Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Monday, 12 December 2011
A New American Republic for a bankrupt, looted Washington Corporation
"
"The Federal Reserve Note is worthless." (2nd Hour)
Creating a new gold backed system.
"The Federal Reserve Note is worthless." (2nd Hour)
Creating a new gold backed system.
Sunday, 11 December 2011
The Hood
The Hood- Thunderbirds
Facebook note today:
I've
always assumed, before this month of piano restoration...effectively
being taken aside for a while, that our flesh minds were quite
sufficient to steer our Spirit doctrines off course.For example Ern
Baxter talking about "the Land" got distorted into Kingdom Now Schools
which were glorified Law Centres, or SGM's Larry Tomczak/CJ Mahaney 's
Life giving Grace Message declining into "Reformed Doctrine".
Now, having discovered the all pervasiveness of secret society
infiltration, I think some of this corruption is "humanly and
perniciously midwifed" by people you trust,but you dont know much about
them...they are a closed book, which you thought was their
devotion....it's devotion all right...to another father entirely,,,the
father of lies.This is why we live by the Spirit from the NOW Word.
- Chris Welch In fact I'll go further than that. I think dangerous (to the devil) organisations like Prayer for Israel, Lydia in UK,Intercessors for Britain are seriously compromised and off track organisations. Let's take one for example. In 1988 when I received the call to go to Israel by special gift of faith after months of praying every day, one of the main opponents came from Prayer for Israel.I thought this odd at the time. Since reading or meeting more from these organisations, including the lovely Valeri Barinov, I am more and more disturbed by the paralysing effect of anybody who has anything to do with these organisations.What began in the Spirit, because they never pressed through to the third level as it has now been revealed, are becoming instead more and more oppressed and infiltrated groups actually working the very Devil's jobs for him that they were originally targeting.18 minutes ago ·
The Hood - Thunderbirds Chris Welch When Norman Grubb was at University he established what became Intervarsity Fellowship which later morphed into Christian Unions.(I was invited to become CU President of Exeter University,when God told me to leave Uni.)But back to Norman, who was aware of another group, the Oxford Movement. Now Norman stood for the centrality of Jesus Christ and His gospel.Innumerable thousands have come to know Christ through this vehicle.The Oxford movement never crowned Christ, but 4 virtues, and became Moral Rearmament which is now a covert front for One World values, ultimately to crown Lucifer, though ofcourse many being used dont know that. David Watson even granted it cult status and prayed for anyone involved in it.
Friday, 9 December 2011
What does Eternal Destruction mean? Andre Rabe plus my biography of Emsworth
Andre, as you know,I've come from things at an oblique angle to you...but they marry right here. I come from the direct experiences of Ed Miller triggering very real national and local revivals and the one he taught who broadened the "corporate experience of Body Living" Jorge Pradas. Both had an understanding of taking a "meeting" by the scruff of the neck THROUGH the flaming swords that GUARD the Tree of Life. And both regarded meetings totally transformatively in the manner of the MIRROR showing Jesus Christ in our own person.They would have loved Francois' translation. In fact they would have used it in what I am going to say next.
You can read the whole story of Ed in Argentina in his books Google R.Edward Miller. As a pentecostal missionary he was getting nowhere in Argentina. (In my terms he was a 2ndleveller getting frustrated) So, a brave move in those days, he told God he wasn't going to do another thing until God did something. So he did nothing apart from seek God. Nothing. Then after ages doing that and nothing outwardly happening he requested a sign whether he should continue. One convert by Friday. At 11.55pm someone came to his door and asked to know the Lord! So he continued. The rest is in the book. How the Holy Spirit came in like a wind to their room where they were praying etc. What isn't in the books is Ed's ministry and Jorge Pradas who he taught...
47 minutes ago ·
Oghenakheranimoh Seann Enigimi-Julius chris u always speak above my head...ure too technicla..pls try to speak in everyday english
45 minutes ago ·
Chris Welch
You see Ed didn't call it the third level....he probably called it the Throne Room, or the glory or something...but both of them sought to run their meetings there. So this is what happens when the Holy Spirit runs meetings. Obviously He never does anything twice because He is an economist! He always move to purpose. But roughly speaking His meetings run in an arc like the Lord's prayer. They begin exulting the Lord, then there's a time "like the flaming swords", like " eternal judgment". It's the time, maybe on your face, standing, sitting, whatever...when God shows you Jesus in the Mirror. Jorge Pradas's song (one of 1000 in Spanish) was "IN YOUR IMAGE I AWAKEN". The Holy Spirit takes you inside to show you Jesus, but "like lightning" He reveals the stuff on our insides that is NOT AUTHENTIC TO US...and in that instant He rips it out. Now sometimes its gentle. Sometimes it lasts longer than a meeting. Some of these things are so core to us, it feels like our insides are busting. The Old Testament describes it as a woman in labour. But what is coming through, is the AUTHENTIC, without any of the other things attached anymore. Then like the last bit of the Lord's Prayer (see my blog post the Apocalypse of Chrust, the Unveiling of Christ) the whole Body goes into action again...but this time Without reference to sin.(Understand me please..the Holy Spirit does not want that we go into meetings sin conscious...but your average "young believer" does....but all that is blown away...and what we experience is an incredible release...like the final declaration "Yours is the Power and the Kingdom forever and ever". Another thing it's like is the huge power invested in the final Ascents Psalm 134, when standing by night...the people Cry...We BLESS YOU OUT OF ZION.... feel that....another powerful wave is sent round the earth to accomplish another set of God's purposes. Well that's meetings..
34 minutes ago ·
Chris Welch
Oh...just to say...in a genuine 3rd level meeting the old Catholic idea of the homily or sermon which Frank Viola describes in Pagan Christianity, is blown out the window. Now it's not that you or Francois and others having a gift of utterance dont share. We know Paul shared so long and powerfully, a little boy fell out of a window. But the whole sharing thing is in the context of what the Holy Spirit is doing amongst us today. People who preach have to be completely re-programmed by the Spirit in the 3rd level.Nothing is the same. For a start, every member knows they are Christ in their form, and at any moment the Holy Spirit may be bringing forth something in the Body....anyhow that's a snippet...this is what happened next.
30 minutes ago ·
Chris Welch That was meetings. But God birthed this vision through Ed and Jorge of Casa Biblicas, or Bible Houses. This was a prototype of the 3rd level church. A return to how it was for the disciples with Jesus. Where God in and through His Body, all day long, all week long, all year long was doing the stuff he was doing in 3rd level meetings, but in Life as we lived together
27 minutes ago ·
Chris Welch
Similar to YWAM, but God showed us at that time He wanted us to learn a new way...so we did very little evangelism, we just sought God. Guess He knew if we did evangelise we'd slip back into the 4 spiritual laws...rather than learning the new way which is more like John4 at the well....anyhow I digress. See, we didn't have the articul;ation we have now online, but we had the Spirit and this is what it looked like. God sovereignly spoke through prophets (Jean Darnall and later Harry Greenwood) that He was going to have a church at Emsworth whereyoung people, with teachable hearts, who would be brought in and then sent all over the world. Like nearly all prophecies, the opposite happened. There was scarce a young person on the horizon for 5 years. Then all of a sudden, from Argentina, Spain, France and England, me sovereignly told to down tools immediately at Exeter university, Marcus Roberts told to come across from Haywards Heath where he was a teacher. And many others older converged too. In fact around Waterlooville other Christians were saying it's a cult...they believe Jesus is going to come back in Emsworth!..... Well He did come but not as anyone thought.
19 minutes ago ·
Chris Welch
So, 30 of us in a single house (3 storey Swiss style ...then later moved to Winsley, a small mansion. Now the "eternal/judgment" grace process never happened simultaneously with all 30...phew....praise God...About 3 or 4 would be really going through stuff at any one time and it was interesting how supernaturally everyone else would be carrying them until it was over. Some couldn't take it and left. I now know that the Holy Spirit is a gentleman, and He knows how much we can take and when...and His grace never tires!!!!Though I was a lot more "2nd level and disciple like in those days"...remember how the disciples were in the gospels...always condemning people and writing everyone off...you get the picture.
14 minutes ago ·
Chris Welch
Here's one story. Christian girl is cutting herself when she came into the house. Her Christian Dad had sexually abused her.We watched as the Holy Spirit (we didn't know details) stripped her right back inside her, then rebuilt her totally from within out. He used the scripture Psalm 45...."The King has desired your beauty.....and with gold shall you be led before the King". Well, I tell you, she then began singing songs of the Lord...like a flood. I've probably not heard worship songs like it too may times since. Incredibly beautiful. The ones we captured, we continued to sing here and in Argentina and Spain. So in repeated temporary cycles the Body would use the Body to bring people through. I have never seen so many people in one place so radically transformed over such a short period a time.
That's why I have been so strong with the Zerubbabel crowd.
Now imagine such a Holy Spirit process with an articulation as clear as yours and Francois and some of the others on here. I tell you all, you simply have no idea how fast 3rd level Holy Spirit churches work. We are all so used to the traditions of men...people like Nancy Gilmore cannot even imagine it here on this earth. But this is what I am saying. I've lived the prototype. I was there. This stuff exists on planet earth. But it has to be God-raised up. God prepared people. God processed Life together...we even had our own God raised up industry....God processed meetings....God financed....It makes the the whole of YWAM look like a sausage making machine by comparison.
Facebook snaffled all this, so I had to do the whole lot twice. Now i forgot to mention another thing that dovetails in with what Andre just wrote about Eternal Judgment. The Holy Spirit's idea of a local church(not the human idea at all) is where He lifts from out of the Old Testament the illustration of the city of refuge.
The Body of Christ is a city of refuge.
See, if you've committed adultery or murder...or many other such things....the natural order of things meant you would die! Or you spin into operation at least a whole load of negatives. But instead of judgment, a city of refuge was and is a place where God spins the judgment around, and cuts into a whole cycle of events to begin a totally new history!
One example: My old pastor was just about to get divorced before he got saved. Divorce ran like a curse through their whole family. But part of the City of refuge experience for him at Emsworth was HIS DAD AND MUM re-married and got baptised in the sea at Emsworth. I tell you the Body of Christ is one crazy place!about a minute ago ·Chris Welch I should say this was after 20 years divorce! So both his marriage and his parent's marriage were saved.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Social Networking is Transforming the Church! by Dan Bowen
From Dan's Blog - Life On Wings
But what if there was a way to see it positively?
My
friends Dee and Debs over at the "Wartburg Watch" wrote their version
of the new rules that the perhaps more authoritarian pastors can expect;
In case you haven't noticed, there is a new set of rules in effect. Here are SEVEN of them:
(1) No longer can a pastor control his own press.
(2) The pulpit is no longer a one-way microphone. Because of the internet and blogs, there are so many microphones that it has become a dialogue.
(3) While pastors may perceive things to be one way, they need to assume that people are going to dig down deep for the truth and not just take the pastor at his word.
(4) Some pastors have been clamoring to be noticed, and they should not be surprised that some who come and take a look may not like what they see and dare to say so.
(5) Remember, anything a pastor puts on the internet lasts forever. If he attempts to remove the evidence, he needs to keep in mind that folks these days are savvy. They are documenting information BEFORE it is removed, and it will show up again…
(6) We highly recommend that pastors refrain from editing out portions of their sermons they put online or altering their transcripts. People are listening and taking notes…
(7) If you chastise from the pulpit, expect to be chastised in a comparable forum like the internet.
Guys, it's a whole new ballgame. Batter up!
Sunday, 4 December 2011
Larry Tomczak Finally Has His Say (via Dan Bowen)
Larry Tomczak Finally Has His Say from Life on Wings
My note on this copy post:
Why is this important? After all, this represents an organisation rooted and grounded in the second level of seeing. Originally at least, SGM preached the two layer gospel of Repent,be baptised in water, and then two, be filled with the Holy Spirit.
What do you mean originally? Well, many of these type of churches...and without having been there , Dunstable apparently seems to be one of the worst examples (not part of SGM network), have now been bewitched by Reformed doctrine.
What do you mean bewitched? How it works is this. When the Spirit working in the life of a believer produces effects that either 1. don't lead to what is judged to the eye as sanctification 2. or appear to lead to other disturbing results
- immature spiritual leaders panic, and instead of looking properly to God to get His eye view.....(probably that all the dark hidden secret foundations that really run believer's lives are now being squarely challenged by the Spirit as He unearths them one by one) they look back to the flesh as they did in Galations, and start to slap "external laws/conditions and behaviours" on new believer's lives.
Inserted biography as example: What do I mean? Emsworth Church was founded by revelation.Jean Darnall,Harry Greenwood and others gave "words" out of nowhere.The Church foundation word was "given by accident" as an apostle passed through a prayer meeting. The Foundation of the Church WAS to be Bible House...a prototype of how future church was to function in the Spirit. The whole pattern of it "came down the mountain". It was not dreamt up. Both Ed Miller and later Jorge got the patterns (2 rolled into one) in heaven waiting on God.I don't think I was too different ,because flesh is flesh, but I was probably the worst. The week I arrived, my first houseowners "saw in the Spirit" a "lurker" walking about my room.I wasnt there.I was also unaware of this in my life.Anyhow, I feel sure (without knowing properly) that immature leadership decided to abandon the project after what happened with all of us, and in particular me. 2ndlevellers have absolutely no clue of the intercession involved in bringing people forth in Christ. They read, but cannot perceive in the Spirit the words of St Paul" I came amongst you to find Christ crucified."
Does that mean Reformed doctrine is wrong? No. For the most part, it ties in with scriptures. The bad thing about it when you look in the Spirit is that you are encouraging Christians to
try and be better Christians by doing this........ and that
not ever seeing in the Spirit that the Christian at his/her core centre has never been founded properly on their inner believing of who they now are in Christ
So, never breaking into the third level of seeing, why is it a surprise that this list of behaviour issues should manifest
extract from below: Five issues were highlighted at that time: 1) Pride, Sectarianism and Elitism 2) Self-righteousness and Judgmentalism 3) Blackmail and Intimidation 4) Lack of Integrity and Deceitfulness 5) Abuse of Spiritual Authority.
This is none other than a part of the list that Jesus reeled off in His ministry describing the Jews trying to live in "flesh righteousness". So again, why should this be a surprise among an organisation that has only 2 out of the three layers of foundational revelation of the life in Christ.
Well, I have included this post for this reason.
Larry Tomczak and CJ Mahaney were "something else". In the 1980s, when even John Wimber was John Wimber, that is a ministry that although firmly promoted the Body of Christ as an every member ministry, was still mysteriously doing the promoting in the name of a single individual with a team.... Larry and CJ were breaking the mould. They truly were something quite new in the earth. A twin ministry of mightily anointed people, commencing the message of grace to the Spirit-filled community. What had been emerging in corners through Maurice Smith, was here being brandished openly and imparted by a lovely twin ministry.
But ofcourse, this grace message foundation is Romans 3 to 5 ministry, and hasn't even entered into the territory of Romans 6 to 8 which is explained at the side of this blog by Norman Grubb in the link.
Now the default in Spirit "works", Spirit -filled churches, across the Body worldwide is for these new churches to hit a wall about the time we would be beginning to share the "lead up" to the third level. The church I was in at Emsworth in the eighties hit the same wall.
Leaders either break through personally to discovering the third level, or they redouble control and slowly the Lampstand of the church is withdrawn. Opposite where Emsworth Church (NLCC)now meet was a tin tabernacle hut first opened by Smith Wigglesworth as a visiting Pentecostal minister. 60 years on, a sad and tired old lady handed over the key to us to continue the work of the gospel. She was the last member. Same story.
Below is of interest though, because Larry at least, seems to have a heart to move on in God, and I have every reason to believe that the God who moved me on, will also move him on. But the bigger question is what will happen to SGM as a whole. It is being seduced by the same Reformed demon as Dunstable church at the moment....so a mighty mighty touch would be needed. And usually, history shows it is just simpler working with fresh wineskins, as Jesus would say.
To recap on the header illustration: If you as a church are not prepared to press through in Christ until He Himself has shod you properly with the gospel of peace - "How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news...."
you will cut your losses and seek to manufacture the same results artificially by resorting to works, or in this case Reformed Doctrine.
Just when we thought there were no more twists and turns to the sorry Sovereign Grace Ministries story - Larry Tomczak has had his say on his website. Here's what he has to say.
— Larry and Doris Tomczak (November 2011)
As you read of our time with Sovereign Grace Ministries, we are sharing some traumatic experiences, yet endeavoring to do so accurately and redemptively. I want to say at the outset that I am not blameless, but I at times yielded to a spirit of fear when told I “lacked discernment” and was at times cowardly when I should have addressed unrighteous behavior. Where we participated in any unredemptive treatment of God’s people, we ask for your forgiveness. Over the years Doris and I have met with numerous people to ask forgiveness and people have been most gracious to us. Feel free to contact us if you feel a need to revisit any past experiences. Thank you in advance for your mercy and love. Let us unite in prayer that what we communicate will help many, bring healing and glorify our Lord Jesus Christ.
“But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones. So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” Gen. 50:19-21
“Encountering departures and desertions from our ministries—we must see them as tutors—revealing our real motives and deficiencies in our methodology. These are tests from God. They will reveal our hearts.” -Dave Harvey, SGM Leader
Note: This quote appeared on the cover page of a paper I submitted to SGM leaders one year after our 1997 departure, “An Appeal for Repentance, Reconciliation and Closure.”
Five issues were highlighted at that time: 1) Pride, Sectarianism and Elitism 2) Self-righteousness and Judgmentalism 3) Blackmail and Intimidation 4) Lack of Integrity and Deceitfulness 5) Abuse of Spiritual Authority.
The paper cited the names of 61 former leaders who experienced mistreatment (the list is currently over 100) and included an appeal for a forum where “individuals with outstanding offenses and unresolved issues could be addressed…these issues will not simply fade away but will continue lingering for years until dealt with redemptively and honestly.” I received no response from any team leaders to the paper or appeal for adjudication. Date of submission: December 1998.
“The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.” (I Tim.5:24)
Next year I will celebrate God’s faithfulness in my 40th year of full-time Christian ministry. At this juncture I sensed it would be helpful to tell the story of a painful turning point in my life and ministry.
Recently, I wrote a “Statement of Reconciliation” with CJ Mahaney, attempting to be as gracious and discrete as possible regarding specifics. But as more details surfaced on the Internet it became apparent that God wanted everything in the light. Our experience is not an isolated case. It is probably one of the most egregious and ignominious examples of deceit and abusive behavior surfacing in SGM at this time. But it did not create the crisis. Instead, it revealed how root issues have been ignored and left unaddressed for too long. May we all proceed in humility and mercy, mindful of Prov. 28:13, “He who conceals his sin will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes his sin will obtain mercy.”
After 24 years of service in the DC area with the “Take and Give Ministry” (TAG), cofounding Covenant Life Church in our home and then serving in leadership in Fairfax Covenant Church, I with my family departed disappointedly, yet hopefully, for better things in Atlanta in 1996. We knew for a number of years that I was being marginalized in Sovereign Grace Ministries (formerly People of Destiny International) and when differences with Reformed doctrine began surfacing, the tension only increased.
At a youth rally in Atlanta, one of our teen-age sons responded along with other youth to an appeal for living genuine Christian lives. That night at home he voluntarily shared with me areas of waywardness and his desire to change, but the door was now open to confront me for “failures at home” and “character deficiencies.” “Apostolic Team” leaders forbade me to be present for a later meeting with my son where he was told to “share all your sins” with the vow of their “confidentiality” (which was later broken).
Subsequently, the team said it “lost confidence in my leadership,” and agreed to a “leave of absence,” sending out a “letter of confession” written by me, then undergoing several revisions affirming SGM leadership and inserting material with which I was uncomfortable but required to include. At the church meeting announcing the shift, I was told to nod in agreement for the congregation to observe.
The agreed upon 6-12 month period was short-circuited when we experienced a pattern of spiritual abuse, deceit, harshness and hypocrisy (including premeditated blackmail, communicated and reaffirmed on numerous occasions and subsequently left to silence and hang over us for over a decade). The entire apostolic team and the new senior pastor and his staff participated in this. We also were told to consider uprooting to Virginia Beach or Phoenix, which we said we could not do because we did not sense this to be God’s will for our family. Criteria established for returning to my former role as senior pastor made that outcome an impossibility unless I embraced the Reformed doctrinal tenets (although people nationwide were deliberately misled with information to the contrary).
My wife and I finally left PDI when things finally reached the “untenable” point. It became for us a matter of conscience. Disingenuous public statements and letters sent nationwide misrepresented what actually happened and I was publically slandered at Covenant Life Church, called a “liar” (with guests and non-believers present) as the leader declared, “I’d rather be dead than do what Larry Tomczak is doing!” Local leaders were affirmed leading to an almost unanimous standing ovation. My reputation built upon 25 years in ministry, was debased nationally and abroad. My “Seven Reasons for Departing PDI” were not conveyed and for 13 years this perception remained in the public domain, separating our family from many relatives, friends and leaders in the Body of Christ. It also resulted in serious financial repercussions for us as a family of six.
For over a decade we tried to bring CJ and the apostolic team to account for the injustice, even enlisting nationally known leaders in the effort, but to no avail. Finally, in November of 2010 he consented. Years of confrontation by SGM leaders and CLC pastors along with the turmoil and defections of people in the network of churches brought CJ to the realization he needed to repent of longstanding sins, some of which were committed in our unfortunate departure. CJ later made a public confession of some of his transgressions at Covenant Life Church and announced a “leave of absence.” Many believe his confession was a start but was incomplete and minimized the severity of the issues. We were invited to the November SGM Pastors Conference and Covenant Life Church to speak on reconciliation, but the invitation was rescinded. At the conference CJ shared he regretted having taken the leave of absence.
CJ’s example, problems surfacing in churches affiliated with SGM, and Internet disclosures from a former apostolic team member were catalytic in some SGM leaders beginning to come forward to repent and rectify matters with our family. One former team member had already done so years previously, after experiencing abusive treatment leading to his departure. An independent advisory panel, Ambassadors of Reconciliation, has been retained to engage in a discovery process to help facilitate reconciliation with former members and leaders who believe they have been spiritually abused. The panel is also collecting information to assist with reforms needed in SGM as well as assist in determining CJ Mahaney’s future status.
May the Lord guide us all as we redemptively deal with past transgressions and find His grace manifested in this time of reconciliation, reform and discipline for Sovereign Grace Ministries. The changes are not cosmetic but substantive to effectively eradicate systemic issues and transform a leadership culture that has drifted from Biblical norms. Two of the churches in Revelation faced the practice of the Nicolaitans (“suppress the people”). One hated it; the other held to it (Rev.2:6 & 15). May SGM leaders align with the former.
To be faithful to criteria for Biblical leadership; to steer clear of the sin of favoritism and partiality; and to be consistent with what was expected of former SGM leaders, I believe senior leaders should step down for a season to be retooled for ministry according to I Pet. 5 and I Tim. 3 standards. Public repentance and public statements should be made along with restitution where appropriate. Then and only then, can the favor of Almighty God return in its fullness to this ministry and unity be restored. The warning of God’s “lampstand” (His Presence) being removed (Rev. 2:5) is very real when a church or ministry is being evaluated by Jesus and fails to respond. Many onlookers are hoping and praying that will not happen.
Then we all can pray like Nehemiah did after he instituted reforms to restore the walls of the city of God: “Remember me with favor, O my God.” (Neh. 13:31)
ps: Because the issues and contents of this statement have already been made public at church meetings and on the Internet for months, I sensed it was appropriate to release my story at this time. CJ and I are almost 40-year friends and our reconciliation statement still stands. In my study I keep a plaque he gave me decades ago. On it are the words: “My Brother, I would not be the man I am without your care and example. I am eternally indebted to you. Your Yokefellow, CJ.” I would add: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” (Prov. 27:6)
THE TOMCZAK DEPARTURE FROM S.G.M. — WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?
— Larry and Doris Tomczak (November 2011)
As you read of our time with Sovereign Grace Ministries, we are sharing some traumatic experiences, yet endeavoring to do so accurately and redemptively. I want to say at the outset that I am not blameless, but I at times yielded to a spirit of fear when told I “lacked discernment” and was at times cowardly when I should have addressed unrighteous behavior. Where we participated in any unredemptive treatment of God’s people, we ask for your forgiveness. Over the years Doris and I have met with numerous people to ask forgiveness and people have been most gracious to us. Feel free to contact us if you feel a need to revisit any past experiences. Thank you in advance for your mercy and love. Let us unite in prayer that what we communicate will help many, bring healing and glorify our Lord Jesus Christ.
“But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones. So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” Gen. 50:19-21
“Encountering departures and desertions from our ministries—we must see them as tutors—revealing our real motives and deficiencies in our methodology. These are tests from God. They will reveal our hearts.” -Dave Harvey, SGM Leader
Note: This quote appeared on the cover page of a paper I submitted to SGM leaders one year after our 1997 departure, “An Appeal for Repentance, Reconciliation and Closure.”
Five issues were highlighted at that time: 1) Pride, Sectarianism and Elitism 2) Self-righteousness and Judgmentalism 3) Blackmail and Intimidation 4) Lack of Integrity and Deceitfulness 5) Abuse of Spiritual Authority.
The paper cited the names of 61 former leaders who experienced mistreatment (the list is currently over 100) and included an appeal for a forum where “individuals with outstanding offenses and unresolved issues could be addressed…these issues will not simply fade away but will continue lingering for years until dealt with redemptively and honestly.” I received no response from any team leaders to the paper or appeal for adjudication. Date of submission: December 1998.
“The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.” (I Tim.5:24)
Next year I will celebrate God’s faithfulness in my 40th year of full-time Christian ministry. At this juncture I sensed it would be helpful to tell the story of a painful turning point in my life and ministry.
Recently, I wrote a “Statement of Reconciliation” with CJ Mahaney, attempting to be as gracious and discrete as possible regarding specifics. But as more details surfaced on the Internet it became apparent that God wanted everything in the light. Our experience is not an isolated case. It is probably one of the most egregious and ignominious examples of deceit and abusive behavior surfacing in SGM at this time. But it did not create the crisis. Instead, it revealed how root issues have been ignored and left unaddressed for too long. May we all proceed in humility and mercy, mindful of Prov. 28:13, “He who conceals his sin will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes his sin will obtain mercy.”
After 24 years of service in the DC area with the “Take and Give Ministry” (TAG), cofounding Covenant Life Church in our home and then serving in leadership in Fairfax Covenant Church, I with my family departed disappointedly, yet hopefully, for better things in Atlanta in 1996. We knew for a number of years that I was being marginalized in Sovereign Grace Ministries (formerly People of Destiny International) and when differences with Reformed doctrine began surfacing, the tension only increased.
At a youth rally in Atlanta, one of our teen-age sons responded along with other youth to an appeal for living genuine Christian lives. That night at home he voluntarily shared with me areas of waywardness and his desire to change, but the door was now open to confront me for “failures at home” and “character deficiencies.” “Apostolic Team” leaders forbade me to be present for a later meeting with my son where he was told to “share all your sins” with the vow of their “confidentiality” (which was later broken).
Subsequently, the team said it “lost confidence in my leadership,” and agreed to a “leave of absence,” sending out a “letter of confession” written by me, then undergoing several revisions affirming SGM leadership and inserting material with which I was uncomfortable but required to include. At the church meeting announcing the shift, I was told to nod in agreement for the congregation to observe.
The agreed upon 6-12 month period was short-circuited when we experienced a pattern of spiritual abuse, deceit, harshness and hypocrisy (including premeditated blackmail, communicated and reaffirmed on numerous occasions and subsequently left to silence and hang over us for over a decade). The entire apostolic team and the new senior pastor and his staff participated in this. We also were told to consider uprooting to Virginia Beach or Phoenix, which we said we could not do because we did not sense this to be God’s will for our family. Criteria established for returning to my former role as senior pastor made that outcome an impossibility unless I embraced the Reformed doctrinal tenets (although people nationwide were deliberately misled with information to the contrary).
My wife and I finally left PDI when things finally reached the “untenable” point. It became for us a matter of conscience. Disingenuous public statements and letters sent nationwide misrepresented what actually happened and I was publically slandered at Covenant Life Church, called a “liar” (with guests and non-believers present) as the leader declared, “I’d rather be dead than do what Larry Tomczak is doing!” Local leaders were affirmed leading to an almost unanimous standing ovation. My reputation built upon 25 years in ministry, was debased nationally and abroad. My “Seven Reasons for Departing PDI” were not conveyed and for 13 years this perception remained in the public domain, separating our family from many relatives, friends and leaders in the Body of Christ. It also resulted in serious financial repercussions for us as a family of six.
For over a decade we tried to bring CJ and the apostolic team to account for the injustice, even enlisting nationally known leaders in the effort, but to no avail. Finally, in November of 2010 he consented. Years of confrontation by SGM leaders and CLC pastors along with the turmoil and defections of people in the network of churches brought CJ to the realization he needed to repent of longstanding sins, some of which were committed in our unfortunate departure. CJ later made a public confession of some of his transgressions at Covenant Life Church and announced a “leave of absence.” Many believe his confession was a start but was incomplete and minimized the severity of the issues. We were invited to the November SGM Pastors Conference and Covenant Life Church to speak on reconciliation, but the invitation was rescinded. At the conference CJ shared he regretted having taken the leave of absence.
CJ’s example, problems surfacing in churches affiliated with SGM, and Internet disclosures from a former apostolic team member were catalytic in some SGM leaders beginning to come forward to repent and rectify matters with our family. One former team member had already done so years previously, after experiencing abusive treatment leading to his departure. An independent advisory panel, Ambassadors of Reconciliation, has been retained to engage in a discovery process to help facilitate reconciliation with former members and leaders who believe they have been spiritually abused. The panel is also collecting information to assist with reforms needed in SGM as well as assist in determining CJ Mahaney’s future status.
May the Lord guide us all as we redemptively deal with past transgressions and find His grace manifested in this time of reconciliation, reform and discipline for Sovereign Grace Ministries. The changes are not cosmetic but substantive to effectively eradicate systemic issues and transform a leadership culture that has drifted from Biblical norms. Two of the churches in Revelation faced the practice of the Nicolaitans (“suppress the people”). One hated it; the other held to it (Rev.2:6 & 15). May SGM leaders align with the former.
To be faithful to criteria for Biblical leadership; to steer clear of the sin of favoritism and partiality; and to be consistent with what was expected of former SGM leaders, I believe senior leaders should step down for a season to be retooled for ministry according to I Pet. 5 and I Tim. 3 standards. Public repentance and public statements should be made along with restitution where appropriate. Then and only then, can the favor of Almighty God return in its fullness to this ministry and unity be restored. The warning of God’s “lampstand” (His Presence) being removed (Rev. 2:5) is very real when a church or ministry is being evaluated by Jesus and fails to respond. Many onlookers are hoping and praying that will not happen.
Then we all can pray like Nehemiah did after he instituted reforms to restore the walls of the city of God: “Remember me with favor, O my God.” (Neh. 13:31)
ps: Because the issues and contents of this statement have already been made public at church meetings and on the Internet for months, I sensed it was appropriate to release my story at this time. CJ and I are almost 40-year friends and our reconciliation statement still stands. In my study I keep a plaque he gave me decades ago. On it are the words: “My Brother, I would not be the man I am without your care and example. I am eternally indebted to you. Your Yokefellow, CJ.” I would add: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” (Prov. 27:6)
Friday, 2 December 2011
Two More Words that cause trouble - Teresa Lynn Dennis
This is a note from the Facebook group "Mystery Revealed". Although a "closed" group, this does not mean that it is closed. All you have to do is ask to join. It's nature is to explore what Christ in Us, the Mystery Revealed means. It has enormous ramifications which haven't quite hit anybody yet, least of all the existing church.
Edie Chill This IS the paradigm shift that has been set before us in this hour. It is Noah's Ark for this generation.
Everybody get in.
After reading Roger's note "The Two Words that caused all the trouble" - see Roger Hawkins, I was reminded of an email discussion I was having with a friend of ours. It revolved around another ‘holy grail’ of Western Evangelical Christianity, namely ‘believe’ and 'saved’. The motivation behind the question was that for many years Christianity has joined these words together making them cause-and-effect upon each other, namely, when a ‘non-believer’ believes then they are saved.
When looking at the words ‘to believe’ and ‘to save’ in Strong’s concordance, we saw the following:
To believe – Strong’s G400 – pisteuo – to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in… http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G4100&t=KJV
To save – Strong’s G4982 – sozo – heal, be made whole… (among others) http://concordances.org/greek/4982.htm)
The word believe in Western Evangelical Christianity has, in many instances, taken on the connotation of “the born again experience” or “saying the sinner’s prayer” – believing requiring you to doing something and in that ‘doing’ you create a new reality for yourself – you are now a new creation,you are now assured of eternity in His presence, you are now in Him and Him in you. Likewise with saved – it has taken on the connotation of “going to heaven” or “not being separated from God anymore, in the now, and in eternity”. In a nutshell, when you believe your reality/identity will no longer be one of darkness, but one of light and you will now have assurance of eternal life in heaven, you’ll be saved.
This all comes out of the gospel of separation that requires you to do something, albeit in response to what God has done, to change your reality/identity/truth… something you can influence and make a reality by your doing…when you believe…you are then saved from the ‘dark’ side to now existing in the ‘light’ side, you are saved from your ‘sin nature’ to now having Christ’s nature and living in Him…the gospel of separation…God is separated from you and when you do something (believe) then you are no longer separated (saved).
When looking from the perspective of the gospel of inclusion, it’s not about anything you do. Firstly, believing does not make something true…a person believing a fact does not make the fact true or a reality…it already is… they are merely ‘thinking to be true’, ‘persuaded of’ or ‘confident in’ the already existing fact…The same applies to being saved… it has all been done – the finished work of the cross – we are included and in union with God – every single one of us – all of mankind, it is a reality and it is our identity – it is a fact, be persuaded there upon, place your confidence therein, count it as truth… and wholeness and healing will be yours to know…because your ‘saving’ was done at the cross, and what you will now know and experience is the truth thereof… No amount of your believing can make this true – it is true and you come into an understanding of the Truth…that already is!!!
Now THAT’S GOOD NEWS!!! That is what we want to be telling the whole world!!! That makes evangelism exciting!!!
I rewrote one of the bible verses, most often used to defend the premise that believing leads to saving, as follows:
Act 16:31 And they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Act 16:31 And they said, know (think to be true) the Truth (that He has done it all, a finished work of the cross) of the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be whole, and your house. (Teresa’s paraphrase)
- Colin Lagerwall Excellent, Teresa.....the scared cows are being roasted on the spit !Yesterday at 05:57 · ·
3
- Dafré Troskie Great post Theresa, in a nutshell clearly cut, the only ones opposing this is the religious mindeds, so fly sis fly you are an eagle always been one, not suddenly miracle wand changing, merely uncovering, awakening, I think the shock of realizing the lie initialy is anethetising, but when they really get their strenght back they will get up and retaliate.Yesterday at 13:12 · ·
- Edie Chill This IS the paradigm shift that has been set before us in this hour. It is Noah's Ark for this generation. Everybody get in.
Thursday, 1 December 2011
Must We Repent of Augustine? by Daniel Yordy
I share all this about repenting of having listened to Buddy Cobb because Christ is made personal in each of us and to show you an exact correlation to a far, far larger intellect that holds all Christianity in its icy grip.
Before we look directly at Augustine, let me recount that darkest of all centuries in the history of the Christian church, AD 311-410. Across that darkest of centuries, the lowest point of the fall into Roman darkness, there strides five men - Constantine, Athanasius, Damasus I, Jerome, and Augustine. The crimes committed against the gospel of Jesus Christ by these five men are beyond belief. Yet they each hold absolute sway over all of western Christianity, Catholic, Protestant, evangelical, charismatic, and even deeper-truth.
Constantine began the orgy of darkness by turning the cross of Jesus Christ into the symbol of the psychopathic hubris of wicked men, slaughtering and ruling over the "weak." It was Constantine, a pagan, who turned the Christian church completely upside down. Christians today who celebrate the hired/slave serial killers some call "soldiers" continue under the egotistical power of Constantine.
Now, Constantine was the key that unlocked the door to the darkness. Read through the account of his life on Wikipedia. Constantine was the epitome of the power of human ego to dominate all others. Other tyrants equal Constantine, none surpass him. Athanasius was Constantine's ticket to total domination, "Christianity," that is, forcing everyone to "believe" the same thing.
Athanasius banished the Lord Jesus Christ from the One who walks among us, who now lives as us in this world, turning Him into "God the Son," far above, far away, something God Himself never, ever says. Athanasius took the definition Lucifer holds of himself and placed it upon the word God speaks, the undergirding fabric of our being. Athanasius separated Christ from us. In fact, the "Christ" of Athanasius looks more like Constantine's view of himself as Apollo, the sun god, than it does the Lord Jesus, who revealed God through weakness and through a life laid down for others.
Damasus I brought all the symbols and ritualism of satanic Babylon into the Christian church, so that godly Spirit-filled pastors today find it needful to spend much money and time erecting the most satanic symbol of human debauchery, the penis-pyramid, over the entrance to their church, or over the baptismal font. Why? Why? Why? - They have never repented of Damasus.
Jerome removed the understanding held by all early Christians for three centuries that God's judgment in Hades, the place the dead are held, was for an age, for a season, for redemption. He took the word "an age" found all through the New Testament and turned it into "eternal," forever and ever. By doing so, he created the conviction that rules all through what is called Christianity today that God tortures forever those whom He refuses to save in a place named after, of all things, the Germanic corpse goddess, and that whatever any of the great torturers of history did, they were only copying God.
The "Christian" Republican hopefuls for President all endorsed torture as a valid American practice in a recent "debate," demonstrating the wicked hold Jerome has over their hearts. In fact my son just informed me yesterday that he was taught by his Bible teacher in the "Christian" school that God favors torture in this world as a means of discovering the truth.
Yes, we must repent of ever having listened to these guys, yet it is not so much they, but rather Augustine, last of the five and the capstone of all that rules over what we call "Christianity."
Why Augustine?
From Augustine until Luther, a period covering one thousand, one hundred years, most all people in the western world who learned to read, read Augustine first. They may have read the Bible or the lives of the saints, some also read Aristotle. But regardless, all read Augustine first. Then, as Luther and others translated the Bible into the common language of the people, many began to read the Bible ALONGSIDE Augustine.
The truth is, it is not Christ-ianity, it is Augustin-ianity. When people read the Bible, they read it through Augustine, when they read Aristotle, they read him through Augustine. When they looked at life and this world and God and eternity, they saw all of it only through Augustine.
From Luther until the 1800's, when other "books" began to circulate as normal reading, Augustine continued to be read equally with the Bible. No, we may not have read Augustine ourselves, it doesn't matter. You really have no idea how familiar his words are to you. They fill all the fabric of what you think about as you look at "Christianity" and as you read "the Bible."
All Catholicism is Augustinian. Luther and Calvin were fully Augustinian. The Anabaptists were Augustinian. Methodism and all Pentecostal churches are Augustinian. Even the move of God was about half Augustinian. In fact, take a bunch of happy pagan teenagers in any western country who have never been in a church and hardly know what Christianity is, and the truth is, their minds, their outlooks, the way they think, have been shaped, for or against, by Augustine.
I even see Augustine just a little bit in George Warnock's The Feast of Tabernacles, though when you arrive at his account of the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement in the life of the church, he gives you a view of leaving Augustine behind forever.
There is only one group I know of who broke free in critical ways from Augustine, and that was the Quakers. That is, until the Welsh revival and the Jessie Penn-Lewis/Norman Grubb connection. From AD 410 until 1905, Augustine ruled over all the Christian church with few exceptions. From the early Pentecostal outpourings until today, God has been separating us bit by bit from the harsh grip of that overwhelming intellect.
Anytime we hear or read someone say, "Let's get back to 'the Bible (so we do not get deceived)", they do not mean the Bible at all, they mean "Augustine."
Now, knowing this fact about the overwhelming influence Augustine has over all Christian discourse, I decided to pull Augustine off my book shelf and read him. My thought was to read the entire book, not the largest of the Great Books series, but not the smallest either.
I don't think, now, that I will. Augustine frightens me. Let me tell you why.
First, I read a ways into his Confessions. Now, if anyone was wordy, it was this guy, yet Augustine's Confessions is one of the most read books in history. Although there was clearly a mighty anointing upon his words, I found myself in sorrow as I read, primarily because of two things very noticeable to me. First, there was no love relationship between Augustine and the person of the Lord Jesus. His was the view of most Christians since, that Jesus is high and exalted in a carnal sense, that He sits above and commands, and we, here beneath, obey. Second, Augustine, like Tertullian and Jerome before him, despised the human and equated the physical with evil. It was this open disgust of his own humanity, a feeling never shown by Jesus, that sorrowed me.
Then, I skipped over The City of God because I wanted to see what Augustine said in On Christian Doctrine. In the introduction to that book, Augustine raised the issue of how do we interpret the Bible. Foolishly, I was hoping he would suggest that we hear by the Spirit and that we believe what God says, starting with the gospel of Christ that Paul preached. Augustine did the opposite. After establishing the need for "correct" Bible interpretation, he began immediately to pronounce "correct Christian doctrine." In other words, first have this doctrine about God and salvation firmly in your head, then you can "read the Bible" correctly.
Then I read 4-5 pages of Augustine's "correct Christian doctrine" through which alone we are to read anything God says in the Bible.
Augustine's words were 100% familiar. I had heard these words in the Mennonite church, in the Baptist churches I visited in childhood, in the Assemblies of God churches, in the charismatic movement, in Christian books and teachings. I realized that all anyone has ever done is simply repeat Augustine, and then, go looking at the Bible for one purpose - to prove in some way that Augustine is "correct."
In that moment of understanding, all personal intimacy with the Lord Jesus in my heart and mind vanished. The knowledge of Augustinian Christianity seized me. With horror, I realized that I have been teaching you false heresy this whole time. I saw that all I have written over the last few years is filled with darkness and blasphemy against the truth. I cried out for mercy for my great sin. I have taught you great error all through these letters!
Thankfully, I'm not stupid, and I knew exactly what was going on and what God was teaching me. I grabbed my Bible, hoping to find there some reassurance that Christ was indeed my life. I opened to passages of the New Testament that once gave me great comfort in the Lord. I saw no comfort there, nor any knowledge that Christ is my life, that I live in Him and that He fills all of me. Rather, those same words that had taught me Christ before, now whipped me with the harsh cries of "Christianity."
I set aside my Bible and turned to something else. I knew that this was God's doing, that there was no need to "fight" against anything. I knew it would pass. By the next day, Augustine was no longer pressing upon me, and I did what I always do, I looked inside myself and "saw" Christ. I looked at Him and saw me.
I neither need nor want to read Augustine. I know Augustine; I know all that he says, as do you.
Let me explain something. I place at the beginning of all my teaching, the Goal of the Believer, or Home as It Really Is. In that series, I hammer as strongly as I can against the idea that the goal of the believer is go to heaven after death. I do that because I know the power that "go to heaven" holds over the minds and hearts of most Christians. You can lead them into the wondrous truths of God's purpose for man on this earth, you can show them that Christ is indeed their life, but at some point along the way, they will most certainly hit up against, "but, we'll only really know AFTER we die and go to heaven." And you've lost them.
More than that, "go to heaven" rules so strongly that most Christians will not even listen to any other possible purpose or goal God might actually say. Thus, if "heaven" is not shattered and destroyed, they will never be able to hear the revelation of Jesus Christ.
I realize now that "go to heaven" is just one package, powerful, yes, but only one part of the real problem.
Something has always bothered me that I did not understand. I have known for many years, and more so now, that almost all Christians simply do not give a damn about what God actually says in the New Testament. I say that crudely, yes, but somehow no other words show the thing as it really is.
Now I understand the complete package of why that is so. "Go to heaven" was only one portion of that total package. Augustine is the whole thing.
Christians do not care what God actually says, they're not interested. The only thing important to them is what Augustine says. And they will fight you, call you a heretic and a false teacher, and burn you at the stake if you dare to suggest that what God actually says does not agree with what Augustine says. To them, the only possible way to read the Bible is to take Augustine and to force his intellect upon every word there.
There is not one place in the New Testament where the apostles ever equated or linked "salvation" with going to a place called heaven after you die. Christians don't care. In their minds, "going to heaven is salvation," that is, "where you spend eternity," MUST fill the New Testament, so there is no point at all to inquire otherwise.
I remember the moment when I knew that salvation and "heaven" are in no way connected by God. It was from a private study during my college years at Blueberry, writing down every verse in the New Testament containing "salvation" and every verse containing "heaven." God never puts the two together. It took great courage of heart to say to myself, "God never ever says that salvation has anything to do with where you go after you die." It takes even greater courage to say that openly and publicly. I knew full well the covering of darkness that sits upon all Christianity, striking down on every hand what God might actually say.
Now, let me get a bit dicey and personal here. You, my dear reader, brother and sister, are more Augustinian than you know. You do not read the Bible entirely through the eyes of Christ. I have no doubt that you read the Bible partly through the eyes of Christ, but also partly through Augustine. Thus when you read some things, you cannot see or hear the revelation of Jesus Christ, but you see and hear Augustin-ianity.
I do not say this to condemn, but only to enlighten and to show part of the battle the Lord Jesus has placed before us. I include myself entirely inside that same picture.
Paul said this in 2 Corinthians 3: "But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away."
Paul, of course, knew nothing about a future Augustine. Here, he was referring to the natural Jew, yet these same words apply absolutely to us. Let me rephrase Paul's words to fit our situation today.
"But the minds of all Christians are blinded. For until this day the same veil of Augustine remains unlifted in the reading of the Bible, Old Testament and New, because the veil of Augustine is taken away only when we know that the Lord Jesus Christ is living now as us in this world, that we are utterly in Him and that He reveals Himself in and as every part of our humanity. But even to this day, when Christians read the New Testament, the veil of Augustine lies on their heart. Nevertheless, when one TURNS TO the Lord, the veil is taken away."
To turn is to repent. To repent is to walk out from behind the tree trunk and stand openly in the full light of God with no reference to any "self" or "no self" whatsoever. To live in the Lord is to walk always in the full consciousness of that same light.
When I look at me, I see Christ. When I look at Christ, I see me. "I am dead" is capable of becoming just as much of a fetish as "death to self." I do not refer to myself as a "self" being bent to Christ, neither do I refer to myself as a "not self." I see only Christ, yet not as a false merging that actually erases either Jesus or me, but in sweet communion, person to person, He in I and I in He, His consciousness inside of mine and my consciousness inside of His.
I walked through the mall yesterday afternoon while my lovely daughter spent time with her friends. First, let me reassure you, I am in no danger of actually laughing and dancing and leaping and singing in the middle of a crowded mall filled with shoppers. But I sure felt like it. I walked with the full and immediate awareness of the consciousness and person of Jesus inside of me and of my consciousness and person inside of Him. We walked together, He and I, through the mall. Yet much more than David's, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Thou art with me." Not "with" me only, but together in one another, side by side as equals, inside each other's heart and person, fully and for real.
This is Christ; this is "turning to" the Lord.
Constantine, Athanasius, Damasus, Jerome, and Augustine strode across the years of that darkest of centuries as anti-apostles - their task: to blast this union utterly apart and to replace it with a "Christianity" that could never find its way back, even though it "reads" the New Testament. To do this they worked in two directions. Constantine and Athanasius targeted Jesus, turning him into Apollo the sun god - "God the Son" high above, far away from man on this earth. Damasus and Jerome targeted man, turning him into a despicable and abhorrent worm, worthy of nothing more than to be flung into hell fire forever, allowing the few who met the correct "Christian" requirements by the skin of their teeth into the bliss of "heaven."
It's fascinating that the world Paul lived in had no such knowledge of man. Paul said, "No man ever hated his own flesh, but loves and cherishes it." He had no idea of the twisted perversion coming in the future where all "Christians" would be taught to despise and hate their own flesh.
Then Augustine took all of that and wove it into an entire fabric of "Christian theology," placing it upon all that God speaks so that no Christian can hear what God actually says, but only what Augustine says God ought to have said.
So what does Augustine say God ought to have said? I will bring in three things here only. On the one hand, to attempt to go through all of Augustine and show point by point how he strips what God actually says of its power and meaning and replaces it with "Christianity," would be a dark and dreary task. I have no inclination to do it. On the other hand, all of my writing, all the way through is a continual refutation of Augustine. It is the hold of Augustine over the minds of Christians that I have been engaged against from the start.
I have passed a milestone in finally sharing the things publicly that God has placed in my heart over the years. Someone found my website by typing into Google search the words, "Daniel Yordy false teacher." This kind of accusation intrigues and fascinates me to no end. Over the next few days I read through all of more than three dozen of my articles, searching for anywhere I may have said something God does not Himself say in the New Testament.
The truth is, I am a "false teacher" only because I attack Augustine. And I do attack Augustine's hold over my brethren. And guess what! I will win, that is, Christ wins through me.
But understand this, Augustine is 700 pages in the Great Books, that means 1500 pages in regular book size. Every single one of those 700 large pages sits upon our thinking and rules how we read the Bible and approach God. People say concerning the fulfillment of the Third Feast in the life of the church, "What you teach is so confusing, it seems to make a "simple" gospel so complicated." They are interpreting their "confusion" wrongly. The complexity of Augustine fills their thinking. What we teach has no relationship with that way of thinking; it is built on an entire other set of assumptions about God and life and the gospel and who and what we are.
When we speak out of our assumptions, the gospel is clear and pure and simple, but to those who sit in Augustine, our teaching seems distorted and whacky and complicated. In equal measure, however, as we think and speak out of our assumptions a clear and pure and simple gospel, we look at the "gospel" most Christians push, and it appears to us distorted and whacky and complicated.
Here is Augustine's first piece of doctrine that all must have hammered upon their brains before they read and interpret one word of Scripture.
*****
. . . The Trinity, one God, of Whom are all things, through Whom are all things, in Whom are all things. Thus the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and each of these by Himself is a complete substance, and yet they are all one substance. The Father is not the Son, nor the Holy Spirit; the Son is not the Father nor the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit is not the Father nor the Son; but the Father is only Father, the Son is only Son, and the Holy Spirit is only Holy Spirit. To all three belong the same eternity, the same unchangeableness, the same majesty, the same power . . .
*****
Now, it is clear that Augustine speaks of God and truth and Scripture. But he begins with something God never says, "Trinity," he inserts something God does say, but with a slightly different meaning than what God actually says, and then he proceeds with things that sound as if God did and should have said them. (Now, as I read again through these words, even while editing this letter again, a shadow of darkness emerges from them to lie across my spirit; a darkness I gladly turn away from.)
The problem is that God is not the creation of human intellect. He is a living, breathing Person, existing in dimensions and ways that we do not presently know. The Lord Jesus came to show us who and what the Father really is. God is meek and lowly of heart; He reveals Himself in weakness. When He is invited to dinner, He sits at the lowest place. When He has a chance to prove that He has what it takes, He stumbles and falls on His face in the mud. He lays down His life; He comes to serve.
Now, most of what Augustine says in these lines God never ever says. From these words, we get "God the Son," and "God the Holy Spirit," things also that God never ever says. When we say things about God that God Himself never says, we create an "alongside" god, one who looks like the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, but who is not the same One.
However, so much argument in "Christianity" circles around trying, so very hard, to prove that Augustine's definition of "God" is correct and to force that definition on the words of the New Testament. This is one-half of the removal from the knowledge of Christianity the wonderful reality that Christ lives as us in this world.
If we do not know Him IN our weakness, we will never know Him in His power. To claim that we can define Him in His power, speaking words He does not say, when we show no sign of knowing Him IN our weakness, is to delude ourselves.
Now, let me urge you not to be mistaken by the cries of, "Well, I just believe that's the way it is." Human "believing" isn't worth twat. We cannot create God by "believing." Faith does not believe things about God. Faith is specific to the word God speaks; that is, faith simply receives into itself what God actually says, and then reproduces in the flesh that same life and reality. And faith does so simply by agreeing with God.
But "Augustin-ianity" swinging in causes us to doubt what God actually says.
Here is another piece from Augustine. However, I include first the declaration of the Council of Nicaea, which creed almost all Christians hold as "gospel truth." Then, followed by Augustine's restatement of this same "truth."
*****
And although the Archbishop be among the bishops as an elder brother, who hath the care of his brethren, and to whom they owe obedience because he is over them; yet the patriarch is to all those who are under his power, just as he who holds the seat of Rome is the head and prince of all patriarchs; inasmuch as he is first, as was Peter, to whom power is given over all Christian princes, and over all their peoples, as he who is the Vicar of Christ our Lord over all peoples and over the whole Christian Church, and whoever shall contradict this, is excommunicated by the synod." (Council of Nicaea)
"He who is separated from the body of the Catholic Church, however laudable his conduct may otherwise seem, will never enjoy eternal life, and the anger of God remains on him by reason of the crime of which he is guilty in living separated from Christ." (Augustine)
*****
It is interesting to read the arguments of classical Catholicism, that only those who have submitted to the Catholic hierarchy of "covering" are saved, all else are damned, no matter how much they might "believe" that Jesus is their Savior. I see in the Catholic argument the exact same argument we were given in the move of God, that knowing the fullness of God meant submitting to the hierarchy of covering. The principles and arguments are the same; the only difference is an apostolic ministry versus Pope and Bishops.
The vast majority of all Christians live under this same belief, that by being a member of a "group" called by the name of their own church, they are "in" with God.
I was asked by a reader to comment on a piece of "kingdom of God" writing he had found. This piece had some good things to say, but then it turned to the same definition of "Christ" pushed by Augustin-ianity, you see the words from the Council of Nicaea, "power over." That piece argued that Christianity has never known the unity of Christ BECAUSE . . .
Hogwash! All believers in Christ have always known the perfect unity of Christ the gospel proclaims. What has not known unity is this structure over God's people. And that structure will NEVER EVER know unity simply because it is not Christ. Who cares what any structure over God's people does or doesn't do? That kind of "unity" is the tower of Babel pointing straight "down"; it is confusion. Christ is One; His body is one. Anointed and gifted ministries attempting to move "in power" over Christ's body, no matter how much God and the idea of God thrills their souls, cannot and never will be one, for that is not Christ.
Again, if you read the life of Constantine in Wikipedia, you will see the reason for this kind of "power over" unity pushed by the Council of Nicaea: control. The moment you see the words "power over," you know that Lucifer is talking, not the Always Talking of God, the Lord Jesus.
Then, Augustine's statement that was the last straw, blowing away from me the present knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ as my life in fullness right now.
*****
In what way did He come but this, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us"? Just as when we speak, in order that we have in our minds may enter through the heart into the mind of the hearer, the word which we have in our hearts becomes an outward sound and is called speech; and yet our thought does not lose itself in the sound, but remains complete in itself, and takes the form of speech without being modified in its own nature by the change: so the Divine Word, though suffering no change of nature, yet became flesh, that he might dwell among us.
*****
Now, reading through these words again, we might be tempted to think, "Wow, those words sound very similar to the things this Yordy teaches." Augustine is certainly talking about the Word made flesh.
How, then, did these words blow Christ my life right out of my knowledge and understanding? Let me explain; the distinction is so very important.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)