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10The
four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and
worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before
the throne, saying, 11Thou
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. (Rev 4:)
LOGAN'S RUN
Somewhere around the mid '70's there was a movie out called Logan's
Run. I'm fairly sure if you're
over 45 you recall it. In this movie there was a concept that pretty
well made use of a common expression and pushed it to the max. The
expression used by the youth of the day was: "Don't trust anyone over
thirty." Of course the people who were using that expression are now in
their 50's and 60's. I wonder
if they still think the same way?
Anyway, the theme of this
movie was that
when a person reached the age of 30 they were to be "recycled."
Recycling for these over-the-hill bunch was to have a ruckus of a good
time floating in the air until they exploded into a puff of smoke.
Sound exciting, you bungee
jumpers?
Well, Logan's job was to
track down those
old timers who didn't agree to this doctrine and wished to escape what
they believed to be suicide and murder rather than reincarnation. And
because they ran from their destiny, they were called appropriately
enough "Runners."
Of course my purpose here is not to tell you about a movie, as
interesting and exciting as this one may be. What I wish to do is use
this movie as an illustration of how easily and fully a person like you
and I can become deluded.
In the case of this movie, the Government was the ones doing the
deluding. Of course we know that our
government wouldn't lead us astray, but there surly are, and have been
those that would.
[ Incidently, a note of
interest, the Government
in this movie was made up of 60 to 70 year olds. It reminds me of how
the Governments of Japan, China and the Arab nations are (or were)
telling the youth of their era how wonderful blowing oneself up is and
what great rewards are promised to those who do so. But I don't see any
of them
taking advantage of the bliss they so generously offer others.]
Governments are not the only ones who lead people astray. They are more
skilled
at it, and in a better position
to do so, but there are others who are in there pitching right along
with them.
CUB SCOUTS AND BROWNIES
A few years ago I had the opportunity to become a part of a Grange
Hall. I found it an interesting experience, or more appropriately, an educational
experience.
The Grange Hall does some
fine things for
the community at large, as do many other organizations (including the
Cub Scouts and the Brownies). Because of their social efforts I found
myself drawn into their organization.
But along with the Grange's
social
activities I found there were some things about being a member that
caused me to be fairly uncomfortable: The Rituals.
Can a Cub Scout be a Cub
Scout and refuse to
give the Cub Scout salute? Can a Brownie be a Brownie without selling
her share of brownies?
Can a Pentecostal be a
Pentecostal without
believing in tongues? Can a Baptist be a Baptist and want his or her
baby sprinkled?
We believe what others around us believe. We perform whatever practice
those in our circle practice. If we choose to believe differently or
practice different practices then they, then we have to go elsewhere to
do so. In the Logan's Run movie being a nonconformist meant either
death (like being a nonconformist Catholic in the 1500's), or escaping
the geodome or whatever it was and live in the "uninhabitable" outside
world.
And in the case of the
movie, the "Outside"
turned out to be a place of bliss.
STORY TELLERS
Logan's Run was not written as history. The writer of the story did not
look into some actual event in order to come up with the story. The
story was created in his or her head.
It's possible that something
in history or
in the news stimulated
the idea that brought the story about, but the story itself is fantasy.
Each story we read, or that
we see or hear
has a creator, someone who brought it into being. It might be a simple
story rhyme like "Baa Baa Black sheep", or something as complicated as
Lord of the Rings. But they all had a creator.
Some stories are very
similar to existing
stories, and some are merely rehashes of other stories and legends. In
fact many, if not all the series writers find themselves in a groove
where certain type stories are expected and demanded of them, so their
stories become hardly more than the same story with a change of names
and places.
Go to a Cub Scout meeting, or a Grange meeting, or any other
organization and watch what happens. You will see a ritual carried out
almost exactly like the one they had a week ago, a year ago, a hundred
years ago. Only the names and the faces have been changed.
Consider that someone
had to come up with the original concept for whatever meeting you are
witnessing. Like a story book, there was a creative mind behind
whatever ritual is being followed to the letter.
Now go to an Army or Navy or whatever camp. Notice the same process in
action. Notice how everyone dresses the same, acts the same, and talks
the same. Go to any other base of the same branch of the service and
chances are you will not be able to tell you are not actually were you
began.
This is "organization."
Organization is a
means of keeping things in order so that it doesn't become a
free-for-all. If you would like to see the same process without
organizational structure, attend a Town Hall meeting or a Mexican bull
run.
Or if you would like to read
another story
about such structure and how it comes about, read The
Clubhouse on this site.
Churches also have organization for much the same reason. And again, to
see such organization in action, attend a church meeting of your
choice. It makes little difference where you attend, as long as it is
the same denomination, because it is very unlikely there will be any
difference. In fact, even if it is called an un
denominational church, it will likely be just like all the other
undenominational churches of the same denomination.
Organization in the church is not a bad thing. In fact without
organization the church would become like a Town Hall Meeing or a
Mexican Bull Run. Should this be so if the Holy Spirit is in fact
taking part in the church? No, it shouldn't. But when we realize that
all the churches are overflowing with, and often ran by tares and
wolves what else could be expected?
Paul, writing on this very
subject had this
to say:
26How
is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a
psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an
interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 27If
any man speak in an unknown
tongue, let it be
by two, or at the most by
three, and that
by course; and let one interpret. 28But
if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let
him speak to himself, and to God. 29Let
the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30If
any thing
be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31For
ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be
comforted. 32And
the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33For
God is not the author
of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1Cor 14:)
Can you imagine what the services must have been like with everyone
wanting to read their
poem, or sing their
song, or preach their
message? Add to this the fact that within the church there were
factions wanting to follow their own favorite Apostle or Evangelist
("I'm of Paul," etc.)
Organization is necessary, to be sure. And are the churches ever
organized! Some churches are so organized and structured that like the
Cub Scouts, the only thing that changes is perhaps a face doing the
reading.
With there being so many thousands of denominations (but as far as I
know only one denomination of Cub Scouts and one denomination of
Brownies, though in reality I find very little difference between their
meetings and most of the church's) there must also have been thousands
of creative minds at work as well.
Thousands of writers writing
formulas and
doctrines for thousands of churches. That is rather mind-boggling,
don't you think? Considering that the Church was actually written by
one Person, God in the form of the Holy Spirit; and that it was begun
by one Person who gave His life for the Church, that is God in the form
of Jesus Christ, it's rather amazing how many variations to the
original rules as laid out by God, imaginative authors have been able
to come up with, don't you think?
Yes, to me it is amazing the number of offbeat and bazaar theories
theologians have come up with. But then they
are just the writers
of the stories. As authors of confusion, that's their job
to write such stories. Like the author of Logan's Run, the fact that
such an imaginative story was written is not such a mystery. I for one
am glad it was
written. And stories are written to be read. And some stories, or other
type books are even written to be studied and picked at to gain from
them information that might help us in our lives or careers.
The problem comes when
someone takes the
story and tries to make a practice
out of it, and teach it as Gospel Truth, such as has the fictitious
Government in the story, and as has some governments around the world.
But stories are merely
stories - as long as
they stay "in the book." However, when the book becomes a reality,
then trouble ensues.
It takes followers to make a fiction story a reality. Jim Jones would
have become a simple suicide story if he hadn't had followers who
committed "suicide" with him. Hitler would have been regarded a "Mad
paper hanger" if he hadn't had followers who listened to him. And Nero
would
have been known as a Caesar with a burning desire for Rome instead of
the persecutor of the Christians if people hadn't wanted to see the
lions be fed.
Followers make a story
reality. Followers
are not the Creator of Confusion, but without followers the authors
would only be simple Story Tellers.
BELIEF IS NOT TRUTH
We think of Belief and Faith as having something in common with Truth.
This is not so. For instance I can firmly believe that a certain
medicine will cure my cancer. I have not based this belief on hope, but
from official records and personal experience. Records show that
everyone who has taken this medicine has made a full recovery. All my
family and acquaintance who have had cancer and taken this medicine
have had miraculous healings. And the fact that the medicine costs me
nearly all my income and yet I still buy it pretty well indicates that
I have complete faith in the medicine.
Yet, I find after taking the
medicine that
it didn't work, has made my condition worse, and I now have no chance
for survival.
Did I have faith?
Was that which I had faith
in the Truth?
By it not being Truth mean
it is a lie.?
Jumping from one extreme to
another is the
fallacy of the churches that I harp so heavily on. The lack of light
does not mean it is dark. Consider dawn and twilight, and add to this a
clear night with a full moon.
If Mrs. Jones tells me she is coming to pick me up to take me to work
at 3:00, and I stand in front of my house waiting for her: I have faith
that she is going to pick me up. (Of course I might just have hope
that she will, but let's assume she has had an excellent record of
keeping her word.) It is now 5:00 and Mrs. Jones hasn't arrived, and I
have lost my job. Did Mrs. Jones lie to me? It would appear
so, wouldn't it?
Later I find that Mrs. Jones
is in the
hospital having had an accident and had been trying to reach me by
phone. But since I was outside waiting for her, I missed her call. Now
was Mrs. Jones lying to me? Or was she telling me the truth?
Your brother is the executor of your father's estate. You are to
inherit a sum of money with which to purchase a new home. Without that
inheritance you will be unable to pay for the house. Your brother tells
you that he put the money you are to inherit in a special account and
assures you that it is safe to buy the house you have found.
When it comes time to pay
for the house,
your brother tells you, that although the money was in fact in the bank
at the time he told you it was, he has since spent it and you will have
to pay for your house out of your own pocket. You lose the house and
your cash investment.
Was your brother lying about
the money in
the bank? Was he telling the truth?
As shown above; truth, lack of truth, and lies are not so easy to
assess. What may be truth at one moment may become not so true the
next. What may be truth for one person may not be the truth for another.
Another example: You have a friend who is desperately in love with a
girl. This girl has played your friend for a fool, leading him on and
taken all his money. Then this girl runs off with your friend's best
friend.
Your friend is despondent.
In fact he has
seriously stated that he is going to take his own life. He says he now
has nothing to live for.
In effort to postpone your
friend's
desperate deed you tell him that you are going to pay for a two week
trip to Hawaii where he can reconsider his options. But your friend
refuses to go, saying that nothing matters to him but the girl who
betrayed him.
You tell your friend that
while he is gone
you will pull some strings that is very likely to bring the girl back
to your friend. He is persuaded, and takes the trip. In two weeks your
friend returns happy and healthy and in love with another girl.
From the beginning you knew
full well that
it would be impossible to get the girl to return to your friend. And
besides this you knew that it would be the worst thing for him were it
possible. But you firmly believed that once he was away from the
situation, he would see things in a new light.
Did you lie to your friend? Did you tell him the truth? The truth would
have meant your friend's death. A lie meant his life.
Truth is not such an easy
thing to define.
Of course the philosophy or the psychology of truth is not that in
which I am interested here with this study. I could bounce the subject
from hither to yon and still not come any closer to what Truth is.
Some Sunni Muslims believe that blowing themselves up will get them to
heaven. They have enough faith in this concept that they do just that -
blow themselves up. We have two towers and thousands of lives lost as
evidence of their faith.
Catholics have raised many
people to
Sainthood because of their standing on their faith. Protestants have
had many people stand against
the Catholics and lost their lives. Protestants call these people
Martyrs.
Which was right, thereby the
holder of
Truth? The Catholics or the Protestants? If one or the other, or
neither are the possessors of Truth, then what does that say for the
Martyr's and the Saint's faith unto death? Did they in fact have faith?
Let us say you are going to
take neither
side because in your mind both are Christian churches believing in the
same Jesus, the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, and the like. The variations
after these fundamental beliefs do not effect you one way or the other;
just as long as they are clear on the fundamentals as you
see them.
But let's stir up the pot a bit. In the past hundred years or so
certain men have come forth with new
doctrines that do not
fit your view of the fundamentals. You do not consider them as part of
the established Christian religion. Let us use for an example Joseph
Smith.
Joseph Smith and his many
followers risked
life and limb, and were martyred for their beliefs in effort to start
what they considered a reconstructed church as formed by the original
Apostles. In your mind, since these people do not believe as you
believe, they are not part of the Body of Christ, therefore they do not
hold Truth.
Yet they are willing to
sacrifice their
lives for that which they hold as truth in the very same way as did the
Catholic Saints and the Protestant Martyrs.
How can Truth, Faith and
Belief be
reconciled in such a situation? Is there anyone who can say what
"Truth" is under the circumstances? Yet millions of people do, arguing
to the death that their
truth, and only
theirs is the truth.
We know that God is Truth. I don't think there are very many people who
will dispute this, certainly not Christians. In fact I suppose there
are even a lot of Atheists
who will agree that God is Truth.
And along with God being
Truth, we believe
that the Bible
is Truth. Unfortunately at this point we begin to deviate from the
absolute Truth we expressed with God since there are so many people who
believe in different degrees of what Truth the Bible holds.
But of those Christians
who hold that the Bible is absolute Truth -- which concept or
perception of Truth is the correct one? The Catholics? The Protestants?
If you chose the Protestants, which denomination of them out of the
thousands that exist?
Rather baffling, isn't it?
Who would think
Truth would be so hard to find? And even still, so hard to define?
GOD IS TRUTH
Is He? I mean, how can anyone say that God is Truth? Of course we have
the Bible for the Truthfulness of God. But there are millions of people
who don't believe that the Bible is absolutely truth. And if the Bible,
that says
God is Truth is not to be counted on; then perhaps one of the verses
that is not true is the one that says God is Truth.
And if God is not Truth,
then what is?
Can God lie? Of course He can't. But how can we know
God can't lie? We have the Bible for it. But here we run into the same
problem we had above, and that is the reliability of the Bible.
Again, who defines Truth? Is it you? Is it me? Is it the Theologians
who tell us what God is attempting to say to us?
I hope
it's none of these, because I can't see how any mere speck of dust as
we all are can be trusted to explain what the Mighty God who created us
has in mind.
GOD CAN'T LIE?
Why not? Why can't
God lie? God made us in His image, and we
certainly have no problem when it comes to telling whopper, so why
can't God tell a tiny fib now in then if He wants to?
We, that is mankind, know
what telling a lie
means when it comes to us telling a lie to someone else. And though we
do it all the time, we know what it means to tell a lie to God. I'll
bet you're saying right now that you never lied to God. If so, think
back to the hard times in your life when you were desperate and cried
out to God for help. What promises did you make that you have either
let pass along the way, or have backed away from now that you feel you
are standing on your own two feet once more? What about your prayer of
total submission when you first became a Christian? Are you totally
submitted to Jesus and being led, heart and soul, by the Holy Ghost?
Am I saying I am free of
guilt from this
transgression? Don't I wish I could say I am.
We lie. And we know that is the truth of the matter. But what about
God? Does God lie? Can
God lie?
It is my belief (before I
get stoned for
being a heretic) that God cannot lie, nor would He if He could. The
reason I say this is twofold. One: God has no reason
to lie to us little dirt clods that He created and stuck on this planet
for whatever reason He might have for doing so. God controls all things
and knows
all things. You and I when we lie are trying to manipulate a situation
we feel we cannot control. We either feel that lying will get us what
we want, or will get us out of that which we know we deserve.
God on the other hand is not
going to be in
such a place that He has to make such decisions. If something should
occur that He feels out of control with, all He has to do is use this
earth for a Ping-Pong ball and start all over again.
The second reason God can't
lie is because
God has created all things, at least all things that effect us.
What else God has to deal with in His realm we will likely never know.
In that
realm perhaps lying and telling the truth has a different concept
altogether. Who knows? And besides, we can't make sense out of our own
little lives without contemplating God's
realm.
Without life there is no
death. Without law
there is no sin (transgression of the law). And without truth, there is
no lie. Since God created everything, including the concept of Truth,
then God also created Lie. And what is Truth and Lie in God's eyes?
Whatever He wants
it to be, regardless
if we understand it or not.
And if God wants to change
what Truth means
half way through his intentions for us, that's His prerogative. It's God's
game; He is just letting us play along.
BOTTOM LINE
I've taken an inordinate (a lot, my big word for the day) amount of
time and space to philosophize a single word. I hope you got something
out of the experience, it was rather cathartic for me.
My point here is [as it is
for most of the
studies I present ], we are but foolish specks of dust not worth the
effort it would take to grind us into powder. For some reason we humans
have the practice of creating a "cast" system whereby we classify
ourselves in contrast with one another. "I'm better than you because
I'm the president and you're only the vice president." "I'm better than
you because you're only two years old and I'm a three
year old."
We are foolish pieces of
clay. David brought
down a giant with a small stone. And a kidney stone can bring down the
greatest man who ever lived. And a tiny germ will kill the best of us.
Whatever value we have is only in our own eyes, not in God's. Over and
over again the Bible tears down the mighty and exalts the weak and
beggarly. The more we think of ourselves, the less God thinks of us and
the less likely He is to esteem us and make use of us.
Our ego gets in the way.
This is God's
game, not our's. God makes the rules. And if we want to play God's
Game, we have to follow His
rules.
The churches which are made
up of a few
wannabe demigod leaders and a multitude of care-less followers, all
seeking ways to get from God what they can without following His rules;
And the few legitimate
churches and Christiana who are seeking God's will for them are reading
the Book of Rules with one blind eye and the other eye half shut.
There is no way any of us
can find God's
will, therefore the Truth, until we recognize that we are nothing, and
that God has not created this universe for our pleasure and purpose,
but for His (Rev
4:11). We are not to be glorified kings among men we imagine ourselves
to be, but servants to one another, and slaves to God. Anyone who is
not willing to submit themselves to God's will cannot expect to be with
Him in Eternity.
Take the Glory and die.
Give God the Glory and rule
and rein with
Him.
SELF ESTEEM
The World tells us that we must have "Self-Esteem." We are taught by
our parents, by our friends and by the schools - and especially
by the media that we are special. These sources of information not only
tell us that we must
have self-esteem, but they tell us how
to have self-esteem. And if we choose to find self-esteem in a
different manner than that which these sources have prescribed, then we
are considered as deviant and as nothing worth their efforts.
This is the World.
In the church we are taught to feel good about ourselves. We are taught
that we are special
in God's eyes and that He watches out for each and every one of us. And
there is certainly Scripture to support such a teaching.
But at the same time there
is an abundance
of Scripture that tells us that we are but dirt, mere worms that God
repents having made in the first place.
Is there some way that both
of these concepts can be true? Can we be both precious in the eyes of
God, yet be worms?
Yes, there is. But the Truth
is not likely
to be found in the churches, any more than it is to be found in the
World. The Truth is not
to be found with the reasoning mind of man. In fact the Truth is just
the opposite
of man's understanding.
Elsewhere I presented Scripture whereby Job, Paul, and even Jesus
stated that they were worms, nothing at all. (Job 24:6; Psalm
22;6:)
Can you or I say that Jesus
is a "Worm"? Of course
not! We call Him Wonderful and Lord. Then who can
call Jesus a Worm?
Jesus can. And Jesus did
just that.
All the above people, and many others, have called themselves nothing,
worms. And because they called themselves worms, God called them
precious and special.
Others in the Bible, like the Pharisees, and Korah, and Miriam, and
Nebuchadnezzar, and a host of others have called themselves wonderful
and special in God's eyes. God's response to their claims was to wipe
them out and call them fools and blind.
Whatever way we choose to see ourself, God will see us just the
opposite.
Judge yourself, and God will
not have to
judge you.
Judge others, and be judged
accordingly.
REPENTANCE
Many of the churches and religious teachers say that Jesus died on the
cross for all sins. Because of Jesus' efforts, we, the forgiven
Christian do not have to continually repent. Nor, say the "experts" are
we to remember our sins any more.
Because of this concept of
complete
forgiveness (which we in fact do
have, if we are in fact a disciple of Jesus and not just a follower of
the church), we are to consider ourselves as "King's Kids," as
"Children of God," therefore better than the lost in the World.
But if we think of ourselves
in this exalted
manner, then we are no longer thinking of ourselves as the worms we are
to remember that we are.
In my own experience; and I believe it to be in accordance with the
desires of the Holy Spirit, when I followed the advise of the church,
seeing myself as forgiven and therefore past
my bad behavior; I found I was continually falling back
into that behavior. This is not beyond understanding. Even the Worldly
psychologists will tell you that denying our problems will only
intensify them.
But in the church, that
understanding is
lost. Because of this we read continually about well known Pastors and
religious leaders being caught in very compromising situations (a
polite way of saying deep sin).
Since my "turn around" were
the Holy Spirit
finally took hold of me (my having turned my back on myself and allowed
Him in), I find that quite often my past deeds come before me, which
causes me to loath them, and myself as well. I know all too well that,
although I no longer even think
about such practices, they are a part of my being that I can't escape.
I know that in order to be all I should
be, and have always desired
to be, that I must cling tightly to the Lord and follow His will for me
to the letter as best I possibly can.
If I were to continue
following the advise I
received from church leaders, I would still be seeking my own
self-esteem and therefore self control, and be drifting farther and
farther from the path the Lord is trying to lead me on.
This has been my
experience. Should it be yours?
That's not for me to say. But what I will
say is that if you are following what you are taught in church, even if
what your church is teaching is absolutely correct and in line with
God's Word, you are not following God's will for you. The Bible says
that you are to listen to the Holy Spirit, which is for you the Word of
God. Hearing the right words
is not what God wants for any of us. It's listening to the right person
that will save us.
CHAIN OF COMMAND
In the Army a soldier learns what the chain of command is. When a
superior gives an order, the soldier is to follow that order to the
letter. If that soldier is a buck private, that is a "clean sleeve," he
is to take orders from someone who has but one stripe on his sleeve.
"But I don't want to listen to this nobody. I want to get my orders
straight from the President, the Commanding General himself."
The fact is, when a
superior, no matter how
minor he or she might be, gives an order, that order is
straight from the Commanding General himself. Why? Because the order
that the Commanding General gave all soldiers is to obey the commands
of those above him. If that command turns out to be contrary
to the will of the Commander, then the one who gave
the command will have to stand in judgment for his error. Any Pastor
who has been in the Service should know this principal, and consider it
well as he directs the flock placed in his care. (See Zechariah Chapter
11)
What has soldiering got to do with being a Christian? After all, we are
Christians,
we are to listen to Christ Himself, not to some peon along the way.
Right?
Listen to these words from God Himself, our Commanding General:
17Obey
them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch
for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it
with joy, and not with grief: for that is
unprofitable for you. (Heb 13:)
1Put
them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey
magistrates, to be ready to every good work, (Titus 3:)
13Submit
yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be
to the king, as supreme; 14Or
unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of
evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15For
so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the
ignorance of foolish men: (1Peter 2:)
5Likewise,
ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of
you be subject one to another,
and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth
grace to the humble. 6Humble
yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt
you in due time: 7Casting
all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1Peter 5:)
21Submitting
yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22Wives,
submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23For
the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the
church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24Therefore
as the church is subject unto Christ, so let
the wives be
to their own husbands in every thing. (Eph 5:)
4He
riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and
girded himself. 5After
that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples'
feet, and to wipe them
with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6Then
cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou
wash my feet? 7Jesus
answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou
shalt know hereafter. 8Peter
saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I
wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9Simon
Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my
hands and my
head. 10Jesus
saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his
feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11For
he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12So
after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set
down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13Ye
call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so
I am. 14If
I then, your
Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one
another's feet. 15For
I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16Verily,
verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord;
neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17If
ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
18I
speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture
may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel
against me. 19Now
I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may
believe that I am he. 20Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth
me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
(John 13:)
15If
ye love me, keep my commandments. 16And
I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that
he may abide with you for ever; 17Even
the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth
him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with
you, and shall be in you.
18I
will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19Yet
a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because
I live, ye shall live also. 20At
that day ye shall know that I am
in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21He
that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me:
and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him,
and will manifest myself to him. 22Judas
saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest
thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23Jesus
answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words:
and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our
abode with him. 24He
that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear
is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25These
things have I spoken unto you, being yet
present with you. 26But
the Comforter, which
is
the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach
you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I
have said unto you. 27Peace
I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth,
give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid. (John 14:)
According to Paul, as stated above, we are not only to obey other Christians
who are placed above us, but the Worldly rulers ("Principalities and
Powers") as well. Can you imagine what that must have sounded like to a
Jew under Hitler? But Paul was not talking from a palace high on a
hill, he had been beaten many times, stoned to death, and dogged
constantly by the very people he said we are to submit to.
And Jesus? Look at what He
submitted to.
When we exalt ourselves to any degree at all, we raise ourselves about
Jesus, thereby God. And isn't that the very thing the church condemns
the Humanists for doing?
Jesus said this about
Himself:
25At
that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and
prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26Even
so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27All
things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son,
but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he
to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 28Come
unto me, all ye
that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take
my yoke upon you, and learn of me;
for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For
my yoke is
easy, and my burden is light. (Mat 11:)
Did the Old Testament Saints know that they were to be humble and lowly
in their own eyes? Was this a Truth hidden from them?
Hardly.
6Though
the LORD be
high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar
off. (Psalm 38:)
32For
the froward is
abomination to the LORD: but his secret is
with the righteous. 33The
curse of the LORD is
in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
34Surely
he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. 35The
wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
(Prov 3:)
2When
pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is
wisdom. (Prov 2:)
18Pride goeth
before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19Better it is to be
of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the
proud. (Prov 16:)
9Rejoice
greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold,
thy King cometh unto thee: he is
just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a
colt the foal of an ass. (Zech 9:)
Ministers of the Word have an awesome responsibility. If I was a Pastor
or a Theologian or a Teacher of the Word I would be in constant fear
and trembling that I might teach the Lord's sheep a false doctrine.
But it appears I am very
much alone with
this attitude as I see and hear the bazaar statements coming from the
pulpits, and as I watch the churches grow into monstrosities of watered
down doctrine.
I know
there is a tremendous amount about the Bible and the Lord that I don't
know. And about those things I am ignorant I would fear to teach. Yet
if I were a Minister I would be expected to do just that.
However, this has not always
been the case.
Originally the Word of God was given to the people straight from the
mouth of His prophets, or read directly from the Book without verbal
editing or speculation.
Of course this changed when
God let up from
cracking the whip.
Then when the early Church
began they
followed the same practices that had been followed in the synagogues
and the Temple for centuries. Believers did not go to church to be
entertained as they do today. Nor did they go to hear wild theories of
what the Word meant as is the practice of Pastors and other experts of
the Word today. People went to do three basic things. They went to
commune with other believers. They went to commune with God. In this
way they were in communion with the whole of Christ - the Head, and the
body.
Fellowship was a means of
communing with the
body, which at times got out of hand as is evidenced by Paul's
admonition to refrain from using church as a meal ticket.
And Communion with God was
accomplished
through prayer and praise.
Then, finally, but very
importantly, people
came to hear the Word read to them.
Keep in mind that people did
not have Bibles
and study books they could take home with them. Bibles (scrolls) were
sacred and laboriously copied by hand. They were rare and very
expensive. Therefore, even the fairly wealthy and the super righteous
had only two ways by which they could hear what God had to tell them;
they could hear pieces of Scripture read at the synagogue or the Church
(remember, for the early Church their Bible was the very same as the
Jew's - the Old Testament); or they could approach a Scribe or other
such learned person who had the Bible memorized such as a Pharisee.
Pharisees and Scribes were
the Preachers and
Theologians of their day. But unlike Ministers of the Word today, these
experts had the Word memorized down to the smallest jot and tittle.
They were, if you please, walking Bibles. Jesus said of them:
1Then
spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2Saying,
The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3All
therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that
observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do
not. (Mat 23:)
As the New testament developed from the piecemeal verbal messages of
the Apostles to a written Word, letters were shared between the many
Churches spread out around the known world. I am sure these letters
were copied by the hundreds and kept as sacred writings, being read
over and over as they are today, and as were the Old Testament scrolls
(Torah).
As time went on, those who Paul called "wolves" followed after the
Apostles trying to nullify what had been taught to the congregates and
adding their own brand of Christianity. These doctrines ran the gamut
from having to do nothing to be saved, and that sin was looked on as
good in the eyes of God because it increased His Grace (Epicureans,
Nicolaitanes); to having to follow every law of the Jews in order to be
saved (Judaizers).
Sound familiar?
The Jews leaned over backward toward the law, binding the people they
were leading from finding the Lord. They never saw Him themselves, and
tried to kill anyone who sought Him.
The Catholic church followed very much the same example, utilizing a
watered down form of the Law that replaces rituals for sacrifices.
The Protestant churches bend
totally the other
way obliterating any sign of the Law and sacrifice. Some of the more
Modern churches go to the spine-snapping extremes of the Hedonists who
believe they can do anything
and still get to Heaven. Was this corruption of the church foreseen and
reported in the Bible?
17Ye
have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we
wearied him?
When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is
good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is
the God of judgment? (Mal 2:)
1Now
the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines
of devils; 2Speaking
lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
(1Tim 4)
1This
know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For
men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without
natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors,
heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having
a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn
away. 6For
of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly
women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7Ever
learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2Tim
3:)
2Preach
the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort
with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3For
the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after
their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching
ears; 4And
they shall turn away their
ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2Tim 4:)
3Beloved,
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. 4For
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. 5I
will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how
that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt,
afterward destroyed them that believed not. 6And
the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own
habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto
the judgment of the great day. (Jude)
TO MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH
If there are any Ministers reading what I have written on this website,
I am sure you feel I am making a personal attack on you and your
beliefs. I can't blame you. It certainly would seem
that I am.
But if you notice, it
doesn't matter what
church you belong to, or what
you teach, my words seem to condemn.
So please don't take my
words personally.
It's my opinion that all,
every single one of the doctrines are wrong and have to be reevaluated
under the supervision and scrutiny of the Holy Spirit.
I believe that every
doctrine has been
contrived by the carnal mind and without the leading of the Lord.
I believe the church, unlike
what is being
taught, is in no building or congregation but is a collection of broken
hearts and spirits dedicated to the service of the Lord, sparsely
scattered amongst all
the churches and denominations.
I believe that when you
preach or minister
to your congregation there may be only one or two who are the Church,
even if there are thousands standing before you.
As the School System has fallen into teaching to the slowest of the
class, causing the more dedicated to lose interest and have to go
elsewhere for their education; I believe the churches preach and cater
to the tares and the worldly of their congregation hoping to force milk
down their throat. Because of this misdirected efforts, I believe the
True Sheep are left with nowhere to go for genuine fellowship,
therefore they drop out of the churches and are left to flounder on
their own.
I believe even the most
dedicated Minister,
the most Spirit filled Pastor is handicapped and tied to the doctrines
and dictates of the organization which he serves. I believe that should
a Pastor preach Truth as he sees it and is given to him by the Holy
Spirit, he will be left on his own without a church to preach in,
unless he can find one or two of the flounders he has pushed out of his
church in the past.
I believe Truth is in bits
and pieces
throughout the Bible that only the Holy Spirit can link together. And
since these pieces are not
being linked, I believe that theologians and Pastors are afraid to
search for them for fear of rejection by their congregates.
This said, I want to add that I appreciate and applaud the effort and
life purposes of theologians, Pastors and other ministers of the
church. I have not only gained a great deal from the many I have heard
and read, but I quite well understand the dedication and effort each of
you must exert in order to fulfill your mission.
I also understand that it is
very difficult
to care for the needs of a church, lead a halfway normal life, and stay
in the Spirit as well. Because of this problem, I can see why ministers
look to one another for support and information rather than to the Lord.
However, my understanding
your situation does not change the fact that there is a job to be done,
and that job involves the eternal souls of people put in your care with
the intention that they be fed and matured into fully adult, Spirit-led
disciples of Christ.
Your job, as I see it is to
feed those lambs
in your care. My job, as I see it is to feed you.
Does that put me in the category of a theologist? I sincerely hope
not. Does it sound egotistic? It surely does.
So if you, the Ministers to
the body of
Christ can find the information that will connect the pieces of God's
Spiritual puzzle somewhere else, please
use it and take full advantage of it.
If I'm able to drive you
away from me
cursing the ground I walk on, and by doing so drive you out of your
indoctrinated shell and into the arms of the Holy Spirit, then I have
done my job.
The less I have to do with
you, or anyone
finding Truth, the better I will feel.
I would much
rather be the janitor of a church then to be a spokesman to God's
chosen ministers.
Although what I do causes me to be isolated and seen as a
corrupt fool by everyone in every church, I would much
rather do it than the job given you.
The consequences for my failure to reach you is small since success can
only be on your
part for receiving it. But on the same token any success
that might come from what I do I can receive no reward because there
again, success will have been on your
part.
1Then
spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2Saying,
The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3All
therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that
observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do
not.
If the Scribes and the Pharisees sat in Moses'
seat, who's seat do you suppose the Pastors and the Theologians sit in?
(See Num 12:4-8; Ex 4:16 to the Church, Priesthood; Ex 7:1 to the
World.)
And here Jesus is also
commanding His
faithful followers to listen to those who sit in Moses' (and His) seat.
So if the disciples fail or are led astray, who will be held
responsible, do you think? (See Mat Chapter 23 & Zech Chapter
11)
You, as a Pastor, a caretaker, a porter of the Lord's sheep must take great
responsibility for your success or failure. And as I have said
elsewhere, I am surely glad I haven't been called to such an awesome
task as that you have been given. And unless I was certain
the Lord had called me to such a position, and I knew He was working through
me to care for His lambs, I would be in a fearful state day and night.
So again, I thank
you for taking on the job that I could not handle. And I thank God
for this job that is no job at all unless He
is doing it through me.
I can't
fail because I can't win or lose.
And He won't
fail, because if this work I'm doing is of me,
it's nothing more than pure foolishness.
If what I am doing is of the Lord,
then the only failure that can occur is from those who pay no attention
to it.
EGO BARRIER
If there are any Ministers who have weathered my writings this far, and
if you still feel slighted, please try this:
Set your ego aside. Imagine that none of what I have said applies to
you in any way. Are you able to do this? It's a lot to ask of anyone,
but give it a try. Ego, as you know, is not only a barrier to listening
to those who offend you, but to the leading of the Holy Spirit (Mat
13:10-23; Mark 8:17-18).
Now, with your ego aside, consider what I have said on this page. As
you look around at the churches of today, does any of it apply to those
other
churches? Would you agree that the World has many apostate churches and
that more and more churches are falling into the same World View as the
World?
Now, though you would not intentionally
lead any of your lambs astray, is it possible that there is a little
something that you teach that doesn't quite fit what you find to be
true in the Word?
If this is the case, and you
have given an
affirmative answer, would you say it might be wise to consult the Holy
Spirit to see if that little something, that tiny fable, is a tree
behind which is a forest?
References
17Obey
them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch
for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it
with joy, and not with grief: for that is
unprofitable for you. (Heb 13:)
4And
the LORD spoke suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam,
Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And the
three came out. 5And
the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of
the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. 6And
he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD
will make myself know unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in
a dream. 7My
servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 8With
him I will speak mouth to mouth, and even apparently, and not in dark
speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore
then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? (Num 13:)
16And
he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he
shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead
of God. (Ex 4:)
1And
the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and
Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. (Ex 7:)
1Open
thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars. 2Howl,
fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled:
howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down. 3There
is a voice of the howling of
the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of
young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.
4Thus
saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter; 5Whose
possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that
sell them say, Blessed be
the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not. 6For
I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but,
lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour's hand, and
into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of
their hand I will not deliver them. 7And
I will feed the flock of slaughter, even
you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I
called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock. 8Three
shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and
their soul also abhorred me. 9Then
said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that
is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the
flesh of another.
10And
I took my staff, even
Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had
made with all the people. 11And
it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited
upon me knew that it was
the word of the LORD. 12And
I said unto them, If ye think good, give me
my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces
of silver. 13And
the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I
was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces
of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD. 14Then
I cut asunder mine other staff, even
Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
15And
the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish
shepherd. 16For,
lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which
shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young
one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still:
but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. 17Woe
to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall
be upon his arm, and upon his
right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be
utterly darkened. (Zech 11:)
1I
beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which
is
your reasonable service. 2And
be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that ye may prove what is
that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3For
I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you,
not to think of himself
more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as
God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Rom 12:)
6A
son honoureth his
father, and a servant his master: if then I be
a father, where is
mine honour? and if I be
a master, where is
my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my
name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? 7Ye
offer polluted bread upon mine altar;
and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of
the LORD is
contemptible. 8And if ye offer
the
blind for sacrifice, is
it
not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is
it
not evil? offer it now unto
thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith
the LORD of hosts. 9And
now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this
hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of
hosts. 10Who is
there
even among you that would shut the doors for
nought?
neither do ye kindle fire
on mine altar for nought. I
have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither
will I accept an offering at your hand.
(Mal 1:)
17Ye
have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say,
Wherein have we wearied him?
When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is
good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them;
or, Where is
the God of judgment? (Mal 2:)
1Be
ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2And
walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for
us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Eph
5:)
5Let
this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who,
being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But
made himself of no reputation, and took
upon him the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men: 8And
being found in fashion as a man, he
humbled himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore
God also hath highly
exalted him, and given him
a name which is above every name: (Phil 2:)
8The
sacrifice of the wicked is
an abomination to the LORD:
but the prayer of the upright is
his delight. (Prov 15:)
13This
witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound
in the faith; 14Not
giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from
the truth. 15Unto
the pure all things are
pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is
nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16They
profess that they know God; but in works they deny him,
being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
(Titus 2:)
1Then
spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2Saying,
The scribes and the
Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3All
therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that
observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do
not. 4For
they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them
on men's shoulders; but they themselves
will not move them with one of their fingers. 5But
all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their
phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6And
love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the
synagogues, 7And
greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8But
be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even
Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9And
call no man
your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10Neither
be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even
Christ. 11But
he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12And
whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble
himself shall be exalted.
13But
woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the
kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves,
neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14Woe
unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows'
houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive
the greater damnation. 15Woe
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. 16Woe
unto you, ye
blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is
nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a
debtor! 17Ye
fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that
sanctifieth the gold? 18And,
Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever
sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 19Ye
fools and blind: for whether is
greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 20Whoso
therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things
thereon.
21And
whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that
dwelleth therein. 22And
he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by
him that sitteth thereon. 23Woe
unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint
and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters
of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done,
and not to leave the other undone. 24Ye
blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25Woe
unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the
outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of
extortion and excess. 26Thou
blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which
is within the cup and platter,
that the outside of them may be clean also. 27Woe
unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto
whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are
within full of dead men's
bones, and of all uncleanness. 28Even
so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full
of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29Woe
unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs
of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30And
say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been
partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31Wherefore
ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which
killed the prophets. 32Fill
ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33Ye
serpents, ye
generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
34Wherefore,
behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some
of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some
of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them
from city to city: 35That
upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the
blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias,
whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36Verily
I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 37O
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou
that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee,
how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen
gathereth her chickens under her
wings, and ye would not! 38Behold,
your house is left unto you desolate. 39For
I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say,
Blessed is
he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Mat 23:)
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