Mercy And Grace....

To be Born Again does not negate the consequences of one's behavior. We often encounter individuals that have a case against God because He did not bring the expected result in their lives or in a loved one's situation. Yet, the choice of man and the will of the individual are never included in the equation.



It is one thing to believe God for healing and actively participate in the healing and health of one's body but a total different story to do everything possible to destroy one's earthly temple and then blame God when the goal is finally realised. The same can be said for relationships, finances. spiritual health, child rearing, education and occupations. We cannot sabotage our own well being and then put the blame on God for not rescuing us from ourselves. This is as insane as it sounds..



God in His rich mercy does not give us what we deserve but then we start to presume on His goodness. We do not see that the grace of God is to lead us to repentance which in turn will change our behavior. We somehow deduct that the grace of God will leave us in the mess that we are in and it is acceptable. Grace is unmerited, undeserved favor. It is the favor of God, undeserved, unearned that provides us the opportunity and ability to change.

It is because we now have the Divine en-ablement to change, that we can reflect Him, just as the moon reflects the sun, that we have a greater responsibility to live dedicated to Him. We are no longer slaves, no longer like brute beasts chased by our passions, instincts and desires. We have the ability, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit who works in and through us, to say "no" to temptations and use our bodies. our minds, our lives to the glory of God.

We are no longer aimless wanderers, tossed around like garbage in a flood. We have purpose. We have direction. We have a design. And we have a sonship to live out while we are in this life. We are now to affect life, and those around us, instead of letting it have an effect on us. We are now called upon to change the circumstances instead of lying down under it. We are the people of God. We are to act like it.

Mercy, Grace, Ability (dunamis), Might, Wisdom and Understanding is indeed ours. If we have truly received Jesus Christ and exchange our sorry lives for His glorious everlasting life, we are new creations.

(Scripture references: The Epistles: Romans through Jude)

His Yoke is Easy, His Burden Light.  Marietjie Chase

If you are tired and weary, if life has smacked you around more than usual... when your back is in the corner and you are facing a giant... when you are trying hard to walk up straight and find yourself mostly wobbling... there is hope for you. We all go through life's ups and downs. We all face things that we really could have done without. We all carry burdens, loads and heaviness.

There is an answer for all this and it is often quoted: Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

This rest is not given indiscriminately like snow and rain. This rest, this comfort is available to all, but only applies to those who comes to Jesus. We have to come to Him and not to all kinds of other places. We will find rest with Him. He has rest for us. This is a great comfort and true, but not the truth. The coming is not all there is to it. We need to read the rest of the story that makes this "truth".


verse 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Jesus does not say leave your heavy load here. He does not offer to take your burden. He does the illogical thing. He does the Kingdom of God/Heaven thing. He says: "Take my yoke upon you" In the taking of His yoke, our weary load looses its weight and we find rest for our souls.

What is a yoke? It is a thing that you place on the draft animal's neck in order to make him obey the driver. A yoke takes the freedom of the animal and limit it to the will of the driver. It focuses the animals on the purpose in the heart of the driver. A yoke is not a piece of jewelry, it is not for show. It is for the sole purpose of getting the job done.

What is Jesus' yoke? He says to the disciples in John 5:19 "I only do what I see the Father do" and in John 8:28 and 12 :49 He says: " I only say what the Father says." [paraphrased. Also see Matt 26:39, John 6:38 and 14:10, Hebrews 10:7] This is His yoke, His burden. This is what He offers us. Take this yoke, take this limitation. Take this discipline. You will have to learn from Jesus, gentleness and humility for this yoke to fit.

God never gives us something to do without also giving us the "how-to". The "how-to" may not be a quick fix, it may not be what we want to hear but if we follow Him, we can obey ourselves out of the mess. The "how-to" is where most of us bulk and that is why Jesus said that we need to learn humility and gentleness, meekness.

This yoke of Jesus is the heart posture to have a relationship of obedience with God, through Jesus Christ by the ability/power of the Holy Spirit. It is giving up our right to our own will, opinion and agenda. It is even giving up our right to be vindicated and justified. This yoke is the yoke that led to a bloody cross. This yoke is the yoke that have one simple goal: the will of the Father.

What did Jesus say about this, simple yoke: verse 30"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Another Jesus, Another Gospel or Another Spirit???  by Marietjie

We were in South Africa at a ministry that trained many young people to be missionaries. I was pregnant and had a toddler running around. I heard the young speaker over the the loud speaker say something that made me pick up my kid, wobble into the meeting tent, taking the diaper-bag and telling my husband that we can leave; I've heard enough. What did she say? She said: " We don't need Jesus any longer."

There have since been so many strange, odd and weird things coming through the church (global) that I am starting to loose feeling in my face from the centriphical force. If it isn't some plastic Jesus that cannot ever offend anyone or a Jesus that is some mystical force instead of a person, then we are fed an image of God that have little to no base in scripture at all. The portrait of God is distorted about as much as if Picasso, Van Gogh and some abstract artist all shared the same canvas. No wonder the church is empty and the New Age orgies are turning crowds away at the gate. We can't even agree on our God. At least in places like India, they openly say that it is many gods. Christians pretend that they all worship the same God but all you have to do is listen, really listen and you will find a cacophony of different gods.

The gospel that seemed rather simple and straight forward to me at the beginning of my journey, now seemed to have sprouted, secrets, mysteries and implications that boggles the mind. You need more than faith to believe some of the theories and fallacies that is sold as doctrine; and I mean sold. You actually have to loose your mind and crucify common sense. It seems like every Dick, Tom and Jane sucks a new teaching out of their thumbs and it almost always ridicule and/or contradict something that has been historically believed. Have we really become so brainwashed and hypnotized that we can't see that the Emperor is REALLY naked?

There is also a new sort of spirit in Christians or I dare say, supposed Christian circles. It used to be that the believers were recognised by a sweet spirit of gentleness and humility. It used to be that they would have an atmosphere of goodness, kindness and honesty around them. The value nowadays is on who can be the sharpest tongue and the best at making money or who can have the greatest attitude of slander, sarcasm and ridicule. Arrogance, pride and boasting is rewarded with lots of money and the people keep giving even when it is openly known that the leaders are sinning. Not only do we not humble ourselves, we see it as our right to swarm down like vultures on every one and anyone that we can tear to pieces. The atmosphere of suspicion and distrust is billowing like black factory smoke from the internet.

How far have we fallen?
Is the gift of God in Jesus Christ not good enough, wonderful enough, precious enough that we have to add, twist and re-interpret it. How long has it been since you have heard a simple Gospel message? The Bible that has been miraculously preserved all of these years, has become outdated to some and replaced with their own ideas and words. Why is it not good enough anymore? What is this spirit that is masquerading as the Holy Spirit? I do not know it, do you?

Simple devotion to God through Jesus Christ by the enablement of the Holy Spirit is to un-exciting for some, but it is the only thing that will last. This pool has been muddied enough.

I overheard a mail clerk at the post office while sorting the mail, when the Christian Book Distributors catalogs came out: "I don't get this" she said " how many different ways can you tell that story?"
I am starting to wonder if she was right or maybe the story that is being told is not the real thing.

Time for Another Reformation by Marietjie Chase

On the 31 of October, 1517, Martin Luther wrote this pre-face to the 95 thesis' that he nailed to the church in Wittenburg. "Out of love for the truth and from desire to elucidate it, the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and Sacred Theology, and ordinary lecturer therein at Wittenberg, intends to defend the following statements and to dispute on them in that place. Therefore he asks that those who cannot be present and dispute with him orally shall do so in their absence by letter. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. "

It seems now just like then, that there are many practices entered into the church, global and as a whole, as well as doctrines that cannot be found in the Bible. What will Martin Luther say if he would do this in our time. Maybe it is time for another Reformation.

This is what I think will have to be written:

God

1. Man is NOT at the center of the gospel, God is. [Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 46:9, Acts 17:28, Romans 9:16, 2 Corinthians 4:6, 1 Timothy 6:13]

2. We serve, love and worship God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The name of the son is Jesus, the Christ, the Lord.(Jesus of Nazareth)[Genesis 1:26, Matthew 28:19, 1 John 5:7, Ephesians 1:17, 1 Peter 1:2, I Corinthians 6:11, Luke 12:12, John 14:26, Acts 5:3, Acts 28:25, 2 Corinthians 13:14] 

3. In the beginning God, in three persons, created everything. God reveals Himself  first as creator. Humanity owes our creator:  honor, respect and homage. [Genesis 1 - 3,  Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 42:5,  Romans 1:25, Ecclesiastes 12:1, Psalms 104:30,  Malachi 2:10, Ephesians 3:9, Colssians 1:16, Revelations 4:11 and Revelations 5:13]

4. God is omnipresent… everywhere and everywhen. He is outside of time as we know it. He is not bound by our perception of time. The sun, moon and stars came into being on the fourth ‘day’ of creation yet God was already there from ‘day’ one. He is eternally in the present since past, present and future is all open and the same to Him. He is everywhere, in all times and in all places. [Psalms 139, Exodus 3:6 , Revelation 4:8, Titus 1:2, Genesis 21:33, Jeremiah 23:24]

5. God is omniscient… all-knowing.  He knows everything. There is nothing hidden from Him.  That is why the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. All knowledge NOT based on faith in God is therefore only supposition and not the truth. We know Him as He reveals Himself to us.  [Luke 12:6-7, Psalms 147:5,  1 John 3:19-20, Hebrews 4:13]

6. God is Omnipotent… All powerful, almighty… God can do anything, anything. Nothing is impossible for Him. The only limitations He has, He placed on Himself. [Genesis 17:1, Mark 6:41, Luke 18:27, Revelations 19:6]

7. God is just… “Vengeance is Mine.” says the Lord. Because He knows everything, because He is everywhere, He is the only One who can truly judge properly. Humanity needs God’s intervention in our affairs in our judicial systems. God reveals truth.  God hates injustice. [2 Thessalonians 1:6-9, Psalms 25:8-14,  Psalms 7:11, Romans 12:19]

8. God is love… self sacrificing, giving love. He is the originator of love. He does not love, He is love. True love comes from God. Without knowing God no-one can truly love. [ I Corinthians 13, I John 4: 8-9 , John 3:16, Romans 5:8]

9. God is light… There is no darkness in God. Neither is He fickle. He does not change who is. He is ever the same, not grey. He is light in His being, both literally and figuratively. We see clearly because of His light.  [James 417, 1 John 1: 5, John 9:5, Isaiah 60:19, John8:12]

10. God is unchangeable... He is all that He is all the time. He does not suspend a part of Him to be something else. He is not fickle and does not evolve. He needs nothing and is not growing, diminishing or changing in any way at any time. He is what He is. That is why He introduced Himself to Moses as "I am". [ Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, Hebrews 1: 10 - 12, Acts 1:11, Exodus 3:14]

11.We worship and pray to God, through Jesus Christ [Ephesians 2:18, Romans 1:8, 1 Peter 2:5, John 14:6 and 13] by the Holy Spirit. [Romans 8:26, John 4:24, Philippians 3:3, John 16:13-14]

12.  Jesus did not use any of His divinity when He was on earth. What He did, He did through the power of the Holy Spirit which is available to every believer as well. He came as man, lived as man, died as man and was resurrected as man. [John 3:34, Luke 4:1, Matthew 8:20 amp; 16:13 & 17:9 amp; 26:64, John 6: 53, Acts 2:22, Romans 8:11, I Corinthians 12, - compare with all Jesus did, Philippians 2:7]

13. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven waiting for His enemies to become His footstool. [ Luke 22:69, Colosians 3:1] The person of the Godhead that is now on the earth is the Holy Spirit, [John 14:26 & 15:26] indwelling every born again believer and the church as a whole. [ Galatians 4:6, Romans 8:14] We are not to usurp the role of the Holy Spirit in one another's life. It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement. [ John 16:8-10,]

Salvation

14. There is NO other way to God but by Jesus Christ, His Son. There is no true worship of God, apart from Jesus Christ. [John 3:16, John 10:1, John 14;6, Acts 4:10 -12, Acts 16:31, 1 Thessalonians 5:9, 1 Timothy 2:5, 2 Timothy 2:10, Galatians 2:16 ]

15. God hates sin.  All acts of disobedience is sin. All actions based on unbelief, doubt and lies are sin. All sexual behavior, apart from between husband and wife in marriage, is sin. The law was given to teach us about sin. [Genesis 3, Leviticus 18, Exodus 20, Romans 14:23, James 4:17, 1 John 5:17, Romans 7:7 ]

16. Jesus paid the full price and penalty for all the sins of all people, eternity past and eternity future. The removal of sin is complete. There is nothing that can be added to it. His work is complete. It is finished. Once and for all done.[John 1:29, Matthew 1:21, Hebrews 10:12, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Corinthians 15:3, Galatians 1:4, 1 John 3:5,  Hebrews 7:27, Hebrews 9:28]

 17. Salvation is available to all. Not all are saved and not all will be saved. By saved I mean Born Again.[1 Peter 1:23, Hebrews 7:27, Titus 2:11] 

18. There are only two kinds of people: the saved ones and the unsaved ones. All other distinctions, discrimination's and segregation's are wrong and un-biblical. [ Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11, Titus 2:11, Hebrews 5:9, John 3:15-16, Acts 2:21, Romans 10:11-13, 2 Peter 3:9]

19. There is only one plan of salvation for all humanity. No-one is "borned"(in this flesh) into God's kingdom. God does not have grandchildren. All have to repent and believe. All have to be born again. .[Romans 3:23, John 3:5-21, Romans 14:12, Ezekiel 18, Jeremiah 31:30, ]

20. Only those who have given their lives to God have the right to be called sons, children of God. The only way to become a son/child of God is to be born again by accepting the life - eternal life - of Jesus Christ and also giving, dedicating, one's life, as a response to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, to God. [ John 1:12, Romans 8:1 and 16, Galatians 3:26, 1 John 3:2]

21. When our Lord  Jesus Christ said, ``Repent'' (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance. Inner repentance is worthless unless it produces various outward mortification of the flesh. Repentance is more than a simple change of mind. If you think it is as fickle and inconsequential as choosing what to have for dinner, it will have no eternal weight. It is the admitting of one's error, the resolution and determination to turn away from it and turn toward God in humble contrition. Repentance is deep sorrow, compunction, or contrition for a past sin, wrongdoing. True repentance will have fruit, evidence manifested. It will bring about change. To the extent of the transgression, to that extend, should be the restitution and repentance.[Matthew 3:8, Mark 1:15, Luke 3:8, Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19, Acts 20:21, Acts 26:20, Romans 2:4, 2 Corinthians 7:10]

22. Salvation is an experience that includes emotion. We experience God in our lives but do not make doctrine based on experience. Experience and emotion follows doctrine, not proceed it.[Deuteronomy 28:7, Nehemiah 8:10, Luke 15:7, John 15:11, Galatians 5:22]

23. We are brought into this Kingdom of God for a purpose. We are saved by grace, a gift of God, not by works but after salvation we are designed for good works. We are not to settle in hammocks, rocking chairs and couches to await a reward of salvation. Laziness is not godliness and apathy and in-action as sinful as rebellion.[Ephesians 2:10,  Titus 2:7, Titus 3:8, Hebrews 10:24, 1 Peter 2:12] 

 24. The salvation of the soul, sanctification, is a process that lasts a lifetime. While the human spirit is made alive at the moment of new birth, the human soul are being changed from one degree of glory into another as we behold Jesus. The soul are generally accepted to be the person or mind, emotions and will. [James 1:21, Galatians 3, Colossians 2 and 3, ]

25. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit does not end with the speaking in other tongues/languages. The evidence of power, divine ability, to be a witness is. (or martyr) Any manifestation of the Holy Spirit has a purpose. He is not an entertainer or into showmanship. [Acts 1:8, Luke 24:49, Luke 4:14, 1 Corinthians 2:4, Matthew 3:11]  [1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12] 

26. Healing, miracles and signs and wonders are still the children's bread. It is as part of our salvation as the saving of our souls. Miracles, signs and wonders will follow those-who-believe, those-who-believe do not follow miracles, signs and wonders. [Isaiah 53 :5, Matthew 21:21, Mark 16:17 and 20, Acts 2:43, Acts 5:12, Acts 15:12, Hebrews 2:4, 1 Corinthians 12,  James 5:16, 2 Peter 2:24]

27. Water Baptism follows repentance and is a sign of the covenant of the New Birth. The ritual of Baptism is as the ritual of marriage, yet not bride and groom but God and believer. In water baptism one identify with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ making a public display of an inward reality. [Acts 2:38, Acts 8:12, Romans 6:3, Galatians 3:27]

28.  God is never going to change His mind about sin. God does not change. The best way to deal with sin, is to agree with God about it and accept His answer for it. No matter how good we excuse or dress up sin, it will never be acceptable to God. God hates sin, all sin. Addictions and controlling, manipulating spirits are sins like any other sin. It should be repented of and deliverance sought as with any other possession. There is no big and small sin. Sin is sin.[ Deuteronomy 12:31, and 16 :22, Isaiah 43 : 24, Isaiah 59:2 ]

29.  One cannot serve God and sin, satan and self at the same time. Death to sin, satan and self will mean life in the spirit. One cannot be friends with the world and a friend of God all at the same time. One will hate the one and love the other. Trying to be acceptable to the world is not Christianity. By it's very essence, Christianity is offensive.[Matthew 6:24, James 4:4, 1 Corinthians 1:23, Galatians 5:11]

30.  Holiness is still the requirement to see God. Sanctification is still the will of God for us all. When we see the reality of our own crucified life, [Galatians 2:20 etc] this becomes a side effect of our relationship with Him. As He is, so we are in this world. Outward appearance does not make one holy. One cannot become holy by the way one dress, walks, worships or talks. One's actions will change but it does not in itself make one holy. Character means something. Being a Christian means being good as God is good. [Romans 6:22, 2Corinthians 7:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, Hebrews 12:14]

31. Our Citizenship is not of this world. Therefore politics, customs and traditions mean little in the Kingdom of God. It can actually become a hindrance and distraction. The church does not belong in politics other than praying for the leaders. The resources wasted on political interests would be better spent in fulfilling the function of the church in society. [1 Timothy 2:1-2,  Philippians 3:20, Hebrews 13:14,  John 14:2]

 32. The Bible is the word of God. You may not believe all of it or understand all of it. But changing it will not change the reality of it being the Word of God. Attempting to know God without knowing the Bible will lead to heresy. The Bible is to be understood literally unless it says not to.  No man's word and will is above the Word of God. [Matthew 4, Mark 14:27, Psalms 119, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16, Galatians 3:8, Proverbs 30:5, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Peter 1:23]

33. Relegating any part of the Bible as outdated or not for today, unless the New Testament repealed an Old Testament law, is to preach something other than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the Gospels we often read: "so that the scripture will be fulfilled.." Jesus also refer to the Law and the Prophets.  [ John 13:18, Luke 16:31, Matthew 5, Revelations 22:18]   

34. God speaks in many various ways by dreams, visions, other people, allegory, music, pictures etc. But it all have to agree and NOT disagree with the Bible.Those who are born again hear the voice of God. It is the leader's and spiritual overseers' job to help them recognize this. [Genesis 37 :8, Daniel 5:12, Hebrews 1::1, Joel 2:28, Numbers 22, John 10, Psalms 95:7, 1 John 4:6, Luke 8:21, ]

35. It is the will and way of God that we ask. Without prayer, individual and corporate, no-one will know the will of God. There are many different kinds of prayer. Without prayer we lose the essence of our faith. Pray in the Name of Jesus to receive anything from God. God does answer prayer. God moves on behalf of those who seek Him in prayer. [Luke18:1,  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18,  Ephesians 6:18, Rom. 12:12; Col. 4:2; 2 Tim 1:3]

36. Fasting still benefits a believer and the abstaining from food and drink will not kill your body but do wonders for your prayer life. It is one of the treasured mysteries of those who desire a deeper life with God. [Nehemiah 1:4, Daniel 9:3, Matthew 4:2, Acts 13:3, Mark 9:29, 1 Corinthians 7:5]

37. Suffering will come to those who desire to live Godly lives. It does not need to be sought, it will come by itself. There will be suffering. To deny this reality or to dismiss this reality is heresy. [1 Peter 2:19, James 5:10 and 13, Romans 8:18, 1 Peter 4:13]

 38.  Revival is not an end in itself. It cannot, must not be a goal. We will never experience revival by seeking it or praying for it. Revival happens when a people seek the face of God with the overwhelming realization that they have no-where else to go. Desperate people begging God to intervene, desperate determined people, who will not take no for an answer... So revival is the side effect of people seeking the face of God. [Luke 2:36 - 38, Acts 3:19, Psalms 69:32, Psalms 27:8]

39.  Faith is the currency of the Kingdom of God. Yet, it is a gift received from God. Faith always includes risk. Unbelief is the opposite of faith, not fear. You can have faith and fear at the same time. It is not mutually exclusive. [Judges 6, Hebrews 11:6, Luke17:19,  Galatians 3:14,  Ephesians 3:12 and 17, Hebrews 11,  Romans 4]

The Church

40. Alone, as an individual, we are not the Body/Church of Jesus Christ but only part of it. We need one another for the full expression of the Church. We will spend a life time doing all the “one another” s in the New Testament. [ 1Corinthians 10:16, Ephesians 4, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 5:19 and 21, Colossians 3:9,13 and 16, Hebrews 10]

 41.  It is God's church. It does not belong to a man, men. It is His responsibility and He is able to take care of it. [1 Peter 2:25, Matthew16:18, Acts 2:47, Acts 8:3withActs9:5, 1 Corinthians 1:2 and 10:32,  1 Corinthians 15:9, Ephesians 5:23-32]

42. Church is not a democracy.  It is a Theocracy. Find the will of God and do that. No matter how long it takes. [Acts 15:28, 1 Corinthians 12:28,  Hebrews 12:23]

43. All believers in a city is the church in that city. Denominations are not Biblical.

 [1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:4, Philippians 1:27, Ephesians1:1, Revelations 1-3]

44. Our unity comes from the one God we all serve and not by any other means, conviction, tradition or doctrine. We are one because we worship one God. We ought to question anything that brings a spirit of division into the Body/ Kingdom/ Church/ Bride of Christ. [Romans 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 12:12-20, Colossians 3:15, Ephesians 4:3-4]

45. Church is not business. It is ministry. There is no CEO's only servants. [ Galatians 5:13,  Luke 17, Mark 9:35, Mark 10:43, Acts 4:30, 1 Corinthians 9:19]

46.  “Love God and love one another” is the only New Testament command. [1John 4:20, 1 John 5:2, Matthew 22:37,  Ephesians 5:2, John 13:34, 15:12and 17, Romans 13:8, 1 John 3:11]

47. Tithing is an Old Testament concept that has never been repealed in the New Testament.  It holds manifold blessings for those who keep it God's way. The tithe is God's portion and should only be used as He purposed. Tithes can only be used to take care of God's ministers and the needy in the family of God.
Giving one's all is the New Testament concept. We give in the same measure Jesus gave: all. In the Kingdom of God one grows and matures by what one gives out. Give money and lay up for oneself treasures in Heaven. Give energy and worship and prayer and grow in one's intimacy with God and knowledge of Him. Give ministry and service and grow in one's stature as an ambassador of the Kingdom.

 [Genesis 14:20, Leviticus 27:30, Numbers 18: 26, Deuteronomy 26 : 12-13, and 14:24-25, Malachi 3:10, 1 Corinthians 9 :7-14, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, 1 Timothy 5:17-18, Philippians 4:16-18, 2 Timothy 2:6-7, Galatians 2:9-10, Luke21:1-4]

48.  We do not serve God to get rich. This is heresy. Giving God, or the person who supposedly stand in the service of God, money will not make one rich. [1 Timothy 6:4-6, Luke 11:39,  Luke 12:33, Acts 8:20, 1 Timothy 3:3, 1 Timothy 6:10, Matthew 23:14]

49. Poverty has no glory. Godliness is not poverty. God does not want us poor and miserable. Piety is not equal to being miserable. We are instructed to take care of the poor. How are we going to do that if we are the poor? [Amos 4:1, Zechariah 7:10, Matthew 19:21, Luke 7:22, Romans 15:26, Galatians 2:10, James 2:5-6]

50. It is the churches responsibility to take care of the poor, widows and orphans, but first to those who are believers. [Romans 15;26, Galatians 6:10, Acts 6, 1 Timothy 5:3,  James 1:27]

51. Evangelism, the proclaiming of the Good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is the churches primary responsibility to the unsaved.  A watered down gospel, is not the Gospel. Making it easy creates "fake Christians" who will never stand. Rather have 5 who are truly born again and sold out for God, disciples of Jesus, than 50 who only care for God a little and honor Him as it pleases them. [Romans 10, Acts 10:36, Acts 4:12,  Romans 1:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:9, Titus 2:11, Jude 1:3, 2 Timothy 4:5]

52. If you are not being equipped or equipping the saints for work of ministry, you are failing to use the gift that Jesus Christ gave to the church, the Body, the Kingdom of God. [Ephesians 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:11,  Romans 14:19, 1 Corinthians 12,  Romans 12]

 53. There is no Biblical foundation for the "five-fold-hierarchical" system based on one single scripture verse, Ephesians 4:11, amidst a chapter dealing with unity. Apostles, Prophets, Shepherds, Teachers, Evangelists, Helpers, Healers...etc are not titles.. These are gifts/anointing and functions in the Body/Church of Christ. These are received from the Lord.[Acts 20:24, 2 Corinthians 4:1, Colossians 4:17,Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12-14]

54.  Eldership is always plural. Even Moses had a team. There is no Biblical president for a single shepherd over a congregation.[Titus 1:5, James 5:14, 1 Peter 5, Acts 20:17]

55.  There are only two offices in the New Testament Church: Deacons whose primary function is to take care of physical, temporal needs and elders/overseers/bishops whose primary responsibility is of taking care of spiritual matters. [Acts 6, Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1:7]

56. Authority is received from God. It cannot be assumed or taken or cajoled or manipulated or bought. Those who abuse their place of trust and authority will be exposed and brought to judgment. God is a righteous judge. Respect is earned not demanded. Manipulation is witchcraft. Manipulation is not godly authority. [Matthew 8:9, Matthew 20:25-28,  Matthew 28:18, Romans 13:1]

57. Submission is not a dirty word. Submitting to God first and then to one another. When submission to God contradicts submitting to people, we are to submit to God. [James 4:7, Ephesians 5:21, Romans 13:5, Titus 3:1]

58. Worship (the music part of a meeting) is to honor God. It is never sensual or for the reason of a show or a party. It is always God-focused, God-centered and God-directed. ( God in three Persons) If it is not, it is not worship. [Revelations 19:10, Exodus 34:14, Psalms 29:2]

59. We always have a choice. Christians become slaves to what they yield to. As a believer our will has been freed to choose and we live as the result of our choices. [Romans 6,  2 Timothy 2:25-26,  Hebrews 2:15,  Romans 8:15, Galatians 4]

60. We cannot judge one another's relationship with God. All we can judge is the fruit, whether it is good or bad. [John 15,  Romans 6:21-22, and 7:4-5,matthew 7 ]

61.  It is right and proper to question words and practices that does not line up with the Bible. The only reason why these are allowed to continue is because believers do not have the fortitude to stand up against the arguments and persecution that will follow. The truth is mostly simple and will stay the same no matter how many times it is repeated. Heresy, on the other hand, is often very complicated and becomes even more twisted with every time it is retold. Truth pressed to the extreme and to exclusion becomes error.[Matthew 7:15, Matthew 15:7-9, Acts 20 :29,  Titus 1:11, Colossians 2:21-23, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, Galatians 1:7]

62. The supernatural is real. Angels and demons are real. Yet, we do not seek these or worship these. We deal with these when they show up and seek God. [ Genesis 16, Genesis 22:15, Exodus 23, Numbers 20 and 22, Judges 6, Zechariah 3, Matthew 1 and 28, Acts 5, 6, 7 and 12]

63. Deliverance is part of the ministry of the church. Possession/oppression is real. Jesus did it. The apostles did it and so should we. The enemy/devil/satan/ is a vicious legalist. He has been around for many years and although he has limited power, he still has power. [Job 1 and 2, Zechariah 3, Matthew 4 and 12, Luke 22:3, Romans 16:20, 1 Corinthians 7:5, 2 Corinthians 7:14, Ephesians 4:27 and  6:10- 18, I Timothy 3:6-7, Hebrews 2:14, James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8, Revelations 2 and 20, Matthew 8, 9:33, 10:8, 12, Mark 16:17, Luke 11:18-20, Revelations 12:9]

64. Discernment is a must. If it waddles, swims and quacks it is most probably a duck. Just the same as when it exhibit a few different signs and actions of possession, it is probably a demon. We need to know why we do things and where the traditions come from or we will inadvertently pay homage to idols and pagan gods. Sincere people can be sincerely deceived. [1 Kings 3:19, Ezekiel 44:23, Malachi 3:18, Matthew 16:3, Hebrews 5:14, Philippians 1:9]

Family

 65.  Marriage, one man and one woman for life, is still a God-idea. God hates divorce. All sex outside of marriage is sin. Husbands are to love their wives as Jesus Christ loves the church and gave Himself for her. Wives are to respect and submit to their husbands as the church respect and submit to Jesus Christ. [Genesis 2, Psalms 128:3, Malachi 2:16, Matthew 19, Hebrews 13:4, Revelations 19:7, Ephesians 5, Colosians 3:17-19, 1 Peter 3]

66. Training of the children is the parent’s responsibility. It cannot ever be handed over to the church or the state. Children have to obey their parents, respect and honor them. [Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16, Matthew 15:4, Colossians 3:20 - 24, Psalms 78:4, Psalms 103:13, Psalms 127:3-4, Proverbs 13:22, Proverbs 17:6, Ephesians 6:1-2] 

D. L. Moody, The Labors of a Single Mom


(The Legacy)

Written by by Denny Kenaston

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth....” II Timothy 2:24-25



The words of this text beautifully describe the ministry of D. L. Moody. Moody was an evangelist gifted by God to win souls for the kingdom. Although the title “the servant of the Lord” is used quite loosely in these days, we can say that Moody served his Lord, the living God of heaven. His meek and gentle disposition allowed him to persuade tens of thousands of souls who “opposed themselves.” D. L. Moody, chosen by God to ride the waves of the Revival of 1859-60, was a vessel prepared for the Master’s use. They say he won a million souls through his evangelistic pleadings in meetings all around the world. He established three training institutions for ministers and other Christian workers. A church stands to this day with his name on it in Chicago. Thousands of books bear the name Moody Press, another reminder to us of his influence. The name Moody is a household name among most Christian’s in the English-speaking world. Why? The answer is filled with challenge and insight for all of us who desire to be servants of the King.



R. A. Torrey answered this question at a memorial service in 1923, twenty-three years after Moody’s death. The title of his sermon was “Why God used D. L. Moody.” He pinpointed seven remarkable reasons as the body of his sermon. Few men knew Moody as intimately as Torrey did. This is what he said.



Why God Used D. L. Moody



•He was a fully surrendered man. It was Moody who heard those now famous words spoken by another preacher, “The world has yet to see what God can do with one man who is totally surrendered to God.” It was Moody who said, “By God’s grace, I will be that man.”

•He was a deep and meaningful man of prayer. God gave ear to this man’s prayers in remarkable ways. In Scotland Moody prayed a prayer in utter brokenness that God would use him to bring revival to Scotland. God answered his prayer on the spot. God swept into the meeting, and all fell on their faces in repentance.

•He was a deep and practical student of the Word of God. This humble, uneducated man spent hours in the word everyday, and faith stirred in his believing heart continually.

•He was a humble man. God prepared the way for this humility by ordering the circumstances of his up bringing down lowly paths.

•He had a consuming passion for the salvation of the lost. Moody preached to souls wherever he went. His life as an evangelist was more than preaching to crowds. One by one he sought them on trains, in boats and walking down the street.

•He was entirely free from the love of money. Most people do not realize how much money goes through the hands of a man who preaches to thousands of people. This money did not affect D. L. Moody. He gave it away, and used it to further the kingdom, as I mentioned above.

•He had a definite enduement of power from on high. There was a time and a place when D. L. Moody was filled with the Holy Ghost. This is the secret of his strength. This is the reason for all the other points that I have listed.



These powerful reasons are helpful to us all as we consider our own lives and ministries.



God began to prepare him long before he had a public ministry. God works in so many different ways to prepare His servants for the work He calls them to do. His ways are past finding out, and who can understand them all? God’s mysterious plan for this servant had some very hard circumstances in it. These circumstances only make sense as you look back over the years and realize that God was preparing a servant.



Puritan Heritage



Seven Moody generations preceded the birth of Dwight Lyman “D.L.” Moody. John Moody landed in the area we call Connecticut in 1633. Motivated by the typical desires of the Puritans in those days, he set out to establish a home and to serve his God in freedom. I am sure there were some ups and downs in the generations that followed John Moody’s beginnings; however, we still see godliness in the Moody family two hundred years later. This is hard for us modern Americans to imagine, but it is because we have a low vision.



The generations on his mother’s side of the family read very much the same way. Betsy Holton’s family moved to America in 1630 and settled in the Northfield Massachusetts area. There they lived for two hundred years, serving God in the traditions of the Puritans. The family farm did not change hands for two hundred years according to the biography that I am reading. These two families were pioneers with all the character that develops through a hard working farm life. In addition, they were Puritans with all the convictions and visions of the early settlers of the new land. Mr. Moody looked back on these ancestors with gratitude as he saw traits in his own life that flowed from them.



Betsy Holton and Edwin Moody were married in 1828 in the living room of the old Holton family homestead. They enjoyed a happy, loving marriage, and God gave nine children to their union. Edwin Moody provided for the family in the same way that all the men in the Moody family did for generations: They were masons. They built stone houses, brick houses and fireplaces all over the valley where they lived. This happy life continued for about thirteen years, until providence changed the Moody home and destiny forever.



The School of Poverty



When Dwight was four years old, his father died very suddenly. The family had plenty up until this time, but everything changed overnight. This providential change in events left Mrs. Moody a poor widow with seven children and twins on the way. The family debt was large with no provision for unexpected death. Only the house survived the creditors. At first glance this looks like a tragedy hard to understand, but providence is often that way. I can only imagine the hard-working business minded man that Dwight might have been. He had all the abilities to become a prominent man in his community with plenty of material things to enjoy. God had other plans for him, his family and his struggling mother. One million souls were at stake, and no hardship was too great for the sake of them. Mrs. Moody lived to see providence unveiled before her eyes as thousands flocked to hear her son preach the life-changing gospel of Christ. I am continually amazed at how many of God’s servants are trained in poverty. God even sent His only begotten Son into the setting of poverty for training and preparation. We can learn from some wisdom here. The blessings wrought by poverty were many in Moody’s life. I want to name a few of the more evident ones for our learning.



From day one they were dependent upon God for everything. When the creditors took even the firewood away, the Moody’s only had one option: pray and trust God who knows the needs of the fatherless and widow. The children stayed in bed to keep warm until it was time to leave for school, and Mama prayed. Uncle Cyrus Holton arrived with a load of wood to warm the house and the hearts of the whole family. We only need to use our imagination to see how many times God provided for them in ways like this. The oldest son was only twelve when Father passed away. Most of us Americans know very little about trusting God for our daily needs, and our children will pay for this—you can be sure.



They did without most of the time during the early years after Father died. They had to say “no” to their flesh dozens of times in a week, and this was very good training for a fruitful Christian life. Clothes were worn and mended repeatedly. Shoes were a luxury, and the simple things in life delighted the children who vbouls over to the Master. Somehow we must find some ways to teach our children to do without, even if we have to create them.



The food was simple and very basic. Of necessity they ate the same thing many times in a month. This would go down hard with our spicy American taste buds, which demand dozens of different kinds of food to be satisfied. When Dwight came to his mother and complained about the food he received while boarding at a neighbor’s house, she sent him back to keep his agreement. The complaint was worthy—nineteen consecutive meals of cornmeal and milk. Maybe we should simplify the palates of our children and teach them to be content with plain foods.



He had to bear the yoke of manhood early in life. The boys had to go to work much earlier than most of their peers. The needs demanded that they leave home at age ten and work for local farmers all week. They returned home for the weekend and for church. I know that most of us would look with pity upon a boy burdened with such responsibilities at such a young age, but look what it produced. We are influenced by our soft society more than we realize. As I see it, we do our children a great favor if we order their lives with self-denying responsibilities.



Are you a wealthy family? Do you have a storehouse that is full with most anything at your fingertips? Most Americans are rich, but we don’t know we are. This is a very dangerous position to be in because of the many snares involved in riches. If you are rich, I encourage you to live way below your available income and give the rest away. Your children will bless you for such a decision when they get older. It is possible to be a millionaire and have no one know it.



A Godly Determined Mother



Dear Betsy Moody is one precious example of perseverance to every mother reading this article. She is an example to every single mom who longs to raise children for God without a father. “Trust in God” was her simple creed. This is also the Bible’s simple, underlying message. She could not give her children a theological education like some we have studied, but she had the reality of that theology. This is far more important. I do not know what kind of religious life the Moody home had before her husband’s death. The historical records are strangely silent about those first thirteen years. It is very possible that the tragedy of her loss and the desolation of her situation brought her to this blessed reality. She lived to see the full scope of her son’s ministry as she died only three years before he did at ninety-one. Imagine how she felt as she reflected in her old rocking chair, looking back on the hard times. She remembered the times when she was almost ready to quit and God sustained her to keep going. Now it all makes so much sense, but then it was often dark and cloudy. She followed the patterns and convictions of her Puritan ancestors when it came to raising the children. Let’s look at some of the practical methods that she used to mold a “servant of the Lord.”



Family Devotions



Mrs. Moody followed the example of her Puritan ancestors and gathered the family together each morning to read and to pray. The Moody home had only three books, but they were the most important ones to have. They were a large family Bible, a catechism and a devotional book of inspiration and prayers. With these the children received instruction in holy things. On Sunday evenings it was a family tradition to gather in front of the fireplace as mother read books from the church library. They made it, though things were far from ideal, and Dwight was weak on Bible knowledge when he left home. God was training a humble, lowly minded servant who stood in amazement when the crowds came out to hear him. He was training a servant who would not touch the glory.



Solid Church Life



Shortly after Mr. Moody passed away, Betsy enrolled the children in the Sunday school of the local church. This proved to be a great blessing to the family in more ways than can be named. The widow and the fatherless are to be under the care of the church, and Pastor Everett was quick to bring the family under his care. For a single-mom family, this is necessary. Godly men as role models provide needed examples when there is no father. Missing church was not an option for young Dwight even though his youthful heart would have longed for play after much work through the week. The family brought lunch along and stayed all day, attending two preaching services and the Sunday school. Moody looked back on the influences that he received during those “Sabbath day” assemblies with fond memories. It was here in the local Sunday school that Moody got his first taste of gathering others for Bible teaching. He often brought other children along for the classes. I am sure that Pastor Everett had no idea whom he was training when he encouraged young Dwight to go find some others to bring with him. Moody was not actually converted until after he left home, but it is evident that this pastor had much to do with the transformation of D. L. Moody.



Strict Discipline





Mrs. Moody believed in the old fashioned way of training children. A kind, loving heart to guide, and the rod to use when guidance did not bring the proper response were her methods. I was blessed to find that she was slow and careful in her discipline, taking the time to instruct while she spanked. Moody recalled the time he told her it didn’t hurt and commented, “That was the last time that it didn’t hurt.” Betsy kept the children away from evil influences, and the children did not go play away from home. She always invited the neighbor children to the Moody house for fun and frolic, to keep them from the evil.



Although Moody always reflected affectionately upon the discipline his mother gave him, he never spanked his own children. I think we can glean something here for our own homes. Moody had two very different types of schoolteachers that made an impression on him. The one was stern and demanding, giving many spankings; the other was kind and loving and gave none. Moody must have evaluated the two and decided love and grace works better than law and judgment. This choice affected the next generation of Moody children. How sad. Balance is the lesson we can learn for our homes. The Bible way is a balance of both. Our hearts should overflow with love while we guide our children into obedience and at times spank them. If we are out of balance, our children may react to that imbalance and go too far the other way.



Practical Righteousness





This is the realm where Mrs. Moody’s simple faith excelled. Down to earth, everyday righteous living was her greatest strength. This is the area we lack most in today. We stand in great need of the common wisdom of right living. We American Christian’s are full and running over with theology, and running empty with practical living. Lord, help us learn from this poor widow woman. What did she teach them during the twenty years that each one lived under her roof?





•She taught them by example and precept to give when you do not have enough for yourself. This happened many times at the Moody home. When a tramp came by or another need came to her ear in the community, she gave to the needy. Imagine the impact that this had on the children. They knew there was very little bread in the house. Then God, who is the Father of the fatherless, topped off the lesson by providing bread enough for all to eat. Let us trust the Lord and give before the eyes of our little ones. They are taking notes as the days of home life pass by.

•

•She taught them to seek first the kingdom of God in the midst of much want. These verses are easy to believe in a land of plenty, but what about the destitute? The children learned first hand that God was their Father and that He cared for His own.

•

•She taught them by precept and example that there would be no complaining in the Moody household. Consider the depth of this lesson and the impact it had on the children. They lived in poverty. There were many things to complain about. The wolf was continually at the door, and yet no complaining was allowed in the house. She knew that complaining leads to bitterness, and bitterness leads to more poverty with evil deeds standing beside it. “In everything give thanks,” was the rule of the house.

•

•She taught them the dangers of judging their neighbor. This task had some real challenges for them because they often received wrong at the hand of uncaring neighbors. The widow and the fatherless are the responsibility of the Christian community, but they are often the most neglected and despised. This happened many times during the first years of desolation. Mother guided the children through these learning experiences with righteous zeal. The children heard the words, “We will not judge our neighbor” many times when neglect was very evident.

•

•She taught them to be independent, to make it on their own. There was no welfare spirit in the home. The neighbors did not owe them anything because God was in control. You may react at first to the word independence. In the midst of poverty, it is one of the highest qualities of character. She taught the family to rise up in faith with works and meet the needs with determination. This was Moody’s strongest point of character all his days in the ministry. A wise God and a wise mother worked together to instill this in him.

•

•She taught them the sanctity of a promise. “Let your yea be yea, and your nay be nay.” This instilled a carefulness of words in all the children. When Dwight found himself in the midst of hundreds of requests, he was slow to say “yes” because of mother’s training about promises. Many times she made the boys go back and keep the promise given in a moment of weakness. We could use a good dose of this kind of carefulness and commitment in our day.

•

•She taught them about the day of rest. They called it the Sabbath in those days and practiced it very much as the Jews do. The day of rest began on Saturday evening and ended on Sunday evening. Everything changed on the Lord’s Day. Life slowed way down, and the hearts of the children turned toward spiritual things all day. This is very different from our modern day Sunday when everyone is playing, buying, selling and catching up on the work around the house. Have we lost something? I think we have.

•

•She provided a warm, affectionate home life for them. Fifty years later Moody was still reflecting with joy upon the home fires that burned in Mother’s home. It drew him like a magnet repeatedly. Though they lived in poverty, she filled their humble dwelling with the thing that means the most but costs the least—love. This tender mother gave herself in love to her children. They knew this, and it drew their respect and even adoration.



Conclusion



Don’t you just love this dear saint? I do. My heart’s respect rises up to bless her as I bring this article to a close. She is an example to every single mother who longs for godliness in her children. She passed on to her reward at the ripe old age of ninety-one. The words of her grandson seem fitting here at the end. He described her funeral service with words that crown her legacy. He said, “Her children and her children’s children and an entire community rose up to call her blessed.” As for me, I am one more voice that joyfully rises up to call her a blessed woman and a dear mother in Israel.



Taken from "The Heartbeat of the Remnant"
http://www.trousseauchest.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=229:d-l-moody-the-labors-of-a-single-mom&catid=32:devout-women-in-history&Itemid=48

Faith of our Fathers by Marietjie Chase

So often we are amazed at the testimonies of those who were ill for years and then healed or of those who lived decadent lives and then saved. We are in awe at the escapes from death and the ones who survive horrible ordeals... but today I was thinking of another kind of hero. The kind who fought the good fight of faith every time sickness or decease came knocking at their door. The ones who raised their kids and paid the bills and cannot tell you how because on paper the figures says that it is impossible. The hero's when presented with the temptation to loose their lives in sin and darkness, said "no" and by God's grace stayed the course. These are the living stones who have gone before us, building a habitation for God.


If we want to know about these we have to dig a bit. These are not easy testimonies, short, one page stories. These are the ones where you read an entire Biography and get the feeling that it is still only part of the story. These are the hero's we will only honor in front of the Throne when all will be uncovered and even then we will not know of their sin - that was covered by the Blood of Jesus.

Thinking about all those whose prayer and faith paved the way for us as we stand before God, so many scriptures come to mind. Paul, talking to Timothy about the faith that was in His mother and grandmother and also in him; Hebrews 11 that says that all those hero's of faith are part of us and we are their victory. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob keeps covenant to the fourth and fifth, and yeah even thousands of generations, of those who fear Him and keep His commandments. What spiritual heritage have been handed down in your generations? Memories of Mamma praying for a pair of black shoes, of Pappa praying over me when my head was delirious with fever, of Ouma Maggie sitting on her bed, awake from pain, yet praying for each of her six children and their many children, all by name. Memories of Ouma Maria sitting at her window, drinking coffee from the saucer relaying a dream or vision or insight she had. Memories of Oupa Gert's Bible with his sermon notes in it. Memories of the twinkle in Father's eyes when he told of the souls being saved at their church and of Mother praying still. What spiritual parents can we honor? What heritage we have received? When in our stupid immaturity we are embraced by Mothers who adopted us and Fathers who accepted us. We are what we have received. And when I look at scripture: He used Angels as messengers only to sent people to "birth" people. How foolish we are sometimes to think we are our own? We are the sum of many lives and much faith.

Everyone of us, whether we admit it or not, are in the Kingdom of God because someone somewhere took a hold of God's promises and in faith and prayer fought a battle on our behalf. We are not of our own making. God have worked in many lives over many years to bring His purposes in our lives to fulfillment. Maybe we can pause and thank Him for those who have kept the faith, paved the way and shined the light for us. Maybe we can remember the parents or grandparents who were married, not always happily, for 30, 40, 50 and 60 years. Maybe we can remember the faith of the ones who taught us to pray. Maybe we can remember the ones who instilled the love for God and His word in us. Maybe we can look away from ourselves and realize, we are not our own, we belong to a whole. We are part of something greater, bigger and more enduring than our fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty or ninety years.

We owe it to these, we owe it to those for whom we are clearing the brush for; to fight a good fight of Faith; to finish well.

Steve Green used to sing:

We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace


Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness
Passed on through godly lives


Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful


After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover
And the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them
To the road we each must find

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

"Find Us Faithful" Words and Music by Jon Mohr

There Are Only Two Kinds of People...  Marietjie Chase


Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered, And let those who hate Him flee before Him.

As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish before God.

But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God; Yes, let them rejoice with gladness. Ps 68:1-3

God has always made a distinction between the righteous and the evil. He does not change. The way He deals with people has not changed. What has changed is that Jesus took all the wrath of God for those who trust in Him. Jesus became the lightning rod for God's wrath. He is an offering for sin, once and for all. He is the sacrifice for sin for all who believes in Him. He satisfied God's desire for punishment for sin once and for all, for those who believe in Him.

But for those who rejects Jesus as God's ultimate peace offering, there is no other sin sacrifice. For those who believe, there is an eternal inheritance and life in its fullness; but for those who do NOT believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, as the only way to relationship with God as Father and Lord, there remains the wrath of God. Those who choose to reject God's plan of salvation, of peace, of reconciliation, stands naked and unprotected in the full glare of the wrath of God. These are called the sons/daughters of disobedience who rebel against the love and will of God, to establish their own right standing, shouting as they go, that God is unfair, unrighteous and bad because He will not bow to their scheme of what is right, good and just.

There is still, and always will be two groups of people before God: The good and the evil/sinful.

Those who enter into a relationship, a life-exchange, with Jesus Christ; become the good and that not of themselves or their own deeds but because of what He has done.

Heb10:26-31; Romans 1:18-2:8; John 3:36; Malachi 3:18

All other distinctions disappear and are unimportant in the light of eternity. There is no race, no age or gender distinction before God. There is no separate plan of salvation for a race, gender, or age group. There is only ONE plan of salvation, only ONE Savior Jesus Christ who is the door, the gate, the mediator between God and all humans, past, present and future.

What this means practically is that we can only view people as saved and unsaved.

When we relate to an unsaved person we are relating to someone who has yet to come alive into the LIFE of Jesus Christ. We are to pray for them, be kind to them and be Jesus Christ with some skin on for them. We may be the only link they have to bring them to Jesus Christ. We also have to accept and expect to be misunderstood by them. Can the living have intimate relationship with the dead?? Can the natural mind comprehend the spiritual?? What fellowship have light with darkness?? These two will never agree.

Unsaved people are NOT our enemies. They can only become our enemies when they set themselves up as enemies of God. When they openly reject and oppose and malign God and His Christ, they become our enemies and the Bible are very clear about how we ought to behave toward our enemies and the enemies of God.

Psalms 66:3, Psalms 68:1 & 21, Nahum 1:2, Romans 5:10, James 4:4, Philipians 3:18.

2 Thesselonians 3:14-15, Matthew 5:43-45, Luke 6:27 and 35, Romans 12:20, Colosians 1:21,

When we relate to saved people, we are required by God to love one another. Does that mean that we are always going to get along?? Not necessarily. But we can never be one another's enemy's. We are part of one another. We may disagree in a million ways, we may frustrate and irritate one another, but we can never hate one another. We cannot be enemies. Whether we like it or not, we are all part of one body, the Body of Jesus Christ. We have one Father, One Savior, One King and are all going to the same Heaven. We may as well get over it and learn to bear with one another.

Matthew 18, John 13, Romans 12,Ephesians 4, Galatians 5, Colosians 3, 1 Thesselonians 5, Hebrews 10, James 5, I Peter 4, I John 4

Four Largest Cults and what they Believe. Compiled from Internet Research
-Muslims, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons(LDS), Free Masons-

What Muslims Believe

Shia Muslims believe that the Imam is sinless by nature, and that his authority is infallible as it comes directly from Allah. Therefore, Shia Muslims often venerate the Imams as saints and perform pilgrimages to their tombs and shrines in the hopes of divine intercession.

No Incarnation.

The path to heaven includes confessing faith in one god, Allah, and that Muhammad is His Messenger; recitation of five prayers daily; giving alms; fasting throughout Ramadan, pilgrimage to Mecca. Confessing and repenting one's sins is between the person and Allah, made only to Allah and for Allah. Strict obedience to Allah's laws (conveyed in the Qur'an) and His prophet's doctrine is required. Suffering is desired by Allah to erase one's sins.

The basic beliefs of Muslims fall into six main categories, which are known as the "Articles of Faith":

Faith in the unity of god/Allah - There is no Trinity There exists only one personal god Almighty--Creator, all-powerful, ever-present, and all-knowing--formless, incorporeal spirit.
Faith in angels
Faith in prophets
Faith in books of revelation - the Qur'an
Faith in an afterlife After Death Saved souls will experience the bliss of heaven and unsaved souls the torture of hell. On Judgment Day, Allah will resurrect the dead, unite body and soul, and judge all for eternity in heaven or hell. There are seven layers of heaven.
Faith in destiny/divine decree

This is a brief guide on what Muslims are taught about Jesus in the religion of Islam.

Muslims follow the teachings of all the Prophets, from Adam to Muhammad. Muhammad was the last Prophet sent to mankind, and Muslims follow the book he was given by God, the Holy Qur'an.


Muslims respect and admire Jesus. Islam teaches that he was one of God's greatest messengers to mankind. The Qur'an describes the miracle of his virgin birth, and a chapter of the Qur'an is entitled "Maryam" (Mary) Here is the Qur'anic description of Jesus' birth:


"Remember when the Angels said "Oh Mary, God gives you glad tidings of a word from him (God) of the Messiah Jesus son of Mary, revered in this world and the hereafter, and one of those brought near to God. He will speak from the cradle as an infant and as a man will be of the righteous." She said "My Lord, how can I have a child when no mortal man has touched me?" He said, "So it will be. God creates what He wills, if He decrees a thing, He says to it only, 'Be!' and it is." (Qur'an 3:45-47)


Jesus was created miraculously by God who had also created Adam without Mother OR Father. God said, 'The case of Jesus was like the case of Adam. He (God) created Adam from dust, then said to him, 'BE!' and he came into being.' (Qur'an 3:59)


During his prophethood Jesus also performed many miracles. God tells us that Jesus said:


" I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. I make for you the shape of a bird out of clay, I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by God's permission. I heal the blind from birth and the leper. I also bring the dead to life with God's permission, and I tell you what you eat and what you store inside your houses." (Qur'an 3:49)


Muslims do not believe that Jesus was crucified, but that Jesus' enemies planned to crucify him and that God raised him up to him, and the likeness of Jesus was put on another man (and they killed that man.)….(Qur'an 4:157)


…They said "We killed Jesus the Messiah, son of Mary, the Messenger of God." They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but the likeness of him was put on another man (and they killed that man.) …(Qur'an 4:157)


Neither Muhammad nor Jesus came to change the concept or doctrines of the belief in one God, but they came to confirm and renew it.


The Muslim belief of Jesus is between two extremes. The Jews, who rejected Jesus as a Prophet, said he was not the Son of God. The Christians, on the other hand, consider Jesus to be God's son, and worship him as according to that belief. Islam considers Jesus to be a righteous Prophet, but do not worship him. Rather they respect him as they do all Prophets, such as Abraham, Moses, Joseph, etc.


Jesus was a righteous man with a divine message, sent to all mankind. Any contradiction to this among revealed religions is seen in Islam as a man-made element introduced into these religions.



What Jehovah's Witnesses Believe

The human soul is NOT immortal.

There is no such thing as hell. Witnesses also have a slightly different view of heaven than mainstream Christianity. Based on their reading of prophetic books like Daniel and Revelation, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only 144,000 people will go to heaven to rule with God and Jesus. The remainder of the righteous will enjoy paradise on earth - a restored Garden of Eden in which there is no sickness, old age, death or unhappiness

A belief that is unique to Jehovah's Witnesses is that the eschatological events predicted in Revelation began in 1914. This is when God gave Jesus his Kingdom, and Jesus has been ruling from heaven ever since. At this time Jesus threw Satan and his demons out of heaven and down to earth, which is why, according to Witnesses, the world has been getting progressively worse since 1914 The kingdom of God (last days) came to earth in 1914 with the start of the Great war.

The four horse man of Revelations 4 were sumiltaniously released in 1914, replacing the white Horse with a horse named "Hades"..

Babylon already fell in 1919.

Jehovah's Witnesses disagree with the mainstream Christian belief that Jesus was "fully God, fully man." Witnesses teach that Jesus was not God, but rather God's first creation. Jesus existed in pre-human form as God's agent of creation and God's chief spokesman (the Word), and took on human form as the man Jesus by means of a virgin birth.

The Watchtower Organization teaches that it is God's sole earthly representative

Jehovah’s Witnesses are controlled by a "Governing Body" which they claim is the "faithful and discreet slave" spoken of at Mathew 24:45. This group consists of 10 to 15 mature men that, Jehovah’s Witnesses are told, have direct guidance from God. The Governing Body in turn instructs followers with this guidance through the pages of the Watchtower and other publications. Jehovah’s Witnesses are told by this "Governing Body" that Scripture alone is insufficient to understand the things of God. One needs the Watchtower Society and the literature it publishes to properly understand the Bible. ("Jehovah God has also provided his visible organization, his "faithful and discreet slave," made up of spirit-anointed ones... Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do. Watchtower, December 1, 1981 p.27) They are the instruments God is using to teach the world the deeper things of the scriptures. People are not to think for themselves but instead submit to the Watchtower Society teachings. (" But a spirit of independent thinking does not prevail in God’s organization, and we have sound reasons for confidence in the men taking the lead among us. Watchtower September 15,1989 p. 23) Jehovah's Witnesses believe they are the only people on earth that are serving God and the only ones that will be saved. They dare not question the teachings of the Watchtower Society; one who questions the Watchtower Society is considered to be weak in faith and could be disfellowshipped.


Members who are found to be unrepentant of violations of Watchtower rules by these elders, are disfellowshipped. Jehovah’s Witnesses can be disfellowshipped for a number of rule violations: premarital or extramarital sex, using alcohol excessively, using tobacco products, celebrating Christmas, reciting the pledge of allegiance, lying, stealing, joining the military, speaking to a disfellowshipped Witness, reading religious material not published by the governing body, or running for political office just to name a few. Fellow members are then required to shun him/her completely, having no contact even if the disfellowshipped person is a family member. (Some allowances are made if the family member is living in the same household).


What the Mormons/ Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints/ Believe

Unlike Christianity, Mormon teachings are not plainly visible. Only when you join their group (a new member cannot enter a temple by the way), then do you found out all the rest.

There is No Trinity.

God is our Heavenly Father. The Mormon church sees God as the Supreme Being of the universe. However, He gradually acquired that position over a long period of time by living a perfect and righteous life. God the Father has a body (flesh and bones). Brigham Young taught that Adam actually was God and the father of Jesus Christ.

The Mormon church views Jesus and Satan as spirit brothers and sons of God. God put forth His plan of salvation for the world, and Satan proposed his own plan. Jesus accepted the Father's plan and offered to implement it as the Savior. The Father chose Jesus, and the spirit of Jesus was given a body through the virgin Mary. He was crucified on a Roman cross, and rose from the dead three days later to establish His deity. The character and life of Jesus is attainable by anyone who performs at such a righteous level. Mormon leaders have taught that Jesus’ incarnation was the result of a physical relationship between God the Father and Mary. Mormons believe Jesus is a god, but that any human can also become a god. Jesus is not omnipresent.

Salvation can be earned by a combination of faith and good works. The Mormon church holds that Jesus Christ overcame physical death and guaranteed physical resurrection to all mankind. However, spiritual death can only be avoided through personal obedience of God's commandments. Forgiveness of sins requires faith, repentance and baptism by an approved Mormon priest. The practice of baptism for the dead is an extension of this belief, in which Mormons are baptized in proxy for those who have died without proper baptism.The first principles and ordinances of the gospel are faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Church of Jesus Christ, which existed here on the earth in ancient times, has been restored to the earth through a prophet. The priesthood authority of God necessary to act in the name of God and to perform church ordinances exists in His Church today, just as it did in the original Church. God reveals His will to prophets today, just as He did anciently. Each one of us has a special purpose on this earth. Families can be together forever. By serving others, we become more like Jesus Christ and come closer to God.

The Church Mormons believe that all Christian churches are apostate (false), and that all Christian ministers are hirelings of Satan (this is evidenced by one of their secret Mormon ceremonies). They believe that the real Church of Jesus Christ did not prevail against the devil and thus the true teachings disappeared. Each Mormon must annually pass an interview process that, if successful, rewards him or her with a 'temple recommend' in the form of a small ID card which allows him or her to enter the temple.

The Bible and the Book of Mormon are the word of God. Mormons believe that there are in fact four sources of divinely inspired words, not just one: 1) The Bible “as far as it is translated correctly.” Which verses are considered incorrectly translated is not always made clear. 2) The Book of Mormon, which was “translated” by Smith and published in 1830. Smith claimed it is the “most correct book” on earth and that a person can get closer to God by following its precepts “than by any other book.” 3) The Doctrine and Covenants, containing a collection of modern revelations regarding the “Church of Jesus Christ as it has been restored.” 4) The Pearl of the Great Price, which is considered by Mormons to “clarify” doctrines and teachings that were lost from the Bible and adds its own information about the earth's creation.

The Holy Ghost is real and He can help us to recognize truth when we find it. The first principles and ordinances of the gospel are faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Church of Jesus Christ, which existed here on the earth in ancient times, has been restored to the earth through a prophet. The priesthood authority of God necessary to act in the name of God and to perform church ordinances exists in His Church today, just as it did in the original Church. God reveals His will to prophets today, just as He did anciently. Each one of us has a special purpose on this earth. Families can be together forever. By serving others, we become more like Jesus Christ and come closer to God.

Afterlife: The Mormon church maintains that although there is temporary punishment for those that are most wicked, Jesus Christ will establish a new kingdom that will consist of different levels or kingdoms in the afterlife: the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, and outer darkness. If the person lived by a satisfactory standard, (including the fulfillment of Mormon temple obligations) that person has the potential to become a god in the after-life. The person can also produce "spirit children" to populate a world of his own (like God did with the earth).

Marriage and Family: Celestial marriage refers to a type of marriage which Mormons believe is intended to last beyond the grave and through eternity. "Celestial" means "heavenly," and indeed, a celestial marriage is a heavenly marriage. This does not indicate a marriage that takes place in heaven, but rather a kind of marriage that is heavenly in nature; it is divine in its origin and potential.

Mormons assert that for a celestial marriage to occur, several key steps must be followed. First, the man and woman must be sealed, or bound, by one holding the authority of God to perform such sealings, which can only take place in Mormon temples. Second, the couple must seek, with all their hearts, to individually and jointly follow Jesus Christ. Third, the sealing must be confirmed by God through His Spirit.

LDS The Thirteen Articles of Faith:


We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

What Free Mason's Believe

Masonic leaders readily admit that Freemasonry is actually a religion, not merely a "fraternal, social, civic service organization." Joseph Fort Newton (1880-1950), an Episcopal minister and recognized authority in the Masonic world, said, "Masonry is not a religion but Religion -- not a church but a worship in which men of all religions may unite."Henry Wilson Coil is the author of the encyclopedia that many lodges now accept as their authoritative source (Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia). Coil says that if Freemasonry is not a religion, nothing would have to be added to make it such, and that the religious service at the funeral of a Mason is evidence enough that Freemasonry is a religion. But the fact that Freemasonry is religion would not necessarily condemn it, except that the views of the Masonic religion are in open conflict with Biblical Christianity, so much so that, in our opinion, a knowledgeable and committed Mason could not possibly be a true Christian. In fact, Freemasonry even sees itself as superseding and unifying all religions.Freemasonry at its core is not a Christian organization. All members must believe in a deity. One must believe in the existence of a “Supreme Being”, which includes the “gods” of Islam, Hinduism, or any other world religion; people of all faiths, even if they use different names for the ‘Nameless One of a hundred names,’ There is no exclusivity in Jesus Christ or the Triune God who is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;

Masonry was originally a means by which people in the occult could practice their "craft" and still remain respectable citizens. The official publication of "The Supreme Council 33" of Scottish Rite Freemasonry is titled New Age. Some church denominations are also led by avowed Masons. For example, a 1991 survey by the Southern Baptist Convention Sunday School Board found that 14% of SBC pastors and 18% of SBC deacon board chairs were Masons; it is also estimated that SBC members comprise 37% of total U.S. lodge membership. (A 2000 updated SBC report found that over 1,000 SBC pastors are Masons.)

The Shriners are a fraternal organization and its members are bound by oaths of loyalty. The membership is limited to men that are third degree, or master Masons.

According to Freemasonry, a person will be saved and go to heaven as a result of his good works and personal self-improvement. Through symbols and emblems, Masons teach that man is not sinful, just “rude and imperfect by nature”. Human beings are able to improve their character and behavior in various ways, including acts of charity, moral living, and voluntary performance of civic duty. Humanity possesses the ability of moving from imperfection toward total perfection. Moral and spiritual perfection lies within men and women. Masons think that salvation refers to being brought from the material to the spiritual; i.e., when man returns to "his forgotten inherent spirituality." Masons believe that the degree of Master Mason is symbolical of old age, which allows a person to happily reflect on a well-spent life and to "die in the hope of a glorious immortality." Because they deny the reality of sin, Masons see no need of salvation in the Biblical sense. They see salvation as a step-by-step enlightenment, which comes through initiation into the Masonic degrees and their mysteries. In the 19th degree of Scottish Rite Freemasonry, the initiate is told that attachment to Masonry's "statutes and rules of the order" will make him "deserving of entering the celestial Jerusalem [heaven]." In the 28th degree, he is told that "the true Mason [is one] who raises himself by degrees till he reaches heaven" and that one of his duties is "To divest [him]self of original sin ..." Masons clearly teach a salvation by works, or character development, not a salvation by faith in Christ alone. Even in the 32nd Degree, a Mason never can nor will find the "light" he is looking for.

Only men (of at least 21 years of age) can be Masons. There is the Order of the Eastern Star for Master Masons and their wives; the Order of De Molay for boys; and the Order of Job's Daughters and the Order of Rainbow for young girls.

The Bible is only one of several “Volume(s) of Sacred Law,” all of which are deemed to be equally important in Freemasonry. Jim Shaw, a former 33rd degree Mason, says that Masonry is not based on the Bible (referred to as "The Great Light"), but on the Kabala (Cabala), a medieval book of mysticism and magic. Henry Wilson Coil also admits that the Kabala's teachings can be seen in some of the mystical and philosophical degrees of Masonry. Albert Pike the man responsible for virtually rewriting the Scottish Rite degrees into their present form, said that the Masonic "search after light" leads directly back to the Kabala, the ultimate source of Masonic beliefs. Albert G. Mackey, co-author of Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, is also one of Masonry's highest authorities. In his Manual of the Lodge, he traces Masonic teaching back to "the ancient rites and mysteries practiced in the very bosom of pagan darkness. ..." (Albert G. Mackey, Manual of the Lodge, Macoy and Sickles, 1802, p. 96).

The Bible is an important book, only as far as those members who claim to be Christians are concerned, just as the Koran is important to Muslims. The Bible is not considered to be the exclusive Word of God, nor is it considered to be God’s sole revelation of himself to humankind; but only one of many religious sourcebooks. It is a good guide for morality. The Bible is used primarily as a symbol of God’s will, which can also be captured in other sacred texts, like the Koran or Rig Vedas.

Masons do not adjust their beliefs to fit the Bible, the Bible is adjusted to fit their beliefs.

When quoting from the Bible, references to Christ are omitted, and prayer is never allowed to be offered (in a "well-ordered" lodge) in the name of Jesus Christ. Freemasonry does not believe that Jesus Christ is God, nor that salvation is available only through Him (cf. 1 Jn. 4:3). Freemasonry is a religion without a Savior.That Jesus was not the Christ, but that He had attained to the state of "Christ-consciousness" available to all mankind, is again part of Masonry: "Jesus of Nazareth had attained a level of consciousness, of perfection, that has been called by various names: cosmic consciousness, soul regeneration, philosophic initiation, spiritual illumination, Brahmic Splendor, Christ-consciousness" (Lynn F. Perkins, The Meaning of Masonry, CSA Press, 1971, p. 53).

Manly Palmer Hall, another of the great authorities on Masonry, writes, "When the Mason ... has learned the mystery of his Craft, the seething energies of Lucifer are in his hands. ..." (Manly Palmer Hall, The Lost Keys of Freemasonry, p. 48).

Excerpt from Jim Shaw's book: The Deadly Deception, pp. 99 - 109

In order to receive the 33rd Degree it was necessary to go to Washington. D.C. The initiation and related functions were to last three days. ...


...I flew into Washington National Airport and took a taxi to the House of the Temple on Northwest 16th Street. Upon arriving at the Temple I was met by a receptionist who asked if I were there to receive the 33rd Degree. I was surprised to find a women in those sacred Masonic precincts, but said that I was and showed her my letter from the Supreme Council. She then told me that in order to receive the degree, I would be expected to make a "minimum donation" of a very large amount of money (at least it was a "very large" amount for me). This took me completely by surprise for there had not been a word about any such "minimum donation" in the letter sent me by the Supreme Council. I didn't carry that much money with me and had left my checkbook at home but was able to borrow the money from one of the other men and gave it to her. We candidates were all unhappy about this unpleasant surprise and grumbled to one another about it, but were not unhappy enough to forsake the degree over it. We were too close to the "top of the mountain" to turn back at that point.


THE TEMPLE ITSELF


The House of the Temple is quite impressive - a bit awesome, really. Standing large, grey and silent on the east side of Northwest 16th Street, between "R" and "S" Streets, it looms very wide and tall from the curb. There is a huge expanse of granite pavement in front of it, including three levels of narrowing steps as the entrance is approached. Flanking the entrance are two Sphinx-like granite lions with women's heads, the neck of one entwined by a cobra and decorated with the "ankh" (the Egyptian symbol of life and deity).


Adorning the neck and breast of the other is an image of a women, symbolic of fertility and procreation. In the pavement, just in front of the tall bronze doors, are two Egyptian swords with curved, serpentine blades and, between the two swords, brass letters, set into stone, saying, "The Temple of the Supreme Council of the Thirty-Third and Last Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite."


Over the tall, bronze doors, cut into the stone, is the statement, "Freemasonry Builds Its Temples in the Hearts of Men and Among Nations."


High above the entrance, partially concealed by stone columns, is an elaborate image of the Egyptian sun god, backed with radiating sun and flanked by six large, golden snakes.


Inside is elegance: polished marble, exotic wood, gold and statuary. There are offices, a library, dining room, kitchen, Council Room, "Temple Room" and a large meeting room. This room is like a luxurious theater, rather elegantly furnished and decorated.


The ceiling is dark blue, with lights set into it to give the appearance of stars. These lights can even be made to "twinkle" like stars in the sky. There is a stage, well-equipped, and it is all very nicely done. But the thing that is most noticeable is the way the walls are decorated with serpents. There are all kinds; some very long and large. Many of the Scottish Rite degrees include the representation of serpents and I recognized them among those decorating the walls.


It was all most impressive and gave me a strange mixture of the sensations of being in a temple and in a tomb - something sacred but threatening. I saw busts of outstanding men of the Rite including two of Albert Pike, who is buried there in the wall.


INTERVIEWED BY THE SUPREME COUNCIL


The first day was devoted to registration, briefings and interviews. We were called into one of the offices, one at a time, and interviewed by three members of the Supreme Council.


When my turn came I was ushered into the office and seated. The very first question I was asked was, "Of what religion are you?" Not long before this I would have answered with something like, "I believe the Ancient Mysteries, the 'Old Religion,' and I believe in reincarnation." However, without thinking at all about how to answer, I found myself saying, "I am a Christian."


Then, to my sup rise and theirs, I asked them, "Are you men born again?" The man in charge quickly stopped me by saying, "We're not here to talk about that - we are here to ask you questions."


After they sent me back out I sat down and thought about it. When the next man came out, I asked him, "Did they ask you if you are a Christian?" He said, "Yes, they did."


"What did you tell them?" I asked, and he replied, "I told them 'Hell no, and I never intend to be!'"


Then he said a strange thing to me, "They said I'm going higher," and he left through a different door, looking pleased.


BECOMING A SOVEREIGN GRAND INSPECTOR GENERAL


The second day was the day of the actual initiation, held in the theater-like meeting room. Those of us who were receiving the degree were seated and the ceremony was "exemplified" (acted out in full costume) before us, in the same way that we had performed the lesser degrees of the Scottish Rite all those years. The parts in the exemplification were played by men of the 33rd Degree.


The representative candidate was dressed in black trousers, barefooted, bareheaded and draped in a long, black robe that reminded me of a very long, black raincoat. He had a black cable tow around his neck but was not hoodwinked. During the initiation he was led around the stage, conducted by two men with swords, as the degree was performed for us.


Instructions and signs were given. Upon the altar were four "holy books" (the Bible, the Koran, the Book of the Law and the Hindu Scriptures). At one point the "candidate" was told to kiss the book "of your religion" and, representing us all, he leaned forward and did so. I remembered the First Degree initiation, when I was told to kiss the Bible, and at that moment something came full cycle. It was the final such kiss to be a part of my life.


WINE IN A HUMAN SKULL


When it was time for the final obligation we all stood and repeated the oath with the representative candidate, administered by the Sovereign Grand Inspector General. We then swore true allegiance to the Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree, above all other allegiances, and swore never to recognize any other brother as being a member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry unless he also recognizes the Supreme authority of "this Supreme Council".


One of the Conductors then handed the "candidate" a human skull, upside down, with wine in it. "May this wine I now drink become a deadly poison to me, as the Hemlock juice drunk by Socrates, should I ever knowingly or willfully violate the same" (the oath).


He then drank the wine. A skeleton (one of the brothers dressed like one - he looked very convincing) then stepped out of the shadows and threw his arms around the "candidate." Then he (and we) continued the sealing of the obligation by saying, "And may these cold arms forever encircle me should I ever knowingly or willfully violate the same."


The Sovereign Grand Commander closed the meeting of the Supreme Council "with the Mystic Number," striking with his sword five, three, one and then two times. After the closing prayer, we all said "amen, amen, amen," and it was over.


................cont...........


THE WORDS HAD MEANING NOW


On Thursday evening we gathered at our home Temple and dressed for the ceremony. It was always a most solemn occasion and seemed a little awesome, even to those of us who had done it many times.


Dressed in long, black, hooded robes, we marched in, single file, with only our faces partly showing, and took our seats.


There was something very tomb-like about the setting. The silence was broken only by the organ, playing mournfully in the background, and there was no light except for the little that came through the windows. After the opening prayer (from which the name of Jesus Christ was conspicuously excluded), I stood and opened the service.


As I had done so many times before, I said, "We meet this day to commemorate the death of our 'Most Wise and Perfect Master,' not as inspired or divine, for this is not for us to decide, but as at least the greatest of the apostles of mankind."


As I spoke these words that I had spoken so many times before, I had a strange and powerful experience. It was as if I were standing apart, listening to myself as I spoke, and the words echoed deep within me, shouting their significance. They were the same words I had spoken so many times before, but had meaning for me now. They made me sick, literally ill, and I stopped.


The realization of what I had just said grew within me like the rising of a crescendo. I had just called Jesus an "apostle of mankind" who was neither inspired nor divine! There was a silent pause that seemed to last a very long time as I struggled with a sick smothering within.


When I was finally able, I continued with the service and we gathered around a large table across the room in marching order. The table was long, shaped like a cross, and covered with a red cloth which was decorated down the center with roses.


A BLACK COMMUNION


Once we were assembled at the table, I elevated (lifted high) the plate of bread, took a piece, put my hand on the shoulder of the man in front of me, gave him the plate and said, "Take, eat, and give to the hungry."


This continued until all had partaken of the bread. Then I lifted up the goblet of wine, took a sip, and said, "Take, drink, and give to the thirsty."


Again, this continued until all had partaken of the wine.


Then I took the bread, walked over to the first row of spectators and served it to the man previously chosen for the honor of representing the rest of the Lodge


As I handed it to him I again said, "Take, eat, and give to the hungry."


In like manner I served the wine to him saying, "Take, drink, and give to the thirsty," and he sat down.


After this we took our places at the table shaped like a cross and sat down. The setting was dark, our long, sweeping robes were solid black, our faces nearly concealed in the hoods, and the mood was one of heavy gloom. The Christ-less prayers and the hymns we sang fit right in. The one word that would describe the entire event would be "black." It was, indeed, a Black Communion - a strange Black Mass.


EXTINGUISHING THE CANDLE


There was a large Menorah (candlestick with seven candle holders) in the center of the room, with seven candles now burning.


Standing again, I said, "This is indeed a sad day, for we have lost our Master. We may never see him again. He is dead! Mourn, weep and cry, for he is gone."


Then I asked the officers to extinguish the candles in the large Menorah. One by one they rose, walked to the center of the room, extinguished a selected candle and left the room.


Finally, with only the center candle still burning, I arose, walked sadly to the Menorah and extinguished the last candle - the candle representing the life of Jesus, our "Most Wise and Perfect Master." We had dramatized and commemorated the snuffing out of the life of Jesus, without once mentioning his name, and the scene ended with the room in deep silent darkness. I walked out of the room, leaving only the darkness and the stillness of death.


Once again, the single word best to describe it would be "black."


All through the service I was shaking and sick. I have never felt so sad. I had stumbled over the words but, somehow, I made it to the completion of the ceremony and went back to the dressing room. I still didn't know much about praying but felt that I had been sustained by the Lord through it all.


THE FINAL PARTING


Back in the dressing room we hung up our black, hooded robes, put our street clothes back on and prepared to leave. Less than two hours had passed since I arrived. But what had happened in that period of time had changed my life forever.


Still sick in my heart, I changed clothes without a word to anyone. The others asked me what was wrong. But I couldn't reply.


They reminded me that I had acted as Wise Master so many times before, that I was known for my smooth performance of it, and they asked what had gone wrong.


I was choking on the awful reality of what we had said and done, the way we had blasphemed the Lord, and the evil, black mockery we had made of His pure and selfless death. With weeping welling up within me. I could only shake my head in silence and walk out.


Mike was waiting for me at the door, expecting to get a ride home, and he asked, "What's the matter, Jim? Are you sick?"


Finally able to speak, I quietly replied, "No, Mike, I'm just sick of all this."


"IT ISN'T RIGHT"


I started down the wide steps in front of the large Scottish Rite Temple, realization and conviction growing within me, reached the bottom step and stopped. Turning around, I looked back at the huge, granite building and slowly studied the words, carved in the stone across the top of the entrance: "ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE OF FREEMASONRY."


Something came clearly into focus in my understanding and I made a decision. This crisis point in my life, one which had required so many years for me to reach, passed in seconds. The truth was revealed and the choice was made - a choice that would be the difference between darkness and light, death and life, one that would last for eternity. Looking up at those words I had walked under so many times, words of which I had been so proud, I spoke to myself out loud. It was as if I were the only man in the world as I heard myself say, slowly and deliberately, "It isn't ancient, it isn't Scottish, it isn't free, and it isn't right!"