They Publicly Declare They Know God But Disown Him By Their Works!
“…we ought not to imagine that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, like something sculptured by the art and contrivance of man. True God overlooked the times of such ignorance, yet now he is telling mankind that they should all everywhere repent.”__ Ac 17:29; 2 Cor 5:7
While true Christians walk by faith imitation/counterfeit Christians do not. They walk by sight. They use objects of devotion such as a crucifix as an inspirational piece to keep Jesus close to their minds, while the fish symbol is used to identify them as Christians. True Christians would not be identified by a fish but rather by the love they have amongst themselves. The crucifix and Icthus, so-called sacred Christian symbols have roots in phallic (sex organ) worship. In ancient times the fish was associated with pagan deity, today many professed Christians associate it with their erroneous concept of God {FSH}. In ancient times the fish was used as a sex organ symbol by pagans, today it is used by some professed Christians as a symbol of homosexual solidarity.
“For though we walk in the flesh we do not wage warfare [Lit., “we are not doing military service”] according to what we are in the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful by God for overturning strongly entrenched things.”2 Cor 10:3; Eph 6:12; Matt 26:52; Rom 12:17, 19
It is said that some of the bloodiest wars in history were fought by Christians. Christians cannot participate in carnal wars: because (1) To participate would involve becoming a part of the world, a world Christians are admonished to be no part of. (2) Christians are under the Law of the Christ. Under Christ law Christians cannot fight carnal wars as Israelites did under the Mosaic law.
Two important facts escape the notice of imitation Christians as regards the wars fought by the Israelites. (a) When the Israelites fought they were defending God’s kingdom which was represented on earth through the kingdom of Judah. When Christians fight they are defending kingdoms of the world- kingdoms under the power and influence of the devil. (b) It is wickedness in the eyes of God to take innocent lives- persons not deserving of death. Even in times of war God warned the Israelites against taking innocent lives. Over the centuries, imitation Christians in disobedience to Jesus command to be “no part of the world” have gotten involved in world wars and various other warfares that have taken the lives of countless thousands of innocent people. “Woe to the one who kills an innocent man.” Christians who wage war on their enemies and kill people who are not the intended target (collateral damage) are viewed as murderers, gun toting Bible carrying Christians, and warmongers by the people of the world. Certainly these so-called Christians cannot truly believe they are unblemished and without spot from the world?
“By this all will know that you are my disciples if you have love among yourselves.” ( Jo 13:35) ‘If anyone makes the statement: “I love God,” and yet is hating his brother, he is a liar…’ 1 Jo 4:20
An important mark of true Christians is that of love. Brotherly love [agape] is what holds true Christians of the same faith together in a perfect bond of unity worldwide.5 The same cannot be said of imitation Christians. Members of so-called Christian churches have been in the forefront of attempted genocide and savage atrocities e.g., crusades, inquisitions, holocaust, ethnic cleansing etc., since the birth of Satan’s religious organization Christendom.6 Satan uses many weapons in his arsenal to get Christians to hate one another. Imitation Christians have fallen into his traps. He has used race and cultural differences to prevent them from worshiping as one. He has used religious differences to get them to hate one another to the point of war (e.g., the Thirty Years war, holy war). Nationalism is another of Satan’s weapons. It was nationalism that caused them to slaughter their fellow believers of another country during WWI and II. Christians against Christians and belonging to the same faiths. The love they preach for one another in church is temporarily pushed aside when their respective nations go to war. Their first priority is to be “good citizens” of the kingdoms of the world first, putting their nation’s interest above Christian brotherhood! They obey men as ruler rather than God. If Christians, as “good citizens” join the army in their respective countries which are all under the control of Satan and ruled by worldly rulers (e.g., worldly Christians, pagans, atheist), Christians kill Christians when these kingdoms go to war.
A) THEY DESPISE GOD’S PERSONAL NAME [JEHOVAH]
“A son for his part, honors a father; and a servant, his grand master. So if I am a father, where is the honor to me? And if I am a grand master, where is the fear of me? Jehovah of armies has said to you O priests who are despising my name.”__ Mal. 1:7
There are of course many ways in which one can despise God’s name; treat it with contempt, hate, and disdain. Malachi mentioned one way wherein priests were offering to God blind, lame, and sick sacrifices that not even a governor would approve of. Today, churches that claim to worship God have shown how much they like these ancient apostate priests despise God’s name. How? By offering to God polluted worship- worship contaminated by pagan rites and traditions. Here is another way they show their contempt for God’s name: “The use of any proper name for the one and only God, as though there were other gods from whom he had to be distinguished, was discontinued in Judaism before the Christian era and is entirely inappropriate for the universal faith of the Christian Church.” [Preface of the Revised Standard Version] Their own view of what is appropriate has been relied on as the basis for removing from the Bible the personal name of its Divine Author.7 A word that could properly be applied to these ones is presumptuous. Some professed Christians will even claim that Jehovah is another of Jesus' names. It is only by believing it is another name for Jesus that they find the name Jehovah acceptable. Fact: God’s name Jehovah as well as his titles Almighty God and Most High, differentiates him from those called gods in heaven especially Jesus his Son, as well as those called gods on earth. It is not until you know someone by their personal name that you really get to know the person. It is the same with God.
B) THEY REPLACED GOD WITH JESUS
“Therefore God in keeping with the desires of their heart gave them up to uncleanness...even those who exchange the truth of God for the lie and venerated and rendered sacred service to the creation instead of the One who created…” ___Rom 1:21-25
Because of the emphasis that the churches of Christendom have put on Jesus (along with the fact that the name Jehovah has been removed from many Bible translations), some persons think only of Jesus when God is mentioned.8 Although Jesus is spoken of in the scriptures as "a god," even "Mighty God," yet he magnified his Father, referring to him as "my God and your God"9 (Joh 20:17) Jesus is a god (godlike; divine). Jesus is not Almighty God. Imitation Christians venerate and render sacred service to the firstborn of God's creations, Jesus Christ. All of God's creations Jesus included, who were made in God's image call God Father. God is a title. There are many that are called gods. Jesus agreed with Moses acknowledging Jehovah as the only true God because Jehovah stands in utter contrast to ojects of worship such as idols, deified humans, and Satan the Devil.10 Youngs Literal Translation reads [Ps 100:3]: "Know that Jehovah He [is] God, He made us…” (See also Pr 30:4) Some professed Christians choose to get rid of Jehovah because they see him as an angry vengeful God however they keep Jesus [Jehovah's begotten Son] because according to them, Jesus is big on love. Any who follow these foolish ones will know only of God’s Son Jesus they will not know God, Jehovah. They are not the only ones however who replace God with his Son Jesus. Many professed Christians deny Jesus has a Father, claiming Jesus is the Father [the Heavenly One]. (Mt 23:9; 2 Co 1:3) They’ll boast the sweetest name they know is the name Jesus, because they do not know Jehovah and are not glorifying him as God. A religion that stress Jehovah is doing all things for God's glory whereas those that stress Jesus are doing all things for the glory of God's Son Jesus Christ. To whose glory did the bible direct us to do all things? God or God's Son? “Therefore, whether you are eating or drinking or doing anything else, do all things for God’s glory.” _1 Cor 10:31
A) THEY ADHERE TO TRADITIONS THAT CONFLICT WITH IT
“Look out: perhaps there may be someone who will carry you off as his prey through the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to the Christ.” Col 2:8; Mt 15:3; Mr 7;13; Titus 1:13,14
1. Following Jewish tradition they removed God’s name from the Bible [YAHWEH, the covenant God of Israel; YHWH in the original Hebrew] According to Jewish custom, because of reverence, the divine name was not to be spoken, so the Hebrew words for Lord and God were substituted. Whenever the words ‘Lord’ and ‘God’ appear in large and small capital letters, the original Hebrew reads YHWH.” [Dictionary-Concordance of the King James Version] The Bibles of imitation Christians are devoid of God’s name, either partially or totally. Their dislike for God’s name is evident in their unwillingness to return it to its rightful places in the Bible. (Mal 1:6, 7) Would they be as accepting of the removal of the Son's name (Jesus) as they are of the Father's name, Jehovah? Absolutely not! They also removed even the 4 letters [YHWH/JHVH] representing the Father’s name. Instead of hallowing the Father’s name as Jesus stated in Matthew 6:9, they removed it! Did the Father request that his name be removed from the Bible? Are they obeying Christ to sanctify the Father’s name or are they doing the devil’s work?
2. Following tradition they have Jesus crucified on a cross instead of impaled to a stake, pole. (Num 21:8,9; Joh 3:14) The use of the cross as the device on which Jesus died is another of Christendom’s bad traditions. At John 3:14 it states just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so the son of man would be lifted up. The copper serpent was impaled to a signal pole, a stake. Serpents do not have hands therefore they cannot be crucified. If Jesus died on a cross rather than a simple stake, then Number 21:8, 9 and Joh 3:14 would be invalid. “Christ by purchase released us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse instead of us, because it is written: ‘Accursed is every man hanged upon a stake.” (Gal 3:13; Deut 21:23) The device of Jesus’ death was a stake so that Jews might be freed from the curse of the law.11 A stake is not a tree and a tree is not a cross. These are 3 different devices.
B) MEMBERS FAIL TO LIVE BY IT
"What! Do you no know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God's kingdom? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God's kingdom." 1 Cor 6:9,10; Gal 5:19,21; 1 Thess 4:7,8
Many professed Christians have the Bible and even study it, but the way they live their lives show they do not respect it.12 Gross sexual immorality, uncleanness, as wells as unnatural sex acts are practiced and condoned by many clergymen and their members. Immorality while sometimes preached against as always been widely tolerated.13 Eg., living together before marriage, adultery, common law marriages, oral sodomy [oral copulation or the blow job], anal sodomy, mutual masturbation, and homosexulity and bisexuality. (Gal 5:19,20) Many on a daily basis break God’s law on lying, cheating, and stealing and think nothing of it. Then there are those who cannot hold a conversation without using profanity; while an increasing number are finding pleasure in poking fun at Bible verses, making a mockery of the Bible. It is now common-place to see Christians take Christians to court which is altogether a defeat for them. (1 Co 6:7) Does a person respect God’s Word if he fails to live by it?14 The churches have disregarded God's counsel to remove the wicked from among them. Many feel that removing the wicked is not he right thing to do, loving them more in their opinion is better. When church members are permitted to remain in good standing within their churches practicing these and other wrongs it is evidence that their religious organization is not approved by God. These are not examples of the conduct of people in a righteous standing before God.
C) CLERGY LACK RESPECT FOR IT
"Let no one seduce you in any manner, because it will not come unless the apostatsy comes first and the man of lawlessness gets reveled, the son of destruction." 1 Thes 2:3
When clergymen make the statement that the Bible was written by very human people and that these people incorporated their own beliefs and concepts about God, are they encouraging respect for God’s word?15 When clergymen deny the miracles of Christ such as turning water into wine, because it contradicts their false belief that drinking wine is a sin, are they showing respect? When clergy-men deny that Jesus is the only way to salvation, make statements that the Bible’s view on sex is outdated, perform same sex marriages and are themselves in same sex marriages, ordain gays and lesbians, are they showing respect for God’s word? When clergymen make statements that the bible makes absolutely no sense it is a faith factory, that Christianity in its purest form is boring, are sworn to secrecy to not divulge serious crimes committed by their members, and consent with women who want to terminate their offspring, are they showing respect for God’s word? Are they not sharers in the wicked works of their members? Indeed Christendom's clergy is this (composite) man of lawlessness. Many consider the words of their clergymen, and not the Bible, the final authority on matters. If the church or religion has no respect for God’s Word, neither will its members.Tit 1:16
D) THEY ADD AND TAKE AWAY FROM IT
"If anyone makes an addition to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this scroll…If anyone takes anything away from the words…God will take his portion away from the trees of life.” Rev. 22:18,19
1. Subtractions
God’s Personal Name and Title Names Removed - God’s name Jehovah was removed and replaced with Lord and God. God’s title name, Jehovah of Armies, was changed to Lord of Host. The change was not sufficient for some. The title, Lord of Host, was completely removed from some translations. Why? According to one version, for most readers today the phrases “Lord of Host” and “God of Host” have little meaning, so they removed it.
2. Spurious Additions and Substitutions
Trinity text added in 6th century -The verse in 1 Jo 5 that states, “There are 3 witness bearers, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one” was added in the 6th century by apologetic Christians who wanted to push the doctrine of the trinity. Many Bible translations omit that verse as a spurious [false] addition.
At 1 Tim 3:16 the word God added in the 8th and 9th century - Instead of reading, he was manfested in the flesh, some manuscripts read God manifested in the flesh. St. Joseph Ed. of the New American Bible footnote on 1 Tim 3:16 states: "..the reference is to Christ, who is himself 'the mystery of our devotion.' Some predominately Western manuscripts read 'which' harmonizing the gender of the pronoun with that of the Greek word for mystery; many later manuscripts [eight and ninth century on] ...read 'God,' possibly for theological reasons."
The Contemporary English Version (CEV) footnote says of 1 Tim 3:16: "Christ: The Greek text has 'he,' probably meaning 'Christ.' Some manuscripts have 'God.' " At John 8:58 the word am is capitalized to covey the idea of a title - In the New living Translation it reads: "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was I Am." However in its footnote it says: the Greek reads: "before Abraham was, I am". ("am" in lower case letters). This translation is not the only translation that tries to capitalized the word am to covey a title. In the King James Version for example it reads "I am". In the New King James version that same passage reads: "I AM". Thus they endeavor to connect the expression with Exodus 3:14. Most bible translations have the words "am" in lower case letters.
At John 1:1 a capital "G" is used instead of a commong "g"- John 1:1 should read and the Word was a god or the Word was divine but in many translations it reads and the Word was God. Footnotes of various bible translations help to identify what kind of a god Jesus is. When the phrase "the Word was God" is cross reference all bible translations with footnotes use text such as Php 2:6; Isa 9:6; Jo 20:28. These text prove not that Jesus is Almighty God but rather is called a "Mighty God" a title name that would identify the messiah and also prove that Jesus is not equal to God. Therefore the Word (a mighty god) could not be (Almighty) God. Personal names and title names must be written in capital letters that is why the "G" in "Mighty God" a title name is in capital letters.
Addition of the Deutero-Canonical & Apocryphal Books- These books are not a part of Bible Canon and are not considered inspired by God.
Lucifer substituted for "shining one" in English Translations of the Bible - Lucifer is a Latin word for "shining one" or "light" and has no place in English translations of the Bible. Because "shining one" when translated into Latin sounds like a personal name [Lucifer], misinformed individuals believe it is Satan's name.
Easter substituted for Passover in some Bible Translations at Acts 12:4 - In some Bible translations the word Easter appears in place of the word Passover. Easter celebration is NOT the same as the Passover.
Bronze substituted for Copper At Numbers 21:4-0 - The serpent Moses made in the wilderness was made of copper yet many bible translations have bronze. (Num 21:4-9) "The traditional King James version uses brass to translate the original Hebrew word for copper. To compound the matter, later versions also use bronze, which is an alloy of copper and tin, or copper and certain other metals, instead of brass."__an online article
Cross substituted for a ordinary stauros as the device on which Jesus was executed- "There is not a single sentence in any of the numerous writings forming the New Testament, which, in the original Greek, bears even indirect evidence to the effect that the stauros used in the case of Jesus was other than an ordinary stauros; must less to the effect that it consisted, not of one piece of timber, but of two pieces nailed together in the form of a cross...It is not a little misleading upon the part of our teachers to translate the word stauros as "cross" when rendering the Greek documents of the Church into our native tongue..." The non-Christian Cross by J.D. Parsons (London, 1896)
Adding to the scriptures (through their teachings) concepts and words not found in the bible- e.g, God the Son, Trinity, Rapture, Eternally Begotten, etc.
"Consequently whoever eats the loaf or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty respecting the body and the blood of the Lord. First let a man approve himself after scrutiny, and thus let him eat of the loaf and drink of the cup. For he that eats and drinks eats and drink judgment against himself…” 1Co 11:27-29
A man in a disapproved state (someone who is sinning), should not eat the loaf and drink the wine; for he who eats the loaf and drink the wine unworthily is guilty of everlasting sin for which there is no forgiveness forever. (2 Co 13:5; Mr 3:29) In many religions within the Christian world, individuals who are not worthy to partake, do so. These individuals include: children, un-baptized individuals, members of different faiths, and ministers and members committing grave sins. In fact, none of those belonging to the churches of Christendom are worthy to eat the bread and drink the wine because they are all in a disapproved state. All are committing grave sins. There is no one righteous among them. No one who is doing good and is not sinning, not even one! Interestingly in some churches members are not permitted to wear makeup or jewelry to church, yet, they can fornicate and commit adultery and still partake of the bread and wine. Which is the sin? In other churches members go as far as to use the loaf in voodoo rituals and other blatant forms of satanic worship.
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ...But their end shall be according to their works._2 Cor 11:13-15 Apostate Christians are of the belief that anything goes when it comes to saving souls. The end justifies the means. Many use deceptive means to spread the gospel such as Bait and Switch. For example, during Halloween they deceive Halloween goers into church by enticing them with scary dramas then spring the gospel on them. This led to an outcry from parents who sent their children to the church to get a good scare on Halloween not to be preached the gospel. A few of those parents were most likely Christians who don’t mind their kids getting a good scare but do mind them hearing a different gospel. A situation occurred in Iraq where Christianity is banned. Christians under the guise of healthcare workers were spreading the gospel to patients-who assume they were just humanitarian workers unaware it is an evangelism tactic used by some Christians. It made international news when it was discovered what they were up to. Undercover work you say. There was no deception found in Jesus. Should his disciples be any different? Certain ministries such as baits -started for the main purpose of attracting a large number of people by appealing to their fleshly desires with the hidden intent of spread-ing the gospel. Bribery is another evangelism method used by apostates. They lure people to their churches with worldly benefits e.g., free gas, offers of cash, clothing, foods, and jobs. Cultural Imperialism is another method used. The missionary enterprise is used as a justification and a cover for the domination of people. There is a interrelation between mission, technology, and imperialism-__The Church and Its Mission: A Shattering Critique From the Third World. Orlando E. Costas, 1974, Pg 245. Many apostates feel it is their duty to take possession of the kingdoms of the world so they'll become the kingdom of God and of his Christ. To do this, they will take over the banking system, the government by putting Christians in important positions, built schools, and theaters that show Christian movies. Syncretism of Christian beliefs with non-Christian beliefs is yet another method used by apostate Christians in making disciples of people.
“The holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burdens to you, except these necessary things, to keep abstaining from fornication…and from blood....If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, YOU will prosper. Good health to YOU!__ Acts 15:28.29
“My decision is not to trouble those from the nations who are turning to God, but to write them to abstain from fornication…and from blood.”____ Acts 15:19, 20
“As for the believers from among the nations, we have sent out, rendering our decision that they should keep themselves…from blood…and from fornication.”_____ Acts 21:25
Blood is sacred to God because it has been given over exclusively to a single purpose_ atonement of sins (forgiveness of sins).16 Anything outside its single purpose is misuse of blood. Sucking one's own blood or the blood of another person after a cut, eating rare meat, and blood transfusions are the three main ways in which humans partake of blood. There is an ever increasing demand for blood by blood banks, the Red Cross, and hospitals because of the life-sustaining properties of blood. Of course the churches are always ready and willing to lend a hand of assistance through their blood drives, ignoring the admonition of the holy spirit and the apostles. With respect to human blood, many think it is okay to partake of it than to risk dying. The question that arises is: If a Christian is in danger of losing his life and breaking God’s law could save it, is he free to disobey God’s law, or his he still bound to them? Sadly, many prove Satan was not lying when he said, “Skin for skin! A man will give all he has for his own life.” (Job 2:4)
Abstaining from blood means the same as when a doctor tells a patient to abstain from alcohol.17 It means to not take it into one’s body at all.18
[Abstain -to refrain deliberately and often with an effort of self-denial from an action or practice considered unhealthy or improper e.g, fornication and blood ]. If a Christian should die he would be assured of a resurrection for remaining obedient to God as far as death, in imitation of Jesus. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to save his soul (life) will lose it; but whoever loses his soul for my sake will save it.” (Lu 9:24; Mt 7:21) It requires faith to reject as treatment; blood, that could save one’s life, but without faith it is impossible to please God well. Oftentimes, it is when a life is to be lost that one’s faith is truly put to the test. (Rev 21:8; Heb 11:6) Christians become blood guilty when they; murder, support blood guilty organizations, eat and drink blood, or transfuse it through their veins for medical treatment.19 (Ps 55:23) Abstaining from blood is a serious matter because it has been put on the same level as fornication.20 Fornicators will not inherit God’s kingdom, and neither will those who partake of blood. It is God’s wish that his people abstain from blood, the blood of every sort of flesh, human and animal. God does not approve of blood banks. The restriction on blood was given to Noah and his sons long before the Law Covenant given to the Jews and applied to all of Noah's descendants. (Gen 9:4) If one is to abstain from fornication and from blood, the route of administration is not important because no route can be used. If a route is used one is partaking and not abstaining. Mystic Food a Hoax? The belief that the bread and wine literally becomes Jesus’ body and blood after consecration is a hoax. God will not go against his own law against partaking of blood.
God: "Has this house upon which my name has been called become a mere cave of robbers in your eyes? Here I myself also have seen it” is the utterance of Jehovah.” __Jer 7:11; Isa 56:7
God's Son: " Take these things away from here! Stop making the house of my Father a house of merchandise!” Mt 21:13; Jo 2:16, 17; Jer 7:11
*Their houses of worship are not the House of God. They are the dwelling places of demons and a lurking place of every unclean exalation. Imitation Christians at times use their house of worship as asylums for drug dealers and illegal aliens seeking refuge from the law, a place where criminals hide criminals. They are often used for: blood drives, political rallies, as polling places, burial grounds, gambling casinos, market places, army recruiting platforms, theatres, dating services, and to conduct secular business.
A) Political/Recruiting Platform for the Armed Forces: The churches have become a place where politicians of opposing sides seeking Christian votes can discuss their political agenda. It is also used to recruit men and women for the armed forces.
B) Polling place [voting station]: During elections the church is used as a voting station, a place where ungodly individuals can cast their votes for lawlessness.
C) Marketplace, House of Merchandise - Church Bazaar (the buying and selling of goods for charity), Rummage sale, Bake sale, Flea-market, and Yard sale are held on many church premises. It is not unusual to see Christmas trees being sold on some church lot.21 In some lands during harvest season, produce is brought from the fields and blessed. From in front of the alter where it had been blessed; the food is sold to members. Not surprisingly, some members will carry scales inside the church to weigh the produce they sell to other members after the service. Many of Christendom’s churches will either have a Souvenir shop, a Thrift shop, or a Book shop inside their churches or on its premises. In some European churches one can buy just about anything.
D) Blood Drives - Blood is collected on church premises and sent to blood banks where it is stored and sold to hospitals. The churches ignore the Holy Spirit and the apostles command to keep abstaining from blood
E) Used to Conduct Secular Business: E.g. During the week the church functions as a Day Care Center. It is also used to advertise church flea-markets, rentals, sales, secular jobs and businesses.
F) Theatre House - It also functions as a theatre where one can go to watch movies, plays, and concerts.
G) Come as You are Dress Code - Because of dwindling church numbers many churches now resort to having people especially young people come as they are [dress anyway the want to]. This they hope will keep them in the church. They come as they are and stay as they are.
H) Gambling Casino -Many churches promote gambling on church property by playing bingo with jackpots of hundreds of dollars. The selling of raffle tickets is another in which the church gambles. There are people who buy more than one raffle ticket hoping to increase their odds of winning only to lose and then complain they should have won something. Imitation Christians condemn the state for selling lottery tickets while they themselves are selling raffle tickets. “How can you say to your brother, “Brother, allow me to extract the straw that is in your eye,’ while you yourself are not looking at the rafter in that eye of yours?” Hypocrite! ..” (Lu 6:42) Other examples of gambling includes: sweepstakes, games played at the Fair, and scratch-offs. God detests practices that promote a superstitious believe in luck (Lady Luck), promotes a love of money, and a interest in the supernatural (bets based on personal superstition, astrological tables, self-styled seers, and venerable ‘dreams books’).22 Gambling by its very nature, promotes all these.23__Isa 65:11
I) Dating Service - Church socials include “Singles Night”. On singles night the church functions as a dating service.
J) Graveyard - Many desecrate their church grounds and inside their churches by using it as a burial ground and crypt.
These abominable things occur in churches in America and around the world. Note: The word “church” refers to a body of people. However Christendom’s members also call the building in which they worship a church.
"Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you give the tenth of the mint and the dill and the cumen, but you have disregarded the weightier matters of the Law, namely, justice and mercy and faithfulness. These things it was binding to do, yet not to disregard the other things. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat but gulp down the camel! __ Mt 23:23-24
The scribes and Pharisees were strict and precise in smaller matters of the law but disregarded weightier matters. It is not the straining out of a little sin that Christ here reproves. If it is a sin, though but a gnat, it must be strained out; but it is doing that, then swallowing a camel, committing a greater sin that he reproves
How are apostate Christians today like the scribes and Pharisees? Many churches require their members give exactly 1/10th of their earnings as tithe to the church, while others are very strict on exactly what their members can and cannot wear to church.Yet, the things that are of greater importance, the things that weigh more__their bad fruits or serious sins, they disregard. Take for example God's name. In spite of the efforts of many translators to restore God's name in the Bible, there has always been religious pressure to eliminate it. 24 Those who object to the name doing so on account of problems of pronunciation or because of Jewish tradition, might be compared to those who Jesus said "strain out the gnat but gulp down the camel!25 They stumble over these smaller problems but end up creating a major problem—by removing the name of the greatest personage in the universe from the book that he inspired.26 Blind guides! Which in fact is worse, using the most recognized pronounciation of God’s name which may or may not be mispronounced, or removing God's name or the 4 letters representing His name [tetragrammaton] from the Bible? In a few bible translations Gods name can be found in its poetic form Jah: Hallelu-jah means "praise Jah" the poetic form of Jehovah, and Allelu-ia Latin for HalleluJah. Some translations express it as "Praise Ye the Lord" or "Praise the Lord" but this is not a direct translation.
"Then the disciples came up and said to him: 'Do you know that the Pharisees stumbled at hearing what you said?'...Let them be. Blind guides is what they are. If, then, a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit." Mt 15:12-14' ; Rom 2:19-24;
Because Christendom's clergy are blind guides they have difficulty differentiating the sacred from the non-sacred. For example, they will deny faith must be accompanied by righteous works which is necessary for salvation, they downplay God's law on blood claiming it was only meant for those who EAT blood and are stumbled ove a simple thing as the pronounciation of God's name. Even God is an incomprehensible mystery to them. Christendom's clergy and members are persuaded they are a guide to the blind, a light for those in darkness though they themselves are in moral and spiritual darkness. They practice idolatry, spread false doctrines, tolerate immorality and other works of lawlessness, transgressing the law of God thereby dishonoring God. How can a blind man guide a blind man? The name of God is being blasphemed among the nations on account of imitation Christians.
" Woe to you Scribes and Phrisees , hypocrites!... you say, "If we were in the days of our forefathers, we would not be shearers with them in the blood the prophets. Therefore you are bearing witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Well, then, fill up the measure of your forefathers." Mt 23:29-32; Jo 16:2
Jesus illustration of workers in the vineyard found at Matthew 19:30 thru chapter 20:16 illustrates this point perfectly. Bible Times: The full-day workers in the illustration represent the Jewish leaders who have been occupied continually in religious service. The 11th-hour workers are the 1st century Christians, who for most of their lives were employed in fishing or secular occupations.27 It was not until 29 C.E. that Jesus gather these to be his disciples.28 Thus they became “the last” or the 11th-hour workers in the vineyard.29 The wage the full-day workers expected they did not receive. Their murmuring and objections take the form of persecuting the 1st century Christians_ the 11th-hour workers.30 The Jewish religious leaders despised 1st century Christians and tried every means to ban their preaching work; yet, it is these very ones that the Jewish religious leaders despised who receive the denarius__ the honor of serving as anointed ambassadors of God’s heavenly kingdom, the honor of being a spiritual Israelite (members of the church).31 This illustration also has fulfillment in our day.
Modern Times: Christendom’s clergy by reason of their positions and responsibilities been first to be hired in God’s symbolic vineyard.32 The clergy consider dedicated preachers associated with the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society as 11th-hour workers in the vineyard, the last ones, appearing towards the end of the symbolic work day__ the 11th-hour.33 The wage the first to be hired expected they did not receive. Like their predecessors of Bible times they resort to persecuting the 11th-hour workers. Yet, it is these very ones that Christendom’s clergy despise who receive the denarius.
How have Christendom’s clergy persecuted God’s people, the last workers in the vineyard? In some lands the clergy tell their members to throw water on Jehovah’s Witnesses if they should knock on their doors and in some lands, to desecrate their house of worship. In past decades Jehovah’s Witnesses have been rounded up and sent to death camps with the aid of Christendom’s clergy. In western lands, the clergy laid false accusations against them that sent a number of their religious leaders to prison. Sometimes the persecutions take the form of stoning and mob attacks that injure their young children. Jehovah’s Witnesses come under attack in Protestant dominated lands and as well as lands dominated by Catholics.34 They have become objects of hatred by all nations on account of Jesus’ name. Their preaching work expose Christendom’s doctrine of the trinity as a lie, and as cause them much persecution at the hands of Christendom’s clergy and members. Christendom’s clergy have on many occasions tried to ban the preaching work of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
NOTEWORTHY SIMILARTIES BETWEEN 1ST CENTURY CHRISTIANS AND JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES: (1) Both 1st Century Christians and Jehovah’s Witnesses come under attack by those who claim to be God’s people because of Jesus’ name: -1st Century Christians because they believe Jesus is the promised Messiah of the Jews. Jehovah’s Witnesses because they deny the Deity of Jesus (2) The Jewish religious leaders tried to ban the preaching work of the 1st Century Christians, and Christendom’s clergy continually try to ban the preaching work of Jehovah’s Witnesses (3) Both 1st Century Christians and anointed members of Jehovah’s Witnesses are 11th-hour workers_ appearing toward the end of the symbolic work day.
CHRISTENDOM’S FOREFATHERS PERSECUTED AND KILLED CHRIST DISCIPLES
While Jewish religious leaders persecuted Christ disciples_ the 1st Century Christians, their forefathers were responsible for the persecution of God’s prophets in past centuries. Similarly today Christendom’s clergy persecute Christ disciples _Jehovah’s Witnesses. Their forefathers are responsible for the death and torture of many Christians in past centuries. Today, their descendants condemn the killings and other cruelties done by their forefathers. By doing so they bear witness against themselves they are sons of murderers. During those dark ages many were tortured to death, beheaded, or burnt at the stake. Some were put to death for trying to translate the Bible into the language of the common people (e.g. William Tyndale), others for just owning a Bible. No doubt these Christians sincerely believed they were rendering a sacred service to God by wiping out heresy a sin they themselves were guilty of. But sincerity alone is not enough. (See Matthew 7:22, 23) Even today their descendants continue to murder. For example the atom bomb on Hireshima and Nagasaki which killed tens of thounsands of people in seconds; the Holocaust which took the lives of almost 12 million people over a span of a few years. All this done by professed Christians.
NOTEWORTHY SIMILARTIES BETWEEN THE JEWISH RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND THE CLERGY OF CHRISTENDOM: (1) Both the Jewish religious leaders and Christendom’s clergy are responsible for the persecution and deaths of 11th-hour workers (2)The forefathers of the Jewish religious leaders and Christendom’s forefathers were also responsible for the persecution and deaths of God's people in past centuries.
“Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have?” 2 Co 6:14
The religious world has indeed become an interfaith world. The term interfaith refers to activities that involve an interaction between different faiths Christian and non-Christian, such as; worshiping, marrying, and praying. The Bible warns true Christians not to become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. Interfaith worshipers are of the belief that: ‘As long as you believe in Jesus it really does not matter which church you belong to,’ or that ‘religions are just different roads leading to the same God.’
Interfaith is detestable to God for the following reasons: (1) Not all people worship the same God, not even different concepts of the same God. (2) God opposes god’s of the nations and their forms of worship. (3) Solomon’s practice of interfaith was “bad in the eyes of Jehovah.” (4) God rejects worship mixed with idolatrous rites, even though supposedly offered to him. (5) Jesus Christ condemned religious beliefs and practices not in strict accord with God’s word. (6) Jesus refused to acknowledge spiritual brotherhood with religious leaders of his day. (7) Failure to keep clean from false religious rites leads to divine disapproval. (8) Wrong doctrine and conduct can corrupt even professedly Christian worship. (9) Many professed Christians embrace teachings of apostates. (10) Not all who profess faith in Christ practice religion acceptable to God. (11) True Christians to keep separate from all false worship. __List taken from: Make Sure of All Things. Hold Fast to What is Fine. Interfaith. Pages 257-264 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
There can be no proper fellowship between those practicing righteousness wheat-true Christians and those practicing lawlessnes, weeds-imitation Christians.
“He that exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life; he that disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.” (Jo 3:36)
Christians are to do all things to God’s glory and one way they glorify Jehovah God is through Jesus his Son. It pleases God when those who worship him obey his Son. Those who fail to obey Jesus’ commands the wrath of God remains upon them. Do imitation Christians obey Jesus’ commands? The answer is emphatically, “no!” If Jesus says, “turn left.” They turn right. Here are a few examples of how they show fail to obey Jesus commands.
A) Jesus Forbade the Use of Religious Titles - “But you do not you be called Rabbi, for one is your teacher, whereas all you are brothers. Moreover, do not call anyone your father on earth for one is your father the heavenly One.” Mt 23:8-12; 1Pet 5:3,6; Luke 6:46
Jesus did not approve of religious titles when at Matthew the 23rd chapter he warns against being called Rabbi, Leader, or Father for all are brothers. In Christianity there are many teachers and few fathers, but neither those who teach nor those who father can give to themselves the title “Teacher” or “Father”. Paul was an apostle who led, taught, mothered and fathered nurtured and disciplined many Christians; yet, he could not be called their Leader or Teacher for one is their Leader and Teacher, the Christ. Neither could he be called their Father for one is their Father, the Heavenly One [Jehovah]. In many religions within the Christian world Jesus command is ignored. Not only do they [wicked slaves] allow others to do obeisance to them they exalt themselves over the flock by the use of honorary titles. (Mt 20:25-27) For example: His Holiness; His Eminence; The Holy See; Holy Father; Your Grace; Mother Superior; Your Excellency; Supreme Pontiff- Constantine’s pagan Title (Pontificus Maximus); Reverend Mother; Prophetess; Rabbe (LDS); Prophet; Rabbi (Messianic Jew); Father; The Venerable; The Most Rt. Reverend; The Most Reverend; Reverend; The Great; Reverend Doctor. The special garments worn by the clergy class [which is further divided into upper class and lower class] is another way they exalt themselves, “lord their position” over the laity class- the passive body of believers. Unlike Jesus and his apostles who wore modest clothing, the clergy’s dressing is similar to that of the Scribes and Pharisees who adorn themselves for the glory of men. Out-wardly they may appear righteous but inside they are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness; for, like the Pharisees, they profane God’s word with their traditions and philosophies of men.35 (Lu 16:15; Lu 9:48; Heb 5:9)
B) They Fail to Proclaim God’s Kingdom -"Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations..." (Mt. 28:19) “If, now, I am declaring the good news, it is no reason for me to boast, for necessity is laid upon me. Really, woe is me if I did not declare the good news.” __ 1 Cor 9:16; Acts 20:20
A necessity, an obligation was laid upon all true Christians to “Go” and make disciples. Those who do not participate in the disciple-making work have no reason to boast for woe [calamity] will befall them. Five types of people who disregard Jesus’ command to declare the Good News: (1)Those who believe works of obedience to God and his Son are not required to be saved. (2) Those who are ashamed or embarrassed to talk about God. (3) Those who don’t mind preaching but don’t know what to say or lack accurate knowledge (4) Members and clergy of large religions feel they don’t need to preach because the people will come to them (5) Those who feel Jesus did not commissioned all disciples to preach; preaching to the billions of people headed for destruction should be left to the clergy. Why the preaching work is necessary for all who believe in Christ. First Timothy 4 :16 sums it up when it says: "Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching. Stay by these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and those who listen to you." The preaching work is a life saving work. It saves the teller--the blood of the ungodly and the sinners will not be upon their shoulders, it also saves the listener.
C) Jesus Said to Address All Prayers to The Father - “… a certain one of his disciples said to him: ‘Lord, teach us how to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.’ Then he said to them: 'Whenever you pray, say, ‘Father, let your name be sanctified...’”____ Luke 11:2; Mt 6:6; Mt 6: 1-3; John 17:1
Although Jesus addressed prayers to his Father and taught his disciples to do likewise with one exception, they end their prayers in his (Jesus’), many apostate Christians do not. They address their prayers to the Son, the Holy Spirit or all three. Some will even address their prayers to saints, angels, and dead relatives who’ve passed on. All such prayers are unacceptable to God. Many professed Christians do not know how to pray, a result of following false prophets who draw believers away from the truth of God’s word. While it is true that humans can be prayed to. For example petitions and supplication made to men; beseech or implore another person who is visibly present to do something e.g., Ge 44:18; 50:17; Ac 25;11.36 This is what was done to Jesus at Ac 7:59 and Rev 22:20 where Stephen and John in a vision reacted as if they were in Jesus' personal presence.37 It is also true that only God should receive SILENT prayer - petition made to a person who is not visibly present and is able to hear and examine silent thoughts.38
D) Jesus condemn Mechanically Repetitious Prayers - “But when praying, do not say the same things over and over again, just as the people of the nations do, for they imagine they will get a hearing for their use of many words.” (Matt 6:7) "One cry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours: ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’” Acts 19:35
Prayers such as "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion" "Hail Mary" "Jesus save us" "The Lord's Prayer" are four examples of mechanically repetitious prayers that are repeated for about half an hour to one hour sometimes more by members and clergymen of certain sects.
E) Jesus Forbade the Use of the Sword - “Return your sword to its place, for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword. Mt 26:52
Although Jesus forbade the use of the sword many professed Christians find nothing wrong with picking up their swords and becoming trained killers. They believe turning the swords into plough shears is for a later time and not at the time they decide to become Christians (Disciples of Christ). Many make their living by taking the sword and just as Jesus said would happen they perish by the sword. The apostles further reiterated Jesus’ point by saying as Christians... we do not wage warfare the way the world does because our weapons are not fleshly. It is a conflict of interest if Christians were to take the sword and defend kingdoms that have taken their stand against Christ, because they feel a sense of duty to Satan’s kingdoms in which they were born. (Ps 2:2 compare with Rev. 19:19) By policing the kingdoms of the world imitation Christians show by their actions they support Satan’s rulership. True disciples upon accepting Christ would have to beat their swords into plowshares. Individuals who are not willing to disown Satan’s kingdoms are not worthy to follow Jesus.
F) Jesus Said Sacred Service Should be Rendered Only to God - In reply Jesus said to him: “It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.” (Lu 4:8, Rom 1:25)
Have the churches of Christendom obeyed Jesus’ command by rendering sacred service to God alone? The answer is emphatically, “No!” Acts of devotion to flags and singing of songs that glorify nations, prayers addressed to humans and angel are a few ways in which they render sacred service to the creation. They also render sacred service to God’s Holy Spirit as well as God’s created Son Jesus Christ.
G) Jesus Said to Baptize in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “...Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit …”____Matt 28:18, 19
Some imitation Christians believe baptism in the Name of the Father, the Son , and holy spirit is “trinitarian baptism” so they ignore Jesus’ command at Matthew chapter 28 and baptize in Jesus’ name only. Instead of subjecting themselves to the righteousness of God and his Son Jesus they create their own righteousness.
H) Jesus Said His Disciples are No Part of the World - Jesus in prayer to his Father said, “I request you, not to take them out of the world, but to watch over them.. They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of it.___ Jo 17:15, 16
While on earth neither Jesus nor his disciples got involved in the affairs of the kingdom in which they lived. They were occupied with God's work. True Christians would likewise be occupied doing God's work of saving lives for God's kingdom, not concerning themselves with the affairs of the kingdoms in which they live, for it is futile. (Dan 2:44) Imitation Christians find it hard to be in the world and not be a part of it. In fact, many do not feel they are in the world if they are not a part of it. They do not follow in Jesus footsteps. Ways they get involve in the affairs of the world includes: (1) voicing their opinion on public airways through public protest and through voting on issues of social controversies such as; abortion, gambling, and same sex marriages (2) as policy makers, shaping public policy; (3) running for public office. (4) supporting world leaders and their fight against terrorism e.g., members are active as military, reserve, institutional, correctional/law enforcement or specialized chaplains; members who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force, Coast Guard as well as the National Guard and Reserves. They fail to grasp the meaning of "No Part" of its affairs.
I) Jesus Said False Prophets would be Known by their Fruits
"A good tree cannot bear bad fruit...By their fruits you will know them." Mt 7:18
Many professed Christians disagree with Jesus claiming it is wrong to judge Christians by their fruits (actions, and beliefs). While others say Jesus could not be right. Why? Because the tree they belong to bear bad fruits. Jesus said, "look at their fruit". Imitation Christians say, "look at their history" referring only to their years in existance and number of changes made to prophesies they've interpretated. Looking at their "history" can be deceiving. For example: (1) One could easily assume the Christian faith that existed first among the faiths today, is the true faith. But does that faith bear bad fruits? If it does then as Jesus said it is not a good tree. (2) One could also assume that a religion that has made no changes to its teachings must be the true religion, because of the erroneos belief that the true religion must be infallible in matters of faith. Again the question is, Does that tree bear bad fruits? And if God reveals information gradually why as it not made any changes to its teachings? (3) One could also easily assume that the true Christian religion is not the true religion, if its history is looked at in a negative way. Reason being, in its infancy wheat tends to look like weeds. It is not until the harvest [a time of separation, before the harvest imitation Christians grew alongside true Christians] when the wheat is fully grown that a clear distinction can be made between the wheat and the weeds. We now live in the time when a clear distinction can be made._ Mt 3:12; Rev 14:15; Mt 13:24-30
A) They Suffer From the World’s Fears
“Happy is the man in fear of God…he will not be afraid even of bad news…his heart is unshakable he will not be afraid.” Ps 112:1,7,8
They Fear death [Heb 2:15; Heb 11:6] - “.. and [that] he might emancipate all those who for fear of death were subject to slavery all through their lives.”
Death is the end of life. Is this end permanent?39 That depends on the individual.40 The following are myths that appear in their teachings of death, a sign they lack faith in God. (1) Once someone exists they can never stop existing (2) Christians may get to heaven in a space shuttle (3) There is life after death before resurrection (4) God takes people in death to be with him(5) Soul has not fallen asleep in death(6) A person does not have to die to enter heaven (7) Christians do not experience physical death
They Fear men [ Mt 10:28] - “And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot destroy the soul; but rather be in fear of him [God] who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna [Hellfire].”
They Fear calamity [ Lu 21:25-31] - “Also there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and [its] agitation, while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the thing coming upon the inhabited earth..”
They have Superstitious Fears - Fear that not being in church before midnight on New Year’s Eve will cause bad luck the rest of the year or that the year will not start off right. In other lands they have other customs to ward of ill fortune for the New Year. They co-opted a pagan custom and picked up the fear that went along with it. Other examples of superstitious fear include not putting one’s bag on the floor for fear of poverty, and turning around 7 times when a black cat crosses one’s path.
B) They Use Material Objects of Devotion to Bring Them Safety and Blessings - Apostate Christians look to dungy idols, valueless objects of devotion… valueless gods, for safety and blessing instead of putting their full trust in God. For example; crucifixes, miniature shrines, house Scapular, charms, medals, etc. Saint Christopher is the patron saint of safety- the god of safety.
god defined- (1)capitalized : the supreme or ultimate reality: as a: the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe (2) a being or object believed to have more than natural attributes and powers and to require human worship ; specifically : one controlling a particular aspect or part of reality (3) anything that is worshiped can be termed a god, inasmuch as the worshiper attributes to it might greater than his own and venerates it. (4) a venerated object or person; anything that takes center-stage in one’s life placed above spiritual service e.g.,riches, one’s belly
C) They Seek Help From the Spirit Realm when Divine Help is Slow in Coming - In times of distress when help from above is not speedy they seek help from the spirit world (e.g., psychics, spirit mediums, necromancy manuals)
D) They Doubt the Bible is Truly the Inerrent Word of God - With the copying and recopying of the Bible many wonder if mistakes have not crept in.41 Others have doubts because of additional books found in some versions that are not in other versions, as well as minor discrepancies in different versions and what they believe to be contradictions in Bible. This as caused many to doubt whether the Bible contains the original information that the Bible writers received from God.42 They lack full trust in God that he can preserve his Book for over 2,000 years from those who hate it or would make changes to it to suit their own beliefs.
E) They Practice Bad Works - If true faith produce [righteous] works, then the fact that imitation Christians practice [bad] works is proof they lack true faith.
NOTEWORTHY: A Christian who has true faith will have along with accurate beliefs; a wholesome fear of God, and full trust in God
“Watch out for yourself for fear you may not be entrapped after them, and for fear you may inquire respecting their gods, saying, “How was it these nations used to serve their gods? And I, yes, I will do the same way.”__ Deut 12:30-32
Apostate Christians in defiance to God’s command have chosen to worship as the nations do with every occasion a time for either — merrymaking, feasting or giving gifts. They fail to heed the warning at Deut. 12: 30-32 choosing instead to adopt pagan festivals and continue their pagan way of worship. They disguised their wicked deed by renaming these festivals but their evil would not remain hidden forever. The following is a list of pagan religious festivals that were adopted and renamed. Special Church service is held on these days. None of these services honor God.
A) Christmas [the day Pago-Christians celebrate the birth of Christ] - The most popular of the Christian holidays- Christmas, has it roots in sun worship. The date December 25th was already observed by the people of Rome as the Feast of Saturn, in which they celebrate the birthday of Mithras the Sun god. This festive day was adopted and used as the birthday of the Son of God. Most of the customs and traditions associated with Christmas are pagan customs that have been absorbed or tolerated by the church. Aside from its pagan customs the holiday is polluted with lies. They practice sin in Jesus name.
B) Easter [named after eastre the goddess of spring and fertility] - Easter is a combination of pagan and Christian. Easter [resurrection Sunday] takes its name from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility and the sister of Baal. The Germanic people referred to her as Ostara; the Canaanites and Phoenicians called her Astarte [Ashtoreth]. Customs that are associated with Easter, such as the Easter rabbit and egg, as well as the dating of Easter can be traced back to the festival dedicated to the goddess. Eastre’s festival symbolized rebirth/spring. Apostate Christians consider Jesus’ resurrection a rebirth and so they combined Eastre’s festival with Jesus’ resurrection. "Everywhere they hunt the many-colored Easter eggs, brought by the Easter rabbit. This is not mere child’s play, but the vestige of a fertility rite, the eggs and the rabbit both symbolizing fertility. Furthermore, the rabbit was the escort of the Germanic goddess Ostara who gave the name to the festival by the way of the German Ostern.” [Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend] Other customs associated with Easter, such as the Hot Crossed buns of Good Friday, and the dyed eggs of Pasch or Easter Sunday go as far back as ancient Babylon where they were once a part of Chaldean [Babylonian] rites.
C) Halloween - Customs connected to Halloween can be traced back to a Druid ceremony in pre-Christian times. The Celts had festivals for major gods…a sun god called Baal, and a god of the dead called Samhain. The festival that occurred on the evening of October 31 was called Samhain or La Samon. The Celts believe that on this night [October 31] the veil between the living and the dead was so thin that Samhain; the god of the dead, allowed the souls of the dead to return to their earthly homes. “In the A.D. 800’s, the Church established All Saint’s Day on November 1 so that the people could continue a festival they had celebrated before becoming Christians. The Mass that was said on this day was called All Hallow Mass. The evening before became known as All Hallowe’en or Halloween.”__ The World Book Encyclopedia, Vol. 9, 1982
D) Valentine’s day - Valentine’s custom comes from an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia, which took place every February 15. The festival honored Juno, the Roman goddess of women and Pan, the god of nature. This lewd superstitious custom was adopted and given the name of a Catholic saint called Valentine. The lewdness of this holiday continues even today with fornicators offering an intimate night to their partners as a Valentine’s gift. With some giving their virginity as a gift on that day. The winged infant with the bow and arrow commonly associated with this holiday is the god Cupid, son of Venus, the Roman goddess of love.
E) Birthdays - The custom of celebrating birthdays has its origin in the realm of magic and religion. The customs of offering congratulations presenting gifts and celebrating…complete with lighted candles… in ancient times were meant to protect the birthday celebrant from the demons and to ensure his security for the coming year.44 The blowing out of the candles began with the Greek goddess of the moon Artemis. On her birthday, lighted candles on cakes that were as round as the moon, were placed on alters within the temple. During the festival the candles were blown out with one breath, and Artemis would gaze favorably upon her worshipers.45 Birthday candles, in folk belief, are endowed with special magic for granting wishes.46 Birthday celebrants are usually ask to make a wish and then blow out the candles with one breath. Up until the 4th century Christianity rejected the birthday celebration as a pagan custom.47 Birthday celebration is not only linked to magic, it is also linked to divination with birthday celebrants acquiring birthstones which are associated with the zodiac/sun sign astrology. Horoscope and natal charts (a horoscope calculated for the birth of a child) are used to gain information about an individual using their birth date. (Deut 18:11,12) Among some Jewish sects birthdays are viewed as a special day because on that day one's Mazal, good fortune, shines extra strong. Others consider it a pagan custom. Birthdays are also used to honor men, nations, and organizations which is idolatry. For example, Elvis Presley's birthday, Martin Luther King's birthday, and America's birthday--Independence Day.
F) Thanksgiving - Thanksgiving celebration comes from pagan harvest festivals. Thanksgiving Day was intended to be a day of patriotism and religion. People of various religions participate in the celebration, giving thanks to their own gods on Thanksgiving Day. Would the true God want any part of a celebration that includes other gods or stem from pagan customs? The things the nations sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I do to want you to become sharers with the demons? (1 Co 10:20) If Thanksgiving was truly Christian, would non-Christians want any part of it? With all so-called "Christian holidays" non-Christians are selective, participating only in the pagan part and tossing the Christian part e.g, Easter and Christmas, both a combination of Christian and pagan. Imitaition Christians are not selective.
G) Mother’s day [mother worship festival] - “A festival derived from the custom of mother worship in ancient Greece. Formal mother worship, with ceremonies to Cybele, or Rhea, the Great Mother of the Gods, were performed on the Ides of March throughout Asia Minor.” [Encyclopedia Britannica: (1959), Vol. 15, p.849] This pagan custom of worshiping mothers was adopted by the church and celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent to honor the Mother Church, and possibly Mary, the Mother of Christ, who is considered by many the Mother of God. The holiday was eventually expanded to include all mothers. Many mothers expect their children to worship the ground they walk on for creating them (giving birth to them) much like humans are expected to worship the creator for creating them.
H) New year’s - Babylonians as early as the third millennium B.C.E celebrated New Year’s.48 The celebration was observed in mid-March. It is said that at that time the god Marduk decided the destiny of the country for the coming year.49 In 46 B.C.E the pagan emperor Julius Caesar decreed New Year’s should be on the 1st day of January, the month which was dedicated to Janus the Roman god of gates, doors, and beginnings. The date of New Year’s changed from mid-March to January, but the carnival atmosphere persisted. As in ancient Babylon, superstitious rituals play a part in New Year’s festivities. In some areas of South America, many welcome the New Year while standing on their right foot.50 In other countries people make sure New Year’s catch them inside of a church. Such superstitious rituals, designed to ward off ill fortune and guarantee prosperity, merely perpetuate the ancient belief that the turn of the year is a time for deciding destinies.51
I) Mardi gras - “Mardi Gras also known as Shrove Tuesday or Carnival is an annual festival marking the final day before the Christian fast of Lent, a 40-day period of self-denial and abstinence from merrymaking. Mardi Gras is the last opportunity for revelry and indulgence in food and drink before the temperance of Lent.” [Encarta.msn.com] Mardi Gras is celebrated in some parts of the United States and in a few other countries. Mardi Gras celebration goes back to an ancient Roman custom of merrymaking before a period of fast. Secret societies known as Krewes organize and pay for the parades and other festivities. These secret societies are named after Greek and Roman gods and goddesses. For example the krewe of Rex and Comus, Roman gods of night life and pleasure [nocturnal entertainment]; the krewe of Venus, Roman goddess of love; the krewe of Bacchus, Roman god of wine and intoxication. Visitors to Mardi Gras usually return with souvenirs such as a necklace portraying the Roman god Bacchus.
J) All souls day [day of the dead] - A day set apart in the Roman Catholic church for the commemoration of the faithfully departed.52 “Essentially, All Souls is the adoption of an almost worldwide custom of setting aside a part of the year [usually the last part] for the dead. The Babylonians observed a monthly feast of All Souls in which sacrifices were made by priests. The Greek commemorative feast of All Souls was held on the last day of the Anthestheria; the Romans celebrated theirs during Parentalia… In many Catholic countries the belief that the dead return on this day [All Souls Day] is so strong that food is left on the tables [Tirol, Italy] and people [France, Italy, Germany] still decorate the graves of their dead.”__ Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend, New York; 1949, Vol. 1, p.38
Imitation Christians have kept ancient mythological gods alive through the adoption of pagan religious festivals. How many people would know of Cupid if it were not for Valentine’s Day? How many would know of Bacchus if it were not for Mardi Gras? (Ex 20:1-3) God, who is wisest of all, knows that adopting heathen customs would not make them holy. Rather than being holy they would be an entrapment into false worship. These pagan holidays that imitation Christians claim are sanctified by there adoption into the church are polluted with lies, deception, revelries, idolatry, pagan tradition, loose conduct, drunken bouts, and spiritism all of which are detestable to the true God. Christendom’s members find these holidays so enjoyable that they will not give them up. Are they trapped into false worship? “Absolutely!” The ancient Jews did a similar thing. They adopted a pagan religious custom from Egypt and renamed it a festival to Yahweh (Jehovah). Since they put Jehovah's name on it, they assumed their worship would be acceptable to Him. How wrong they were! Jehovah removed the names of three thousand Jews from his Book of Life because it. Shunning practices that God disapproves of should in no way deprive true Christians of happiness. Genuine love for one’s heavenly Father will cause true Christians to rejoice not over unrighteousness but with truth.
“…when a prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presump-tuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him.” Deut 18:22
“Woe to the one who calls a righteous man wicked and a wicked man righteous.”
Only God is infallible- incapable of making errors. When some deny infallibility in matters of faith, many claim they are infallible in prophesy. Deuteronomy 18:22 is often misapplied because many believe the gifts of the spirit such as the gift of prophesying--INSPIRED telling forth of messages from God-- have not ceased and are still signs used to determine whether a prophet is of God. Christians today do not have the miraculous gifts of the spirit because they have all been done away with with the maturity of the Christian Congregation and completion of the bible. (1 Cor 13:8,9) So none of what Christians say today can be considered INSPIRED- INFALLIBLE. *Correct understanding of Bible prophesy would still be made available by God but not through a supernatural gift, but through diligent study and investigation of the Bible which is not infallible.53 Error in interpretation of Bible prophesies does not in itself make a religion a false prophet, since none are infallible. The religion has to be looked at in its entirety. A claim of infallibility in any matter relating to faith is a mark of false prophets.
Since the gifts have been done away with, what rule is there for believers and unbelievers to use in determining whether a prophet is true or false? Jesus gave the rule when he said, “By their fruits you will know them”. Since false prophets [false religions] are recognized by their bad fruits, one needs to ask oneself the following questions: ‘Are the fruits produced by my religion righteous or wicked?’ For example: ‘Are its teachings based solidly on God’s Word the Bible; or are they based on the commands and traditions of men, paganism, spiritism, doctrines of demons? Are they coming through compromise, are they rooted in Hellenism [pagan Greek thought/philosophies] and so forth? Are its deeds in harmony with God’s written Word?’ ‘Is my religion teaching its members to do the will of the Father which is necessary for them to be saved?’ Make no mistake! Just as accepting Christ Jesus [God’s Son] is essential to true worship, doing the will of his Father [God] is as essential.
Many will look at the true church and call it a cult, or a false church, because it does not go along with their apostate teachings and practices, or because it makes adjustments to its teachings. Four reasons why changes must be made: (1) God reveals information gradually, thus, what was once believed in the new light of scripture must be adjusted (2) “Keep finding out what is acceptable to the Lord...” If by searching the scriptures they realize that certain practices or teachings are not in harmony with God’s written Word, they must make the necessary changes (3) They accept the teachings of the Christian world until they have reasons to believe otherwise. Because in the creeds of the churches, “elements of truth” have been buried under a morass of pagan teachings that had infiltrated Christendom during the centuries-long apostasy.54 God would revive true worship in the Last Days. The true church will not go along with Christendom’s long cherished errors. (4) Since true Christians are not infallible, and since they do not have the gift of prophesy or interpretation of prophesy (both of which have been done away with) if an error occurs, it must be corrected if they are to remain in truth. All four reasons cause the path of the righteous to get lighter and why the righteous ones must be pliable. (Prov. 4:18; John 16:13) Those belonging to false religions are not pliable. Once they learn something even if later it is found to be wrong, they will not change. Four reasons for their rigidness include: (1) They believe the true church is incapable of errors in matters of faith. (2) They love the darkness (unrighteousness) rather than the light. (3) God has allowed an operation of error to go to them that they may get to believe the lies they teach are truths. Because they refuse to believe the truth when they hear it, preferring instead unrighteousness. (4) Satan has blinded the minds of unbelievers so the truth might not shine through.
“If anyone worships the wild beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he will also drink of the wine of the anger of God that is poured out undiluted into the cup of his wrath.” (Rev 14:9-12) "And they worshiped the dragon [Satan] because it gave the authority to the wild beast, and they worshiped the wild beast with the words: “Who is like the wild beast, and who can do battle with it?”
The wild beast is a vicious monster, a brute. “The seven heads mean seven mountains…and there are seven kings...” (Rev 17:9, 10) “And the ten horns that you saw mean ten kings…these ones have one though …they will battle with the lamb but because …he is king of kings, the lamb [Jesus Christ], will conquer them.” The beast is a political wild beast, and is antichrist as can be seen with the horns [militaristic portion of the beast] doing battle with the lamb. True Christians are pro-Christ. They cannot and will not give their support nor lend a hand of assistance to the antichrist kings of the earth and their kingdoms U.S.A included. (Ps 2:2) Any Christian who lend a hand of assistance and cooperation to any portion of this antichrist political wild beast, actively taking part in its campaigns and nationalistic plans and projects, wear its mark. The mark is a mark of identification to show to whom or to what a person belongs or to which God a person renders sacred service. Christian idolaters consider the object of their patriotic nationalistic adoration worthy of praise however God considers it a hideous blasphemous thing.55 Nationalism and patriotism are subtle forms of idolatry, and are ways in which apostate Christians worship the political wild beast of Revelation. Invisibly printed on their forehead and upon their hand is the mark of the beast, 666. ___Rev. 14:11
"But I want you to know that the head of every man is the Christ; in turn the head of a woman is the man; in turn the head of the Christ is God." 1 Cor 11:3
A) Christ Made Equal to God- See rotten fruit # 30.
B) Women Allowed to be Pastors/Priests
"Let the women keep silent with full submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach, or to exercise authority over a man, but to be in silence.” (1 Tim 2: 11, 12; 1 Co 14:33, 34; Gen 3:16) Women must keep silent means they must show full submissiveness in the congregation not trying to exercise authority over men or argue with them.56 When they speak it must be in a position of subjection. At 1 Corinthians 1:2; 11:3,5,10,13 women when 'praying or prophesying' in the presence of their husbands or in the congregation must wear a head covering as a "Sign of Authority".57 Because women are not permitted to teach, or exercise authority over a man, they cannot be pastors whose job it is to teach and exercise authority over men and at times discipline them. Christian women are permitted to take the lead in the Christian congregation in the absence of men qualified to teach (baptized or unbaptized) and at home in the absence of their husbands. In the secular world a woman can be head over a man e.g., be his boss. Jesus gave Peter the 3 keys (divinely provided knowledge) of the kingdom of the heavens and whatever Peter may bind on earth will be the thing bound in the heavens, and whatever he may loose on earth will be the thing loosed in the heavens. (Matt 16:19) In other words, whatever Peter forbids on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever he permits on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven. It was Peter who said, “...I do not permit a woman to teach, or to exercise authority over a man but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve.” To allow women to be pastors, the true church would have to loose what both Peter and Paul bound on earth, and permit what is forbidden in heaven. The true Church does not have the authority to change, add, or remove anything from the Holy Scriptures.
What is the difference between a prophetess and a priestess? A prophetess is a woman who prophesies or carries on the work of a prophet.58 A priestess on the other hand is one who does the work of a priest.59 Although some women of the 1st century had the “gift of prophesy” they still had to subject themselves to the headship of their husbands or to that of men within the Christian congregation.60 Christian women are permitted to preach and teach God’s word to those outside the Christian congregation. A Christian religion or church that was started by a woman or is led by a woman does not have God's approval. They will suffer the same fate as Korah who showed no respect for theocratic order. (Numbers 16:3) Worship God on his terms not mans'.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; ....” 1 Cor 1:10 (AV); "Now the works of the flesh are manifest and they are.....divisions, sects, ....those who practice such things will not inherit God's kingdom." Gal 5:9
Two Christian religion cannot have oneness. However, when there is lack of oneness within the same religion, it is evidence that religious faith is not of God. Some professed Christians accept the fact that they are not united and go along with the false teachings of their fellow apostates which states__ In matters of importance, unity; in matters of non-importance, diversity. Of course what some members consider of no importance other members consider important. Is this how Jesus intended for Christians to be united? Even in the way they worship there is lack of unity. Some prefer traditional worship while others prefer contemporary worship. Acceptance of and formation of associate churches is one way they promote divisions, and is proof of their lack of unity. Anglicans have approximately 40 associate churches, Catholics have around 22. There are many other divided faiths. They are not one in the same mind as in the same judgment and accept each other as divisions of the same faith.
Acceptance of names that foster a sectarian spirit is a way in which they promote sects. For example, Lutherans are followers of Martin Luther a 16th century reformer; Wesleyan Methodist are followers of John Wesley; Arian Catholics are followers of Arius of Alexandria etc. (1 Cor 3:4) Another way is through theological differences. It only takes one difference. It is said if you believe in "Jesus Only" then you need to be Oneness Pentecostal, if you believe in "adult baptism" then you need to be Baptist etc. Catholics and Protestants are the two main sects of Christendom. The true Christian religion is not a sect nor does it accept divisions__associate churches.
“Adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself and enemy of God.” Jas 4:4
One of Christendom's clergy speaking of members of his own faith said, "They've assimilated into the culture of the world and absorbed it, becoming a part of it and imitating its ways." This is not only true of his faith but of other Christian faiths as well. They've become friends with the world (the world of unbelieving mankind or the mass of mankind apart from God's approved servants) politically, economically, socially, and religiously. For example: (1) They seek its association socially (2)They give into its immoral fleshly desires. (3) They join with it in idolizing men and organizations (4) They share its disregard for the counsel of God (5) They indulge in its dishonest way (6) They copy the world in its materialistic pursuits (7) They participate in its religious affairs (8) They manifest its corrupt mental inclination (9) They copy its music style, its manner of dressing, and unrighteous manner of speech (10) They imitate worldly class distinctions (11) They share its nationalistic outlook (12) They get involved in its political affairs (13) They suffer from its fears (14) They join the world in lining up under demonic control__List taken from: Make Sure Of All Things Hold Fast To What Is Fine. Friendship with the World. pg. 197-202. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society 1965
Christian religions, as well as Christians, are referred to as “worldly” not because they are in the world, but because they are a part of it. By becoming a part of the world they fail to do what Jesus said would be vital in gaining entrance into the kingdom of the heavens; that is, doing the will of the Father. (Mt 7:21; Jo 4:23) “Do not be loving either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 Jo 2:15) Christians are to be no part of the world because the whole world is lying in Satan’s power. Satan is the ruler of the the world. By becoming a part of the world they join the world in lining up under demonic control. (1 Jo 5:19) “Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever.”(1 Jo 2:17) Believing in God is not enough to be saved. Doing God’s will is also required. It is God’s will that Christians keep separate from the world.
“But as for the cowards and those without faith…and idolater…, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur…” Rev. 21:8; Jo 4:23; Gal 5:19, 20; Rom 1:25; Eph 5:4, 5, 8
An idol is an image, a representation of anything, or a symbol that is an object of passionate devotion, whether material or imaged.61 Generally speaking, idolatry is the veneration, love, worship, or adoration of an idol.62 It is usually practiced toward a real or supposed higher power, whether such power is believed to have animate existence(as a human, an animal, or an organization) or is inanimate (as a force or lifeless object of nature).63 Idolatry generally involves some form,ceremony, or ritual.64 Idols have no place in true worship. God does not tolerate any rivalry- the worship of any other gods. Jehovah is a God exacting exclusive devotion. Jehovah is a jealous God. He is jealous over his worship and forbids idolatry of all kinds, he is jealous over his Holy Name, over his people, and over righteousness.65 He will put to death all those practicing idolatry. (Num 25:11; Nah 1:2; Ex 34:14) There are three basic kinds of idolatry under which all idolatry falls:
A) Me, Myself, and I Idolatry - With this kind of idolatry, self-interest is the major concern- putting self ahead of God or loving self more than God; idolizing oneself. Covetousness and greed are two examples._ 1 Cor 6:9,10
B) Religious Idolatry- Involves venerating or rendering sacred service to persons or things found in the religious world. The most recognized religious symbol of Christendom, the cross; is an idol, an object of adoration. The cross is an integral part of the religious worship of imitation Christians. The cross is used during prayer and during the Easter season it is adorned in white; it even has its own songs. Although the bible admonishes Christians to flee from idolatry many of Christendom’s members see nothing wrong with idolizing the cross. Other idolatrous practices include: (1) Venerating and rendering sacred service to inanimate objects: Eg. the Host-wafer representing Christ body, church flags, man-made images, pagan gods and goddess that corresponds to a patron saint are disguised under that saint and worshiped (2) Creature Worship - Venerate and render sacred service to "saints"-including Mary, angels-including Jesus, clergymen- e.g. Pope, the dead, St. Patrick's Day, Marian devotion, pilgrimages and homage to Marian Shrines, Marian hour, Marian cults; motherhood, etc. (3) Idolize Seasons – Eg. Fall-- festivals, fall flags; Spring--Easter Sunday aka Resurrection Sunday is associated with spring's rebirth and celebrated (4) Use of material objects of devotion (sacramentals) to bring safety and blessing to themselves and to their homes. E.g., Pins, statues and icons, rosaries, crucifixes, shrines and pictures (5) Honoring men, organizations, and nations- e.g., The United Nations, honoring the nation of Israel, Independence Day Festival-such as 4th of July Church gala. All such things are detestable to God, they are symbols of jealousy. (Ezek 8:5; Lev 26:1; 2Co 6:16) Christians are not permitted to render sacred service to God’s creation, nor are they permitted to venerate graven images or the person represented by the image, regardless of whether they are placed after God. What determines whether a statue or picture is displeasing to the Father? This: Is it reverenced or worshiped; perhaps candles or food being placed before it, as in some countries?66 Does it portray a pagan symbol such as the Nimbus (halo)?67 Do people kneel, bow, or stand before it and pray? Is it an integral part of religious worship?68 “If you act perversely, making a carved image in one shape or another, doing what displeases Yahweh and angers him, on that day I will call heaven and earth to witness against you;….you shall be utterly destroyed. ( Deut 4:25, 26 JB; Ro 1:25) Not only have they ignored God’s command at Exodus 20:4,5 and Deuteronomy 4:25 they have also ignored his command spoken through an apostle at 1 Jo 5:21, “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”
C) Worldly Idolatry- Idolizing or rendering sacred service to things found in the world, e.g., rulers, countries, national emblems, organizations, singers, actors, and individuals who excel in sports. The pledge of allegiance, patriotic songs, national emblems, and patriotic holidays help to breed this “spirit of idolatry” that permeates the world and are all means Satan uses to get people to worship their respective country. National emblems like religious emblems are worshiped. Nationalism and patriotism are subtle forms of idolatry. The flag is to nationalism as the cross is to Christendom---idols. Sacred of objects of adoration. Tattooing the flesh is also considered idolatry, likely because of being linked with prevailing idolatrous practices.69 The world sees tattoos as: rebellious, sexy, as well as spiritual. Getting faith symbol tattoos is another way imitation Christians try to assimilate into the culture of the world. (Lev 19:28) The land is polluted with idolatry. There is no place for idolaters in God’s kingdom. Will false religions stop practicing idolatry? Is the road to life small and narrow? ___ Matt 7:14
“And he cried out with a strong voice, saying: ‘She has fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen, and she has become a dwelling place of demons and a lurking place of every unclean exhalation…..for by her spiritistic practice all the nations were misled.” Rev 18:2, 23; "...and they did not repent of their murders nor of their spiritistic practices nor of their fornication...” Rev 9: 21
Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religions, has misled the nations of the earth by her spiritistic practice. Christendom which is the dominant part of Babylon the Great has misled the Christian world by her spiritistic practices. Imitation Christians are fascinated by the mysticism and exotic aura of spiritism.Some do it for the entertainment while others, unable to get answers to their problems through prayer, seek it from the spirit realm. A number of Christen- dom’s members read books on spiritism and binding others with spells, watch occult movies, and attend magic shows. Some even go to a meeting where a medium seeks to contact the spirit world. Other examples of spiritism include: Consulting Psychics; Witchcraft; New Age Movement; Hypnotism; Obeah; Voodo; Ouija Board; Divination (e.g. astrology, numerology, palmistry); Crystal-ball gazing, Fortune Telling; Tarot Cards; Necromancy; Sciomancy; Dream Cards; Santeria; Socery; Macumba; Horoscope; Magic; Zodiac(consulted for advice on financial matters, travel plans, career moves, wedding dates, military strategies, and identifying prospective mates).
Spiritistic Practices Condone by Christendom's Churches
(A.) Halloween - Halloween, second in popularity to Christmas, is directly linked to spiritism. Some, because of their love of pleasure are unwilling to give up this dark night and like those before them, they change the name to “Hallelujah Night”. Some churches will have a pumpkin party on Halloween.
(B) Necromancy and Sciomancy- Necromancy- a form of divination that involves summoning the dead. Sciomancy- a form of divination that involves the observation of or even communication with ghost. Ways in which Necromancy and Sciomancy are practiced among apostate Christians include the following:
(1) exorcisms (2) calling upon the dead to intercede on their behalf (3) removing the dead from their graves and having a “mystical experience” with the corpse
(4) going to the graves of dead loved ones and carrying on a one-way conver-sation with the dead, asking for guidance from the dead, etc (5) having visions of the dead and communicating with the dead in the visions. (6) interpreting the bible around siomancy beliefs eg. the spirit medium and Endor.
" Some Christian clergy are perhaps responsible for the propagation and the ongoing practice of necromancy, even though it is forbidden in the Bible.... There are confessions of some clergy members themselves professing a history of experience with necromancy.....The probable reason that clerics were dabbling in the dark arts is that the evolution of natural and spiritual magic was slow, leaving the church divided in its tolerances...It is possible to trace Christian ritual and "prayer" and its subsequent mutant forms of utility and healing prayer/spells to full-blown necromancy." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necormancy#spread_of_necormancy_in_Christianity
" The Church does not deny that, with special permission of God, the souls of the departed may appear to the living, and even manifest things unknown to the latter." __http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10735a.htm Necromancy in the Christian era
(C) Worship of the dead – a particular sect of Christendom is known to put certain of their dead in a glass sarcophagus for the faithful to venerate, pray to dead loved ones who’ve passed on, as well hold a Mass to honor the dead (e.g. Pius). (D) Tolerating the syncretism of native spiritistic practices from Africa with elements of Catholic liturgy and paraphernalia – the result, a number of Christendom’s members are also members of religions that practice outright spiritism [e.g., voodoo, Santeria, witchcraft, spiritist institutions, etc.]
(E) Speaking in unintelligible tongues/being slain in the spirit- are common practices of Christendom’s spiritist churches and “Christian" spiritist. (F) All Soul’s Day (the day of the dead)- A number of Christendom’s members welcome the dead into their homes on All Soul’s Day and leave food on the graves of the dead. (G) New Age – Astral projections [out of body experiences], reincarnation, centering prayers, yoga, karate, transcendental meditation, collective consciousness, spirit guides and helpers, channeling, etc
(H) Superstitious fear- Take the following for example: if you are caught outside of a church midnight New Years Eve bad luck will follow you throughout the year; Friday the 13th; breaking a mirror means 7 years bad luck; sounds of bells drive away demons; wear red to ward off evil; when someone dies, windows must be open to let the soul out; a pregnant woman should not go to a funeral; opening the Bible at the head of a baby will prevent demons or the dead from playing with or harming the child. (I) Religious Mysticism- Christendom’s churches strongly believe in mysticism. There are immense differences between the sacred secrets of God and the secrets of mystery religions. Examples of Mystical practices and beliefs: Icons that bleed or cry; Unicorns, Flying deer; Miracle of the Bleeding Host; Eucharist-mystic food; Mystic marriage; [FSH] symbol]; Stigmata; The Mass; Perpetual virginity of Mary; Trinitarianism; Miracle spring water; Hellfire doctrine; The Bible Code; Miracles of Fatima; Mystic Healing; The Incarnation; Yoga, Transubstantiation, Mystical experience of the Inner Light; Nimbus/Halo (astral mysticism in Christian artwork); Mystical objects( Holy Grail, Shroud of Turin); Contemplative prayer, meditation; Mystic Revivalism - (Members when caught up in a state of ecstatic union with what they believe to be the holy spirit laugh uncontrollably, bark like dogs, fall to the ground, utter unintelligible sounds, hear inner voices, levitate, sweat blood, alleged prophesies and visions)
“So he brought him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth in an instance of time: And the Devil said to him; "I will give you all this authority and the glory of them because it has been delivered to me and to whomever I wish I give it”....So the Devil, having concluded his temptations, return from him until another convenient time." Luk 4:5-8,13
Politics is a part of the world and a major part of the lives of imitation Christians. It is not uncommon to see clergymen and their members meddling in the political affairs of the nation in which they live. Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world but Jesus refused his offer. When the Jews tried to seize Jesus and make him king (possibly another of Satan's tactics), he withdrew into the mountains all alone. He wanted no part of it. As Ambassador of God's kingdom Jesus did not meddle in the political affairs of another kingdom. Should Ambassadors of God's kingdom meddle in the political affairs of the kingdoms in which they live? By mixing religion and politics imitation Christians fail to remain faithful to the teachings of Christ…to be no part of the world as he was no part of it.__ James 4:4
Conflicts that arise when Christians get involved in the political process: (1) Censorship on public airways (religious channels). The opposing party wants equal air time on social as well as political issues (2) Clergymen become targets by opposing party members and sometimes are gun down inside their churches (3) Clergymen change their interpretation of the Bible. For example, a well known religious clergyman made a public apology to Catholics who decided they will not vote for the party if this clergyman is a public supporter of their candidate. The clergyman recanted what he said which was, the Catholic church is the whore of Babylon, so as to get his candidate into office (4) Parliament chooses a pastor/patriarch who sides with their politcal party to govern the church.
Paul said of himself and his missionary companions: "We are not peddlers of the word of God as many men are." 2 Cor 2:17; Lu 16:14
The “Last Days” has seen individuals who join the ministry to make money – lots of money to be had from mail-in contributions and collection plates; it has seen leaders of professed Christian religions charging a fee or stipend for religious services e.g., baptisms(mandatory preparation classes, candles, garments, sponsors, certificates, use of the church, and for some the baptism itself), weddings, and funerals, charges that can run into hundreds of dollars; it has seen clergy on goverment payrolls for performing ceremonial and pastoral duties and for opening daily legislative sessions with prayer.70 It has seen television evangelist defrauding their members of millions of dollars; it has seen so-called evangelism that commercialize God and his Son sellilng icons and counless other forms of religious paraphernalia71; it has seen the clergy receive a salary in exchange for their ministry, making as much as $50,000 or more per year which leaves one to wonder whether the sermon is truly genuine or just way of making a living. It has seen ministers going back to Theology school just so that can get a higher degree whereby they can demand more money and prestige. Unlike the 1st century where becoming a minister was at the direction of the Holy Spirit, today anyone aspiring to be a pastor can go to Theology schools spending hundreds of dollars to be taught the word of God. By requiring payment from students who want to be taught so they in turn can teach others these religious leaders have failed to follow Jesus fine example. "You recieved free, give free." (Mt 10:7,8) Even those who write songs of praise expect payment. In New York a man can have a Nun pray for him, in return for prayers said he gives a monetary sum. Accepting money for prayers said is how these old Nuns support themselves. Some Rock bands claim they are spreading the gospel to teens through Rock Music, in order to hear this gospel one has to buy tickets to their concerts. They instruct just for a price, yet upon God they keep supporting themselves, saying: "Is not God in the midst of us?” (Mic 3:11) Someone who did follow Jesus example the apostle Paul, performed his ministry "without cost". When he needed funds he did secular work as a tentmaker. Following in the footsteps of Christ and Paul the true Christian religion does not charge a fee for religious services.
“… Watch out for the leaven (corruption/sin) of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” Luke 12:1
There is a common saying among people that to find hypocrites one needs only to go to church. Why is that? It is because many professed Christians do not practice what they preach. Their words and deeds are not one. Christians are judged by their works and when their works are not in harmony with the Christian faith they expose themselves to ridicule. Jesus spoke of these ones when he said: “You hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about you, when he said, ‘This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me.’” The clergy of Christendom have for so long taught their members that only faith apart from works will get them saved. Members practice every kind of wickedness thinking their salvation will not be affected. Survey after survey report how professed Christians are as likely to embrace lifestyles every bit as hedonistic, materialistic, self-centered, and sexually immoral as the world in general. Because Christians are under Grace imitation Christians assume they do not have to obey the law of the Christ so they may be judged favorably by that law. They are without law toward God and are not under law toward Christ. They are detestable and disobedient. (Titus 1:16) They use God’s grace as an excuse to practice and take delight in willful sin. Holiness is perceived as self- righteousness or false piety. “What follows? Shall we commit a sin because we are not under law but under undeserved kindness? Never may that happen!” (Rom 6:12-14,15) God will not allow his creation to continually take him for granted.__ 1 Pet 2:16
“You have heard the Anti-Christ is coming, even now there are many antichrist of which fact we know we are in the last days." 2Jo 7; 1Jo 4:2, 3
The Anti-Christ is a composite man representing all who are against Christ in their beliefs and deeds. Those to whom the term antichrist applies: (1) Persons who deny that Jesus is truly the Messiah and the unique Son of God (2)Those denying the Father and/or the Son. (3) Apostate/Imitation Christians -"There have come to be many antichrists..they went forth from us, but they were not of our sort." 1Jo 2:18,19 (4 )Those who oppose and persecute Christ true followers (5) Any not truly on Christ side. (6) Individuals who falsely claim the messianic role or who oppose Christ as king. (7) The wild beast and its image [the kingdoms of world] (8)The Harlot Babylon the Great [the world empire of false religions]. __List taken from: Make Sure of All Things Hold Fast to What is Fine. Antichrist. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. Page 14,15
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you traverse sea and dry land to make one proselyte [e.g. crusades], and when he becomes one you make him a subject for Gehenna twice as much so as yourselves.” Mt 23:15
Jesus foretold that after the death of the apostles a great apostasy…a massive falling away from true worship would occur. Thus, a deviation from pure worship was to be expected until the harvest, when Jesus would set matters right by destroying the weeds and storing the wheat.72 (Matt 13:24-43) The apostasy was gradual, but in the 4th century C.E., it came into full bloom.73 Much of the doctrines fundamental to the Christian churches are built not on God’s word but on pagan foundations.74 A little leaven ferments the whole lump. (Gal 5:9) There is none righteous among them [imitation Christians]; no one who is doing good and is not sinning, not even one. (Rev 14:19, 20) Imitation Christians are led by a clergy class “man of lawlessness” who instead of teaching the people the difference between a right thing and a wrong thing, join with them and practice badness. By abandoning true worship they have in effect shut up the kingdom of heaven before their members. Their proselytes have been converted to an adulterated church. Like the Scribes and Pharisees, they subject their converts to Gehenna [hellfire] twice as much so as themselves.
"For a Certainty I perceive that God is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him."__Acts 10:34,35
All Refs.- Taken from books, Public Talks, Watchtower, and On-line articles published by Jehovah's Witnesses
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"Faith Alone" Christians believe salvation is not dependent on works. Yet, they condemn certain religious groups to an Eternal Hellfire because of their works [actions and beliefs].
"But know this that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assumig, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,...... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of Godly devotion but proving false to its power, and from these turn away". 2 Ti 3:1-4
"...a FAILURE to correct false doctrine or actions when presented with solid evidence would be proof that a religion or an individual is not Christian."
