A Survey of the Old Testament Law--Deuteronomy 13 (Part 1)

Deuteronomy 13:1-18—1 “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods'—which you have not known—'and let us serve them,' 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. 5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst. 6 If your brother, the son of your mother, your son or your daughter, the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods,' which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, 7 of the gods of the people which are all around you, near to you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth, 8 you shall not consent to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him; 9 but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. 10 And you shall stone him with stones until he dies, because he sought to entice you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 11 So all Israel shall hear and fear, and not again do such wickedness as this among you. 12 If you hear someone in one of your cities, which the LORD your God gives you to dwell in, saying, 13 'Corrupt men have gone out from among you and enticed the inhabitants of their city, saying, "Let us go and serve other gods"'—which you have not known—14 then you shall inquire, search out, and ask diligently. And if it is indeed true and certain that such an abomination was committed among you, 15 you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it, all that is in it and its livestock—with the edge of the sword. 16 And you shall gather all its plunder into the middle of the street, and completely burn with fire the city and all its plunder, for the LORD your God. It shall be a heap forever; it shall not be built again. 17 So none of the accursed things shall remain in your hand, that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of His anger and show you mercy, have compassion on you and multiply you, just as He swore to your fathers, 18 because you have listened to the voice of the LORD your God, to keep all His commandments which I command you today, to do what is right in the eyes of the LORD your God.” 

Let’s talk a little about prophets. When God speaks to a people, especially His people, He does so through prophets. The prophets did not speak their own words, or whatever came into their mind, but they spoke the words given to them by God. 2nd Peter 1:21 (George Williams New Testament)—No prophecy has ever yet originated in man's will, but men who were led by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. When Ezekiel lay on his left side for three years (Ezekiel 4:5), it wasn’t because of some weird idea he had. That was what God commanded him to do.  When Isaiah spoke against Moab (Isaiah 15:1-9), it wasn’t a speech he prepared the night before and carefully proofread. The words he spoke were the words given to him by God. These things that were done and spoken by the prophets seemed strange to the people at the time, but we now see that these things were done and said because God gave them the words and the actions to perform.

Today, men (and women) set themselves up as prophets, and claim to speak all kinds of things, claiming they are from God, and that the people hearing them ought to obey because they are speaking for and from God. I shared some of the “prophecies” of Benny Hinn that were blatantly false here. The fact that these prophecies did not come to pass automatically disqualifies him from being a prophet and would have caused him to be stoned to death under the Old Testament Law (Deuteronomy 18:22). But these self-appointed “prophets” include two things in their “prophecies”. The first thing they do is to make sure that they are telling the people something they want to hear—how God is going to rain down material blessings on them, that they are going to be rich and healthy and that everything they will do will succeed. So they thus grab the favor of the people. The second thing they do is to warn the people not to judge them or second-guess them or compare their “prophecies” to Scripture, or they will suffer greatly by God. The warning they give most of the time is from 1st Chronicles 16:22—"Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm." By setting themselves up as prophets, and by claiming to be anointed by God, they can use this verse to try to silence their critics and keep their followers in line. Whether it’s Creflo Dollar or Kenneth Copeland or TD Jakes, they all use this verse to deflect criticism of their false teachings and warn those speaking against them that they are enemies of God. 

But let’s talk about the true prophets of God. The ISBE says this about true prophets:

 

According to the uniform teaching of the Bible the prophet is a speaker of or for God. His words are not the production of his own spirit, but come from a higher source. For he is at the same time, also, a seer, who sees things that do not lie in the domain of natural sight, or who hears things which human ears do not ordinarily receive; compare 1st Samuel 9:9, where נָבִיא (nābhı̄', “speaker, spokesman, prophet”) and  רֹאֶה (rō'eh, “seer”) are used as synonymous terms. Jeremiah 23:16 and Ezekiel 13:2 are particularly instructive in this regard. In these passages a sharp distinction is made between those persons who only claim to be prophets but who prophesy “out of their own heart,” and the true prophets who declare the word which the Lord has spoken to them. In the latter case the contents of the prophecy have not originated in their own reflection or calculation; and just as little is this prophecy the product of their own feelings, fears or hopes, but, as something extraneous to man and independent of him, it has with a divine certainty entered the soul of the prophet. The prophet has seen that which he prophesies, although he need not have seen it in the form of a real vision. He can also “see” words with his inner eyes (Isaiah 2:1, and often). It is only another expression for this when it is frequently said that God has spoken to the prophet. In this case too it is not necessary that there must have been a voice which he could hear phonetically through his natural ear. The main thing is that he must have been able sharply to distinguish the contents of this voice from his own heart, i.e. from his personal consciousness. Only in this way is he capable of speaking to the people in the name of God and able to publish his word as that of Yahweh. In this case he is the speaker of Yahweh (נָבִיא, nābhı̄'), or the mouth of the Lord (compare Ezekiel 7:1 with Ezekiel 4:16). 

Long story short, those gifted with the gift of prophecy can distinguish between what they simply feel in their heart or mind and words spoken to them by God. 

Many think of Samuel as the first prophet, but this is not the case. For before him, Moses spoke with God “face-to-face” (or rather, “Mouth-to-mouth”, as Moses was not allowed to see God) and even Noah could be considered a prophet and his building of the Ark a sign to the people. We are seeing the prophetic office of Moses as we study the Law, so let’s talk about Noah. Genesis 6:6, 8—6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart…8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. The world had become altogether corrupt, save for one man and his sons. Did God give a warning to the corrupt people? Yes, He did. He had Noah build an ark as a sign to the people and to save them from the flood. Hebrews 11:7—By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. In all the days of building the Ark, he must have been laughed at and scoffed at by the wicked. “What is he building? Why is he building it? He must be a madman!” They thought nothing of the wickedness they were doing. They were just going about their daily lives, doing whatever they thought in their hearts, drinking and carousing and carrying on, not thinking about how this may have been grieving the heart of God, if they even thought of God. It was as Jesus said in Matthew 24:38-39a (repeated in Luke 17:26-27)—38 “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away.” Noah was giving them a sign, and they ignored it. It was not only a sign to the people then, but Jesus even used it to warn us to be careful to watch for His second coming. Matthew 24:37, 39b—37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be…39 so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. We see today many who ignore God, who ignore the pleas to come to Christ that they may be saved from the wrath to come. But they don’t listen, they don’t care, they don’t know God and don’t want to know Him. They go about their daily lives, doing whatever they think in their hearts, drinking and carousing and carrying on, not thinking about how this may be grieving the heart of God, if they even think of God.

 Samuel was set apart to God as a boy. 1st Samuel 1:24, 28—24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young…28 “Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD.” We have already talked about how Samuel was a Nazirite all his life. And we see in this same book that God began speaking to him at a young age (1^st Samuel 3:4). The first prophecy he heard from God was not a pleasant one, for it foretold of the end of Eli (the second-to-last judge in Israel), and he had to tell it to Eli. But such was the lot of a true prophet of God—they do not always have feel-good stories to tell the people, tales of health and wealth and prosperity. Many times when God speaks through a prophet, it is to warn of impending doom. 1st Samuel 2:16-19—16 Then Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son!" He answered, "Here I am." 17 And he said, "What is the word that the LORD spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that He said to you." 18 Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said, "It is the LORD. Let Him do what seems good to Him." 19 So Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. Samuel was a true prophet of God, and what he told the people to do or to not do was to be obeyed, as the words he spoke came from none other than God Himself. 

This applied not only to the lay people, but even to the king Himself. In 1^st Samuel 15, he gives a command to King Saul to wipe out the Amalekites—everything living among them was to be destroyed. 1st Samuel 15:2-3—2 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 3     Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'” Pretty clear and straight forward, no ambiguity there. The command was simple: Saul was to have his army wipe out every living thing of the Amalekites, including the women and children and livestock. But Saul had a better idea. 1st Samuel 15:9—But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed. “Let’s destroy the bad stuff but keep the best things alive and sacrifice them to God! What’s the worst that can happen?” Well… 1st Samuel 15:10-11—10 Now the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, 11 "I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments." And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night. Not only did Saul’s disobedience grieve God, it grieved His prophet as well. That is how close the relationship is between God and His prophets. His heart is their heart and their heart is His heart. It is as if they were one and the same. Not only that, but the heart of the prophet is with the people his words come against. I’m sure he felt no joy about telling Eli that he and his sons were about to die. And it obviously did not tickle him to tell Saul the words that God was about to speak against him. Here, Saul thought he was doing a great thing by keeping King Agag and the best of the livestock alive. He thought he knew what God wanted better than the prophet to whom God Himself spoke. 1st Samuel 15:13, 15—13 Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD…15 They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.” But Samuel had told him what God had told Samuel—everything and everyone of the Amalekites was to be destroyed. “Everyone?” 

 

 

Yes, everyone. Saul did not give obedience to the command of God—he gave partial obedience, which is disobedience. “I have performed the commandment of the LORD!” 1st Samuel 15:14, 18-19, 22-23—14 But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?…18 Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.' 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?"…22 Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king." Because Saul did not harken to the words of the prophet, and did what was right in his own eyes, God took the kingdom away from him and gave it to David. 

Interestingly, Samuel’s final prophecy came after he died. King Saul had banished all necromancers and mediums (1st Samuel 28:3, as well he should have). But the Philistines were coming to attack Israel, and when Saul went to inquire of God, He would not answer him either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets (1st Samuel 28:6). God had taken His spirit way from Saul, and had cut him off as king, and this attack from the Philistines was to be his final downfall. And because God did not answer him, Saul had another brilliant idea. “I’ll go to a necromancer and medium, even though I have put them out of Israel!” In other words, he did what was right in his own eyes. He went to the Witch of En Dor to have her bring up the spirit of Samuel (1st Samuel 28:8-11). Necromancers and mediums are another class of false prophets. None can speak with the dead (see Isaiah 8:19-20), and anyone who says they can are in danger of destruction. But Saul was so bent on holding on to his kingdom that he went against the word of God that he used this as his last resort, hoping that Samuel would give him a word from God that would allow him to keep it. But, alas! God did bring up Samuel, by His own hand and not by the hand of the witch. 1st Samuel 28:12—When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, "Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!" She knew that her necromancy was false, and when Samuel appeared she knew that this was of God. Many use this as an excuse to use psychics to tell them things they want to hear. When actually, this is a warning against such practices. G. Campbell Morgan:

 

It is strange how this story has been made to serve in defense of things occult, which, as a matter of fact, it condemns. Let it be carefully read, and it becomes perfectly patent that this woman had nothing to do with bringing up Samuel…When in response to her incantations, as it seemed, Samuel actually appeared, she was startled beyond measure. That Samuel actually did appear to Saul there can be no doubt. However, he was sent of God for the express purpose of delivering the terrible message to Saul, to which the king listened in amazement. It was the pronouncement of his doom, and the call from the other side to the spirit of the man who had so utterly and disastrously failed to fulfil his opportunity. 

1st Samuel 28:16-19—16 Then Samuel said: "So why do you ask me, seeing the LORD has departed from you and has become your enemy? 17 And the LORD has done for Himself as He spoke by me. For the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD nor execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines." Even in death, the prophet of God was speaking to Saul, and not good things, but rather reinforcing what he had already told him, and that this was going to happen the very next day!

Part 2 next week

 

Je4sus Christ is Lord.

Amen. 

A Survey of the Old Testament Law--Deuteronomy (Introduction, Part 4)

 Finishing up our review of the chapters of Deuteronomy

In Deuteronomy 12, we see the command to utterly destroy the images of the pagans and to not use them in worshipping God. This would become a stumbling block to many kings who walked in the ways of God, but did not remove high places established for the worship of pagan gods. We see this happen also today, when “churches” will use some sort of worldly thing in their “worship” of God. How many times do we see these gatherings do a series entitled “At the Movies” or “The Gospel According to…” some secular book or musical group. They come out with some kind of worldly entertainment and attach God onto the end of it, and claim they are using it to glorify God. But here, God is saying “don’t do that”. The same is true with many Roman Catholic practices, which are simply pagan practices they have co-opted into their idea of worshipping God (making Mary the “Queen of Heaven”, for example). Then Moses goes onto to regulations about eating—where you are to eat, where you can eat, who can eat, etc. We won’t go over those here because they are rather specific, but will address them at their proper time. 

In Deuteronomy 13 we see what to do with someone who claims they are a prophet—“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder…” (Deuteronomy 13:1). This person, who has not been called as a prophet by God is usually one who calls on a different god, one whom the people have not known, and their only goal is to drag people away from worshipping the one, true, living God and into the worship of a false deity. That person is to be stoned until dead, the city and all its inhabitants and even its livestock are to be destroyed and the city’s goods to be burned with fire. Unfortunately, we are not strong enough to do that today. We are told by the progressives not to judge the person and their intent, because, well, they are just trying to do good. We don’t really know their heart. And they are just sharing with us a word they got from God, and who are we to judge, anyway? Or some such gobbledygook. In other words, instead of marking those who claim to be a prophet and a dreamer of dreams and judging their words against the word of God and tossing them out on their keester, we give them a TV show and send them money (I’m talking to you, Benny Hinn and Paula White and Jesse Duplantis and Rodney Howard Browne et al.). 

In Deuteronomy 14:1-21 we see another list of unclean animals the people were not to eat. These were likely animals that were being eaten by the pagans, and possibly even used in some of their pagan rituals. Many hypotheses have been given for this list by many different scholars, but the truth is we do not know why these animals were chosen as unclean. One thing we do know for sure is, God told the people to not eat them, thus they were prohibited by God from eating them. Then in the rest of the chapter we read about different tithes—how much they were to be, where they were to be given, to whom they were to be given, etc. One is even to be eaten by the tither! (Won’t hear about this one from the “beat the people over the head with Malachi” crowd). The “give 10% or you’re not saved” crowd doesn’t like to tell you about this one, for fear that you will actually do it and deteriorate their income. But in all actuality, the total of the yearly tithe was closer to 30% rather than 10%. And one tithe, you actually ate! 

Deuteronomy 15 talks about the seventh-year release of slaves and debts which we discussed in Leviticus 25, so while we will discuss a bit of it I will point you to the proper site. 

Deuteronomy 16 talks about the Passover and the three times in the year when the people of Israel are to appear before God. 

Deuteronomy 17 talks about

(a) The sacrifice you bring to God must be without spot or blemish

(b) What to do when you find a person in your city who is transgressing the Covenant

(c) What kind of cases one is to bring to the Levites for them to judge, and

(d) Rules to be followed when (not ‘if’, as God knew their hearts) the people decided they want a king over them. 

Of course, over time, the people got tired of having to be ruled by God (as we humans are like to do), and decided they wanted a king “like the other nations” (1st Samuel 8:6). And while they did indeed rejoice to have Saul, a man of Benjamin, of the family of Kish, to be their king, he and future kings did not subscribe to some of the regulations God laid out. Deuteronomy 17:16-20—16  “But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, 'You shall not return that way again.' 17 Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. 18 Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, 20 that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.” David and Solomon multiplied wives (and they turned Solomon’s heart from God), Solomon multiplied gold and silver, and how many of them actually sat down with the Levites and wrote a copy of Deuteronomy (in fact, Jeroboam let any man from any tribe become a priest)? 

Deuteronomy 18 is another warning against soothsayers and dreamers of dreams and what to do with them when they are found. And it is not pretty. They were not to be put on TV and sent millions of dollars for prophesying falsely. They were no better than the nations they were going in to dispossess, and God even said so. And in the middle of all this, God says something interesting. Deuteronomy 18:18—“I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.” Understanding this verse helps us to understand some verses in the Gospels. There are some places in the Gospels where the people ask John the Baptist if he is “the prophet”. Mark 6:14-15—14 Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, "John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him." 15 Others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets." John 1:19-21—19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." 21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No." Both of these passages talk about someone named “the Prophet”. And in both of these instances, “the Prophet” is the one spoken of in Deuteronomy 18:18—the promised “prophet like Moses”. A Prophet who will speak the truth and only the truth, a Prophet who is like the one the apostle speaks of in 2nd Peter 2:22 (echoing Isaiah 53:9)— "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth". 

Deuteronomy 19 is a repeat of Numbers 35 in talking about the Cities of Refuge. 

Deuteronomy 20 outlines some commands about the people going into battle. The priests were to lead the way, encouraging the people to remain steadfast, and that it was not the people who were doing the fighting, but it was God who would secure the victory. Then the officers were to ask if anyone was a newlywed or had just bought a house or who was faint-hearted, and they were to be sent home, that only experienced, valiant men were to go to battle who had no new responsibilities, lest they be divided in their heart about going in to battle. Then terms were laid out concerning whether or not the city wanted to surrender or not. If they wanted to surrender, then they would be under tribute to the people of Israel. If not, then they were to build siege mounds and encamp against it. And when it was time, they were to wipe out every man in the city. They were to leave none alive, and were to take every woman and child and livestock as plunder. 

Deuteronomy 21:1-9 give the provisions for what the people were to do if they find a man slain in a field and no one saw who slayed him. They were to take a heifer, break its neck and wash their hands over it and declare themselves guilty of the bloodshed. Deuteronomy 21:10-14 cover what they were to do if they found a woman among the captives of battle and they wanted to take her for a wife (it was not as barbaric as the atheists make it sound). Deuteronomy 21:15-17 outline how a man was to treat the children of the women he was married to if he had two wives. Deuteronomy 21:18-21 command what the parents were to do if one of their children was a rebellious child. Deuteronomy 21:22-23 give the commands for what to do with the body of a man who was executed for a sin deserving of death. 

Deuteronomy 22-26 give various regulations covering various issues and will be covered when we get there. 

In Deuteronomy 27-30, Moses commands the people to divide the 12 tribes, with one group standing on Mount Gerizim to speak the blessings, and the other half to stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce the cursings. These two mountains formed a sort of natural amphitheater, much like the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado. Six tribes—Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin—spoke the blessings and the other six—Gad, Asher, Dan, Naphtali, Zebulun and Reuben—spoke the curses. 

Deuteronomy 31-33 is the “Song of Moses”, which he spoke to the people as a farewell address in which He recounted the goodness of God in leading the people out of Egypt and in which he told the people that Joshua would be their leader in taking the land of Canaan that God had promised them. 

In Deuteronomy 34 we see the death of Moses, and his burial. Did Moses write this chapter? Probably not, it was most likely added by Joshua. We will discuss this when we get there. And that will bring an end to our study of the Pentateuch, and will close the words written by Moses. I trust it will be an interesting end to our study of the Law of God.

 

Jesus Christ is Lord.

Amen.  

A Survey of the Old Testament Law----- "You Shall Not Steal" (part 2)

One excuse that some thieves make is this: that the victim either left their front door unlocked or they forget and left their keys in their car. In fact, in a stroke of “genius”, the Tennessee Court of Appeals just recently ruled that a woman was responsible for a car thief crashing her car and injuring other people. Knoxville News Sentinel, 12/10/10—

“The Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit against the city of Murfreesboro and its police department over a wreck that involved a fleeing stolen vehicle that crashed with a car carrying three people. But the higher court reversed a decision by the circuit court of Rutherford County and said the suit against a man who left the keys in the car before it was stolen should continue.”

Uh, no. It is not the car owner’s fault if someone steals their car—whether they left the keys in it or not! The only fault lies with the thief. One person at the Knoxville New Sentinel website hit the nail on the head—

“Just because keys are left in a vehicle is not an open invitation to steal what does not belong to someone else. The thief still has to take what does not belong to them in order to possess the car long enough to do the damage this thief did, and the thief is solely responsible for their actions. The thief is the one that broke the law and crashed into an auto carrying three other people.”

Just like dropping that $20 bill on the sidewalk. It’s not yours—leave it alone!


As we talked about last week, tax collectors—or as the KJV says, “publicans”—tax collectors in Jesus’ day would make the IRS look like a charitable organization. They would collect not only the taxes that the Roman government ordered, but they would impose their own “taxes” on the people, and collect above and beyond what the Roman government demanded. So when John the Baptist was baptizing in the wilderness, it says in Luke 3:12-13—12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" 13 And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for you." John was not telling them to not collect taxes. He was telling them to only collect what the Roman government required. Now, while we’re talking about taxes, let’s talk about taxes. People who are required by law to pay taxes—if they do not pay their taxes, they are stealing. There is a famous incident where the Pharisees test Jesus about the issue of taxes. Mark 12:13-15—13 Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. 14 When they had come, they said to Him…“Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” That is what a lot of people ask these days. “I don’t think I should pay taxes, so I just don’t pay them.” Or they get paid in cash “under the table” so there’s no evidence. The tax that is in question was called the “Head Tax”—once a year, the head of the family was to pay one day’s waged to the Roman government. Now, think about the mindset of the Pharisees. There was a tiny speck of truth in their opposition to paying this tax. After all, this was one way that pagan Rome paid for the construction of temples to pagan gods, and it also supported the very Roman army that was oppressing them. So, they had kind of a good reason for not wanting to pay it.


BUT—this wasn’t the reason they posed this question to Christ. Look back at Mark 12:13—Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. They took this legitimate concern and used it as a way to try and trip Jesus up in His own words. But, Jesus let them know that we are to submit to all government, and says this about taxes, Mark 12:15-17—15 But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it." 16 So they brought it. And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's." 17 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Depending on your translation it may say “denarius” or “penny” or “copper coin.” At any rate, what they brought him was a coin which was equivalent to one day’s wage at that time.


Look at that little phrase—“Render unto Caesar That which is Caesar’s.” Jesus is saying “That denarius belongs to Caesar—so give it to him.” Now, if Jesus commanded His people to pay what the government of a wicked government like Rome commanded, then we have no excuse for saying “Well, yeah but the taxes I pay go to programs I don’t agree with, so I'm not going to pay it.” It doesn’t matter whether you agree with what the government does with that money, we are obligated to pay your taxes. Christ teach this. The apostle Paul taught that within the context of the fact that all government is appointed by God. Romans 13:1-2—1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. And Romans 13:5-7—5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.


There is another area of theft I want to talk about. That is when we steal from our employers. I used to work at Pepsi, and there were a couple of fellows—OK, I was in the same boat with them—that would sneak out cases of drinks to take home, which we were not allowed to do. What do you think our excuse was? How do you think we justified what we did? “We’ve earned this.” Or, “They don’t pay us enough” or something along those lines. The problem with that line of thinking—other then the fact that what we did was stealing—is the fact that no one was forcing us to work there. If we were unhappy with our jobs, we were more than welcome to find employment elsewhere. But if we stayed voluntarily, we were, in effect, agreeing to work for the wage they were offering. Listen to Colossians 3:22-25—22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality. The men that ran Enron and AIG and Goldman Sachs into the ground while they walked away with millions—will God punish them? Absolutely. But He will also punish the lowly servant that is an unrepentant thief stealing from his boss.


Jesus Christ Himself teaches us this same principle in Matthew 20:1-16 in the Parable of the Vinedressers. The greater point Jesus is making is that whether someone gets saved as a child or they call on Christ on their deathbed, everyone who is saved will receive an inheritance in the Kingdom of God. The smaller point is this—if you agree to work for a certain wage, for a certain job, then you can either work for that wage or go home. Just because you don’t like how much you're being paid does not give you a right to steal from your boss.


Another principle this parable brings out is part of the reason people steal: they think God hasn’t given them enough. Although they may not realize it, they are saying within themselves “God hasn’t given me all I want, but He has given it to someone else.” What that means, of course, is that, if I'm the thief, I feel like God needs a little help balancing the account between what I have and what that other person has. But listen to what the owner of the vineyard says. Matthew 20:14-15—“14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things?” How much of the universe belongs to God? Psalm 24:1—The earth is the LORD’s and the fulness thereof. It all belongs to God. And if He wants to allow one person to have more than you, then that is His right. He owns it; He can do what He pleases with it. Wealth itself is not inherently evil. It’s our attitude toward wealth that can be evil. 1st Timothy 6:10—The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.


Now, we’re gonna take a side road here for a moment. The heresy that is the prosperity “gospel” is rooted in the love of money. It is rooted in the belief that You deserve to be wealthy and that you can command God to give you wealth. One of Kenneth Copeland’s most famous quotes is when he said, "As a believer, you have a right to make commands in the name of Jesus. Each time you stand on the Word, you are commanding God to a certain extent, because it is His Word." And what are these people commanding God to do? Give them more stuff. We’ll talk more about that when we get to covetousness.


Now, let’s finish up by looking back at the provisions in the Law for the poor and the traveler to glean from the corners of fields. We looked at two of those provisions last week, Leviticus 19:9-10 and Deuteronomy 23:24-25. There is also the passage found in Deuteronomy 24:19-21—“19 When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. 21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.” I tend to believe that all these commands had more than one purpose. One, of course, they provided for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. BUT it also allowed for two of Jesus great-great-great-great-grandparents to meet.


Long time ago there was a farmer in Bethlehem, and his name was Boaz. A young woman named Ruth came to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law, and they came to Boaz, who was a distant relative. Ruth 2:8-9—8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them.” And then he goes and tells his servants to leave a little something for her when they reap. Ruth 2:15-16—15 And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her." Eventually Ruth and Boaz get married, they have a son named Obed; Obed has a son named Jesse; and Jesse begets 8 sons, the youngest being a boy named David. Mary and Joseph were descended from David, and that Jesus was born of Mary. So God used this command to leave gleanings for the poor to bring together two of Jesus’ ancestors.


Ruth 4:13-17 (KJV)—13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. 14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. I want to stop right here and briefly introduce a principle from the Law known as the provision of a “kinsman redeemer”, and we’ll skim a little more about that next week. Well, Boaz was Ruth’s “kinsman redeemer”, while our “kinsman redeemer” is Christ, as we see in Hebrews 2:11-12—11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying, "I will proclaim Your name to My brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise." Any way, Ruth 4:15-17 (KJV)—15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him…17 and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. Of course, this is King David, of whom both Mary and Joseph were direct descendants. Their genealogies are recorded in Matthew 1 and Luke 3. Matthew traces Joseph’s ancestry and Luke describes Mary’s. All because a poor widow and her daughter-in-law were allowed to glean stubble in a wheat field. See now how this Law is pointing to Christ? It was because of the many provisions for the poor that two of His ancestors came together. But all this OT stuff is so boring, isn't it!


Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen.

A Survey of the Old Testament Law--The Myth of the "Generational Curse"

“For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the 3rd and 4th generations of those who hate Me...” People like Paula White and Benny Hinn and so many others on TBN make a whole lot of money by twisting this particular statement and showing you how to break “generational curses.” They teach that if your father was an alcoholic, then you'll be an alcoholic, and your kids will be alcoholics and their kids will be alcoholics, and so on and so forth—and there is nothing you can do about it, unless you learn the prayer that will “break that curse”--and send them a few dollars in the process. WRONG!! WRONG!! WRONG!! Just because our parents may have been notorious for some sin, that does not mean that God will say, “Well, that’s it! You were a thief and an idolater, so I will curse your entire bloodline for the next 4 generations!” What God is saying is that as long as the children are walking in their father’s footsteps, God will inflict punishment on those offspring—even if it is 3 or 4 generations. Now, will an alcoholic father probably wind up with children who will also be alcoholics? Probably. BUT, that is not a “curse from God.” That is simply children doing what they see their father doing. Deuteronomy 24:16—“Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin.” Now, it is quite common to see three or four generations of alcoholism or adultery or any other kind of sin—but that is not some "curse from God", that’s just sinful human beings doing what sinful human beings do. Dogs bark, ducks quack, sinners sin. And God will punish the children for their own sins—not for the sins of their father.


BUT—if those children walk according to the Law of God, He will be merciful to those offspring, even to the 1000th generation. As I said before, His anger is not like human anger. We get upset because somebody looks at us cross-eyed, and we can't control ourselves. But God’s anger is not like that. When someone stirs Him to wrath, He doesn’t usually just ZZAPP them. There are times in Scripture where He does that, but that is because those people were so severely disobedient and regarded God’s holiness and His commands so lightly. But, 14 times the Bible says that God is slow to anger, and ready to show mercy. Psalm 103:8—The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. Joel 2:13—“Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.”


Nahum 1:2-3—God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; the LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies; the LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. He will not acquit the wicked, but He will give them a chance to repent from their sins. Those who do not repent, God will destroy. Those who do repent, and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, He will spare, and reward them for the things they do in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 2:18-26—“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write…‘I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds…Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say…hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations.” And that is exactly what we see here in Exodus. God “visits the iniquity of the fathers” to 3 or 4 generations. That is, God says that those who commit idolatry hate Him. And He will punish as many generations of those children that continue to hate Him—up to 3 or 4 generations. But He shows mercy to how many generations of those who do His commandments? A thousand! The contrast couldn’t be much more striking!


In fact, we see in Ezekiel 18 that God will not punish children for their fathers’ sins. Ezekiel 18:2-4—“What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge’?” This was an old proverb, and it’s one that we hear even today in this country—“It’s my parents’ fault that I'm the way I am.” In other words, “Nothing is my fault.” It’s the same old story—we want to blame someone else for our trouble, when most of the time the blame lays at our own feet. “As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die.” That’s pretty self-explanatory. If a person sins, that person will die. If you run a red light, you get a ticket. KPD will not send you a ticket because your mother or father ran a red light. You ran the light—you get the ticket.


If a righteous man begets a wicked son, then the father’s righteousness will not shield that son. Ezekiel 18:10-13--"If he begets a son who is a robber or a shedder of blood, who does any of these things and does none of those duties, but has eaten on the mountains or defiled his neighbor’s wife; if he has oppressed the poor and needy, robbed by violence, not restored the pledge, lifted his eyes to the idols, or committed abomination; if he has exacted usury or taken increase—shall he then live? He shall not live! If he has done any of these abominations, he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him." If a wicked father begets a righteous son, then the wickedness of the father will not be counted against that son. Ezekiel 18:14-18--"If, however, he begets a son who sees all the sins which his father has done, and considers but does not do likewise; who has not eaten on the mountains, nor lifted his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, nor defiled his neighbor’s wife; has not oppressed anyone, nor withheld a pledge, nor robbed by violence, but has given his bread to the hungry and covered the naked with clothing; who has withdrawn his hand from the poor and not received usury or increase, but has executed My judgments and walked in My statutes—he shall not die for the iniquity of his father; he shall surely live! As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother by violence, and did what is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his iniquity."


Now, God has set up these contrasts, and we see the conclusions we are to draw from these statements when we get to Ezekiel 18:19-23—“Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord GOD, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?” A person is not punished for their parents’ sins—they are punished if they continue to walk in the ways of their sinful parents. Likewise, a wicked child is not protected by their parents’ righteousness—if they turn away from that righteousness and live in sin, they are punished for their sins.


In fact, we see this again in Jeremiah 31:29-30—“In those days they shall say no more: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.’ But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.” So, this whole nonsense about “generational curses” is a bunch of hogwash, and is simply a way that TBN—The Blasphemy Network—fools a whole lot of people into sending them their money…for nothing.


Jesus Christ is Lord.
Amen.

What is wrong with the prosperity “gospel”.

If you notice, at the end of the title there is a period–not a question mark. It is not great secret that the prosperity “gospel” is heresy. But, how do we explain just how many levels of heresy are involved in the TBN crowd’s twisting and perverting of God’s word for their own financial gain? Well, I made these videos for just that purpose. To tear the prosperity “gospel” apart, and show, piece by piece, why this is such a perversion and blasphemy. I apologize for the little places where the audio is kinda choppy. I guess I should have “sown” into a video production ministry, eh?

Weak preachers are God's Judgment

Sometimes I forget things. Like the fact that when a snake in the pulpit rises to fame and prominence, the people who follow that man (or woman) are not "victims." They are merely reaping what they have been seeking. They do not want the truth, they want the Mercedes. And so, God says, "Fine--you won't get either one!" And He sends a Joel Osteen or a Paula White or a Benny Hinn or some other serpent to fill a pulpit and give those people over to the one they are really serving.

Here, Paul Washer, speaking truth, shows us why people like Creflo and Kenny and Jesse and Junie-B are truly God's Judgment upon a lost and wicked people.

Fake Translation of the Week--1st Timothy 6:6-10

(Real translation here)

I gotta share a little something with ya first. This past Sunday morning, my wife was flipping through the channels, when she came across Cashflow Creflo's weekly pimpfest. What I am about to share is exactly what he taught, not taken out of context, this is the fullness of his teaching. He said that in 2nd Timothy 3:16, when it says "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable..." I think you can guess where he was going with that. Focus on the word "profitable."

Yeah, that.

If what these heretical prosperity preachers were true, then this is how 1st Timothy 6:6-10 would have to read (altered text in bold italics):

1st Timothy 6:6-10 (Creflo Dollar Translation)--Now godliness with great financial gain is contentment. For we brought nothing into this world, but we can certainly carry a bunch out in our gold-plated coffins. And having food and clothing, with these we shall never be content. Because if that's all you have, then your faith ain't strong enough, you're under a curse, or you have some unconfessed sin in your life. But those who desire to be rich are the only ones worthy of the kingdom of God, and many foolish and harmful people want y'all to be broke. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of blessin', for which some have strayed from the faith by not confessin' it, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows because they ain't sowin' a seed into the ministry.

Fake Translation of the Week--2nd Corinthians 6:4-10

(Real translation here).

In order for that which those who preach the "prosperity 'gospel'" to be true, this is how 2nd Corinthians 6:4-10 would have to read (altered text in bold italics).

2nd Corinthians 6:4-10--4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much wealth, in ease of life, in felt needs met, in Mercedes-Benzes, 5 in cash, in jewelry, in big fancy wigs, in Rolex® watches, in big comfy beds, in luxurious dining; 6 by mansions, by people's lack of knowledge, by not having to wait for things, by false prophecies, by the Spirit of Python, by sincere love of money, 7 by the word of faith doctrine, by the power of mass appeal, by the pistol-packin' armor-bearers on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor among thieves and dishonor among those who know the truth, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, because we lie; 9 as unknown by the IRS, and yet well known by our acolytes; as dying, and behold we lead others to death; as chastened by Charles Grassley, and yet not bankrupt (yet); 10 as sorrowful when we get caught, yet always rejoicing in people's ignorance; as rich, yet making many poor; as having everything, and yet possessing nothing of God.

"Smells Like TBN Spirit"

A ripoff of the Nirvana song, inspired by the jackals featured every hour on TBN.

I saw this guy
On my TV
And he was staring
Straight at me
He said he'd heal
My disease
If I would send
Him money please

Don't know don't know
Don't know don't know
Don't know don't know don't know

Well he's yellin!
And he's screamin!
Could it be that
He's blasphemin?
Send him money
I don't wanna!
But he told me
That I gotta!
If I do and
God is willing
I'll find gold in
All my fillings!
Yeah!

As I wait for
My miracle
And migraines still
Pound in my skull
I must admit
The waiting's tough
Oh is my faith
Not strong enough?

Don't know don't know
Don't know don't know
Don't know don't know don't know

Dontcha dis the
Path I've chosen!
Even though the
Bank's foreclosin!
And my mortgage
I can't pay now!
"Money Comin!"
Any day now!
Though by sight you'd
Never guess it!
It'll come if
I confess it!
Yeah!

I pawned my watch
And sold my car
And I maxed out
My credit cards
But I know I'll
Get what I need
With one more
Thousand-dollar seed

Don't know don't know
Don't know don't know
Don't know don't know don't know

Brother Benny
Wants to help me!
If my checkbook
I will empty!
Send it in now!
No delayin!
In the Spirit
He's a-slayin!
Slingin' jackets!
Quotin' verses!
Calling down all
Kinds of curses!

Avanzini!
Pastor TD!
Creflo Taffy!
Stevie Munsey!
Kenny Benny!
Joyce and Jesse!
Drivin' Bentleys!
Charley Grassley!
Penitentiary!

Benny's false prophecies (part 1)

You may have read some of Benny Hinn's "prophecies" here, about how Fidel Castro was going to die, and the homosexual community was going to be wiped out, and Jesus was going to physically appear on stage with the Hinnster. All of these things were supposed to happen in the 90's. Um, they didn't happen, did they? And yet there are still people who will claim this schlomo is a "prophet of God."

Well, here is a video with audio of B-B-B-Benny and the Hinn's "prophecies." Don't just take my word for it. Listen for yourself.

Short video on moneychangers

Are you bribing God?

This is the kind of thing that makes me sick. And it should make everyone who is a child of God sick as well. Another video from ReformationNation (Pilgrim, you're on a roll, friend!) Randy and Paula White, the "pastors" of Without Shame Without Walls "Ministries" telling their crowd that you will be rich in material junk if you bribe God enough, and send the Whites all of your money.

The world was not worthy of these

Domain For Truth has the story of a family of missionaries in India. The husband and their two sons were burned alive by militant Hindus. The wife and daughter, rather than leave and go someplace safe, have decided to remain in India. Their life, and their Christian witness has inspired many to follow Christ.

Read this post. Read the whole thing, slowly, taking in every word. Then turn on your TV and try to watch Ken Copeland, or Joel Osteen, or Fred Price, or Mike Murdock, or any of those other goofballs that try and tell you that if you're saved, you won't suffer anything.

Prosperity "gospel" under scrutiny

Another article on the hope-it-happens-'cause-it-couldn't-come-soon-enough demise of the prosperity "gospel" (Via Associated Press. The comments [in blue within the brackets] are my $.02):

The teachings took on various names — "Name It and Claim It," "Word of Faith," the prosperity gospel [Also: Blab-it-and-Grab-it Nonsense, Heresy, Blasphemy...]

Prosperity preachers say that it isn't all about money — that God's blessings extend to health [Aren't Ken Hagin and Oral Roberts dead? Does that mean they didn't have enough faith?], relationships [I guess that's why two of the biggest-name couple are divorcing. Hmmm?] and being well-off enough to help others. [Just so long as you help yourself first]

They have Bible verses at the ready to make their case. One oft-cited verse, in Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians, reads: "Yet for your sakes he became poor, that you by his poverty might become rich." [They also never mention that the apostle Paul--one of the most faithful (if not THE MOST faithful man of God who has ever lived) was beaten, stoned, jailed...oh yeah--he lost all his money, too. But, let's not tell anybody that, M'K?]

Critics acknowledge the idea that God wants to bless his followers has a Biblical basis, but say prosperity preachers take verses out of context [Yuh think?]. The prosperity crowd also fails to acknowledge Biblical accounts that show God doesn't always reward faithful believers, Palmer said. [Isaiah--sawn in two. Paul--beheaded. Peter--crucified upside down. Jeremiah--thrown into a well. James--behaded. If only they had that ah-NOIN-t'n'!...]

The Book of Job is a case study in piety unrewarded, and a chapter in the Book of Hebrews includes a litany of believers who were tortured and martyred, Palmer said. [I guess their torture was that they could only afford a three-horse chariot, instead of the four-horse model.]

Yet the prosperity gospel continues to draw crowds, particularly lower- and middle-income people who, critics say, have the greatest motivation and the most to lose. [Yuh think?] The prosperity message is spreading to black churches, attracting elderly people with disposable incomes, and reaching huge churches in Africa and other developing parts of the world. [Leading many of these people to destruction. But I digress.]

One of the teaching's attractions is that it doesn't dwell on traditional Christian themes of heaven and hell [Or that old, worn-out, useless old Bible thingy. We's gots to have some new revelations!!] but on answering pressing concerns of the here and now, said Brian McLaren, a liberal evangelical author and pastor.

But the prosperity gospel, McLaren said, not only preys on the hope of the vulnerable, [Again: Yuh think? I stand amazed. Brian McLaren actually said something that makes sense!] it puts too much emphasis on individual success and happiness [And not enough emphasis on things like, oh, I don't know. Sin. Repentance. The Cross.]

"We've pretty much ignored what the Bible says about systemic injustice," he said.

The checks and balances central to Christian denominations are largely lacking in prosperity churches. [No kiddin'!!] One of the pastors in the Grassley probe, Bishop [Fast] Eddie Long of suburban Atlanta, has written that God told him to get rid of the "ungodly governmental structure" of a deacon board. [That's right. Can't have nobody stickin' they nose into how da good passuh got hisself that stretch Bentley now! Gots to make 'em think it's from Da Lawd!!]

Some ministers hold up their own wealth as evidence that the teaching works. [Yeah, it works for the Passuhs. For the people they fleece? Eh, not so much.] Atlanta-area pastor Creflo [Worshippin' the Almighty Dollar], who is fighting Grassley's inquiry, owns a Rolls Royce and multimillion-dollar homes and travels in a church-owned Learjet. [While the people he fleeces watch one check after another go boingy, boingy, boingy.]

Juanita Bynum--the poor little rich girl

Posting will be light this week. My wife and I are out of town visiting her family. So I'll probably just be lifting stuff from other sites and pasting it here. (Oh, wait a minute. I do that already. Nevermind.)

Well, well. It seems as though poor little Juanita can't pay her bills. At least that's what the county taxman where she lives is saying. IndyCon has more:

I’ll start by saying that I.V. Hilliard is a no good pulpit pimp! A viper just like Juanita Bynum. Read a good post Melvin has up about one of I.V. Hilliard’s scams!

With that out of the way. Many already know pimp I.V. gave pimpstress Bynum money to pay her tax bill. Why? Because I.V.’s wife does pimpstress shows on occasion with Juanita Bynum, that’s why. Pimps have to look out for each other, to ensure future deals where they will try and fleece you for all you’re worth!

Anyway, people have been checking the Ware County, Georgia tax commissioners’ web site and noticing that it continues to show Juanita Bynum still owes money. What’s up with that you ask? Well, ever since the old news broke, the Ware County web site has shown Bynum as owing money, but I.V. Hillard’s check cleared the bank. The folks down in Ware County probably are just a little slow at times getting things updated online. But, the site shows she owes now, because she just recently got behind in her taxes on the $4.5 million property again!

So, according to Pimpstress Prophetess Juanita's theology, shouldn't she just go ahead and sow $1000 into the kingdom of Jesse of Creflo of TBN? See, that way, she'll get her 100 fold return, pay her bills, and have a little jingle left over.

Did he almost say what I think he almost said?

Pay real close attention to Jesse at about the 0:30 mark (timer counts down toward 0:00.) When he starts talking about "hatchet head." Does he almost say what I think he almost says? That he don't want his grandbabies to come out looking like...

Good news from Mike Murdock!!

Now you too can sow an Uncommon Seed into his wallet ministry, and he will reap the rewards of your hard work!

Just for grins, I signed up to get e-mail updates from him. This is his latest sham flim-flammery deal:

Dear Partner,

An Instruction Decides a Season!
In Chicago, I received an instruction from a man of God...obeyed it...and my house was debt-free within eight months. In Columbus, OH, I received an instruction to sow a specific Seed and created a Life-Time Blessing on my life. In Washington, CD, I received an instruction to sow a seed according to the number of blessings listed in the Bible. It has unleashed waves of supernatural events ever since. I watched a man of God explain passionately on television about the power of the number seven. Seven dips in Jordan...completed the healing of Naaman's leprosy. Seven times around Jericho...seven days in a row...completed the destruction of the walls of Jericho. In Seven days God completed the creation of The Universe and rested on the Seventh Day.

It is the seventh year of this century, 2007. I have been personally inpacted with the surging stirring in my spirit to sow an Uncommon Seed of $777.00 into the work of God. I have felt impressed to ask The Holy Spirit to select the Harvest of His own choosing...wherever He feels that I need it the most. The miraculous has already started.

Will you be one of the 777 partners who will sow an Uncommon Seed of $777.00 during 2007? Listen to the inner promptings of The Holy Spirit. You will know His Voice. Allow Him to choose the supernatural Harvest...as you will see Him complete a miracle you have been desiring!

You will love the three significant gifts I have prepared for you (The Wisdom Bible...The Millionaire 300 Conference CD Set and The School of the Bible CD Set.)

Your new season is just a Seed away.

Your prayer partner
Mike

OK, there is just so much wrong with this, let's start at the top, shall we?

• Well, just like all the best prosperity hucksters, it starts with a "word from a man of God," (Notice, no name given) and how following this advice, he was MIRACULOUSLY delivered from (insert burden here).
• Then, we get the emotional pitch about the number 7. Hmm. That's odd. "Dr." Murdock says that "In Seven days God completed the creation of The Universe and rested on the Seventh Day." I must be using the wrong Bible, because in mine, it says that God finished the work of creation on the sixth day, then rested on the 7th. Maybe I just need to get me one of them-thar "Wisss-dom Bibles."
• Then we see the apex of the emotion-driven "surging in the spirit" about the number 7. Yes, the year is 2007. According to the calendar we have now. But, when you keep in mind that calendars have been changed so many times over the years, it may very well be 2050. Besides, the number 2007 is based on how many years it is estimated have elapsed since the birth of Christ. Many scholars believe it may be in what we now call 4 BC. So, in all actuality, this may be 2003 2011.
• Question about this "surging of the spirit." 2007 is almost over. It's November already. The eleventh month of the year. If the number 7 is so important, why didn't the Holy Spirit impress upon "Dr." Murdock to sow his "Uncommon Seed" in July--the seventh month of the year?
• Now, we get to the real point of this message: "Will you be one of the 777 partners who will sow an Uncommon Seed..." Yep, if you're gonna make the money, ya gotta make the money pitch!

You know, of all the prosperity hucksters, "Dr." Murdock is about the most transparent, other than Rod "I want your money, I deserve it" Parsley. At leats the Kenny-Benny-Creflo Show twist a little bit of Scripture to try and make their point. "Dr." Murdock just uses a bunch of flim-flammery to deceive his sheeple.

If you want to watch a video (about 7 minutes long--hah, I just realized the irony of that!) of this nonsense, click here.

"Test Every Spirit"--the prosperity "gospel" part 1

Let me ask you this: What would you think of someone who called themselves a “prophet of God”, who made this claim in 1989, that

“The Spirit of God tells me, an earthquake will hit the East Coast of America and destroy much in the 90's. Not one place will be safe from earthquakes in the 90's.” (1)

Or this:

“The Lord also tells me to tell you, in mid 90s, about '94 or '95…God will destroy the homosexual community of America…He will destroy it with fire.” (1)

Or, what would you think if the “prophet of God” made this claim:

“I'm prophesying this. Jesus Christ the Son of God is about to appear physically in some Churches, some meetings and to many of His people”, and that Jesus Christ would appear with him, physically, on stage, in Nairobi, Kenya? (1)

You’re probably guessing that I’m talking about some crackpot lunatic living in a run-down trailer somewhere in the desert, and nobody in the world would ever listen to this guy. Well, guess again. This man has a large audience, many people believe him to be a prophet of God, and many people believe him more than they do their own Bibles. The man is seen on TV stations around the country, and around the world. His name is Benny Hinn.

And he isn't the only false prophet of the “prosperity gospel” movement. Kenneth Copeland said that God is “being that stands somewhere around 6-2, 6-3, that weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of a couple hundred pounds, little better.” If you haven’t guessed already, we’re going to be looking at the prosperity "gospel" today. This prosperity "gospel" is more than just teaching a person how to twist the scriptures in order to demand God gives us everything we want. There is a whole system to it, and we’re going to look deeper at it today.

The cover of the September 6, 2006 issue of Time Magazine carried this headline: “Does God want you to be rich?” The cover story that week was about one of the most damaging movements to ever find its way into the church. It’s been around for years, but in the 1990’s a new crop of preachers gave it a much wider audience. People like Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn, Rod Parsley and Jesse Duplantis. These and others who followed the teachings of Oral Roberts and Ken Hagin began to spread this “gospel”—called the “prosperity” gospel—on the cable TV network TBN.

Not only do those who preach the prosperity “gospel” preach a different God, they preach a different Christ, and they pervert the Word of God for their own financial gain. But ya know what’s really weird? The “prosperity” part isn't the worst part of this teaching. I’m going to show you today how the prosperity gospel is built on lies, deceit, blasphemy, and a teaching that we are gods.

We’re going to see how this prosperity “gospel” is—and I do not use this word lightly, but I say this in all seriousness—this prosperity “gospel” is a heresy. The word “heresy” is used to describe a teaching about God, or Jesus, or salvation that is unbiblical, and can actually lead a person down a path that leads to them not being saved. For example, the Mormon teaching that God had a beginning, that He began by being born as person like you or me. That is a heresy. It is teaching a false God, and anyone who believes it is not saved. The Jehovah’s Witnesses who claim that Jesus was really Michael the archangel—these people teach a false Christ, they commit heresy, and anyone who believes them is not saved. Most people who follow the prosperity "gospel" are, indeed, lost. And if I would dare to say that ALL those who PREACH it ARE lost and without God. And I'll show you why.

It all starts with a lack of understanding of what the Bible says. Here is a quote from the latest issue of “Victory” magazine, from Kenneth Copeland Ministries:

…God is a being with authority. So, when He made man in His image, He gave him authority too… (2)

This is where “Brother” Copeland’s misunderstanding of Scripture begins. The verse he is referring to is Genesis 1:28—And God blessed them, and God said unto them, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." First of all, Adam had DOMINION over the earth, not AUTHORITY. Authority and dominion are two different things. The word “authority” means, “the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed.” Dominion simply means, “To dominate.” In other words, God made man to be greater in rank than any other thing that He created. But authority over the Earth was NEVER given to man.

Think about it this way: If I am going out of town on a business trip, and I ask you, “Hey, can you watch my kid for a week?” I'll probably leave you with a list of things the child can and can't do; what he likes to eat, how late he can stay up, what shows he’s allowed to watch. I am giving you dominion over that child. I am placing that child in your care, and you are responsible for carrying out my desires for that child while I’m gone. Now, suppose you're driving the child to school. A car pulls out of Kroger’s and BAM!! Broadsides you. You take the child to the hospital, but in order for the doctors to do anything, they need to get permission from an adult—not just any adult—they need to get permission from someone who is legally able to give that permission. someone who can authorize treatment. That child’s parent or guardian. Someone with the proper authority.

God placed the care and nurture of Earth in Adam’s hands. But God has the final authority over it. We cannot do anything unless God lets it happen.

• Psalm 24:1—The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
• Isaiah 66:1—“Heaven is My throne, the Earth is My footstool.”
• Exodus 19:5--"Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine."
• Deuteronomy 10:14--"Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it."

Well, next they say that when Adam sinned, he gave authority over to Satan.

God’s on the outside looking in. He doesn’t have any legal entree into the earth. The thing don’t belong to Him. You see how sassy the Devil was in the presence of God in the book of Job? God said, “Where have you been?”… He [Satan] didn’t even have to answer if he didn’t want to … God didn’t argue with him a bit! You see, this is the position that God’s been in … Might say, “Well, if God’s running things He’s doing a lousy job of it.” He hadn’t been running ‘em, except when He’s just got, you know, a little bit of a chance. (3)

This is of course wrong, because God has always had authority over everything. Adam never had authority to begin with. And guess what? Even Satan has to obey God! Think about what it says in the book of Job. Satan was wandering around the Earth, stirring up trouble. When Satan wanted to test Job, he had to get permission from God! And he could not do more than God allowed him to do. Job 1:12—“Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” A little later on in chapter 2, Satan still isn't convinced, so God gives Satan a little more latitude, but says in Job 2:6, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.” That’s because everything in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, is under God’s control and authority! Even Satan! Even Satan is under God’s authority! Always has been, always will!

Well, according to the prosperity "gospel", why did Jesus come to Earth? Jesse Duplantis says that

“The very first thing on Jesus` agenda was to get rid of poverty…” (4)

“Brother” Copeland says the same thing. That when Jesus said, “Blessed are ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God…” that Jesus was telling them they weren’t gonna be broke no more. 1st Timothy 1:15 says, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came to— get rid of poverty? Deal with social issues? Wipe out disease? No. Christ Jesus came to save sinners. Jesus came, made Himself of no reputation, and humbled Himself and was obedient unto death even the death of the cross because we humans are sinful creatures who were destined for an eternity in Hell but He loved us enough to take the penalty for our sins on His own body on the cross! Speaking of the cross, what does “Brother Copeland” think about it?

“Don’t sit around begging God to do something about the curse of sickness or poverty or sin in your life. He’s already done all that needs to be done. He sent Jesus to the cross…He’s stripped Satan of his authority, and He’s given it back to you in the name of Jesus.” (5)

Jesus did not go to the Cross to die a hideous, brutal, shameful, humiliating death so we could drive a Bentley! Nowhere—NOWHERE—does it ever say that Jesus died on the Cross so you could have a pain-free life!!! He died on the Cross because we humans are selfish, with no desire to follow after God! And in order to redeem us from an eternity in torment and anguish and wailing and gnashing of teeth, He took our sins upon His own shoulders upon the Cross.

Jesus went to the Cross so God could, “… [strip] Satan of his authority, and [give] it back to you in the name of Jesus.” Hogwash! Matthew 28:18—And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." Did ya hear what I said my friends? We don’t have authority over ANYTHING!! Jesus has authority over EVERYTHING!!! We don’t have it in His name!!! He has it in His own name!!! To claim HIS authority for ourselves is nothing short of spiritual embezzlement!!

What would happen if I went around wearing a policeman uniform? And I tried arresting people because I though they were breaking the law? I’d get arrested, wouldn’t I? I would be breaking the law, and I would be punished. The same thing happens when we try claiming the authority that God the Father gave to our Lord Jesus Christ! WE would be in danger of judgment!

We’re just getting’ started here, folks!

Here’s a little something extra for ya. This past September 22nd was Yom Kippur, or the Old Testament “Day of Atonement.” It was the one day out of the year when the high priest would go into the Holy of Holies, with the blood of a lamb having no spot or blemish, to seek forgiveness of the people’s sins against God. But now, Paula White says that,

“…as modern-day children of God we should also remember and honor God’s biblically established laws, covenants, and decrees…As Christians, we are encouraged to observe the Day of Atonement also in remembrance of Christ.” (6)

THAT IS UNBIBLICAL!! The gospel according to Paula White says that as atonement for our sins, we need to send HER our money. At her website it says, “Honor God with your ‘Atonement Offering!’” Thing is,

• James 2:10--…whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
• Colossians 2:16-17--Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.
• Galatians 3:24—Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Even "Pastor" Benny is getting in on the act. “Pastor” Paula is committing a sin by telling us we are to keep the OT law, and by perverting the Word of God. Not to mention the fact that she is a woman and calling herself a “pastor.” She is doing is what the writer of Hebrews warns us about in Hebrews 10:29—Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

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Part 2 tomorrow.
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References:

(1) Orlando Christian Center, December 31, 1989.

(2) Kenneth Copeland. Victory! Magazine. 9/07. p. 25.

(3) Copeland, "Image of God in You III," audiotape #01-1403, Kenneth Copeland Ministries, 1989.

(4) Nov. 1997 Voice of the Covenant magazine p.5.

(5) Kenneth Copeland. Victory! Magazine. 9/07. p. 5.

(6) From Paula White Ministries. See this link.