What is truth?

When Jesus appeared before Pilate, the subject of truth was discussed...Jesus claimed to bear witness to the truth - Jn 18:37 and Pilate raised the perennial question: "What is truth?" - Jn 18:38. Today, many people sound a lot like Pilate... A Barna Research Group survey on what Americans believe asked the following question, "Is there absolute Truth?"...Sixty-six percent (interesting number) of adults responded that they believe that "there is no such thing as absolute truth; different people can define truth in conflicting ways and still be correct" and seventy-two percent of those aged 18 to 25 expressed this same belief. In a series of more than twenty interviews conducted at random at a large university, people were asked if there was such a thing as absolute truth - truth that is true across all times and cultures for all people. All but one respondent answered along these lines: "Truth is whatever you believe." or "There is no absolute truth" or "If there were such a thing as absolute truth, how could we know what it is?"and finally "People who believe in absolute truth are dangerous". The Bible says many things about the truth e.g., G-d is a G-d of truth - Deut 32:4 and Jesus is the truth, and full of truth, and spoke the truth - Jn 14:6; 1:14; 8:45 and The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, and guided the apostles into all the truth - Jn 14:17; 16:13 and The Word of G-d is truth - Jn 17:17 and The judgments of G-d are according to truth - Ps 96:13; Ro 2:2 and Christians should walk in the truth - cf. Ep 4:17-32; 5:1-17 and Christians should patiently teach others the truth - cf. 2 Ti 2:23-26 and Many will turn their ears away from the truth - cf. 2Ti 4:1-4 . It truly is a fact that we are in the last days and many are being deceived by the liar. In Proverbs 14:12 we read: " There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." In Genesis Chapter one we see that G-d created the heavens and the earth and all that dwell therein simply by speaking. In Proverbs 18:21 we clearly read that both death and life are in the power of our tongues,.... yes even the final judgment at the last day will be based according to each person's words, "By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned", Matthew 12:37; your tongue is the instrument either of a great deal of good, or of a great deal of evil. Notice how much G-d thinks about what we say? Today, sadly the truth is very far from us - many people rely on deception, outright lies or by distorting the truth to "win". No one is righteous, no, not one. It is impossible for the unrighteous to bring forth righteousness. We need honest, truthful people in government, business and our churches. Only the self righteous think they are right - most sinners know they are not right. Paul said that he was chief of all the apostles - but, Paul also said he was chief of the sinners. Jesus spoke this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others. "Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘G-d, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get. But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘G-d, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted." Until we all, understand why wise Pogo said:"we have met the enemy and he is us." Until we all look to our own sins and not those of any others we will ever obey this command: "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." G-d will heal our land only if we all repent - He will destroy us all - if we do not! Voting in a less sinful party or man - will not cut the mustard. G-d will save us ONLY if we start telling the truth and ask Him personally to heal our land or we can continue to be foolish and "elect the lying Saul to be our King" but choosing that man did not work too well for the Old Testament Jews. In John 10:27 Jesus tells us: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" Jesus warns us all in His Sermon on the Mount: Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Religious people totally ignore G-d's warning in Proverbs 6:16-19: "There are six things that Lord Jehovah hates, and his soul has despised a seventh: Lofty eyes and the false tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, The heart that makes plans of depravity and feet that hasten to run to evil, A false witness who speaks lies and deception among brothers. Notice that the Lord does not hate or despise any of the concerns religious people have today e.g., abortion, gay marriage, unbelievers, etc. - He hates lying falsehoods and discord far more. As the government and religion of 2,000 years ago used the very things G-d hates to crucify His Son and our Lord and Savior - Jesus said; "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do." In Proverbs 14:12 we read: " There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." I repeat the great G-d who created the heavens and the earth and all that dwell therein does not need any lies, arguments, debates, discussions, hate, deception, discord, prejudice, judges or help from any man or woman to bring forth His perfect will on this earth! John 8:44: " Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh on his own, for he is a liar, and the father of it." Proverbs 6:12 - Here is a description of worthless and wicked people: They are constant liars. Proverbs 17:4 - Wrongdoers listen to wicked talk; liars pay attention to destructive words. Psalms 26:4: I do not spend time with liars or go along with hypocrites. Psalms 116:11:In my anxiety I cried out to you, "These people are all liars!" Psalms 120:2:Rescue me, O LORD, from liars and from all deceitful people. Psalms 43:1;O G-d, take up my cause! Defend me against these ungodly people. Rescue me from these unjust liars. Psalms 101:7: I will not allow deceivers to serve me, and liars will not be allowed to enter my presence. Psalms 63:11: But the king will rejoice in G-d. All who trust in him will praise him, while liars will be silenced. Proverbs 29:12: If a ruler honors liars, all his advisers will be wicked. - Revelation 21:8: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 3:9: Look! I will force those who belong to Satan--those liars who say they are Jews but are not--to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love. - Revelation 2:2: I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars . Psalms 55:23: But you, O G-d, will send the wicked down to the pit of destruction. Murderers and liars will die young, but I am trusting you to save me. Psalms 140:11 Don't let liars prosper here in our land. Cause disaster to fall with great force on the violent. Malachi 3:5: At that time I will put you on trial. I will be a ready witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty. Isaiah 44:25:I am the one who exposes the false prophets as liars by causing events to happen that are contrary to their predictions. I cause wise people to give bad advice, thus proving them to be fools. I feel very sorry for all those who think lying and deception is ok in the person(s) they want to work with, or play with, or minister to them, or whom they want to vote for and/or whom they want to do buSINess with - they have already lost. The reason G-d hates liars is very simple - Jesus said He was the truth and only the truth will set us free. The Devil is a liar and the accuser of the brethren and he seeks to destroy the earth and all they that dwell therein simply by speaking lies. The Devil started creating these divisions and death with his lying deceptions in the Garden of Eden and continues to this very day - doubt that fact? Simply check out the latest political ads and speeches. You can tell who belongs to whom by their truthfulness or lack thereof. Only the truth will set us free. Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve; the G-d of truth or the god of lies. Choose life or death, blessing or curse, G-d or the devil. It is truly your choice and destiny...... Love, Steve

I call out a warning! I call out Danger! Yesterday I was led to teach on the Book of Joel - The name Joel means, “The Lord is G-d.” The prophecies of the Book of Joel are divided into two parts, the first part may be summarized as follows: The prophet at the beginning calls the attention of the elders and of all the inhabitants of the land to a coming event the like of which has never been seen, a terrible visitation by locusts, which will be coincident with a famine, and which will together reduce the entire land to the bitterest misery. The prophet exhorts the people to fast, to pray, and to mourn. In this double visitation the prophet perceives the approach of the "day of the Lord", which is to be ushered in by a terrible affliction unless the people become truly repentant. In the second part it is first related how the people did actually bring about a gracious change in G-d's plans by obeying the prophet's injunctions; this is followed by Yhwh's answer to the prayer of the people; then there is the promise of relief from famine through abundant rains and through a marvelous fruitfulness, after which the spirit of prophecy is to be poured out over all flesh, and the day of the Lord will draw near, accompanied by terrifying signs in heaven and earth. These terrors, however, are not for G-d's people, who will be rescued in the day of judgment because they called on the Lord, but for their enemies. At the time of the change in the fate of Judah and Jerusalem the Lord will gather all nations into the valley of Jehoshaphat (Yhwh judges), there to be destroyed through the fulfillment of the divine judgment of wrath, I believe the valley where G-d judges will be and is Armageddon. The prophet Joel gave us a precise overview of the end-time events, including the outpouring of the Spirit, our Nation's current problems, Armageddon and the Last judgment. Joel clearly speaks to G-d's people then and now who are about to feel Yhwh's wrath and are going through the great tribulation. Moses had already warned them long time ago: "When the Lord your G-d brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you – a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant – then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery (Deuteronomy 6:10-12)." This is exactly what had happened during Joel’s (our end) time. Much of their (our) time was spent in merrymaking and drinking as Joel tells them, “Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you drinkers of wine; wail because of the new wine, for it has been snatched from your lips”. There is nothing wrong in enjoying life and the material blessing as a gift from G-d. But when forget who gave it to you and/or that becomes your main goal in life, “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless,” and “Nothing was gained under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:1; 2:11). Joel describes the fire, drought, locusts and Yhwh's destruction of "their" prosperity, “The seeds are shriveled beneath the clods. The storehouses are in ruins. The granaries have been broken down, for the grain has dried up”. The Results? First, All the material blessings are taken away. Second, All the religious sacrifices are taken away. “Grain offerings and drink offerings are cut off from the house of the Lord”. For a Hebrew, cutting off the religious sacrifices was far more serious than the loss of the material blessings, because the religious sacrifices guaranteed them the covenant relationship with the Lord. As long as they were able to offer the sacrifices, they thought that the Lord was bound by His covenant to keep His part and continue to take care of them in every way. But, when the sacrifices are taken away, there is no guarantee of any blessings from the Lord. Do you really think you can manipulate Yhwh into giving you blessings by giving more or simply by proclaiming prosperity verses? Third, The joy is taken away. “Surely the joy of mankind is withered away”. That is how it is with the joy that is based on material blessing and religious formalities. When man trusts in other things or men and turns away from the Lord, even the very ground is taken away from under his feet to make him realize how shaky the ground is upon which he thinks he stands. The Joy of the Lord is our true strength! The Prophesy of Joel clearly sees beyond then and into the last days (now). When you read Joel - you can clearly see the fires, drought, problems and enemies that are now destroying us and this once great Nation that once was under G-d! People are having to purchase hay this Summer to feed their cattle here in the USA because of the droughts. G-d brings all of this vengeance and various problems upon this nation and the earth in an attempt to turn His people back to Him! The destruction in the book of Joel is described in terms of the Day of the Lord, “Alas for that day! For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty” “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming”. The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it? Five of the 19 explicit references to the “day of the Lord” in the Old Testament are found in Joel's prophecy - (1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14). Joel (G-d's) Call for Genuine Repentance "Put on sackcloth, O priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar … .” And, “Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly, summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord. Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments”. Priority of repentance is first given to the priests and the religious leaders, then Joel called for the rest of the people, from the oldest to the youngest, “Bring together elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber”. It is the same with our Nation today. Jesus' church is clearly divided by denominations and doctrines of "holy" men who tell us what to believe rather than our turning to and hearing G-d - these "prophets" of today advise us to vote for some man they say is appointed by G-d to save this Nation that once was UNDER G-D! Do you really believe that some man (or men) can save America from G-d's hand or Yhwh's plan or His destruction?! Let that man first call down rain if he can! The prophet’s call was, “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill”. The spiritual condition of Zion then and our Nation and Jesus' church today - is the very same! Paul wrote a few hundred years later: "Now you, if you call yourself a Jew (Christian); if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to G-d; if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth – you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples (or, G-d as in the sense of Malachi's statements)? You who brag about the law, do you dishonor G-d by breaking the law? As it is written, 'G-d’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles (non-Christians) because of you (Romans 2:17-24) Is Obama or some political group responsible for the destruction of our Nation, finances, jobs, famine, lands, water and air? No! Will some Republican or any group of politicians be able to save our Nation? No!!! Only G-d saves! The Scripture puts the total responsibility on the people of G-d, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). If our Nation is in broken condition, it is not because the heathen or devils are acting as heathen or devils, but it is only because the church is not acting as the church and trusting only in their G-d. No man can not save you now or at the time of Judgment dear one - only the great G-d can! Joel 2:18 begins with “Then,” just like 2 Chronicles 7:14 above. If the people, the people of G-d, will turn to Him (and only to Him) in true repentance, “Then the Lord will be jealous for his land and take pity on his people” (2:18). The prophet describes fourfold blessings as a result of their genuine repentance. First, that G-d will heal their land for their material abundance (2:18-27). The blessings are described in the same agricultural terms as the devastation because of the locusts described earlier. “I am sending you grain, new wine and oil, enough to satisfy you fully”. And, “The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil … . You will have plenty to eat, until you are full … ”. However, the emphasis is not on the material blessing; it is on the Lord Who provides the material blessings, on the relationship with and the knowledge of G-d, that provides the full satisfaction. It is the Lord Who is sending the grain and new wine: “Surely the Lord has done great things”. “Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your G-d for he has given you autumn rains in righteousness”, and “You will praise the name of the Lord your G-d who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be ashamed”. The ultimate purpose of G-d for blessing His people is that they would want to know Him (John 10:27) and grow in their relationships with Him. G-d says, I will bless you: “Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your G-d, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed”. The purpose of blessing and meeting all our needs over abundantly is not that we get into enjoying the gifts and forget the Giver, but that we would find our joy, our fulfillment, our satisfaction in Him alone, because, as David said, “You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 16:11). You can either turn to the Lord - or you could continue to vote for some man to further mess up this Nation. The basic idea in repentance is to turn about, changing the course, making a U-turn, changing life goals and priorities. This is what the people of God, people who call themselves Christians, need to do today. Instead of running after the material things and listening to men (antichrists), they need to hear G-d and seek after the kingdom of G-d and His righteousness. Instead of finding happiness in the things of the world, they need to seek the true joy, fulfillment, and contentment in relationship with the Lord. The ultimate purpose of G-d for blessing us is that we seek Him and desire to know Him more and more and love and serve Him more and more. Second, G-d will pour out His Spirit for their universal spiritual restoration. After speaking about their material blessing because of their turning back to G-d, Joel speaks of their spiritual blessing. In the New Testament, Peter applied this part of Joel's prophecy to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the beginning of the church (Acts 2:16-21). Paul applied Joel 2:32 for the salvation available to all, "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord (not some political party) will be saved" (Romans 10:12). Third, G-d will judge the wicked and establish His eternal Kingdom. Joel speaks of G-d’s wrath and ultimate punishment of all the nations that oppressed G-d’s people. They will be judged and ultimately destroyed, e.g., Edom. The wrath of G-d on the unbelieving nations is described as G-d’s trampling of the grapes in the winepress. As the Apostle John describes in the Book of Revelation, The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of G-d’s wrath. They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia (180 miles) (Revelation 14: 19-20). Then, the Kingdom of G-d will be established, and G-d’s unlimited blessings will flow to His people, In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the Lord's house and will water the valley of acacias. Fourth, the ultimate blessing. The book of Joel ends with a note of the ultimate blessing, “The Lord dwells in Zion,” the Lord’s eternal presence with His people as described in Revelation: And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of G-d is with his people, and G-d himself will be with them and be their G-d. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4). The Prophesy of Joel begins with all of the terrible devastation and ends with the eternal blessing of the presence of the Lord with His people forever. Two of the oldest writing prophets, Obadiah and Joel, speak about the last days and the Second Coming without speaking about Jesus' first coming. Why? Because as Peter tells us, “It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you” (1 Peter 1:12). And, as Paul writes, “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come” (1 Corinthians 10:11). They all warn us not to trust in any man but to only trust in G-d! What does the Bible say about trusting in man? Psalm 118:8 "It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man." Psalm 146:3 "Do not trust in princes,In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation." 2 Chronicles 14:11 "Then Asa called to the LORD his G-d and said, "LORD, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O LORD our G-d, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our G-d; let not man prevail against You." Psalm 40:4 "How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood." Psalm 56:4 "In G-d, whose word I praise, In G-d I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?" Well dear one are you warned enough to stop listening to some religious/political "leader" and you will now hear the Lord or will you continue eat with the drunken and listen to and trust some man to save you?

The "Coming" Great Apostasy - Not the Great Revival. In Matthew 23:15 we read: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you travel on sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves." Please see: http://www.manyantichrists.com Ezekiel 8: 1-18 - NASB - Vision of Abominations in Jerusalem - It came about in the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, (the next day is 666) as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell on me there. Then I looked, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of a man; from His loins and downward there was the appearance of fire, and from His loins and upward the appearance of brightness, like the appearance of glowing metal. He stretched out the form of a hand and caught me by a lock of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the idol of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy, was located. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the appearance which I saw in the plain. Then He said to me, “Son of man, raise your eyes now toward the north.” So I raised my eyes toward the north, and behold, to the north of the altar gate was this idol of jealousy at the entrance. And He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations which the house of Israel are committing here, so that I would be far from My sanctuary? But yet you will see still greater abominations.” Then He brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall. He said to me, “Son of man, now dig through the wall.” So I dug through the wall, and behold, an entrance. And He said to me, “Go in and see the wicked abominations that they are committing here.” So I entered and looked, and behold, every form of creeping things and beasts and detestable things, with all the idols of the house of Israel, were carved on the wall all around. Standing in front of them were seventy elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them, each man with his censer in his hand and the fragrance of the cloud of incense rising. Then He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are committing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, ‘ The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land.’” And He said to me, “Yet you will see still greater abominations which they are committing.” Then He brought me to the entrance of the gate of the Lord’s house which was toward the north; and behold, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz (one of the main Babylonian gods). He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? Yet you will see still greater abominations than these.” Then He brought me into the inner court of the Lord’s house. And behold, at the entrance to the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east; and they were prostrating themselves eastward toward the sun (Sunday services). He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they have committed here, that they have filled the land with violence and provoked Me repeatedly? For behold, they are putting the twig to their nose. Therefore, I indeed will deal in wrath. My eye will have no pity nor will I spare; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, yet I will not listen to them.” What is an Abomination? There are a list of six/seven abominations given in Proverbs 6: 16 - 19: "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Can you really claim innocence from all these abominations? There is no one righteous - no not even one! Thank God in Jesus there is no condemnation! You need to repent! 2 Thessalonians 2 NKJV - The Great Apostasy - Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him (we can not if you sow discord), we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. Please see: http://www.howtohearjesus.com Over 2,000 years ago we read in 1 John 2:18-19: "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." (2 Pet 2:1 KJV) But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (Isa 5:20 KJV) Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Dan 7:25 KJV) And he (satan) shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. Please see: http://www.oldtestamentfeasts.com ( 2 Thess. 2;3) "Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." Please see http://www.whois666.com/. An apostate (defected) soul is lost forever - anyone that apostatizes cannot repent – because they have been given a reprobate mind and can/will not repent. The Greek word apostasion means a divorcement. The apostate person has divorced the truth of God and has been divorced by the Holy Spirit. They are lost forever. Apostate people are more religious than the true saints. They have defected from the Truth and are committed to guaranteeing that everybody else does the same. The Holy Bible warned us of this End Time phenomenon. “And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall “Fall Away,” to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:3-6). The self righteous can not repent as they beLIEve they are right! The religious people of His day hated Jesus and finally had Him crucified. Please note the words, “fall away,” which identifies the apostate person and states that they were once partakers of the Holy Ghost, were once enlightened, and had tasted the Word of God and the world to come. But, now, they have turned from all of that great life and cannot return to their former spiritual state. “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (II Thessalonians 2:3-4). See also 1 John 2:27. Here you see “falling away” from the two Greek words, apostasia and apostasion. Those who fall away are very religious persons who continue to worship but have turned to “another gospel.” Is Christ divided? Why is His church? “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (II Thessalonians 2:7-12). Luke 22:3-5 -Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. Please see: http://www.notithesandofferings.com God promises that He will send them “strong delusion,” and “that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned.” It is not the Bible that saves the soul. The denominational world is full of people that know the Bible. Many souls study the Bible just to argue their deception/denomination more successfully. It is Jesus alone that saves the soul. Jesus said In John 5:39: "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." The Holy Spirit said, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19). When you alter the Word of God, you are an apostate person and you will be eternally lost. In Matthew 23:8 Jesus warns: "But be not ye called Rabbi (teacher): for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren." 1 Timothy 4: 1-16 - NKJV - The Great Apostasy - Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. These things command and teach. Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. Revelation 18 KJV - And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon (confusion) the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. Please see: http://www.leavebabylon.com There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death! Proverbs 14:12; 16;25; 21:2

"My Lord delayeth his coming."

"My Lord delayeth his coming." Daniel 10 - Vision of the Glorious/Patient Saint In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision. In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude. And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your G-d, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.” When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me.” Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince. So, who is Michael? In Jude 1:9, Michael is called "the archangel" and he personally contends with the devil. In Daniel 12:1, Michael is called "the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people." This is not about personal guardian angels - it is about angels who have such great power that they are called princes. From their element in the spiritual world, they direct the affairs of nations. The news we read on a daily basis is not just the result of the actions of men. It also reflects the spiritual battles that are going on in the spirit world. The princes of this world are often led by their corresponding princes in the spirit world. These principalities, in turn, are all under the authority of "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 6:12)--by Satan himself. It is important for us to understand that our battles truly are spiritual ones. 1 Peter 4:12 - "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:" Ephesians 6:12 - “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Isaiah 40:31 - "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." John: 14:12 - "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the WORKS that I do he will do also; and GREATER WORKS than these he will do, because I go to My Father." "My Lord delayeth his coming." In Matthew 24: 45 -51 Jesus said: "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing . Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods .But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming ;And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Few things are more clear to me than the fact that Jesus warned us that Satan continues to deceive us in order to destroy us. In Matthew 25 - Jesus tells us another parable of ten virgins - all of the virgins went out to meet the Bridegroom ho delayed coming; half were prudent and half were foolish so that: - "While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept" - and half the virgins who were unprepared were foolishy destroyed! You have to wait and occupy until He returns! Because at midnight there went forth an arousing cry - "Behold, the Bridegroom! Go ye out to meet Him!" Behold, the Bridegroom comes at midnight, and blessed is that servant whom He shall find watching, and again, unworthy is the servant whom He shall find heedless. Beware, therefore, O my soul, do not be weighed down with sleep, lest you be given up to death, and lest you be shut out of the Kingdom. Be careful therefore that Satan's bequiling efforts will achieve no success in depriving you of what G-d has planned for you. But there is real and present danger that you may yet close your eyes and simply allow Satan to steal your "blessed hope." Such then is great danger of you not waiting or prepared that Jesus gave us parables that expressly warn against this satanic snare which the enemy uses to try to destroy you and I. (Matt. 24: 45-51.) Remeber that our adversary wants to stop us from waiting patiently for the Lord's second coming and/or to receive any of the Lord's promises. Of two things one thing is clear, we will either continue to wait for Him to keep His promises simply because we continue to believe that He is surely coming to save us or we will allow Satan to steal our faith. If we doubt G-d and beLIEve the devil we too might say: "We have expected Him all these years, and He has never come, nor know we at all when He will." It is Satan's job is to steal our hope and cause us to give up our waiting for G-d! If Satan can steal your "blessed hope," he will have destroyed you. How different is it to faith! There is no darkness so deep or so profound to be impenetrable to the piercing rays of "the bright and the morning Star," There is no time so short as to preclude His coming, because even if there is only enough time left for an eye to twinkle, there is time enough for Him to come and save you dear one! The need for patience and continued agreement "until He come" is greater now than ever before. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25). ‘Forsaking not the assembling of yourselves together’ - but no honest person can say all of the Lord's believers are assembled together today. One factor that causes some to withdraw from fellowship is because they refuse to hear what the other’s have to say. Some who have withdrawn have a spirit of self-righteousness and/or they have a spirit of pride and/or bitterness sewn with confusion and/or misunderstanding. With these demonic spirits present in them, it is almost impossible to reach them or point out where they may have taken the wrong turn. A self-righteous person can not repent or join with other believers because they beLIEve they are right! YE NEED NOT THAT ANY MAN TEACH YOU - It truly is written: "But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him." (1 John 2:27). John, of course, was not saying that G-d does not also call apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers as Paul pointed out in Ephesians 4:10. If that were his implication, he would have been very much in conflict with Paul, the other apostles, and with himself as well. If there were no need of men and women to preach/teach the Word of G-d, it is unlikely Paul would have written: "...How shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Rom 10:14-15). Are you dividing the Body of Christ? Do you speak against the unity of the Holy Spirit? Do you truly love one another? Do you judge? Have you asked Him the simple question - "Is it I?" Do you understand these two little words: assembling, and gathering. The two terms appear the same, but there is quite a difference. ARE YOU SIMPLY GATHERING OR ARE YOU ASSEMBLING? The best example of being assembled were the 120 in the upper room at Pentecost. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. That is what being assembled is. Act 1:14 tells us: "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren." With one accord - Greek: ὁμοθυμαδόν homothumadon - means "with one mind." The word denotes the entire harmony of their views and feelings. There were no schisms, no divided interests, no discordant purposes. This is a beautiful picture of devotion, and a specimen of what social worship ought now to be, and a beautiful illustration of Psalm 133:1-3.. How can two walk together if they be not agreed? Do you really have the mind of Christ or are you listening to old slewfoot? I believe that most denominational church services at their very best today, are gatherings rather than assemblies. Have you ever bought a present for your child, and when you opened the box it was full of parts with a notice that read — "Some assembly required?" Only after all of the parts were assembled could anyone use the present! Well, dear "gatherers," some "assembly" is now required with us. We must first want to be part of Christ’s manifested Body, in order for us to do this, we must then be assembled by Him together in one place and in one accord. You do not need to be in one physical space to be gathered together in one accord, but you must be in one spiritual place! If you think that you need to be present in a physical place or "church" Remember what Solomon said as he dedicated the Second Temple: "Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this house that I have builded?" 1 Kings 8:27 Where is that spiritual place? We are to gather unto HIM! In Ephesians 4:4 we read that there is only body and only one spirit. In 1 Corinthians 12:13 we read that "for by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body" and in 1 Corinthians 12:12 we see that the body is Christ!. We need to have the mind of Christ and not our own. Remember dear one tha spectators are GATHERED in the stands so they can watch the ASSEMBLED team work together as ONE BODY. DO YOU WANT TO DO GREATER WORKS OR DO YOU JUST WANT TO WATCH? We know the body has many members and these members are all physically isolated from one another. We need to become spiritually one in order to be connected or assembled! There are so many unconnected saints today - they may even be gathered, but they are not assembled. You may spend every Sunday morning in small little "churches" or even in massive congregations that number in the tens of thousands and not be assembled. You may give fortunes to the ministry, you may usher and/or may sing in the choir, you may teach Sunday-school classes, or even preach firebrand sermons, and still not be assembled, you are only gathered. What a difference there is in the two little words - gathered or assembled! Just being there does not constitute a true assembly. James put it this way: "Thou believest that there is one G-d; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:19-20). In Matthew 7:21 -23 we read: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Are you really working together as a part of Christ's body? Who does He know? Read John 10:27. May the Holy Ghost keep keep reminding our souls of our "blessed hope," to wait patiently and never allow us to say in our hearts: "My Lord delayeth His coming." It is not in what we do for G-d, but it is in our continued patience that He is pleased with us - as we wait for Him to return triumphant to a world where there is nothing of G-d. In Hebrews 11:6 we read: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to G-d must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Faith then is simply waiting for G-d to keep His promises. May we all truly receive the mind of Christ and the power of the Holy Ghost and Hear our Lord - so we can be in one perfect accord and assemble only unto HIM! Then and only then can we together defeat all of the "principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and defeat all of the spiritual wickedness in high places.” Revelation 17:14!

The Tragic Story of Christianity: How a Pacifist Religion Was Hijacked by Rabid Warmongering Elites

Consortium News / By Gary G. Kohls

The Tragic Story of Christianity: How a Pacifist Religion Was Hijacked by Rabid Warmongering Elites

Though founded by a pacifist, Christianity has justified some of the most brutal slaughters in human history, but we may be able to recapture its peaceful essence.

January 30, 2012 |

From time to time, I read about condemnations of religion coming from non-religious groups, especially concerning the all-too-common violence perpetrated in the name of religious gods. Indeed there is plenty to condemn.

Altogether too many religions sects of both major and minor religions, despite verbally professing a desire for peace and justice in the world, are actually pro-war, pro-homicide and pro-violence in practice (or they may be silent on the subject, which is, according to moral theology, the same as being pro-violence).

Obvious examples include those portions of the three major war-justifying religions of the world: fundamentalist Islam, fundamentalist Judaism and fundamentalist Christianity.

I use the term fundamentalist in the sense that the religious person, who ascribes to a fundamentalist point of view, believes, among other dogmatic belief, that their scriptures are inerrant and thus they can find passages in their holy books that justify homicidal violence against their perceived or fingered enemies, while simultaneously ignoring the numerous contradictory passages that forbid violence and homicide and instead prescribe love, hospitality, mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation.

Behind the scenes, of course, there are hidden elites — amoral, politically and financially motivated operatives who are embedded in these religious organizations — who, through the strength of their political power, can easily manipulate the followers into clamoring for war, not against their enemies, but rather against the enemies of the ruling elites: the politicians, the financiers and the other exploiters of natural resources.

And so nonviolent portions of the various religions – and they are there, albeit often hidden and censored – can be erroneously painted with the same brush that justifiably condemns the hypocrisy and the violence.

It is certainly true that the Catholic Church endorsed and/or orchestrated the genocide of the Crusades, the Inquisition and many wars of colonization and exploitation — with the origins of these atrocities in fundamentalist interpretations of "holy" scripture.

But I do have to take exception to the blanket condemnation of the entirety of the religion by pointing out one reality — that the original form of Christianity, the church of the first generation after Jesus and even most of the first three centuries was a religion of pacifists, oppressed women, orphans, those forced into prostitution, despised people of all stripes and others of those called "the least."

Though this history has long since been forgotten or ignored, the earliest followers of Jesus rejected violence, tried to return good for evil, fed the hungry, did acts of mercy and unconditional love and tried to make friends out of their enemies (by caring for them, feeding them, praying for them and certainly refusing to kill them or pay for somebody else to kill them).

Practicality of Nonviolence

It was a hugely successful ethical stance to take. It could be described as an act of divine genius. And it made tremendous practical sense. One bit of evidence of the practicality of gospel nonviolence is the fact that in the first couple of centuries, no early Christian male ever acquired combat-induced PTSD or the soul-destruction that always accompanies that reality.

And no early Christian ever felt depressed, ashamed, guilty or suicidal about killing, plundering or raping innocent unarmed women and children in wartime. The earliest Christians took seriously Jesus’s clear command to love and befriend their enemies, and – despite brutal Roman persecutions – the religion survived; indeed, it thrived.

In fact, by 300 CE, it had grown into one of the largest religions in the empire, at which point the emperor Constantine (who was a worshipper of the Sun god until his deathbed baptism into the "faith") co-opted the church by stopping the persecutions and granting it power, property and prestige, thus seducing it into becoming the obedient and increasingly dependent state church whose master was the brutal, often satanic Roman Empire and its army generals.

Eventually – and logically – church leaders who were now dependent on the largesse and protection of the empire felt obliged to support it and its troops, pay homage to the emperor and send its young Christian men to violently defend the empire’s borders against the fingered enemy. Or homicidally enlarge the empire if it was profitable for Rome or the Papal State to do so.

Just War Theory

St. Augustine wrote the first Christian Just War Theory (CJWT) in the late Fourth Century, making legitimate, in certain rare circumstances, killing by Christians in wartime, which had been long forbidden to the followers of Jesus.

Soon thereafter, Christianity became a religion of justified violence, contrary to the teachings and modeling of Jesus, and it remains that way until this very hour. However, it is generally agreed among Just War scholars that no war in the past 1,700 years has been conducted according to the principles of the Christian Just War Theory; that if the actual principles were applied to an impending war, they would lead Christians back to its original pacifist stance. And so the principles of the CJWT are not taught to the vast majority of Christians.

So, the blanket condemnation of homicidal religions, especially Christianity, is justified up to the point of acknowledging that the bulk of the Christian church, over the past 17 centuries, has ignored – or become apathetic to – the nonviolent teachings of Jesus (forgiveness 70 X 7, unending mercy, ministering to "the least of these" and the unconditional love of friend and enemy).

Among the realities that keep the churches silent, of course, are the fear of losing the largesse of state-granted tax-exempt status and the threat that their pro-war, dues-paying members might object or leave if church leaders were to speak out prophetically about the ethics of the Sermon on the Mount and the incompatibility of nationalistic militarism with the life and teachings of Jesus.

But the Christianity of the first few centuries, when Christians refused to take up the sword, should not be condemned. Rather, critics of Christianity should start challenging the churches to go back to their roots where evil was not allowed to run rampant, but rather was aggressively and courageously resisted using the nonviolent methods of Jesus and his inspired disciples like Tolstoy, Gandhi, Dorothy Day, A. J. Muste, Martin Luther King, the Berrigan brothers, John Dear, Kathy Kelly and a multitude of other courageous prophetic voices.

The major motivation for the legendary civil disobedience of those modern-day prophets was their commitment to Jesus and the way he lived his life as pacifist (not passive) active resistor to evil.

The followers of that very real Jesus should be courageously "going to the streets" and saying "NO" wherever and whenever fear and hatred raise their ugly heads and try to provoke violence — no matter if it is coming from the US Congress or the Parliament in London, the Oval Office or # 10 Downing Street, in the Knesset or in the headquarters of Hamas, whether in Tehran or in Baghdad or in the Vatican or in Colorado Springs or in the bowels of the 700 Club – or from within the local parish.

Jesus, a Nonviolent Leftist

Jesus of the Gospels was an outspoken, nonviolent leftist who tried to reform his authoritarian conservative, dogmatic church but also refused to shut up with his call for justice for the down-trodden — even when his superiors threatened him with serious consequences if he didn’t.

The economic model of Jesus’s early church was socialist, where the resources of the group were shared with the widow and orphans and others who didn’t have enough. He would have stood, like the prophet he was, in solidarity with pacifists, socialists, antiwar activists and feminists and surely would have marched in nonviolent antiwar rallies.

Jesus was definitely NOT a punitive, pro-death penalty, pro-militarism conservative. His power came not from the sword but from the power of love.

Jesus would surely have condemned his church’s complicity in the ethnic cleansing of Native Americans, the enslavement of black Africans and the segregationist, apartheid policies that were designed by various ruling elites to destroy ethnic or religious minorities.

And if the leadership of his church had been found guilty of or just complicit with such acts, especially genocide, Jesus would surely have insisted on the formation of an independent truth and reconciliation commission to respectfully hear the testimony of the victims, the survivors and the families of the survivors and allow those victims to face their victimizers. And then Jesus would have insisted upon his church repenting of the sins, whether committed by them or their forefathers.

The power that Jesus utilized was epitomized by the willingness to do the right thing in the crisis situations even if it involved risks to life or liberty. Fear had no power over him or the martyrs of the early church. His power came out of the holy spirit of love, goodness, mercy and forgiveness and his certainty that, by refusing to do acts of violence, he was doing the will of God.

The practicality of that radical stance resulted in the healing power that Jesus’ disciples and apostles exhibited when they started implementing what Jesus had taught and modeled for them.

War and violence emanates from an entirely different spirit than the spirit shown by the early church. That spirit is the spirit of the unholy, the spirit of the satanic, the spirit of Cain. The willingness to kill was the spirit that was strongly present in such historic figures as Hitler, Goebbels, Himmler, Eichmann, Stalin, Mussolini (all baptized into pro-war, Constantinian Christian churches).

That evil spirit was also present in many saber-rattling militarists throughout history – the most ruthless presidents, Secretaries of Defense, generals, dictators, legislators, gun-running businessmen and trained assassins that have ever lived – from the ancient low-tech, PTSD-afflicted Achilles, who killed up close and personal, looking into the eyes of his victims, to the ultra-modern, high-tech Air Force, Navy, Army and Marines that orchestrate, usually from safe distances, such atrocities as were perpetrated by Christian soldiers against innocent unarmed civilians at Nagasaki, Dresden, My Lai, Baghdad and Fallujah, to name just a few.

A Challenge to the Church

It seems to me that the Christian church must start teaching what Jesus taught about violence – that it is forbidden for those who wish to follow him – or our so-called "Christian" nation won’t be able to stop the deadly suicidal/homicidal cycle of war that has been bankrupting America, both financially and morally, for decades.

Jesus was absolutely right about the satanic nature of killing. The Golden Rule and his warning about the consequences of living by the sword speaks profound truth. According to just those two teachings, we can say that theologically and spiritually, the high-profile pro-war "Christians" that dominate the news are dead wrong.

That brand of Christianity definitely deserves condemnation. What has been criticized by Christianity’s detractors as the norm for Christianity is not the Sermon-on-the-Mount Christianity of Jesus but rather the aberrant "Constantinian Christianity," a religion that espouses an anti-Christic, punitive theology that justifies killing fellow children of God in the name of the one who forbade it 2,000 years ago.

Church leaders need to repent of their support for (or their silence about) their nation’s state-sponsored terrorism and start acting ethically, as if the Sermon on the Mount mattered.

The Christian church in America MUST take the lead in this or it is doomed — as doomed as was Germany’s dominant Constantinian Christianity of the first half of the 20th century, whose pro-military, nationalist, racist, xenophobic, domination theology permitted torture, genocide and two brutal world wars that ultimately resulted in the suicide of German Christianity, not to mention the complete destruction of the nation by its provoked enemies.

One wonders what would have happened if every German and Russian and American church had been a real peace church, as the founder envisioned? The real question is, will we learn the lessons of history, or is it already too late?

Gary G. Kohls, MD, is a founding member of Every Church A Peace Church and is a member of a local non-denominational affiliate of ECAPC, the Community of the Third Way.