12/3/23
Characteristics of False Teachers and False Churches:
Many occurrences have propelled the Christian community into an age of lukewarmness. Following is what I believe to be the first of many meetings that will turn the Christian community into a watered-down version of the church Christ intended.
In 2002, a Millennium World Peace Summit at the U.N. was called. The organizers hoped to gather 1000 religious leaders to highlight a new global effort for peace. Bawa Jain, the then secretary-general, said, “Unless religious leaders commit themselves to action in their communities, religion is not going to have any meaning.” Ted Turner had a hand in this; of course, we know he’s an Atheist.
Earlier inter-religious conferences, such as the Parliament of World Religions, gather in South Africa, focusing on interfaith dialogue. Imagine that Christ needs to ask other gods for advice.
This meeting would result in a permanent council of religious leaders to advise the U.N. on preventing and resolving conflicts. Among those who would attend would be,
1. Cardinal Francis Arinze, the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and president. Figures Catholics would be there.
2. Buddhist leader Samdech Preah Maha Gosananda.
3. Mustafa Ceric, the grand Mufti of Bosnia.
4. Meir Lau, Israel’s Chief rabbi.
5. Reverend Jesse Jackson, I wonder who he was representing?
6. Oren Lyons, faith keeper of Onondaga Nation.
7. The Dalai Lama.
Witches, Mystics, and hundreds of others attended. So here we have 1000 of the world’s so-called great religious leaders attempting to exert moral authority in zones of conflict to seek non-violent solutions to world problems.
The problem: They should have invited Jesus Christ. A verse that comes to mind is,
2 Corinthians 6:14, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness.”
Those who attended were called courageous. Imagine Muslims saying that their traditions are for peace, denouncing those who do violence in the name of religion. The treatment of Christians in Muslim nations never reached the table.
So, my problem is, what was so-called Christian leaders, as in high-ranking Catholic ambassadors, and men like Reverend Jackson, doing there? Is this a sign of our times?
Christian mysticism. Part 2.
A term used with considerable vagueness but implying that general tendency in religion to a higher and more intimate communication with God. In some Christian churches, specific individuals or denominations lay claim to this practice. Speaking in tongues is an example.
The human soul is regarded as a portion of the divine nature; it is held to be the great end of life to free the soul from the embarrassment and mental darkness in which it is owned by the material trammels or hindering activities of the body in which it is imprisoned.
Mysticism can be traced back to the early doctrinal history of Christianity. Among the early sects external to the church, we trace the first in one form to the Nicolaitan heresy.
The language of Paul in Galatians 2:20 and 2 Corinthians 12:2, and Revelation may be taken as the explanation of Christian Mysticism, this being the highest aspiration which has ever been towards that state in which the Christian “No longer lives, but Christ lives in him.”
Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me.
2 Corinthians 12:2, “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell:”
Mysticism received its full development in these days of the Scholastics. It was divided into three stages: purification, Illumination, Ecstatic Union with God, and Absorption in Divine Contemplation, or private devotion. The Medieval mystic schools turned to the third stage. They say it reduces an individual’s will and almost the personal actions of people who are in a state of ecstasy.
Mysticism is found in both the Protestant and Roman Catholic Churches. In 2001, a mystic named Rev. William Harmless, a Jesuit priest and professor in Mobile, Ala., asked his audience if any mystics were attending. Hands raised, many in the audience had some fairly potent religious experience. Karl Rahner, who has a theology of mysticism, said, “Human beings are by nature mystical.”
Are Christians trying to get in touch with that mystical side of themselves? There is a growing interest in this culture. The German abbess, a superior in a covenant of nuns, Hildegard of Bingen, a female figure of medieval Christian mysticism, wrote in the 12 century and includes 26 mystical experiences. She had visions and saw herself as a prophet. She received papal approval to preach publicly. She drew what looks like today’s prayer rug, with a person (female) standing in the center. Then there was Bonaventure, a 13th-century mystic. Julian of Norwich is a woman, a 15th-century mystic.
What do you think? Is this Mysticism Scriptural, or have more false prophets planted their seeds of corruption in the Christian church?
Part 3.
Soon after 9/11, an atheist said, “If anything, this whole thing has strengthened my resolve that there is no God.” She, with hundreds of other atheists, chose to mourn for the victims of these attacks without seeking the help of a higher power.
She said, “Witnessing it and being there every day strengthened my resolve that there is absolutely nothing, or nobody looking out for us. For most of America, 9/11 was a spiritual awakening. But for us, we feel disconnected, excluded, and even discriminated against.”
It appears to me that these, as well as agnostics, who doubt the existence of God; deists, who believe God created the Earth but left it to its own devices; secular humanists, nontheists, or just skeptics about God have voluntarily disconnected themselves from the God-fearing community in America. So is this seeming exclusion what they should expect from us?
There are between 30 and 40 million atheists in America today. The climate in America is that of a civil religion, a mixing of religions, nationalism, and patriotism. Can these ever be unified? Or will one or more always feel left out? Can world views and the many various religious views ever be united? Can any one religion unite the world’s people?
In 325 A.D., Rome and the Catholic religion proved it was possible. Some methods were questionable, but one strong religion and political government emerged. It was called the Holy Roman Empire. And for the most part, many pagan peoples and nations turned to the God of the Bible.
But is this what God wanted for us? The Protestant religion, for the most part, is the prodigy, the sons and daughters, branches of the Catholic faith, and their system. Since then, each Protestant son and daughter have gone on their merry way, ignoring their siblings. Also, the Catholic hierarchy and Protestant heads of state have not talked to each other very much over the centuries.
Are we, as individuals, to search for our own truths? Are we to find relief and strength wherever is best for us, as do atheists, they only company with friends and others having the same mindset?
My question is, “Are not these non-believing groups directly responsible for 60 million abortions? For forcing laws by political leaders that have shoved down every Christian’s throat the acceptance of gay marriage and their lifestyle, like it or not?
Oh yeah, how about saving the Kangaroo mouse? Because of your deep interest in them, and not so much in people, you allowed through your political friend’s overgrown vegetation not to be cut away in the Mountains of California. Soon after, it became fuel for forest fires: Fires that burned the homes of hard-working men and women to the ground.
What about those who died in these fires so that they could save the Kangaroo mouse? Since those fires, other agencies having the same mindset have been multiplying. Why? Because all you naturalists, lawmakers, judges, etc., have chosen to worship the creation and not the Creator who has formed you.
How about growing corn for fuel instead of corn that will help feed millions of starving people worldwide? How about your cry against oil drilling? “We have to save the environment, even the remotest, barrenest, coldest places in Alaska, from drilling.” Let these God-fearing Americans worry about how they will heat their homes and run their cars even for their most basic of needs, such as getting to their jobs.
Are not some of these non-believers the cause of the worldwide AIDS epidemic that had its roots in California in the early 1980s? I have a question no one in your group has ever answered, “Why did many of the homosexuals, knowing they were infected, intentionally have intercourse with those who were not gay? Spreading that killer infection and giving their tainted blood to blood banks, blood that killed multitudes of hemophiliacs? I lost count of the dead years ago.”
To all my atheist friends, Yes, we Christians search for the God of the Bible, seeking answers and comfort. It’s His word, and we will pursue it. You claim to care for human needs but care nothing about a person’s eternal soul. Of course, how can you? When you don’t believe men have souls.
You say you are human, but I ask, what do you mean by human? You say you need a community. I say, “Yes, you do, but you want it on your terms and conditions.”
To conclude, whoever talked you into your lifestyles and beliefs, let me talk you out of them. Christians love you and will pray for your conversions. Our God is patient and will give each of you a chance to come to His throne; He is a merciful and just God.”
Part 4.
Relics: Certain churches have collected over the centuries the remains of the bodies of saints, martyrs, their clothes, and instruments by which they were put to death. All preserved in honor to their memory. Today, these relics are kissed, revered, and carried in processions.
The honoring of these relics of the saints has taken on the face of superstition, and devotion, as kinds of charms, amulets, and instruments of feigning miracles. This appears to have begun when ancient Christians assembled at the cemeteries, or burying-places of the martyrs, for the purpose of commemorating them, and for worship.
When Christianity obtained the protection of the government under Constantine, stately churches were erected over graves, and the names and memories of these saints were treated with every possible mark of affection and respect.
This began to exceed all reasonable bounds. The prayers and services were said to have a certain sanctity and virtue when performed over these tombs. From this came the practice of obtaining and depositing relics of Saints and martyrs under the altars of all churches.
St. Ambrose would not consecrate a church if it had no relics; the council of Constantinople in Trullo ordained that those altars having no relics should be demolished.
Altars became filled with suspicious relics. Numerous artifacts and body parts have been taken from the catacombs, and as of now, the bodies are unknown. Eleventh-century relics were tried by fire; those not consumed were said to be genuine.
Relics are still preserved on the altars where masses are celebrated. Particular verses are said to support this practice.
Exodus 13:19, “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.”
Deuteronomy 34:6, “And He (God) buried him (Moses) in a valley in the land of Moab, — but no man knoweth of his sepulcher unto this day.”
2 Kings 13:21, “And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulcher of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.”
Well, are these the characteristics of the true church or a false one? You decide!
False prophecies. Part 5
1. Jerry Falwell was well-known in the Christian community. When he spoke, many listened. He didn’t make predictions concerning the end time but gave the impression, maybe. He said, “I Wouldn’t be a bit surprised if Christ returns in the year 2000.” We Christians must be careful. We live in a world that will take a comment like Mr. Falwell made, take it out of context, or twist his intent, turning it against him and us.
2. Jehovah’s Witness publication read, “The end of the kingdom of this world, and the entire establishment of the kingdom of God, will be accomplished by the end of 1914. Nothing happened, so with an excuse given, the date was adjusted, bringing it up to 1914. Again, nothing happened. So 1917, 1918, 1925, 1966, and finally, in 1975, the exact end-time predictions were made, and nothing happened. The Witnesses kept pushing the date forward to cover themselves until finally, they got wise to themselves.
Each time, many in that organization sold their homes, sold or gave away all their possessions, quit their jobs, pulled children out of school, preached against having children, etc. Well, here we are, 2011, we’re still here. False prophets. My question is, “Why do people still flock to this organization of false prophets?”
3. the millennium bug was better known as the Y2K scare. Many Christian leaders were preaching a possible doomsday. The slogan for the time was, “Prepare for the worse; hope for the best.” Others said, “Could the Y2K problem result in a new international computer system where everyone must submit to an international authority according to Revelation 13? (Receive the mark of the beast.)
How about this, “Could the Y2K problem introduce the four horsemen of Revelation? Then we had the Y2K family preparedness pack, which was introduced and sold to the public. Would anyone be interested in buying mine?
4. In 1992, 20,000 South Koreans awaited the beginning of the end, October 28. Minister Lee Jang Rim was the author of this so-called phenomenon. People were selling their homes, quitting jobs and schools, abandoning families, and even having abortions to prepare for October 28. 1992. He claimed that 144,000 believers would be taken into heaven on this day.
5. Recently, there has been a new flood of false prophets. On May 20, 2011, a prediction of the end of the world was made. The man has recently moved the end to a later month and day this year. There is also a prediction of the end of the world coming from many ancient cultures and individuals. Next year, in 2012, when the planets are lined up, we will all be vaporized.
Part 6.
A characteristic of false prophets would be their stand against Jesus Christ, John calling them antichrists. We know Antichrists were running around John’s Day, as they have ever since. But today, their message has become much easier to spread because of the advancement in communications.
Over the years, men, and in the abstract, certain bodies of men, particularly the Catholic church and the Pope’s, have had a target on their backs, as well as U.N. heads, and now, for the most part, American Presidents. Here is some fascinating history for those who like to discuss this subject.
The commonly received opinion that the church of Rome is Antichrist has had its followers. Gregory the Great, the Pope of Rome, in the 6th century, applied the prophecies of Daniel, Paul, and John, the beast, the man of sin, to those who would presume to claim the title of universal priest or bishop in the Christian church.
At the synod of Rheims in the 10th century, Arnulpus, the bishop of Orleans, appealed to the whole council, whether the bishop of Rome was not the Antichrist of Paul, believing the Antichrist was not a man but a body of men, that corresponded with the description given by Paul.
2 Thessalonians 2:4, “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”
In the 11th century, not all the characteristics of the Antichrist were united in the person of Pope Hildebrand, who would later take on the name of Gregory 8th. Johannes Aventinus, a Roman historian, wrote and proclaimed this Pope the Antichrist. He was also called “The False Monk.”
Soon after Obama had been elected President, there was a flurry of people who called him the “antichrist.” I’m afraid I mainly have to disagree because he has no Biblical knowledge and is not a uniter of men but a divider of men. The Antichrist will not be revealed until after the church’s rapture.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com