Dumbing Down the Church Through Unity

Hello Friends,
It's been a long hiatus. There's good reason that I haven't written for so long. Have you tried drinking coffee and eating a donut while racing over rough terrain on a snowmobile or 4 wheeler at 75 miles per hour? That's about as possible as gargling peanut butter.
It has been a wild ride that the Lord has taken me on in the ongoing process of revealing Himself and His ways to me but has definitely been worth it. I will not discuss it here for some things are just too precious and personal to share but suffice it to say that I'm back and more in love with Him than ever.

Recently He drew my attention to a book published in 2006 that I read with great interest that caused me much consternation. The purpose of this blog is to draw the reader to also read the book because it contains information that any lover of Christ needs to know and right now. Those who are earnestly watching and waiting for Christ's return can see many things happening that point to that event approaching and I am among that number. I have often spoken of the things we can see such as nature becoming unnatural in it's behavior and political events and of course the economy as well as wickedness and lawlessness abounding just as scripture said it would. I have often tried to encourage God's people to be more fervent in their faith and to follow the Lord more fully but I must say that until I read this book I had no idea how far down the road of apostasy the Church system really is. One of the signs mentioned in scripture is "a great falling away" which I had always assumed to mean "people turning away from Church and Christianity". Here's the verses.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
New King James Version (NKJV)

The Great Apostasy
2 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ[a] had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin[b] is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God[c] in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Today in the U.S. we have mega churches with upwards of 50,000 attendees or even more but it turns out that many of them have fallen away from the truth and that is no different than turning away from God altogether.

Before I get into it I must lay some ground work for I fear that if I don't you won't follow through and fully read the book. I will be providing a link where the book can be read online for free so there is no cost. Even if you are a well grounded believer you still need this information so you can help others avoid or escape from deception.

The scriptures warn us in many places to be aware of deception yet few seem to be able to discern deception when they see it for it comes in subtle ways and only those who are close to God and sensitive to His Spirit are able to see it even when it is pointed out to them.
I believe pride and complacency are the greatest causes of spiritual blindness that exist.

Luke 21:8
New King James Version (NKJV)

8 And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore[a] do not go after them.

Jeremiah 29:8
New King James Version (NKJV)

8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.

Jeremiah 49:16
New King James Version (NKJV)

16 Your fierceness has deceived you,
The pride of your heart,
O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock,
Who hold the height of the hill!
Though you make your nest as high as the eagle,
I will bring you down from there,” says the Lord.[a]

Obadiah 1:3
New King James Version (NKJV)

3 The pride of your heart has deceived you,
You who dwell in the clefts of the rock,
Whose habitation is high;
You who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’

Obadiah 1:7
New King James Version (NKJV)

7 All the men in your confederacy
Shall force you to the border;
The men at peace with you
Shall deceive you and prevail against you.
Those who eat your bread shall lay a trap for you.
No one is aware of it.

Make special note of the above passage for it says that men at peace with you shall deceive you. The book I am going to recommend to you is all about establishing peace at all costs even above doctrine about Christ.

Matthew 24:4
New King James Version (NKJV)

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.

Matthew 24:11
New King James Version (NKJV)

11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

Many folks overlook scriptures like this because they don't know a prophet and do not think we have them anymore when the truth is that anyone who proclaims to speak the Word of God even if it is the written Word of God could be considered a prophet according to scripture because a prophet speaks forth as inspired by God or His written Word. He is not necessarily only a proclaimer or for teller of future events previously unspoken.

Matthew 24:24
New King James Version (NKJV)

24 For false christ's and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Even today already there are false signs and wonders being performed but people are being deceived by them for if they see anything that seems supernatural they immediately assume it is God because they lack the discernment that is a gift of the Holy Spirit to those who walk in the Spirit.

Romans 16:18
New King James Version (NKJV)

18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

In the scripture above is says that they are serving their own belly which is referring to human appetite and lusts including greed for money, power and influence and that to a large degree is what we are dealing with today aside from the fact that they are driven by a satanic scheme that is much bigger than them and they are but dumb pawns following after the god of this world.

1 Corinthians 3:18
New King James Version (NKJV)
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

The above scripture should sober us all for it speaks of us deceiving ourselves and it literally means that if you are proud of your intelligence and think you could not be fooled that you are ripe for deception. The bible calls us to be humble in all we do and say and if we want wisdom to ask God for it. If you get your wisdom from Him then pride will not come along with it as a fringe benefit or companion as it does when we get our wisdom through worldly means.

2 Corinthians 11:3
New King James Version (NKJV)

3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity[a] that is in Christ.

Galatians 6:3
New King James Version (NKJV)

3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Another scripture that shows the danger of pride. I don't care who we are or how much education we have or how successful in life we are, we are still nothing for every breath we draw is given us from God and He is no respecter of persons.

Ephesians 5:6
New King James Version (NKJV)

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Colossians 2:4
New King James Version (NKJV)

4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.

2 Timothy 3:13
New King James Version (NKJV)

13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

So many Christians who read these scriptures think that it is referring to the world and all the evil and deception that is there but it is not for the Bible was not written for the world but the people of God and the dangers that exist within the Church. Satan does not have to get you into gross sin to steal your soul, all he needs to do is deceive you into believing a lie and he's got you.

Titus 1:10
New King James Version (NKJV)

The Elders’ Task
10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision.

The above verse refers to a particular kind of deception that they were dealing with in the early Church which is legalism and that is still around today as well. However there is a huge difference between legalism and fundamentalism. Hang onto fundamentalism. That is what is being undermined to the detriment of true Christianity which is called the "Narrow Way".

2 John 1:7
New King James Version (NKJV)

Beware of Antichrist Deceivers
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an Antichrist.

This is something we as Christians have been taught to watch for since we were baby Christians and that is good but the new thing today is not to deny that He came but to deny that the things he said were really true or more important than the things that Mohammad or Buddha or Hari Krishna had to say and people are eating it up because it makes it easier to get along with each other. The tendency

Jesus didn't come to unify, He came to separate us from the world but many have forgotten that or are not willing to accept separation because it costs.

Matthew 10:33-35
New King James Version (NKJV)

33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Christ Brings Division
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;

We can say we believe in Christ but if we don't believe the truth about Christ then we are deniers of Christ whether we think we are or not.

I find it very interesting that at this time in history that two of the most precious documents ever put on paper have come into disrepute at the same time. The Holy Bible which is God's everlasting Word and the United States Constitution which is based on the Holy Bible and without doubt is the best form of government ever devised this side of heaven.
Both are being scoffed at and held at derision because they both stand in the way of evil men and their evil desires. Friend's if you won't grab a hold of something that has solid foundations and hang on for dear life you will get washed out in the great tsunami of evil that is washing over this land and the whole earth.

It will cost you no doubt but the scripture says "What will it profit a man if he gains the whole earth but looses his soul". It may end up costing us our life to defend our faith but there is a life beyond that lasts for eternity and that is a long time to enjoy our right decisions but also a long time to have regrets.

I have a lot more to say but lest the reader get weary I will post the link to the book and pray that you will diligently read it and afterwards begin to diligently study the scriptures so that you will be equipped for whatever lays ahead. I will be writing much more concerning the value of knowing scripture. It has much value for everyday life and few really understand that.

This book is an expose on the wildly popular book titled "The Purpose Driven Life" written by Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in California. Many have read his book and never noticed one single thing wrong with it and that is because of the absolute scriptural ignorance that exists among church goers today as well as the desire to eliminate friction at all costs.

http://www.inthenameofpurpose.org/page2.html

This is the link for the entire book. If you open it up all you need do is click on any chapter and it will open up for you to read. I highly recommend that you read chapter 22 first because it will give you so much alarming information that it will make you want to read the rest of the book.

Friends I ask one other thing and that is if you are helped or blessed by this blog please forward it to your friends as well. I never ask for finances or any other return from anybody for what God gives me freely I also will give freely and He takes care of my needs. I have no other motives but to serve Him and help others to know Him better.

God bless you all.
john