the centuries until we have them available to us in the 21st century. We call that book the Bible and it is the “Owner’s manual” or “Instruction Manual” for the humans God created.
In it He describes how man was created, His purpose for creating man, and the history of His dealings with man. He even describes how human history will end and His final plans for mankind. Also contained in its pages is God’s description of His design for how man should conduct himself both as an individual and as part of society. God tells us what is normal and He has established what is harmful and what is healthy. Just as any manufacturer, He puts the following disclaimer – “Any use of this product (human) in a way not intended by the manufacturer will cause serious damage, bodily injury, or death and will result in a voiding of the eternal life warranty.” I’m paraphrasing of course. He said it like this:
“For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom 6:23a ), “…be sure your sin will find you out.” (Num 32:23b), “The soul that sinneth , it shall die.” (Ezek 18:20b) and “You reap what you sow.” (Gal. 6:7). God knows what is best for man and therefore He has set guidelines for man’s behavior. He placed these guidelines in the Bible and established them as the standard of truth, of right and wrong, of normal and abnormal.
You have probably seen one of those old westerns where an old prospector brings in a bag of gold he has panned on his claim. When he takes it into the surveyor’s office, he dumps his bag in one side of a balance. The surveyor then places a weight on the other side of the scale. He may not know what the gold weighs but he knows what the “weight” weighs because it is his standard and when the gold becomes balanced with his weight, he then knows what the gold weighs. He knows this because he has measured it up against his “standard weight.” The Bible is our standard of truth. It is the device Christians use to determine whether something is right or wrong, moral or immoral, normal or abnormal. It is not man’s job to scrutinize the Bible. It is the Bible’s job to scrutinize man. The Bible isn’t right or wrong because man says so. Man is right or wrong because the Bible says so. It is THE truth.
We are a country which was founded on a common understanding of right and wrong based on this “Bible Standard.” It is still commonly referred to as the “Judeo/Christian Ethic.” We were founded with the Bible as our standard of morality and right and wrong but recently we have seen a shift in our country. The Bible is being rejected and replaced as the standard of morality and normalcy. The evidence is all around us.
A few years ago there was a court case which gained national attention because a group successfully sued to have the “Ten Commandments,” which were written on the wall of the local courthouse, taken down. The group alleged that it violated the U.S. Constitution which demanded the “separation of church and state.” However, many recognized the true reason why the 10 Commandments were placed in the courthouse. They were placed there as a reminder of the basis for our moral code of conduct. This explains why many Christians became deeply concerned by their removal. It was seen as a sign of the country’s rejection of God, a rejection of the Bible as our standard of truth, and a change in our standard of ethics. It seems the powers that be have decided to reject the Bible and redefine right and wrong, morality, and normalcy. They have decided to establish a new standard of truth.
What is normal? What is moral? What is right and wrong? Where do we find the answer to that if one doesn’t accept the Bible as the Creator’s Word and instructions? Who’s to say what normal is? For example, I believe atheists have a form of morality and, in fact, they vehemently argue that point. However if they don’t use the Bible as their standard of morality, where do they get their standard of morality? In reality, it springs from their imaginations. They imagine what they feel or think is normal and moral.
I believe a fair portrayal of the world’s new standard of morality can be stated this way: “Every man may do that which is right in his own eyes as long as it is consensual and it doesn’t cause harm to oneself or to others.” There are some “holdover laws or morals” from the old way (the Bible way) of looking at morality but they are gradually being phased out because they don’t fit this new standard.
When Christians object to these changes society simply says, “Don’t try to hold us to YOUR sense of morality” or “Don’t judge me!” If we say, “That’s wrong” they simply reply, “Who says?” By the standard of the Bible they are wrong, immoral, and abnormal but by the world’s new standard they are right, moral, and normal.
The church must be prepared and prepare its children to deal with this changing environment and changing standard. Our children and grandchildren are becoming so indoctrinated and accustomed to this new normalcy they can’t understand why mom and dad or the church would think it wasn’t right.
They don’t understand that what seems normal today would have been vulgar to past generations. Behavior which used to be universally condemned is now accepted. Has truth and morality changed? Were past generations wrong for believing these things were immoral and abnormal or were they right and our present society wrong?
In Bible times it was unthinkable to be sexually active before marriage and it was just a few decades ago that sex before marriage was strongly condemned by American society. To become pregnant before marriage was seen as shameful. Times have changed. I recently read statistics which said children born to single mothers has increased 700% in the last 45 years. Nearly 40% of all children born in the U.S. today are born to a single mother. These numbers are even more astounding when you consider how many babies of single mothers were aborted during that time period. It is common to have children without being married today but is it normal? I mentioned single parenting but that isn’t the sin. It isn’t a sin to be a single parent but it is a sin to have sex prior to marriage (Fornication). It doesn’t matter whether the woman becomes pregnant or not.
Our children are becoming confused by government sponsored organizations handing out condoms in schools and by Hollywood productions which tell them abstinence is unrealistic. “Pre-marital sex is normal behavior,” they say. Our young people don’t realize American society has never viewed things as people today view them. They don’t realize 95% of their grandparents never had sex before marriage. Which is normal behavior - what we do today or what our grandparents did during their lifetime?
Here’s another one. Divorce and remarriage is common today. People don’t realize Divorce rates were below 5% during the 1800’s. That means divorce rates have risen 500% in the last 100 years. Divorce and remarriage is common today and children struggle to adjust to blended families and single parent homes. Divorce and the subsequent remarriage is common but is it normal? They ignore the fact the Bible sets a standard that “…What God hath joined together let not man put asunder.” (Matt. 19:6b)
Today, homosexuality is promoted as an alternate lifestyle but it hasn’t been viewed that way in western culture in all the centuries since the introduction of Christianity. Can you imagine the reaction of U.S. society 100 years ago if you would have told them homosexuals in the 2000’s would now be getting legally married, adopting children, joining churches and filling pulpits? They would have thought you had lost your mind or they would have said, “The end of the world is come.” It was uncommon then but it is common today. The real question is, “Is it normal?”
Our children, our churches, our families and our friends must all come to understand, “BECAUSE SOMETHING IS COMMON DOESN’T MEAN IT IS NORMAL.” Society is convincing the next generation that if it is commonly accepted and practiced then it must be right. However, God has never run His Kingdom as a democracy. He doesn’t take votes and then change His laws to fit the majority. There can be no bill introduced, petition circulated, or amendment made to His constitution (Word). His is a MONARCHY and what the King decrees is the law we must all live by it. If you don’t want to be a part of His kingdom, then live as you please but don’t claim to be a part of His kingdom while refusing to embrace His laws and, by all means, don’t put words in God’s mouth.
It is even more confusing because many churches refuse to stand up for the right. They simply bend with society and change to meet “today’s world.” False churches and false ministers have adopted the world’s standard as the Bible of their new Christianity. They redefine the teachings of Christ to fit this standard. Out of their evil imaginations they have constructed a new Jesus for their idolatrous Christianity.
I said earlier that the world’s standard for morality can best be described this way: “Every man may do that which is right in his own eyes as long as it is consensual and it doesn’t cause harm to oneself or others.”
They say this but “harm” is hard to define since the damage may be mental and emotional or it may not manifest itself for many years. God didn’t make up His laws to restrict the good times of man but because He knew what damage these behaviors could have on the man He had created. Man can only see the present, they can only see the physical but God can see the future and God can see the soul. Some behavior may not have physical consequences but they can damage the emotions, the soul, and the spirit of the man. Who can see the scars of the abandoned wife, husband, or child? Who can see the scars of the sexually promiscuous? The damage is there and we see people victimized all the time. God saw these consequences and condemned the actions that caused such heartache as sinful or illegal.
God set a standard for behavior and you can’t take away one without it damaging the whole. God set a standard for family and sexuality and when these standards are ignored it does temporal and eternal damage to those involved. For example - God designed marriage to be between 1 man and 1 woman for life. The world has tried to tamper with God’s design and the results continue to be devastating. They started out by ignoring the fact marriage is for life and divorce has scarred the lives of many. Couples go into marriage thinking it is a trial period. “If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just get rid of this one and get me another.” Divorce and remarriage is now the new normal. They don’t consider the consequences to them, their children, or generations to come. There is no commitment, no submission to each other, and no communicating to work things out. There is a loss of the trust and security designed for marriage. There is the loss of security and parental nurturing for the children. In the end it passes a pattern on to future generations to view marriage as temporary and so it becomes self-perpetuating.
Having established this change, someone else came along and decided, “Well if it isn’t 1 man and 1 woman FOR LIFE, then maybe it doesn’t have to be a MAN and a WOMAN. Maybe it can be a MAN and a MAN or a WOMAN and a WOMAN.” With that in mind the new normal became homosexuality. “It isn’t wrong, it is an alternate lifestyle. It isn’t abnormal. It is simply another form of normal.” Now some states have decided it is illegal to prevent homosexuals from marrying. Others propose making it a hate crime to call it abnormal or sinful. Has normal changed? Why did the generations of the last several centuries condemn such lifestyles as immoral but today’s society calls it normal? Are we smarter and wiser or have we become an immoral society?
I was both amused and saddened by the events which took place in Texas a few years ago with the Polygamist sect. I was saddened by the evidence it gives to the dire straits our society is in and yet I have been somewhat amused as I watched the promoters of the “New Normal” try to deal with polygamy. You can tell they wanted to say, “Those people are wrong and they need to be stopped” but they also saw how they had boxed themselves in with their doctrine of the “New Normal.” How could they say those people were wrong? If the women consented to being one of many wives, then how could they tell them it was wrong based on their STANDARD OF THE NEW NORMAL? Remember the standard is “Every man may do that which is right in his own eyes as long as it is consensual and it doesn’t cause harm to oneself or others.”
If they were to tell them they were wrong, what standard could they base their condemnation on? How can you say they are immoral but say gay marriage is moral? If they condemned polygamy as emotionally harmful to the participants or their children then those who hold to the old standard of truth (the Bible) could say homosexual unions cause emotional harm to its participants and their children. Thus, they had to be silent.
The “New Normal” crowd has even tried to say these polygamists have broken the U.S. law forbidding polygamy (They conveniently want to use a holdover law from the days when the Bible was the standard of right and wrong). However, the Texans have an answer to that law which shows the depths of our moral breakdown. They simply have replied, “We’re not married according to the law and we know it. According to the laws of the United States we are simply living together and there is no law against living together.” Think about it. If a man convinced 10 women to cohabitate with him, there is no law against that. There is only a law against him being married to more than one woman at a time. Now what do you tell them? If a man wants to live with 5 women, if he wants to have children with them, etc then he can do that as long as he doesn’t legally marry more than one of them. The lax view of pre-marital sex makes it inevitable that the laws against polygamy will come tumbling down. They will have to change the law on polygamy in order to be faithful to their new standard of truth and to defend the “New Normal.” Mark my word it will not be long before polygamy is legalized.
Recently, I thought I had come up with a full proof way of confronting the “New Normal” crowd. I recently told a minister friend I was going to ask those who hold this new standard of morality why incest is against the law. Let’s say it is consensual, they’re of age. Why is it illegal? Surely they would see the error of their ways when confronted with such an unnatural possibility. However, my friend shocked me when he responded, “You’re wrong. You think pointing out that inconsistency will cause them to change? They won’t change. They will simply legalize incest.” Brothers and sisters will marry. Fathers and daughters, mothers and sons will be free to marry. You say, “Now you’re being ridiculous!” Am I? I understand incest has already been legalized in Argentina, Brazil, France, Japan, and other countries. Consider also this petition now circulating in the USA:
We, the undersigned, call on the USA to remove the umbrella law forbidding interfamily unions
The Law should be changed regarding the “consensual” relations of related persons. Any person 18 or older should be able to choose whom they want a relationship with, without fear of prosecution. Brother-Sister, Cousins, etc. (1/2, full, or by marriage.) sexual relations should be permitted as long as both parties consent to it and are of legal age. Other peoples morals should not be allowed to dictate law. (Source - http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/change-the-incest-sexual-assault-law-ii.html)
How are those who hold to this new standard of morality going to say it is wrong? THERE IS NO WAY FOR THEM TO SAY IT IS WRONG! They condemn Christians for saying homosexuality is abnormal and immoral. They become angry with people who claim to be repulsed by their lifestyle but these same people would never consider it appropriate to be sexually intimate with their sibling or parent. That is unnatural, immoral, and disgusting. How could they condemn incest as unnatural but condone homosexuality? Isn’t that hypocritical? Will they try to condemn it for being physically risky or based on the physical restraints of breeding? How could they do that without being hypocritical when the same arguments could be made about homosexuality which they condone?
Alas, I’m afraid my friend is right. This will not convince them of the error of their ways. It will only lead them to accept more and more abnormal and ungodly behavior. And onward we spiral. You pull out one thread from the tapestry of God’s laws and watch society morally unravel.
Having said all this, my concern is not with U.S. law. My desire is to clearly convey the Gospel of Jesus Christ and part of that message has to do with defining sin so the sinful know to flee to the source of Salvation. If people choose to live in a way that is “Non-Christian” that is their choice. I’m not going to protest them and I definitely don’t hate them. I simply want people to know, “If you’re going to become a Christian, then you must acknowledge your sins.” If you try to redefine them and cling to them you cannot find forgiveness from God or enjoy everlasting life. As much as God loves you, He will judge you and you will be lost forever.” People need to hear, my children need to hear, the clear Gospel message of Salvation. They need to know what sin is, the “wages of sin,” and the gift of God to those who will repent.
The great sin of today’s society is not adultery, fornication, homosexuality or other illicit sexual behaviors. The great sin of today’s society is the redefining of sin and the redefining of Jesus which leads people away from doing what is necessary to be saved from sin and the wrath to come. It is one thing to refuse Salvation and it is another to pervert the right ways of God and hinder others from Repentance.
The church must be prepared and prepare its children to deal with this changing environment and changing standard. They must be taught we are living in a pagan society. We need to assure them that people in the U.S. didn’t always act this way. Society has changed but the truth has not changed. They must learn not to base their belief system on what is common but on what the Bible says. Rom 13:11-12 says, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”
2 Cor 6:17-18 says, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
In today’s world of relativity it’s a wonder people haven’t objected and stated, “Don’t tell me I’m sick. What is normal for you may not be normal for me.” When it comes to behavior it definitely happens that way. What is normal for you may not be considered normal by someone else. The question is who defines what constitutes normal human behavior?
When you think about it, Christians should have a ready answer to that question. To Christians the Creator, the manufacturer of human beings, is the one best suited to tell man His intention for His creation and God did just that. He wrote a book dictating it to men by moving on them to record His instructions. He then supernaturally preserved those instructions through the centuries until we have them available to us in the 21st century. We call that book the Bible and it is the “Owner’s manual” or “Instruction Manual” for the humans God created.
In it He describes how man was created, His purpose for creating man, and the history of His dealings with man. He even describes how human history will end and His final plans for mankind. Also contained in its pages is God’s description of His design for how man should conduct himself both as an individual and as part of society. God tells us what is normal and He has established what is harmful and what is healthy. Just as any manufacturer, He puts the following disclaimer – “Any use of this product (human) in a way not intended by the manufacturer will cause serious damage, bodily injury, or death and will result in a voiding of the eternal life warranty.” I’m paraphrasing of course. He said it like this:
“For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom 6:23a ), “…be sure your sin will find you out.” (Num 32:23b), “The soul that sinneth , it shall die.” (Ezek 18:20b) and “You reap what you sow.” (Gal. 6:7). God knows what is best for man and therefore He has set guidelines for man’s behavior. He placed these guidelines in the Bible and established them as the standard of truth, of right and wrong, of normal and abnormal.
You have probably seen one of those old westerns where an old prospector brings in a bag of gold he has panned on his claim. When he takes it into the surveyor’s office, he dumps his bag in one side of a balance. The surveyor then places a weight on the other side of the scale. He may not know what the gold weighs but he knows what the “weight” weighs because it is his standard and when the gold becomes balanced with his weight, he then knows what the gold weighs. He knows this because he has measured it up against his “standard weight.” The Bible is our standard of truth. It is the device Christians use to determine whether something is right or wrong, moral or immoral, normal or abnormal. It is not man’s job to scrutinize the Bible. It is the Bible’s job to scrutinize man. The Bible isn’t right or wrong because man says so. Man is right or wrong because the Bible says so. It is THE truth.
We are a country which was founded on a common understanding of right and wrong based on this “Bible Standard.” It is still commonly referred to as the “Judeo/Christian Ethic.” We were founded with the Bible as our standard of morality and right and wrong but recently we have seen a shift in our country. The Bible is being rejected and replaced as the standard of morality and normalcy. The evidence is all around us.
A few years ago there was a court case which gained national attention because a group successfully sued to have the “Ten Commandments,” which were written on the wall of the local courthouse, taken down. The group alleged that it violated the U.S. Constitution which demanded the “separation of church and state.” However, many recognized the true reason why the 10 Commandments were placed in the courthouse. They were placed there as a reminder of the basis for our moral code of conduct. This explains why many Christians became deeply concerned by their removal. It was seen as a sign of the country’s rejection of God, a rejection of the Bible as our standard of truth, and a change in our standard of ethics. It seems the powers that be have decided to reject the Bible and redefine right and wrong, morality, and normalcy. They have decided to establish a new standard of truth.
What is normal? What is moral? What is right and wrong? Where do we find the answer to that if one doesn’t accept the Bible as the Creator’s Word and instructions? Who’s to say what normal is? For example, I believe atheists have a form of morality and, in fact, they vehemently argue that point. However if they don’t use the Bible as their standard of morality, where do they get their standard of morality? In reality, it springs from their imaginations. They imagine what they feel or think is normal and moral.
I believe a fair portrayal of the world’s new standard of morality can be stated this way: “Every man may do that which is right in his own eyes as long as it is consensual and it doesn’t cause harm to oneself or to others.” There are some “holdover laws or morals” from the old way (the Bible way) of looking at morality but they are gradually being phased out because they don’t fit this new standard.
When Christians object to these changes society simply says, “Don’t try to hold us to YOUR sense of morality” or “Don’t judge me!” If we say, “That’s wrong” they simply reply, “Who says?” By the standard of the Bible they are wrong, immoral, and abnormal but by the world’s new standard they are right, moral, and normal.
The church must be prepared and prepare its children to deal with this changing environment and changing standard. Our children and grandchildren are becoming so indoctrinated and accustomed to this new normalcy they can’t understand why mom and dad or the church would think it wasn’t right.
They don’t understand that what seems normal today would have been vulgar to past generations. Behavior which used to be universally condemned is now accepted. Has truth and morality changed? Were past generations wrong for believing these things were immoral and abnormal or were they right and our present society wrong?
In Bible times it was unthinkable to be sexually active before marriage and it was just a few decades ago that sex before marriage was strongly condemned by American society. To become pregnant before marriage was seen as shameful. Times have changed. I recently read statistics which said children born to single mothers has increased 700% in the last 45 years. Nearly 40% of all children born in the U.S. today are born to a single mother. These numbers are even more astounding when you consider how many babies of single mothers were aborted during that time period. It is common to have children without being married today but is it normal? I mentioned single parenting but that isn’t the sin. It isn’t a sin to be a single parent but it is a sin to have sex prior to marriage (Fornication). It doesn’t matter whether the woman becomes pregnant or not.
Our children are becoming confused by government sponsored organizations handing out condoms in schools and by Hollywood productions which tell them abstinence is unrealistic. “Pre-marital sex is normal behavior,” they say. Our young people don’t realize American society has never viewed things as people today view them. They don’t realize 95% of their grandparents never had sex before marriage. Which is normal behavior - what we do today or what our grandparents did during their lifetime?
Here’s another one. Divorce and remarriage is common today. People don’t realize Divorce rates were below 5% during the 1800’s. That means divorce rates have risen 500% in the last 100 years. Divorce and remarriage is common today and children struggle to adjust to blended families and single parent homes. Divorce and the subsequent remarriage is common but is it normal? They ignore the fact the Bible sets a standard that “…What God hath joined together let not man put asunder.” (Matt. 19:6b)
Today, homosexuality is promoted as an alternate lifestyle but it hasn’t been viewed that way in western culture in all the centuries since the introduction of Christianity. Can you imagine the reaction of U.S. society 100 years ago if you would have told them homosexuals in the 2000’s would now be getting legally married, adopting children, joining churches and filling pulpits? They would have thought you had lost your mind or they would have said, “The end of the world is come.” It was uncommon then but it is common today. The real question is, “Is it normal?”
Our children, our churches, our families and our friends must all come to understand, “BECAUSE SOMETHING IS COMMON DOESN’T MEAN IT IS NORMAL.” Society is convincing the next generation that if it is commonly accepted and practiced then it must be right. However, God has never run His Kingdom as a democracy. He doesn’t take votes and then change His laws to fit the majority. There can be no bill introduced, petition circulated, or amendment made to His constitution (Word). His is a MONARCHY and what the King decrees is the law we must all live by it. If you don’t want to be a part of His kingdom, then live as you please but don’t claim to be a part of His kingdom while refusing to embrace His laws and, by all means, don’t put words in God’s mouth.
It is even more confusing because many churches refuse to stand up for the right. They simply bend with society and change to meet “today’s world.” False churches and false ministers have adopted the world’s standard as the Bible of their new Christianity. They redefine the teachings of Christ to fit this standard. Out of their evil imaginations they have constructed a new Jesus for their idolatrous Christianity.
I said earlier that the world’s standard for morality can best be described this way: “Every man may do that which is right in his own eyes as long as it is consensual and it doesn’t cause harm to oneself or others.”
They say this but “harm” is hard to define since the damage may be mental and emotional or it may not manifest itself for many years. God didn’t make up His laws to restrict the good times of man but because He knew what damage these behaviors could have on the man He had created. Man can only see the present, they can only see the physical but God can see the future and God can see the soul. Some behavior may not have physical consequences but they can damage the emotions, the soul, and the spirit of the man. Who can see the scars of the abandoned wife, husband, or child? Who can see the scars of the sexually promiscuous? The damage is there and we see people victimized all the time. God saw these consequences and condemned the actions that caused such heartache as sinful or illegal.
God set a standard for behavior and you can’t take away one without it damaging the whole. God set a standard for family and sexuality and when these standards are ignored it does temporal and eternal damage to those involved. For example - God designed marriage to be between 1 man and 1 woman for life. The world has tried to tamper with God’s design and the results continue to be devastating. They started out by ignoring the fact marriage is for life and divorce has scarred the lives of many. Couples go into marriage thinking it is a trial period. “If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just get rid of this one and get me another.” Divorce and remarriage is now the new normal. They don’t consider the consequences to them, their children, or generations to come. There is no commitment, no submission to each other, and no communicating to work things out. There is a loss of the trust and security designed for marriage. There is the loss of security and parental nurturing for the children. In the end it passes a pattern on to future generations to view marriage as temporary and so it becomes self-perpetuating.
Having established this change, someone else came along and decided, “Well if it isn’t 1 man and 1 woman FOR LIFE, then maybe it doesn’t have to be a MAN and a WOMAN. Maybe it can be a MAN and a MAN or a WOMAN and a WOMAN.” With that in mind the new normal became homosexuality. “It isn’t wrong, it is an alternate lifestyle. It isn’t abnormal. It is simply another form of normal.” Now some states have decided it is illegal to prevent homosexuals from marrying. Others propose making it a hate crime to call it abnormal or sinful. Has normal changed? Why did the generations of the last several centuries condemn such lifestyles as immoral but today’s society calls it normal? Are we smarter and wiser or have we become an immoral society?
I was both amused and saddened by the events which took place in Texas a few years ago with the Polygamist sect. I was saddened by the evidence it gives to the dire straits our society is in and yet I have been somewhat amused as I watched the promoters of the “New Normal” try to deal with polygamy. You can tell they wanted to say, “Those people are wrong and they need to be stopped” but they also saw how they had boxed themselves in with their doctrine of the “New Normal.” How could they say those people were wrong? If the women consented to being one of many wives, then how could they tell them it was wrong based on their STANDARD OF THE NEW NORMAL? Remember the standard is “Every man may do that which is right in his own eyes as long as it is consensual and it doesn’t cause harm to oneself or others.”
If they were to tell them they were wrong, what standard could they base their condemnation on? How can you say they are immoral but say gay marriage is moral? If they condemned polygamy as emotionally harmful to the participants or their children then those who hold to the old standard of truth (the Bible) could say homosexual unions cause emotional harm to its participants and their children. Thus, they had to be silent.
The “New Normal” crowd has even tried to say these polygamists have broken the U.S. law forbidding polygamy (They conveniently want to use a holdover law from the days when the Bible was the standard of right and wrong). However, the Texans have an answer to that law which shows the depths of our moral breakdown. They simply have replied, “We’re not married according to the law and we know it. According to the laws of the United States we are simply living together and there is no law against living together.” Think about it. If a man convinced 10 women to cohabitate with him, there is no law against that. There is only a law against him being married to more than one woman at a time. Now what do you tell them? If a man wants to live with 5 women, if he wants to have children with them, etc then he can do that as long as he doesn’t legally marry more than one of them. The lax view of pre-marital sex makes it inevitable that the laws against polygamy will come tumbling down. They will have to change the law on polygamy in order to be faithful to their new standard of truth and to defend the “New Normal.” Mark my word it will not be long before polygamy is legalized.
Recently, I thought I had come up with a full proof way of confronting the “New Normal” crowd. I recently told a minister friend I was going to ask those who hold this new standard of morality why incest is against the law. Let’s say it is consensual, they’re of age. Why is it illegal? Surely they would see the error of their ways when confronted with such an unnatural possibility. However, my friend shocked me when he responded, “You’re wrong. You think pointing out that inconsistency will cause them to change? They won’t change. They will simply legalize incest.” Brothers and sisters will marry. Fathers and daughters, mothers and sons will be free to marry. You say, “Now you’re being ridiculous!” Am I? I understand incest has already been legalized in Argentina, Brazil, France, Japan, and other countries. Consider also this petition now circulating in the USA:
We, the undersigned, call on the USA to remove the umbrella law forbidding interfamily unions
The Law should be changed regarding the “consensual” relations of related persons. Any person 18 or older should be able to choose whom they want a relationship with, without fear of prosecution. Brother-Sister, Cousins, etc. (1/2, full, or by marriage.) sexual relations should be permitted as long as both parties consent to it and are of legal age. Other peoples morals should not be allowed to dictate law. (Source - http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/change-the-incest-sexual-assault-law-ii.html)
How are those who hold to this new standard of morality going to say it is wrong? THERE IS NO WAY FOR THEM TO SAY IT IS WRONG! They condemn Christians for saying homosexuality is abnormal and immoral. They become angry with people who claim to be repulsed by their lifestyle but these same people would never consider it appropriate to be sexually intimate with their sibling or parent. That is unnatural, immoral, and disgusting. How could they condemn incest as unnatural but condone homosexuality? Isn’t that hypocritical? Will they try to condemn it for being physically risky or based on the physical restraints of breeding? How could they do that without being hypocritical when the same arguments could be made about homosexuality which they condone?
Alas, I’m afraid my friend is right. This will not convince them of the error of their ways. It will only lead them to accept more and more abnormal and ungodly behavior. And onward we spiral. You pull out one thread from the tapestry of God’s laws and watch society morally unravel.
Having said all this, my concern is not with U.S. law. My desire is to clearly convey the Gospel of Jesus Christ and part of that message has to do with defining sin so the sinful know to flee to the source of Salvation. If people choose to live in a way that is “Non-Christian” that is their choice. I’m not going to protest them and I definitely don’t hate them. I simply want people to know, “If you’re going to become a Christian, then you must acknowledge your sins.” If you try to redefine them and cling to them you cannot find forgiveness from God or enjoy everlasting life. As much as God loves you, He will judge you and you will be lost forever.” People need to hear, my children need to hear, the clear Gospel message of Salvation. They need to know what sin is, the “wages of sin,” and the gift of God to those who will repent.
The great sin of today’s society is not adultery, fornication, homosexuality or other illicit sexual behaviors. The great sin of today’s society is the redefining of sin and the redefining of Jesus which leads people away from doing what is necessary to be saved from sin and the wrath to come. It is one thing to refuse Salvation and it is another to pervert the right ways of God and hinder others from Repentance.
The church must be prepared and prepare its children to deal with this changing environment and changing standard. They must be taught we are living in a pagan society. We need to assure them that people in the U.S. didn’t always act this way. Society has changed but the truth has not changed. They must learn not to base their belief system on what is common but on what the Bible says. Rom 13:11-12 says, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”
2 Cor 6:17-18 says, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
ANOTHER JESUS
“For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus , whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2 Cor 11:4 KJV).
About 4 years ago I watched a Democratic Presidential debate in which one candidate was asked if he believed in Evolution or Creationism. His response was Evolution. He then went on to explain how he was a Christian but he did not believe in the Biblical account of the creation of man. He explained his theology this way, “I believe God had his hand on every stage of human development.” This sounds enlightened and to the uninformed it may sound like a reasonable compromise. In reality, the man was saying, “I believe in Christ but I don’t believe the Bible is accurate or dependable.”
I have written before of the danger of renouncing the Bible as the “Infallible and Inspired” Word of God. If the Bible cannot be completely believed or trusted then it cannot be trusted at all. As C.S. Lewis said, “The Bible is either totally reliable or it is totally unreliable.” This democratic candidate (It wouldn’t matter if he were a Democrat or Republican) was expressing the new wave of “Christian thought” sweeping Europe and North America. It is a new Christianity which conforms to fit science, modern thoughts, and modern morality. However, the Bible is the Christians’ EXCLUSIVE instruction manual for establishing doctrine. We must never believe what we believe based upon our opinions, feelings, or other sources of information or philosophy. As Christians we must always base our teachings on what the Bible reveals.
In the past we have had denominational rifts based upon varying interpretations of scriptures but now something new has appeared. We now have Christians who base their beliefs on something besides the scripture instead of an interpretation of scripture. THIS IS IDOLATRY. When one comes to Christ they have to come to the Christ revealed in scripture not one made up out of thin air. People now use the name “Christian” and attach to it whatever belief system they desire. They have designed their own Jesus. Their Jesus was a good man but not the Son of God. Their Jesus did not rise from the dead, did not perform miracles, did not ascend into Heaven, and He is not coming back again. He is simply a philosopher who gave some good teachings regarding how to treat your fellow man. Their Jesus may even promise eternal life but it is to everyone who lives reasonably well. Hell doesn’t exist to them or at least it isn’t something most people have to worry about. They are the living fulfillment of Paul’s warning concerning the last days. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come (men will have) a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Tim. 3:1, 5 KJV)
Jesus is whatever you want him to be. It is Christianity a la carte. It is relativity. It is IDOLATRY. Have you ever been to an “A La Carte” buffet? You take your plate and you have a variety of items from which to choose. You may have 5 meat dishes, 5 vegetables, 5 starches, etc. You then begin to pick and choose what you want and don’t want. “I’ll take the chicken, hold the steak. I’ll take the Green Beans, hold the corn and spinach.” Many treat the doctrines of Christ the same way. They say, “I’ll take Heaven, hold the Hell. “I’ll take mercy, hold the judgment. I’ll take grace, hold the holiness.” They customize their own version of Christianity. This new wave of Christian thought takes away the Bible’s place of inerrancy and allows every man to customize their beliefs based upon their own feelings, experiences, understanding, etc. However, if we take away the Bible we become a nation of idolaters.
Recently, a friend of mine took his daughter to a store called “Build a Bear.” Here you were allowed to pick out the covering for your teddy bear, the clothing, the name, etc. You built it just the way you wanted it. There are many who are building their own Jesus. They simply take the name “Jesus Christ” and they stuff it with the beliefs which suit them. This is textbook idolatry!
When Paul encountered the idolaters in Athens (Acts 17) he said the idol makers created the idols and the belief systems surrounding the idols from their own imaginations. When you think about it, all idolatry comes from the imagination. After all, the idol never spoke to tell them what he liked for offerings and what he didn’t like. He never told them what his laws were or what sacrifices they would have to make. He never appeared to them to show his likeness. They were simply inanimate objects made of wood or precious metals. Since they were not alive and had never spoken, the idol makers and worshippers were free to create the idol and their elaborate belief system out of their own imaginations. As Christians we are not idol worshippers! We don’t serve an inanimate God who has never spoken or revealed His will. Jehovah is the living God and not a “dumb” idol. He has revealed Himself in His Word and when we begin to ignore or discount His word then we have to create a belief system from our own imaginations. Many are doing this today.
America has become a nation filled with idol worshippers! They have renounced Jehovah and His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ in favor of another god. However, here is the diabolical catch. Although they are idol worshippers, they have named their idol JESUS CHRIST. That’s right! The idol many Americans and Europeans serve has the same name as the JESUS CHRIST OF THE BIBLE. Although our Jesus and the idol Jesus bear the same name, they are nothing alike. The new Jesus accepts homosexuality as an alternate lifestyle, condones pre-marital sex as an inevitability of youth, turns commandments into suggestions, renounces the Bible as inaccurate, turns the grace of God into a license to live loosely, doesn’t renounce sin, doesn’t send men to Hell, and doesn’t judge. The new Jesus accepts all other religions, sends everyone (or almost everyone) to Heaven, condemns holiness as legalism, and much more.
Let me give you an example. Have you ever met someone who had the same name as someone you knew but they weren’t the same person. Can you imagine someone saying, “Hey, do you know Bruce Sullivan?” You may initially be excited to find someone who has a common acquaintance. “O yes, I know Bruce.” “Yeah,” they say, “You know he is the funniest looking guy. I have never known a 400 pound Asian with the name Sullivan.” Well, immediately you would realize they are not speaking of the same Bruce Sullivan. The description they give makes it evident they are not speaking of your friend. It is the same way with Jesus. There are many who profess to know Jesus Christ but when they begin to describe their Jesus, you soon realize they are not speaking of your Jesus Christ.
The danger is that many Christians don’t realize this “New Jesus” has arrived. They think everyone who mentions Jesus is talking about the same Jesus they are talking about. Even more frightening, there are many who are pushing for a unity with all those who worship or call on the name of Jesus Christ not realizing there are many who are serving “Another Jesus,” an idol Jesus.
Christians have been duped into believing everyone who professes JESUS as Lord is a true Christian without understanding that there are many who profess Jesus alright but it is ANOTHER JESUS! We now have these idolaters mixing into the congregations of the true worshippers of Christ. Satan has set the table by convincing Christians to be tolerant of all who profess Christ. We have been conditioned not to judge and therefore these idol worshippers are accepted and freely partake of the Lord’s table.
We cannot accept idolaters even if their idol bears the same name as our Jesus. What if the Buddhists voted tomorrow to change Buddah’s name to Jesus? There belief system would stay the same but the name would change. Would we then accept Buddhists as our fellow Christians because of the name? Of course not! It’s not simply the name but the teachings of Jesus and the teachings about Jesus which makes Christianity, Christianity. Someone may call their religion Christianity but it is not Christianity unless it embraces the Jesus Christ of the BIBLE and His teachings!
Someone may come to me claiming to be a Christian but as they describe their version of Christianity. It is not another avenue, style, or sect of Christianity. IT IS ANOTHER RELIGION ALTOGETHER! This is what people don’t realize.
Gal 1:6-8 states, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
Fellow Christians listen closely! I am not speaking of denominational differences based upon varying understandings of the Bible. This presidential candidate did not even believe in creation. He accepted evolution. This is clearly an extra-biblical belief. Yet many Christians, conditioned to be tolerant and non-judgmental, have refused to reject this man’s new religion and he is not alone. Now we not only accept those who have varying interpretations of the Bible, we now accept people who don’t even believe the Bible, as long as they call themselves Christians!
The Bible clearly commands us not to mix Christianity with the worship of idols and that includes any idol which happens to share the same name as our Jesus. Yet today there is a unity movement seeking the unity of all those who profess Jesus. There are many church leaders who believe they are enlightened while pushing for this unity. These blind leaders don’t realize that all those who profess Christ are not all speaking of the same Jesus Christ. By promoting unity among all those who profess Jesus they are actually no different from those who seek to combine Christianity with other world religions. While these leaders push for this unification of Christianity and idolatry, the pew dwellers blindly consent to their “wisdom” and applaud their “cutting edge theology.” Because of their ignorance of the last days, they have fulfilled the prophecies concerning the last days by unwittingly accepting the very “false Christs” Jesus warned about. Although I believe there will be more Jim Jones and David Koreshs, I believe we can overlook a much more subtle false Christ while looking for these more obvious examples. We are now bombarded with a multitude of false Christs created in homes around the country and condoned by tolerant, politically correct “Christian” leaders. There are many Jesus Christs being presented to the world today but only one of them is the true Jesus Christ. The true Jesus Christ is the one revealed in the Bible. People must be encouraged to search the scriptures to make sure they are following the real Jesus Christ.
We must take clear and deliberate steps to right the ship. At some point we have no choice but to cast out the idolaters. While the main wave of Christianity is moving toward unity, the true children of God must recognize the influx of these false Christs and separate from these idol worshippers. By promoting unity with them, denominational leaders are actually doing the opposite of the commandment of God’s Word. Paul said, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you…” (2 Cor 6:14-17) It is time to abandon the “religiously correct” actions for the “Biblically correct” actions. It is time to teach the truth and accept only those who embrace the truth of God’s Word! “Hear, O Israel : The LORD our God is one LORD…” (Deut 6:4) “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Luke 4:8)
Drinking from the Harlot’s Cup
“And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication…” (Rev 17:4 KJV)
There are many interpretations as to the identity of this harlot of Revelation. One such theory states she represents a coming apostate church. I am certainly not a world class theologian and I am far from being an expert on this last book of the Bible but I am a believer in the emergence of a pseudo-Christian movement before the coming of Christ. There are several scriptures which point to its existence. There are Jesus’ warnings of the coming of MANY false prophets which will deceive MANY. There is Paul’s warning to Timothy of the perilous last days when men would “not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts they shall heap to themselves teachers having itching ears.” (2Tim. 4:3) Paul’s use of the word “heap” would imply a large number of false teachers leading a large number of deceived followers. In that same letter to Timothy he warns of the last days when men would have “a form of godliness but (who) deny the power thereof.” (2Tim. 3:5) Paul doesn’t say they will be ungodly but that they would have the appearance of godliness. It will be “kinda” “sorta” like true godliness but it would be vastly different. All of these scriptures and more seem to leave little doubt a false Christianity is coming. Are we ready? Are we stable enough not to be deceived by the false promoters of a false church?
The problem with prophecy is that people sometimes have trouble recognizing when it is fulfilled. For instance, the Jews read the prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah every Sabbath day and yet when He finally came and prophecy started unfolding all around them they didn’t recognize it. We don’t have trouble believing something prophesied will occur in the future. We just have trouble believing we are living the fulfillment of prophecy. We just can’t quite accept we are the generation that was prophesied about. I believe the false church prophesied about in the New Testament is emerging all around us and people are missing what is happening while gazing into the future. Open your eyes! The spirit of anti-Christ is appearing all around us! I believe we are in the midst of a great falling away and an emerging false church. Some see revival and I see apostasy. It has happened so slowly and so covertly it has gone almost undetected. I believe the harlot church is even now passing her cup of poisonous false doctrine, slowly infecting and spreading throughout 21st century Christianity. It no longer infects a small segment of Christianity but its tentacles now spread through every major Christian organization. In fact,I believe the majority of Christianity is rapidly being swallowed up by a new “Pseudo-Christianity leaving only a remnant of the elect to carry on the true work of Christ.
I want to run through the streets crying, “IT’S HERE, IT’S HERE! The False Church is here!” The true Christians are being ostracized while the Pseudo-Church is taking its position as the accepted face of Christianity. In this most recent election it has become evident true Christianity is now in the minority. The media promotes a Christianity where nothing is sinful. Those who hold to holiness, purity, and the truth that Christ is the only way to Heaven are labeled as “Right Wing, Extremists, a fringe sect of Christianity. While we are promoted as the fringe, those who call themselves Christians but don’t believe in purity are paraded in front of the world as “Mainstream Christianity.”
Beware of this Hell organized Pseudo-Christian movement. Its promoters have infiltrated Christianity wearing many disguises. They have become denominational leaders, seminar instructors, preachers, television personalities, seminary professors, and pastors. They have promoted a concoction of all sorts of false and misleading doctrines. Naturally, it doesn’t promote itself as a false church teaching false doctrine. In fact, it is advertised as cutting edge Christianity teaching new light.
False Christianity is now being presented by the media and others as the face of Christianity, while the true gospel, true doctrines and the true “pillar and ground of the truth, are ridiculed as out of step, old fashioned, legalistic, intolerant, bigoted, and much more.
I have seen so many who have drunk from the Harlot’s cup. They have been blinded by the educational pedigree of false teachers. “They must be right! Don’t you know where they went to school? Don’t you know what degrees they hold?” They are much like the Pharisees the early church faced who ridiculed the apostles as unlearned and ignorant men. After all, the Pharisees had scribes who spent their lives studying the Scripture. Many of them were doctors of the law. How could they be wrong? But we now know they were wrong! Paul said they were “ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Tim. 3:7) “They professed themselves to be wise and they became fools (forever).” (Rom.1:22)
Many Christians have been blinded by a false belief that numbers represents anointing and Divine approval “Don’t you see how big their church is?” They have fallen into the ancient trap of believing “Gain is godliness.”
Christians, even ministers (or especially ministers), seem to swallow everything the “Religious superstars” of our day are handing out. People are mesmerized by their large churches, seminary degrees, and television fame. But what if these superstars are wrong? What if they’re “blind leaders” who people are following blindly? What if these leaders are deceived deceivers spreading poison to all who follow them.
Just for a moment indulge me with the possibility that all this new fangled rhetoric so many take for granted isn’t right at all. What if numbers has nothing to do with success? What if “Don’t judge” is politically correct but a Biblical misinterpretation? What if the contemporary, so-called, “Grace” emphasis is instead the ancient false doctrine of “Lasciviousness” (See Jude 4)? What if the new definition of “Repentance” isn’t Repentance at all? What if forgiveness requires one to abandon the sin for which they are being forgiven? What if the new compassion is nothing more than a covering for tolerating sin? What if modern unity is simply ancient compromise? What if church discipline is Biblical and necessary for the protection of souls and the message? What if Salvation means there is a Hell you need to be rescued from and it is “a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God?” (Heb. 10:31) What if we should be building walls between true believers and false believers instead of tearing them down? Just questioning these doctrines makes you a radical in today’s Christian world – an outsider looking in. Maybe that’s because the majority of people in the U.S. have taken a huge gulp of the harlot’s cup.
Several years ago cult leader Jim Jones led a large group of followers to Guyana in South America. His followers (for the most part) were extremely loyal and obeyed him unquestioningly. After a run in with U.S. authorities which led to the death of a U.S. senator, Jones called his followers together for one last meeting. On November 18, 1978, with the law closing in, he ordered his people to take Kool-Aid that was laced with poison. It is unclear if they knew it was poisoned or not but whatever the case they obeyed and over 900 people committed mass suicide. Unfortunately, this is the fate of those who follow others without examining their teachings. Be careful of those who pass the Harlot’s cup!
It is imperative we know the truth and pursue the truth. Our eternal souls are at stake and we must not trust our eternal fate to others. As the words of the old hymn state: “I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus name.” The Jewish leaders were quick to condemn Christ as a deceiver. The Jews who became Christians were men and women who didn’t take their word for it but “Searched the scriptures daily to see whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11) If they would have blindly followed the lead of the rulers of their synagogues, they would have lost their souls forever. Don’t blindly follow leaders who themselves could be blind. If you do, you’ll follow them straight into the pit.
Today we must follow the Biblical admonitions to be “wise as serpents,” “to be sober,” “to be vigilant,” etc. We cannot be gullible. We cannot be “carried away with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” (Eph. 4:14) We must keep our eyes open, our minds renewed with the Word of God, and be determined to follow Christ no matter what the rest of the world does. We must find the true path, led by the Holy Spirit and confident the Bible is the Word of God.
We’ve warned people for years to get into the Word and know it for themselves but people were lazy and decided they would put their confidence in others. They sit at the foot of Sinai and let their spiritual Moses bring word from God. The great privilege of Christianity, indeed the great responsibility of Christianity, is that we all are invited inside the veil or to the top of Sinai to meet with God. We are commanded to hear God for ourselves. We all have the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us. It is imperative we know the truth for ourselves. Now multitudes of gullible Christians have sipped the proverbial “snake (that old serpent) oil.” They’ve drank from the harlot’s cup handed to them by those already poisoned. “Take a sip and pass it along.”
In the OT there were false teachers and prophets but here is the fact so many overlook. They weren’t recognized as false teachers by the majority of their contemporaries. In fact, the majority of the people in their day thought they were enlightened messengers from God. The true prophets were seen as out of step. The Jeremiahs were seen as the false prophets with very, very few followers. Today we seem to expect things to be different. It would seem to me the false prophets of the last days will be seen as cutting edge, in tune with God, and enlightened. Even Jim Jones was seen by his followers to be enlightened as he passed the cyanide laced Kool Aid to his naïve victims.
The thing about a deceiver is that they rarely know they are a deceiver. Someone has said the most convincing liar is the one who believes they are telling the truth. You don’t have to know what you are saying is untrue for it to be untrue. I am convinced the false prophets in Jeremiah’s day believed they were true prophets. They believed they were right and Jeremiah was wrong but the opposite was the case. Paul warned us of these deceived deceivers
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Tim 3:13 KJV)
These modern deceivers are convincing. They are experts in the absurd. They know it backward and forward. “By good words and fair speeches (they) deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Rom. 16:18) They are unbelievably convincing because they passionately believe a lie. Debating them is almost an exercise in futility. These deceivers have concocted a Kool Aid laced with false teachings and they’re passing it out in churches across America. The only way to navigate through their sea of lies is to make every doctrine measure up to the Bible.
Like the prophets of old those who see the false church emerging weep for the slain of the daughters of their people (Jer. 9:1). They have heard the Master’s warning and they echo it to the masses held sway by the slick words of the deceived. They cry aloud, “The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy? (Amos 3:8 KJV)
We must call out to those who have been brainwashed, programmed by the leaders of this cult of “Pseudo-Christianity.” Somehow we have to get them to see. We cry, “You’ve been fooled. You’ve been hypnotized.” God open their ears that they can hear! God open their eyes that they can see! Cast aside the harlot’s cup and come back to the light!
“And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication…” (Rev 17:4 KJV)
There are many interpretations as to the identity of this harlot of Revelation. One such theory states she represents a coming apostate church. I am certainly not a world class theologian and I am far from being an expert on this last book of the Bible but I am a believer in the emergence of a pseudo-Christian movement before the coming of Christ. There are several scriptures which point to its existence. There are Jesus’ warnings of the coming of MANY false prophets which will deceive MANY. There is Paul’s warning to Timothy of the perilous last days when men would “not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts they shall heap to themselves teachers having itching ears.” (2Tim. 4:3) Paul’s use of the word “heap” would imply a large number of false teachers leading a large number of deceived followers. In that same letter to Timothy he warns of the last days when men would have “a form of godliness but (who) deny the power thereof.” (2Tim. 3:5) Paul doesn’t say they will be ungodly but that they would have the appearance of godliness. It will be “kinda” “sorta” like true godliness but it would be vastly different. All of these scriptures and more seem to leave little doubt a false Christianity is coming. Are we ready? Are we stable enough not to be deceived by the false promoters of a false church?
The problem with prophecy is that people sometimes have trouble recognizing when it is fulfilled. For instance, the Jews read the prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah every Sabbath day and yet when He finally came and prophecy started unfolding all around them they didn’t recognize it. We don’t have trouble believing something prophesied will occur in the future. We just have trouble believing we are living the fulfillment of prophecy. We just can’t quite accept we are the generation that was prophesied about. I believe the false church prophesied about in the New Testament is emerging all around us and people are missing what is happening while gazing into the future. Open your eyes! The spirit of anti-Christ is appearing all around us! I believe we are in the midst of a great falling away and an emerging false church. Some see revival and I see apostasy. It has happened so slowly and so covertly it has gone almost undetected. I believe the harlot church is even now passing her cup of poisonous false doctrine, slowly infecting and spreading throughout 21st century Christianity. It no longer infects a small segment of Christianity but its tentacles now spread through every major Christian organization. In fact,I believe the majority of Christianity is rapidly being swallowed up by a new “Pseudo-Christianity leaving only a remnant of the elect to carry on the true work of Christ.
I want to run through the streets crying, “IT’S HERE, IT’S HERE! The False Church is here!” The true Christians are being ostracized while the Pseudo-Church is taking its position as the accepted face of Christianity. In this most recent election it has become evident true Christianity is now in the minority. The media promotes a Christianity where nothing is sinful. Those who hold to holiness, purity, and the truth that Christ is the only way to Heaven are labeled as “Right Wing, Extremists, a fringe sect of Christianity. While we are promoted as the fringe, those who call themselves Christians but don’t believe in purity are paraded in front of the world as “Mainstream Christianity.”
Beware of this Hell organized Pseudo-Christian movement. Its promoters have infiltrated Christianity wearing many disguises. They have become denominational leaders, seminar instructors, preachers, television personalities, seminary professors, and pastors. They have promoted a concoction of all sorts of false and misleading doctrines. Naturally, it doesn’t promote itself as a false church teaching false doctrine. In fact, it is advertised as cutting edge Christianity teaching new light.
False Christianity is now being presented by the media and others as the face of Christianity, while the true gospel, true doctrines and the true “pillar and ground of the truth, are ridiculed as out of step, old fashioned, legalistic, intolerant, bigoted, and much more.
I have seen so many who have drunk from the Harlot’s cup. They have been blinded by the educational pedigree of false teachers. “They must be right! Don’t you know where they went to school? Don’t you know what degrees they hold?” They are much like the Pharisees the early church faced who ridiculed the apostles as unlearned and ignorant men. After all, the Pharisees had scribes who spent their lives studying the Scripture. Many of them were doctors of the law. How could they be wrong? But we now know they were wrong! Paul said they were “ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Tim. 3:7) “They professed themselves to be wise and they became fools (forever).” (Rom.1:22)
Many Christians have been blinded by a false belief that numbers represents anointing and Divine approval “Don’t you see how big their church is?” They have fallen into the ancient trap of believing “Gain is godliness.”
Christians, even ministers (or especially ministers), seem to swallow everything the “Religious superstars” of our day are handing out. People are mesmerized by their large churches, seminary degrees, and television fame. But what if these superstars are wrong? What if they’re “blind leaders” who people are following blindly? What if these leaders are deceived deceivers spreading poison to all who follow them.
Just for a moment indulge me with the possibility that all this new fangled rhetoric so many take for granted isn’t right at all. What if numbers has nothing to do with success? What if “Don’t judge” is politically correct but a Biblical misinterpretation? What if the contemporary, so-called, “Grace” emphasis is instead the ancient false doctrine of “Lasciviousness” (See Jude 4)? What if the new definition of “Repentance” isn’t Repentance at all? What if forgiveness requires one to abandon the sin for which they are being forgiven? What if the new compassion is nothing more than a covering for tolerating sin? What if modern unity is simply ancient compromise? What if church discipline is Biblical and necessary for the protection of souls and the message? What if Salvation means there is a Hell you need to be rescued from and it is “a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God?” (Heb. 10:31) What if we should be building walls between true believers and false believers instead of tearing them down? Just questioning these doctrines makes you a radical in today’s Christian world – an outsider looking in. Maybe that’s because the majority of people in the U.S. have taken a huge gulp of the harlot’s cup.
Several years ago cult leader Jim Jones led a large group of followers to Guyana in South America. His followers (for the most part) were extremely loyal and obeyed him unquestioningly. After a run in with U.S. authorities which led to the death of a U.S. senator, Jones called his followers together for one last meeting. On November 18, 1978, with the law closing in, he ordered his people to take Kool-Aid that was laced with poison. It is unclear if they knew it was poisoned or not but whatever the case they obeyed and over 900 people committed mass suicide. Unfortunately, this is the fate of those who follow others without examining their teachings. Be careful of those who pass the Harlot’s cup!
It is imperative we know the truth and pursue the truth. Our eternal souls are at stake and we must not trust our eternal fate to others. As the words of the old hymn state: “I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus name.” The Jewish leaders were quick to condemn Christ as a deceiver. The Jews who became Christians were men and women who didn’t take their word for it but “Searched the scriptures daily to see whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11) If they would have blindly followed the lead of the rulers of their synagogues, they would have lost their souls forever. Don’t blindly follow leaders who themselves could be blind. If you do, you’ll follow them straight into the pit.
Today we must follow the Biblical admonitions to be “wise as serpents,” “to be sober,” “to be vigilant,” etc. We cannot be gullible. We cannot be “carried away with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” (Eph. 4:14) We must keep our eyes open, our minds renewed with the Word of God, and be determined to follow Christ no matter what the rest of the world does. We must find the true path, led by the Holy Spirit and confident the Bible is the Word of God.
We’ve warned people for years to get into the Word and know it for themselves but people were lazy and decided they would put their confidence in others. They sit at the foot of Sinai and let their spiritual Moses bring word from God. The great privilege of Christianity, indeed the great responsibility of Christianity, is that we all are invited inside the veil or to the top of Sinai to meet with God. We are commanded to hear God for ourselves. We all have the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us. It is imperative we know the truth for ourselves. Now multitudes of gullible Christians have sipped the proverbial “snake (that old serpent) oil.” They’ve drank from the harlot’s cup handed to them by those already poisoned. “Take a sip and pass it along.”
In the OT there were false teachers and prophets but here is the fact so many overlook. They weren’t recognized as false teachers by the majority of their contemporaries. In fact, the majority of the people in their day thought they were enlightened messengers from God. The true prophets were seen as out of step. The Jeremiahs were seen as the false prophets with very, very few followers. Today we seem to expect things to be different. It would seem to me the false prophets of the last days will be seen as cutting edge, in tune with God, and enlightened. Even Jim Jones was seen by his followers to be enlightened as he passed the cyanide laced Kool Aid to his naïve victims.
The thing about a deceiver is that they rarely know they are a deceiver. Someone has said the most convincing liar is the one who believes they are telling the truth. You don’t have to know what you are saying is untrue for it to be untrue. I am convinced the false prophets in Jeremiah’s day believed they were true prophets. They believed they were right and Jeremiah was wrong but the opposite was the case. Paul warned us of these deceived deceivers
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Tim 3:13 KJV)
These modern deceivers are convincing. They are experts in the absurd. They know it backward and forward. “By good words and fair speeches (they) deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Rom. 16:18) They are unbelievably convincing because they passionately believe a lie. Debating them is almost an exercise in futility. These deceivers have concocted a Kool Aid laced with false teachings and they’re passing it out in churches across America. The only way to navigate through their sea of lies is to make every doctrine measure up to the Bible.
Like the prophets of old those who see the false church emerging weep for the slain of the daughters of their people (Jer. 9:1). They have heard the Master’s warning and they echo it to the masses held sway by the slick words of the deceived. They cry aloud, “The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy? (Amos 3:8 KJV)
We must call out to those who have been brainwashed, programmed by the leaders of this cult of “Pseudo-Christianity.” Somehow we have to get them to see. We cry, “You’ve been fooled. You’ve been hypnotized.” God open their ears that they can hear! God open their eyes that they can see! Cast aside the harlot’s cup and come back to the light!