"THE COMING!"

Greek word for coming: "parousia"

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" (2 Peter 3:10 &12).

The "day of the Lord" or "day of God" will point us to the end of something and the beginning of another. This day is the "coming of Christ." Therefore, our study will take us through all of the occurrences of the Greek word, parousia (coming) in the New Testament.

The Apocalypse means, the unveiling. "Apo" = from; "calypse" = hiding. Hence, out of the words, "from hiding" we get "revelation." The Revelation is about the unveiling, appearing or coming of Christ. This is the "day of God."

Since September 11th, 2001, America is responding to an evil that is terrorizing the world. Many are concerned that this could be the beginning of "the end of the world" and the second "coming of the Lord." Throughout the Bible, the end of the world is associated with the coming of the Lord. If this is the end, it is "the coming of Christ" or "the day of God." The Bible is clear about when the second "coming of the Lord" and the end of the world will happen? I want us to look at the day of "the coming of the Lord" and when "the end" will occur.

Gifted scholars and trained researchers, at times, understand the past differently, even after they have read the same texts and examined the same evidence. We are no exception. You and I will look at the same material and come out with different viewpoints. So, I will place all the facts before you. I am presenting all the verses in the New Testament, that concern the frequently used Greek word, "Parousia." It is translated into the English as "coming." The reason for looking at this Greek word is because the English word, "coming" does not give us a clear picture of this Greek word that is translated twenty four times into the English. I will show that two English words (presence & arrival) better convey the thought behind the first century usage of the Greek word, parousia (pronounced: par - oo - see' - a).

M. R. Vincent has recorded in his book, "Word Studies in the New Testament" (page 74), that the Greek word for "coming" ( parousias) was originally thought of as (in the Greek language of the first century) "presence." It derives its usage from the Greek word, pareiuai, which means "to be present." On the other hand, our word, "coming" is an on-going process. This Greek word pictures the end of the process.

A very trust worthy Greek scholar, W. E. Vine, in his work, "An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words" (page 203), says that par-eis-erchomai means to come in (eis) beside or near (para) as the arrival of harvest or to the side of those present so as to be present with them, and is used...

* in the literal sense, of the coming in of the Law in addition to sin, Romans 5:20; (hence: it's arrival)

* in Galatians 2:4, the coming of false brethren into your midst, suggesting their arrival through stealth.

In Vine's book (page 208), he says that parousia means a presence, para, with, & ousia, being (from eimi, to be), denotes both an arrival and a consequent "presence with." For instance, in a first century papyrus letter, a lady speaks of the necessity of her parousia in a location, in order to attend to matters relating to her property there. For a fuller treatment of Parousia, see Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine (pages 87, 88).

The Greek word for "coming," parousia (parousia) occurs 24 times in the Greek New Testament. This word is translated "coming" in 22 out of 24 passages and clouds the meaning many times for the reader. The Greek word, parousia (parousia) does not mean an on-going process of coming. It is in contrast to being absent. One could be absent and still be coming. However, one cannot arrive and be absent at the same moment. Therefore, it should be translated "arrival" in 20 of the passages and "presence" in 4 of the passages in order to keep the thought of the writer consistently clear. This would lift the veil and clarify the meaning of all the passages.

A. Four passages where the Greek word, "parousia" should be translated "Presence."

1. In Second Corinthians 10:10 ( "...his bodily presence (parousia) is weak..." ) If we used the word, "coming" here, the meaning would be destroyed. Paul is talking about the very real "presence" of his physical body. We are very fortunate for this translation of the Greek word, parousia in this instance as "presence."

2. In Philippians 1:26 ( "...by my coming (parousia) to you again." ) Paul is referring to his arrival and presence with them. "Presence" would be the better translation for the Greek word, parousia.

3. In Philippians 2:12 ( "...not in my presence (parousia) only, but now much more in my absence." ) Paul uses the word parousia to contrast with his absence. This is a good translation of the Greek word, parousia.

4. In Second Peter 1:16 ( "...coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ." ) The word parousia here is used to picture the termination of the process of coming and the beginning of the state of being presence. The Greek words should be translated, "...presence of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Parousia is an event. It is not a condition. It is a transitional point of contact, not a continuous line of movement.

Eleus'sis (eleus'sis) is a Greek word for covering the entire line of movement from point A to point B. Our Greek word we are considering, parousia (parousia), is the arrival or conclusion of the process of coming.



B. Twenty verses where the Greek word, "parousia" should be translated "arrival."

Matthew 24:3 "And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, 'Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming (parousia), and of the end of the world?"

Matthew 24:27 "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming (parousia) of the Son of man be."

Matthew 24:37 "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming (parousia) of the Son of man be."

Matthew 24:39 "And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming (parousia) of the Son of man be."

1 Corinthians 15:23 "But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward, they that are Christ's at His coming (parousia)."

1 Corinthians 16:17 "I am glad of the coming (parousia) of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which is lacking on your part, they have supplied."

2 Corinthians 7:6 "Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming (parousia) of Titus; and not by his coming only,

2 Corinthians 7:7 "And not by his coming (parousia) only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire..." coming (parousia) only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire..."

1 Thessalonians 2:19 "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming (parousia)?"

1 Thessalonians 3:13 "To the end He may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."

1 Thessalonians 4:15 "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming (parousia) of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep."

1 Thessalonians 5:23 "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ."

2 Thessalonians 2:1 "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him."

2 Thessalonians 2:8 "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming (parousia)."

2 Thessalonians 2:9 "Even him, whose coming (parousia) is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders."

James 5:7, "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming (parousia) of the Lord."

5:8 "Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming (parousia) of the Lord draweth nigh."

2 Peter 3:4 "And saying, Where is the promise of His coming (parousia)?"

3:12 "Looking for and hasting unto the coming (parousia) of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?"

1 John 2:28 "And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming (parousia)"

This is a complete list of the New Testament locations of the Greek word, Parousia (parousia) in it's 24 occurrences. The English word "coming" does not give us the true picture that is painted in the Greek word, Parousia (parousia). A "coming" may or may not end in an arrival. However, an arrival is final and means that we are experiencing His Presence. Many are beginning to understand that He has already come in 70 C. E. and is here, according to Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Mark 13. Many still debate this issue.

The Bible speaks of the "end of the world" in connection with the "coming of the Lord." His coming or arrival was during the first century (70 C. E.) and that "generation" did not pass away until they saw it. We are not living in the "last days." For in 30 C. E., God spoke to the Hebrew people through Jesus Christ and called those times "the last days" (Hebrews 1:2). The last days ended the Biblical period of redemption. We have been redeemed and are living in the days beyond those last days. We are in living in "the ages to come."



These are days when we must unite.

Whatever you or I believe about the end of the world, today we are in times of trouble when Terrorists are threatening our peace. We must act now and unite all our efforts to safeguard our families and country.

The hidden word

"My son, if thou wilt receive my words and hide my commandments with thee;" Proverbs 2:1

In between the southern border of Russia and the northern border of China sits the 19th largest country in the world. For a period of just four minutes and seven seconds on March 29, 2006, citizens of western Mongolia were able to witness the most recent Total Solar Eclipse. Such a rare occurrence could not be missed as the moon passed between the earth and the sun to temporarily hide all natural light from our planet in that particular location. The Greeks spoke of things “hidden” through two very similar words, kalypto (from which we get eclipse and apocalypse) and krypto (from which we get cryptic and cryptography). Both have essentially the same meaning, but might help us in contemplating the extensive depths of what it means “to hide.”

In the Hebrew world that Solomon lived and wrote, his father can be quoted as saying: “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” Psalm 119:11 A key question should arise from both verses. If the “word” has been received, why should it be hidden? After all, if the “received word” includes beneficial truth for the world (such as the gospel or a note of wisdom), it seems only right that we would be quick to tell someone. Hidden words are not visible words, so why are they to be stored under lock and key? For the answer, we again turn to Solomon's father, the ever beloved King David: "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden [part] thou shalt make me to know wisdom." Psalm 51:6 Look at the verse again.

Read it several times through. If the Word is not hidden deep within your heart, you will never know wisdom. It is not enough to simply "know" the Word or recite each verse from the memory of the mind. Hear the Word. Study the Word. Know the Word. But during the process, hide the Word inside. For only when the Truth is hidden in our hearts can it be applied.

Take a stand!

Gentle Readers,
Dr Denis says... http//drcallahan.bravejournal.com has been spammed so many times in the past month that the sever took me off line to protect it's bandwidth. So in the meantime here is another reason why I am incurring the wrath of the world. by another brother.

The Evangelical SubcultureTwo Different Conversions

When I became a follower of Jesus Christ I underwent two different conversions, although I didn't realize it at the time. First, I was converted from my old life into the Body of Christ by reconciliation with God through Jesus. Hallelujah! At about the same time I bought into the Evangelical Subculture under the false impression that it WAS the Body of Christ. It took me years to realize the difference between the two.

I had been aware of "Christendom": that worldly religious structure consisting of political and economic empires and bureaucracies, both Protestant and Catholic, that had fought religious wars and undertaken crusades to retake the "Holy Land", that had burned people at the stake, that continued to preach false Christs and false gospels of works, and that continues to talk about the counterfeit unity called Ecumenicalism.

But I had not understood the nature of the Evangelical Subculture, that is a part of the worldly structure of "Christendom". This subculture has its own organizations and institutions, denominations, parachurch organizations; its own magazines and radio stations and TV networks; its own schools and colleges and universities; its own celebrities; its own music industry and book stores; its own marketing and advertising worlds.

Like Joining a Club

The tragedy of the Evangelical Subculture is that people who have a sincere desire to follow Jesus get side tracked into a zeal for being a part of this worldly system. It is like joining a club. The club member begins to wear the clothes and trinkets bought at the "Christian" book stores; watch "Christian" TV and listen to "Christian" radio; buy the latest fad books that sweep the "Christian media"; subscribe to the "Christian" magazines; worship the "Christian" celebrities; use all the latest jargon promoted in the latest books by the celebrity authors.

A cult-like mentality develops among people who see this Evangelical system as identical to the Body of Christ. Their zeal is for the trappings of the subculture. It is its own religion. If someone tries to point out the unbiblical nature of some aspect of this subculture people will take offense because you are criticizing their religion. The subculture becomes the message. The "gospel" that people preach is for conversion to the system, not really to Jesus Christ.

The Subculture, Institutionalism, and Deception

The pop culture of Evangelicalism feeds on institutionalism, denominationalism, "non-denominational" institutional church organizations, and the professional clergy system. The professional clergy and their church organizations, in turn, find an indoctrinated constituency to fill their pews and programs. Both the subculture and the institutional churches turn a relationship with Jesus and his people into a participation in a religion and a lifestyle.

This Evangelical Subculture has played a major role in setting professing Christians up for deception. It seduces people to think and act like the subculture instead of reading the Bible for themselves and deriving their understanding from the Bible. It has been this subculture that has infected the Evangelicals with psychology, self-esteem, political action and social activism, unity at the expense of sound doctrine, mysticism, and cult attachments to gurus, movements, and organizations. Ultimately, the end of this deception is a merging of the Evangelical Subculture with the global counterfeit religious vision.

We ought to be content with the simplicity of following Jesus and being the Body of Christ together with those the Lord provides for fellowship, according to the teachings of the Apostles in the New Testament.

Jim Baumgaertel

Thank you

O Gracious God, we give you thanks for your overflowing generosity to us. Thank you for the blessings of the food we eat and especially for this feast today. Thank you for our home and family and friends, especially for the presence of those gathered here. Thank you for our health, our work and our play. Please send help me those who are hungry, alone, sick and suffering war and violence. Open my heart to your love. We ask your blessing through Christ your son. Amen. and Amen

Thanksgiving

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
Time is GOD'S way of preventing everything from happening all at once.

BEING THANKFUL
"Enter HIS gates with praise and thanksgiving, HIS courts with acclamation. Praise Him! Be thankful to HIM! Bless HIS Name!" [Psalms (Tehillym) 100. 4 Tanakh, Kethuvim]

The majority of occurrences of the word thankful or thanks in the OLD COVENANT are translated from the Hebrew word "yadah" which means to "hold out the hand, to extend an empty hand, revere or worship with extended hands."

A truly thankful person is one who has come to grips with certain realities about his need before CREATOR GOD. The ALMIGHTY ONE commands us to be thankful. It was a duty given to the Levitical priests "to be present every morning to praise and extol the LORD, and at evening too." [1 Chronicles (Dibre Hayamin Alef) 23. 30 Tanakh, Kethuvim] When the HOLY ONE, blessed be HE, brought the Israelites back to Jerusalem in the times of Nehemiah "he began with thanksgiving, with prayer and praise" [Nehemiah (Nechemah) 11. 17 Tanakh, Kethuvim] and the Levites "led the thanksgiving psalms and songs." [Nehemiah (Nechemah) 12. 8 Tanakh, Kethuvim]

The Hebrew word used by the OLD COVENANT writers is a picture of one holding out an empty, thankful hand to the ETERNAL ONE. There is nothing we can bring to GOD that causes HIM to bless us. Our empty hands picture our inadequacy to accomplish the will of the EVERLASTING FATHER (in our own strength), or to provide for our own needs or the needs of others.

The prophet Jonah "prayed to the LORD his GOD from the belly of the fish" [Jonah (Yonah) 2. 1 Tanakh, Nevi'im] and even in this loathsome dilemma proclaimed, "but I, with loud THANKSGIVING, will sacrifice to YOU; what I have vowed I will perform. Salvation is of the LORD." [Jonah (Yonah) 2. 9 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

Nebuchadnezzar had to learn this lesson. Although he had been warned to repent of his arrogant, boastful, self-importance he still uttered, "There is great Babylon, which I have built by my vast power to be a royal residence for the glory of my majesty!" [Daniel (Danyel) 4. 30 Tanakh, Kethuvim] This great king was driven out by OMNIPOTENT GOD and caused to eat grass "like the cattle and beasts of the field" - and when his senses returned, Nebuchadnezzar realized that even a mighty king's hands are empty unless the MIGHTY KING of kings fills them.

In our generation people deny their dependency upon their HEAVENLY CREATOR. "Because that, when they knew GOD, they glorified HIM not as GOD, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened." [Romans 1. 21] Our witness to this darkened world is to live with the reality of our own empty hands extended in thankfulness to "The ONE" Who supplies all our needs. "O LORD, YOU open YOUR hand, they (and we) are well satisfied." [Psalms (Tehillym) 104. 28 Tanakh, Kethuvim]




Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel !
Happy Thanksgiving dear ones! We give thanks the whole year through as we remember and praise our Almighty Creator & SAVIOUR, HE is the most splendid GIFT we have all been given. Faith celebrates even before the victory is seen!

Please note Dr Denis says... has been spammed so that I will be off line for the next 2 weeks... Sorry to my readers

THE QUESTION OF DIVISIONS

THE QUESTION OF DIVISIONS


As we look about us today we see that Christendom is divided into hundreds of sects. We read much about these divisions as men deplore them. There is a widespread accusation that men are dividing the body of Christ. And men everywhere are seeking to make a union, to gather the sects and denominations together under one head. But of course that one head will be a man.

In the midst of all this the question comes to mind as to whether there can be divisions in the body of Christ. If so, how could it be done? Where would one start? What means could be used?

In Ephesians 4:3-6 there is mentioned the unity of the Spirit. It is sevenfold as follows;

ONE LORD

One Hope One Faith

One Spirit One Baptism

One Body One God and Father

No one can make this unity. It is already made. It is to be kept, that is all that one can do about it. But somebody is sure to ask if the unity is broken if somebody does not keep it. Failing to keep the unity is not breaking it or making any divisions. The unity cannot be changed by man's attitude toward it. It remains nevertheless.

In man made organizations, there can be all kinds of divisions and splits. And they can also make a unity by joining organizations together. But no such unity can be a spiritual one.

In the churches during Acts, there were divisions and strife. This was wrong and was mentioned along with carnality, fornication, incest, and the like. But after Acts the word church never again appears in the plural and no longer does the term apply to a group of believers here on the earth. The church today is seated with Christ in the heavens. What man can ascend to heaven to divide this church?

The Head of the church today is seated at the right hand of God in the heavenlies. If any man were to try to be head of the church today, he would have to invade heaven itself and displace Christ from His position there. Yet men vainly imagine that the church is here on the earth and that a man is its head. And many a martyr died in the flames insisting that Christ was the Head of the church, and not somebody else.

What man can ascend to heaven to break the unity of the Spirit? Yet we are told that we are to strive earnestly to keep it. We are to watch over it, to take care of it in our own lives, to keep an eye upon it, not looking to something else as a substitute, and to observe it attentively. Our failure to do this does not break it, but it can break us. We can suffer loss and lose our joy.

Keeping the unity of the Spirit is closely knit with the walk. The unity can be manifested in the walk. If one will closely read this chapter 4, he will see that this all leads on to a unity of the faith mentioned in verse 13. But there can be no unity of faith without a knowledge of the Son of God. This leads to maturity, the full grown man.

koinwniva Koinonia

THE FELLOWSHIP Startled by the alarm clock on a cool Sunday morning, many of us awake to the routine of service at our local church. An elder has requested that we arrive early to set up chairs or perhaps make coffee for old friends. Some of us are the recipients of this labor as we enter the doors of an assembly hoping to see a smile and find warmth from our pastor's gentle encouragement. When all is said and done, a few go out for lunch and the majority return to their privacy. By its very nature, we call this weekly encounter a time of "fellowship." From Oxford to Harvard and every prestigious university in between, great scholars are often granted the title of "Fellow." Depending on the academic structure, this can mean a variety of different things, but at its core, any university Fellow is a man or woman who receives unlimited access to the inner libraries and research offices. Even college students have been known to receive word from the government that they are being granted a "fellowship" of financial support based on the condition of their academic status. With so many different experiences, we naturally stand to be a little bit confused about the meaning of fellowship. Is it a gathering of people on sunday morning? Is it a financial gift? Is it a prestigious title? "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;" Philippians 1:3-5 Paul speaks in remembrance of Philippian "fellowship" by bringing in the Greek word koinonia. Simply put, this a remembrance of "joint participation" in a common cause. "Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him [that is] alone when he falleth; for [he hath] not another to help him up." Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 In 1987, our nation rallied behind the rescue workers of Midland, Texas as they worked to lift "Baby Jessica" out of the well she had fallen. Such a little child could not alone be held accountable for falling, but she required the assistance of others to get back up. Likewise, Biblical fellowship stands on the principle of giving aid for the common good. At times, we may manufacture the environment for this with Sunday morning coffee or an invitation to dinner, but the setting is not the fellowship. If one is broken, fellowship willl put them back together. If one is fallen, fellowship will seek to restore them. If one is down, fellowship will find a way to lift them up. "That there should be no schism in the body; but [that] the members should have the same care for one another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it." I Corinthians 12:25-26 Sound Biblical fellowship recognizes this necessity of partnership. For when one partner falls and we do not help him get back up, what will happen when we fall? Likewise, if we do not rejoice when our partner is honored, who will rejoice when we are honored? Our heaven-bound road was not intended to be lonely. The path may in fact be narrow, but that ought to bring us closer together, not spread us apart. As fellowship closes the gap of distance between you and your brother in Christ, you'll want to make every effort to help them get up if they lose their footing.

#7 Seminaries

Not my seminary but just a photo of another cemetery

Gentle Reader,

Marti has been sick and so I sit by her bedside and contemplate the things that I wish to share. One certainly should ask "why Denis, do you rant against Christians when you say with much convincing arguments that you are also a believer in Christ the peripatetic carpenter from Nazareth?" And I must admit Gentle reader, that this series probably disturbs me much more than it does you.

It is because I care deeply about my faith and then in turn the faith that was "once delivered to all the Saints". I see so much good on every side from those who claim the Name of Christ! And yet I see beyond all of the good to see such ignominy being perpetrated upon those who have no defense. It does not begin in the pew of churches nor even in the pulpit but... in the seminaries. When those with little or no faith try to destroy the faith of those who come to be taught the Word of God.

It is in Seminaries that we have those who want to stop your thinking process until your eyes bleed from the a shear temerity that passes for education (As I always say not all, but so many are disingenuous that the teach the K.I.S.S. method Keep them simply stupid)

I challenged a theologian in residence at Notre Dame University. And what He told me was telling "If I would tell these students the truth I would lose my tenure!" I have been defamed, denied, and discourteously treated simply because I dare to tell the truth. And the truth is Gentle Reader, as the Apostle Paul one said:

"O the depth of the RICHES both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33)

It is God gentle Reader, who wants you to grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of Him as He knows you.

And it is Man who wants you to be ignorant of your faith. It becomes sciolism in our seminaries which reaches down to the pulpit and then to the pew in which you sit. No longer are we allowed to study the Scripture with a "critical eye" to see and learn for ourselves what Scripture truly says . We are force fed pablum by those who have never gone beyond "milk themselves! I for one will not stand idly by and allow the unlearned, unenlightened, and unconversant to continue to steal for you what is your God given right to Know Him. 

 I am just one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread

 Denis 

"That I may know Him." Ah, I long to know

Not just a Christ of far-gone years ago;

Nor even reigning on a heavenly throne,

Too high and distant to be really known.

I long to know Him closely; this is how-

Alive-and in this ever-pressing "now";

Communicating His all-conquering power,

A living One, within my heart this hour,

Who now no longer lives from me apart,

But shares His resurrection in my heart.

Others have said

"...a rare and unique gift of being able to take a broad spectrum of subjects in the Word of God which are often profoundly complex and difficult, and unfold them in such a charming and simple way that they become spiritual manna and springs in the desert". Herbert J. Moore, D. Sc. California, USA

"...this un-heard of literature would indeed be a blessing in our country." A. Wigholm Stockholm, Sweden

Your writings are both original in their thought and provocative (not only to say inspiring) in their presentation, and the conclusions are thoroughly evangelical." John R. Brencher, Th.D. Liverpool, England

"...illuminating and refreshing in their originality of thought." Hugh L. Mackintosh, M.D. Ayshire, Scotland

Reason # 8 Stay away from...

Which Church is right and which is wrong?

"What if everyone got kicked out of his denomination once a year? Then everyone would have to ask himself, "Do I believe the Bible teaches this because I'm an Epiptopresbymethobaptopalian... or am I an Epiptopresbymethobaptopalian because I believe the Bible teaches this?" And some denominations would die (—and good riddance!), and some stalled people would get growing seriously?"




Gentle Reader,

Some have ask what gives me the right (since I claim to be a Christian) to criticize religion and Churches in general and Christianity in particular. And rightly so, do some ask how can I do this seemly "terrible' thing when what we need in more religion not less and words that I wouldn’t repeat in a bar room brawl!

To begin with I have a PhD. degree in Ancient Biblical Philology (languages) one of only a handful in America. I also have a Th. D. which is a Doctorate in Theology and a D.D. Doctorate of Divinity I have several degrees in Education at the college level and have spent the past, (do I have to really tell you how long I have been teaching, preaching and studying?) Well lets just say more years than most of my readers have been alive. I have preached and taught in countries all over the world. From small group bible studies to large Bible conferences, teaching people from University professors to grade school children. I have spoken in all types of Churches from Pentecostal to Baptist from Catholic conferences to Methodist to Church of Ireland and Anglican English church as well as more American churches than there are states and stars and stripes on your flag. My book, "Which Church"? is the result of this massive research project covering more than that little store front Bible or home fellowships. So once again let me state for the record I am a Christian (but not just any Christian , I am a child of the Most High God, creator of heaven and earth. He wrote us (all true spiritual seekers of truth) a love letter, to which I have devoted more time than you have spent flipping the remote on your television. A life time seeking the "TRUTH of the truth" These are my top reasons for seeing that religion is a waste and what we have today in what we call American churches is a sham and a disgrace (Not all churches and not every person) But for the purpose of making my top 10 certain characteristics are paramount. My next reason to stay away from church is a biggie. I call it denominations. Each group, or church or denomination, (with the exception of the Roman Catholic Church, who allow a hierarchy of men -no women to tell everyone else what to believe) decides what they believe, and what makes one a follower of Christ by whether or not one ascribes to their particular set of doctrines and some even go so far as to demand certain rituals and mental ascent and many demand that you subscribe to all of their rules "without mental reservation" ("leave your brain and reason at the door please"). So when for example you join one church if you have not been properly introduced to whatever teaching they believe in it just doesn’t count!

#8 Denominationalism Gentle reader, is the reason that I don’t fit in to your "normal" church I refuse to bow or bend to a group that has already decided what I can believe or and has all the answers about God! You may of course and you should join with others who give you a sense of comfort. But (there is always a but) Never allow someone to squeeze you into their mold ["I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable serviceAnd do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:1,2]. I leave you with this one question "How can you join a family that you have been born into"?



If you stay away from the organized church you might find the "real" body of Christ


"The truth is out there"

Denis

Reason #9 to stay away from Church

Reason #9 It Is a shame that “so-Christians have so little understanding of Holy scripture that they just “pick and chose Scriptures they like rather than to get a handle on all of God’s word. (that includes many so-called Pastors) [call by a “church” but not by God] One of the main reasons God gave us His word was to understand what forgiveness is all about! Duh, so when you see a Christian condemning a particular sin (Sin is missing the standard -which standard is God Himself not anything that man makes up) you can guess that they have no compassion or understanding of weakness that in inherent within all of us. They would say “Christians aren’t perfect just forgiven” But the standard that these establish for them selves they are unwilling to allow to someone else! Recently we have a church and pastor demonstrating against a funeral of a soldier killed in the War . Saying that it is God’s judgement on America for fighting in a unjust war. Let me ask you Gentle reader, when is killing and judgement ever just. Perhaps in God view, But Gentle Reader, those who condemn others need to walk a mile or so in their shoes. These people who are suppose to show forth the reality of Christ ! No wonder people run from Christians. Christ came for the lost strayed and stolen, and yet those same people join a church and won’t have someone with HIV/AIDS worship with them. Or someone with a gay lifestyle. Christ never put a limit on lifestyle, or illness He just said “Come, follow me!” If those who name the name of Christ were true witness you couldn’t keep people away. It’s not what you do Gentle reader, it’s who you are. You life should be so transparent that people want you have. If they don’t then why ?

"To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;" Proverbs 1:3

Top 10 Reasons

Warning: These next 10 or so post are about why I believe that Religion/church is no longer the a relevant place to go for Christians or for that matter for anyone who sincerely desires a Spiritual Awaking in America. This does not mean EVERY church is altogether a place to be avoided. But you should not park your brain at the door and accept everything said or done there . We are told in Holy Scripture “Come out from among them and be ye separate ” Many real believers have left the Organizational church and opted for a fellowship the way God intended. I for one have talked with literally 100's of churches so called that have no concept of what “real Christianity” is all about. If these next blogs entries offend. Ask yourself why? Perhaps what I say in love is the same thing Jesus said in the Jewish Temple. Wake up and Grow and then Go America. This is may take on what you should look for or to avoid. I apologize in advance for those who have such a limited understanding of Scripture. To the Pastors that I have talked with this is a Wake up call for all of us who have been chosen by God to speak up and out. No churches or Pastors have been harmed in these blog entries (except for those who need to get on their knees and beg God to forgive them)

10 Reason to stay away from Religion /Church

#10

 Gentle Reader,

When I see what passes for Christianity around me it's a wonder that God's grace isn't totally exhausted! We have not "real" Christianity but in fact "Churchianity" that is to say what passes for a belief system has been so tainted by avarice, self centeredness, lying (and not to just to one another but to themselves as well "I a good Christian" because I give my tithe to the church and yet ignore the poverty of brothers and sisters right next door! "MT 23:13  But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
MT 23:14  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation." Am I the only one that sees what is taking place in our last bastion of Hope"?

What should be the place where you can receive truth you receive watered down, stale the ghost of it's former self under the guise of being with it or Gen X or some such tripe which makes me think of that soap opera "As the stomach turns" 

I have churches that contact me from all over and I see no difference in what they want. They begin by telling me that that want someone conversant with the Bible in the first statement and in the next several paragraphs they tell me that they already have made up their minds what the Bible teaches on every subject! Duh! After 30+ years I learn every day something new and I study in original languages!  They have no Spiritual understanding and truly I have meet self proclaimed Pagans who are more in tune with God that many Christians! What's  that tell you? But here we have a group (Church want to be) stating that they have every understanding on every subject. They want some one to be a figure head not someone who will tell them the truth. They don't want the truth of the Bible, they want to feel good about living just they way they do and believe the way they believe "Don't confuse me with the facts preacher, my mind is already made up" I was told by one one deacon.

 What's worse we have T.V. Preachers who tell you to send money and God will bless you because He wants you to have a new house, car and all the money all you have to do is send "seed faith" to show God that you are sincere! Duh. if God is God does He need you money? I don't think so. But some greedy unchristian group wants to scam you for all you have and then will tell you you don't have enough "faith" ( Forsaking  all I Take Him)!

Next time we'll look and #9 reason to stay away from Religion/church

 Love, Denis

 (It's all Greek to me)