During a 2014 international church convention, a ranking Bishop spoke somewhat graphically concerning the sins of humanity. He was preaching against the gay movement that had openly presented itself as an integral part of the church convention. His sermon was streamed live over the internet and was subject to world scrutiny. Some said his sermon addressed the subject in a despairing manner. A media storm erupted and other ministers and convention attendee began distancing themselves from him. His sermon was classified as a message of hate. He should have known those who had chosen an alternate lifestyle under the sanction of the government, are protected from hate speech.
He was chastised for not following the precepts of the scripture that say, "with love and kindness have I drawn them". A search of the scripture for support was found in Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. This is a conversation between Jeremiah and God in reference to his chosen people, the Children of Israel, who was in line to receive a harsh punish from God. God often sent his prophets to a city or people to predict doom and destruction, but because of his love for his creation he often gave them a chance to repent. This scripture is taken out of the context of which it was spoken, transported across dispensations, applied to the church and used by the Devil to suppress the criticism of sin in any form. A full reading of the chapter would show that this was not God’s intent.
With the implementation of the Faith Based initiatives and the acceptance of funding from the government many religious denominations have opted to allow the federal government to define and set guidelines for issues that once was considered religious in nature or controversial. Issues such as, when do life began, what is the definition of family, marriage and even the definition of hate, These are just a few of the questions that the government has been allowed to answer. The answer to these questions is not based upon the knowledge of God rather they are based upon the knowledge of good and evil. As we have shown in another post, there is a difference between the knowledge of God and the knowledge of good and evil. The government's answer to these questions are not without the infringed upon the rights of certain individuals or groups and the religious community.
Hate speech is speech that offends, threatens, or insults groups, based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or other traits. The application and enforcement of this rule, though somewhat ambiguous, can only be achieved through the infringement upon the constitutional rights of others. Hate in any form cannot be eradicated by the enacting or enforcement of laws. When a law is enacted or enforced to control a type of hatred, the end result is the suppression and intensification of the act itself, which become a ticking time bomb. If you doubt the veracity of this statement, tune in to the six o clock news, open the newspaper or simply take a look around your community.
Often we speak of racism, a condition of the heart, as if laws can eradicate this created blight. Racism, the illegitimate child of hate, came into existence when the knowledge of good and evil preformed an unholy act. It sought to control the emotion of a person's heart by taking from one and giving to another in the name of justice. Racism and hatred is without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or other traits. It exists within the home, community and the church. Racism possesses a dual personality or polarity the same as electricity. To exist, it must infect or rely upon an opposite, opposing hosts. Racism feeds on racism, yet it is controllable, one must be willing to turn the switch off.
The spiritual church that is supposed to exist within our heart and serve a purpose within the home and community is overshadowed by the organized church that exist as an earthly entity. Many leaders of these fine organized churches have opted for money, fame or glory and is operating as well paid motivational speakers, they have become guilty of manipulating and perverting the word of God. The church never was about making money or lording over God's people. The church was a refuge from the storm. The church is suppose to help us be ready as we prepare for the coming of the bridegroom. The question that should be addressed is, do we believe in God, or are we just play acting?
There is a failure or disconnect between the organized church and the emerging generation. The church, the Bible and even the God of Abraham no longer hold the sacred place that they once enjoyed. The fault is not the new translations that are emerging, it is the different interpretation of the Word of God that is causing confusion in the community of faith. It is easy to see why those who are, "of the world", as Jesus would say, find it hard to believe the message of the church today.
Why has the Church erased the true gospel that saves perfectly from sin, and in its place, created another gospel without any power at all? The gospel and God have been transformed into a money making machine. Making money to provide for one's well being and salvation is two separate entities that exist on two extremely different planes, one is natural and the other is spiritual and should never be combined. When we combine the natural with the spiritual we are committing spiritual fornication.
There are obliviously many flaws in our interpretation and application of the Holy scriptures, especially when we refuse to follow certain guidelines. The Holy Scriptures are not a systematic treatise on Theology, History, Science or any other topic. The scriptures are a revelation from God of His Plan and Purpose down through the Ages, separated by dispensations, as pertaining to the earth and the human race. They were given to us piecemeal "at sundry times and in divers manners." Heb 1:1. Holy men of God spake, and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit during a period of 1604 years, extending from B. C. 1492 to A. D. 100. The book of Genesis tells how the creative works of God began, Revelation tells us how all of this is going to end.
There are two ages spoken of in the Holy scripture, before "Time" the "Alpha" or "Creatie Ages," and after "Time" the "Omega," or "Ages of the ages." In "Time" there are three "Ages" and eight "Dispensations." The "Ages" are 1. The Antediluvian Age. 2. The Present Age. 3 The Age Of Ages. The "Third Age" is a "Dual Age," composed of the "Millennial Age" and the "Perfect Age."
The "Dispensations" are, 1. The Edenic, 2. The Antediluvian, 3. The Postdiluvian, 4. The Patriarchal, 5. The Legal, 6. The Ecclesiastical, 7. The Messianic, 8. The Dispensation Of The "Fulness Of Time".
The difference between an "Age" and a "Dispensation" is, that an "Age" stands for a period between two great physical changes in the earth's surface, while a "Dispensation" stands for a "moral" or "probationary" period in the world's history. For illustration, the "Present Age" began with "The Flood," and ends with the return of Christ to the Mount of Olives. "The Flood" caused such physical and climatic changes that the length of human life was reduced from 900 to 100 years; all this will be reversed when Christ comes back, when the whole contour of the Land of Palestine will be changed (Zec 14:4-10; Eze 47:1-12), and men shall live again for upwards of 1000 years. Isa 65:20.
The Dispensations are probationary periods, in each one the form of "Administration" is different and progressive in each "Dispensation." For illustration, the Administration of the "Legal Dispensation" was that of "LAW," of the "Present Dispensation" is "GRACE," and of the one to follow is "RIGHTEOUSNESS."
Now in simpler form here is where the problem began. To combine the Dispensation of the Law and the Dispensation of Grace is to deny the purpose of Christ's suffering and dying. When we take the Old Testament and the New Testament and combine them together without regard to Age and Dispensation we end up with a polluted mess that can neither be sustained through the Word of God, the Knowledge of God or common sense. When we search the scripture searching for a word or phrase to validate a point, we are guilty of shaping the word of God. The Bible becomes a tool for manipulating the emotions of those who are clinging to a dubious indoctrination.
To understand the Word of God, we should consider, who is talking, who is being spoken to and what the conversation is about. Now Matthew 4:4 comes into play, "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." If the phrase "live by', means "do everything", then we have placed ourselves in an untenable position. Many who claim to have achieved this standard often find themselves amiss in the face of the many commands given by God in the Old Testament. In a letter to Timothy, Paul explained it this way. 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
The content of our posting for the next few weeks will be based upon what constitute Love and Kindness. The message of the churches is changing to reflect a more loving and kinder message. The fear of God has long been cast aside and judgement is a thing that is rarely spoken of. When Jesus met the Gentile woman at the well he referred to her as a dog. Matthew 15:25-27 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. It is undeniable that the Jews referred to the Gentiles as dogs
Isaiah 56:10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Isaiah 56:11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Revelation 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
The governments of our great nation in cooperation with many of our organized churches has decreed that to threaten a person with hell fire and destruction constitute hate speech. To preach against deviant sexual orientations is hate speech and is to be avoided.
Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Revelation 20:14-15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
With Love and Kindness, Continued
