The Road Leading To Destruction, Part "D"

Chapter 1, Part "D"
"Book Review"

Understanding The Word Of God

What is Grace?  In Christian theology, grace has been defined not as a created substance, but as the love and mercy given to us by God because God desires us to have it.  Grace is given, not because of anything we have done to earn it; it is the condescension or benevolence shown by God toward the human race. It is understood by Christians to be a spontaneous gift from God to man, generous, free and totally unexpected.  It is undeserved; it takes the form of a divine favor, love, clemency, and a share in the divine life of God.  It is an attribute of God that is most manifest in the salvation of sinners.   Grace is given freely without charge.  The sowing of a financial seed is not a prerequisite of grace.

In the presence of the Law the punishment for our transgression is made clear.  It is only through the mercies of God, that Grace is allowed to manifest itself.  In the presence of Judgment, when the demands of the Law are made known, Grace proclaims that the blood of the Christ has already paid the price.  We therefore are debtor to the work of the cross and not to the works of the law. The grace of God brought through the works of the cross did not turn God into a fun loving God, but a God who is storing up his wrath until the works of Grace is complete.  (Revelation 15:7) And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.

For God so loved the world that he gave or sent his only begotten son, what transpired after that was a plea for mercy from the son of God.  His cry was, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”.  Within the boundaries of Heaven that cry still resonates, as mankind drifts farther and farther from God.  The concept of a God extending his everlasting love is not scriptural.  God, on many occasions have been known to vent his angry.   Revelation depicts an angry God who anger is restrained only by the intercession of his son and the works of the Holy Spirit.

The Old Testament depicted a God that was prone to bouts of angry and long periods of silence.  The Old Testament introduced us to a God that actively participated in killing sprees.  The New Testament introduced us to the Son of God who extolled the virtues of love.  Let me inject this, the only thing standing between humanity and a killing spree by an angry God, is the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross.   This is parallel to the event that took place at the base of the Holy Mountain.  The only thing that stood between the children of Israel and a killing spree by an angry God was the intercessions made by Moses.

To overcome the obstacles presented in the Old Testament and to make God more user friendly, it became necessary to deconstruct and reconstruct God in a fashion that is compatible with today’s standards.   Even a new concept of Heaven was constructed to accommodate this new form of godliness and the prospect of Hell diminished or was eliminated.

Nations that were once considered ‘God fearing nation’ are backing away from the concept of “one nation under God”.  World leaders are seeking to shed the image of a Christian nation, and many Christian leaders have publicly stated, “The way of the cross is just one of many ways to this new concept of heaven”.  

 The organized church had no qualms about making God more users friendly, because it opens up a new level of power, money and control.  Under the direction of the organized church, this deconstruction and reconstruction process produced a type of religion, (charismatic, prosperity, love and kindness) that embodies many of the excesses that the God of old frown upon.   A message that portrays the workings of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit as an adventure in the application of love and kindness fails miserably to project the true image of God.  The message of the Kingdom and our reason for being here is overshadowed by our desire for worldly pleasures.

To deconstruct means to systematically remove layer after layer of the supporting structure. Whether it is an idea, concept or even a religious deity, this is done for the purpose of doing an analytical examination of something (as a theory) often in order to reveal its inadequacy  or relevance and to bring about changes.  Deconstruction is an environmentally friendly process; it is the alternate to demolition or destruction.    Rather than destroying or cast aside an item, idea, or even God, it is more fitting that a process of deconstructing and reconstructing be initiated.   The children of Israel attempted to do the same thing at the base of the Holy Mountain.  They wanted a God that they could see and touch. 

 In our modern and ever changing world, it is necessary that certain items, things or even our belief structure be updated to maintain their relevancy in a modern and high-tech society.  For the sakes of an analogy, let's look at the cook stove of the early 1800’s, a wood burning configuration that belched smoke would certainly be out of place in the modern homes.  Yet, today no home would be complete without the presence of a stove.   To fulfill the need of the home did not require creating a new method of processing food, heat would still be needed to heat the food to a temperature necessary to cook the food.  Therefore a process of deconstructing and reconstructing the wood stove allowed for the emergence of the gas, electric and microwave ovens, eliminating the smoke and grit.  Yet, they all have that one thing in common that makes them an oven. They use heat to cook the food. 

Blessings and miracles were two of the attributes of God subjected to an analytical examination.  When the old patriots blessed a child, the power to act in their father’s name was the objective.  Today, a blessing needs to be more than the authority to act in God’s name; it needs to represent a financial gain.  Blessings and miracles have become the sellable products of this new or updated god.  

Within the Holy Scripture blessing and miracles are an integral part of the work of God.  Jesus performed many miracles; this power was also given to the apostles.   Blessings and miracles was the confirmation that they were sent by God.   This was necessary to establish the new covenant.   When Jesus stood at the entrance to Lazarus tomb, he prayed a prayer that explains the purpose of the miracle he was about to perform.  (John 11:41-43)... And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.  And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

Prior to the emerging of the Pentecostal Movement that began in various regions around the globe, such as America, Germany, and Australia, in the early twentieth century the working of miracles were in abeyance.  Prior to the Charismatic Renewal which began in the last third of the same century, the consensus of mainstream Christianity was that miracles were part of the apostolic era.   The healing movement in the 1940s and 1950s signaled the rebirth of miracle working. 

We live in a Pentecostal age and around the world, wherever churches are growing, reports of miracles are rampant. Many Christians regard miracles as an extremely important element of their worship service.  The definition of a miracle can range from one extreme to the other.  To some their belief in miracles is so strong that it is a sin to go to the doctor.  Then there are those who have redefined the process of surviving a surgical procedure a miracle. 

This is not a dissertation as to whether miracles exist today, miracles are an expression of the power of God and there is no limit to God’s power.  It is how we attempt to harness and display the power of God that is at issue.   How often have we stood at the altar and begged God for a miracle.   Have we ever stood by and watched as the pastor, or the proclaimed healer laid hands on our loved ones and prayed for deliverance, only to no avail?  If he did it once, he will do it again if often used as a guide to determining what God will or will not do.   When we see the fault of our work or our promises, we should allow for our misunderstanding of God’s word.  Our prayer then should be to the Father to open up our understanding.

The Bible is the source of many different types of messages.  There are deliverances messages, motivational messages and even prosperity messages, all presented as the Word of God.  There is a question as to whether this is a true representation of the Holy Scripture.  True, there were many benefits of following Jesus, but the message was not about the benefits.  Many works were performed by the Apostles, but their messages were not about their works.   The message of the new dispensation, the message of Grace, the message of the New Testament seems to have been about the coming of the Kingdom of God.  

The Road Leading To Destruction, Part C

Chapter 1, Part C

Understanding The Word Of God

The justification of sin under the guidelines of the government has already taken place, and one by one the organized church is being drawn in.  In a society based upon subjective morality, the people represented by the government reserve the right to define such things as, when does life began, the definition of marriage and even how one is separated from sin.  In exchange for funds churches are organized and are required to issue human rights statements that adhere to the standards set forth by the government. While the church and many minority groups danced in the street and proclaim it to be the works of God, The Human rights act of 1964 sets the stage for a direct attack on God's authority and again the church said, “amen.”

A church that once was noted for its message of, "It's Holiness or Hell” dumbed down its rhetoric in the face of adversaries and now proclaim, "God loves all of us."  A deviant interpretation of John 3:16.  This occurs when we surgically remove one verse from the supporting conversation or scripture and present it as a complete thought. From that same verse many teach that we are not to condemn those who walk in darkness.   “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:18-19)  If your life is a condemnation and the Bible says it, can I tell you?  If you are walking in darkness can I implore you to change directions?   In a political correct society the answer is no, we must refrain from moralizing the views and actions of others.

The earth is groaning under the pains of global warming, discord among the races, wars, and the erosion of godly values.   “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” (Romans 8:22) The president of the United States of America chose to publicly state, “America is no longer a Christian nation” as he advances his alternate lifestyle agenda.  In 1964 it seems as if the gates of Hell were flung open and the demonic forces of Hell were unleashed upon the world.  How long before it will be stated that America is no longer a democracy?   How long will it be before this country follows the path of other great empires? 

Our schools now can teach that man evolved from apes, but they cannot teach that man was created by God.  The Lord Prayer has been removed from the curriculum of our schools and morning devotional is soon to be an unheard of thing of the past.  The Ten Commandments that once held a sacred place in our courtrooms and served as the base of our moral and legal system has long since been removed.  Through all of the changes taking place, the world of Christendom dumbed down and accepted a position of adaptability and servitude as it sought to create a non-confrontational image and a non-confrontational God.  The new organized church is now enjoying a new status, not as a spiritual, but as a polluted and politically correct entity basting in subsides from the government.

At an early age, my first impression of God was that of an angry God who underwent periods of silence when dealing with his wayward creation.  God often vented his anger and frustration upon his creation, a fact that has been removed from our modern day interpretation of the scripture.  David understood and expressed the sentiment of God heart when he said, “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” (Psalms 7:11)  God’s wrath was poured out upon Adam and Eve and the generations that followed because of their sins.  Cain suffered the wrath of God because he chose to murder his brother.  God poured out his wrath in the form of a flood in Noah’s day and he continued to vent his angry when dealing with wicked nations who stood against his chosen people.  During the dispensation of the Law God’s judgment was often pronounced and swift.

When God’s anger peaked, he gave Israel, his bride, his chosen people a bill of divorcement.  “And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery, I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah (western civilization)  feared not, but went and played the harlot also.” (Jeremiah 3:8)  God then began to speak through his prophets concerning the final consummation of things.  After His prophecies were established God was silent until a time of fulfillment, then his Son came forth, not to broker a peace treaty, not to pave a road to prosperity, but to bring forth a plan of salvation whereby all mankind could be saved.  

There can be many flaws in the interpretation and application of the Holy Scriptures when we do not follow certain guidelines. The Holy Scriptures should not be treated as a systematic treatise on Theology, History, Science or any other topic.  The scriptures are a revelation from God, that set forth His Plan and Purpose down through the Ages, separated by dispensations, as pertaining to the earth and the human race. These revelations were given to us piecemeal "at sundry times and in divers manners.” (Hebrew 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. 

There are two ages spoken of in the Holy Scripture, before “Time” the "Alpha" or "Creative Ages," and after "Time" the "Omega," or "Ages of the ages." In "Time" there are three "Ages" and eight "Dispensations."   This is important if we are to “rightly divide the Word of truth.”

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 eight "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 "Fullness 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 (Zechariah 14:4-10; Ezekiel 47:1-12), and men shall live again for upwards of 1000 years (Isaiah 65:20). 

The problem with the interpretation of the scripture began when we attempt to combine the Dispensation of the Law and the Dispensation of Grace.  To do so is to deny the purpose of Christ's suffering and dying.  An analogy could be a farmer buying a truck and using a team of horses to pull it down the road.  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 form of the gospel that can neither be sustained through the Word of God or common sense.  When we search the scripture searching for a word or phrase to validate a vanity point, we are guilty of shaping the word of God.  

As the dispensation of the Law was giving way to the dispensation of Grace, God became silent and only spoke through his Son.  Unlike the days of Adam, Abraham, Moses and others when God engaged men in long drawn out conversations, the silence of God should be an indicator that his wrath is building up and being stored.  (Revelation 15:1)  And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.  Jesus often referenced the Word of God in his messages, but contrary to popular belief, there is only two instances that I can find, (you might be able to find more) where the Father actually spoke in the New Testament scripture.   Both instances were a confirmation of his Son, in whom he was well pleased.  (Matthew 3:17) And lo a voice from heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.   (Luke 9:35)  And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son: hear him.  The words, “hear him” were addressed to Peter.  It seems as if the Father was overcome with anger when Peter had a desire to speak with, and learn from Moses and Elias.  This verse should speak volumes when seeking to understand God and the Word of God.

The Dispensation of the Law came to an end on the cross with the utterance of the words, “it finished.” The Dispensation of Grace began with the outpouring of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit.  (John 14:26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” 

The Road Leading To Destruction., Part B

Chapter 1, Part B

Understanding The Word Of God

When many of us consider the sin question we think of violations of the Ten Commandments.  Even then, we tend to think of murder and adultery as "major" sins compared with lying, cursing, or idolatry.   Under the dispensation of the law, certain sins carried an instant death penalty; therefore they were considered major sins.  Under the dispensation of grace, the attempt to separate sin as to major and minor often is just an attempt to justify sin.  Such as the homosexual who often state that its sin is no greater than those who commit adultery.  “All unrighteousness is sin...“ (1 John 5:17)   Paul, however, puts this in perspective when he said, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.” (Romans 3:20).   To be conscious of sin, we must become aware of the feeling derived from sinning; therefore our reaction to sin is also based upon how it makes us feel.   If the Holy Spirit, an attribute of grace and not of the law, abides within our heart, the feeling that we derive from being in the proximity of sin should be disgusting.

The second point of 1^st John 5:17 dissertation states that there is a sin that is not unto death.  This is based upon the contention of the Law that required an instant death penalty for certain sin, the chief commandment is faith and love. Therefore, the chief sin is that by which faith and love are destroyed.  “Verily I say unto you, all sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith whosoever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.” (Mark 3:28-29)  

What is blasphemy?  Blasphemy against God is equated with treason against the State.  Blasphemy is derisive language or any other insult against God, His character, and His system of proper worship.  It is addressed in Old Testament law through the third commandment (do not take the Lord's name in vain).  This should set the stage for a deeper understanding of sin. 

Jesus approach to sin under the presumption of Grace was different from that which was set forth by God under the law.   This should be an interesting line of study for those who insist on invoking the Law of Moses.  The Law says, “If a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel. If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto a husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbor's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you. But if a man finds a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die.” (Deuteronomy 22:22-25)  The High Priest was to insure that this punishment was carried out.

The Scribes and Pharisees approached Jesus in an attempt to bring an accusation against him.  The foundation of their test was to determine if Jesus was following the Law of Moses.  The Law verses the presumption of Grace was a point of contention throughout Jesus’s ministry, and Paul sought to deal with it during the formation of the church.  “And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?” (John 8:3-5) 

“So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those, thine accusers?  Hath no man condemned thee?  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” (John 8:7-11)

“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.  If we do not believe in the Word of God and speak words of blasphemy against God, we shall die in our sins.” (John 8:24)

The road to the justification of sin began with allowing our emotions to play a role in determining what a sin is and what is not.  If we believe in God, then the Word of God should be the determining factor. Paul explained what happens when we remove the knowledge of God from our thought process and replace it with the knowledge of good and evil.  The knowledge of good and evil will blur the line that separate good from evil.

 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” (Romans 1:28)  Feeling good is subjective morality; it allows us to justify sin through a non Christian agenda.  The path of sin is marked with a simple truism, “God loves his children and he wants them to be happy.”

God wants us to recognize our sins. Even those who have not murdered or committed adultery will find themselves convicted of lying, or of worshipping false idols like wealth or power instead of God.  We have created new idols.  The worship of the ancient golden calf has returned in a new and ruthless disguise. It exists in the form of the idolatry of money, in the dictatorship of an impersonal economy within the church.  Worship services are designed to stimulate or excite the masses and are lacking a true spiritual purpose. 

So what is sin?  If you believe in God, this should be a no-brainer. Some things are wrong, some things are right, simply because God says so and He knows. But if you do not believe in God to become involved in a legalistic argument over what is right and what is wrong is pointless.  This argument will never be resolved.

 David speaking to a group of none believers was direct and on point.  "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God,   corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.” (Psalms 53:1)   David used the word "fool”,  this word is edited out of the modern text.  The attitude of a fool can be ascertained through words or deeds.  

Often the Bible is used by the fool to justify sin.  A small snippet of a verse will be surgically removed and quoted out of its context, “The bible says, there is none that does good”, the church agreed and said amen because it allowed for the justification of sin.

The organized church allowed itself to be drawn into an arena filled with contradictions and lies.  Vain an blasphemous promise is made in the name of God and God is not responding to these requests or promises.  The respect that should be given to God, the church and Christianity is fading because of this fallacy.  Many organized churches are becoming nothing more than a place of entertainment as a new and suggestive beat invades what once was a sacred worship service. A play on the emotions is taking center stage and the spirit of God is presented as nothing but an emotional expression. 

Men and women of dubious stature are demanding that they become respected as messengers of God when their message is tainted with subjective moralities. Leaders who practice to deceive are amassing fortunes selling a shaped message and goods designed to make the listener feel good, while they skillfully massage and manipulate the sinful nature of humanity.  Motivational speeches are not preaching the Word of God.  Practical living exposés is not expository preaching.  Pep talks and clever clichés have no power to save.  Wealth building is not a part of salvation. 

 “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)   This question put forth by Jesus deserves an answer.  Take a look around.  What do you see?  Do you really see the faith Jesus spoke of?  It is easy to go through life pretending.  Often we pretend to know the answer when we do not fully understand the question.    It is easy to pretend that we are something that we are not and often it is the pretenders that receive the greatest accolades.  Has our faith become like polluted water and we are guilty of pretending? 

To be Continued

The Road Leading To Destruction, Part A

Chapter 1 Part A

Understanding The Word Of God

For I am the LORD, I change not. (Malachi 3:6)

There are many of us who hold the opinion that the future of humanity as we know it, is at risk because our system of values have become corrupt and the world as we know it is moraly bankrupt.  Even America, that glorious nation that was founded upon the concept of, “One nation under God”, seems to have lost its way and become engaged in the wiles of the Devil.  It’s people are becoming adrift in a sea of deliberate confusion,  as they seek to redefine the basic elements of their spirituality.  America, that once proud nation whose founders chooses to challenge the status quo and had the audacity to proclaim its existence was provided for by the grace of God, is now turning its back on God. 

This nation’s leaders has ripped apart the moral fibers of its collective consciousness and now proclaims itself a nation of many gods, cultures and beliefs.   The only consensus is the indoctrination of "In God we trust" has failed and like many nations of the past, the road being traveled bears the marks of a road leading to destruction. 

Nations once derived their value system from their culture and their culture derives their values from religion or the lack of religion.  The God of Abraham declared himself to be the God of the universe and proclaimed that, “I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:2-3)   The so-called Christian nations today embraces a new and permissive ideology.

In the ancient days God was known to judge nations harshly if they failed to honor him.  The ancient values of a God fearing society are now being cast aside and our culture is becoming a self defining entity that is now entertaining the ideology that there is no God.  If there is no God, then the definition of sin can no longer be  definitive.  

The concept of sin has become entangled in a legalistic argument of what is right and what is wrong.  The rules of marriage or even  abortion can no longer be argued within the context of the Word of God.  In the eyes of the courts, the true concept of God can no longer be injected into an argument because the burden of proof cannot be met from a legalistic point of view.  Christianity is struggling in the hands of the deceitful,  in a fatal attempt to prove its relevancy in any decision involving the sin question.    Christianity is engaged in a life and death struggling, it must come to an agreement on what is right and what is wrong  and it must be based upon subjective (man) morality rather than objective (God) morality.  In a political correct society it has become necessary to remove God from the equation and redefine sin as right or wrong as it applies to all mankind, regardless of their religious belief. 

  

A modern day philosopher of some sort has stated, "Right is that which is formed within a person's mind, which brings peace to his inner longing."  What's right for one may be wrong for another, this is an accepted norm.  Thus the rule of, "If it feels good, do it", has become one of the standards of determining right and wrong. A rather precarious way to begin a search for, or establish what is right and what is wrong.

The Bible tells us that, “every way of a man is right in his own eyes”. (Proverbs 21:2)  This is human nature, but God also tells us that He decides what right and what is wrong.  In today’s politically correct society are we really concerned about what God has to say?  Humanity has always been determined to live its life, its own way, the way that feels good, and as humanity follows its own path, it considers itself to be right in its decisions.  But this is a lie, because the very core and inner working of human nature is based on pride and selfishness, the self being first.  Whether we admit it or not, this basic nature is the cause of conflicts, arguments, dissension, envy, competition, hatred, wars, stress, and all of the things that makes for an unhappy lifestyle.

There are two basic ways to live life, one is to give, and one is to get.  Humanity, by nature lives by the way of getting, for this reason the Bible speaks of the need for a new nature imparted by God.  Only when we seek God’s help and allow him to change our nature, can we begin to find the true ways to peace through living a life of giving.  The world does not know the way of peace. This is evidenced in a bloodstained earth through 6,000 years of human history. A painful reality of life is to learn that the way of man is steeped in deception, lies and a knowledge that is not based upon the knowledge of God.

The Bible speaks of two sources of knowledge, the knowledge of God and the knowledge of good and evil.  In a culture that is infused with the knowledge of good and evil rather than the knowledge of God, there are two moralities at play, objective and subjective.  Objective morality recognizes God as the decider of right and wrong and its conclusions are guided by the knowledge of God.  Subjective morality gives man the final authority as to what is right or wrong and it conclusions are guided by the knowledge of good and evil.  Thus, with feigned and ambiguous words the learned philosophers have set the rules of debate, man decides what is right  for mankind.

The objective morality verses the subjective morality debate is really a Christianity verses atheist debate in disguise.  To engage in a meaningful debate, both sides must respect each other position, but Christianity has never been a religion that respected the position of the ungodly and the Atheist will never respect the values of Christianity. 

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12)  The objective morals that once were promoted by the Western societies are being replaced by a subjective morality.  Christian values have become toxic and are being replaced with politically correct values.  Christianity is adopting a message of peaceful coexistence rather than confrontation.  It is conceivable that if Jesus or Paul were to preach a message in today's modern church they would be harshly chastised.  Imagine John the Baptist standing in the pulpit of a marvelous and richly endowed church screaming, "Oh ye generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath of God." 

There is a sin question that is dominating the human agenda.  To proceed forward in the path that it has taken, humanity as a whole must come to a consensus as to what is a sin and what is not.   Once that door is open, it must also be decided whether sin is a relevant entity in a modernist society.  The sin question cannot be resolved if sin is nothing but a label applied to things that certain groups do not like. 

The real problem with deciding the sin question is that the moral principles that Christians often claim to be "objective" or of God usually coincide with what they "feel" subjectively to be true.      This feeling is often explained as the, "Holy Spirit within us”, but indoctrination also plays an important role here.  When pressed to provide justification, the person being questioned can be led to believe through skillful manipulation that its concept of sin, morality or even of God might not be objective, and the question of sin becomes a question of what one believe.  Without a proper knowledge of God our belief structure is contaminated,  many are easily manipulated and led astray.

The debate as to what is right and what is wrong can continue to the "N" degree, but the true question is, "Do the parties in the debate believe in the same God?"  If the answer is an unequivocal yes, and without doubt, then the question of sin is settled.  There is no reason for a debate.   If one or more parties do not believe in God or the Bible, or even have a different interpretation of God, then there can be no consensus on the question of sin, any discussion of sin is pointless.

Therefore, if we refuse to accept God as the Supreme Being, the Bible as the history of God interaction with his creation that tells how all of this began and how it will end, then we have nothing to add to solving the sin question.  Our acceptance or definition of sin becomes merely a perverse form self-gratification known as the justification of sin.

To be continued 

Part B

The Battle Between Two Brothers, cont...

Genesis 4:9  And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?  

Hebrews 13:1  Let brotherly love continue.

From the beginning of the spread of humanity family feuds have played a role in the path that humanity has taken.  It began to grow when Cain slew his Brother, and blossomed when brothers and sisters began to fight over the family estates.  The legacy of a Civil Rights leader who dedicated his life to peaceful dissent and brotherly love, has been tossed 'under the bus' as family members fight in court for the right to sell his legacy.      In todays modern society, families have been torn apart because someone looked in a pot on the stove, or churches split because of the color of the carpet installed in the sanctuary.  The bases of dissent are usually founded upon what one perceives of reality and not what is real.  

The bases of Cain’s dissent were a false perception  of the events as pertaining to the offering of the sacrifice to God.  The fault resided with Cain and it was the result of his attitude and his failure to accept the Word of God.  In reality it was God whom Cain was wroth with, but he took his anger out on his brother.  Genesis 4:6-7  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.  Genesis 4:8  And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 

False perceptions have tainted family histories down through the ages.  God asked Cain two questions and provided the answer.  If he had carefully listened to the questions and answers, he would have known the basis of his dissent. The problem was not with Abel, the problem was within himself.  False perceptions occur when we refuse to look within our self and see our own faults.  Because of false perceptions, family members often see things through a tainted lens, and they often see things not as they really are.
 As in the case of Joseph this false perception is contagious and spreads from family member to those outside of the family .  Often family members are convicted of infractions that they are not even guilty of committing.   Joseph told his brothers of a dream and immediately he was convicted of thinking he was more than the rest of his siblings.  This false perception was brought on by the belief that Joseph’s  father was showing favoritism.  Once this idea in ingrained in the physic of the family, there in nothing that can be done by the parent of the child to refute or eradicate this perception.  Every act or deed are viewed through a tainted lens.

It was Cain’s belief that God was showing favoritism as pertaining to the brothers and this angered him.  It could be augured and it is well within the prerogative of God to show favoritism to the younger son.  Sound reasoning indicates that the older son ideology was that of a ruler, whereas the younger son was that of a servant.   It was always the attributes of a servant that God was looking for when he established his leaders.  Luke attempted to express Jesus’s concept of the Father’s ideology when he said; Luke 13:30  And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.  It was and is the custom of humanity to look to the oldest as being the heir and ruler of the father’s inheartance.  That in itself is reason enough for God to choose the youngest over the oldest son. 

As in the case of Isaac and Ishmael as a blood feud erupted over who was entitled to the birthright. Genesis 25:5  And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.  There is something inherently sinister about two brother’s at odds with each other.  This is a technique perfected in the ancient days and is carried over into the present age.  Mothers and fathers will spend their entire lives struggling to have something to pass on to their children, only to find out in the end that it is all for naught.   

As the condition in the Middle East intensifies, the battle between the two brothers continue to spin out of control, many mainstream Christian churches has divested themselves of the spiritual  connection they have with the brethren of Christ.   Hebrew and Christian theology, the same as Islam has reinterpreted the scripture and they foolishly claim the blessing of Abraham for themselves.  The Jews, Christ brethrens have been denied their proper place and eradication is at the forefront of many churches and nation's agenda.  1 Corinthians 10:32  Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.  There is much about this scripture that we don’t want to understand.

The spread of Islam began when, around 613 CE, the Islamic prophet Muhammad (570 – 632 CE) began to share the revelation which God (Allah) had, according to Muslims, started to give to him three years previously. During the rest of his life, the Muslim community was established in Arabia. The expansion of the Arab Empire in the years following Muhammad's death led to the creation of caliphates, occupying a vast geographical area and conversion to Islam was boosted by missionary activities, particularly those of the Sufis, who easily intermingled with the local populace to propagate the religious teachings. 

A caliphate is an Islamic state led by a supreme religious and political leader, and it has existed in one form or another for most of the 1,400-year history of Islam. These early caliphates, coupled with Muslim economics and trading and the later expansion of the Ottoman Empire, resulted in Islam's spread outwards from Mecca towards both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the creation of the Muslim world. Military conquest, trade and commerce played important roles in the spread of Islam in several parts of the world, notably Southeast Asia

The start of Islam could be marked in the year 610, following the first revelation to the prophet Muhammad at the age of 40. Muhammad and his followers spread the teachings of Islam throughout the Arabian peninsula.  The objective of his teaching was to unite the descendants of Ishmael under one religious banner.  Prior to the conception of Islam the descendants of Ishmael served many different gods.  The Islamic prophet Muhammad united the twelve tribes under one God, the God of Abraham, the same as the Hebrew religion. 

Both religions claimed to be the heir to the blessings of Abraham and are looking for the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies.  The difference between the two religions is the difference in the interpretation of the Old Testament scriptures.  Both religions, Hebrew and Islam, refuse to accept the New Testament as the door to the reconciliation of the brothers.  The New Testament establishes a new entity whereby the Jews and the Gentiles could become one body called the church.

The church was established as a spiritual body, and if it exists as a spiritual body, then its blessings and  or benefits must be of the same nature.  The Gentiles are a group of nations that exists because Sarah and Abraham  took matters into their own hand, rather than trusting in God.  Man’s fall from grace took place because Adam and Eve chose to follow the inclinations of their own heart, rather than believing in God.   The Devil has taken all of the necessary steps to insure that the organized church is corrupted through a process call deliberate confusion.

There is the question that comes into play when we think about Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah or even Ishmael and Issac.  The answer to this question is of the utmost importance when it comes to understanding the will of God and the will of man.   To suppress the knowledge of God, we are taught not to ask God questions, yet many of the men of old engaged God in conversations and asked God questions.  To further complicate the ideology of a powerful God, we are taught that God is controlling every aspect of human endeavor.  After God set forth his plan in the Garden of Eden, when Adam was about to disobey, why didn’t God speak and tell Adam, “Don’t do that?” 

The Battle Between Two Brothers

Hebrews 13:1  Let brotherly love continue.

A battle of epic proportions between two brothers has been brewing for thousands of years, yet many modern day rulers have sought to foster a peace agreement to no avail.  The bible prophesies is often overlooked, many seek to establish their own guidelines for a structured peace between between the brothers.  The battle is among the nations established by the twelve princes or rulers of Ishmael and the twelve tribes of Israel. The Arabs and the Israelis have been fighting since time immemorial, more than four thousand years,  over that tiny plot of land called Israel. Their battle is not one of flesh and blood, but of spiritual things. The Bible states that the last great battle will pit Israel against the rest of the Middle East and its allies.  It is this battle, that if Christ did not intervene and fight for his ‘brothers’ all would be lost.

When the son of man shall come in his glory, and all of the holy  angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; and before him, he shall gather all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a Shepherd divides his sheep from the goats: (Matthew 25:31-32).

To many, this verse reference a point in time when Christ returns to judge the world at the last day.  There are several peculiarities  in this judgment day verse that cause it to stand apart from the other judgment day verses.   This verse indicates that Christ is returning to the earth with his Holy angels.   Who are the Holy angels and where is the throne of his glory?

For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat,' and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the Nations, and parted my land. (Joel 3:1-2).

Most of us in school were made aware of the scattering of the Jews, but we failed to see the biblical implications of the acts.  How did it all begin and why have they remained mortal enemies for thousands of years?  It was jealousy and resentment, plain and simple! And man’s failure to believe and trust in God.  The same scenario is played out in the world today. Lets Take a look at how things unfolded:

In Genesis 11:29 we are introduced to Abram and his wife Sarai.  The introduction began with   the family going into the land of Canaan and dwelling in a place called Haran.  One important piece of information that is important to this narrative is in Genesis 11:30  But Sarai was barren; she had no child.  Abram was being selected for a mission and this mission required that Sarai, his wife give him a son. 

Genesis 12:1-3  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 

Abraham was given a timetable of possession of the land, but nothing was said about when the child was to be born. In this chapter, Sarah takes matters into her own hands, for she has been childless ten years since the promise of a child was made.  The story is about the two women, Sarah the infertile wife and Hagar the fertile slave.  In Genesis 16 we see Abraham and his wife Sarah panicking about not having an heir yet, and so they decided (at the urging of Sarah) to take matters into their own hands and have Abraham sleep with his wife's pagan/Egyptian servant Hagar. The result of that union was a son they named Ishmael.

Genesis 16:11-12  And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.  And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

Fourteen years later, Sarah gave birth to a son.  Genesis 17:19-21  And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year. 

Ishmael mocked those who maintained that Isaac would be Abraham's chief heir, and said that as he (Ishmael) was the first-born son he would receive two-thirds of the inheritance. Upon seeing the danger to Isaac, Sarah, who had till then been attached to Ishmael  insisted that Abraham cast out Ishmael. Abraham was obliged to put him on Hagar's shoulders, because he fell sick under the spell of the evil eye cast upon him by Sarah.

Based upon the promise of  God, Abaraham entreated for his first born son, and God relented and promised a blessing a blessing upon him, but it was Isaac, whom with the covenant would reside.  Let's recap the story.

Eldest son of Abraham by his concubine Hagar; born when Abraham was eighty-six years of age (Geneses 16:15-16). God promised Abraham that His blessing should be upon Ishmael, who, He foretold, would produce twelve princes, and would become a great nation (Geneses 17:18-20). Ishmael was circumcised at the age of thirteen (Geneses 17:23-26). When Sarah saw Ishmael mocking her son Isaac, his brother, younger by fourteen years, she insisted that Abraham cast out Ishmael and his slave-mother. Abraham reluctantly yielded, having provided them with bread and a bottle of water. Ishmael was about to die of thirst when an angel showed his mother a well, repeating to her at the same time that Ishmael would become a great nation. Ishmael dwelt in the wilderness, apparently, of Beer-Sheba, where he became a skillful archer; later he settled in the wilderness of Paran, where his mother took him a wife from Egypt (Geneses 21:8-21). Both Ishmael and Isaac were present at the burial of their father, Abraham. Ishmael died at the age of 137. He had twelve sons, ancestors of twelve tribes that dwelt "from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest to Assyria" (Geneses 25:9-18).

This jealousy and resentment between Sarah and Hagar and their sons Isaac and Ishmael created an unparalleled hate which has set off wars and atrocities for four thousand years. It was the title deed to the land of Israel, which God promised to Abraham's lineage, that has been the source of the friction between the Jews and the Arabs right up to the present day.

The Arabs claim the Jews cheated them out of their birthright and the Jews claim the Arabs are trying to steal their God given birthrights.  What you believe is whether you believe in the Holy Bible, the Koran or nothing.

It was customary in those ages, in the development of God's plan, to displace the elder with the younger, Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-7,25), Isaac and Ishmael (Genesis 16:1-2; 17:18-21; 21:1-5), Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:19-26) and Ephraim and Manasseh (Genesis 48:14-19) are a few recorded instances.  Abram also was the youngest and inherited his father’s blessings.

There were two promises given to Abram by God, (a) that he would make of him a great nation, bless him, make his name great, make him a blessing, bless those who blessed him, and curse those who cursed him;  (b) that in him should all families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3).  These promises were subsequently renewed on Mount Moriah (Genesis 22:1-18). These promises were subsequently fulfilled in, (a) the covenant dedicated at Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:1-8), (b) the new covenant (Galatians 4:22-31).

Genesis 16:12 He will be a wild man; his posterity would be rude, un-subdued, and opposed to the restraints of city life; as the Arabs in their native country always have been.  His hand--against every man; they would be robbers and plunderers of such as should fall in their way. They would dwell in the presence; though opposed to all nations, they would never be exterminated or dispossessed; and they have continued to inhabit Arabia down to the present day.