. The Difference Think not that I am come to send peace on earth:
I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Matthew 10:34Symbol or reality
Today, if one word could sum up the present spiritual condition of the world and Christendom in general, the word "confusion" would fit the slot. For this prevailing demeanour would be the chief reason why there are no longer defining lines in our present generation, distinguishing good from evil, truth from error, and darkness from light.
While non compliant Protestants rightly expose the deceptions of the Church of Rome they do not see the speck in their own eye of putting their own tradition on a par with scripture, or bending scripture to fit their own social or political mould. Even as Evangelicals are quick to point out the blatant errors of pagan Christendom, they are short sighted in not seeing the errors in their own systems. These systems being the systems of building sub-empires, orchestrating liturgy, accumulating names and hero worship, the Christmas trees they erect, or the crosses, the doves, the fishes, and the six pointed stars they pedal or proudly display; overlooking the fact they are of occultic or Babylonian origin, and had no place in the New Testament in the first place.
Since when has the cross as a symbol been Christian? The Bible says, "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree"! If the victim on the stake is cursed then how much more the standing image he has been spiked to? Scripture also clearly condemns making or rearing up (that's erecting - 1 Kings 16:32, 2 Kings 21:3, 2 Chronicles 3:17, 33:3) standing images (Lev. 26:1) of the likeness of any thing (Ex. 20:4 & Deut. 4:18, 23, 25).
Furthermore, what is this "any thing" the verses repeatedly make mention of, may I ask? Did you get that Mister Evangelical or Messier Protestant! ... "standing images" and "the likeness of any thing"!! Are pictured relics of "Jesus" in the flesh or crosses exempt? Not according to the NT they are. Read this:
"Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more."
Meaning, even images of Jesus are out. Here's more:
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God".
Therefore, any imagination of God or deity, or how it is presented outside scripture, is a big no no!
In pre Roman times this "cross" symbol was known as a tau, as "t" was short (or symbolic) for tammuz. A likeness and a standing image!!!
"The cross" was a repugnant instrument someone was brutally sacrificed on, in suspended agony (reared up), to the Roman sun god Jupiter. Not to avoid mentioning the most humiliating way the subject was degraded publicly, as a suffering spectacle, before death would take its toll. Jesus humbled Himself to a place of suffering to this degree, and more, by being nailed as the world's scapegoat, to a murderers execution stake, namely a dead tree.
The dead tree is the symbol of the world. In order for someone (from common crims to political dissidents) to die, a tree had to be sacrificed. Therefore, forests were cleared (a bit like what happens at X-Mass time in our era, with the strange absence of protest from the Greenies and Tree Huggers) as the Roman sun god showed no mercy on how much blood it could be satisfied with. This is in direct contrast to the believers tree, which Adam had access to before the fall ... the tree of life, which blood bought saints can freely partake from, in the Paradise of God.
Therefore, to clear away the confusion there are only two trees (spiritually speaking) we can choose to embrace ... the world's dead tree (as a decorated version - the counterfeit) or heaven's living tree (the tree of life - the reality). When Paul said he gloried in the cross (1 Cor. 1:23; Gal. 6:14) he was not referring to the cross as a glossed up symbol, but in the finished atoning work Jesus completed by being punished and dying on the tree on our behalf. The only legitimate reference to a symbol in scripture was left back in the Old Testament when the serpent was lifted up on a pole in the wilderness as a type of what was to come. Jesus said, "if I be lifted up ... "! When the Christian rejoices and celebrates Calvary it is nothing to do with displaying a sign or emblem, but what Jesus accomplished by going to and dying on this cursed stake. He was the fulfilment of the shadow now made obsolete. The only sign Jesus was leaving was the sign of Jonah ... being buried under the earth for a full three days (so much for the Easter account!).
In order to blur the cross's message, the world has to fancydress the tree, and make it look like a beautiful decoration or ornament. This is why this mocked-up symbol of death is worn by everyone from witches, new agers, satanists, rock musicians, to religionists. It is used to mellow down the sting of death at funerals and at the scene of fatal roadside accidents and so on, as well as being used superstitiously as a good luck charm or a pendant to ward off evil spirits. It has been carried into war on banners by fanatics who were prepared to kill others who even sometimes wore the same sign, proving God was on their side. Apparently God was leading both sides into war against each other, to make mince meat of one another, with the blessing of the Lord!
On the other hand, some have thrown up other smokescreens by saying the instrument Jesus died on was just an upright stake and not a cross at all. If this is true we must also take into account on top of this semi-disposed tree trunk was nailed a horizontal board mockingly displaying a statement ... "Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews!". Therefore, once again we have an upright pole with a member attached at right angles across the top. A cross in other words! You cannot escape what God's Authorized Bible calls it ... a cross! A "t" shaped instrument.
The word of God declares with clarity and consistency; a difference, a distinction; without any sign of compromise, being the choice between only two grounds we can stand on. The cross of Christ is that dividing line. The bridge between life and death. The bridge that can only be crossed when one is prepared to renounce all their side stood for, before crossing over the gulf created by rebelling against our Maker. Therefore, the cross is a block of stumbling and not an adornment at all. Remove the cross and you remove the distinction line. Gloss it up and you also remove it's meaning. With it's rugged, crude, splintery edge, it's bloodied stain, it's offence, and it's sting, as well as its power. This is why the counterfeit cross is the main symbol of confused, non defined, Christendom today. It is also a major symbol in the world as the Enemy would use it to confuse it with the cross of scripture (his defeat) in order to baffle those searching for the truth (a special note to any Moslem readers).
Therefore, if there has ever been a need for a line to be drawn it is today. Moreover, the only thing which qualifies to do so is the word of God contained in the book called the Holy Bible. This is because it is the only written account man can hold in his hand and trust completely. It is also the only non 'politically correct' and a 'non Millennium compliant' book where the Lord's complete truth can be found conclusively ... as His Spirit of truth confirms: The Divine record! The sword of the Spirit! God's cutting edge! Which happens to be sharper than any other two edged instrument! Dividing soul from spirit! With preciseness! Definition! Separating in two what is from man and what is from above! The division between which is wide and mixed and what is straight and narrow, what is non offensive and what is offensive. It is the most effective weapon one can wield spiritually speaking. It is the only way to cut asunder the bona fide from the confused, removing all obscurity and subterfuge, and making our way clear, back to our Maker.
A clear distinction
Today, as society calls for 'redefining' everything which holds to absolutes and moral values, the word still stands for definition of truth from error:
Hebrews 4:12. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Following are two major distinctions which separate biblical Christianity from mainstream Protestantism. Interesting to note all of the points below are neatly accommodated by the Church of Rome, as it originated there in the first place, before it was modified or recycled as a new brand, depending on the culture or political boundaries changing in a region at the time. Therefore, this is no surprise to the speed in which Protestantism has been liquidated of late, through the vehicle of the Ecumenical Movement, as the Protestant daughters are returning welcomely into the arms of Mother Rome, or it's New Age counterpart:
Clergy and laity (the people segregated through religious hierarchy opposed to the priesthood of all believers)
Compare "The Difference" with An allegory of the two
One man leadership (having an earthly Chief Shepherd - Pastor/Minister/Elitist Priesthood concept)
Infant baptism or child dedication (Minister replacing head of the home - the father)
Being baptized into "the Church" - misinterpretation or non discernment of the Body (being baptized into Christ)
Or, the absence of immersion - in some cases (weakened commitment to Christ)
Communion as an ordinance (emblems dictating "holiness")
Christmas and Easter observance (acknowledging another "Jesus")
Sunday, or special day culture (based on the Lord's day becoming or replacing the sabbath - gives the Church authority to change scripture)
Special religious days (to structure and regiment the year)
Apparel, costumes and uniforms (to structure and regiment the people and distinguish ecclesiastical rank)
Icons and ornamentation (outward adoration and observation)
"The cross" - as a banner or decorative display (removing focus on the complete, total and effectual work accomplished at Calvary - the meaning and significance of the atonement)
Orchestras, chorales and choirs (Babylonian licence or copying Old Covenant patterns, or mixing both covenants to cancel out the New)
Organized entertainment - "celebration" and "artistic" (or lascivious) expression replacing "every joint supplieth")
Church fathers writings as a source of church doctrine (tradition has same authority as scripture)
Promoting the so-called Lord's Prayer (replacing John 17:21 with Matthew 6:9, which is the disciples prayer)
Institutionalizing scripture (such as the so-called Lord's Prayer and Psalm 23, so the Bible becomes just an adornment with "the faith" and not the complete picture - full counsel of God - and final authority)
A calling treated as a profession or career (whereas in the NT a calling is servantry distinct from a hireling)
Liturgy (replacing liberty in the Spirit structuring around human invention and replacement)
Giving the apostles or certain religious dignitaries the title of "Saint"(hood) (whereas in the NT there is no religious titles, just the equality of brethren or saints in the plural)
Giving a leader a special title like "Reverend" (whereas these titles are only reserved for God Almighty alone)
Ordained into a denomination to uphold it's government (as opposed to, ordained to feed the flock of God without human credentials)
Patriotic ties (dual allegiance/serving two masters)
Combination of Church and State - or rubbing up to politicians (centralized control replacing direct Lordship of Christ)
Building sanctuaries (replacing fellowship and life in the natural home setting)
Colonization - whether political or building missions (extending political influence instead of winning people to a kingdom which is not of this world)
Church controlled cell groups and weekly home studies (counterfeiting the church in the home - the demeanour of "moving with the times")
"The church" as the building or organization (scripturally the church is you - the temple of God, as a believer)
Sunday School, Youth Groups, Senior Citizens, and so on (Breaking the Body into segments and discouraging the family)
Presenting a "contemporary gospel" (making the message "respectable" or "relevant" replacing the need for individual witnessing on a continual basis)
Evangelism centred on children - or mums (with the hope of winning the Dads through emotional persuasion and not man to man Holy Ghost conviction)
Friendship with the world (winning people over for acceptance sake, not for the sake of the cross)
You can't question the Church (instead of, you can't question the Lord - taking 1 Timothy 3:15 out of context)
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