POINTS OF TRUTH CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES

Best Wishes in the next Millennium!

Points of Truth

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Crusade Church of God

Personal from the Editor

A World Without Jesus. . .?
By Larry R. Lasiter

"He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher."

"He never had a family or owned a home. He never set foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never wrote a book, or held an office. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness."

"While He was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends deserted Him. He was turned over to His enemies, and went through the mockery of a trial."

"He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had,- His coat. When He died, He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave."

"Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure for much of the human race. All the armies that have ever marched, and all the navies that have ever sailed, and all the Parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings who ever reigned,- put together, . . .have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as this ONE SOLITARY LIFE!" (Author Unknown)

The life of Jesus has affected the world in ways that are far too numerous to even fully comprehend.

HIS LIFE CHANGED THE WORLD

"Regardless of what anyone may personally think or believe about Him, Jesus of Nazareth has been the dominate figure in the history of Western Culture for almost twenty centuries."

"If it were possible, with some sort of super-magnet, to pull up out of that history every scrap of metal bearing at least a trace of His name, how much would be left?"

"It is from His birth that most of the human race dates its calendars, it is by His Name that millions curse and in His Name that millions (billions now) pray." (Jesus, Through the Centuries, by Jaroslav Pelikan)

"Into this world of craving for salvation the preaching of Christianity made its way. Long before it had achieved its final triumph by dint of an impressive philosophy of religion, its success was already assured by the fact that it promised and offered SALVATION,- a feature in which it surpassed all other religions." (Mission and Expansion, Harnack)

RENAISSANCE

The development of character in the individual person was a major theme of the Renaissance period and came to Europe through the teachings of Jesus Christ.

"The very concept and name Renaissance (rinascimento) whatever the ultimate origins of the idea may have been, had come into the vocabulary of European civilization principally through the teachings of Jesus." (Jaroslav Pelikan, Sterling Professor of History at Yale)

THE WORLD BEFORE JESUS

The World's religions consisted of Judaism and Paganism. The Concept of Judaism was that Israel alone was God's chosen people. Although there was proselyting by Jewish Rabbis to gain a following for themselves, they generally did not recruit non-Israelites. God never told the Israelites to "go forth and make disciples of all nations" as Jesus told His Apostles to do. (Matt. 28)

Paganism was polytheistic in nature with its devotees worshiping a wide variety of gods, and for varying reasons. Some gods were worshiped in a spirit of appeasement because of fear. Countless millions of children have been sacrificed to appease the anger of ancient pagan gods.

At times, in the Greek world, up to 75% of the people were slaves to the 25%, and were treated as such,- nothing more than property.

Notice how the Apostle Paul taught the principles of Christianity to a slave-owner named Philemon,- "For perhaps he (slave) was for this reason parted from you for a while, that you should have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother." (Philemon vs 15-16)

Even during the debate over the slavery issue in the United States prior to the Civil War, the measuring rod used was whether the teachings of Jesus permitted slavery or not.

"It is for FREEDOM that Christ has SET US FREE. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1)

By His loving sacrifice Jesus has indeed set us free from slavery to sin and death, which is the greatest yoke one could ever bear, or be freed from.

Until Jesus, women had virtually no rights.

His disciples were amazed when they found Jesus talking to a woman at a well in Samaria. Not only was she a hated Samaritan, but also a lowly woman.

Men had long put away their wives as they lost their beauty. When asked by Jews whether it was lawful to put away a wife by giving a writ of divorce, Jesus answered that Moses had permitted divorce only because of the hardness of their hearts, but that in the beginning God had made BOTH man AND female to become ONE FLESH. Jesus then said,- "Let not man tear apart what God has joined together."

Christianity is often ridiculed by Feminists, but the driving force behind the very concept of being fair comes from the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.

"Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave His life up for her". . ."So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies." (Ephesians 5)

This was a radically different teaching which the world as a whole had never heard. Historians have often searched for mercy and kindness in pre-Christian cultures but have found very little.

Before the teachings of Jesus influenced the cultures of the world, it was believed RIGHT that the strong should dominate the weak, the young dominate the old, the rich have favor over the poor and men treat women and children as property.

I once heard a story from a Christian missionary in a non-Christian culture, who said that he witnessed men comfortably sitting on the porch playing checkers as he could see one of their wives yoked next to an ox pulling a plow in the field.

Such has been the plight of women for much of history. WHAT CHANGED, you might ask? Was it that women finally just got "fed-up" with their situation and brought about the changes themselves? I think not. Because the very reason men gave ear and took notice of the unfair treatment of women. . .the reason it even mattered enough to men to desire to help bring about change, . . .was the influential, humane teachings of Jesus. HOW CAN WE BE SURE? . . .It is only in cultures that have been touched by Christianity that these changes have come about.

"You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her HONOR as a FELLOW-HEIR of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered." (1 Peter 3:7)

The teachings of Jesus brought about a different type of relationship between husband and wife in the Church of God. Husband and wife were to be a team composed of "one flesh", held together in the bond of love and commitment toward one another. Christian husbands are to love their wives, Christian wives are to submit to the authority of their husbands.

Rome was considered the most civilized culture at the time of Jesus' walk upon the earth, yet in the Roman world, women had few rights and children none.

A Roman citizen could divorce, sell into slavery or even kill his children as he wished. Babies of unwanted births were regularly taken into the forest and left to die or be eaten by predatory animals. This all gradually changed under pressure from the benign teachings of Jesus. (This is not to suggest that Rome truly converted to Christianity from the heart, but the empire's way of life was influenced dramatically over a period of time)

Before Christian missionaries came to India, widows of deceased husbands were sometimes expected to throw themselves onto the burning bodies of their husbands in self-sacrifice.

Sometimes a living husband who was displeased with his wife would douse her with oil and set her aflame. A practice that still occurs occasionally, though it is now illegal.

Some years back, Readers Digest ran the following story,- "Asraf's body was brought to his father. There was to be a traditional burial, which meant that Asraf's body would be placed in a wooden cart and taken to a certain spot, where it would be burned."

"Here was a frightened girl, (wife of deceased) "I am so sorry", "How sad to lose your husband", said Roshanara. The girl was suddenly on her knees saying,- Help me, Roshanara, do not let me burn!"

"But she was told,- "There will be the funeral, the funeral pyre. And you must throw yourself into the flames." She screamed "No!" But was told that the Great Khansmah says you must do it because your husband's father wishes it done as a symbol of respect for his son."

"Then suddenly the girl said, "No, no, that is suttee,- it is forbidden under British rule." India, once a British colony had the humane treatment of women forced upon it by parliamentary law. Where did the British learn this concept? From the humane teachings of Jesus Christ.

British Expansion Brought Christian Principles

At the peak of British expansion it was commonly said,- "The sun never sets on the empire of Jesus the King." As in past centuries of Christian conversion, the missionary and the military sometimes went hand in hand, each serving the purposes of the other, and not always in a manner or a spirit in harmony with the spirit and teachings of Jesus Christ. The medieval method toward missionary endeavors was to conquer a people in warfare and then baptize the survivors in the nearest river.

It is evident that Christian principles were enforced using non-Christian methods. It is also true that those doing the enforcing were not themselves practicing the true teachings of Jesus. The hypocrisy is without escaping notice, and in fact, even glaring. Still, marvelous changes took place wherever Jesus' basic teachings regarding man's responsibility toward each other settled.

Did real Christianity come to many through these expansions? I think not, because real Christianity does not need to be enforced by parliamentary law. True conversion is of the heart of man, creating a change from within that manifests itself in outward practices.

But having said that, the fact still remains that countless millions have been blessed and have been spared much suffering by the simple teachings of Jesus though they may have been introduced in hypocrisy.

Before Christian missionaries came to Africa, the wives and concubines of some tribal Chiefs were killed after his death.One such custom called for a river to be damned in order that a hole could be dug in its bottom. Upon completion, the deceased Chief was placed onto his throne and then into the hole, then anchored down. His wives and concubines were then tied to his throne. Afterwards, the river was released and they all drowned as the water swept over them.

Before missionaries reached the Aztec civilization, mass sacrificial murder was common. In religious rituals thousands were slashed open from bottom to top and dropped over the edge of the high place of worship.

The pagan god, Molech was worshiped with human sacrifices. Sometimes he was represented as a horrible idol filled with fire within. Babies were offered and placed into his red-hot out-stretched arms.

In case the parents should relent after handing their child to the priest, loud noise was made on drums to hide the screams. The word for drums is "tophim" from which comes the word, "tophet" meaning "fireplace" which is mentioned in Jeremiah 7:31. While drums sounded, bands played, and the priests chanted, crying babies were devoured in the flames of Molech.

"And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, and it did not come into My mind."

In pre-Christian Ireland, the Druid priests demanded that the early Irish offer one third of their children to the pagan deity, Cromm Cruac. This practice was abolished by the missionary work of Patrick.

Many of the native Americans had terrifying religious practices prior to the arrival of Christian missionaries. Slavery among tribes was common.

The Mandans were a North American Indian people who lived in the upper Missouri River area. Known to traders as "the polite and friendly Mandans."

But in a four-day annual religious ceremony, young men underwent torturous initiation rites in order to appease good and evil spirits. The initiates entered the lodge following the "first and only man", who arrived in the village the day before. He made sure the boys did not eat, drink or sleep for four days and nights. On the last day, the young men were cut on the chest, shoulders, arms and legs. Splints were then put through the wounds. They were hung up, with weights on their arms and legs.

They were spun around with a pole until they lost consciousness, then each were cut down and left alone as "entirely dead", and in the keeping of the "Great Spirit." Each boy had to recover by himself if he was to live.

Temple prostitutes, both male and female, inhabited the temples of the pagan deities of fertility. The pre-Christian Greek and Roman world worshiped their fertility gods and goddesses with sexual orgies also in wooded areas the Bible calls "groves." God only knows how many thousands suffered or even died as a result of sexually transmitted diseases due to these acts of pagan worship. WHY ARE THESE NO LONGER TAKING PLACE? Because of the influential teachings of a carpenter from Nazareth.

Before Jesus, everyone under Roman rule was to believe that Roman emperors were gods and were required to worship them.

The original Apostles traveled widely, teaching and making converts. These converts then set up local Churches. Soon, there were many Christian Churches all around the Mediterranean.

This new faith was attacked by the Roman authorities because it refused to recognize the Roman emperors as gods, nor would the early Christians worship the Roman idols. Many were martyred because of this. During a time, Christians were burned to illuminate the emperor's Nero's gardens. Others were fed to hungry lions as sport in the arenas. Sometimes children were clothed in sheep skins, put in the arenas with ferocious dogs with only their helpless parents there to try in vain to defend them.

WHY DID THEY SUFFER SO? WHY DIDN'T THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CONVERTS RECANT AND WORSHIP THE EMPEROR? Because of their conviction of the true teachings of Jesus Christ, which gave them the ability to stand where others would fall and to endure things not thought endurable.

Although the Roman empire never truly turned to the teachings of Jesus, overtime, because of the influence of Christian principles, Roman emperors were no longer thought of as gods, and temple prostitutes lost their place of prominence.

Christianity preserved learning during the Dark Ages through its monasteries. Monks were often the only educated people. They wrote chronicles and kept libraries of handwritten manuscripts.

Christianity strongly affected political and intellectual life during Medieval times.

JESUS IN GENTILE PROPHECIES

There were prophecies concerning the birth of a child from God, born of a virgin in the Gentile world. Perhaps the most dramatic was the prophecy of the Roman poet, Vergil, in the fourth of his Eclogues, saying- "Under YOUR GUIDANCE, whatever vestiges remain of our ancient WICKEDNESS, once DONE AWAY with, shall free the earth from it incessant fear."

"For YOUR SAKE, O CHILD, the earth without being tilled, will freely pour forth for you caressing flowers. The serpent too shall die."

"Assume Your great honors, for the time will soon be at hand, dear child of the gods, great offspring of Jove! See how it totters,- the world's vaulted might, earth, and wide ocean, and the depths of heaven, all of them, look, caught up in joy at the age to come."

This example in Gentile prophecy shows that there was a "Messianic hope" among the Gentiles. Vergil's fourth Eclogue anticipated a "new heaven and a new earth", looked forward to a time when one's citizenship could be, not in Rome, but Heaven

It predicted the "abolition of the ancient religious wickedness and their practices" which had clung to human nature for thousands of years. It described Satan's defeat, the crushing of the serpent which God had promised Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. And it predicted a "Divine Child would be born to a virgin."

Notice what the Apostle Peter told the Gentile converts to Christianity,- "For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries." (1 Peter 4:3)

Does it seem difficult to believe that a pagan Roman poet could possibly know anything pertaining to the coming of Jesus of Nazareth? Notice that the "wise men from the East" who followed the star seeking to pay honor to the newborn "King of the Jews,- were "Magi", who are pagan priests of Mithra; yet they knew things concerning the birth of Jesus.

MUCH OF THE WORLD HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE RADICAL TEACHINGS OF JESUS.

JESUS DIDN'T RAISE AN ARMY TO ENFORCE HIS VIEWS, . . .HE JUST SPOKE. . .AND SAID THESE WORDS. . .

God is your FATHER and He wants you to pray to Him with that in mind. God as a tender, loving "Father?" Unheard of in the pre-Christian world as Jesus taught it!

You are God's CHILDREN and are HEIRS of HIS KINGDOM. Man's destiny is to actually be born into the very family of God, possessing His Nature and Glory. The Apostle John wrote,- "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called the CHILDREN OF GOD." (1 John 3:1)

God the Father so loved you that He gave His only Son. And Jesus willingly laid down His sinless life for you and me, even while we were committed to sin.

Love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Love and pray even for your enemies.

Bless those who curse you.

The meek shall be the greatest in the Kingdom.

Have mercy even on your slave.

To be forgiven, you must first forgive.

Give to him who asks. Turn the other cheek.

Greatest must serve rather than be served.

Men and women are equal heirs of God's Kingdom

Fathers, don't discourage your children.

Husbands, love your wives. Wives submit to your husbands. Children, honor and obey your parents.

Blessed are those who make peace.

Remember, and care for the poor and needy.

"By this shall all men know that you are indeed My disciples, . . .that you love one another." (John 13:35)

While on earth Jesus declared that heaven and earth would ultimately pass away, but His WORDS would endure forever.

Not only have they endured, they have literally changed the very complexion of the world.

Have there been terrible atrocities committed in the name of Jesus?

The answer is Yes.

Have corrupt governments and corrupt religious figures done much evil in the name of Christ?

Yes, again.

But Jesus warned that many would come in His name and mislead multitudes. (Matt. 24) And He told us not to follow them.

But putting aside what corrupt men have done in His name, let us never forget what He actually taught and how He lived His life while on earth.

He never conquered a people by military force.

He was never convicted of corruption of any kind.

Jesus' life has affected the world in countless physical ways, but His life has affected the Christian in spiritual ways infinitely more.

How about you?

Have you allowed Him to personally transform You?

Streams in the Desert

Designed to bring inspiration and encouragement

Jenny's Pearls

The cheerful girl with golden curls was almost five. Waiting for her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them,- a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy, can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?!"

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face.

"A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2. If you really want them , I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday is only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to a neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere,- church, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"

"Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember. Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favorite."

"That's okay, Honey, Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's Daddy asked again,- "Do you love me?"

"Daddy, you know I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh, Daddy not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."

"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later when her Daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian style. As he came close, he notice her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. "What is wrong Jenny?"

Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her Daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here Daddy, it's for you."

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind Daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny.

He had them each night for some time, but was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her genuine treasure.

Much like our heavenly Father.

What are you hanging on to?

SPOTLIGHT: Gossip, the Devil's Poison

"He who hates disguises it with his lips, but he lays up deceit in his heart." Proverbs 26;24

Condensed from "Gossip and Slander, the Devil's Poison"

By: Larry R. Lasiter

Perhaps the most effective tool in the Devil's arsenal is his use of gossip and slander. It is by this method that Satan is able to poison brethren toward one another. Consider it's effect in the life of the Apostle Paul. To the Church at Rome he was forced to clarify his message because of "slanderous charges", -And why not say (AS WE ARE SLANDEROUSLY REPORTED AND AS SOME AFFIRM THAT WE SAY), "Let us do evil that good may come?" Their condemnation is just.." (Romans 3:8) And again before Felix following his journey to Jerusalem to answer slanderous charges, -"Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now ACCUSE ME. But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law, and that is written in the Prophets." (ACTS 24:13-14)

The Scriptures show that many of Paul's close friends and fellow workers of the faith turned away from him before his death. And indeed even whole sections of territory consisting of possibly hundreds of home churches turned away from him, notice his second letter to Timothy, -"Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. You are aware of the fact that ALL WHO ARE IN ASIA TURNED AWAY FROM ME, among whom are Phygelus and Hermongenes." (2 Tim.1:14-15)

How did this happen?

Paul had made many missionary journeys and had established many assemblies throughout the Gentile world.

But during the last years of his life he was imprisoned at Rome. It is from his letters from prison to the churches that we learn of all those who were turning away from this faithful apostle of Christ.

Although Timothy remained faithful there were few others that were loyal enough to travel the church areas to combat slanderous reports and false teaching. And Timothy was needed at Ephesus to fight the constant poisonous flood taking place there. Paul was reduced to defending himself and his ministry primarily by letter. But God was allowing this to happen in order to test the brethren, and Paul knew it would happen, notice -"Be on guard for yourselves and for the flock, among which the holy spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them." (Acts 20:28-30)

Satan wanted to cause division in the churches and even among individual people. But the Apostle Paul was in his way. He had to discredit him through gossip and slander to prepare the brethren's minds for false teachings and additional evil. Satan had to first engender distrust for Paul as a person, then attack his teachings and finally cause division among the brethren themselves through various disputes which are readily referred to throughout Paul's letters.

Paul was given the gift of Apostleship by God. And Paul knew that being in a position of leadership in the church of God, also means that you are a primary target of Satan the Devil.

That is why he told Timothy not to receive an accusation against a local overseer when he visited a church area, except on the basis of two or three witnesses. "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at PREACHING and TEACHING. For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing", and "The laborer is worthy of his wages." DO NOT RECEIVE AN ACCUSATION AGAINST AN ELDER EXCEPT ON THE BASIS OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES. Those who continue in sin, REBUKE in the PRESENCE OF ALL, so that the REST also may be FEARFUL OF SINNING. I solemnly CHARGE YOU in the PRESENCE OF GOD and of CHRIST JESUS and his chosen angels, to MAINTAIN THESE PRINCIPLES WITHOUT BIAS, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality." (1 Tim. 5:17-21)

An Apostle, Evangelist or local pastor is not above accountability, but they are worthy of honor which means that one should not receive an accusation against them unless two or more witnesses come forward concerning the matter.

To listen to a charge against one whom Christ has set in a leadership position by only one witness is contrary to God's instructions and opens oneself up to receive a dose of the Devil's poison.

Because of these things the Apostle Paul was forced to reveal sins and even name the names of those who were slandering him and causing division such as in the case of Hymenaeus, Phygelis, Alexander, etc.

Paul wrote the Galatians to remind them of how he had even rebuked Peter openly when Peter was caught up in hypocrisy. The Apostle John was forced to reveal the secret motives of Diotrephes by letter to Gaius and said that he would expose his evil deeds openly to the brethren if and when he was able to come to that church area. Peter warned that the newly baptized Simon Magus was secretly "In the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity." (Acts 8:23) In Acts 5 Peter exposed the evil intentions of Ananias and Sapphira because of which God afterwards struck them dead.

In exposing these "brethren" did Paul, Peter and John engage in gossip and slander?

The answer is of course "No."

Their motives in doing so was the same as Jesus' when he openly revealed the sins of the Jewish religious leaders, -so that the people would not be deceived by their hypocrisy.

The Apostles motives were to protect the brethren from men who had turned away from true Christianity, and who were bent on poisoning others to the point that they would not be able to receive sound counsel from them. Satan's tactic worked, as evidenced by the amount of time the Apostles and Evangelists had to spend defending themselves and the ministry God had called them to, -and as evidenced by the many churches which would no longer receive Paul, -and by the fact that Diotrephes even had aquired the power to deny brethren to hear the teachings of the Apostle John, and in fact put out of the assemblies any who received his teachings. As in the cases with Jesus, the Apostles were only reacting to false charges and false teachings from those being used as instruments of the Devil. They did not initiate these war of words, the accusers did.

Their motives were pure. The end result of those who would accept their defense and receive their warning against these "wolves", would be peace, harmony, unity and safety. These brethren would not be scattered from those Christ, Himself had placed in the assembly to guide and serve as examples to the flock of God. And they would no longer even listen to a charge against an elder brought to them privately by only one witness. By receiving the sound warning from the Apostles, the brethren would be able to distinguish between a "witness" and an "accuser."

Unlike the pure motives of Jesus and the Apostles, these accusers were not working to insure unity. They were imputing evil motives to the Apostles in order to separate the brethren from them. They worked secretly, privately not openly. (Jude vs 4) The accusations directed at Paul and John were made in their absence when they were not there to defend themselves. And whole church areas and indeed even entire territories were seduced by the spirits working through these men. It could have been avoided by their refusal to hear these slanderous charges against the Apostles while they were not there to give a defense.

But why did so many thousands fall away from the Apostles even after they had heard their defense by letter? The answer can only be that the brethren had been so poisoned by the gossip and slander that they were unable to believe the Apostles anymore. They had let a "root of bitterness" set in towards them.

They had been constantly told how dictatoral, unfair and untrustworthy they were before the letters ever arrived. Their mental image of these dedicated servants of God had changed.

Their concept of them was no longer based on the good fruits many of them had witnessed, but on the constant poisonous flood of slanderous reports they gave ear to. These godly servants were not what these brethren believed them to be, but they had become unable to see them in any other way. This is of course, exactly what the Devil wanted, and his tactic?. . . Gossip and slander.

It is important to realize that the gossip and slander did not end with the Apostles, but later was used on those who remained loyal to them. Notice -"I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, neither does he himself receive the brethren (loyal to John), and he forbids those who desire to do so, and puts them out of the church."(3 John vs 9-10)

Many were branded as heretics and put out of the churches. As Jesus had prophesied, even family members in the church betrayed one another due to a spirit of partisanship which was created by factious men unjustly accusing His true servants with wicked words, and denying the brethren access to the truth.

From my booklet "Beware the Wolf", -"One of the most effective tools of the wolf is gossip. With gossip he will poison the minds of the unsuspecting. He may come to you with the words, "Just between me and you." Then proceed to poison your mind toward other brothers or sisters that are not there to defend themselves.

The wolf will say he is telling you because, "You need to know" and because he is "deeply concerned." What he tells you may be 100% true or some truth mixed with lies. But his real purpose is to get your mind off holiness.

By enticing you into critical evaluations and conversations of other brethren, he will succeed in hampering your prayers, thus achieving the first step in separating you from your Savior and true Shepherd. Again, the wolf probably is not aware of his own motives. He has been given a spirit of delusion.

The Bible is clear in its instruction toward helping a brother or sister if you see him practicing sin. You are to go to him directly in a spirit of love and humility, motivated to restore your brother.

To reconnect him to the Vine. The wolf will not follow this Biblical procedure, because he is not really motivated by the spirit of restoration of the brother or sister.

He may offer various excuses, such as, "I would talk to him, but I'm sure he won't listen to me", or "That person thinks he knows it all".And like the Pharisees who would not accept Jesus, and would not allow others to either, the wolf will not want you to go try to help the person he is accusing, even though he says he is concerned for them. He may say, "I'm going to tell you this, but please don't tell anyone I said it."

You may give your word to keep it confidential, then receive into your being poison that would eventually destroy your soul. You won't really know if it is true, and now you won't have a means of finding out.

You may never look at that brother or sister in the same way again. You will have received "seeds of division." Notice Paul's instruction in Romans 16;17-18, -"Now I URGE YOU, brethren, keep your eye on those who CAUSE DISSENSIONS and HINDRANCES contrary to the teaching which you learned, and TURN AWAY FROM THEM. For such are SLAVES not of our Lord Jesus Christ but of THEIR OWN APPETITES; and by their SMOOTH and FLATTERING SPEECH they DECEIVE the HEARTS of the unsuspecting."

One should respond to those bringing accusations by asking. . ."Why are you telling me this about brother or sister so and so". . .How do you know what you are telling me is true?". . ."Why haven't you gone to him (or her) privately as the Scripture says?". . ."If you are really concerned, do something about it other than telling others about it.". . ."Can I quote what you are telling me?". . ."Let's you and me go to that person and help restore him.". . ."Even if what you say is true, isn't is still gossip to tell me about it?". . ."Didn't Jesus say we will answer for every careless word we speak?" (Matthew 12:26-27)

Often, those bringing accusations and seeds of division come as "vulnerable victims" "unjustly hurt" or "abused" by another, especially by someone in leadership.They may pull on the strings of your heart with a sad story thus as the Scripture above warned, -"by their SMOOTH and FLATTERING SPEECH they DECEIVE the HEARTS of the unsuspecting." It works much like a son or daughter complaining to their friends about "unfair" treatment by their parents, -"My parents grounded me for no good reason. . .They wouldn't even give me a chance to explain. . .They don't understand me."

Their entire focus abandons the reason for the disciplinary action and targets the "unfair, unjust" way their parents reacted to it. As long as their focus remains on their "unjust" parents, they will never be able to come to see the magnitude of their wrong and come to repentance. Their friends usually go along to get along, giving them an ear to complain to and sympathizing with them along the way. Of course "real friends" would never do this because they would be truly concerned with their well-being and would remind them that God put parents in the family to guide and correct them when needed, just as He also placed overseers in His churches to do the same.

Christians should know that there is a serpent lying in wait, seeking to give the poisonous bite of gossip and slander. Let us not neglect to put on the full armor of God in our Christian walk.

FOCUS: Biblical Archaeology

"I tell you, if these become silent, the stones themselves will cry out." Luke 19:40

From "The Bible Study" and "Biblical Reliability in Archaeology"

Archaeological evidence substantiates many Biblical accounts. Millar Burrows of Yale said,- "Archaeological work has unquestionably strengthened confidence in the reliability of the Scriptural record."

Nelson Glueck, reformed Jewish scholar notes,- "It is worth emphasizing that in all this work no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a single, properly understood Biblical statement."

Bible critics also believed that the circumstances of Jesus' birth were concocted to fulfill the prophecy in Micah that states the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. They doubted that there had actually been a census as the Bible has stated, (Luke 2:1-3) which caused Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem.

A Roman edict was later discovered in Egypt, which stated,- "The enrollment by household being at hand, it is necessary to notify all who for any cause soever are outside of their administrative districts that they return at once to their homes to carry out the customary enrollment."

Other discovered documents confirmed that this census was taken every fourteen years.

Pontius Pilate's historical authenticity was in doubt until 1961, when an inscription was found "Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea, has presented the Tiberium to the Caesareans."

An interesting archaeological discovery appears to document a Roman governor's reaction to the resurrection of the dead. Matthew 28:11-15 describes the reaction of the Chief Priests and Elders when the guards around Jesus' tomb told them about the resurrection,- "When the Chief Priests had met with the Elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, "His disciples came during the night and stole Him away while we were asleep." If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble."

The governor must have heard the report and it must have upset him, because he issued a decree instituting capital punishment for the crime of violation of sepulcher, a crime which had never previously had such a severe penalty. A white marble slab inscribed with this decree was found in Nazareth in 1878.

In the Old Testament, Joshua followed the Lord's instructions and the walls of Jericho collapsed with a shout from the people, allowing Joshua to take the city c.1400 BC. (Joshua 6:5,20) Archaeological evidence found the walls of Jericho, fallen outward, even though they were 15 feet high and 10 feet thick. From pottery and ceramic evidence, the city was destroyed c.1400 BC.

The discovery of the Ebla archive in northern Syria in the 1970's has shown the Biblical writings concerning the Patriarchs to be viable. Documents written on clay tablets from around 2300 BC demonstrate that personal and place names in the Patriarchal accounts are genuine.

The name "Canaan" was in use in Ebla, as name critics once said was not used at that time and was used incorrectly in the early chapters of the Bible.

The word "tehom" (the deep) in Genesis 1:2 was said to be a late word demonstrating the late writing of the creation story. "Tehom" was part of the vocabulary at Ebla, in use some 800 years before Moses. Ancient customs reflected in the stories of the Patriarchs have also been found in clay tablets from Nuzi and Mari.

The Hittites were once thought to be a Biblical legend, until their capital and records were discovered at Bogazkoy, Turkey.

Bible critics once claimed that there was no Assyrian king named Sargon as recorded in Isaiah 20:1, because this name was not known in any other record.

Then, Sargon's Palace was discovered in Khorsabad, Iraq. The very event mentioned in Isaiah 20, his capture of Ashdod was recorded on the palace walls.

ABORTION

Would You Consider it in the Following Cases?

"Were your harlotries so small a matter? You slaughter MY CHILDREN and offer them up to idols!" Ezek. 16:20

1. There is a preacher and wife who are very, very poor. They already have 14 children. Now she finds that she is pregnant with the 15^th. They are already living in poverty.

Considering their circumstances, their poverty and excessive world population, would you consider recommending an abortion for this family?

2. The father of this family is sick, the mother has TB. They have already had four children born to their family. The firstborn is blind, the second-born has already died, the third-born is deaf and the fourth-born is suffering from TB.

Considering their circumstances, given their extreme situation and the fact that none of them are healthy, would you consider recommending an abortion for this family?

3. Our third case deals with the tragedy of a rape that results in a pregnancy for a young girl. In this true story, a white man raped a young 13 year old black girl. Her parents are infuriated by this heinous act and feel that their daughter should not be burdened with an unwanted baby.

Considering their circumstances, understanding the feelings of the parents involved and the very young age of the girl, would you consider recommending an abortion for her?

4. A teenage girl is discovered to be pregnant. She is not married but she is engaged. But her fiancé is not the father of the baby. Add in the fact that the time and culture in which this occurs will surely mean that her child will be forever branded. Add in also that her fiancé breaks off their engagement.

Considering the circumstances, would you consider recommending an abortion for her?

1. If you said "Yes" to the first case, you have just aborted the life of John Wesley one of the most influential evangelists of the 19^th century.

2. If you said "Yes" to the second case, you will have never heard the hauntingly beautiful "Moonlight Sonata" or the dramatic "Ninth Symphony", because you have just killed baby Ludwig Van Beethoven. Which also means the Beatles would have never written and recorded the pop hit "Roll Over Beethoven."

3. If you said "Yes" to the third case, you would have just aborted the life of Ethel Waters, the great black gospel singer who brought inspiration and encouragement to thousands during her marvelous career.

4. If you said "yes" to the fourth case, you would not even be reading this newsletter, or have a New Testament in your Bible. In fact, unless you are a descendant of Israel, you probably wouldn't have a Bible at all. You would live in a world far different and removed from the world you find yourself in today. And most importantly, you would forever be dead in your sins. . .because you would have just killed baby Jesus.

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