Learning to love evil & crave violence
by Berit Kjos
"Police investigating the Virginia Tech killings are looking at whether Cho Seung-Hui was copying parts of a violent film when he murdered 32 people. Officers believe he repeatedly watched Oldboy as part of his preparation for the killing spree.... It contains stylized scenes of killings and an attempted suicide, and is filled with what one critic called 'punishing emotional violence'.... The video, which Cho posted to an American TV network while carrying out his murderous rampage, appears to include photographs of Cho re-enacting scenes from the film."[1] "Killer Enacted Violent Film" [Skip down to Copycat killing]
"After the Jonesboro shootings, one of the high-school teachers told me how her students reacted when she told them about the shootings at the middle school. 'They laughed,' she told me with dismay. A similar reaction happens all the time in movie theaters when there is bloody violence. The young people laugh and cheer and keep right on eating popcorn and drinking pop. We have raised a generation of barbarians who have learned to associate violence with pleasure, like the Romans cheering and snacking as the Christians were slaughtered in the Coliseum."[2]
"Visitors at a beauty spot near Glasgow watched helplessly as three boys [aged 18, 17 and 15) forced a terrified schoolboy to fall 25ft over a cliff and then cheered as their victim plunged on to rocks below, a court heard yesterday."[3]
"Are we training our children to kill?" asked Lieutenant Colonel David Grossman, an expert in the field of killology. For many years, he has "traveled the world training medical, law enforcement, and U.S. military personnel about the realities of warfare." He contends that point-and-shoot video games actually train young players to accurately shoot and kill human targets in spite of their natural, God-given resistance. His statistics validate his frightening conclusions:
"The per capita murder rate doubled in this country between 1957... and 1992. A fuller picture of the problem, however, is indicated by the rate people are attempting to kill one another—the aggravated assault rate. That rate in America has gone from around 60 per 100,000 in 1957 to over 440 per 100,000 by the middle of this decade.
"Violence is rising in many nations with draconian gun laws. ... There is only one new variable present in each of these countries, bearing the exact same fruit: media violence presented as entertainment for children.
"Children don't naturally kill. It is a learned skill. And they learn it... most pervasively, from violence as entertainment in television, the movies, and interactive video games.
"Killing requires training because there is a built-in aversion to killing one's own kind... Within the midbrain there is a powerful, God-given resistance to killing your own kind.... When we human beings are overwhelmed with anger and fear, we slam head-on into that midbrain resistance that generally prevents us from killing. Only sociopaths—who by definition don't have that resistance—lack this innate violence immune system....
"During World War II, US Army Brig. Gen. S. L. A. Marshall had a team of researchers study what soldiers did in battle.... They discovered that only 15 to 20 percent of the individual riflemen could bring themselves to fire at an exposed enemy soldier. Men are willing to die, they are willing to sacrifice themselves for their nation; but they are not willing to kill. It is a phenomenal insight into human nature; but when the military became aware of that, they systematically went about the process of trying to fix this 'problem.'...
"The training methods militaries use are brutalization, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and role modeling. ... Just as the army is conditioning people to kill, we are indiscriminately doing the same thing to our children, but without the safeguards."[2]
Read more here...http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/007/toying-with-death.htm
December 27, 2012
December 11, 2012
December 7, 2012
New 'Purpose Driven Life' Book Released
| The reason Christian leaders aren’t taking the New Age more seriously
is because figures, like [Rick] Warren, are not ringing out a warning and are
themselves being influenced and deceived by the New Age. -
Warren B. Smith Ten years after the first edition of Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life was released, Zondervan has now released  a new 2012 “Expanded Edition” of
the New York Times best seller geared for a “new generation.” As the
cover of the new edition reads, over 32 million copies of The Purpose
Driven Life have been sold. This special Lighthouse Trails report will
examine how the new edition has retained Rick Warren's unbiblical position.FIRST SOME BACKGROUND It was Fall of 2002, and the fledgling Lighthouse Trails Publishing was just about to release its first book, A Time of Departing, written by a fairly unknown author, Ray Yungen. At the same time, unbeknownst to us, another book was hitting the bookstores but this one by a fairly well-known author, Rick Warren with his book, The Purpose Driven Life. Some knew Warren from his first book in the 90s called The Purpose Driven Church. But his name was about to become a virtual household name in the Western world with The Purpose Driven Life. As time wore on and the book climbed the charts, many, including Rick Warren himself, said it must be from God or there wouldn’t be this much success. Rick Warren came to believe that the Purpose Driven movement was the most important contribution being made to the 21st century church: Personal computers have brand names. But inside every pc is an Intel chip and an operating system, Windows,” Warren says. “The Purpose Driven paradigm is the Intel chip for the 21st-century church and the Windows system of the 21st-century church—Rick Warren, Christianity Today, Oct. 2005. Lighthouse Trails sent a copy of A Time of Departing to Rick Warren in early 2003, hoping to warn this influential pastor of the contemplative prayer and spiritual formation movement. Warren sent a personal note thanking Lighthouse Trails for the book and admitted it was a “hot topic.” The following year, Lighthouse Trails editors heard about a book that was suggesting The Purpose Driven movement had leanings toward the New Age. LT editors purchased a copy of the book, which had been written by Warren B. Smith. The book, titled Deceived on Purpose: the New Age implications of the Purpose Driven movement, was the first book on the market that challenged Rick Warren and the Purpose Driven movement. Since then, Warren Smith has written a follow-up book titled A “Wonderful” Deception, Ray Yungen has added an entire chapter on Rick Warren in a 2nd edition of A Time of Departing (showing Rick Warren’s propensities toward and promotion of contemplative spirituality), and Lighthouse Trails author Roger Oakland included Rick Warren in his expose book on the emerging church, Faith Undone. Needless to say, Lighthouse Trails was very interested to know if Rick Warren has corrected the things that Warren Smith, Ray Yungen, and Roger Oakland challenged him on (from a biblical point of view) in their books. This report will examine these very things. I. DECEIVED ON PURPOSE & A “WONDERFUL” DECEPTION VS THE NEW EDITION OF THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE 1. In Deceived on Purpose, Warren Smith contended that Rick Warren’s use of Eugene Peterson’s The Message compromised his book significantly. Anyone reading The Message should be able to quickly see how verses from Scripture often had their otherwise clear meanings obscured or even altered. Important details were sometimes omitted, while misleading words and phrases were often added. (DOP, p. 24) Since the release of The Purpose Driven Life in 2002, there has been ample documentation proving that The Message paraphrase is not trustworthy, and in fact, is quite misleading. But did this cause Rick Warren to reconsider? No, the new expanded Purpose Driven Life still contains quotes from Eugene Peterson’s The Message (Day 2, Day 8, Day 32). One of the most disturbing things that Warren Smith unveiled about The Message was the New Age maxim substituted into the Lord’s Prayer, “as above, so below.” This phrase [as above, so below] comes from the beginning of The Emerald Tablet and embraces the entire system of traditional and modern magic which was inscribed upon the tablet in cryptic wording by Hermes Trismegistus. The significance of this phrase is that it is believed to hold the key to all mysteries. All systems of magic are claimed to function by this formula. “‘That which is above is the same as that which is below’….The universe is the same as God, God is the same as man.” (DOP, p. 33) Even though Peterson’s ”As above, so below” revision was brought to Rick Warren’s attention by at least one person who sent him a copy of Deceived on Purpose, that didn’t stop Rick Warren from including The Message in his new 2012 edition of The Purpose Driven Life. 2. In the 2002 edition of The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren quoted a man named Bernie Siegel. Warren Smith addresses this in Deceived on Purpose and later again in his book, A “Wonderful” Deception: In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren introduces his main themes of “hope” and “purpose.” Inexplicably, Warren chooses to introduce “hope” and “purpose” in his book by citing Dr. Bernie Siegel—a veteran New Age leader who claims to have a spirit-guide named George. Somehow, readers of The Purpose Driven Life are expected to believe that God inspired Warren to introduce the themes of hope and purpose by referencing the “wisdom” of Bernie Siegel, an author and leader in the New Age movement.(AWD, p. 16) Once again, Rick Warren dismisses legitimate concerns and includes the Bernie Siegel reference in the new 2012 expanded edition of The Purpose Driven Life. 3. In the 2002 edition of PDL, Rick Warren twists Scripture and says, “The Bible says, ‘He rules everything and is everywhere and is in everything.” Warren Smith responded saying: Out of the fifteen different Bible versions Rick Warren uses in The Purpose Driven Life, he chooses to cite Ephesians 4:6 from a new translation that erroneously conveys the panentheistic New Age teaching that God is “in” everything. According to New Age leaders, this teaching is foundational to the New Age/New Spirituality. Yet of these fifteen Bible versions Warren uses in his book, he chooses the New Century Version that has potentially misled millions of Purpose Driven readers to believe this key New Age doctrine that God is “in” everything. (AWD, p. 16) What does Rick Warren do with this misuse of Scripture? You will find the very same misuse in the new 2012 edition of PDL. 4. In the 2002 edition of PDL, Rick Warren distorts the words of Jesus regarding His second coming. In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren strongly discourages the study of prophecy. He states that “in essence” Jesus told his disciples: “The details of my return are none of your business.” Contrary to what Warren writes, in Jesus’ discussion on the Mount of Olives, He tells His disciples that an understanding of the details of His return is very important. He provides much needed prophetic information so that His followers will not be deceived about the details of His return at the end of time. (AWD, pp. 20-21) In the 2012 expanded edition of PDL, Rick Warren says the exact same thing again. 5. In the 2002 edition of PDL, echoing Robert Schuller, Rick Warren writes, “It helps to know that Satan is entirely predictable.” In Deceived on Purpose, Warren Smith refutes this highly irresponsible remark by Rick Warren that unfortunately millions of people have now heard: Because Rick Warren and other church leaders don’t seem to discern the deception, they are unfortunately becoming a part of the deceptive process. Perhaps deceived into thinking that they can’t be deceived, their inability to spiritually discern what is happening is placing the Church in grave danger. (DOP, p. 131) In the 2012 expanded edition of PDL, Rick Warren repeats: "It helps to know that Satan is entirely predictable,” once again underestimating the wiles of the devil and ignoring the many Scriptures that warn us about spiritual deception. 6. In the 2002 edition of The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren quotes occultist and New Ager Aldous Huxley (is it any wonder that former New Age follower Warren Smith wrote two books on the Purpose Driven movement!). After incorrectly diagnosing the Apostle Paul as suffering from “doubt” and “depression” rather than persecution, Rick Warren emphasized the importance of “shared experiences” by quoting Huxley. . . Rick Warren’s citing of the metaphysical Huxley in discussing the importance of “shared experiences” seemed as inappropriate as his referencing New Age leader Bernie Siegel in introducing “hope” and “purpose.” Randomly quoting influential New Age figures with no introduction or explanation as to who these people are is not exactly what you expect from a shepherd who is supposed to be protecting his flock. (DOP, pp. 96-97) II. A TIME OF DEPARTING VS THE NEW EDITION OF THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE 1. In the 2002 edition of PDL, Rick Warren references Brother Lawrence (Practicing the Presence of God) several times and tells readers to practice ”breath prayers.” Ray Yungen challenges this: Brother Lawrence is often quoted by contemplative authors for his habit of what he called “practicing the presence of God.” But what was the actual nature of this presence? Was it something that would reflect the true character of God? I find the following account from a devout advocate of Brother Lawrence both questionable and disturbing: “It is said of Brother Lawrence that when something had taken his mind away from love’s presence he would receive “a reminder from God” that so moved his soul that he “cried out, singing and dancing violently like a mad man.” You will note that the reminders came from God and were not his own doing.” (Gerald May, The Awakened Heart, First HarperCollins Paperback Edition, 1993) p. 87, citing from The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, translated) Brother Lawrence says that secret phrases must be “repeat[ed] often in the day,” and “for the right practice of it, the heart must be empty of all other things.” He speaks of the trouble of wandering thoughts and says that the habit of practicing the presence of God is the “one remedy” and the “best and easiest method” he knows to dissolve distractions. (ATOD, p. 147) Rick Warren received a copy of A Time of Departing in 2003 and yet, in the 2012 expanded edition of PDL, Warren once again references Brother Lawrence and tells his readers to practice “breath prayers.” 2. In the 2002 edition of PDL, Warren advises readers to use visual reminders throughout the day and gives an example of others who practice breath prayers—Benedictine monks, known for their contemplative spirituality and interspirituality. Yet, in the 2012 expanded edition of PDL, Rick Warren again tells readers to consider the example that the contemplative Benedictine monks have set before us. 3. Regarding the 2002 edition of PDL, Ray Yungen points out in A Time of Departing: “Warren not only promotes breath prayers on Day 11 in The Purpose Driven Life but also on Day 38, where he tells readers how to become “world-class Christian[s]” through the “practice [of]. . . breath prayers.” In the 2012 expanded edition of The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren repeats this second instruction on using breath prayers. 4. In A Time of Departing, Ray Yungen documents how Rick and Kay Warren find great affinity with Catholic contemplative mystic Henri Nouwen. In both the 2002 and the new 2012 expanded edition of PDL, Warren quotes Henri Nouwen twice. One of the quotes directly follows Warren’s quote of St. John of the Cross where Warren likens the panentheist St. John’s “dark night of the soul” to Henri Nouwen’s “ministry of absence.” If Rick Warren had read A Time of Departing when it was sent to him in 2003, he would have known that Nouwen practiced eastern style meditation; and he would have known that Nouwen had a propensity toward universalism, as demonstrated in Nouwen's words: Today I personally believe that while Jesus came to open the door to God's house, all human beings can walk through that door, whether they know about Jesus or not. Today I see it as my call to help every person claim his or her own way to God. (Sabbatical Journey, p. 51) III. FAITH UNDONE VS. THE NEW EDITION OF THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE 1. In Faith Undone, Roger Oakland shows Rick Warren’s distortion of biblical prophecy and the return of Jesus Christ in the 2002 edition of The Purpose Driven Life. In The Purpose Driven Life, Warren was actually laying ground-work for the emerging church’s new reformation, a reformation that rejects thinking about the return of Christ and works more at convincing the multitudes that Christ is already in them as a global christ-consciousness. As you will see in the following documentation, Warren has a low regard for Bible prophecy. Perhaps this helps explain why so many who once were anticipating the return of the Lord have become occupied with worldly ambitions. Warren writes: “When the disciples wanted to talk about prophecy, Jesus quickly switched the conversation to evangelism. He wanted them to concentrate on their mission in the world. He said in essence, ‘The details of my return are none of your business. What is your business is the mission I have given you. Focus on that’” I find it simply astounding that a statement of this sort would be in a New York Times best-seller in the present-day Christian book market. Jesus was telling the disciples they could not know the day or the hour, but nowhere does Jesus ever indicate that “the details of my return are none of your business.” Rather than quickly changing the subject, we find in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 two of the longest passages in Scripture quoting Jesus’ own words, as He details the signs of His coming. (FA, pp. 154-155) As this report stated earlier, the new edition of The Purpose Driven Life also takes Jesus’ words out of context regarding Bible prophecy and His return. 2. In the 2002 edition of PDL, Rick Warren takes Christ’s words out of context when he tells readers that those who think about Bible prophecy (i.e., the Lord’s return) are ”not fit for the kingdom of God.” Roger Oakland shows how he did this distortion. In the 2012 edition of PDL, Warren tells readers again that they are “not fit for the kingdom of God” if they think about Bible prophecy too much. CONCLUSION: So What IS Different About the new 2012 edition? In a Zondervan promotional video, Rick Warren says that he has learned a lot of things in the past decade about hindrances that keep people from finding their true purpose, and he has put this information in two new chapters: “The Envy Trap” and “the People Pleaser Trap.” He has also added links to both video and audio teachings by himself. While Lighthouse Trails editors have strong concerns about what these teachings will introduce to readers (such as the audio for Day 11, where Rick and Kay Warren talk about how to “connect” with God through “the stillness,” via monks, monasteries, and Henri Nouwen), this report is not on what Rick Warren has added to PDL but rather what he has not removed. Thus, the following can be stated with certainty: the new edition of The Purpose Driven Life is as problematic as the first edition was and could potentially lead a whole “new generation” astray. One only needs to look at the declining condition of America over the past 10 years to see that The Purpose Driven Life (where 60 million people have read it, Warren said recently on a Fox News interview ) has not helped the country or the church get on track. On the Zondervan website, it states: “The Purpose Driven Life is far more than just a book; it is a guide to a spiritual journey that has transformed millions of lives. Once you take this journey, you’ll never be the same again” (emphasis added). As Lighthouse Trails has stated for over 10 years, the Purpose Driven “spiritual journey” is one that should be avoided. Hopefully, this report has shown some of the reasons. While this Special Report does not address issues such as Rick Warren’s P.E.A.C.E. Plan and the Daniel Plan, please refer to the “Related Articles” section below for further documentation on the Purpose Driven movement. Related Articles: Rick Warren Makes Bold Move Unveiling Centering Prayer Devotion Rick Warren “Annoyed” with Those Who Challenge Him – Serving Two Masters Not Working The Purpose Driven Inclusive Church by Roger Oakland The Angel of Light’s “Plan” for World Peace by Tamara Hartzell (from In the Name of Purpose) Creating a New Society: Change Agents and Influence Peddlers by Carl Teichrib Rick Warren Plays “Catch Me if You Can” While Promoting Mysticism Saddleback’s Response to Criticism Over Daniel Plan – An Unscriptural Paradox! Emanuel Swedenborg’s Occultic Beliefs Influence Rick Warren’s Health Advisor and Now the Christian Church by John Lanagan |
December 6, 2012
WHAT HOLDS Your HEART?
by David Wilkerson
What holds your heart right now? Does your soul yearn for Jesus,
or for the things of this world?
A woman on our mailing list wrote this distressing note: "My
husband was once on fire for God. For years he gave himself
faithfully to the Lord's work but today he's all wrapped up in a
new pursuit. He no longer has any time for the Lord. I worry for
him, because he's grown so cold."
Jesus told a parable about this very kind of legitimate pursuit. A
wealthy man sent his servant to invite all his friends to a great feast
he was holding. But, Scripture says, the man's friends "all with
one consent began to make excuse" (Luke 14:18).
One friend told the servant, "I just bought a piece of land, sight
unseen, and I have to inspect it. Please tell your master I won't
be able to come." The next friend told the servant, "I just bought
a yoke of oxen and I haven't had time to test them. Tell your
master I can't come, because I have to go into the field to plow
with them." Yet another friend told the servant, "I just got married
and I'm about to take my honeymoon. I don't have time to come
to the feast."
This man had invited all his friends to enjoy an intimate time of
fellowship with him. He had made all the arrangements for their
comfort and convenience. The table had been set and everything
had been prepared, but no one came. Everyone was simply too
busy or preoccupied.
Each person had a good, legitimate reason for not coming. After
all, they were not avoiding their friend so that they could go partying
or bar-hopping. On the contrary, the Bible commends everything
these people were doing: Buying and selling can provide security
for one's family, and testing a major purchase is a sound business
practice. Finally, marriage is a blessing that the Scriptures encourage.
Yet, how did this wealthy man react? Scripture says, "The lord
said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and
compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say
unto you, that none of those men which were bidden shall taste
of my supper" (verses 23-24).
Jesus makes a very clear point in this parable: Each of these
good, legitimate things becomes sinful when it takes priority over
the Lord.
Source - http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/20781
November 30, 2012
God's Love in Action
Jesus said: "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me".
(Mt. 25:40)
(Mt. 25:40)
November 22, 2012
THOUGHTS ON THANKSGIVING
In 1621, the 53 surviving Pilgrims of the Mayflower company held a Thanksgiving feast. In Of Plymouth Plantation,
William Bradford lists the Mayflower passengers and also those who died
during the first winter of 1620/1621 and during the spring of 1621. No
other ships arrived in Plymouth until after the "First Thanksgiving"
celebration. Forty-five of the 102 emigrants died the first winter and
were buried. The Pilgrims at the "First Thanksgiving" were the only
Mayflower survivors. That works out to a 44 percent mortality rate. The
first Thanksgiving feast lasted three days and was attended by 53
Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Indians.
Earlier
this month, many Christians were disappointed and some were depressed
at the 2012 election results. But should believers be surprised, let
alone depressed, over such events? Is our hope in this world? Should we
not be giving thanks to God not just today but for each day that He
gives us?
What
was the focus of the Pilgrims? Governor William Bradford wrote that
Reverend John Robinson, prior to their departure from Holland and voyage
to the New World, "...spent a good part of the day very profitably
and suitable to their present occasion; the rest of the time was spent
pouring out prayers to the Lord with great fervency, mixed with
abundance of tears. And the time being come that they must depart, they
were accompanied with most of their brethren out of the city, unto a
town sundry miles off called Delftshaven, where the ship lay ready to
receive them. So they left that goodly and pleasant city which had been
their resting place near twelve years; but they knew they were pilgrims, and looked not much on those things, but lift up their eyes to the heavens, their dearest country, and quieted their spirits."
This excerpt from Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation references
the Epistle to the Hebrews 11:13-16: "These all died in faith, not
having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were
persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were
strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things
declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been
mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had
opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that
is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God:
for he hath prepared for them a city."
--TBC Staff
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
|
How President Lincoln Established Thanksgiving Day
11/22/12 | Steve Strang
In spite of the problems we face in our nation regarding the economy, religious liberty and increasing godlessness, we still have much to be thankful for. I’m thankful for my family, a wonderful wife, good health and a wonderful year of growth and influence through books such as The Harbinger. I know you’ll take time, as I do, to thank God for His many blessings.
It’s also a good time to be reminded of how many problems there were in 1863, when Abraham Lincoln told the country it should put aside a day to thank God for His blessings. Enjoy reading his own words in his proclamation dated Oct. 3, 1863:
In the words of Lincoln...
"The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.
"In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
"Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battlefield; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.
"No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
"It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.
"And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.
"In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
"Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth."
In spite of the problems we face in our nation regarding the economy, religious liberty and increasing godlessness, we still have much to be thankful for. I’m thankful for my family, a wonderful wife, good health and a wonderful year of growth and influence through books such as The Harbinger. I know you’ll take time, as I do, to thank God for His many blessings.
It’s also a good time to be reminded of how many problems there were in 1863, when Abraham Lincoln told the country it should put aside a day to thank God for His blessings. Enjoy reading his own words in his proclamation dated Oct. 3, 1863:
In the words of Lincoln...
"The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.
"In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
"Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battlefield; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.
"No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
"It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.
"And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.
"In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
"Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth."
November 21, 2012
ISLAMIC SHARIA LAW COMES TO GREAT BRITAIN [Excerpts)
Stoning
for adultery. Amputations for theft. Death for apostates. And
second-class status for Christians and Jews. This is life under Sharia
law, the Islamic system practiced in countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia,
and Great Britain.
Yes, Great Britain.
There are reportedly some 85 Sharia courts now operating there, with Islamic judges ruling on cases ranging from financial to marital disputes among British Muslims.
"We went into some proceedings and there were a couple of Islamic
judges sitting up above the rest," said Alan Craig, who recently stepped
down as leader of the Christian Peoples Alliance party. "And there was
one Muslim woman who was suing for divorce."
Craig is a former city councilor in East London, home to several Sharia courts where women face open discrimination.
"A woman's witness value is half that of a man," Craig told CBN News. "So [the courts] will tend, therefore, to take the man's position in a divorce."
Craig
is working with Baroness Caroline Cox to pass a bill in Britain's House
of Lords protecting women from this Sharia oppression.
Muslim women in Great Britain often face intimidation within their communities to settle things the Sharia way. According to Craig, some wrongly believe Islamic courts are their only option.
"What
we're trying to do is say, Muslim women, especially in this country,
need to be informed," he explained. "They actually have other rights and
our view, better rights, under English law."
(Stakelbeck, CBN News Online: World, 11/15/12)
November 8, 2012
Four More Years… Of Exile (Responding to the Obama Re-Election)
Four More Years…of exile. But there is hope. Please read my thoughts on where we go from here. –Steve
I’m writing to you to explain why, even after a late and discouraging evening that stretched past 1am on the east coast, I was back at the office before 8am this morning.
And why the sinking feeling i felt last night has already been replaced with a deep determination.
And why I’m going out to buy equipment for our new office this afternoon.
And why we are going to build, build, build — despite a stunning and, for me, unexpected defeat.
+ + Let’s Be Clear: We Just Got Pummeled
Before I go on, let’s be clear: last night was a defeat and I didn’t see it coming. I expected a “Tea Party Wave” — perhaps a 300+ victory for Romney. All the signs seemed to be there. The 2010 elections, the failed recall of Scott Walker and even the Chick-Fil-A Day pointed to a re-shaped political landscape. The polls and crowds made it clear that there was more enthusiasm with Romney.
But that wave never came. The people did not rise up and reject Obama’s statism. Quite the opposite — 15 million fewer people voted and Romney earned less votes than John McCain did four years prior.
+ + Far Worse Than 2008
Upon reflection, what happened last night was far worse than what happened in 2008. Our first “dance” with Obama was mostly about smoke and mirrors — “hope and change” that was never really defined. For many Americans, Obama 2008 was more an idea, an idealized dream and a collective catharsis from our dark past.
But Obama 2012 was something altogether different because now we know the real Barack Obama. We watched him advance the most radical leftist agenda at least since FDR. We saw him rape and pillage the free market and impose a government takeover of industries. We witnessed him go to foreign nations nd apologize for America and then leave our people alone to die in Benghazi.
This time we knew Barack Obama. Yet a majority of American voters said, “More!” and the opposition to Obama’s agenda never really showed up at the polls.
We can try to console ourselves by saying it was a close election… that the leftist media gave Obama the election…. that we couldn’t really expect a Northeastern liberal Republican to be our standard bearer…. that a bizarre hurricane swung the election.
All that may be true.
But it matters little now. And the less time we spend blaming each other or the trickery of the other guys the better.
So here’s why I’m more determined…. why I’m building.
+ + A 2,500-Year-Old Letter Written For Today
I want to share with you a letter that, although it is 2,500 years old, it could have been written this morning. For us. For faithful patriots who feel like they just discovered they will have to live at least the next four years in exile.
This letter was written to Jewish exiles who had been pushed out of Jerusalem and forced to live under a tyrannical ruler named Nebuchadnezzar.
The exiles wanted one thing: they wanted to be re-established back in Israel. They even had a prophet named Hananiah come to them and tell them that their time of exile would only last two years.
You can read about it in Jeremiah 28.
Hananiah was a false prophet. He died.
And so Jeremiah wrote a letter to the exiles. You’ve probably heard a part of that letter recited many times. It’s one of the most commonly quoted passages in the entire Bible. Unfortunately, this passage is mostly taken out of its proper context and delivered as a “feel good” word that everything is going to be good.
One of my friends was quoting this verse yesterday morning:
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.Those words sound so good. The future is bright. God has a plan for prosperity, for a real hope and a real future. On the eve of the election, it must have meant a Romney win, the GOP takes the Senate and we start the rollback of the Obama regime, right?
Not exactly.
+ + The Plan Was Exile
Here’s the shocking context of Jeremiah 29 (and I offer to you, the context for 11/6/12): Then plan was exile.
That was the “plan” Jeremiah’s letter was talking about. I encourage you to go read all of Jeremiah 29. Here is the immediate context:
This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans…..The plan was 70 years of exile. Keep that in mind the next time someone quotes Jeremiah 29:11 to encourage you that your time of trouble will soon end. Not only was the exile going to last 70 years, the exile WAS the plan!
If you don’t believe me, go back and read the beginning of the letter, from Jeremiah 29:4. Here you’ll see the Lord (through Jeremiah) giving the Jewish exiles specific instructions on how to conduct themselves in exile:
–Build houses and settle downAgain, remember the context. A false prophet had just come and said the time of exile would only last two years. That prophet died. The truth is, the people will be in exile for 70 years. And the directive is to build families, grow businesses, think trans-generationally and increase.
–Plan gardens and eat what they produce
–Marry and have sons and daughters
–Marry off your sons and daughters so they can have children
–Increase in number; do not decrease
+ + Seek The Welfare Of The Land
It gets better. Because Jeremiah’s letter makes it clear that building and marrying is not enough. People in exile must do something else — they must be a blessing to the land.
Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”So let’s review. First, the Plan is exile. Second, build. Third, bless. Simple, clear instructions.
But why was this important? Why a “plan” for exile with specific instructions on how to act in exile?
Historians tell us that it was during the Babylonian captivity that the Israelites moved from a Temple/ Jerusalem focused society to a synagogue and community focused society. Simply put…
It was the lessons learned during their time in exile which enabled the Jews to survive 2,500 years in exile. But not just surive, but to thrive and become the most prosperous, most successful and most innovative people group in the history of civilization.
Exile was the plan.
So that’s why, today, I’m going to build. And I’m going to plant. I’m going to bless. And I’m going to pray. For that is the final piece to the puzzle…
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.So let’s get building. Let’s get planting. And let’s get praying. And let’s bless this land. There are lessons to be learned in exile.
Steve Elliott, Grassfire
October 17, 2012
TRUTH MATTERS: The Danger of the Hebrew Roots Movement
*Note: Because my responses were too long to place in comments on the original post, and because of the ever growing Hebrew Roots movement, I am placing some posts here to view instead. The original post can be found at the link below. Any additional comments on the topic are welcome.
Nancy's comment:
Dear Judie
I understand why you write what you do. I defended the same arguments for years.
Not anymore. The blinders are slowly coming off.
I have some responses for you.
What do you do with 2 Timothy 3:16 “16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
All Scripture means Torah (first five books of the Bible) and the complete Tanakh (the whole “Old” Testament). For you see, the “New” Testament had not yet been written when Paul wrote this….yet.
So if this verse says ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for DOCTRINE….how do YOU undo that DOCTRINE?
For instance,
Exodus 20:8“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
He never, ever changed this. If He did, please show me where GOD changed it, or even JESUS changed it.
Or how about the fact that God tells us we can not ADD to His Word (or change it!). So why do you think it is ok to change the Saturday Sabbath to Sunday?
Deuteronomy 4:2 “2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”
If you check history is what Constantine and his political, anti-semitic forces that changed the Sabbath to Sunday. So that “Christians” would not in any way identify with Jews. Of course, it is all very complicated how everything changed. But, the fact is it did! And God NEVER gave any permission to change HIS WORD. HE IS UNCHANGING!
Lastly, (oh yes I could write pages)…..read this Isaiah verse. There are some beautiful promises for the people of God who honor the Sabbath (Saturday 7th day).
Isaiah 56:5-7
5 Even to them I will give in My house
And within My walls a place and a name
Better than that of sons and daughters;
I will give them[a] an everlasting name
That shall not be cut off.
6 “Also the sons of the foreigner
Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him,
And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants—
Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And holds fast My covenant—
7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
Will be accepted on My altar;
For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
Quick review. God told us to honor the Sabbath and keep it holy. You believe in the 10 Commandments don’t you? Not to murder, steal, commit adultery. And keep the Sabbath holy. Simple.
Paul tells us in Timothy that ALL Scripture is for doctrine.
God tells us NEVER TO ADD to His Word.
Judie when you begin to understand that God really wants to spend this very special day with you, in fact He set it apart just for you and Him. Your life will change! You will feel so good that you are obeying Him! And He will draw you close!
And that’s just the beginning of discovery of His true Word. There is so much more.
My friend sent me your link, and I had to respond. What you are saying is so untrue. Please pray and ask God to show the real Truth. It will set you free!
Shalom
Nancy
PS. Jesus honored the Sabbath (Saturday), so did the apostles, Paul and the first “church”. They would meet in the Temple and break bread together and pray. Every Sabbath. Of course. Why would they want to disobey God?
My response:
Hi Nancy,
Thank you for visiting my blog, I appreciate your comments and will try to clarify what I believe scripture teaches as clearly as I can.
In response to your question on 2 Timothy 3:16, let me say that Paul was speaking to Timothy here who was under the New Covenant of GRACE, not those who were under the law of the Old Testament. When interpreting scripture it's imperative to keep all things in proper context, i.e., who was the writer speaking to, what was the main point he was trying to make, what did he say before and after, etc. The verses before and after the 16th verse you highlight are as follows:
"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works"
(2 Tim. 3:15-17)
As you can see, Paul was clearly instructing Timothy to CONTINUE in what he had learned from him, not from the Torah or the Tanakh. In verse 15 he goes on to say that the holy scriptures make one wise unto the salvation that is through FAITH in Christ Jesus, not in any particular "doctrine".
Consequently, in verse 16 Paul is simply stating that ALL scripture is inspired by God and therefore profitable for the believers' growth and correction.
That said, this is not at all a case of myself or anyone else seeking to "undo" any doctrine, better stated, it is merely an attempt to properly divide and interpret the true meaning of scripture. We must understand that Jesus came to fulfill the law and give us a NEW Covenant...the church began in the Book of Acts and is completely separate from the Old Covenant that preceded the coming of Christ.
The Old Covenant contained "types and shadows" of the Savior to come, so it definitely has its place, but the New Covenant is what the Christian follows. As believers we are not subject to or under the "Jewish law", as Paul made extremely clear in the books of Romans, Galatians, et al. A thorough study of Romans and Galatians will go a long way in bringing great clarity on these matters.
Keeping it very plain and simple, the bottom line is that we are NOT Israel, we are the body of Christ, the Church of the living God, and we are under the dispensation of grace not law - that is what makes all the difference as to what we are to believe, follow, and practice.
The Old Covenant with its types and shadows is Christ concealed, whereas, the New Covenant is Christ revealed. The OT is a book of "examples" for the Church, not instructions...otherwise, we could ignore Jesus' command to "love our enemies" and instead pick up our swords and go out and slay them! Yes, things have changed.
In the book of Hebrews it states that Jesus came to give us a BETTER covenant "By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better covenant" (Heb. 7:22), so in this sense God did indeed "change" how He deals with man. God never changes in His character, that's correct, but He does at times change in His methods.
As we can plainly see God's dealings with man under the law was definitely different than His dealings with man under grace. You can also look at Heb. 8:6 and Heb. 12:24 for further confirmation that we are now under a new and better covenant, thank the Lord! I think it's also interesting to note that these particular scriptures are found in the book that was written to the Hebrews.
Please understand that the "keeping of the sabbath" was given to ISRAEL alone and was established in the Old Covenant as a day of REST not a day of worship, many confuse these facts or simply neglect to mention them.
"And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, Speak you also to the children of Israel, saying, Truly my sabbaths you shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the LORD that does sanctify you. You shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy to you: every one that defiles it shall surely be put to death: for whoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whoever does any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Why the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed". (Ex. 31:12-17).
There also were many laws around keeping the sabbath such as - there was to be no spark lit (therefore, no cooking), a chair couldn't be moved across the room (considered work), the Israelites could not go more than a mile from home, etc. Do you follow all these things in your attempt to "keep the sabbath"? If not, do you agree that anyone who breaks these laws should be put to death, as the above scripture states? The thing is, we cannot just take some parts of the scripture to follow and leave the inconvenient parts out, doesn't work that way. If we choose to try and follow the "law" we must keep it ALL or suffer the consequences.
And yes, the keeping of any ONE particular day was changed in the New Testament as the scriptures below clearly show...
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." (Co. 2:16);
"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain". (Gal. 4:9,10).
"One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's." (Rom. 14:5-8)
"And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said to him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? And he said to them, Have you never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungered, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the show bread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? And he said to them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath". (Mk. 2:23-28)
In regard to worshipping on Sunday, actually, you have to go back a bit further in history than Constantine...back to the early church as a matter of fact - the disciples met on the FIRST day of the week NOT the seventh, so changing the day happened way before Constantine came into the picture a few centuries later.
God told the Israelites to keep the sabbath, not the Church. Sabbath keeping and circumcision were commands given to the Jews alone, never to the church or the Gentiles.
I believe scripture teaches us to follow and obey the commands of Jesus given to the New Testament believer, which in truth, far surpass the 10 Commandments given under the law.
Also, please note that the 4th commandment was the only one that was not carried over into the New Testament, you will never find that you must keep a certain day in the NT, in fact you find the opposite. Simply put, you cannot make a NT doctrine out of something only taught or mentioned in the OT.
You are correct in saying that we should never ADD to God's Word, and by adding LAW to GRACE, the book of Galatians clearly says that those who do such things have fallen from grace, dangerous place to be...
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say to you, that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect to you, whoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love". (Gal. 5:1-6)
You see, Nancy, my trust and faith is in Christ ALONE, not in any particular day, doctrine, or tradition. HE already has changed my life, drawn me close to Him, and set me free, so I am lacking nothing by the mere "keeping of a day".
HE alone is my sabbath, and my rest, because in myself I am imperfect and could NEVER keep all the commandments blamelessly (as the law demands) which is why He had to do it for me! I thank God that I am MADE RIGHTEOUS in HIM, not by any works that I do. It must be quite frustrating to always be "trying" to "measure up." And tell me, how does one ever know when they've done ENOUGH to truly please God? That my friend is religion, the word itself means "a return to bondage", no thanks, I prefer God's plan of salvation by GRACE, through FAITH in the finished work of Christ. Jesus didn't come to bring more religion, He came to bring us into a personal relationship with Himself. TRUE Christianity really is the very antithesis of religion, it is totally "other"!
In closing, let me say that I am under no illusion that I could ever do enough to fully please God, if I could Christ would not have had to shed His blood for me. The Gospel means "good news", and the good news is that CHRIST PAID IT ALL so we could now "cease from our own works" and REST in HIM and His righteousness alone. Now, THAT, is good news!
Nancy, you said that what I say is untrue, but I'm afraid that you are the one who is mistaken, and sadly, your faith is apparently misplaced. The truth and the rest you speak about is NOT found in a day, but rather in a PERSON - the Lord Jesus Christ! It's all about what JESUS did at the Cross not what any of us can DO to impress God or others. Make no mistake, the Lord HATES self-righteousness! And just as he honored and received Abraham because of his FAITH (not works), so does He also honor those who have no confidence in the flesh (their own righteousness) but rather fully place their trust and faith in the righteousness of His Son. THAT, and that alone, is what pleases the Lord.
As scripture says, the "just shall live by FAITH" and "without FAITH it is impossible to please Him". This is what the true Christian life entails, not just a bunch of rules and dogma.
I sincerely pray that the Lord will open the eyes of your understanding to these precious truths, Nancy, and that you will fully receive the good news of the Gospel that alone can save your soul. When Jesus said "It is FINISHED", that's exactly what He meant! Don't look for rest in a day or a doctrine, seek to rest in Him and He will surely work His righteousness in and through your life.
Lastly, in response to your PS - they did not meet in the Temple, Paul DEBATED in the Temple, because of course there were no church buildings at that time. The early church met in HOMES not in the Jewish Temple.
Shalom to you also!
In His love,
Judie
Additional comments/responses:
My Response:
Hi Dot,
Thank you for your comment but I believe you're taking the verses you mentioned out of their proper context.
If you begin reading at the beginning of Chapter 15 (see below) you'll see that the men teaching about keeping the law were false teachers, i.e., judiazers. These men had infiltrated the early church by trying to refute Paul's message of grace through FAITH, by ADDING the "law of Moses" as an additional requirement for salvation. These same false teachings have again infiltrated the church with the erroneous legalistic teachings taught by the Hebrew Roots movement of today.
I think it's interesting to note that these teachings attempted to corrupt the true message of the Cross with its focus on the FINISHED work of Christ, at the church's inception. Now, the same identical attack on this precious truth of salvation by Grace alone, is attempting to distort and corrupt God's message of GRACE in the last days church as well. It goes to show that as sly and insidious as our enemy is, his strategies and tactics rarely change.
That said, we can clearly see in the first 11 verses of Acts 15 that it was the false sect of Pharisees (NOT James) that had come to teach about keeping the law of Moses. Because of these judiazers, both then and now, religious yokes of BONDAGE, as stated in verse 10, are being placed on people. Please know that individuals that teach and promote these false doctrines that serve to corrupt the true Gospel message will certainly answer to God for it one day, since scripture plainly teaches that adding LAW to GRACE is a very dangerous thing to do.
To help further clarify what I'm trying to explain I've emphasized key points in the scripture below:
ACTS 15:1-11 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Now, skipping down to the verses you mentioned:
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well.
In verse 19 James says his sentence (i.e., conclusion of the matter) is that the Gentiles should not be "troubled" to keep the Jewish law, but rather for them to simply abstain from idols, fornication, and blood.
As far as verse 21, all James was saying was that anyone who wanted to LEARN about the law of Moses could easily do so by attending the synagogue where it was taught on the Sabbath.
Verse 24 talks about how these "certain men" (pharisees) were troubling the young church and subverting their souls. To subvert something is to distort and corrupt...to overturn or overthrow the "foundation" of something.
Consequently, James was hardly endorsing ANY of these false teachings that were telling people that the law of Moses must continue to be kept, on the contrary, he clearly stated that they gave NO such commandment.
The final admonition made at the Council in verse 29, was again stated that it would be sufficient if the new believers simply abstained from meats offered to idols, and from fornication and blood. That is FAR from teaching believers to KEEP the whole "law of Moses," which of course, none of us can possibly do anyway.
In closing, Dot, I sincerely pray that the Lord opens the eyes of your (and others in the HRM) understanding to rightly divide the word of truth which is able to save the soul.
In His love,
Judie
Original post: TRUTH MATTERS: The Danger of the Hebrew Roots Movement http://dispellingthedeception.blogspot.com/2009/07/danger-of-hebrew-roots-movement.html#ixzz29XwfamEX
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Acts 15:230-21
Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.