Torah Club material that equally blasts the Church and Judaism, claiming both "have concealed the knowledge of God" (because FFOZ believes that they alone have it).

 

I'll admit off the bat, this section contains one of my pet peeves, "taking the Bible literally."  In most cases, when someone talks or writes about taking the Bible literally it is a indication that he/she is about to do an awful job of interpreting the Bible.  Why?  Because the Bible's author's don't take the Bible "literally," and those who have learned to interpret the Bible according to its own ideas know that full well.  Biblical authors write with a host of analogies, metaphors, similes, parables, as well as prophetic and apocalyptic language.  What I think Lancaster is trying to say is that the people he is lambasting don't take the Bible "at face value" or "as authoritative."  But I digress, the real issue with The Beginning of Wisdom lesson 20 is that here Lancaster reveals his contempt both for the modern Church and for modern Judaism.  This is yet more evidence that FFOZ is trying to carve out their own unique (and new) niche in a space that is neither Christianity nor Judaism but some amalgam of both that is unrecognizable to either.

This is not the first time that I've demonstrated the animosity of FFOZ's leadership to both the Church and Judaism, but it is a reminder that the canard that their intention is to help followers of Jesus witness to Jews rings hollow when they choose to display this level of contempt to both Christianity and Judaism, and teach it to their followers.

Let's look at the specific claims to see if they hold any water or are in fact more straw men.

"Rather than teaching the Bible's wisdom, churches prefer to teach creeds and sacraments construed from elaborate theologies that are only loosely based on cherry-picked collections of Bible verses.  They don't know the Torah or understand it."

Now, when the Church is in error, both historically and today, it has earned honest criticism.  This isn't that, I'll give FFOZ credit for writing against things like "Christian" Nationalism (as I have done many times) and other such perversions of the scriptures, but that's not at all the focus of Lancaster's ire here.  It isn't the materialism and greed of the Prosperity Gospel or the charlatans in the New Apostolic Reformation that he's aiming at, but the ordinary churches that are going about the business of sharing the Gospel they inherited and making disciples.  FFOZ, through Lancaster's Torah Club materials, is teaching its followers that the whole Church is adrift and in error, not because of sin or a lack of the Fruit of the Spirit, but because they are not teaching obedience to the Torah.  It doesn't matter that the vast majority of the Church is solidly trinitarian, while FFOZ is not, in Lancaster's telling the thing that makes the Church hopelessly lost is a failure to place the yoke of the Law of Moses upon those who have faith in Jesus.

Perhaps that feels like too much of a conclusion based on this one lesson, and it would be if this was all we had from FFOZ on the topic, but as my seminar and writings have demonstrated, this theme runs through the entirety of their work because they've elevated Torah to an idolatrous level making it the very nature of God, and thus eternally unchangeable (even non-expandable, non-updatable), even by Jesus himself.

Should the Church be doing a better job of teaching the, "whole counsel of God"?  Absolutely.  We need to be open to God's direction and correction to overcome our blind spots and the sins we tolerate.  Is our answer to cling to the Law of Moses as if it has the answers?  Not at all.

"Liberal synagogues steer their flocks away from taking the Bible literally, preferring to offer popular social platitudes instead of the unpopular mandates of the Torah's laws.  In academic circles, men and women who make careers out of studying the Bible rarely believe the words they are studying."

I've spent my whole life within Christianity and the Church, so I won't hazard to speak about the integrity of either the liberal or orthodox branches of Judaism in the world today, but it appears that Lancaster has no such qualms about ripping into both.  As the example at the end of this post demonstrates, FFOZ's leaders have equal contempt for Messianic Judaism as well.  Who is left?  Who is it that is interpreting the Word of God aright and doing God's will in this world?  Ah, that's right, FFOZ and the HRM, and nobody else.  

As I've written about Fundamentalist Christians who think only those who believe exactly as they do are acceptable to God: If 99.9% of those who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are still lost in sin and heading to hell, according to your own view, how pathetic is the Gospel that you're proclaiming and how weak is the Holy Spirit that you're talking about?  We believe that Jesus Christ overcame Sin and Death, and yet your thesis is that only you know the true Gospel, that God was incapable of implanting it correctly in anyone else??  The hubris is stupefying.

Here is that hubris in action from Boaz Michael's own mouth, "Your efforts as Torah Club leaders and students is a direct, and in my opinion, fulfillment of these words of our master. The reconciliation of Israel and the restoration of the world are in God’s hands, but the mission is in yours." (Michael, Boaz, Malchut Conference 2022, session #5, "Then the End Will Come")

I have seen Torah Club supporters over and over criticize the Church for following the "teachings of men."  The irony is incredible, they're risking everything on the belief that Boaz Michael, Daniel Lancaster, and the rest are true prophets in sole possession of the key to God's Word.  That's an awful lot of faith in men.

For other examples of how they view Christianity, Messianic Judaism, and their own self-aggrandized role in God's will: 

An example of of Boaz Michael espousing an antisemitic trope (that they only care about money) at Messianic Judaism:  By espousing these premises, Messianic Judaism has maintained a convenient niche right next to the evangelical Christian church. Since they are not teaching that the Torah is the biblically prescribed way of life for all peoples and nations who call upon the name of the God of Israel, they can conveniently co-exist in cooperation with the Church’s anti-Torah theological assumptions.  They can receive financial support, utilize their buildings, speak at their conferences… – (Michael, Boaz, “Encounters with an Ephraimite: Identity through a Lost Heritage”, p. 8)

An example of Boaz Michael claiming Messianic Judaism falls short of God's will (something he believes that his organization is fulfilling in their place): The matrix of the Messianic Jewish Movement simply is not big enough for the restoration that God is doing in the Body of Messiah. The Hebrew Roots movement has outgrown Messianic Judaism. - (Michael, Boaz, “Encounters with an Ephraimite: Identity through a Lost Heritage”, p. 11)

An example of Boaz Michael claiming that his movement alone has the Truth of the Gospel, unknown before this generation: So, the responsibility of this message falls on us, a small minority of God‘s people who’ve come to an understanding of the gospel of the kingdom and whose lives are being transformed by the undiluted power of Yeshua’s message. And we’re called to take this gospel message to the kingdoms: 'Repent for the kingdom of God is it at hand.' And this prophetic movement has only become possible in our generation. It’s our responsibility. (Michael, Boaz, Malchut Conference 2022, session #5, "Then the End Will Come")

An Example of Daniel Lancaster saying that FFOZ's followers are the only true disciples of Jesus ready to face the End Times: "Until then, however, there’s a small remnant, right. It’s a pretty small remnant of the kingdom on earth. There’s a few of us. There’s a few of us clinging to the Commandments in the testimony of Yeshua as it says in the Book of Revelation." (Lancaster, Daniel, Malchut Conference 2022, session #9, "Band of Survivors")

Sermon Video: The cause of Peter's bitter tears, Luke 22:54-62

Peter's denial of Jesus is famous, in part because all 4 Gospel accounts cover this low-point of the Apostle's life. But what caused Peter to shed bitter tears? How did he get to that point, what were the steps along the way? Importantly, what can we learn from Peter's experience?

Sermon Video: The same attitude toward each other as Jesus had -Romans 15:1-6

Why should Christians of "strong" faith bear with those whose faith is "weak"?  The answer certainly isn't to bolster our own ego (as if the faith we have were our own doing rather than a gift of grace), instead the Apostle Paul tells us that we are obligated to act toward our fellow Christians with the same attitude that Jesus Christ had.  Now, let's be honest, that's far beyond our capability.  Thankfully, God has also committed to empowering his people to imitate Jesus (through the Holy Spirit that indwells God's people).

Sermon Video: Living like Jesus in the everyday things - Romans 12:13-16

As disciples of Jesus, imitating him is a key aspect of our faith.  Here in Romans 12, the Apostle Paul offers 4 examples of behavior that help illustrate our obligation: (1) sharing/hospitality, (2) blessing those who persecute us, (3) having empathy, and (4) limiting pride to foster harmony.

Sermon Video: How should we view ourselves? - Romans 12:3

Before explaining how the various members of the church (local and universal) fit together in God's will, the Apostle Paul offers a reminder that as Christians we need to look at ourselves with sober judgement.  His primary emphasis is the danger of letting pride skew our self-view, there is an equal (hard to say if it is more/less common) danger in letting doubt/despair skew our self-view in the opposite direction.  In both cases we can rely upon baseline truths to help us avoid self-deception: (1) We are all created in God's image, this creates a floor of self-worth, nobody is worthless. (2) We are all lost sinners, incapable of pleasing God on our own, this creates a ceiling of self-worth, nobody is perfect.  (3) We are all saved by grace, this moderates both extremes by lifting us up because of our transformation in Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and reminding us that this gain is all a gift of grace.

How have the Torah Clubs responded to the united warning of the Franklin Christian Ministerium?

The Franklin Christian Ministerium released its warning against the Torah Clubs and the First Fruits of Zion on February 16th, of 2023, along with a detailed listing of primary source quotations illustrating our concerns {Now updated to include further damning quotations from the Malchut 2022 Conference: The Unorthodox Beliefs of the First Fruits of Zion.  If you're read the previous version, it will be worth you time to see the new quotes too}.  We shared this information with every church in the county and with our own congregations and networks.  I have had many conversations, as have other pastors, with fellow men and women serving in pastoral leadership about this topic, both before the ministerium's statement and after.

Some may be wondering what the response has been, officially or otherwise, from either the First Fruits of Zion organization, the local Torah Clubs leaders, or any individuals that are/were participating in this.

1. There has been no response from the First Fruits of Zion organization.  

We do not know whether they are aware of our objections to their false teaching or not, but given that this organization's leadership believes that it is ordained by God to overturn the global Church (seriously, they believe their effort will bring about the End Times, no less), it would not be unusual for those with such lofty self conceptions to take attempts at correction from the established (traditional, apostolic, biblical) Church as a sign that they're on the right path.

2. There has been no response, directly to the ministerium, from the leadership of the local Torah Clubs.

We have not seen any effort to correct, supposedly, false impressions or conclusions (hard to do that when we shared twenty pages of direct quotes as evidence) about this movement or its theology addressed to either the ministerium as a whole, or individual pastoral leaders.  Having been called out publicly by an ecumenical representation of the Church for rejecting historic and apostolic orthodoxy, no direct response has been forthcoming. 

It has been noted that local Torah Club leaders have shared on social media that they are being "persecuted" by a few local church pastors, and claims have been made of support by many church leaders in this, although none to my knowledge have publicly defended this theology, but none of these online conversations have been directed at us.  Along those lines, there have been various things shared via social media equating the local Torah Club leaders with Martin Luther {ironic given the antipathy of the FFOZ toward the Protestant Reformation: Rethinking the Five Solae, a book they have published claiming that the roots of Protestant theology are the cause of antisemitism}, and presumably the Franklin Ministerium with the Catholic authorities that opposed him.  As a Baptist minister, I find it odd that an organization that condemns Sola Scriptura, would have local leaders quoting Martin Luther's famous, "Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in the councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted, and my conscience is captive to the Word of God." 

3. When it comes to individual Torah Club participants, we have reason to hope.

Thankfully, I have not had anyone in my congregation fall prey to this movement, some of my fellow servants of Christ have not been so fortunate.  While the local leadership remains, as far as we can tell, defiant of orthodoxy, Church history, and local pastors' pleadings, we have seen some of those participating take a step away from the organization after hearing of our objections.  I can only share anecdotal observations, but those have typically followed the pattern of someone with an already existing relationship being key.  This is not a surprise, for all the bluster of punditry and online arguments that take place today, few people actually change their minds on important topics due to them.  What does affect people, as it always has, is relationships.  So pray for the Christians in our community that have relationships with Torah Club participants, may they act with wisdom and compassion when attempting to help those who have wandered from the Gospel.

4. How should we then pray for those influenced by the Torah Clubs?

We need your prayers.  As a local Christian community we always need the support of prayer, this is no exception.  Pray that those who have strayed from orthodoxy, {as most were previously deeply committed Christian believers, that's who FFOZ purposefully targets} will see the light of Truth and be given the grace of God to return to their first belief.  Pray that pride and stubbornness would be vanquished, that previous fellowship with a local church will prove the stronger.  And yes, pray for the local leaders of the Torah Clubs, as I have, should they return to orthodoxy from this error it would have a profound affect upon so many others.  

Thank you for supporting your local church pastor, we need it and appreciate it more than our words of gratitude can convey.

Listen to the Word of God: 62 Scripture passages that refute 'Christian' Nationalism - #27: Luke 22:24-27

 

Luke 22:24-27     New International Version

24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

Six months before he won the World Heavyweight boxing champion title, Cassius Clay, soon to be known as Muhammad Ali, released an album of poetic verse (a generation before this type of thing would evolve to become rap and hip hop).  The album, was entitled I am the Greatest.  Ali co-wrote the lyrics with comedy writer Gary Belkin, it sold 500,000 copies and was nominated for a Grammy.  In 1977, NBC aired a cartoon entitled, I Am the Greatest: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali that featured the boxer as a global adventurer with a tag-along niece and nephew; it was cancelled after 13 episodes.  When you try to think of ego run amok, any number of politicians, athletes, actors, and billionaires may come to mind, the list of famous people with a reputation for self-absorption is sadly long and diverse, but few of them could compete with the persona that Muhammad Ali portrayed to the world during his boxing career.

Here's the thing, setting aside a few mega-church pastors whose popularity and private jets might convince the unwary to think otherwise, the path to effective and God-honoring leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ has always been, and will always be, through humble service.  Have there been those in positions of power within the Church, like Cardinal Richelieu (made famous by Dumas' portrayal of him in The Three Musketeers), for whom Church 'service' was a means-to-an-end, a path to self-aggrandizement?  Of course there have been, we'd be shocked if a Church made up of people, some redeemed but still flawed, and others only pretending to be true believers, didn't have within its ranks any number of scoundrels.  But, and this is key, every such person seeking their own benefit and not the will of God, everyone covered in pride, has been working AGAINST what Jesus created his Church to be.

Which brings us once again to 'Christian' Nationalism.  This movement is predicated on the belief that there is only one solution, only one possible path, to cure whatever malady 'Christian' Nationalism decides to wage war upon (sometimes literally), and that one path, or worse yet one and only one leader, just happens to be themselves.  Power must be gained, it must be acquired, even through unethical or illegal means, because they alone can bring about the Golden Age that God must bless them with if/when power is fully in their hands to order society to their liking.  This egotism run amok neither respects the ways in which power has corrupted the Church in the past, nor does it consider in humility that God is at work all over the world, in every generation, and not just this generation in this land.

The greatest?  'Christian' Nationalism may be willing to hoist someone onto everyone else's shoulders confident that he/she must be a savior, but this cannot be an extension of the Church, or even a partnership of convenience, for it ignores one of the fundamental defining characteristics of the Church: humility and service. 

Sermon Video: The Gospel is incompatible with boasting - Romans 3:27-31

Concluding his section on the triumph of faith in Christ, being both our means to justification and forgiveness, the Apostle Paul asks what room is left for boasting?  The answer, clearly, is none.  All who come to God by faith do so because they realize they are not self-sufficient, that they don't measure up on their own.  

Along with this thought, Paul points out that God is the God of both his covenant people (Jews and Church) and the rest of the world (Gentile and un-Churched).  That being said, faith is the solution for both even though one group has the advantage of knowing more about God, both need Christ's salvation, both need grace.

Pride?  We don't have room for it.

Sermon Video: The Fall of Peter: Love and Fear - Mark 14:66-72

Alone in the courtyard while the trial of Jesus progresses, Peter is faced with three increasingly dramatic opportunities to affirm himself as a disciple of Jesus, famously he fails all three times.  Some combination of love, loyalty, pride, and stubbornness brought Peter to this moment, plus failing to heed Jesus' warning to him.  In the end, Peter falls, and reaps a bitter harvest to his lies.  What is the lesson for us?  Many (if not most) of the 'heroes of the faith' have a tragic self-inflicted wound, if they can fall so can we.  The episode of Peter's denial ought to be a reminder to us to shelve our pride, hold back our judgmentalism at the failings of others, and if we do fall, follow Peter's path of repentance with our own sorrow.

Sermon Video: Peter's Folly - "Even if all fall away, I will not" Mark 14:27-31

"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread" sums up the episode that occurs as Jesus and his disciples walk to the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus warns them that they will "all fall away", but Peter responds to this not with contemplation but defiance.  When Jesus assures him that this very night he will indeed disown Jesus, Peter foolish digs in and insists otherwise.  Why?  Some combination of pride and stubbornness, with perhaps misplaced zeal added in, leads Peter down a fool's path.  Seeing him begin, the other 10 follow by also insisting against Jesus' prediction that they will remain steadfast.

For the Church today, this offers a reminder that pride and stubbornness are not the traits God is looking for from his people.  Neither is 'rugged individualism' (i.e. the philosophy of Ayn Rand or Rush Limbaugh) the path to discipleship.  The Church requires servants working together to further the Kingdom of God, more Clark Kent, less Superman.  Like Lewis and Clark on the way to the Pacific, we'd be wise to seek a guide and companionship.

Sermon Video: A prophet without honor - Mark 6:1-6

 "Local boy returns to a hero's welcome", that's what the headline should have read for the Nazareth newspaper (had there been one) when Jesus returned home. Instead, they recognized his wisdom and miracles, BUT scorned him anyway. Why? A toxic combination of pride and jealousy. This is not a rare phenomenon where 'familiarity breeds contempt', but it poisons our relationships and hinders both our churches and our communities. How much talent, passion, and energy have we lost because our pride/jealousy wouldn't recognize it and cultivate it in others?

To watch the video, click on the link below:

2020 has taken the measure of the Church, and found us wanting

It would not be difficult to criticize the American political response to the combined blows of COVID-19 and the racial reckoning that followed the murder of George Floyd.  It has been painfully clear as both of these unfolded that our current entrenched gerrymandered hyper partisanship is ill equipped to handle either crisis.  As a realist (some would say cynic) about politics I did not have a high expectation given the level of dysfunction that exists in the system.
It would also not be difficult to criticize the American cultural response to the pandemic and race relations, as there are plentiful examples that illustrate where our culture has fallen far short of any number of ideals.
As a minister of the Gospel, however, my primary focus is narrower than the entire American political and cultural sphere.  When I look at how self-professed Christians have responded to COVID-19 and the evidence of ongoing/systemic/systematic racism in America, the results have been little better than that of America as a whole.  This is not acceptable.  If the Church cannot be salt and light, cannot differentiate itself from American politics or culture through its increased commitment to a higher moral standard, especially in times of crisis, what then is the value that the Church brings to society, or what is the appeal of the Gospel?
Before highlighting the areas in which we, as a Church, have fallen short during 2020 thus far, let me explain why I often use the term 'self-professed Christians'.  The Church, in the tradition of Saint Augustine, is made up of both those who have already been saved (saints) and those for whom hope of salvation remains (future proselytes/converts).  As such, it will also contain within it those who are not currently being directed by the Holy Spirit, who remain slaves to sin, and who will likely therefore not be living up to the moral standards expected of those redeemed by Christ.  In addition, the Church today, like Judaism in the 1st Century, contains its version of Pharisees (self-righteous) and Sadducees (theologically misguided) who while not new to the Church, still lack the indwelling of the Holy Spirit because they have failed to live by faith.  In contrast with would-be converts, this minority within the Church is not actively seeking redemption as they wrongly assume they have already attained it.  To make a long story short, the Church will always have those within it who represent the Church without actually being a part of the Bride of Christ; they have joined the Church in the physical/social realm, but not the all-important spiritual realm.  Some of the criticism to follow is aimed at Christians who (should) know better, but have failed to live up to the high calling of being a disciple of Jesus Christ during these trying times, and some of it lands upon those who are 'in the Church, but not of the Church'.  As God is the only one who truly knows hearts, I won't attempt to judge which is which, for the call to repentance remains for both groups.  Lastly, I do not believe that what follows is true for the majority of the Church in America, although quantifying such things is difficult, it does however appear to me to be true for at least a significant, often vocal, minority, and that is concern enough.

So, how has the Church failed during the challenges of 2020 to live up to its calling?

1. By not putting Truth above personal beliefs
There are two primary ways in which this has manifested itself: (1) Denial of the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic in favor of a variety of politically expedient counter-narratives and/or the embrace of conspiracy theories.  (2) A refusal to admit that racism remains a real issue in America, even within the Church.  While uniformity of opinion on these issue is NOT required by those who would value Truth with a capital 'T', for those who would claim to follow a God who does not lie, the willing, often gleeful, embrace of half-truths and self-serving narratives by many self-professed Christians is a stark warning sign that all is not well in our hearts.  As Christians, we must be servants of the Truth, we must be those unwilling to utilize lies even when they seemingly benefit us, and we must be those willing to confront uncomfortable Truths, even when they indict us.

See also: Faith is not anti-fact, at least it's not supposed to be.

Being a Habitually Accurate person

2. By not putting service/self-sacrifice above freedom/rights.
Lost among the cacophony of noise about COVID-19 restrictions has been the call placed upon all Christians by both Jesus' demonstration of a servant's heart, and Paul's call to respect governmental authorities in Romans 13.  The requirements of Romans 13 are not absolute, and immoral laws are not to be obeyed by a moral people, but the words of Jesus, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35, repeated in various forms throughout the Gospels) have no limitation.  I previously wrote about dangers of a "You do you, I'll do me" attitude {"You do you, I'll do me" - Quintessentially American, but incompatible with the Judeo-Christian worldview}. As the pandemic's role in our lives continues, there has been a noteworthy lack of Christian voices saying in one accord that other people's lives ought to be rated far above our comfort or preferences.  Again, this is not a call for uniformity on the question of how best to combat the pandemic, but simply dismay that so many Christians seem to lack a servant's heart when considering these issues.
Likewise, when considering racism in America, too many Christian voices have expressed a, "I don't see any racism, therefore it doesn't exist." attitude.  A heart of compassion, one built upon imitating the servant-heart of Jesus Christ, would instead consider the experiences and testimonies of our minority brothers and sisters.  It would also readily admit that my own personal experience is insufficient, that my anecdotal evidence is not the final word on the matter.

See also: My rights are less important than doing what is right

Why are we free? Galatians 5:13-14

3. By not putting humility and repentance above pride and stubbornness. 
We were never going to get the pandemic response exactly right.  We were also never going to resolve something as complicated and deep seated as racism in one fell swoop.  Mistakes were inevitable, some medical advice was bound to be proven later to have been in error, and some demonstrations against racism were bound to devolve into looting.  How do we respond to these imperfections?  As Christians, what do we do when the situation becomes muddled?  Sadly, there has been far too much chest thumping, and far too little listening.  Too many cries of, "Stay the course!" and far too little openness to change when new facts (remember #1's issue of Truth) become available.
Aside from outright heresy, there are few things as dangerous to the future health of the Church as pride and stubbornness.  When God's people close their ears to the moving of the Holy Spirit toward repentance, they drift further and further away from the will of God.

2020 has held up a mirror to American politics, culture, and the Church.  The results have not been pretty.  Some have responded to one, or both, of the issues with a proper Christian worldview and a servant's heart inspired by Jesus.  Perhaps those doing so may even be a majority of those claiming to be Christians, but the ugly truth remains that a sizable minority, numbering millions, have embraced falsehoods over the Truth, rely upon their rights more than their obligations to their fellow man, and are pridefully unwilling to consider change.  What does this mean for the Church?  Only God knows.  I pray for repentance, for renewal, for change.

Sermon Video: Real Love - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Christians are supposed to be known for their love, love for each other, and love for even their enemies.  This, of itself, is beyond our capacity, but when viewed through the Apostle Paul's explanation in 1 Corinthians as to what constitutes real, genuine love, it would seem to make a difficult situation hopeless.  Thankfully, God has given his Spirit to his people, has empowered them to live like Jesus here in this world, because he has called us to embrace all 14 of the aspects of love that Paul highlighted (and perhaps others as well, it is not an exhaustive list, although it certainly is comprehensive).  What must our love be?  Patient and kind.  What must it be free of? Envy, boasting, pride, any willingness to dishonor others, selfishness, anger, and record keeping of the wrongs of others.  Give up yet?  In addition, love must rejoice in truth while rejecting the lure of utilizing evil (even thinking, 'that good may result', a false lie).  Love must always protect, trust, hope, and persevere. 
This is not a question of focus, willpower, or determination.  We cannot accomplish this on our own, not even close.  Once again, we must depend upon the transforming power of the Spirit of God, must embrace our role in the community of believers (for help, guidance, and support; mutually so), and must move forward, toward Christ-likeness, in faith because we all need real love.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

NO politician will ever be, "like the Second Coming" to claim such is blasphemous

Let me be clear at the outset, this warning pertains to ANY politician or their supporters who have the audacity to make a comparison to Jesus Christ, in particular those who claim themselves to be Christians.  In 1966, John Lennon of The Beatles said, "We're more popular than Jesus" the reaction was predictably massive, but what if someone claimed far more than being more popular than Jesus, that a politician was loved, "like he is the Second Coming of God"?  Conspiracy theorist and radio host Wayne Allyn Root recently said just that, and the politician he was referring to responded with, "Thank you...Wow!"

I’m an evangelist and a Trump voter. But Trump as the ‘second coming of God’ is blasphemous. - Jay Lowder, the Washington Post {A link to an opinion piece from 8/22 that also addresses political issues; take it for what you will, my own voting record and political preferences are not discussed here, nor will they be; this is a religious issue, where politics are trampling upon holy ground, and as such it needs to be addressed.}

While it has not been uncommon for political and religious leaders to be labeled The Anti-Christ by their critics (For example: Martin Luther's denouncement of Pope Leo X, or speculation about Napoleon when he was seemingly unstoppable conquering Europe), it is less common for any significant political or religious leaders (discounting small cult leaders like David Koresh with relatively tiny followings) to compare themselves, or be compared by others, to The Chosen One, The Messiah, or The Second Coming.  Why?  Two simple reasons: (1) fear of provoking God's wrath when any flawed human being places himself/herself, or is placed, upon equal footing with the holy and righteous sinless Son of God, (2) and humility.
In the Gospels, some of those who opposed Jesus did so precisely because he made claims such as, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30) or "before Abraham was I AM" (John 8:58, the I AM emphasis is mine to reflect how his audience heard the statement, as a claim of equality with the LORD).  How did Jesus overcome this hesitancy?  Through signs, wonders, profound teaching, a spotless life, and most importantly, the vindication of being raised from the dead.
Is there a Biblical example of someone claiming divine status who was unworthy of it?  Actually there are two prominent examples, and it didn't go well for either one.  Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon, perhaps the mightiest ruler on earth, but he became full of himself as evidenced by his command that his subjects bow in worship of a golden statue of himself.  Later, the prophet Daniel warned him of his hubris, after which,
Daniel 4:28-33
28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”
33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
The second example is in the book of Acts where Herod Agrippa I (grandson of Herod the Great) receives praise from sycophants hoping to earn his favor but in his vanity willingly accepts it,
Acts 12:21-23 New International Version (NIV)
21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
While it is not our business to expect or pronounce any tragedy as divine judgment (for God alone knows his own mind), it is still a form of idolatry (and therefore beyond the pale) for any Christian to elevate ANY leader beyond the status of a mere servant in the House of the Lord, and it is a gross sin for any self-proclaimed Christian, having come to Christ as a hopeless sinner in need of God's grace and mercy (or at least by claiming to be a Christian, letting people believe you have done so), to allow himself/herself to be held up as any sort of Chosen One, as if God had any need of a 2nd Messiah.
When Christ returns, as he promised to do when he ascended into Heaven, it will not be open to debate, the signs will not be ambiguous, as Jesus himself warned his disciples,
Matthew 24:23-27 New International Version (NIV)
23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.
26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
On a related topic: How is it that we, as Christians, can be so misguided as to believe that the answer to our nation's problems lie chiefly in the political realm?  Is humanity beset by poor choices or by sinful rebellion against God?  Does our system need to be tweaked to create a moral society, or do we need a complete transformation that only the Spirit can provide by saving the Lost?  Did Christ leave behind a Church to do his will through acts of service, or a kingdom (empire, nation) to accomplish his will through coercion and might?  Do we have a government problem, or a sin problem?  I'm all for better governance, more equitable and just laws, and ethical factors mattering in the decision making process; and I have no doubt we are a long way from what an ideal government would look like, but that panacea is not where our hope lies, it is a mirage that will remain always beyond the horizon.  We, all of us, have a spiritual need that requires a spiritual solution.  We have been given that one solution, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who died in our place and offers us salvation by faith.  We have already been given our hope, because he was, and is, the Chosen One, the Messiah, and he will be the Second Coming of God; he and no other, period.  To put anyone else, even by comparison, into that category, is an act of blasphemy.

Sermon Video: Humbling ourselves for the sake of the Gospel - 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Are we responsible for presenting the Gospel to the Lost in ways that mesh with their cultural and intellectual/emotional state?  The Apostle Paul thought so.  He was willing to humble himself to reach as many of the Lost as possible.  Figuring out how to do this may be difficult in practice, but the principle is firmly grounded, we ought to be "all things to all people so that by all possible means I (we) might save some."

To watch the video, click on the link below:

When Protestants and Catholics agreed: the sun revolves around the earth

Despite the mathematical proofs of the Greek mathematicians Pythagoras (580-500 BC) and Eratosthenes (276-194 BC), the later of whom calculated the earth's circumference within 2% by comparing the angles of shadows at different locations on the earth, it was still possible to find Early Church leaders hundreds of years later who rejected the notion of a spherical earth based upon references in the Scriptures to the "foundations of the earth, "corners of the earth", pillars of heaven", and the "waters above the firmament".  While the prevalence of those believing in a "flat earth" prior to Columbus is often over-stated by prideful modern people disdainful of the wisdom of the ancients, it is clearly true that some within the Church had theological reasons for doing so that had nothing to do with scientific observations.

Eventually the Church embraced the Ptolemaic system (Ptolemaeus AD 83-161) which continued to place the spherical earth at the center of the universe and posited ten concentric spheres which rotated around it containing the heavenly bodies.

"The geocentric model represented the best that science had to offer during the time when it was firmly held.  It was entirely consistent with both naked-eye observation and philosophy.  It was equally accepted and endorsed by both science and religion.  The problem is that while scientific conclusions are always tentative, the Christian Church - just as some did with the ancient cosmogony - decided to build an elaborate theological and scriptural defense of the geocentric model.  By failing to apply the lessons of the past, the church once again foolishly committed itself to a popular scientific theory supposedly based on the testimony of the Scriptures." (Gordon Glover, Beyond the Firmament: Understanding Science and the Theology of Creation)

In the 16th century, when Copernicus proposed that the earth and all the planetary bodies revolved around the sun, a theory which would soon be confirmed by observation's made by Galileo Galilei with the newly invented telescope, it became a theological issue rather than merely an astronomical one because the Church had previously decided that the Ptolemaic system had the support of Scripture.  Thus Copernicus and Galileo would eventually be condemned as heretics by the inquisition; a stain upon the reputation of the Church that remains to this day {Galileo was not officially rehabilitated by the Catholic Church until Pope John Paul II did so in 1992}.

Protestants might want to snicker at the following words of Pope Paul V in response to Galileo, but they might want to hold that thought.  "The first proposition, that the sun is the centre and does not revolve about the earth, is foolish, absurd, false in theology, and heretical, because expressly contrary to Holy Scripture.  The second proposition, that the earth is not the centre but revolves about the sun, is absurd, false in philosophy, and from a theological point of view at least, opposed to the true faith."

There were few issues of agreement between the leaders of Catholicism and Protestantism during the 16th and 17th centuries, the two sides couldn't even agree to present a united front against the ongoing threat of Ottoman invasions.  And yet, both sides had chosen to elevate the language of Scripture into the scientific realm, turning any contrary scientific observations and theories into challenges to Church authority and potentially heresy.

Martin Luther (1483-1546): "People give ear to an upstart astrologer who strove to show that the earth revolves, not the heavens or the firmament, the sun and the moon.  Whoever wishes to appear clever must devise some new system, which of all systems is of course the very best.  This fool wishes to reverse the entire science of astronomy; but sacred Scripture tells us that Joshua commanded the sun to stand still, and not the earth." (Martin Luther, Table Talk)

Philipp Melanchthon (1497-1560): "The eyes are witnesses that the heavens revolve in the space of twenty-four hours.  But certain men, either from the love of novelty, or to make a display of ingenuity, have concluded that the earth moves; and they maintain that neither the eighth sphere nor the sun revolves...Now, it is a want of honesty and decency to assert such notions publicly, and the example is pernicious.  It is the part of a good mind to accept the truth as revealed by God and to acquiesce in it." (Philipp Melanchthon, Elements of Physics)

John Calvin: "We indeed are not ignorant, that the circuit of the heavens is finite, and that the earth, like a little globe, is placed in the center." (John Calvin, Commentary on Genesis)

With hind-sight, the words of these respected and often brilliant theologians seem both appallingly arrogant and exceedingly foolish, and yet they are a symptom of a larger problem that even those gifted by God to lead his Church can fall victim to: The Pride of Certainty.  I'm all for certainty in its proper place, without it we have only shifting sands and chaos.  We, as a Church, must be certain about the core tenants of our faith and the essence of the Gospel.  But what happens when we elevate other issues, other ideas and interpretations to the level of dogma and with disdain dismiss those who disagree with us as heretics?  In that case, not only does the Church suffer a lack of humility and grace, not only does it foster anger and divisions, but it also appears foolish to the Lost, to those with whom we are called to share the Gospel.

Consider, then, how the lesson of these futile attempts to deny that the earth revolves around the sun might be applied to the Church in our world today.  Let us take great care to distinguish between the Truth revealed to us by God's Word, a Truth that never changes and has no fear of knowledge and fact, and the interpretations and theories of men, however brilliant we might think them to be.

White Nationalism and White Supremacy are an abomination to the Church

With the horror of at least 49 people killed by multiple gunmen at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, we are confronted with the danger to civil society of Nationalism and Supremacy movements, both within a given society and in the geo-political sphere between nations.  And while both Nationalism and racial/ethnic/religious Supremacy movements have at times been ascendant around the globe throughout human history, with horrific results, it remains imperative that the Church purge itself of any such sympathies, rejecting them utterly.
Why is any form of Nationalism or Supremacy an anathema to the Church?  Simply put, they are 100% incompatible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The only way for humanity to approach God is through humility.  If we cannot let go of the delusion that we can please God on our own, we will never accept that Jesus Christ died on our behalf, that he accomplished what we never could, and that our only hope is to accept his finished work on our behalf by faith through grace.  We can only approach God by abandoning any pretext that there is anything about ourselves worthy of God.  Not our ethnicity, not our nationality, not our gender, not our sexual orientation, not our skills or talents, not our job, not our riches, not our power or fame.  Nothing about us impresses God, for we are all alike lost sinners in need of God's grace.  There is no room for pride at the foot of the Cross.  There is no room for considering one type of person better, or worse, than another.  If we resist the call to bow our knee before God, we will remain apart from the saving grace offered by God.
How then can one person, or type of person, be better than others before God?  We may not look exactly alike, and we may see many things differently, but standing before God there is absolutely no difference; we are all equally hopeless in the face of God's perfect holiness.
What hope then do we have, if nothing of ourselves pleases God?  We can indeed be saved, not by anything that we are, or have done, but only when we have been clothed with Christ and transformed by the Holy Spirit.  This will not result in a spirit of superiority, but a servant's heart filled with gratitude and dedication to helping others find the grace we have received from God.
Murder is a direct insult to God who gives life, a horrendous crime whatever the motive.  To kill in the name of national or ethnic superiority is an even great abomination, for it also insults the willing sacrifice of Jesus and his call to share the Gospel with all nations.  Nationalism and/or Supremacy has no place in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and it must have no place among those who follow him, for those who embrace and advocate such ideas are not misguided, they remain apart from God's saving grace and transforming power; they are evil.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Galatians 3:26-28 (NIV)
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:11-14 (NIV)
11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Sermon Video: "The pride of your heart has deceived you" - Obadiah 1-9

In the first half of Obadiah's message from the LORD to Edom, the prophet warns Edom that God's judgment is at hand, that they will be brought low despite their self-confidence because the "pride of your heart has deceived you".  In the case of Edom, the descendants of Jacob's brother Esau, who at this point in history have become a consistent enemy of Israel, their pride is related to the defensible nature of their rugged mountainous territory SE of the Dead Sea.  As an application to others, including ourselves, the warning against pride is always apt.  Pride is at the heart of humanity's rebellion against God: denying God's role as our Creator and upcoming Judge, denying that humanity (ourselves in particular) are flawed, refusing to admit, if that must is acknowledged that we can't help ourselves, and lastly pride can turn against the acceptance of what Christ has done on our behalf by grace through faith.
In order to advance in our discipleship, to become more Christ-like, we must put away pride.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Sermon Video: The word that made a crowd want to kill Paul - Acts 22:17-29

At the conclusion of Paul's defense before the mob that had moments before tried to beat him to death after dragging him from the temple in Jerusalem, Paul uttered a word that once more turned the crowd into a mob howling for his blood.  The word was no insult, it was not profane or blasphemous, but it was something that hit the crowd too close to home: gentile.  Paul said, "Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'" (Acts 22:21)  When Paul spoke of seeing the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus they did not shout "blasphemy" (as the Sanhedrin had at Stephen's testimony), but when Paul indicated that God had sent him away from his own people with a message of hope for the gentiles, they lost their composure.  Why?  The two-fold reason is simple enough, Paul going directly to the gentiles indicates a belief that the Jews/Judaism/Jerusalem are no longer needed as a conduit/gateway for gentiles to come to God.  Consequently, it also indicates a belief that the Jews and gentiles are on an equal footing before God, diminishing the privilege of being the Chosen People.  For daring to speak such taboo thoughts, the crowd declared that Paul deserved to die.  And yet, Christ came to bring the blessing of Abraham to all peoples, and after his resurrection, Jesus sent his disciples with the Gospel to the ends of the earth.  It was not what the crowd in Jerusalem wanted to hear, but it was the truth of God's love and mercy, opposing Paul wasn't going to stop it.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Sermon Video: Disputable Matters Part 1: Knowledge vs. Love - 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

In this first of a three part series examining chapter 8 of 1 Corinthians, Paul discusses an issue which had divided the Christian community in Corinth.  The particular issue at Corinth was the association of the meat that they ate with pagan idol worship.  Before answering the question of the propriety of eating such meat in chapter 10, Paul first speaks to the principles which underpin our decision making process, as Christians, in the areas which are "disputable".  Which begs the question, how do we define what is disputable and what is not?  The primary criteria for such a distinction is this: Does the Bible directly address the issue in question or not?  What the Word of God directly commends or condemns remains normative for all Christians, no matter when or where they live.  Yet the Bible is not exhaustive, there are situations we face each day which require Christians to consider Biblical principles and our own conscience instead of direct instruction (which in many cases is not available).  So then, those areas not directly addressed in Scripture are "debatable" and we ought to expect various Christians to come to somewhat different conclusions about them.
How do we act when dealing with an issue about which we disagree with a fellow Christian(s)?  Paul warns us that knowledge, while we all have the capacity to have some of it, is never perfect.  Therefore, our certainty regarding debatable matters ought to be tempered by humility rather than bolstered by pride.  Lastly, Paul reminds us that love is the hallmark of those known by God, for it is the Fruit of the Spirit that confirms the faith of God's people, not their answers to a quiz about non-core issues of theology.

In the end, the first part of Paul's discussion of debatable matters reminds us that even though we all "know" what we think on various issues, we must remain humble and not let pride harden our hearts to those who disagree with us.  What you or I think about issues not directly addressed in Scripture is a matter of freedom given to us by God, whether or not we love our fellow Christians is not; that requirement is clearly spelled out for us in God's Word.

To watch the video, click on the link below: