| The Biblical Examiner An Examination of Biblical Precepts Involved in Issues at Hand |
First, updates: I am sorry for the very unpredictable
schedule for The Examiner. But as I mentioned in the last mailing,
my wife has cancer, so I have taken a lot of the load off her.
That involves taking our daughter to and from the Christian school
in Crawfordsville, where she goes. I, therefore, remain home until
she is ready to go, and leave the office early to pick her up.
Though the Lord has supplied a good computer for my use at the
house, my day is still quite cut up. Moreover, several days a
week have been occupied with doctor's and dentist's anointments.
My wife has been drinking a fermented soy "nutritional drink,"
HAELAN 951. Among the several things the drink does, it blocks
estrogen from the tumor, starving it out. (She had been on estrogen
therapy, and we were not told of the cancer risks until after
the cancer was found.) The drink is good for degenerative diereses
in general. It seems to be working -- x-rays and a bone scan taken
the first of March showed that the tumor had not spread. It is
now very local (right breast - it is inflammatory breast cancer),
where the body seems to be dealing with it by dissolving or expelling
it. It is in the Lord's hands.
My heart situation: I have learned to recognize the various
"pains" associated with the stents, which can feel like
another heart attack. The Lord provided chelation, which should
clean out the arteries. (Did you hear that new tests show that
teens and younger now have clogged arteries as was typical only
in 40+ year old adults only a few years ago? "Fast food"
and no exercise is producing the most unhealthy generation in
America's history.) I will try to keep updates on the Web site,
though it has been a month since I have been able to update it.
Second, The Examiner has always been sent free
of charge since we started in 1984, and I do not really want to
change that. However, it does take money to operate. (Some folks
on the mailing have been very generous in their support of the
Examiner and of this pastor - many thanks to them. It has been
"self-supporting" for the last few years, but that is
only with mailing 4 or so times a year.)
We have many on our mailing list who have told me they do not
have a good, Bible believing church to attend. Let me suggest
that those who find themselves in such a fix and who receive "spiritual
food" from The Examiner add The Examiner to their regular
giving list.
In addition, I receive several Christian tabloids (though I have
not subscribed to them) that are written from a very Arminian,
dispensational, even anti-Reconstruction, view (I understand that
one well-known publication edits CHS's sermons to make him support
their theology). I feel there is a "niche" for The Examiner,
and our mailing list seems to confirm that thought. Several have
suggested to me that I "sell" adds to finance the publication,
as well as to help finance myself. The new format will very easily
allow such a move with little added time and expense. The size
would probably increase, along with the frequency of mailing,
with more material by others who fit within our theological position.
(I now e mail the computer file to the printer, and pick up the
finished paper as I take our daughter Christina to her Christian
school in Crawfordsville.) Lord willing, we will be more frequent
with the publication as time frees up on this end.
What do you think?
Also, with this new format, we can now add to our mailing
list with minimal work and expense. So if you know someone
whom you feel might be interested in what we publish, send us
their names and addresses (so we can read them). I will send them
a letter of introduction, not using your name, telling them it
has been suggested they might like the material. And if not, they
can drop us an e mail, or something, and we will not send to them.
The following is typical of letters we receive:
In other words, there seems to be a niche, and sale of adds would
enable us to expand greatly to work within that niche. (The Biblical
Examiner "grew" out of seeing a niche to work within.
So, obviously, it does not appeal to the general Christian population.)
Do you know some folks who would like to advertise? Of course,
I would try to check them out the best I can before I would run
their add.
Third, the post office fails many times to keep
us abreast of changes of address. Contrary to PO rules, the PO
many times waits over the year required for mail to be forwarded
and the correction sent to us, and then it tells us that the forwarding
time has expired. So please let us know your change of address,
for many times the PO will not, though we ask and pay them to
do so (50 cents each address). The last mailing had over 60 change
of address forms, and about half were over the year old, so the
material was sent back to us contrary to PO rules.
Can Jesus be the Messiah of the Jews today?Or, can
there be "Christian Jews"?
Let me mention a few points in opening: First, note the question:
"Can there be Christian Jews?" The question is not "Can
a Jew be Saved?", which, of course, he can, for whosoever
will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Second, I
have included a short discussion about the terms Israel, Jews
at the end of this article. Some may say, "I wish Bro. Need
would leave this subject alone." The subtitle for The Biblical
Examiner is "A Scriptural Examination of Issues at Hand."
And the following is an "Issue at Hand," deserving an
examination. Third, remember the context of the New Testament
- it was written in a "Jewish" society. Almost every
book deals with the "Jewish" issue, as the "Jewish"
religious leaders sought to undermine the gospel by saying the
either Christ was not necessary or that he was not enough to allow
one to see the Father. Throughout the New Testament, the Jews
worked at undermining the Gospel - that is, to get the people
to continue following the Jews' religion though the Father had
declared it dead. They worked at getting the new Christians, both
"Jew" and "Gentile," to continue worshiping
the Father through the Temple rather than through Christ, for
their power could only continue as people continued in the Temple
worship. The Jewish issue was not settled until the destruction
of that nation and its center of worship, Jerusalem and the Temple.
The primary mark of false teachers in the New Testament was their
denial of or their corruption of the doctrine of Christ. (See,
Mat. 9:16, 17, Jn. 4:20-26, 14:6 and all of 1 John.) Fourth, the
following is not a "poke" at anyone. There are some
extremely fine Christian people who claim to be Christian Jews,
or "Messianic Jews." One appeared on the Larry King
Live show referenced below.
Let me open this discussion with an "attention getter."
I am an "equal opportunity offender" - I offend Jew
and Gentile, pre-mil and post-mil alike. Let me say a few words
about a very well-known Jew,
Dr. Laura, the very popular radio call-in host, claims to be Jewish.
I listen to her at every opportunity, and she makes no apology
for being Jewish. I must applaud her for her stands on the family,
stay at home moms, abortion, guns (buy one and learn how to use
it) and on just about every other subject she addresses, especially
Sodomy. (I heard a "rerun" of one of her programs over
WLS (2/25/2000), and she was calling attention to a S/M-Bestiality
ad in a Feb., 2000, women's magazine. I had to applaud her for
her very bold stand against that indescribably corrupt and immoral
trash. She is not ashamed to publically admit the Ten Commandments
are the only true rule for life today; something we cannot say
for many Christian leaders who have the national ear.
Some time ago, a news broadcast (CNN, FOX or one of those programs),
had a segment about her. It seems that a major Hollywood studio
wants to put her on TV. The Sodomites are up in arms, going after
the studio - Columbia, I believe - rather than her. The interviewer
asked her about her opinion, which she WAS NOT afraid to give
on national TV. She spoke strongly about the Homosexuals demanding
free speech, yet rioting over any speech that is not according
to their agenda. The interviewer then said, "So you believe
Homosexuality is wrong?" She immediately responded with,
"God says it is wrong." And she would not back down
from that position. She has been a vocal supporter of the California
imitative that says the only legal union in that state will be
between a man and a woman.
However, those of us who listen to her must realize that though
she may take what we would consider a "Biblical" stand,
the basis of her Jewish faith is the rejection of Christ. Thus
we can easily understand why she is so popular - she offers "reformation"
without Christ and Christian conversion. She offers people answers
without the truth, Christ. (Jn. 14:6.) And the world is hungry
for such answers. I will have to admit, I would much rather live
among moral pagans than immoral pagans, and, for that matter,
immoral "Christians." She fits in well with the modern
"Conservative" mood - reform without religion (Christ,
that is).
Thus, if Dr. Laura is true to the Jewish faith she claims to follow,
she rejects Christ - she is one of the manyantichrists. (See "Jewish"
and antichrist arguments below.) An antichrist is anyone who is
an adversary of the Messiah. Adam Clarke comments on 1 John 2:18:
Atichrist shall come Who is this anticristov antichrist? Is he
the Emperor Domitian, the Gnostics, Nicolaitans, Nazareans, Cerinthians,
Romish pontiffs, etc., etc.! Ans. Any person, thing, doctrine,
system of religion, polity, etc., which is opposed to Christ,
and to the spirit and spread of his Gospel, is antichrist. We
need not look for this imaginary being in any of the above exclusively.
Even Protestantism may have its antichrist as well as Popery.
Every man who opposes the spirit of the Gospel, and every teacher
and writer who endeavors to lower the Gospel standard to the spirit
and taste of the world, is a genuine antichrist, no matter where
or among whom he is found. The heresies which sprang up in the
days of St. John were the antichrist of that time. As there has
been a succession of oppositions to Christianity in its spirit
and spread through every age since its promulgation in the world,
so there has been a succession of antichrists. We may bring this
matter much lower; every enemy of Christ, every one who opposes
his reign in the world, in others, or in himself, is an antichrist;
and consequently every wicked man is an antichrist. But
the name has been generally applied to whatever person or thing
systematically opposes Christ and his religion.
Many antichrists, Many false prophets, false Messiahs, heretics,
and corrupters of the truth. (Clarke's Commentary, 1 John. Emph.
added.)
The Lord warned of the false prophets, i.e., antichrists, in sheep's
clothes, as did Paul in Acts 20:29-31. Moreover, God commands
his people to try the spirits whether they are of God: because
many false prophets are gone out into the world. (1 Jn. 3:2.)
The Apostle thus implies that the spirit of the many antichrists
is a spirit of good works and words, even "Biblical"
works and words, yet that spirit is missing one ingredient, Jesus
Christ. (3:3.) Therefore, knowing that one is a child of God is
based on more than just keeping his commandments. (5:3.) Keeping
his commandments must be in addition to saving faith in Christ.
Those who may promote his commandments yet lack saving faith in
Christ are of the many antichrists that are gone out into the
world. (3:3.) Rather than the antichrist being a raging beast
against Christianity, John's understanding is that the spirit
of antichrist offers Biblical morality without Christ. And the
hardest statement of all is John's, when he says that those who
do not have the doctrine of Christ must not be allowed into our
homes. (2 Jn. 7-11.) So antichrist refers to any person or system
that opposes the true Christian religion.
Note that hatred from the world does not mean one is a Christian,
for Cain slew Abel because Abel's actions were according to God's
standard, not necessarily because Abel was a "Believer."
The world will hate anyone who will not bow to its will. (1 Jn.
3:11.)
Accordingly, there is a major danger to Dr. Laura listeners --
that is, they can be led to believe that there are answers to
life's problems other than conversion and Christ. Certainly, I
have found that generally her answers are Biblically sound, but
they are still based in the fact that she openly rejects Christ
and Christianity. She must be considered a wolf in sheep's clothing,
for her message is that one can live a good life apart from genuine
Christian conversion, being a new creature in Christ. (2 Cor.
5:17, Gal. 6:15.)
However, I must quickly admit that the Lord uses the most unusual
means to accomplish his purpose - that is, exalt his law-word
above all things. (Ps. 138:2.) And in this case, it seems to me
that he is using a Christ-rejecter, i.e., antichrist, to glorify
himself and to exalt his word, though that exaltation is apart
from the way, the truth and the life, Christ. When God has no
men to fill the gap, he will use women, even unsaved women. (See
TBE, April, 1993, "Woman and Children, Isa 3:1-15; hard copy
upon request. All who are in places of power and influence are
there because the Lord God placed them there.)
Which brings us to the next point - Can a Jew be a Christian,
or can a Christian be a Jew?
Last year, the Southern Baptist "issued a prayer guide
urging Southern Baptists to pray for Jews to accept Jesus as the
Messiah." The prayer guide created quite a stir among Jews,
as did the urging of men to be proper heads of their households
a few years ago stirred up the feminists.
Larry King (Larry King Live, CNN, 1/13/2000) interviewed the head
of "Jews for Jesus," the president of the Southern Baptist
Seminary in Louisville, and two Jewish Rabbis. It was a hour discussion
concerning the SBC prayer guide, and thus urging Jews to become
what may be called "Messianic Jews." And it seemed as
though Larry King was defending the right of the Baptists to try
to "convert" Jews to Christ. But the Jews were saying
that it was very intolerant of the Baptists to try to make heaven
exclusive to only those who have trusted Christ.
In fact, one rabbi was very hateful, and implied that any person
who tried to convert a Jew was no better than Hitler who tried
to exterminate the Jews.
The reality of the matter:
Since Christ, one cannot be a "Christian" and a "Jew"
in its common Old Testament usage. Thus, there can be no such
thing as a "Messianic Jew," for one can either believe
in the Messiah or be a Jew. Christians refuse to believe this
fact, though the "Jewish" community is very vocal about
it:
Pagans can be Jews because the basis of being a Jew is rejection
of Christ. Judaism is simply a matter of following the rites and
rituals of that religion while denying that Christ fulfilled those
rites and rituals. Clearly, when a Jew accepts Jesus as the Messiah,
he or she is no longer Jewish, for the foundation of today's Judaism
is rejecting Christ.
See a more detailed discussion on Jews, Israelites and the Hebrews
at the end of this article.
Officially:
When asked these questions, "Who is Israel? Who is a Jew?",
the Israeli government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) answered:
The term Israelite is purely Biblical. An Israeli is a citizen
of Israel, regardless of religion. A Jew is a person anywhere
in the world born to a Jewish mother, or converted to Judaism,
who is thus identified as a member of the Jewish people and religion.
Though tying the term "Israelite" to Scripture, MFA
admitted that "Israelite" or "Jew" has nothing
whatsoever to do with a bloodline to Abraham the Hebrew (Gen.
14:13 ): an "Israelite" is one (no matter his "religious
persuasion") living in the literal nation of Israel, and
a "Jew" is one who follows the very actively and vocal
antichrist Jewish religion. (One rabbi on Larry King typified
the Jewish attitude toward Christ - extremely hateful toward Christ
and Christians, and did not miss an opportunity to speak derogatory
of them.)
"A Jewish mother" is simply a mother who is "identified
as a" follower of the Jewish religion. Obviously, anyone
can become an "Israelite" by moving to that Palestinian
nation, and can become a "Jew" simply by converting
to Judaism, i.e., denying that Christ fulfilled all the Old Testament
rites and ceremonies that spoke of his work for his people. Officially,
Judaism is simply a religion, claiming no physical ties to Abraham,
Isaac nor Jacob. A Jew is one who follows the religious practices
prescribed by that religion. Ask those claiming to be Jewish if
they are Hebrews. If they say yes, ask them to prove it.
Many times, the terms Jews and Israelites were used interchangeably by the Spirit. Though there is no religion called "Judaism" mentioned in Scripture, Paul clearly said that he practiced the Jews' religion. He identified himself as a Jew, Pharisee, Benjaminite, Israelite and a Hebrew. (Gal. 1:13, 14; Ac. 19:34; 21:39; 22:3; Php. 3:5; Rom. 11:1.) The Spirit clearly speaks on the matter: Jews and Gentiles are clearly united into one body by the Spirit in Christ. (Rom. 2:28, 29, 1 Cor. 12:13.)
The term Jew, therefore, was an Old Testament term which developed
(evolved) to identify all Israelites living in the land of Judah,
and who practiced the "Jews'" religion (centered in
the Jerusalem Temple worship). Many times, the terms "Israelites"
and "Jews" were used interchangeably. However, we do
not hear anyone claiming to be a Hebrew, as was Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob.
The first usage of the title "Jew" is found in 2 Kings
16:6, well after the division of the Israelite kingdom after Solomon
died. It came into common usage during the captivity in Babylon,
as described in the book of Esther. The name Jew
and Israelite could be used interchangeably from
the captivity to Christ, and was centered around the worship of
the God of Israel, the Creator of heaven and earth. Christ came
claiming to be that Creator, and was rejected by the Jews,
or national Israel:
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
(John 1:11.) Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is
nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that
he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and
if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you:
but I know him, and keep his saying. (John 8:54, 55.)
Old Testament Judaism WAS a religion that worshiped the one true
God of heaven and earth, as practiced by Abraham, Isaac and Moses
(who actually gave the rites and rituals of that religion). Since
Christ, however, Judaism rejects Christ, so one cannot be a "Christian
Jew" any more than one can be a "Christian Hindu,"
or a "Christian Buddhist," or "Christian Muslim."
But one can be a Christian Israelite, i.e., a Christian living
in the nation of Israel, as sure as one can be a Christian American.)
Accordingly, there is no such thing as "Judeo-Christian"
heritage in America. America was distinctly Christian, and the
Mayflower compact (as well as the founding documents of all the
original 13 colonies) made it clear that the God of the Bible,
as revealed in Jesus Christ, was the chief corner stone of this
nation.
In the Old Testament, Israel, and latter the
term Jew, referred to God's Elect Nation, or
race, of people. Obviously, not everyone in that nation was saved
any more than all church members are saved today, but Israel,
which came out of the Hebrew race, was the nation God chose to
reveal himself through to the world. The original promise of God's
blessing to the world was made to Abraham the Hebrew, and passed
on his descendants, Isaac, Jacob, and finally to Christ, all Hebrews.
However, since Christ, God's Elect Nation refers to the Church.
(See my commentary on the book of Galatians and the book, "Israel's
Identity/Israel's Conversion." Note for those who like to
"split hairs" - Yes, God has Elect Nations today, and
I believe America was one of them. God showed himself strong to
many generations through Christian America. That cannot be said
today, as America has basically turned its back upon God.) God
still shows himself strong through his Elect people, or through
the Jews or Israel, but the
new Israel of God is the Gospel Church:
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly
places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus
our Lord: (Eph.3:10, 11.)
Here are some observed points from Weiss' Section, II, The Elect
Race. (T. & T. Clark, 1888. Click
here for entire Weiss' entire text.)
First, the elect race, or nation, of God is identified as Israel,
The Israel of God. Israel consisted of the congregation of the
Lord. Its foundation is traced to the promises made to Abraham,
passed down through Isaac and Jacob/Israel, and fulfilled in Jesus
Christ, the promised Messiah.
Second, that physical nation was called to be a holy nation to
the Lord God, and represent Him midst the pagan nations around
them.
Third, that nation had two sides: physical and spiritual. The
physical nation of Israel consisted of both believers in the Messiah
who would come, Jesus Christ, and non-believers. Faith in the
Messiah was evidenced by faithful obedience to the laws given
to it by the Lord Jesus Christ, including the rites and rituals
pointing to His coming.
Fourth, those who were unfaithful were cut off from physical Israel,
cast out of the nation of Israel. Those who refused to obey the
demands of salvation were excluded from the elect nation; those
who obeyed the demands of salvation were grafted in even before
Christ, e.g., Rahab, Ruth, &c.
Fifth, the physical nation, or national Israel, totally rejected
the Messiah, putting Him to death. The result was that God totally
cut off that nation. It no longer exists as it did in the Old
Testament.
Sixth, however, spiritual Israel, the elect race, continued, for
it was made up of those faithful to the gospel message of the
Messiah. They, the remnant from the Old Testament, were kept faithful
by the electing grace of God: He reserved them unto Himself, Romans
11:4.
Seventh, at the coming of Christ, the elect physical nation, or
congregation of the Lord, took on another name, the Gospel
Church. To finalize the establishment of the Church in
place of national Israel, Old Testament national Israel was totally
destroyed when Christ finally judged her for her sins, Matthew
23:34-39 (Lk. 11:50).
Eighth, the Gospel Church is built upon the same foundation as
was the true Israel of God in the Old Testament - faithful obedience
to the gospel message, James 2:8-26. (Mt. 16:15;
Jn. 6:69.) The Gospel Church is built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.
(Eph. 2:20. Note that the prophets had to be the Old Testament
prophets. Cf. Lk. 24:44ff.)
Ninth, the Gospel Church is the continuation of the elect nation
of God, the Israel of God, as a daughter is a continuation of
her mother. The believers of old, the true Israel of God, are
the stem of the Church; they are the fathers of the Gospel Church.
(1 Cor 10:1, speaking to a church made up of
both "Jews" and "Gentiles," Paul identified
their fathers as the ones who came out of Egypt, being led by
the cloud in the wilderness.)
Tenth, there is no difference now, for both "Jews" and
"Gentiles" alike must be grafted into the "root"
of Jesse, Jesus Christ, the true Israel of God. (Is. 49:1-7. Christ
is called Israel by God the Father. Thus, all who are
in Him are in the Israel of God.)
Eleventh, the Gospel Church replaced national Israel as God's
elect race. (Gal. 6:16, Eph. 2:12.) And like the nation of old,
it is made up of those who have obeyed the Gospel call, and of
those who have depended upon something other than converting gospel
of Christ. Those who refuse to obey the demands of the Christian
Gospel are required to be removed from the congregation of the
Lord. (1 Cor 5.) Baptism by submersion is the physical sign of
entrance into the physical Israel, outwardly showing the faith
of the believer in the converting work of Christ in his heart.
Twelfth, though He at one time dwelt in the temple made with hands
in old Israel, the Gospel Church is now the dwelling place of
the Most High God.
When the history of Old Testament Israel is followed, with its
ups and downs, we see how God works through his Elect race of
people, the New Israel of God, the Gospel Church. (The term "Church"
can easily be substituted for the term "Israel" throughout
the Old Testament.)
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened
unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition,
upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Additional discussions:
Note that the above treats "Jew" as
is commonly done today, as a Biblical nation still scattered without
a king, Hosea 3:4. However, Hosea 3:4 looked forward to Christ.
Though Israel was without a king, prince, sacrifice, image, ephod,
and teraphim, for many days, those days ended with Christ, for
they all pointed to his office over his people, Israel. Hosea
3:4 was fulfilled in Christ, The King, Prince, Sacrifice, God,
Judge (i.e., ephod, teraphim) of his people, Israel.
We should add another category to the 3 above -- "4. Those
who followed the Jews' religion, Galatians 1:13, 14." Therefore,
there are two "Jews" today, and neither has to do with
natural birth: 1) those who follow a religion known as Judaism,
based upon denial of Christ, and 2) those whose hearts have been
circumcised by the Holy Spirit, Romans 2:28, 29.
Dr. Bernhard Weiss states the facts well:
Scripturally:
Keil (1807-1888,) gives a rather lengthy explanation concerning
the physical descendants of Abraham, i.e., the ten tribes. Though
far too extensive to quote in its entirety, we will say:
Thus according to this very able Bible scholar, "every attempt
to discover the remnants of the ten tribes anywhere must be altogether
futile." And we must also say, those efforts are a waste
of time, for no one can prove he is a member if the Hebrew race,
the Biblical, Old Testament Jew.
Charles Hodge gives the orthodox 1835 Christian view of Jew. Commenting
on Romans 2:17, he said:
God identified the New Testament Israelite and New Testament Jew as the same race. (Ac. chpt. 13; Isa. 42:6; 49:6.) Note Geneva's introduction to the Book of the Revelation:
Thus, the Orthodox Christian view of Israel and the Jews is
that "the Church of the Jews" is the Gospel Church,
the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us look a little at 1 John 2, and St. John's definition
of the antichrist.
V. 18 is a much discussed verse, and the word antichrist is greatly
misused and misunderstood. We should remember that John is writing
in the context of a primarily Jewish economy, of which Saul had
been typical before his conversion.
Anitchrist - Against Christ, or an opposition Christ, a rival
Christ. The word is used only by the apostle John. Referring to
false teachers, he says #1Jo 2:18,22 4:3 2Jo 1:7 "Even now
are there many antichrists." (Online Bible.)
So antichrist refers to anyone or any system
opposing Christ and his gospel. It especially describes the Roman
Pope. The Jews are antichrist, if they are true Jews.
John is probably referring to the Lord's words in Matthew 24:5,
24, 25. And Christ was there referring to the end of the Hebrew
economy, the destruction of Jerusalem. However, the warning and
description is good for all time. It refers to every person and
system that attempts to lower the Gospel to man's level, or to
suit the taste of the world and flesh. It also includes all who
would be opposed to the reign of Christ.
Ye have heard probably refers to they heard it from those who
heard it from Christ who warned that there would be many who would
corrupt the truth, Christ.
Whereby we know that it is the times of which our Lord predicted
and warned.
V. 19, continues the thought. These people now opposed to the
gospel and the reign of King Jesus were at one time part of the
Christian assemblies. They left the true gospel to start their
own groups. John says that these false teachers have shown by
their actions that they were never really part of the truth, or
they would not have departed.
In using the term us, John probably refers to
the disciples who were instructed by the Lord. Though these teachers
struck out on their own, John says they were not really followers
of the Lamb, or they would have continued their identification
with the disciples.
(19) A digression against certain offences and stumbling blocks
at which that young age especially might stumble and be shaken,
Therefore that they should not be terrified with the falling back
of certain, first he makes plain to men that although those who
fall from God and his religion had a place in the Church, yet
they were never of the Church: because the Church is the company
of the elect, who cannot perish, and therefore cannot fall from
Christ. (o) So then the elect can never fall from grace.
( 20) Secondly, he shows that these things happen to the benefit
of the Church, that hypocrites may be plainly known. (Geneva)
Not all of us... probably refers to sincere people
who were drawn away by the smooth words of the false teachers.
V. 20, John's desire is to protect the little children,
probably his students or disciples, from the errors of theantichrists,
those who change the truth, the gospel of Christ. He tells them
that by being Christians, they have been anointed by the Holy
One, so that now they should be able to recognize the antichrists.
This verse tells us that the many antichrists, plural, being warned
about by John look and act like the truth, so observers must have
the inspiration of the Spirit to recognize them. Little children
could also refer to immature Christians, who might be easily swayed
to a corrupt gospel.
V. 21, John writes to them because they know the truth. He writes
to remind them to compare what theantichrists say with the truth
of God's word. Note that a teacher may have the truth in every
area, but if that teacher is missing one area, that teacher is
an antichrist. And that area is Christ, who alone is the truth.Antichrists
deny that Christ is the only answer and the only way to the Father,
vv. 22, 23. Therefore, they are found in every denomination and
race of people.
Accordingly, the spirit of the antichrist may not
take on the form of a Nero, who set out to destroy Christians,
but may take on the form of even a "Reformed" preacher
who ever so slightly undermines the Gospel, which must consist
of understanding the doctrine of sin and of the substitutionary
work of Christ as the only way to the Father. (Rom. 10:14)
Of course, I cannot get this close without referring to a "pet
peeve" of mine, "pray this prayer for salvation,"e.g.,
"Ask Jesus into your heart" without a clear understanding
of sin and the atoning work of Christ.
Vv. 22, 23 sounds like the many antichrists very openly deny who
Christ is and the work he did. Again, John is writing in the context
of the Jewish religion of his day, a religion based upon this
denial (as it still is, e.g., Saul).
However, I do not believe the context will permit such a restricted
understanding of the verse. For one to denythat Jesus is the Christ,
and thus deny the Father, he does not have to outright say, as
do the Jews, that Christ is not the only way to heaven. The context
tells us that all who compromise the gospel and reign of Christ
areantichrists (plural). And that denial started at the very beginning
of the Gospel Church.
Vv. 24-27, the thought continues: John urges these little children
to continue on in what they learned in the beginning, either the
beginning of their faith, or the beginning of the Gospel Church.
He is telling them to not let the smooth words and appealing character
of the false teachers sway them from what they know is the truth,
Christ, that assures them they are continuing in the faith. Evidently,
the false teachers were not only undermining the true gospel of
Christ, but even the doctrine of eternal life.
V. 27 says about the same thing as v. 20 - they know the truth,
they have the Holy Spirit, and now the Holy Spirit will confirm
or deny what they are being taught by the false teachers.
Need not that any man teach you. We are told by the context that
John is warning the people against the many antichrists, false
teachers, that are out and around, teaching contrary to the truth.
He is not saying they do not need a teacher, but that the final
authority is God's word and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Thus when
the teaching is not according to the truth, they must ignore it
- need not that any man teach you.
Vv. 28, 29, the message is again, "Live what you profess."
Those who are in Christ will seek to walk as he walked, righteously.
And our righteous walk proves to others that we are his.
Finally, note Revelation 3:9:
In other words, those who claim to be Jews, yet do not have
the inward circumcision are liars, for the true Jewsare those
who have been circumcised with the circumcision made without hands.
(Col. 2:11.)
Note 1: John warned about the many antichrists. As previously
mentioned, more than likely, those many antichrists walk in righteous
manner, though they are against Christ. If they did not have a
"right" life, they would not gain the followers who
sincerely want to follow the Lord, v. 19 - not all of us. In other
words, they may preach and practice righteousness - right living
- without the necessary ingredient, Christ, which is what makes
them so dangerous. They are especially dangerous to the fallen
nature which wants answers without Christ.
Note 2: John's statement in v. 29 is strong - those who do not
desire to do righteousness are not born of him.
This chapter has emphasized that the Lord has placed his Good
Spirit in his people, and He will give them the
desire to follow all the word of God, vv. 20, 27. Those who depart
from the faith did not have the faith to begin with, v. 19.
Note 3: No matter how "righteous" a person might appear,
if that person denies the Son, that person is a liar, v. 22, and
an antichrist, 4:3. (Note that every time John refers to the antichrist,
it basically means those who deny Christ, e.g., 2 John 1:7. John's
definition does not include wicked activity, nor anything except
the denial of Christ and his true gospel. Hence, even the Protestant
church contains many antichrists.) Those who deny Christ, deny
also the Father. Again, this is written in the Jewish context
of John's time, and applies just as much to the followers of the
Jewish religion today as it did then.
Note 4: There are several marks of the antichrist: First and foremost,
one can reach the Heavenly Father without Christ; second one can
live a "good" life without Christ; third, one can be
a "Christian," yet not have arighteous life according
to the entire word of God, 3:24; fourth, sin can be defined apart
from the law, 3:4; fifth, one can be a "Christian,"
yet be friends with the world, e.g., "Christian" rock
music; sixth, one can be a "Christian" apart from loving
the brethren, 2:10, &c.; seventh, one can have love for God
yet not love Christ and his commandments, the law, 5:2, 3.
All who have followed Dobson's publication, Focus on the Family publication know that he overwhelmingly supports the government education system. A "Public Schools" search of Dobson's Focus on the Family web site produces 1665 marches. A quick glance through them show that they are basically articles justifying Christians' continued sacrifice of their children to Moloch. In his support of the government school system, he is ignoring a key factor - "Public education is hostile to religion" at its very roots:
Does not this also make those who support "Public education" hostile to religion?
"Three Roman Catholic families..." Where were the
"Evangelicals" to take the stand as the captive audience,
their children, is being trained in the ways of the pagans?
The Harry Potter series, fiction books about a boy magician, has made publishing history--grabbing the top three spots on the New York Times bestseller list. Yet the books, intended for 8 to 12 year-olds, have stirred controversy. The American Library Association reports four serious challenges to use of the books in schools_in South Carolina, Michigan, Minnesota, and New York.
A review in the conservative World magazine (10/30/99) warns that the books are increasingly dark. The author, Joanne Rowling, says the books will become darker yet as the series progresses.
Though marketed as successors to The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter books lack a great cosmic struggle between good and evil, and the difference between good and evil is not clear. Moral ambiguity and alienation of youth are strong themes. Harry Potter makes his own way, directed by his feelings and his friendships. but not bv anv written moral code. (Ibid., V. 26, N. 11. Emp. added.)
Typical of Dobson's support is this November, 1999 Focus on
the Family Magazine article.
Rebuilding Hope for Public Schools
Public schools face formidable obstacles, but if Christian parents get actively and prayerfully involved in their children's education, change can be wrought.
By Cheri Fuller
"Mom, do you realize that more than 30 kids said hello to you as you walked through the halls in the last few minutes? They must like to see you here at school!"
Cole, B.J. Pennick's eighth-grade son, was proud of the attention his mom received. B.J. was there to volunteer in the office and attend a PTA board meeting of Charles Haskell Middle School in Broken Arrow, Okla., where she and the other moms made important decisions--such as how to spend the $6,000 they raised for the school, whether to have uniforms next year, and what kind of dances and activities to plan for the students.
"Important decisions" over how the money they raised should be spent, what kind of dances, whether or not to by new uniforms to ware as they serve the god of sports, &c.! These poor deluded ladies think they now have an important part in the decision process of how the government runs its school in their area. Furthermore, Christians helping to raise money to fund school dances when they know what takes place at those events! Someone needs to face reality. How much say do they have in who the teachers are (keeping sodomites and whoremongers away from the children) and what is taught in the class room (evolution vs. creation)? Obviously, very little, if any, for they have not changed the sex-education classes, nor stopped the expansion of sodomy. (Our local district hired a new superintendent; soon after he was no the job, he was picked up for drunk driving. Though many parents called for his "head," he was retained. So much for "important decisions" by the parents.)
Haskell, with a student population of 900, isn't a perfect school, but it is a good example of what can happen when parents' involvement and prayers combine. More than 100 volunteers log hundreds of hours serving at the school, taking kids on field trips, tutoring in the classroom, doing vision and hearing screening, chaperoning at dances, serving on curriculum committees and countless other activities.
Obviously, without Christian parents' support, the "public education" system would fall apart, as it rightfully should. It should be abandoned as the terrible deception that it is upon the American people.
These parents intercede and put feet to their prayers, and they see positive results. There's a growing camaraderie and spirit of cooperation between principals, teachers and parents as they ask, "How can we work together to improve academics, emphasize good character and build a better school?" Teachers express gratitude about the treats and thoughtful deeds that have blessed them. And parents are seeing more emphasis on academics and a higher standard of discipline in the classroom.
Of course, the administration and teachers are thankful for the parents' help, for it makes their job of indoctrination in paganism, self-esteem, statism and socialism much easer. Since when is the emphasis of Christian parents for their children to be "academics"? Where is the "more emphasis on" Biblical standards "in the classroom"? The school used as the example for "rebuilding" condones dances (this is a "middle school," where the author's eighth grade son attends), as well as abides by public policy concerning sex education and sodomy, probably promoting both in the curriculum. Christians sin when they allow their children to set under the typical secular humanist teaching as found in the "public schools," Jeremiah 10:2. Though admitting problems with the sex education and sodomy policies, the author commends Christian parents for chaperoning school dances. God help us when Christian parents support their 6th, 7th and 8th graders pressing up close to the apposite sex at government sponsored dances. God help us when Christians feel they have made an important contribution because they can chaperon a school dance with unbelievers. Have these parents, and Dobson, lost the common sense God gave them? Did salivation rob them of their thinking ability? What happened to the exhortation, Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers...? (2 Cor. 6:14.)
Powered by prayer
While school prayer is still debated in Congress, Christian students at Haskell as well as schools around the country meet to pray. The Fellowship of Christian Students has more than 70 sixth, seventh and eighth graders who meet after school to hear speakers, to pray, worship and grow in their faith.
As they gather together, the Christian kids in this middle school feel supported in their faith. "I've learned to share the gospel with different types of students," says B.J.'s son Cole, 14, who's a leader in student council. "I like the challenge of being distinctly Christian and have become stronger in the Lord this year.
"I've learned to share the gospel with different types of Students... and have become stronger in the Lord this year" said the author's 14 year old son. I am sure he is growing closer to the Lord in the sex education, "which isn't entirely abstinence -based," and in a student body experimenting with sodomy. No doubt he is really growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord as he tightly holds an attractive 13 or 14 year old girl in his arms at the school dance. No doubt his mon's chaperoning at the dance is a great encouragement for him to become a stronger Christian on the dance floor. Have these people forgotten what it is like to be 14?
"Because I'm a Fellowship student and my mom's praying," he adds, "teachers hold me to a higher standard."
At schools such as Haskell, with a high level of parental involvement and a blanket of prayer over the faculty and students, an environment is created where learning is the goal, excellence is the focus, kids feel safe and teachers feel respected. They still face problems, such as the sex education program, which isn't entirely abstinence-based, or the students experimenting with homosexuality. But as more and more Christian parents get involved and pray, rebuilding is taking place in the public schools.
Since when is the Christian's goal "learning"? Has God changed his goal for his people from glorifying him inwhatsoever we do (1 Cor. 10:31), to learning what the state determines is best? (Who defines learning? Certainly, Christians need training in practical skills, particularly in the area of each one's personal abilities. But all familiar with the state school system should know that the state's goal is not to increase basic abilities in "the three Rs," but to increase "social" ability and abilities that strengthen the state. The "dumbing down" process to where everyone is at the lowest common denominator will not be stopped in the government schools.) The following report was sent out by the Religion Today News Service:
Clubs for homosexuals have become more common in U.S. schools. More than 600 gay and lesbian clubs meet at high schools, up from fewer than 100 in 1998, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network said. ...The extracurricular clubs are permissible under the same law that allows Bible clubs to meet at schools, supporters say. The Equal Access Act, supported by many religious groups, says public schools that allow clubs to meet in their facilities can't discriminate on the basis of what is discussed, USA Today said. ...Many school boards oppose gay clubs, but relent when threatened by lawsuits from gay teens and civil rights groups. School boards in Aurora, Colo., Greenville, S.C., and Manchester, N.H., backed down when suits were threatened. A Salt Lake City school district forbade all extracurricular clubs from meeting at the school rather than give in to a gay club. The Orange Unified School Board in California ruled that the proposed Gay Straight Alliance club can't meet on school grounds unless it changes its name and refuses to talk about sex. Sophomore Anthony Colin, 15, is suing.
...Gay clubs encourage impressionable teens to experiment with homosexuality, a parents' group that opposes the club said. The clubs "encourage children to accept a lifestyle that leads to premature death," parent Donna Sigalas said.
...More teens reportedly are declaring themselves to be gay.
About two_thirds of gay students said they have been verbally, physically, or sexually harassed at school, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network said. In some schools gay and straight students meet to discuss problems faced by gay students and how to cultivate a tolerant atmosphere. The presence of gay clubs makes homosexual students feel safer, advocates say. (Religion Today News Summary, Jan. 19, 2000 <religiontoday.crosswalk.com>)
Another:
A group of teachers and health professionals is sending a 12_page booklet on homosexual tolerance to more than 15,000 school systems. Called "Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation and Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators and School Personnel," the booklet says homosexuality is not unhealthy and does not require a cure. The coalition that produced the booklet is the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.
The conservative Family Research Council said the booklet is based on politics rather than science. "We're all for the facts about homosexuality getting out, but you won't find them in this publication," said Janet Parshall, spokeswoman for the council (Christian News, 12/6/99). (What in the World! V. 27, N. 3.)
Another
Second homosexual propaganda video targets public schools
First there was the highly controversial video It's Elementary, intended as a primer for teachers to help them persuade children that homosexuality is normal and natural.
Now the sequel will be larger and more to the point: That's A Family! Kicks off a three-video series that will be shown directly to children in classrooms across the country, shamelessly attempting to persuade kids that homosexuality should be accepted and affirmed... (AFA Journal, 2/2000)
Dobson encourages Christian parents to leave their children in these dens of iniquity, the government schools. Moreover, let me ask, since when is "learning" (eating at the tree of knowledge) THE goal of Christian parents for their children? Certainly, we want our children to have a good knowledge base, but that knowledge base must be in conformity to the basic principles of God's word, e.g., creation studied in the terms of God's word - six literal days of creation rather than billions of years evolution, and the only sex-education needed is to remain pure until marriage. (Heb. 13:4.) The goal for our children is that they learn the word of God well enough to know how to glorify God in every thought and action.
This rebuilding process is reminiscent of the Old Testament prophet Nehemiah. Just as you may have been disturbed and saddened at the headlines about drug problems or violence in youth, problems in schools in your own community or the moral decline in our society, Nehemiah too was grieved at the devastation of his people.
When he found out that the wall of Jerusalem was torn down, the gates burned and his people in great distress, he fasted and prayed for days, calling upon God for help. He not only prayed--he took action. With the king's permission, he went back to Jerusalem to lead the rebuilding of the wall. There he didn't just gather volunteers or work, he prayed every step of the way and encouraged others to turn their hearts to God as their only hope. In Nehemiah's case, the prayer and action resulted in the wall being rebuilt and the city restored against terrible odds and formidable enemies.
Rebuilding the public schools compared to Nehemiah rebuilding
the walls of Jerusalem!!! This woman, and Dobson (who should know
better), has lost her mind, thinking that the public schools were
meant to represent God on earth as Jerusalem was when David dedicated
it to the Lord. (We must admit that the public school buildings
are the temple to the state's god, Secular Humanism.) However,
the purpose of the public schools was never to build on the solid
foundation of hearing and doing these sayings of mine. (Mat. 7:24.)
The foundation of "public education" is as antichrist
as anything can be, so how can foolish Christians hope to build
a solid, godly building on a corrupt foundation of sand? (Mat.
7:26, 27.) "Rebuilding" speaks of taking something back
to its original form and purpose. However, the purpose of the
public schools was never to exalt Christ, nor to teach children
how to glorify God. Note St. John's clear warning:
1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist , whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
Antichrist is clearly any person, institution or spirit that is against Christ as the only way to the Father. It is the spirit of antichrist that seeks to put life into a body that was designed to kill Biblical faith. Though it may be stretching the point, note an obvious parallel:
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Rev. 13.)
These people are trying to give life to a dead corpse. Because the danger of the antichrist has been placed off in the future, Christians do not make any connection with current events and the antichrist. So Christians send the children over whom God gave them stewardship to an antichrist system for training - a system that is at war against God, God's word and against Christ as being the only answer and hope for fallen man. (See below.)
Wall building
As Christian parents and teachers have rallied, worked and prayed, we are seeing signs of hope in public schools as a similar rebuilding is beginning to happen. One of the positive trends is the effort to turn from the values_free philosophy to teaching virtue and moral values in schools. For example, in Raleigh, N.C., Judy Hoffman, a parent and school board chairman, saw the need to put character back into public education.
"Teaching virtue and moral values in schools." Who would not want "character back into public education"? But can "character" be taught apart from Biblical character? Can one be good without Christ and the indwelling Spirit? Who is allowed to define morality and character in the government schools, the God who can only be worshiped through the Lord Jesus Christ, or the state? If this sincere person, Judy Hoffman, would insist on distinctly Biblical values being taught, would she not hit a brick wall immediately (would not the state withhold funds if the school board used the Bible to teach virtue, moral values and character)? What good is virtue and moral values apart from a Biblical, Christian premise? (Virtue -- Secular: "The quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong." Who defines right and wrong? who defines virtue in the government schools? God? The state? The parents? Virtue -- Biblically: "Moral excellence, as modesty, purity." I am sure school sponsored dances promote Biblical values and godly character!)
A surprising 60 percent of high school seniors believe that cohabiting is a good way to prepare for marriage. The National Marriage Project has been investigating why more than 4 million American couples are choosing to live together without being married. It issued a report in January looking at recent research on cohabiting. The data show that cohabiting couples are at greater risk for breaking up, domestic violence, child abuse, depression, and lower family incomes than married couples. Cohabiting doesn't foster the habits and behaviors that are needed for a successful long_term marriage (Christian News, 4/26/99). (What in the World. V. 26, N. 1. Note that at this point, the 2000 Censes, for the first time in history, will not record the marital status of the population.)
Focus on the Family thus promotes "Wall building" around renewed paganism.
After months of praying and careful planning with a 32_member task force about how to implement character education, Judy and the people in her community came up with a plan through which character is integrated into every area of the school day at all levels for the district's 90,000 students. The results in their schools are impressive: The academic climate has improved, tests scores are up, pregnancy and dropout rates have decreased, as has violence in the schools. Character education programs like this are being developed at the local level in almost every state, and they offer great opportunities for Christians to get involved.
"Character education programs..." "Character" is certainly an attractive word, but it is very vague. What kind of character? Who defines character? Mormons? Moslems? Hindus? Shintoist? Christians? In all the nice talk about character, the words godly, Christian and Biblical are noticeably absent. In other words, these Christians are promoting secular character, or character without a Biblical base, which must be anathema to Christians. (I would think that such character training for the unsaved might only harden them further in their unbelief, e.g.,"I am a good, moral person, so I don't need the Lord to live a better life nor to see me through to eternal life.") Furthermore, since when did the Lord God commission civil government to instill character in children. (Who defines character? Do the children belong to the state?) What is wrong with Christians who can even imagine God giving such a responsibility to civil government? Where is that "character" building charge, or education charge for that matter, found in Romans 13? ("Community, train up the child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he shall not depart from it.")
In addition, "released-time" programs, in which public school students can legally receive 30 minutes of religious instruction once a week, are growing all over the country. Taught mainly by parent volunteers, these programs are giving millions of kids an opportunity to become acquainted with God's Word. In East Cottonwood Elementary School in northern California, for example, more than half of the 670 students in first to fourth grades go to the nearby St. Anne's Catholic Church on Friday afternoons for a lively half_hour of singing, prayer and Bible stories.
Evangelical Christians praising the Lord that their children are permitted to attend a Roman Catholic Church for 30 minutes a week, and thus teach them by implication that the Church of Rome is a legitimate worship of Jehovah God! Have these people lost their minds to think that allowing a "Bible study" off campus counters 35 hours of secular humanism in the class room, as well as the sodomite and sexual peer pressure?
•••
Schools still face formidable foes: postmodern secular teaching and liberal agendas, policies that need to change, overly large classes, problems with discipline and the need for higher academic standards. But if, like Nehemiah, we mix prayer with works, if parents are actively and prayerfully involved in their children's education, the evidence shows that public schools can change.
<http://www.family.org/fofmag/features/a0007151.html>
(End of article)
Though parents may have good intentions, and though they may influence
local school districts, they are not going to change "public
policy" as carried out in that antichrist system. The "public
policy" is antichrist and antifamily:
NY school nixes drawing of Jesus In many public schools across America, everything and everyone is welcome except Jesus Christ. That's the sad lesson learned by one seven_year_old little boy in a public school outside Syracuse, New York.
When Antonio Peck was told, along with his kindergarten classmates, to draw a picture of a way to save the earth, his first reaction was heartfelt. He used scissors and crayons to portray Jesus kneeling alongside two children. Antonio wrote beneath the artwork, "The only way to save the earth."
His teacher, however, had had in mind a more politically correct image about the environment. So Antonio's principal at Catherine_McNamara Elementary School, Robert Creme, had the picture censored. Mrs. Peck was told that Antonio's artwork could not hang in the cafeteria with those drawn by classmates.
Antonio's next effort portrayed a boy picking up trash in front of a church, but still included Jesus kneeling to the left of the picture. He explained that "Jesus wants us to clean the earth."
When Mrs. Peck found her son's artwork on display, she was dismayed to discover that the portion of Antonio's picture featuring Jesus had been bent backwards to obscure the praying figure. Later the same evening, she noticed that her son's poster had been removed altogether.
She is suing the school for religious discrimination. Her attorney, said the school violated the clear federal guidelines regarding religion in school established in 1995. www.worldmag.com, 12/4/99 (AFA Journal,2/2000.)
A school in Alabama was told that it cannot expel a dangerously disruptive student, Lance Landers, because he is "emotionally conflicted" and protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.Landers's list of alleged offenses include attempting to stab a teacher with a pencil, spitting on other students' food, greeting the principal on most mornings with a profane epithet, and threatening to grab the steering wheel from the bus driver. After the latter incident, the school district got a judge to have the boy barred from the entire Alabama public school system. But Lance's mother sued, claiming that he has a disability and needs treatment (AFA Journal, 11_12/99). (What in the World, V. 26, N. 12.)
OTHER gODS
Thought he government school system may tolerate the mention of
the one true God, the one who can be approached only through Jesus
Christ, it will not allow Christians to say that he is an exclusive
God, i.e., the Only True God. Moreover, that system demands that
all its students honor all gods equally, the god of the Jews,
the gods of the Hindus, the gods of the Mormons, the gods of the
Romanist (e.g., "Saint So-and-So"), the god of the Moslems,
&c. Any effort by Christians to say that there is only one
God who alone establishes all law, and that there is only one
way to that God, Jesus Christ , (Jn. 14:6) is now regarded as
"intolerant," "divisive" and "promoters
of ethnic and religious hatred." Unless God sees fit to intervene,
these terms will be used to outlaw Biblical Christianity:
A federal appeals court has unanimously upheld lower court decisions that gave a Southern California school district the right to ban the Ten Commandments from billboards at a high school baseball field. The judges decided that the advertiser's wanting to post the biblical message was not protected by the First Amendment. The court said the field was open only for the limited public purpose of education. Furthermore, the court ruled that the school could not be sued for singling out Christians because it had a policy of avoiding all controversial topics" (National Liberty Journal, 12/99.) (Ibid., V. 26, N. 11.)
A public teacher in New York City was fired after praying with students in her class. The incident began when a student asked about the destiny of a classmate who had drowned. Rosario replied that the student was "in heaven."
Students began asking more questions, and so Rosario gave students the option of using computers or workbooks while she discussed religious matters. Asked whether one must go through Jesus Christ to get to God, Rosario briefly explained that that was what she believed as a Christian. At the conclusion of the discussion, the students asked her to pray for them.
Rosario has filed suit charging that she was wrongly terminated. The suit alleges that Muslim administrators objected to her actions and school board officials "impugned" her beliefs (Baptists Today, 10/99). (Ibid., V.26, N. 10.)
When students showed up at their school in St. Louis with copies of the Bible to distribute, they were stopped by the principal and two deputy policy officers. Fifteen_year old Crystal Patterson says her Bible was confiscated and an officer threatened to arrest her. The girl and her mother filed suit in federal court, believing that legal action was their only hope for distributing the Bibles.After the Columbine tragedy, Crystal and fellow students had decided to distribute Truth for Youth Bibles to willing recipients during noninstruction times, as allowed by law. The students had come to school twice before with Bibles, but the principal had stopped them. The third time he was assisted by police (National Liberty Journal, 9/99). (Ibid., V. 26, N. 8.)
A high school guidance counselor in Pennsylvania sent a 17_year_old student to obtain an abortion in New Jersey without parental notification, circumventing the state's parental consent law. According to a lawsuit filed by the girls' parents, Howard and Marie Carter, counselor William Hickey not only arranged for the abortion in May 1998 but he also helped arrange financing and lied to school attendance officials to cover for the girl's absence.When the Carters confronted officials at Hatboro_Horsham High School, they were told flatly that the administration stood behind Hickey and that, should litigation result, the school district had "deep pockets" (World, 8/28/99). (Ibid., V. 26, N. 7.)
Two Southern Baptist congressmen have demanded the resignation of presidential press secretary Joe Lockhart. Reps. J.C. Watts and J.D. Hayworth were incensed by Lockhart's suggestion that Southern Baptist efforts to reach Hindus, Jews, and Muslims "perpetuate religious hatred."
During a White House press briefing on December 16, Lockhart said of the SBC's efforts: "I think the president has made very clear. . . his views on religious tolerance, and how one of the greatest challenges going into the next century is dealing with intolerance, dealing with ethnic and religious hatred, and coming to grips with the long_held resentments between religions," Lockhart said.
"So I think he's been very clear in his opposition to whatever organization, including the Southern Baptists, that perpetuate ancient religious hatred," the press secretary added. Lockhart later apologized for his remarks, according to the Associated Press (Baptist Press, 12/22/99 & 12/27/99). (Ibid., V. 27, N. 2. Emp. added.)
With his article, Rebuilding Hope for Public Schools, Dobson
again urges Christians to support, exalt and build on the clearly
antichrist foundation of modern government education. He thus
leads in the continued destruction of the very families he claims
to be strengthening.
Statist Education's Foundation
The foundation of statist education, i.e., "public education,"
is that man is basically good, and when presented with a choice,
if he has the proper instruction (e.g., sex, drug and sodomy education),
he will make the proper choice for good and godliness, which is
basic Arminianism. (See end of this article, "Arminianism
Defined.") The temper of the time of the foundation of the
"common schools," was Calvinism, which held that man
is basically bad and is a sinner, and his sin must be dealt with
first before he can make the proper choice for good and godliness
-- a work reserved for God alone through his converting Spirit.
(Horace Mann [1796-1858], is known as the "Father of the
Common Schools.")
And thus the very foundation of the statist schools is to equip
the student to know good and evil -- that is,
to be able to determine for himself the difference between good
and evil, rather than to be trained in the word of God, so God
can determine for the student what is good and evil. The public
schools, accordingly, are based in the Tempter's first offer --
eat of this tree of knowledge, and you can determine for yourself
what is moral, what is good and evil. (Gen. 3:5.) And Christians
who send their children there are urging them to eat of that tree.
Accordingly, the true crime against humanity is failure to train
the children in the word of God, so that God's word can direct
their paths.
Christians see barbarism as a result of sin, and the sinner must
be converted and trained in God's word; the public education system
sees barbarism as a result of lack of education in the knowledge
of good and evil. Because the state sees education of the children
as the answer for barbarism;
The property of this commonwealth is pledged for the education of all its youth, up to such a point as will save them from poverty and vice, and perhaps to prepare them for the adequate performance of their social and civil duties.
The successive holders of this property are trustees, bound to the faithful execution of their trust by the most sacred obligations; and embezzlement and pillage from children and descendants have not less of criminality, and have more of meanness, than the same offences when perpetrated against contemporaries. (Mann, quoted by Rushdoony, The Messianic Character of American Education, p. 25.)
And thus we have the basis for property taxes to support the statist education system. The land "owner" is seen as a trustee of land that actually belongs to the children's education system. The state, under Mann's leadership, took over the education system for its own benefit:
To read Mann, the issue was ostensibly education, or no education. Actually, the issue was between state-controlled education and community-controlled education, and this was the basic issue. Mann's work was two-fold, first do secularize education, and, second, to make it the province of the state rather than the community and parents. (Ibid., 27. Thus, a school can allow a 30 minuet break in a week's worth of indoctrination for a Bible class, off campus, for the Bible is not part of the education process. Consolidated Schools prove that education is not a local issue, but a state issue. I personally found in Indiana that new school buildings, where the "learning" level goes down, is not a local issue either. The state makes it next to impossible to stop bond issues that place the landowners in debt for many years to come.)
The modern state education system was built on a totally antichrist foundation -- faith that education is the cur-all for sin and crime; thus professional educators make these two claims:
First, we are the agency which can change society and create a true Utopia, paradise on earth, and, second,"let it be worked with efficiency," that is, give us the money and we can do it; our failure thus far is your fault in that we have received insufficient funds. (Ibid., 29.)
Christians, generally, have bought into the lie that eating of the tree of knowledge by their children will enable the children to determine for themselves what is good and evil:
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (Gen. 3:5.)
It appears to me that the goal of "public education"
to make the students as gods, able to determine for themselves
what is right and wrong for them, without the aid of God's inspired
word nor their parents. Hence sex education, drug education, "alternate
life-style" (sodomy) education, &c. And Christians urge
their children to eat of that tree planted by the state and nurtured
by the NEA:
... As soon as any man trusts to intellectual abilities, skill in languages, or human wisdom as the true means of edification and divine knowledge, he gives himself up to certain delusion. He has sold his birthright in the gospel state of spiritual illumination for a name, to make a noise with the sounding brass and tinkling cymbals of the natural man... (The Power of the Spirit, William Law [1686-1761]. Edited by Dave Hunt. Christian Literature Crusade, Third printing. 1971. P 47. His proof text, 1 Cor. 2:4, ed..)
What is the source of all this spiritual blindness ("letter learned knowledge blinded Jewish scribes and Pharisees. And so it often is in the Church today"), which from age to age thus mistakes and defeats all the gracious designs of God towards fallen mankind? Look at the origin of the first sin, and you will see it all. Had Eve desired no knowledge but that which came from God, Paradise had still been the habitation of her and of all her offspring. If Christians had desired no knowledge but that which comes alone from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Church had been a kingdom of God and communion of saints to this present day...
But now corruption, sin, death, and every evil of the world have entered into the Church, the spouse of Christ, just as they entered into Eve, the spouse of Adam, in Paradise. And in the very same way, and from the same cause: namely, a desire for knowledge other than that which comes from the inspiration of the Spirit of God alone. This desire is the serpent's voice in every man, doing everything to him an din him which Satanic deception did to Eve in the garden. It carries on the first deceit, it shows and recommends to him that same beautiful tree of human wifedom, self-will, and self-esteem springing up within him, which Eve saw in the garden. And this love of human wisdom and knowledge so blinds man, that he cannot see that he is eating of the same forbidden fruit and keeping up in himself all the death and separation from God which the first hunger for knowledge brought forth. "God made man upright," said Solomon, "but they have sought out many inventions." (Ibid., 52, 53. His proof text, Ecc. 7:29. "Self-esteem" was a problem in Law's day, ed.)
Thus Christians desire that their children eat of the same tree of secular knowledge that caused Eve such trouble, and that is offered through the secular public school system. Though Mr. Law is speaking concerning theology, his comment describes those who defend the public school system:
...[H]ow many have studied the words of Scripture for a lifetime, without receiving that humility of Christ which produces the very mind of Christ and turns fallen man into a son of God! Academic degrees they hold in plenty from the best centers of religious learning---but know so little of Spirit of Christ! What a paradox to see the professed Church of the Lamb filled with great numbers of champion disputants, who from age to age have been up in arms to support and defend a set of opinions, doctrines, and practices, all of which may be most cordially embraced without demanding the least degree of self-denial, and most firmly held fast without bestowing the least degree of humility!
Why is it that we see Bible scholars equally pleased with and contending for the errors and absurdities of every system of theology under which they happen to have taken their education?... (Ibid., pp. 50, 51.)
In other words, blood bought Christians are up in arms supporting
and defending a system that not only admits being secular, but
promotes at every opportunity "separation of" the Christian
God from all society. Why? One reason is because the "public
school system" is the system they were brought up in - "I
turned out OK, so the system must be OK."
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Mat. 7:20.)
And articles such as Rebuilding Hope for Public Schools encourages
Christians to not only themselves eat of that tree, but to bus
their children to that tree of knowledge and feed that tree with
God's money, so their children can eat of it. They too are part
of the spirit of antichrist, i.e., any spirit that is against
Christ as the only way to the Father.
While we are discussing the "public school" (a misnomer
if there ever was one), let me mention a few words about vouchers.
Though the idea sounds appealing, it is the snake from the Garden
ready to strike against the last vestige of Christian education,
whether that is home schooling or Christian schools:
Two Christian schools in Milwaukee face expulsion from the nation's largest voucher program after submitting what appears to be a religious litmus test for applicants. "This is our worst nightmare come true," said Carole Shields, president of the liberal People for the American Way. "Religious schools want to take tax dollars but they don't want to play by the rules. When a private, religious school accepts state aid, it must also accept the obligation not to discriminate."
Shields added, "Let this be a warning to every state legislature that is considering vouchers. Even if a random selection requirement is written into the law, some private schools will resist." The two schools were Lutheran and asked applicants to submit a separate form about their baptism and church (Christian News, 5/10199). (What in the World. V. 25, N. 11.)
Some Christian schools are refusing to participate in Florida's new voucher plan, the first statewide plan in the country, for fear of losing control of doctrine. Ken Wackes, headmaster of Fort Lauderdale's Westminster Academy, a private Christian school with an enrollment of more than 1,200, says his school would no longer be allowed to accept only students whose parents are born again Christians, nor could Bible class or chapel attendance be mandatory. "A school must take applicants on a first_come, first-served basis, with no screening allowed," he says (Christianity Today, 7/12/99). (Ibid., V. 26. N. 6.)
Only those who do not want to see will not see that vouchers
are a trap to further naturalize the Christian voice in the education
system. Though the enemy has been thus far unsuccessful in stopping
Christian education in the home and in the church, money will
do the job in far too many cases.
Arminianism Defined
2. Doctrinal positions.--The creed of the Arminians was set forth in tho Five Artieles of the Remonstrance addressed in 1610 to the States-General of Holland and West Friesland, from which fact its adherents received the name of Remonstrants. The articles were drawn up by Uyttenbogaert and signed by forty_six ministers. The Remonstrance is first negative, stating the five Calvinistic articles in order to reject them, and then positive, stating the five points of the Arminian position. Briefly summarized, the following are their positions. The first asserts conditional election, or election dependent on the foreknowledge by God of faith in the elect and of unbelief in those who are left in sin and under condemnation. The second asserts universal atonement in the sense that it is intended, although it is not actually efficient, for all. The third asserts the inability of man to exercise saving faith, or to accomplish anything really good without regeneration by the Holy Spirit. The fourth declares that the grace of God is indispensable in every step of the spiritual life, but that it is not irresistible. The fifth asserts that the grace of the Holy Spirit is sufficient for continual victory over temptation and sin; but the necessity of the final Perseverance of all believers is left doubtful. This last article was afterwards so modified by the followers of Arminius as to assert the possibility of falling from grace. (Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics, I.808. James Hastings, T. & T. Clark, 1908.)
Our oldest daughter, Jessica, works in a Lafayette mall (jewelry
sales person). While standing at a counter in J.C. Penneys, she
overheard some teens talking among themselves. They were talking
about Pokemon, which got her attention (her dad preached against
Pokemon not long ago). The kids said that Pokemon, though it was
not yet public knowledge, was the same as the board game Dungons
and Dragons that they had played when they were smaller.
Jessica also said that she commonly hears parents threaten
their misbehaving children with taking their Pokemon cards from
them if they do not straighten up. Jessica also said that she
commonly hears - in her store, in the mall and in the grocery
store - the parents comment about how the personalities of their
children have changed since they have the Pokemon cards.
Parents, wake up -- burn those Pokemon cards, forbid your children
to have anything to do with them, confess the sin, and pray through
your house and over your children.
Book Review
Martin & Deidre Bobgan
Dr. Larry Crabb is well-known for his books on counseling and
Christian growth. While he refers to his counseling model and
methods as "biblical," his psychological theories affect
his teachings about the human condition, how people change and
grow, and how they can find God.
Crabb interprets the message of the cross according to his psychological ideas about the nature of man and how he changes. The gospel becomes the good news that Jesus meets the needs/longings/passions which motivate all behavior from the unconscious. Sin becomes wrong strategies for meeting the needs/longings/passions.Confession is telling our stories and gaining insight into those wrong strategies. Full repentance comes through getting in touch with the pain of the past. Hence, the gospel message itself is directly tied to a psychological construct.
Through the years people have argued, "But Larry Crabb has changed." Has he? This book examines his writings from 1975 through 1997 to answer that question and determine the status of his approach to counseling and ministering the gospel of salvation and sanctification.
PsychoHeresy Awareness Ministries Special Price: $11.00 (retail $12.00)
Softbound, 210 pages, ISBN 0-941717-14-3
PsychoHeresy Awareness Ministries 4137 Primavera Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93110 http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org 1-800 21 4696 or 1-80 683-0864
1 Samuel 6:6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?
Harden not your hearts -- this is a strange
message coming from the Philistine counselors who denied the authority
of Israel's God, the Lord Jesus Christ, from over them. (Cf. Gal.
6:15-18.) But it was good advice.
Illustration: The number 2 radio talk show host after Rush Limbaugh
is Dr. Laura (January 18, 2000). She claims to be a Jew, meaning
that she denies Israel's God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet more
often than not, she gives good, sound advice to her callers, which
primarily consists of just good common sense.
In other words, one does not have to be a follower of the Lord
Jesus to give good advice, but Christians are not to seek advice
from those who do not follow Israel's God. God blesses his people
when they do not seek thecounsel of the ungodly, ungodly defined
as those who reject the authority of Israel's God, the Lord Jesus
Christ (Ps. 1:1, cf. Isa. 8:19).
Denial of the Lord Jesus Christ in word, deed or profession, who
was wounded for the transgression of his people (Isa. 53:5), makes
one a false prophet, or a false teacher (2 Pet. 2:1).
My wife and I, while traveling to one of her doctor's appointments,
heard an interview with an author of a book on angels. It was
pointed out on the program that the current top selling books
are books about angels. A few minutes browsing through Amazon.com
produces these titles among Amazon's 2,447 listed books on angels:
Angelic Healing : Working With Your Angels to Heal Your Life;
Angelic Messenger Cards : A Divination System for Self-discovery;
Angel Wisdom : 365 Meditations and Insights from the Heavens;
Angel Therapy : Healing Messages for Every Area of Your Life;
Angel Oracle : Working With the Angels for Guidance, Inspiration
and Love; The Angels Tarot (connecting angels with the Tarot cards,
ed.); Angels to Watch over Me : What Are Angels, How They Can
Help, and How to Trust Your Own Very Special Guardian Angel; Angels
at Your Service; Angels Everywhere: Miracles & Messages; Angels
of Time : Meditations in Conjunction with the Thirty-six Decans
of the Zodiac; The Angels' Little Instruction Book : Learning
from God's Heavenly Messengers; The Angels' Message to Humanity
: Ascension to Divine Union Powerful Enochian Magic; Angels, Einstein
and You : A Healer's Journey; Angels, Guides & Other Spirits;
Angelspeake : How to Talk With Your Angels : A Guide; The Angelspeake
Book of Prayer and Healing : How to Work With Your Angels; Celebration
of Angels: A Compelling Look at the Heavenly Beings Who Touch
Our Lives.
Just from the titles of these several books, one sees the reason
books on angels are so popular. They offer the reader divine or
supernatural intervention into their lives without the reader
having to live a holy, godly life.
The author in the interview was receiving calls; the callers were
asking advice, and were asking for the names of the angles assigned
to "watch" over them. The author would ask a question,
usually right to a particular point in the caller's life, and
then give a name of an angel assigned to watch over them. The
author spoke as though she were speaking directly with Michael,
an archangel of God.
It was quite obvious to my wife and I that the lady had a familiar
spirit, a phenomenon becoming all too common as Israel's God,
as manifested in the Lord Jesus Christ, is expunged from society.
Angels
Hebrews 1:14, Sent forth to minister for them who shall be the heirs of salvation? the persons they minister to, and for, are those, who shall be the heirs of salvation; that is, of eternal glory, which will be possessed by the saints, as an inheritance: hence it belongs to children, being bequeathed to them by their Father, and comes to them through the death of Christ, of which the Spirit is the earnest; and this shows that it is not of works, and that it is of an eternal duration, and takes in all kind of happiness: and of this the saints are heirs now; and so the Ethiopic version renders it, "who are heirs of salvation"; nor should it be rendered, "who shall be heirs", but rather, "who shall inherit salvation"; for this character respects not their heirship, but their actual inheriting of salvation: and the ministry of angels to, and for them, lies in things temporal and spiritual, or what concern both their bodies and their souls; in things temporal, in which they have often been assisting, as in providing food for their bodies, in curing their diseases, in directing and preserving them in journeys, in saving and delivering them from outward calamities, in restraining things hurtful from hurting them, and in destroying their enemies; in things spiritual, as in making known the mind and will of God to them, in comforting them, and suggesting good things to them, and in helping and assisting them against Satan's temptations; and they are present with their departing souls at death, and carry them to heaven, and will gather the elect together at the last day. And they are "sent forth" to minister to them in such a way; they are sent forth by Christ, the Lord and Creator of them, who therefore must be superior to them; they do not take this office upon themselves, though, being put into they faithfully and diligently execute it, according to the will of Christ: and this shows the care of Christ over his people, and his kindness to them, and the great honour he puts upon them, to appoint such to minister to them; and since they are of so much use and service, they ought to be respected and esteemed, though not worshipped. (Gill. Online Bible)
A word about Familiar Spirits:
Observe: Familiar spirits are connected with parents causing their
children to pass through the fire:
And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to
Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the
LORD. (Lev. 18:21.)
And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. 9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, 10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. (1 Kings 11:6.)
And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. (2 Kings 21:6.)
And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children
of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass
through the fire to Molech. (2 Kings 23:10.)
Moloch (or Molech):
Moloch is "the king" or "kingship." The name Moloch is also given as Milcom (I Kings 11:5, 33) and Malcam (Jer. 49:1, 3, RV; Zeph. 1:5). Moloch was an aspect of Baal (Jer. 32:35), Baal meaning Lord.Under the name of Melcarth, King of Tyre, Baal was worshiped with human sacrifices at Tyre. (FN: John D. Davis, A Dictionary of the Bible [Philadelphia Westminister Press, 1924, 1936], p. 510.)
While relatively little is known of Moloch, much more is known of the concept of divine kingship, the king as god, and the god as king, as the divine-human link between heaven and earth. The god-king represents man on a higher scale, man ascended, and worship of such a god, i.e., of such a baal, was the assertion of the continuity of heaven and earth. It was the belief that all being was one being, and god therefore was an ascended man on that scale of being. The power manifested in the political order was thus a manifestation of apprehension and seizure of divine power. It represented the triumph of a man and of his people. Moloch worship was thus a political religion.
Since Moloch represented kingship and power, sacrifices to Moloch represented the purchase, at the very least, of immunity or insurance and protection, and, at its highest claim, of power...
Moloch worship was thus state worship. The state was the true and ultimate order, and religion was a department of state (e.g.., Incorporation, ed.). The state claimed total jurisdiction over man; it was therefore entitled to total sacrifice (of even his children - compulsory education laws, ed.) ...
... For a state to claim total jurisdiction, as the modern state does, is to claim to be as god, to be the total governor of man and the world...
The Moloch state is the product of apostasy. When a people reject God as their King, and make a man or state their king (I Sam. 8:7-9), God declares the consequences:...
The Moloch state simply represents the supreme effort of man to command the future, to predestine the world, and to be as God. (R.J. Rushdoony, Institutes of Biblical Law, V.I.32-35.)
Throughout the Old Testament, Moloch worship and familiar spirits
are connected. Accordingly, as Christians sacrifice their children
to Moloch, the state, by making his son or his daughter pass through
the fire to Moloch in the government school system, the use of
familiar spirits will become more common. (James Dobson's recent
defense of the Public School System only deepened the Christian's
commitment to defend and worship Moloch.)
In other words, it is impossible to serve two gods, the Lord God
(Jesus Christ) and Moloch (the government school system). When
people reject God as their King and make the state their king,
the Lord himself shall send lions to devour the people (2 Kings
17:25, 26). And then we blame the Lord for the lions.
And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. (2 Chron. 33:6.)
Reprint
Just one of the myriad reasons I don't waste my time counseling
By Craig R. Dumont
Some time back, Dr. Lanny Johnson shared with me the conclusion he had reached after years of providing counsel to people seeking his help. Ostensibly they were seeking solid advice in various matters; however, in reality most were foraging for magical solutions that conveniently avoided any moral and ethical change in their lives. They were saying in effect, if not directly by words, "I have a problem, I don't want to change, please help!"
The powerful reality of this truth was hammered home a short time later when I asked him to meet with a mutual friend of ours who was facing a problem and had come to me requesting advice. The problem was clearly articulated, understood, and agreed upon and, based upon the circumstances, Dr. Johnson provided a well thought-out solution that our friend acknowledged as being the route out of his predicament. Everyone was thankful that the Lord had provided experienced and wise counsel that would produce a concrete, quick, and good resolution. Problem solved .... Not! Unfortunately, our friend proceeded as if we had never discussed the situation and continued to pursue the very actions that had caused his discomfort. He struggled with hardship and difficulty for another year and a half. This was a clear-cut case of the "I''ve got a problem, I don't want to change, please help!" syndrome.
The Lust for Magical Solutions
Our society is full of people who know they have problems, but are too much in love with their unethical, immoral, or just down right stupid lifestyles to actually want to change. Oh, they may say they hate those problems and will entertain multitudes of solutions with a passion--as long as those solutions are magical and instantaneous, rather than ethical and applied. The majority of people want to eliminate problems without giving up the cause of their problems. They desire to reap what they have not sown!
The Wall Street Journal, July 17, 1999, carried a story illustrating this very fact. The Oglala Sioux Indian council has banned liquor sales on their reservation because their people have a propensity to succumb to drunkenness and alcoholism. However, as is always the case, there is someone who will provide the opportunity--for a price-- to those who choose to seek it out. In this case, there is a town (population 22) located just two miles from the reservation border that exists solely to sell liquor to Indians. Last year the town rang up over three million dollars in alcohol sales almost exclusively from the Indian clientele who live in the poorest county in the nation.
Alcohol abuse has devastated the Oglala Sioux tribe, and they have recently poured out their anger on the merchants who sell the liquor. They have vandalized and burned stores and marched in protest against the sale of alcohol. The local drug-and-alcohol detox center "is nearly 80% Sioux Indians, many of whom relapse into drinking after completing the center's 30-day program." There is a problem of great magnitude here.
But despite the protests, vandalism, and constant calls for help, they are wedded to their problem because they love the behavior that produces it. Y have a problem, I don't want to change, please help!" cries the Oglala Sioux Indian. The Journal's article summarizes it thus:
The result for Whiteclay [the town selling the alcohol] is an odd dynamic between merchant and customer, one in which business owners and Indians are dependent on--and hostile toward-- one another. All that binds them together is alcohol.
"That's one of the things we find so disturbing," says Mr. Loomis, the detox counselor. For the Oglala Sioux, Uthe attitude is going to be, 'I hate you--and I'll take one of those'" [a drink].
There you have it, in a nutshell. The very thing that binds them together is their problem. And they can't change that because that would mean changing the actions and choices that got them there! They are truly bound. They live with their sorrows, broken lives, and hatred; but please don't ask for change, just line up the beer!
If the results weren't so tragic and if this were an isolated example of man's desire to pursue death rather than life, it would be humorous. But the results are tragic and it definitely is not an isolated example. It's the rule. And it's as rampant in the church as out.
Spiritual Quick Fixes
One example of this mentality or syndrome within the church (at
least within charismatic and Pentecostal circles) is the attraction
to and fascination with spiritual quick fixes at the altar. Almost
weekly the call goes out to bring your problems to the altar and
receive prayer to solve the situation. Now, acknowledging that
God continues to perform miracles despite ourselves, and without
in any way denigrating prayer or opposing the Biblical requirement
to pray one for another, it must be noted that a significant majority
who respond to these invitations are plagued by problems that
are the direct result of continuous bad choices they have made,
habits they have established, and even open rebellion to God's
Word.
For instance, many come forward to receive prayer to solve financial problems, but have no intention of changing the way the handle their money. Their hope is that God will help them hit the lotto. Others come to find relief from stress and worry, but they continue to pursue the very activities that the Bible says will cause worry and anxiety. Still others want a "healing touch" and dismiss out of hand any change of attitude or action that are at the root of their health problems. Then there are those who want God to solve all their marital problems without actually having to take time to apply His marriage laws. They want God to save their children, even though they will not take time to teach their children the Bible and have absolutely no intention of removing them from the synagogues of Satan (government schools). Of course, they all desire a "deeper experience" with God without the bothersome requirements of daily prayer, Bible study and meditation, and all that annoying obedience stuff.
Magic Versus Ethics
Keeping with the prevailing spirit of the times, these Christians pour down to "altars" telling God they have a problem, and then ask Him to perform a miracle so that the problem will go away and so they don't have to change. Nice, neat, and easy. Christian magic in lieu of Christian ethics; "slain in the Spirit" for a few moments vs. walking in the Spirit every day. This is the spiritual version of "I've got a problem, I don't want to change, please help!" Again, simply put, they want to reap what they haven't sown. Worse, despite knowing that the fruit of their illegitimate sowing is and will be problems of increasing magnitude, they are more determined than ever to repeat their actions.
It is a humanistic dream and goal, going all the way back to the Garden of Eden, to believe in and seek a radical disconnection between a cause and effect. God said, "Eat this fruit from this tree and die." The serpent and then Adam and Eve proclaimed God a liar. "I shall not surely die," decided Eve, "the problem of death is
unrelated to my action." The human race, when accepting this verdict, is at war with God. We seek to establish our own law--the law of no consequences--over God's law that specifically states that He will bless or curse as a direct result of our actions. Problem-solving without change is a fiction, a fantasy that is as powerfully seductive as the myth of the fountain of youth--and just as empty.
Rather than continuing the charade of "ministry" and even encouraging people to enter deeper and deeper into problems and bondage, we should proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ: Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is life and life more abundantly. And He requires not only the confession of a problem, but repentance accompanied by change: "Go and sin no more." "If you love Me, keep My commandments." The Apostle James puts it this way:
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the word, this one will be blessed in what he does. (Jas. 1:22-25)
The time is coming, and now is, when God's people must condition their hopes and expectations by His Word alone and stop dreaming the world's dreams. We must stop playing the roles of court magician and stage actor and start proclaiming the Word of God which clearly says, ~You do have a problem. You must change. Christ can help, but it is through ethical application of God's Word, which the Spirit of God Himself empowers you to do."
As Dr. Johnson so pointedly, but accurately, put it, there is no time to waste in giving counsel to those who continue to live lives of fantasy. I have found this to be true. To those who say, "I have a problem, I don't want to change, please help," my response is, "Please leave my of fice and come back when you want to act like a mature Christian."
Craig Dumont is the pastor of Okemos Christian Center in Okemos
and also the Grand Ledge Christian Center in Grand Ledge, MI.
He writes a regular column called "Biblically Speaking"
for The Towne Courier community newspaper and presents Biblical
principles of goqJernment at a weekly Luncheon Lecture Series
at the State Capital to Senate aids, lobbyists, and business leaders.
He can he reached at (800)290-5711 or Iwcog@tcimet.net. (©
Chalcedon Report, Oct. 1999.)
Disney-owned Miramax Films is in the process of finishing a movie called "Dogma." According to reports from a number of Christian and secular sources, the movie includes these outrages:
1. God (played by female rock start Alanis Morissette) comes to earth as an old man and is obsessed with the game of skee-ball. He is nearly beaten to death by a group of demons. A debate ensues over whether or not to keep the old man alive on life support or let him die.
2. Two angels are cast out of heaven after deciding that killing in God's name is wrong. One quits by throwing down his flaming sword and giving God "the finger."
3. A priest deems the crucifix too depressing a symbol for Catholics and wants it replaced with Jesus giving a "thumbs up" sign.
4. In defiance of God, a Catholic female descendant of Jesus (the heroine of the movie) works in an abortion clinic in Illinois.
5. There is a filthy talking 13th Apostle. According to the story, he was stoned to death for informing citizens that Jesus was black.
New York Post columnist Richard Johnson writes that "Dogma" is expected to meet with protests the likes of which haven't been seen since the release of 1988s 'Last Temptation of Christ.'" In its April 6 report on Dogma, NewsMax.com an Internet news service, ran this headline: "Disney's Eisner Set to Defame Christians Again." These quotes appeared in the accompanying article: "Michael Eisner and his Disney Corp., parent company to Miramax Films, seem to have an obsession with defaming Jesus Christ. Disney and Miramax enjoy antagonizing Christians with blasphemy, having produced 1995s 'Priest,' and last year's TV sitcom 'Nothing Sacred' on Disney-owned ABC." Like a modern-day Pontius Pilate, Disney is trying to wash its hands of the whole Dogma fiasco. Even as you read this, Disney/Miramax is anxiously looking for a movie company to take Dogma off its hands. The latest report has Disney selling Dogma to Miramax principals Harvey and Bob Weinstein. The Weinstein brothers would form an independent company that would sell the distribution rights to Paramount, Universal or another movie company. It's similar to the public relations dodge Disney pulled a few years ago with the NC-17 rated (formerly X) movie "Kids." Not wanting to tarnish its phony "family" image, Disney tried to wash its hands of "Kids." The Weinsteins bought the film, formed a separate company and distributed the infamous film which many called "kiddy porn."
Well, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. We must not let Disney dance around this latest outrage. Pray People! The damage has been done. The movie's been made and will eventually be released. Whether the money came from Miramax's bank account or Disney's, it makes no difference. Disney owns Miramax. They are the one and the same. We hold Disney totally responsible for the actions of Miramax. Even worse for Disney CEO Michael Eisner and his company is the fact that Dogma has been over three years in the making. If Eisner were really concerned, he could have stepped in at any time and pulled the plug on Dogma. But he didn't. And if you ask me, the only reason he's trying to distance Disney from Dogma now is to avoid stirring up those of us who are successfully boycotting the company. Just look what happened a few years ago-look what Disney unleashed on a naive public: Miramax's movie "Priest" in 1995 - a pro-homosexual movie which depicts five Catholic priests as dysfunctional and blames their problems on Church teachings. It's ABC-TV production "Nothing Sacred"-another slam on Catholics and all people of faith. Objectionable movies like "Pulp Fiction" (sex and utra-violence), "Chasing Amy" and Chicks in White Satin" (lesbianism); "Clerks" (graphic language), "Lie Down with Dogs" (homosexuality). "Ellen" - the Disney/ABC TV series that evolved into a major homosexual rights propaganda tool. Dogma is but the latest in a series of moves designed to mock, ridicule and demean Christians. It's important for our Nation, for our families and for all people of faith in America that we not let Disney get away with this latest outrage. Today I urge you to help me turn Disney's act of anti-Christian bigotry into good. For the sake of our children: Avoid all Disney products- its movies, its videos, its toys, its theme parks...the works. Don't give Disney one penny of your hard-earned money. Write to Michael Eisner and tell him "Dogma" is proof that Disney is not only antifamily, it's anti-Christian too.
Your friend, Don Wildmon
American Family Association (AFA)
Editors's note: Since my heart attack, we put in cable, which
has the Disney Channel on it. Parents, if your kids have access
to the Disney channel, you had better being keeping an eye on
what they watch - it is "politically" correct in the
extreme.
This Baptist couple felt it important to own an equally Baptist pet. So, they went shopping. At a kennel specializing in this particular breed, they found a dog they liked quite a lot. When they asked the dog to fetch the Bible, he did it in a flash. When they instructed him to look up Psalm 23, he complied equally fast, using his paws with dexterity. They were impressed, purchased the animal, and went home. That night they had friends over.
They were so proud of their new Baptist dog and his major skills, they called the dog and showed off a little. The friends were impressed, and asked whether the dog was able to do any of the usual dog tricks, as well. This stopped the couple cold, as they hadn't thought about "normal" tricks.
Well, they said, "Let's try this out." Once more they called the dog, and they clearly pronounced the command, "Heel!" Quick as a wink, the dog jumped up, put his paw on the man's forehead, closed his eyes in concentration, and bowed his head.....
THEY HAD BEEN LIED TO...........HE WAS A PENTECOSTAL DOG!
The Death of Victory should be available through your local book store and from us here within the next couple of months. It traces, with abundant documentation, the rise and results of modern dispensational theology, i.e., God working in different ways in different periods of time, from its roots in the late 1700s to late 1900s, as the theology flows through various well-known Christian men. Using a new Bible study method, "Bible Readings," these men changed the course of Christian history from one of victory to one of defeat. When the ideas were introduced, they were resoundingly denounced as being unorthodox and heresy by the Christian leaders of the day. However, through not presenting sound Scriptural arguments, it was with the personal charisma of many men that the ideas became orthodox, and non-dispensational theology became unorthodox. Those involved in propagating the new theology were men such as George Müller, Hudson Taylor, D.L. Moody, H.A. Ironside, Andrew Jukes, R. A. Torrey, D. G. Barnhouse, and many others. It was D.L. Moody's Northfield conferences and the publication of Scofield's popular Reverence Bible that exalted dispensationalism as a legitimate Biblical doctrine in America.n. There were several key factors that prepared the Christian world for the acceptance of the new defeated world-view: the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars prepared Europe, and the War Between the States prepared the United States.
Some things traced and developed in The Death of Victory:
First, dispensationalism says that God's plan is not complete in the work of Christ and the Gospel Church, but that it must include a renewed Jewish State, an idea known as "Protestant Zionism."
Second, a more important event that took place during the rise of dispensationalism was George Müller's involvement. The standard faith of the day, i.e., early 1800s, was that the nations could and would be converted to Christ, "Christianized," and all Christian training institutions were built upon that faith. However, Müller was convinced that that was an unscriptural assumption, so he funded his own training institution, the Scriptural Knowledge Institution. SKI was built on the premise that all a missionary can do is witness for Christ, with no hope of changing a nation for godliness. His institution was a major supplier for Hudson Taylor's China Inland Missions.
Third, it corrupted zeal. Before the middle 1800s, evangelistic zeal took the gospel into the entire world with the faith to convert the nations to Christ - it worked for things distant in the future. Dispensationalism, with its imminent return of Christ, sought to awaken the sleeping world to the soon return, and emphasized simply soul-saving. It also led to abandoning any hope for the future success of the gospel, as well as abandoning one's children so he could "serve the Lord." "Take care of the Lord's work, and he will take care of your children."
Fourth, dispensationalism left Christians with no hope of changing anything for God and godliness, so now all he needs to do is just wait for the Lord's return.
Fifth, dispensationalism developed several new ideas such as: wealth is unscriptural; involvement in social issues (even voting) is unscriptural, "separation of church and state"; "full time Christian service" requires activities such as preaching, teaching in a Christian school or missionary work; it is unscriptural to be involved in any "learned" occupation except maybe being a medical doctor, but areas such as mathematics were off limits; one becomes more spiritual by studying prophecy; and many more theories.
Sixth, dispensationalism changed America's Biblical world-view from Calvinism and Postmillennial to Arminianism and Premillennial.
Seventh, dispensationalism worked hard against any thought of required obedience to God's word: it was decidedly antinomian. It also separated the Old Testament from the New, with different requirements upon God's people in each, and said that only the writings of Paul are for the Gospel Church.
Eighth, America's conversion to dispensationalism can also be attributed to the great influx of immigrants in the second half of the 1800s. They had been trained in dispensationalism in Europe, and supported Darby as he propagated his ideas in an America that did not really want to hear him out.
Ninth, as Dispensationalism gained strength in various areas of the world, socialism (Communism) also made great strides in those areas. Moreover, dispensationalism grew through proselytizing, not because of its doctrinal soundness. In addition, those who developed modern dispensationalism made it a point to reject all past understanding of Scriptures; they intended to start over and develop a new theology, which they did.
Though many may deny the above points, they are documented in The Death of Victory. (Hard back, 400+ pages, TOC & Index, probably $28.00 at this point.)
"Ovid Need's study of The Death of Victory, Tracing the Roots and Implications of Otherworldliness is a work of major importance… Pastor Need analyzes those views in evangelical circles which are working against the future of the faith. His study is a summons to a Biblical faith and power. It is written with grace and insight. Its timelessness cannot be overstated. It is a joy to read, and a work that the Christian community should be grateful for." From the Foreword by Rousas John Rushdoony.