APPLE CARTS FLYING: THE TRADITION AND DECEPTION OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP [podcast]
Church Membership and Money (below)
Is Church Membership Biblical? (below)
BEWARE! INCESTUOUS
This eye-opening message will give you an increased discernment concerning the operation of modern wolves. All are invited to invite Todd on for a public debate on this topic or any other. email todd: info@safeguardyoursoul.com
EXPLOSIVE EXPOSE’ OF “CHURCHIANITY”
Where does it begin? Where is the inception of the undue control, the intercepting of the LORD’s children by usurping the Headship due only to Christ? Where do the “roaring lion(s)” claws begin to sink into the prey? – Church membership.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 1 Peter 5:8
“No more membership of man’s fellowship club.
God is the Savior of all men, especially
those who believe. God has ushered in by holy blood fellowship
in the Spirit and there is only one way to enter.
John 14:6” David Taylor, pastor
Never allow anyone to coerce you to believe that your commitment to Christ is equal to your commitment to a local church. Such is heretical nonsense and not seen done in the New Testament. Each and every born again disciple of Christ is a member of the one universal body of Christ, the one Church Jesus has (Ephesians 2, 4; 1 Corinthians 12, etc.).
The churches that coercively perpetrate the “church membership” on their prey push the notion that Christ requires His saints to be a member of some self-appointed local church. The victim is supposed to assume that God is the Author of that local fellowship and that they are conducting themselves in doctrinal truth in the practice of the Christian faith.
Christ only has one Church and membership into it is by Him alone – by being born again, washed in His blood (John 14:6; 1 Corinthians 12; 1 Timothy 2:5, etc.). Those who cast doubt on your “commitment” to Christ when you resist signing up to be their member, are dangerous. Blending making a decision to join some church with commitment to Christ is something no where found in Scripture. In some cases these days, the church membership churches grossly overuse and misuse the word “commitment” and love to use this to guilt trip manipulate people to join their church club. Personally, I prefer and am led to live an organic life in Christ, as His disciple, free from the toxins usually found in today’s church world.
Recently, I left a local church due to the false doctrine. And, guess how many of the several people I had been fellowshipping with stayed in touch? You guessed it – zero. Why? Because being members of the one body of Christ isn’t important in most local churches today. No, the membership of that local church is what matters and such is clear in that they hold no integrity of relationship in Christ’s kingdom. Their allegiance is that that local church organization. Sound cultish? It does to me.
Church membership today is nothing more than the ploy of wolves to corral and exploit the people! There’s no biblical justification for it.
It is my experience and opinion, that an evil spirit is given place to those who submit to “church membership.” And it makes biblical sense that this would be allowed by God – because to sign on a dotted line to be a member of a “church” instead of honoring the truth that the blood of Jesus made you part of the one church, one body of Christ, is to sin, to transgress, to err. Your thoughts welcome here saints.
“They want you to become members so you will be obligated to give to tithe to pay the pastor’s mortgage.” Darrel Moore
Church membership is a tool to run a scam on the people – to number them as Satan led David to do (1 Chronicles 21). The LORD judged David for doing this and is judging the wolves today who coercively promulgate their church membership scam. God’s people belong to HIM and no other (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 7:23, etc.).
Church membership is designed to make you loyal to their church club, not Christ.
History of Church Membership: The history of church membership in Protestant and Evangelical churches begins with the Catholic Church, which implements its discipline over all the baptized (christened, water sprinkled), through a tradition-based sacramental system, governing the lives of their captors from cradle to grave. Essentially, in this way the Roman cult corrals and coerces the insistence of membership upon every initiated, water-sprinkled/christened catholic child. Without that cult-initiation rite, that membership to the Roman religion, that person is considered outside of salvation, outside of the “one true church.” Through church membership in the Catholic church, the completely un-biblical sacramental system is enforced. The Catholic sacramental system is the creation, the strategy of devils, designed to strengthen the piety of the Catholic faithful throughout their lives, guiding them safely into the bowels of eternal damnation. Jesus died and rose again that He alone might have preeminence over His true worldwide body. Church membership to a local church or church organization is perpetrated by cross-less wolves and is a direct affront to the Headship of the one, nail-scarred Savior (Colossians 1:18; 2:18-19, etc.).
Jesus Christ didn’t come and die for you so that you could be somebody’s good church member. Jesus saved you to be His disciple, His ambassador – to follow Him! (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
Church membership is a tool to run a scam on the people – to number them as Satan led David to do (1 Chronicles 21). The LORD judged David for doing this. God’s people belong to HIM and no other (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 7:23, etc.).
Can anyone find church membership in God’s Word among the earliest followers of Jesus? No. If someone is concerned about you becoming a member of their church, that’s a red flag. Make no mistake: They are corralling you in order to control you. Think about it: WHY can’t they just love you as a member of the one blood bought body of Christ? (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4) Church membership as it’s done by the 501(C)(3) government churches is against Holy Scripture and is a device of evil men, wolves. Run.
Like cattlemen do with their cattle when they corral and brand them, today, local church pastors gather and require their prey to make a horizontal covenant in lieu (in place of) a vertical identity. This they do in order to make you become a member of their church club! Beware. Jesus wants the gatherings of his people cleansed from the hireling wolves who monetize his name and his church!
SACRED COW SLAM!
Church organizations, perpetrating church membership, are throwing their lasso around God’s people! Beware.
Through Christ’s apostle Peter, the Holy Ghost addresses those who will SERVANT-lead the flock of God – “God’s heritage” – and warns us in the process.
“Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:3
Is not church membership an over stepping, a control tactic, a lording it over the very blood-bought heritage, flock of God?
The body of Christ and it’s members are “GOD’s heritage” – paid for with the highest price. ANY man who dares usurp HIS place will be judged both now and eternally.
Is it time to take the hands off “God’s heritage”?
LIKE Jesus, truly God-fearing men today, speak forth with His divine authority, flipping the tables of the modern greed-driven charlatans of the modern church world! (Matthew 7:29)
MAN didn’t die for you and man didn’t call you! GOD did! You are beholden to HIM – only!
What does Jesus’ cleansing of the temple mean to us today?
We are to keep our own hearts purified of wickedness and also the gatherings of His saints to worship Christ in Spirit and in truth.
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 3-4
The above passage clearly reveals that one of the things to be cleansed is the grace-perverting false doctrines of eternal security/OSAS/calvinism. These are peddled by “ungodly men.”
“knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.” Philippians 1:17
Is Church Membership Biblical?
Is Paul or Peter or John ever once seen signing people up to be church members of a certain organization in the cities they ministered in? Not once.
We as men can find Scripture to justify nearly anything. This is called “proof texting” where people find verses to “prove” something instead of simply reading the Bible thoroughly and letting it speak for itself. We must ask: Did Christ and His apostles and the early church teach or practice _________?
Extrapolating (lifting) something from Scripture and seeing the apostles actually doing it in the Bible are 2 different things. Obviously seeing Christ’s apostles doing something or teaching something, takes precedence in the highest authority and is what the Bible terms “the apostles doctrine.” (Acts 2:42)
Most people have no clue what’s behind the system of local churches. Trace the Root, the Foundations – Lineage: Satan – Headquarters – Seminaries/seminarians. What goes behind the establishing of these franchises escapes the innocent. These church clubs are set up to corrupt the image of Christ and the pure worship of Him all while claiming to be His representation. This is exactly how “the spirit of antichrist” works – while claiming to represent Jesus Christ they subvert Him, His truth (1 John 2:18).
ATTN: Hireling “pastor’: No one needs your little church organization or you to worship, serve, and obey God! Repent sinner.
Paul told us that there are “many” and not a few who use God’s Word deceitfully, twisting it for their own self-serving purposes.
“For we are not as MANY, which corrupt (twist) the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:17
Men can make the Bible say whatever THEY want it to say in order to manipulate people but that doesn’t make it biblical. It must be directly communicated in God’s Word, expressly taught by “two or three witnesses.” (Deuteronomy 19:15; 2 Corinthians 13:1)
Concerning church membership, the question is: Did or did not the LORD’s apostles, the earliest followers of Jesus, ever sign people up as members of a church, as we do today? Chapters and verses? Church Membership Exposed
Church membership produces church members with no good fruit. Being truly born again and humbly abiding obedient in Christ produces the good fruit that clearly proves one is in truly Christ (John 15).
The church system, including church membership, has produced horrible fruit, counterfeits, backsliders. Fellowship and seeking God is limited to their so-called “church attendance.” Instead of being the church (people of God), they replace it with “going to church” or “service.” It becomes what people trust in. Their “worship” is simply going to church. This is completely un-scriptural. Jesus says “This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Matthew 7:6) Modern Church Exposed
The student of Christ, studies God’s Word, and, begins to see that not only are these clubs many call “church” not officially church, they are officially apostate!
Anna L. writes:
“When a person becomes a member of a man-made religious organization… that membership is a FAKE membership to the FAKE body of Christ… and it gives a FAKE appearance of having a relationship with God and a FAKE appearance of holiness!
Also, most churches are 501(c)3 organizations under the government, so the government is their head, NOT God. They have betrayed God and are Judases!”
Organized religion includes these sham local churches which perpetrate a membership which diverts believers from Christ and the purity of knowing Him and loving His body due to their relationship with Him.
FLASH POINT: There is no biblical precedence of church membership in the New Testament canon. There is no teaching or example of church membership the way its perpetrated by modern hirelings. They have their hands all over God’s people. Not one instance. The membership of Christ’s saints is bought with the price of His blood. Their names are written in Heaven! The Great Shepherd of the sheep doesn’t need mere men to feed and organize His people. What modern wolves have developed and done is far outside the scope of His instruction to elders (Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 5:1-6, etc.).
OBSERVATION: Jesus, the prophets, and Christ’s apostles never sought to change or reform the false leaders. They rebuked and exposed them and went about the Father’s kingdom business. Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 34; Matthew 23; Acts; 2 Peter 2; Jude 1
For the most part, It’s a futile endeavor, a waste of the precious resources of our time and energy.
“Den of Thieves”
To establish His zeal for holiness, at the beginning and at the end of His ministry, Jesus cleared His gatherings of “thieves.” But who are these robbers today? (Matthew 21; John 2) The false leaders who were cheating the people, robbing them, were operating in the system that was handed down to them, a system all truth-seekers then and now will escape (John 8:31-32).
The hireling thieves many call pastor are robbing Christ of the glory due His holy name alone! This is just what false teachers do and He promises them “damnation.”
“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. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:1-3
The perpetrators of this system, the hirelings who make their living using it, functioning within it, insist that you need their system to carry out the instructions of Scripture such as church discipline, making disciples, tithing, etc. But the Bible says no such thing. The only religious systems in the Bible are seen being exposed as false, antichrist. We need CHRIST to obey any and all parts of God’s Word – not man or man’s organizations. Stolen glory (Colossians 2:18-19).
WE are “looking unto JESUS” not mere men. Hebrews 12:1-2
“I am not a member of the church that I worship and serve in because I’ve NEVER had the conviction to join!” Kina King
Enterprising, unrepentant hirelings have systematized and monetized their church operation and thereby corrupted it from God’s plan for His people.
There are many books written by the system hirelings which teach the sheeple how to be good students, pawns of the system.
Hint: Today’s pastors, most of them, are franchise owners. Think about that: If you purchased the rights of a national restaurant franchise in your town, do you realize you’d have to follow their strict guidelines on everything in that operation? When you paid them, you’d be signing a contract to follow their exact pattern and also purchasing all products from them. Now, is this not what goes on behind the scenes with these local churches? Yes, the pastors are following the men who are above them in the hierarchy of that church organization – the franchiser. That’s just how it works. The doctrines they teach, true or untrue, are part of the franchise agreement.
Note: A secular business franchise is simply a proven business system that works. It makes money if done like the parent company prescribes. It’s a busine$$ model. So, the franchisee who bought in, simply operates the system according to franchise guidelines, and a desired result is produced. That’s all well and good for secular business and yet, is not at all the way Christ’s true church is to operate.
The goal of a secular business model is to make the people happy and to keep the people happy – return customers! This is exactly and intentionally why the “eternal security” teaching is at the center of the vast majority of evangelical churches. It’s the golden calf teaching producing mere “form of godliness,” the “at ease in Zion,” the “will not endure sound doctrine,” counterfeits. This “once saved always saved” message that has produced a “lukewarm,” hell bound generation to Satan’s glory (Amos 6:1; 2 Timothy 3:5; Revelation 3:15-16).
What could possibly be the purpose or intention of signing people up for church membership other than leadership’s desire to indoctrinate, control and use them? Am I missing something here? If leadership was truly trusting in God, being among the saints to merely serve them as unto the LORD, why would they be corralling, unduly over-organizing? Do they not honor the fact that each individual believer at their gatherings are already members of the one blood-bought Body of Christ? Isn’t that the only membership that matters? Why do God’s people and their gatherings need to be corporatized? Who seeks to capitalize on the gatherings of God’s people? Is this not the very thing Jesus was furious about when He overthrew the tables of the money changers because they had made His gatherings a “den of thieves”? (Matthew 21; John 2)
“And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves (robbers).” Matthew 21:13
“Den” here means cave, hiding place, cavern, den. This also seems to add to the idea of corralling like the sheep of His pasture are being herded, gathered, and exploited for the purposes of hirelings.
God made us and found and saved us to worship Him, for His good pleasure, and not to allow the quenching or hindrance of any kind to that relationship (Exodus 25:8; John 17:3; Revelation 4:11).
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11
God is calling out the Pharoah’s who’ve used the devices of Egypt, the world, to entrap His people, to “Let my people go.” (Exodus 5-10) Will plagues come upon the hirelings who refuse?
Here below is but one of the LORD’s scathing rebukes to false shepherds and citing how they operate. Read this passage closely and note how the LORD points out and exposes them for using HIS sheep for their own selfish purposes – “Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?”
Ezekiel 34
“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. 4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. 5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. 7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; 8 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; 9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; 10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.”
Remember saints, you were purchased by the very blood of the Son of God – for HIS purpose, not man’s.
“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23
Using the Name of the LORD in Vain
“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7
The LORD commanded His people never to use His holy name in vain – which means to never use His name for anything except pure worship to Him and never for our own self-serving purposes. Modern church membership is used to “make merchandise” of the people – to make money off of them (2 Peter 2:1-3). In this passage, the context is “false teachers” and “false prophets” and the divine promise for them is “damnation.”
Christ’s saints are to love one another for their common relationship with the Savior and not because they go to a certain so-called “church” building on Sunday mornings. Many modern pastors show “love” to people with dollar signs in their eyes! Beware. This is exactly what the Holy Ghost is pointing out and warning us to beware of in 2 Peter 2:1-3. Motives!
Dear hireling, true disciples don’t need your little church building and organization to richly exist in Christ. Their lives are not dependent upon little ole you. They are saved, sanctified, and upheld by the only “HEAD” of His body – Christ (Colossians 2:18-19). Jesus died for and keeps HIS abiding sheep, not you.
Beware of the agenda saints. Discern. Church membership is a corralling of God’s people for the self-serving purposes of hirelings. It’s a control tactic used by enterprising Nicolaitan pastors.
Notice who it was who was behind David’s sin of numbering Israel:
“And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.” 1 Chronicles 21:1
If you read this chapter (1 Chronicles 21), you will see that God severely judged king David for this sin.
Is the modern practice of pastors in pushing church membership not a type of numbering the people so as to coral and use, exploit the people?
God made all men and despises when mere human leaders usurp the position reserved for the Creator alone and begin to exercise controlling dominion over His people for their own self-serving purposes. Jesus says He hates this when He addresses the Nicolaitan hirelings in Revelation 2.
Stolen Glory
Colossians 2:18-19
The worship of Christ has clearly been intercepted.
Believers are exhorted to become established in CHRIST and to beware of the Nicolaitan leaders who steal the glory of Christ by robbing Him of the glory due to His holy name alone. After all, Jesus Christ alone bled to purchased His church.
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Colossians 2:6-10
False leaders make up virtually the whole visible organized modern church world, Their measures and schemes are all we’ve ever known. They sell us on the false notion that they are need – that individual Christian need THEM to grow and function as Christ’s people. But the Bible says differently.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrew 12:1-2
Is church membership not like spiritual incest? Does it not facilitate a type of spiritual in-breeding?
Church members or prospective will hear message after message concerning their membership in that local organization and yet hear little or nothing about the blood of Jesus that makes His true people members of His one body, whose names are written in Heaven.
The supremacy of Christ is what Scripture reveals.
‘God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” Hebrews 1:1-3
Ephesians 2
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Stolen Liberty
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1
“Church membership” as it’s carried out in the modern church world, quenches the Holy Spirit in my opinion. It ruins the organic, spontaneous, pure fellowship true believers enjoy due to being in Christ. Church membership seems to be a learned device to coral believers in order to exploit them. Think about it: Seminarian pastors are taught this scheme to build their church busine$$.
The church membership tool is a device, is part of a system of control. It creates an environment of coerced fellowship where the now falsely obligated members feel guilty if they miss a meeting or don’t agree with something being said or done. They are no longer free. Their individuality is stolen. They signed it away unknowingly. Obligation now rules and spontaneity is robbed.
Maintaining ones good standing in the church club requires perpetuating, or ‘keeping the party line’ as Mary Beth articulates:
“If the spirit in you prompts you that something is wrong, and you do or say something contrary to what is ‘accepted’ one is ostracized! Been there done that!!!” Mary Beth
Hirelings love church membership because it procures to them people who won’t question or hold them accountable to the Word of God. They are building their church business and don’t want to be questioned. The glory of God is not their aim. This was never God’s design. Notice how the Berean Christians questioned the apostle Paul.
“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:10-11
These individual saints were not afraid to test Paul. In fact they were bold and assertive to do so. Also, the apostle didn’t balk at their testing him. In fact, we know it pleased him because he said “Prove (test) all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) The Holy Ghost also divinely inspired Paul to pen these words:
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
The going to church habit makes people put God aside till Sunday mornings. Following Christ is the crucified life – “daily.” (Luke 9:23-24)
Stolen Allegiance
Church membership classes for new prospective members is designed to indoctrinate the new visitors into that church organizations ways as they explain the plan. The plan is usually not God’s. Very little Scripture is given unless it’s being used to promulgate something they want to perpetrate. Scripture is not being following strictly but rather sprinkled in as coinciding with and confirming what the plan of that church is.
In most local churches in this apostate era, there’s little to no celebration of the only membership that matters – that which is purchased by the blood of Jesus and makes all of His people, worldwide, one body.
Think about when your family gets together: Just as siblings rejoice to be from the same parents, so should individual members of the LORD’s body celebrate as they share in the uniqueness of being children of God, purchased with the highest price ever.
By signing up for church membership, you are signing up to shut up. Your input, biblical or not, is not welcomed. You are never to dare question the pastor(s). The leader(s) are the final authority and anyone who dares question them or their doctrine is scorned, shunned, or removed.
Dear reader: Are you part of a church club or are you a kingdom disciple?
It’s like contract law. When you lay aside your blood bought relationship with Christ to become someone’s church member, you actually sign up for and covenant, agree to obey that church organizations by laws which means you’ve checked your brain at the door and don’t discern or question what’s being taught. Instead, now that you signed up, you have to simply go along with everything taught and done like herded cattle.
Instead of simply teaching what God’s Word teaches about the need for regular fellowship and letting the Holy Spirit work in the hearts of the people, hirelings seduce the people to sign up to be a member of their church business, club. This they do instead of prayerfully teaching the whole of Scripture to foster in individual believers an abiding relationship with Christ. They now patronize that church business. Those who sign the roll to be a member now feel obligated to be faithful to the organization, not Christ and His body. They also agree to the bylaws of that organization, not the Word.
Stolen Purity
The purity of worship has been robbed from the dens of thieves churches of today. This does not include fellowships that are doing things God’s way – keeping Christ first, keeping things organic, simple.
In Matthew 21 and John 2 we read of Jesus flipping the carts of the false leaders who’d made the gatherings of God’s people a den of thieves as they extorted from the people, exploiting them for their own self-serving gain.
Systems in religion have been around for thousands of years. The prophets were called out and quickened of God to expose the false leaders, false systems, and sin of God’s people. Have you read and apprehended the words of the Old Testament Scriptures?
In Matthew 23, we have Jesus on record, lambasting the false priesthood of His day for the evil they perpetrated on the people. In this discourse, we observe Christ referring to the system they used. Here’s an example:
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” Matthew 23:15
In the modern churches, the system created and operated by the hirelings has been passed down. That system’s function and purpose is to enable to church business to function, to prosper. Not the kingdom of Christ but rather the church system of mere men. Intruders. Infiltrators.
Of this generational system of deception, Debbie Lord writes:
“We’ve been brainwashed by our ‘church culture’ and so we have the young men who aspire to become ‘pastors’ thinking what they have seen modeled as ‘pastor’ or ‘leader’ is the way to serve God and His church. That is a noble calling and needs to be lived out according to God’s ways — not man’s ways. We all should be immersed in God’s Word, just as the Bereans took on that individual responsibility and didn’t allow any man (or institution) to be their ‘funnel’ for the Truth — but God and His Word alone. Yes, we are to be in fellowship with the saints, but not by ‘quenching the Spirit’ who will guide us into all truth. God’s Word is truth.”
Denominations or church organizations reinforce this business scheme in order to secure people and therefore their funds. It’s a business model. No such thing as church membership in the Bible except that membership Christ alone procured by His own blood. ALL of His saints’ names are written in Heaven (Luke 10:20). Jesus says that this is what we rejoice in!
“Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20
We are Christ’s kingdom disciples. We belong to HIM.
“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23
Local level “church membership” diverts the heart affections of those corralled into it by hireling wolves! Beware.
Ever notice how this Bible verse is used to preach Sunday morning church? No such content!
“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
Did you see “Sunday morning in an apostate ‘church'” in that verse?
Does church membership not divide the body of Christ?
Father, in the name of my LORD Jesus, please fulfill Your perfect will in my life concerning true fellowship with Your saints. I love You LORD Jesus.
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Abiding
“You Who are Troubled Rest with Us” [podcast]
Many instill fear in Christ’s saints concerning these last days. Paul says: “You Who are Troubled Rest with Us”
“Rest with us” because Justice is Coming
2 Thessalonians 1:3-10
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
The Judgment at Christ’s Coming
5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Divine “vengeance” is coming “vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:” (v8)
Remember, while He instructed us not “avenge,” He also promised that “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Romans 12:19
We shall rejoice to see the LORD retribution come upon the wicked.
“The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. 11 that a man shall say, 11 1 So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.” Psalms 58:10-11
The Happenings just before Christ’s Soon Return
Luke 21:25-28
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:25-28
Being Prepared for His Return
Luke 21:34-36
“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:34-36
Walking unwavering with and suffering with Christ and His body now – as we look forward to being with Him!
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
The LORD knows all before it happens and He’s not surprised of anything. God is going to use all these things to conform His people to Christ. Remember, all things are not good but God takes them and uses them to conform us to Christ, to be “crucified with Christ.” (Galatians 2:20).
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:28-29
This truth has never been so relevant saints of Christ and the signs of the season of His return are at hand. He’s coming for you precious one!!!! Rescue mission!!! The Return of Heaven’s KING
May God allow us to preach in such a way as to cause His people to begin to be homesick for Heaven to be with Him.
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
I wonder how full our hearts will be as we become nourished up in His Word concerning Heaven. Will our hearts not burst forth and be filled with excitement, overflowing with joy like before we go on a vacation, the anticipation filling our hearts as we eagerly await being with our glorious Savior and Father? Read John 14:1-6 and Revelation 21.
Calling on the name above all names today. He’s the Maker and Controller of His whole universe and He’s coming back soon to retake control of it all – to decisively, violently put down all of His enemies both demonic and human (Colossians 1:16-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 19:11-16).
No matter what’s going on – good or bad – WE KNOW that the song is true …. that our “God is so good, God is soooo gooood, God is so good, He’s so good to me…..” … There’s NO way to sing this simple song of praise and not get happy in Jesus! Impossible.
Our LORD Jesus is coming to establish His perfect Government on His earth. Stand by. Occupy. Rejoice. Look up. “Your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28).
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:6-7
We can be sure that mankind is fallen and cannot solve his own problem – which is sin against His Maker. Only the Prince of Peace, our LORD Jesus, can do so…. and He will (Isaiah 9:6-7).
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:14
He is going to crush His enemies under His feet (Romans 16:20; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 19:11-16; 1 Corinthians 15:25, 27).
PRAYER: Holy Father, in the name of Jesus, please break me, cause me to be truly poor in spirit with a humble, contrite heart of flesh. Please grant a deep compassion in me dear LORD Jesus as You conform me to Your holy image in the crucified life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Idolatry
THE SIN, THE CURSE, AND THE FRUIT OF IDOLATRY [podcast]
“Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 26:1
Idolatry will damn the eternal soul to hell (Exodus 20:3-7; Galatians 5:19-21, etc.). Just one idol. ANYthing that is more important to you than Jesus Christ is an idol. You must repent and receive Christ or you will perish in the flames of eternal damnation (Luke 13:3; John 1:12). If you aren’t willing to give up your religion to follow Jesus, you are a hell bound idolater who has chosen to pay for your own sins for eternity in hell.
God will not be worshipped by physical objects, idols. Jesus says:
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him MUST worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24
2 Corinthians 5:16 says “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” This verse, this divine truth has helped me out much. God forbids any attempt to worship Him through, via any images, anything physical (Exodus 20:3-7). According to this Bible verse, we do not even know Jesus after the flesh.
Jesus stated the divine essential, the non-negotiable imperative that “they that worship him MUST worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24).
17 Soul Damning Sins
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 IDOLATRY, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21
“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” James 3:14-16
IDOL’ATRY, noun [Latin idololatria. Gr. idol, and to worship or serve.]
1. The worship of idols, images, or any thing made by hands, or which is not God.
Idolatry is of two kinds; the worship of images, statues, pictures, etc. made by hands; and the worship of the heavenly bodies, the sun, moon and stars, or of demons, angels, men and animals.
2. Excessive attachment or veneration for any thing, or that which borders on adoration.
from Websters1828
Anything you refuse to give up for Jesus is your idol.
Any person who will not give up their religion to follow Jesus is a hell bound antichrist idolater.
The Stark Contrast between True and False Worship
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3
Whatever you won’t give up for Jesus is a soul damning idol (Mark 9:43-49).
The reason so many don’t take sin seriously and sit under sin-justifying wolves in sheep’s clothing, is because they do not fear nor take God seriously. Then they attack the true messengers of Christ who are declaring that God is holy and He requires non-negotiably that anyone who will know and be with Him eternally cut off occasion for all sin as Jesus commanded in Mark 9:43-49 KJB. They talk about grace but only in the respect that their sins were initially forgiven, yet never in respect to divine grace being the divine influence and enablement in their daily lives to overcome all that displeases Him, as they worshipfully with great gratitude deny self, take up the cross and follow, abide in Jesus (Titus 2:11-14; Luke 9:23-24; John 15:1-6, etc.).
The cross message of Christ and His holy apostles is not a novel concept, idea, or mere suggestion but rather it is a non-negotiable essential component of the original Gospel.
Recently, I ran across a comment by a person who wrote: “A cross (or crucifix, picture, statute, etc.) is not idolatry so long as it leads the person to worship God, and not the object itself.”
Is this true? No. This is pure human reasoning and a denial of the Word of God. As you can tell, this person commenting was most likely catholic. Speaking of the catholic church, they removed the second commandment because it was costing them money. The 2nd commandment says:
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:4-6
God is not and will not be worshipped through images. In fact only Satan receives worship when images are used (Exodus chapter 20; 1 Corinthians 10:19-21). Satan is the entity who received worship when someone does that which God forbids….
Committing the sin of Idolatry yokes you with devils.
“They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.” Deuteronomy 32:17
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Apostasy
The FORGOTTEN Sins of Sodom [podcast]
What were the Real and Root Sins of Sodom?
Explosive!
DO YOU KNOW WHAT SINS THE BIBLE CITES OF THE PEOPLE OF SODOM WHICH CAUSED DIVINE JUDGMENT TO FALL ON THEM? THIS LIST OF SINS MIGHT SHOCK YOU.
EXPOSING THE GATEWAY SINS TO SODOM’S DESTRUCTION
Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door.
According to Romans 1 it seems that sexual deviance, namely homosexuality, is the sin, the final manifestation of evil before destruction transpires. The LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for this sin and others and will or is destroying America for rejecting Him (Matthew 10:26-28). WHAT were the specific sins of Sodom and Gomorrah that preceded the ultimate “abomination” of homosexuality? (Leviticus 18:22) Does the Bible reveal these sins? Yes!
Homosexuality always has been and always will be an “abomination” in the eyes of our Holy God (Leviticus 18:22). Repent now and follow Jesus.
DID GOD LIST SODOM’S SINS? WHAT WERE THEY?
THIS SHOCKING LIST OF SINS AND MESSAGE WILL KEEP YOU OUT OF HELL!
Little known sins that led up to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Check this out.
“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9
Sodomy/homosexuality is usually the only sin attributed to the sins of Sodom and yet the Bible lists several sins that came before the ultimate turning over to homosexuality and further judgment (hell). See also Romans 1 and Ezekiel 16:49-51.
Jesus used this very example of Sodom to warn all under New Testament:
“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” Luke 17:28-33
Impending Judgment for Sin
In Ezekiel 16 we read of the judgment coming on the LORD’s people for their sins.
The very sins committed by the people of Sodom before God destroyed that city, were being committed by the LORD’s professing people in Ezekiel’s day, and are today being committed by those claiming to know the LORD in our day.
“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. 51 Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done.” Ezekiel 16:49-51
This list of sins in the above passage begins with these 3:
PFA = Pride, Fulness of Bread, and Abundance of idleness.
The Sins of Sodom:
Sins Jerusalem cited for in Ezekiel 16:49-51:
- Pride (arrogance),
- Fulness of Bread (gluttony, hoarding),
- Abundance of Idleness (idle, lazy),
- did not help those in need due to preoccupation with self-worship (not generous in spreading God’s wealth to His people and work)
- haughty
- committed abomination (fornication)
In the bulleted sins listed above from this revealing Ezekiel 16 passage, did you notice the progression?
Though it culminated in sodomy, yet not one sex sin is even specifically mentioned in this list of Sodom’s sins in Ezekiel 16. Does this not align perfectly with the judgment we see in Romans 1, how “when they knew God, they glorified him not as God” and were unthankful, further enriching themselves while they ignored others?
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful (they were ungrateful); but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1:21
A fresh reading of Romans 1 reveals the root sins that preceded the sexual sins which immediately go before divine judgment. See Romans 1:18-32.
The sins that darken the hearts of those who once “knew God” and lead to the ultimate abomination of sodomy/homosexuality are pride, gluttony, idleness, and refusing to be generous givers to believers in need, etc.
Let’s Look Again at the Root, the Gateway Sins of the People of Sodom and Gomorrah:
PFA listed in Ezekiel 16:49-51:
- Pride (arrogance),
- Fulness of Bread (gluttony),
- Abundance of Idleness (idle, lazy),
- Like the fake religionists priest and Levite of Jesus’ Good Samaritan teaching, they did not help those in need due to preoccupation with self-worship (not generous in spreading God’s wealth to His people and work)
“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged (weighed down) with surfeiting (gluttony), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare (trap) shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:34-36
“There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.” Proverbs 13:7
Spiritual “Leanness”
“And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” Psalms 106:15
“And this is exactly why there is a famine in the land. A famine ‘of hearing the words of the Lord’. Amos 8:11-13. This is the consequence of neglecting the Word of God. This famine is sent by God. To serve judgment because they have disregarded His Word and so their longings remain unsatisfied. It is a spiritual starvation, an emptiness. This is caused by disobedience and complacency. They shall ‘faint for thirst’. This implies an intense suffering. God has withdrawn His Word. As we see in these last days. People literally have contempt for God’s word. When you give them the pure unadulterated words of the Lord it angers them. So God will allow them to suffer an intense hunger because of their refusal of His words. This is why they are so prone to believe false prophets. Because they are weak and not ‘nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine, whereunto thou has attained’ 1 Timothy 4:6” Karen Cochran
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“You Who are Troubled Rest with Us” [podcast]
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THE SIN, THE CURSE, AND THE FRUIT OF IDOLATRY [podcast]
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The FORGOTTEN Sins of Sodom [podcast]
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