Is truth important? What say you?
16Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Exodus 20:16, King James Version)
7By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, (2 Corinthians 6:7, King James Version)
6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; (1 Corinthians 13:6, King James Version)
17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17, King James Version)
11Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. (Leviticus 19:11, King James Version)
19God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Numbers 23:19, King James Version)
29And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent. (1 Samuel 15:29, King James Version)
7He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. (Psalm 101:7, King James Version)
16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19, King James Version)
5A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. (Proverbs 19:5, King James Version)
18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (Hebrews 6:18, King James Version)
2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (Titus 1:2, King James Version)
Lying is serious business!
3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? (Acts 5:3, King James Version)
Previously, I posted in “Reflections: Further Thoughts About Love and the Law” how if we love someone, we will yield to them and try to do what pleases them. We obey God because we want to please Him, and the above verses make it clear that God does not like falsehood. So, why participate in something based upon a lie?
Another question is shouldn’t we be becoming more like Christ? Should not truth be a core part of growing towards that end?
God instituted a series of holy days, or festivals, in the Old Testament. All of them were based upon some aspect of the truth. That doesn’t mean they understood them in full, or even that some of them were understood at all. However, how many times did God point back to what He did in Egypt? Even the Sabbath was representative of the rest obtained by the freedom from slavery in Egypt (Dt 5:15). The Feast of Tabernacles represented living in temporary dwellings after coming out of Egypt.
Then, there are all the wonderful future fulfillments that are yet to come in the fall holy days. Those are still truth, even though they have not come to pass.
The truth and the holy days are closely linked. It was by keeping the holy days that God slowly revealed His plan to HWA. Obedience led to greater understanding.
By not keeping the holy days, much of the world stays in darkness and rebellion. By substituting manmade days, the truth not only becomes lost, but it becomes hidden.
Christmas is one of the biggest scams of the year. It is based upon many lies:
1. Jesus was not born on 25 December. This has been documented time and time again. Only the most foolish of shepherd would have had their flocks in the fields on a bitter winter day near Jerusalem.
2. We are not even told when Christ’s birthday is. If we were supposed to observe it, then the date would have been revealed. Since it was not revealed, just picking any old day means participating in something that is false.
3. “Christianizing” symbols to supposedly make them relate to something dealing with Christ is another form of a lie. Saying “this evergreen tree represents the eternal life of Jesus” is a lie because that isn’t what it stands for at all. It was borrowed from pagan cultures dealing with their gods. In fact, the ancient Egyptians worshipped evergreens. The Romans decorated with evergreens and lights and exchanged gifts to honor Saturnus (from which we get Saturnalia).
4. It is another form of a lie to say we are doing something to honor God when He despises it.
5. One of the worst forms of lies is telling your children lies about a mythical being that is a mythical race that lives in a mythical place as though it were the truth.
What’s amazing is how people justify it as “for the children”, yet they are really doing harm to them through their lies. Then, there’s the whole inconsistency of telling them to not lie and to stay away from strangers and don’t take candy from them, but at Halloween and Christmas these things are turned on their head. Then, parents wonder why children don’t respect them more.
When you take away the birth of Jesus, or even contemplate if we are supposed to celebrate it anyhow, take away the non-Christian symbols, take away trying to honor God on pagan terms and stop lying to our children about Santa Claus, then what’s left?
Nothing to celebrate, if you ask me.
Exactly … I had a coworker try and explain to me the "wonder" of the season. How it expands their childrens' minds.
I asked him what did he tell his children when they found out Santa wasn't real. Did he realize that he was hurting his credibility with his children? He just looked at me like a deer in the headlights.
I told him that I don't lie to my children, especially in matters pertaining to worship of God. I won't use fables or something that is untrue to teach them truth.
Needless to say – I wasn't very wise in how I responded to him. After that, he only talked to me if he had to on some work related matter. I probably really messed up his Xmas for a while. I assume he finally put the matter out of his mind and went back to his practices.
Mr. Carmack,
1. Have you been to Israel to see if shepherds are in the field? I've been told by some pretty reliable sources who have been there many times that they are definitely in the field guarding the sheep.
btw – this is very interesting:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2010-12-23-1Ashepherds23_CV_N.htm?csp=34&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Religion-TopStories+%28News+-+Religion+-+Top+Stories%29
2. "We are not even told when Christ’s birthday is. If we were supposed to observe it, then the date would have been revealed. Since it was not revealed, just picking any old day means participating in something that is false."
http://causafinitaest.blogspot.com/2010/12/dating-of-christmas.html
3. “Christianizing” symbols to supposedly make them relate to something dealing with Christ is another form of a lie.
Do you wear a wedding ring?
Do you use the term Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday?
These days are named in honor of the Moon, Tiwaz, Woden, Thor, Freya, Saturn, and the Sun? Just because Pagans used something or did something does not make it forever pagan.
4. I don't believe that God despises his children celebrating His birth into this world.
5. Who says in order to celebrate the birth of Christ you have to tell your children lies about Santa Claus?
Merry Christmas,
Russ
Russ wrote: "Have you been to Israel to see if shepherds are in the field? I've been told by some pretty reliable sources who have been there many times that they are definitely in the field guarding the sheep."
No, I haven't been to Israel, and I don't have to go to Siberia to know its cold there either. Just Google it. I did, and I got lots of hits stating the same thing: Shepherds aren't stupid enough to let their sheep freeze in the winters of Jerusalem.
Idaho is not Jerusalem, BTW. The winters in a desert region naturally get colder than more temperate climates. Even our desert southwest gets remarkably cold and has been known to snow this time of year.
Read my previous article about how much God despises pagan worship. Wedding rings are not worship. Eating with a fork is not worship. Going to the bathroom is not worship.
"I don't believe that God despises his children celebrating His birth into this world."
Then, you don't believe your Bible.
Why does Christ come with a sword? Because rejection now and in the future will continue to happen. Although some admit like in the following videos the sources of their worship practices, they still reject the truth.
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/christmas-elements-have-pagan-roots/pqauiaq?q=Christmas&rel=msn&from=en-us_msnhp&form=msnhed>1=42007
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/christmas-evolves-with-time/pifzc65?rel=msn
Deu 12:30 beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?
Deu 12:31 "You shall not behave thus toward the LORD your God, for every abominable act which the LORD hates they have done for their gods; for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.
Deu 12:32 " Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.
Dear "Russ"
4. I don't believe that God despises his children celebrating His birth into this world.
What about Christ's birth back into the Spirit realm? Which birth is the most important to true Christians? do you know? Are they both equally important? Does it matter to God? I will tell you sir, the world's form of "christianity" does not even get that birth right and celebrate "Easter" after a "good friday" crucifixion, even when that date of "birth" is recorded in the Bible!
4. I don't believe that God despises his children celebrating His birth into this world.
It really does not matter what you believe or I, for that matter–but the most important thing to any of us is–do we believe what the Bible reveals? without developing that—none will live beyond the physical life.
The editor
Linking to this in a special Saturday post at The Blog of Columbus.
Don't forget the One who said He was the truth.
One thing is for sure, all of creation points to the invisible attribute of God being a God of diversity. People who claim exclusivity to God based on their own doctrinal supremacy are spiritually immature, narrow-minded and myopic.
One person has a passion for truth, another person has a passion for people. To the extreme one is cold, hard and unbending. The other person, to the extreme, is a gooey blob with nothing to stand on.
I enjoy learning things from other people, who God created differently. And they believe much differently than I do.
Jesus came perfectly, humbly, lovingly, compassionately, full of grace and truth.
His patience and compassion for people who broke the law, His eating with sinners (like the prostitute in Luke 7), His fellowshipping with outcasts, rejects and tax collectors, His fearlessness with mental and spiritual illness are all amazing.
No doubt He would have a few things to teach those of us who rest comfortably in our warm homes at night with little regard for those in need, for He had no place to lay His head. He could no doubt teach us all a thing or two about passing up homeless people, hungry people and hurting people and how to compassionately stand up for truth.
I don't think any of us, especially me, have a market on the truth or love of God, but I love how God shows up in ways I often do not expect and works through others. I see Him at times doing things I wouldn't readily do and thinking things I wouldn't normally think.
I like the fact that God loves people. If it weren't for that, I guess none of us could even have the opportunity to bloviate about who He really is or what He stands for. I love you Jesus, because You loved us first.
Anonymous wrote: "People who claim exclusivity to God based on their own doctrinal supremacy are spiritually immature, narrow-minded and myopic."
Then, Jesus was immature, narrow-minded and myopic according to what you say. Christianity by definition is narrow and the gate is strait.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (Jn 14:6).
As far as I am concerned, it is not my doctrinal supremacy. It is what the Bible says. Either you believe it or not. Period.
Nothing immature about it. It is either true or it is a lie. You cannot have it both ways.
Yes, Christianity is narrow. I think we'll all be amazed who actually makes it by God's grace. The truth of the Bible is the Pharisees were the exclusive ones with their great obedience. They rejected the common people because they were common rejects – some of those people even mixed in with pagans and adopted those beliefs. Jesus went to those people and loved them. He rejected the religious people.
The Pharisees claimed the Bible was their life. They searched the Scriptures for in them they thought they had life. Yet they somehow missed the Savior.
Amazing.
Anonymous wrote: "The Pharisees claimed the Bible was their life. They searched the Scriptures for in them they thought they had life. Yet they somehow missed the Savior.
"Amazing."
"Somehow"? I think it is quite clear how, actually. Jesus tells us:
"7 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.’[a]
"8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
9 And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe[b] your own traditions!"
Manmade traditions caused them to err. Things they added to God's Laws. Just like "Christians" today do by adding manmade traditions like Christmas and Easter.
Yes, they had their traditions so they wouldn't break the holy law! Jesus told them clearly they trusted in Moses and the law (John 6:45) and it's the law that accuses them to God.
If any of you want to boast in Moses, the law and the traditions and doctrinal structure of HWA and WCG, that's up to you. Jesus is the Truth! Trust in Him, not the law.
Anonymous wrote: "Yes, they had their traditions so they wouldn't break the holy law! Jesus told them clearly they trusted in Moses and the law (John 6:45) and it's the law that accuses them to God."
No. Read what I quoted again. They broke the Law. Furthermore, Jn 6:45 says nothing of the kind.
"It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."
This is preceded by:
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."
That contradicts totally what you are saying about boasting in the Law. Our faith in the COG is in Jesus b/c the Father called us. We don't put our faith in the Law. We keep the Law b/c it pleases the Father.
That's what is different about true Christians. Others do what they want to do, like the Pharisees, and find ways around the Law rather than asking what pleases God.
A great example is a fellow named Diotrephes. 3 John 9-10 says, “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.” Diotrephes had a Nicolaitan spirit about him. He elevated himself and oppressed the common people. He set himself up as THE Minister, THE Pastor, THE Priest. In so doing he conquered and subdued the common people. Churches that have clergy systems today are no different; they also have a Nicolaitan spirit about them.
Our risen Lord said to the church in Ephesus, “But you have this in your favour: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” Does this mean that Jesus is saying that He hates the clergy systems that have crept into the churches? Yes, I think He’s saying exactly that. Please notice, He’s not saying that he hates the people that have become clergy; rather He’s saying that He hates the clergy systems. It’s the proverbial “love the sinner, hate the sin” relationship.
So why would Jesus hate the Nicolaitan clergy systems that have long since become so prevalent in the church? I believe that the answer is because these systems have created a two-tier form of Christianity. They have elevated a minority of “professional” people over the “common” people. They have conquered and subdued the common people to such an extent that the Body of Christ no longer functions like Christ intended His body to function. The common people have become lethargic spectators and often cannot seem to even hear the Holy Spirit for themselves. They have caused the common people to think that only the clergy can serve God and that ministry is their job alone. The priesthood of believers that God intended for the church has instead become only the priesthood of the clergy.
To sum up, anything that causes the church to function in a way contrary to what God intended is a Nicolaitan spirit that Christ Jesus hates. The sin of Balaam led to the Israelites disobeying God by mingling with the surrounding nations through idolatry. The Nicolaitans likewise disobeyed God by creating a clergy system in the church through which the few essentially conquered the many. Either way, the problem is the same. The problem is the elevating of the flesh over the walking in the Spirit. The problem is that, instead of the fathers feeding the children (as it’s supposed to be), it is the children who are feeding the fathers. The problem is ultimately failing to obey God and walking instead according to our own carnal desires. Anytime when this happens, we have also become Nicolaitans.
SafeTmanEd says…
Ouch, Russ's comments hurt my head. Now I need another beer!!
SafeTmanEd says….
Actually Russ, the temple service of Zacharias, John the Baptist's father, is the real biblical key to understanding when Christ was born. Can't go through it all here in a comment, but following the story in Luke and figuring when he served in the temple proves that Christ was born in the fall. Do some research and pull the string on that one!
My bad, I got in a rush so I could spend some time with my family. It's John 5:45 "Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you; Moses, in whom you trust."
Yes, I agree they broke the law. They set those extra traditions down to protect from breaking it and they still broke it.
That's Paul says in Rom 2:23 to those who boast in the law, "you who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?"
The "good" people, the best of people break the law every day. So what or who am I going to boast in? Not the law, it condemns me. It's holy and perfect, yes. But my life is in Jesus Christ. I will boast of Him and His grace all day long. He gave salvation. Not me. Not the law. Not my goodness.
John you speak of your group as "we don't put our faith in the law" and "we keep the law because it pleases the Father."
You've said a mouthful. First, you imply being in xCG "we do" and "we don't". That perpetuates the idea of resting in doctrine and resting in a church – that being in CG you're safe. No church is safe.
Second, your boast is "we keep the law." Good grief. You speak out of both sides of your mouth. Do you really believe you keep the law? You doubt your own salvation because you don't believe in "once saved, always saved." This kind of talk is like a wave tossed to and fro. "We keep the law" but "we're not saved yet."
Your own salvation being in doubt shows you don't have confidence in your law keeping. The law condemns you and you condemn yourself.
So who will you trust? You say in essence you trust your law keeping, but then you say in essence, "I don't do that well enough to know for sure whether I'm saved or not."
The safest place to be is drop all that crap, drop the wrestling, drop the doubts, let go of all that religious mess and rest totally in our only hope, Jesus Christ.
When He saves, He saves. Then you don't have to preach your obedience, you preach Christ and something amazing happens….obedience. If you really believe Jesus is the power of salvation, that's who you will preach.
Anonymous Russ wrote: "John you speak of your group as 'we don't put our faith in the law' and 'we keep the law because it pleases the Father.'
"You've said a mouthful. First, you imply being in xCG 'we do' and 'we don't'. That perpetuates the idea of resting in doctrine and resting in a church – that being in CG you're safe. No church is safe."
No, you are putting words in my mouth. I never said being in a church makes you safe. The ones who go into the Lake of Fire had to have been exposed to the truth in some manner enough to make them understand. That means that some in the Church (capital 'C') will not make it because they refuse to repent of something.
Romans 2, which you seem to like so much, also says, "Who will render to every man according to his deeds".
"Second, your boast is 'we keep the law.' Good grief. You speak out of both sides of your mouth. Do you really believe you keep the law?"
Yes, I can say that I do. That's not a boast. It cannot save me. It is simply a matter of what is required before God. I check out the Bible and see what God commands, and I do it. Is that really so hard to understand? We are saved now from the penalty of sin, which is transgression against the Law. We are saved from sin (Ep 2:25) to good works (vv 8 – 10). If we refuse to do what is right, then we are reprobate (Tit 1:16).
Do I keep it perfectly? No, I do not. That's what forgiveness is all about. Perhaps you've heard of it?
"You doubt your own salvation because you don't believe in 'once saved, always saved.' This kind of talk is like a wave tossed to and fro. 'We keep the law' but 'we're not saved yet.'"
Putting words in my mouth? I just proved someone wrong about the "we're not saved yet" bit. As Armstrong (probably GTA) once said, "I was saved, I am being saved, and I will be saved." Wrap your head around that one.
"Your own salvation being in doubt shows you don't have confidence in your law keeping. The law condemns you and you condemn yourself."
Actually, I have confidence in Jesus Christ Who lives in me to save me. I have confidence that the Holy Spirit will convict me of sin in order that I may repent of that sin and grow in grace, character and wisdom.
"So who will you trust? You say in essence you trust your law keeping, but then you say in essence, 'I don't do that well enough to know for sure whether I'm saved or not.'"
This is tiring. Show me where I said that. Show me where I said I trust in my ability to keep the Law in order to be saved. Show me where I said anything about my ability to save myself at all. Show me where I doubt that Jesus Christ is my able Savior.
While you are looking that up, look at the title of this article and determine if what you are writing about my me and my beliefs fits or not.
SafeTmanEd says…
About the above…you've been trying Prov. 26:5…maybe it's time for Prov. 26:4???
Naturally, I am a fool:
"18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
"19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
"20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
"21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."
Maybe "truth and nothing but the truth" is not so easily understood after all. So maybe a change of subject is needed.
John, how about the truth from Joel Meeker in his letter to melvin Rhodes? Have you read that letter? 12/26/10 will undoubtedly bring more resignations from UCG and probably for the very reasons sighted in Joel's letter—but it seems that those wanting to take the side of the council need to find that "eye salve" someone was mentioning a while back.
Have you ever wondered if the letter to Laodicea is not a reference to people in the near future–but is a "here and now" letter, with some being seperated from the true body of Christ?
Anony Jon
@Anony Jon: I have stated before that one of the problems I have with the "church era" doctrine is that Jesus over and over says to listen to what He says to the "churches". Each of us needs to examine ourselves in light of what He says to the churches and, if applicable, apply it.
Not sure what you mean by "seperated from the true body of Christ", though. All seven are churches, even Laodicea, in spite of what people like Gerald Flurry seem to think. They are the body of Christ. To not be the body of Christ is to not be His.
When one is "spewed or vomited out of the body" he/she is no longer IN the body–but once were.
When lukewarm-ness is so nausiating to Christ that He can no longer stand it–those are vomited out.(a scattereing takes place–splinters appear.)
I simply wonder if that may have started happening back in 1995 and this is that time of Laodicea or the end time generation?
Yes, Christ says to the churches–which applies to them all–but in a dual sense–in every time frame there were many congregations scattered around and so that one letter (which ever was the most applicable to the times they lived in) was applied to them all.
Have you not ever looked at it that way?
another example; during the later 20th century when HWA was traveling around the world,–there were congregations/churches in various countries–they were all the same body of Christ in "Philadelpia" but not all the same churches. some were african churches some australian some european some american, etc.
Hope that is not too confusing.
Anony Jon
John: I posted the anonymous comment above on Dec 24 11:01 PM.
I just want to lay some really honest and sincere comments in this post. I admire your dedication and what you and other members of the various CG's do in following what God has revealed to you.
I appreciate your "retreating" back to Jesus Christ as your hope of salvation. I rest on that open confession believing that you and others in the CG's who openly confess Jesus are truly saved.
Here's why I post what I do today: When I was in WCG I honestly believed and argued that my trust was really in Jesus. I was dedicated and "sold out" to the understanding that WCG & HWA had.
While in WCG I had grown to the point of believing and trusting in my commandment keeping. The commandment keeping and the church were the security and assurance of my salvation. Oh, I adamantly claimed and deeply believed that my commandment keeping and good works were the result of my relationship with God and being in the "one true church."
But God showed me a glimpse of how He saw me. Man, that was crushing: tears, failure, pain, suffering, hurt, discouragement.
I wish I could share the depth of it. I can't in this little post. But I do know (not just believe, but know) this. When at the bottom of that darkness, God showed up in His Son, Jesus Christ.
All that commandment keeping, all those claims of being the one true church, all those times of looking down on worldly sinners and pagans, all those times of security in my obedience all of a sudden came crashing down and I was the desperate one. I didn't deserve life, but Jesus had compassion. He said, He who has the Son, has life. I found out that John wrote his first epistle for that very reason, that we "who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life…" (1 John 5:13)
My eternal security became Jesus Christ, not me and my obedience. That was the freedom that Jesus spoke of – he who has the Son is free indeed. By God's faithfulness, I will never turn away from that. And this I know, God is faithful.
I just wish you guys could see the perspective God brought me through. Apparently you can't. And I couldn't when I was in WCG because I was looking through the colored lenses of WCG doctrine and writings.
I just see and hear so much bickering, splits and divisions in the CG's. You fight and war. Why? I had the same problems with my wife. We fought. I had trouble at work. Why? I was so tied to the law and acted out of fear. I sincerely thought and believed the problem was with others. My relationships with people suffered, but hey I was holding to truth!!! The problem was me and God shattered me to show me that. Could that be why He is allowing this to happen in all the CG's?
I no longer believe in a "true visible church" only the invisible one that God knows. In that body I believe are diverse individuals called and chosen by God who suffer, are hurt and who hold to Jesus because He means everything to them. Their life is in the Son.
They don't all believe like me. They just love God and their fellow man like Jesus did. God leads them to obey and produce fruit that is amazing to see and is easily recognizeable. I know God will bring the believers in United through this because He loves you more than you or I can imagine. He showed that love by sending His innocent Son to die an unfair, painful and cruel death on the cross for us. May you be richly blessed by Him.