Introduction
America, land of the free, seems however, we have now become a world of “democratic partiality.” Everything from our speech, actions, and course of living to cultural ideals has been stripped away. Sadly, the one recourse has been removed from our institutions, educational system and replaced with heretical practices and bias. Accordingly, there will be much denial of the truths uncovered within this book as devout followers of one religion or the other hold true to their belief as sanctity. To many, the cultural ideals they've come to know and cling to so dearly may be too much to fathom. For others that have found something to believe in, the facts you're about to discover may seem farfetched. With this in mind, this country has allowed unfamiliar traditions to set our cultural bounds of Christianity and the ways in which we define it, for a majority? It is how their religion is explained; others proclaim undeniable faith through it. So the question then, has become, what is Christianity, what makes someone a Christian, how has religion shaped this country including the way we form opinions towards it, are the beliefs we’ve embraced sound practices of someone’s enduring fate? To find truth, or not, in unbelieving claims and bring clarity in face of controversial attribution on the validity of God’s inerrant word, including its accuracy, history is visited. In the end, fallacies are refuted, revealing verity in what this world controvert.
That being the case, it comes with awareness that an innumerable amount of false practitioners, unbelievers and followers from one sect or another will amount to fortification for the purpose of categorizing this author as a Heretic. With this intention, their goal in view of not comprehending beliefs they’ve swallowed, is casting an unbelievers shadow over that which has been manifested. Given that I’ve openly admitted there’s no shame of the Gospel where I’m concerned (Romans 1:16) and accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior, understanding he’s the only way to God, how then, can one be classified an unbeliever? In short by identifying false practices and revealing truth you’re labeled a “Heretic” (A person who has denied the faith or doesn’t believe the truth then reject God and become an apostate). Sadly, there’s much credence towards age old religions specifically new ones encompassing claims, interpretations, imposing views that diminishes the importance of Christ. By way of contrast, they refer to (Titus 3: 9-11) “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned. Sadly, we’re part of a nation that continue to be led astray, so, who’s the heretic?
During those early years as a child, I grew up learning that Sunday was a traditional day for the Lord. Giving thanks by attending church and like a hologram not faint, picture folks dressed in their suits, chic with each man modeling pride. And the women, classy, colorful they appeared as fashionistas whose couture syncs with its bearer.
Remember the Pews? So hard your Heine hurt but when you moved or complained grandmother or some old shrew hushed you whispering, “Keep still.” You see, being part of that Christian upbringing in both catholic and episcopal (Anglican) churches was really confusing for me. At the time, I was not sure about my role as a young churchgoer or belief into my teenaged years as with many of today's generation. This all became a custom for me however, does it sound familiar? Then there was Sunday school, which seemed like day care at the time, somehow that had some form of semblance. Those who taught read what sounded like fairy tale stories of Jesus Christ. But is it not called the greatest story ever told according to modern day realists? Throughout history, Christianity continues to not only be used as a loose word explaining our Christendom (Christians collectively, or the Christian world) but a particular religious’ system that has turned away from the true faith and biblical understanding according to scripture. More importantly are the contending sects for a different way of teaching the bible and spreading the word in reaching a younger generation. Consequently, a wave of new and doubting followers has sprung up to follow non-doctrinal contending faiths. Even more damaging is Catholicism, the faith and system of the Catholic Church (Roman Catholic Church).
Catholics position and belief that the authority of the church lies within the hierarchy as in the Pope would be aghast if they understood this goes against God’s biblical teaching. Additionally, Catholic Churches as well as many Episcopalians/Anglicans and Protestants teach and believe Baptism becomes a sacrament that regenerates. This has been a justifiable ritual for centuries especially within the realm of Catholic principles, Protestants and Post Modern churches on the other hand see it as an outward testimony of a prior inward regeneration which has long been one of the most controversial points of doctrine since the church began. However, it is contrary to biblical teaching. Being baptized symbolizes man’s identification with Jesus Christ. Paul explains that “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:13) That spirit being Christ, (Romans 6:4) is clear, that in Christ’s death, His burial and resurrection: "we are buried with him by baptism into death,” and we also should walk in newness of life."
Likewise, emerging churches that advertently claim Evangelism is everywhere. Alarmingly we are seeing huge mega churches now teaching the need for love and fellowship. Others are into positive thinking, wealth & prosperity, the charismatic movement, and New Age philosophies. Here everything is relative. They're conducting God’s purpose for the church and world through storytelling, missions and sharing “journeys.” Dimmed lighting and moments of thinking are encouraged, as there's no need for sound scripture. The emerging/emergent church movement in particular holds a basic post-modernistic thinking. Everything is about the ‘journey’ over reason, spirituality over religious obedience, images, idols and cinematic films over God’s inerrant words ("Inerrancy" refers to a text that is considered accurate, truthful, and totally free of error. Any text that contains mistakes is errant), feelings over truth, you might even be seeing this slowly creeping into your church. These signs and practices are reactions to modernism, and yes, are thought to be necessary in order to actively engage our contemporary culture and in growing the church.
There also appears to be a movement for a calling of works (Missionary work) by going out into the world and helping the less fortunate, hungry and impoverished. Do we have that part right? Not exactly, Faith without works is dead, and missionary work is not what The Lord talks about. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Walking in spirit according to the teachings of Jesus Christ, being humble and accepting of God’s grace. With attention to the first mention of Christians when Barnabas departed to Tarsus, to seek Saul, when he found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled (the Apostles) themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch (Refer to: Acts 11:26). Far contrast from what we consider Christianity today.
Mostly all churches present in some way shape or form misinterpret the Lord’s great commission (Matthew 28: 18-21) “and Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Because of this human ministerial invasion, America has become a home seen from all spectrums as secular.
Hopefully through this book, a more open perspective will be drawn rather than emotional for your belief or doubts. More importantly, a true understanding of what it means to be a Christian. They are countless deceitful religions as they are men masking their true beliefs, and here we discover them arming you with the necessary tools, terminology, but most importantly knowledge to detect and defend against these deceiving false doctrines that continues to stifle and mislead millions caught in its web. In the conclusion, we’ll define Christianity, determine what is religion versus religious, which teachings are false uncovering (the deceit) then identify not only all that is wrong within our society, but where this world went wrong pointing out the direction where this nation needs to go as God intended.
Above all, the research shared within this book is not according to my views or interpretation, neither is it a probable understanding of God’s word or personal theological assessment. After my studies of World Religion for the past 15 years, numerous debates, conversations with Priests and Pastors alike from countless denominations, seminars and Bible Theology studies, this is based on the Church’s principles, beliefs and teachings. Most importantly, part 1 of this series reveals the inherent, inspired word of God, not translations, neither man’s thoughts. Through His (God’s) Grace, I’ve learned that too many scholars Theologians who feel that those who never attended a seminary or Bible college/school are depraved, too sinful to fully understand the Bible on their own and therefore needs a “consensus of teachers” (Priests/pastors). Unfortunately, this sounds much like a Catholic Magisterium.
Further, "consensus" is an agreement that may or may not be true. Moreover, how does one correct an authoritative magisterium? In words applicable to all saints, Paul exhorted Timothy the individual to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
Are we not all workmen? God said "take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things, which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons" (Deuteronomy 4:9). Rightly, many cite Second Timothy 3:16-17 as evidence for the sufficiency of Scripture. But we may sometimes forget that preceding that portion is verse 15, which state, "from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
Paul is speaking of Timothy's familiarity with the Word of God. Back then there were no exposure to a "consensus of teachers" On the contrary, Paul wrote, "I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also" (2 Tm 1:5). According to Romans: 10:17) so then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." So then, are the leaders you look up to today right that the Lord has gifted individuals as teachers? In his letters to the Ephesians 4:11 Paul said: "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (verse 12)? Yet in (Acts: 8:1) "there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles." These were ordinary believers who subsequently went everywhere preaching the word (Acts: 8:4) certainly then, they understood the Word of God.
Also, consider, in Acts 18, the case of Apollo’s (who was truly "mighty when it came to the scriptures"). Although he preached the "things of the Lord," the baptism of John was all Apollo knew (verse. 25), not that the Messiah had come, lived and died on the Cross, buried, then rose again. Two disciples on the other hand, Aquila and Priscilla, took him aside and "explained unto him the way of God more perfectly (verse. 26). To end, agreed, there are those equipped to be teachers, but even teachers as God said and the world has witnessed, go astray regardless of any official consensus. Paul wrote that the saints were to "prove all things and to hold fast that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). We are rest our faith in the wisdom of, but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2: 4-5). So I urge you, don’t take my word for it, open your bibles and discover the truth for yourselves.