American Idealism vs Biblical Authority
July 4th, 1766
The United States of America was born.
Born out of tyranny, persecution, high taxation, and religious bondage on Colonist, by the crown of England.
A nation for the first time in the history of the world, would be governed and ruled by its own people.
"....that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people...."
Abraham Lincoln
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
November 19, 1863
What an extreme blessing for us - citizens, of this great nation to vote on any law, to vote on any governor or ruler WE DESIRE!
From the federal level, to the state, and even down to our local government, even in our neighborhoods, we "the people" have a say.
In America, the politicians are viewed as employees and its taxpayers are the employers.
By the majority of the people....
We can change whatever we want.
Amend and vote on our own laws.
Pick and choose our leaders.
We can disagree with our high-elected officials, voice our opinions, protest, and if they don't do what we say....we vote them out and get who will do the will of the American people.
American...a nation like no other in the world.
Our Founders built out values and laws based from the Bible.
I like how our first president said it best about our nation...
“It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.”
It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.
- George Washington
Either though our country was built off of these values of Christianity....I'm afraid that the American Idea...our American thinking has crept into the Church.
The majority of so-called Christianity has replaced the authority of the Bible - the Word of God...with the American concept which I mention earlier...
"..government of the people, by the people, for the people...."
We must understand that the United States of America and the Apostolic Church are two different rules of government.
America-ruled by its citizens
Can vote to change laws and leaders
People can voice their opinion
The Church- ruled by One Supreme God, Jesus Christ
No one can change any law that has been spoken by God himself
Gods Word is not open for debate nor voice our opinions.
Man has no authority to change was has been written
In the 21st century, I find that denominal churches teach the concept of :
You can believe in whatever you want to. Worship how you see fit. Bring any offering or sacrifice that you desire. Just believe in God, because its all the same worship . God won't condemn you as long as you do good because He is love.You can interpret the Bible however you see it.
You don't need to believe the whole Bible, just the New Testament....matter of fact if that's too much for you... just only read the teachings of Jesus..
Just read your Bible every now and then, say a couple "Our Fathers", go to church only on Easter and Christmas, because God forbid if you go anymore than that you would look like a "Jesus Freak"
If you just do these things everyone is happy and we all get to go to heaven, hold hands and sing kumbaya.
Sounds like a lovely religion doesn't it?
A church that allows you to believe whatever you want, dress how you want, talk how you want, watch want you want to, pick and choose what parts of the Bible you want....Sounds like a church with a lot of THEIR wants!
More like a Church ruled by the people, for the people, and of the people?
"People treat theology like a buffet line, just pick and choose what you want."
Pastor Otto Martin III
Isaiah 55:8-9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
God is not concerned about what we think or believe unless its what His Word says.
Matthew 5:18
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Deuteronomy 4:2
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
From Old Testament to the New...we find as mention above in the following Scriptures that Gods Word is the ultimate authority!
Some folks like to say the Old Testament doesn't matter anymore...Jesus referred to the Law of Moses, particularly the book of Deuteronomy more than any other book. Including other prophets such as
Moses
Luke 24:27
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
David
Mark 12:35-36
And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Daniel
Matthew 24:15
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Matthew 23:35
That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Right here we find that Jesus is endorsing the entire Old Testament.
From Abel (book of Genesis) to Zacharias (book of Zacharias)..
Jesus covered From the first book of the to the second to last book of the canonized Old Testament.
The doctrine of "bringing whatsoever you want" unto God, is no new thing. It is much bigger is this last day, but it goes back to an old story in the days of King Saul.
1 Samuel 15:2-3
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
Samuel has give Saul a couple commandments from the Lord:
-kill all the Amalekites thats including kill the Agag the king of the Amalekites
-all the animals
-SPARE THEM NOT!
1 Samuel 15:7-9
And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
After the battle was all said and done, Saul only obeyed ONE, JUST ONE commandment.
Kills all the people which was the men, women, and children. But spares the animals and Agag the king!
1 Samuel 15:10-16
"Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. ........ And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed....."
It's amazing how people can deceive themselves.
The next part of this unfortunate story is very important of the point I'm trying to make, which Samuel has already did.
1 Samuel 15:18-22
"And the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord? And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.
And Samuel said,
Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to hearken than the fat of rams."
Wait a minute!
God rejecting a offering and sacrifice, an form of worship?
Really?
You mean to tell me God had the nerve to reject an offering, either though God said to destroy the animals of the Amalekites?
I thought it was ok to just do whatever you want or worship God how you see fit!
Haha my point exactly!
Folks, this right here is the perfect example of that you just can not do whatever you want in the presence of God.
If your going to please God, obeying ONE PART of the bible or in this case a commandment is apparently not good enough.
Because of Sauls disobedience, the kingdom of Israel was taken from him and the Bible says the Spirit of The Lord departed from Saul!
WOW! God means business about this.
So this doctrine of the denominal so-called church teaches does not line up with Scripture.
Am I saying God hates offerings and sacrifice? Of course not!
But the prophet Samuel said it best...
"And Samuel said,
Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to hearken than the fat of rams."
God is just looking for people that will obey Him and His Word! Not just parts of His Word, but all of it.
Conclusion:
From analyzing Scripture, we find that Gods Church is ruled by one Supreme God, that is Jesus Christ.
The church is not ruled by man nor by its people. Either though the church is governed by man, mentioned in:
1 Corinthians 12:27-28
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Ephesians 4:11-12
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
God has placed the Pastor over the local church. But we must understand that the Pastor or any other minister DOES NOT, I REPEAT DOES NOT have the authority to change anything in the Word of God.
We judge the Pastor or Preacher by Bible.
As my Bishop always says..."as long as its in the Book!"
If the Minister is not preaching nor teaching the entire book...I'll close with this...
Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
