No
man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment
Matthew
9:16...
During
Jeremiah's day, when Judah was taken in apostasy, chapter 10:21 says (in regards to the leaders),
"For
the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore
they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered."
Isn't
the word "brutish" for the shepherds of God's flock a little harsh
here? Especially in this day and age of "reconciliation" and
"bridge
building"?
Maybe it is a translation error, or an archaic phrase, or
something?
I wonder what the Hebraic root word would mean here? If you want
to get technical or bamboozle the naive, the unsuspecting,
and spiritual novice, that is!
Here's what the dictionary calls brutal ... "savage
and cruel"! Make sense?
However, in
regards
to "bridge building" ... apostate Christendom appears to have a
problem at this point in time.
The problem being that scripture only presents one bridge, and His name
being JESUS! Who happens to be the only way back to God our Maker, and the
only
one worthy to say, "I am the way, the truth, and the life"!
This
way of course being the rugged, splintery crude bridge, made from an ugly dead tree, and erected as a
torturous execution pole. An all too squeamishing way of bridging
man
to God, or should we say ... bridging God to man! Yes, why scripture refers to it as base and "the
foolishness of preaching", and no other way whereby man can be
saved! This
completely
places the emphasis on God's remedy, on His terms, pointing the onus
back
on man ... "what must I do to be saved?"
Furthermore, this also means there is no beating around the bush when coming to God, because
the
only access available into His presence is through the sacrificial
atoning
work of His lamb provided. Any other way is a man-made
substitute,
falling flat on its face. Because, the hard and fast cold facts
are ... without reconciliation to God first, there is no true,
worked
out, reconciliation between man. Putting it another way ... unless man is at peace with God
first, he can never truly be at peace with himself and his fellow
man.
Any attempt on his own, is only superficial or short lived.
The
cross!!
The cross!! The cross!! There is no substitute, or
short-cut,
or deviation. Jesus is the way!! Anything else getting in
the
way, is a travesty. Especially when a man disguising himself as
being 'truly spiritually' and 'sincerely qualified', points to his
method
(whether
rules or franchise) as being a bona fide way of bridging Almighty God
to
a lost world. The man who makes this claim by the way, is none
other than a liar and fraud.
Nothing
more than a clever religious professional complicating the way back to
God that the individual would have to depend on some form of human
agency.
The more becomingly,
sincere,
acute, and appealing the man, the more deceitful and damaging is his
"noble"
cause. Moreover, when he relies on manipulation to enhance and press
his
position, the word "brutish (without feeling for his flock)" fits
the
slot accurately. Jesus had another title, and it was not Reverend
or Pastor, but Hireling!
Scripture
is very clear and precise about trusting no man, and letting no man
deceive
you. It is very clear about keeping a diligent watch for wolves
in
sheep's clothing and end time tricksters and seducers. Even if
they
are an apparent leader of high respect, of a very successful movement,
a good cause, or a humanly credible enterprise. Didn't Jesus say
... "for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination
in
the sight of God"?
When it comes to making it with God all
human
proxies are at best ... totally superfluous, and at worst ...
brutish!!
Scripture is clear and straight to the point:
1 Timothy
2:5. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men,
the
man Christ Jesus".
And:
1 Pet.
5: 2-3. "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the
oversight
thereof, not by constraint (press ganged into it), but
willingly
(that's exercising your
will); not for filthy lucre, but of a ready
mind;
Neither as being lords over God's heritage (being a bully or brutish), but
being ensamples to the flock."
Some
say I am anti leadership! Nope ... I am merely against elitist
priesthood
and religious monopoly. Those that hijack the chair of Moses in
other words!
It is scriptural to have caring elders (not 'one man bands', hierarchy,
and clerical systems), and scriptural to promote the priesthood of all
believers.
Some
say I am anti structure, anti organization, or anti
establishment. I
also say phewy to this as complete and utter nonsense! How can I
be when I depend and use these things everyday? Paul said to use
the world but not abuse it. The problem I have with an
institution,
is when it gets itself in the way. When it comes between the
individual (you or me) and God, and replaces Jesus as the bridge.
No group, or
persons,
or individual has this right to do this of course; although countless
do.
Just like the Serpent in the Garden, replacing the Lord in the cool of
the day, to bring "God's" word to the hearer. When the "nice
guy" approach fails, malicious tactics kick in! It's human
failure all the way. When man does things his way without God.
Control
is the name of the game! Control to gain and preserve prestige,
position,
and a good livelihood, in the name of "caring", "being qualified" and
"called".
In essence, because the system qualifies and licences a man for the
task
of subtly replacing the Holy Ghost, and to take over the role of
leading
the way (even being a substitute for a woman's head - her husband - but
that's another message). This nullifies the inspired words of
the
writer of 1 John 2:27:
"But
the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you (the
Holy
Ghost), and ye need not that any man teach you (which includes religious professionals):
but as the
same
anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and
even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."
It always
boils down to trusting Him (that's God Almighty), or trusting
mere man. Jesus said to His
disciples,
to call no man father, or teacher, or master, or rabbi ... "all
ye
are brethren."
Why all
the titles and hero worship today? Why all the emphasis on using
the teachings of the Reformers for back-up and not the scriptures
themselves?
Reason:
Because the Reformers backed institutional reform to one degree or
another,
and using them can justify denominationalism. Hence, the
heretical
teaching of "church membership" and being locked into Sunday
tradition. As well as the existence of the religious institution
down the road.
I use
to read countless books, from modern soft covers, to old worn out hard
covers. All with the purpose of looking for the perfect man of
God
(whether
deceased or living), who God "apparently" used so much (and probably
did to a degree),
who could have all the (easy) answers, or help blaze out my earthly
pilgrimage
with dazzled sprayed signs ... "This is the way, walk ye in
it!"
It may have been a way of receiving warm fuzzies, by the thought of
adventure
and being "commissioned", but it was in actual fact, divorced from
reality. Unless it
became
personal experience through applying the word and the cross on a daily
basis, in one's life.
I praise
the Lord He has delivered me from such false hope, where (hopefully) I
place my trust completely in Him. There are no heroes out there,
except Jesus. Everything else is fantasy and wishful
thinking.
Books, tapes, articles (like this one you are reading), and testimonies
can be an encouragement or inspiration (can be - is the line), but
that's all!
To
duplicate a man, or his walk, or a method of reform, or a past revival,
will never work. Nor can it be just a substitute for simply being obedient to
the word.
In
all my attempts at writing I very rarely
quote
anyone, except the scripture. In debates, I very rarely quote
this manuscript or that manuscript, or this text or that text, or
gloat over some past "move of the Spirit". If God has kept and
preserved
His word, for this generation, and forever, then surely the scriptures
should speak and support themselves. Moreover, it should be the
individuals life being revived in the here and now, not just dreaming
about it in a general sense, through some future great move of the
Spirit.
Today,
Christendom is full of quotations, justifying the Reformation, the
Reformers,
and the Protestant Movement in general. All for the purpose of
"identity"
and "ministry" preservation, and justifying the existence of a group or
doctrine. Very little study has been done about the motives and
politics
of these men, with little truth about their ungodly practices.
Also, it is very hard to get an accurate description of their character
because of all the changes and editing of their so-called legacy, where they are
no longer around to speak for themselves.
However,
many quotations have been made about their "great" achievements and
attributes.
The most dangerous men around today for Bible believers are
not
'secular'
politicians (although many Christians are preoccupied with them) but
'religious'
politicians. Men who use their ecclesiastical qualifications as a
cover, or excuse, to hold positions of power and control the
people, or as clout to "bug off" or disarm their opponents. After
all,
who set Jesus up for His ultimate betrayal and death?
When
one delves into the past of the Reformation, with an unbiased approach,
one does see a
different picture emerge from the pages of (censored)
history,
and realize why so much written record has been distorted, or
destroyed,
with usually a one angled view. Even many celebrated preachers
(excluding
the modern apostates) show up with inconsistencies and traits, which
would
disappoint some today, if they were their pastor ... where some
have turned out to be adulterers, pedophiles, alcoholics, or druggies; not to forget to mention
placing their ministry before their families? Moreover, not to forget
...
still hanging onto so much tradition and pushing it as gospel, or
reinventing it.
With many, believing God created most people with the
sole intention of throwing them into hell, before they had a chance to
choose. Where God has apparently created a selected, special, chosen elite, before they too had
the choice of salvation through the cross.
Let's
take a brief look at the so-called father of the Reformation (a man who
promoted unconditional election):
Sure Martin Luther promoted,
"the
just shall live by faith" (until we discover "the just" and "the elect"
were those who ascribed to his doctrine). Sure he wrote the
German
Bible unifying the German language, and laying the foundation for a
German
nation. However, his work also laid the foundation for a German
anti
semite
totalitarian state, during the Nazi era. The reason ... Martin Luther was a
Jew hater as well as being responsible (along side other Protestants)
of
the brutal persecution of the Anabaptists (part of the remnant church
of the
day).
Instead of walking away from Catholicism totally, Luther set
up his own
reformed version, with dictatorial rule of Church and State, and
children's
baptism and church attendance as a condition for "being right with
God".
Proving Protestantism was only a reformed brand of the Catholic
version,
and an unscriptural reformed way of Christianizing a heathen
nation.
Bend or be punished severely, was the choice he enforced
(although he
did
not believe in choice).
Unless Martin
Luther repented through Christ, expressed remorse and renounced his
religion before he died, this man died with blood on his hands.
Another chief Reformer was John Calvin, who has swayed much
of Western Christendom to this day by his thinking:
John
Calvin was made an offer he couldn't refuse ... to come and
Christianize
vice ridden Geneva as its supreme head. This he took up
effectively
and ruthlessly, by outlawing everything from jewellery to not becoming
a Christian on his terms. Look out if you were not his
friend!
You could be slowly and tortuously burnt to death in public, after
being
turned down for requesting a quick death by beheading.
He also
brutally
persecuted Puritans and other Christians who would not conform to his
religious
politics. He was responsible for 58 executions during his iron
reign,
and did not show witches the love of Jesus, but burned them
instead.
Look out if you spoke against infant baptism. Or if you did not
attend
church on Sunday you were banished
from the land.
In his country, according to John Calvin and his political
system, if you were not a Calvinist, there was no place for you as a
Christian. In other words ... one could not be a Christian without being a Calvinist.
John
Knox, the "great" Scottish Protestant leader, called Geneva "the most
perfect
school of Christ." Yuk!!!
Calvin
had blood on his hands too and would have also gone to the grave in
deep trouble if he had not repented through Christ, renouncing and
expressing remorse for his counterfeit, ruthless and aggressive form of Christianity!
Conclusion:
These brutish men presented God as a
tyrant and executioner, who would be severely harsh with you if you did
not toe the national line and conform with the new system.
We could
go on, mentioning King James I (see more)
and
others, but I think I am getting the point across. These blokes,
plus a few others, were the daddies of the Protestant Movement
(protesting
against
the corruption of the papacy), which
countless
evangelical leaders and writers quote today to justify and accommodate
their
"pastoral"
positions and organizations.
The whole existence of their cause is
to improve the system, "for Jesus". If the system rejects you for
being a dissident, go and build a better one in opposition, calling it
"God's place of Dwelling" (or the Church) instead, with it's own form of
creeds,
rules, and religious adornment and beatification. Not to forget to mention its brutish or manipulative methods.
No wonder there
is so much political skulduggery and corruption behind Cowards Castle
(the
clerics pulpit) and the stained glass of today's fraternities!
Even
to the degree of sexually abusing helpless and innocent children.
Jesus
said, if the root is corrupt, cut it out! For every plant that is
manmade will be rooted up (Matt. 15:13), and every work not done in
the Spirit will be burnt up (1 Cor. 3: 13-15)! Hey, I never
said this ... but the scriptures do!
True Bible believers are to purge out the leaven, not improve the
ingredients!
They are to drive out the bond woman, not reform her! They are to throw
out
the old wine skins, not patch them up! God is not into the
patching
up business. Nor is He
into beefing up things either (like reinventing ot re defining church). Furthermore, when God says new ... He means
brand-smacking-new! Total and
complete!
Where
does He start? Is it not with the individual heart? Was not
David's prayer, "Create in me a clean heart, O
God"?
As the veil is rent (permanently) and the new
temple replaces the man-made one!
Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed
away;
behold, all things are become new.
Reiterating
the last line ... ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW!
Dad's will is for every blood
bought saint to chuck in their "Christian" gurus and make Him Lord over
all things! Then, and only then ... you get the new life that God promises!
Other
sources of interest
(as always, discernment is desired):
John
Calvin.....The
Gospel Truth.....Church
History..... Protestant
Reformers
His
Ashes Cry Out.....Calvanism