5/11/2009

How to Recognize the Apostate Church

Apostasy means the renunciation of a religious or political belief or allegiance. In our case any teaching that is called Christian that denies the truth of the word of God would be considered apostate or renegade.

A good place to start this article would be with the question, “what does it mean to be Christian. The word Christian means to be Christ like? With Jesus as our example we should seek a relationship with Jesus at least in this respect. John 10:30 I and my Father are one meaning whatever Jesus is I am or want to be. Of course Jesus and God are the one and the same but I think you get my drift. In other words, in our life-long search for perfection or to be a full grown mature Christian we continuously strive to be like Christ, hence the scripture below in St. John 7:38, 39 and not Luke 6:46.

Key Verses

Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

2 Timothy 3:5-7 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts.

2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

John 7:38-39 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Matthew 12:31-37 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Note: One method of blaspheming the Holy Ghost is Hebrews 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost (indwelling of the spirit of God), And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.  Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.

Note: Retain means at one time they had the knowledge of God but chose instead to fall away from the presence of a holy God for the lust of the flesh and things of the world.  In other words, these have been filled with the Holy Ghost or spirit of God and now deny this experience of the world to come meaning heaven and left their first love for the world below and the things of the world; the lust of the flesh etc.

Important Note: There are a few excerpts in this article taken from by Bill Keller

 There is a new group of people in our nation who call themselves the "religious left." This is a relatively new term so you may not be familiar with it. That is why it is so critical to take the time today to ensure you not only understood what it means, but who actually makes up this new group of people.  Forty years ago, this group didn't even exist. They have actually evolved and grown tremendously over the past decade. The "religious left" is made up of people who identify themselves as Christians and hold strong religious beliefs as well as sharing left-wing ideals. Obviously, this group has risen up in opposition to those who have been tagged the "religious right" or the "Christian right." The "Christian right" is that group of bible-believing Christians who are politically active and seek to elect to office those candidates who hold to biblical values on the key spiritual issues of our day that are also political issues.  I say that because it is not possible to separate the two because these issues end up in the courts anyway.  These would be issues like abortion and life-related matters, gay marriage, family issues, the proliferation of the pornography industry, and the drive to remove God from the public square. Those in the "religious left" actually take an anti-biblical position on these issues and are also heavily involved in the ecumenical movement, environmental issues, opposing war for any reason, world hunger, and social issues like healthcare, welfare, and education.  There is nothing wrong with pursing these noble social issues.  Believers should be more involved on those fronts. The problem with this group is their anti-biblical position on the key spiritual issues of our day and their involvement in these ecumenical movements that require you to set aside the absolute truths of the bible.

Some are quick to say who are you to judge anyone? And I say according to the word of God there are things I have every right to judge because the scripture says we will know them by their fruit then it follows their actions and if it is not in accordance with God's Word it pretty much speaks for itself wouldn’t you agree? As a matter of fact we are commanded to turn away from those that have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. One cannot turn away without making a judgment about their actions as it pertains to their obedience to the word of God. I wanted to get that out of the way because I know there are some the first thing they do is accuse me of judging and this is a trick of the enemy to stray from the subject.  How can a person say he/she is a person of faith, yet vote to support the legalized slaughter of over 4,000 innocent babies every day?  How can you say you are a person of faith, yet vote to redefine God's Holy Institution of Marriage? How can they say they are a people of faith, yet support special rights for people who have chosen to engage in perverted sex acts God calls an abomination, including their ability to adopt children into their deviant lifestyle?

Signs of the Apostate Church

I guess the real question becomes, what is their faith really in? Why do they even bother to claim any religion? Why don’t they just admit to being avowed atheist? The reason is because many of them actually do feel a need to satisfy a longing God put in all men when he created them. It is inate in all men/women. This longing is the inner man seeking its creator. But in the process of time when they were exposed to the truth or at least a portion of the truth but it didn’t fit their lifestyle or put another way, they are so eat up with the lust of the flesh they wouldn’t know Jesus no matter what he did to prove to them who he was. This part is nothing new it happened when Jesus walked in the flesh upon the earth for all men to see his compassion and miraculous ministry. Romans 8:5-8 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. In the eyes of God a person cannot say he/she is a person of faith and continually take a stand in opposition to God's Word. Jesus said, if you love me keep my commandments. This means all 1,000 plus commandments in the New Testament. Most of those in the "religious left" were raised up in the liberal "churches" of our day who make a mockery of Christ as they operate in open rebellion to the Truth of the Bible while claiming to be followers of Christ. However, there are some that once knew and obeyed the truth and these are the ones that are deceiving the masses.

Signs

They support the legalized slaughter of babies, redefining marriage to include men with men and women with women, perverting the family by bringing children into homes with homosexual parents, and embrace ecumenical fellowships with all of the cults and false religions of the world. In other words, they deny the Lord by embracing all these various ways to obtaining salvation and the many different saviors they say exist. They say Jesus is not the only way to salvation. They teach a man/woman can make it to heaven with good works, which is totally contrary to the teaching of the bible. This is what Jesus meant when speaking of the end-time Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. As I said previously, this is the fastest growing religion in America today.   They deny the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible, have rejected God's Word as absolute truth. These New Age and other liberal churches have bought into the lie of the world that there are "many roads that lead to God." These are the people who make up the "religious left or the end-time Apostate Church!"

Warning

Dear reader we all had better wake up, because this is the largest growing segment of Christendom.  This is the apostate group who calls themselves Christians but go to churches that operate in complete rebellion to Christ and the Bible.  The following pertains to those that deny the indwelling of the spirit of God or Holy Ghost that will lead and guide one into all the truth. Don’t be deceived or tempted by these groups that offer a way to willful sin and still make it to heaven. As the apostle said, let him who is ignorant be ignorant still.  1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. Romans 1:28-32 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Matthew 24:9-13 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. Out of the synagogues also means whatever religion they don’t agree with will be forced to close down and to remain a part of the religious practice one will have to go underground. It has happened many times before and will again, but this happening in America, who would have thunk it!

I know it is hard to understand how a person can consider themselves a Christian, yet take a position contrary to the word of Almighty God.  This group is biblically illiterate since they don't even believe the bible to be true. They are the politically-correct crowd who has bought the lie a woman has the right to kill her baby. They are the group who lambasts those who speak out against the sin of homosexuality, calling them names like "intolerant" and "hateful or hatemongers." They call themselves Christians, but support the things Jesus Christ and his word condemn. It is a fact, the first thing a person seeking after God and his righteousness has to do is be honest with themselves and accept the fact truth is not what we want it to be, it is what God says it is. We don't have the luxury of giving our heart and life to Christ and then live any way we want. In so doing,  1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. A true follower of Christ is a follower of His Word.  If you gain nothing else from this article please know this it is these signs that was prophesied telling his children the time is very near for the church to be raptured. Please keep in mind although there have always been many different religions never before in our life time have witnessed the digression and outright slander of God’s word we see happening now and it is as if the spirit behind these people is in a race against time it is hapenning so fast. Come to think of it, Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.  Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

As many of you know by now I believe the United States is the daughter of Babylon spoken of by the prophet Jeremiah, Isaiah and in the Revelation quite simply because the descriptions given doesn’t fit any other nation on planet earth today. I said that to say this, in these passages is recourse for our country if only we would heed. Everyone that names the name of Christ should be joining me in trying to reach the lost and our loved ones to put off the judgment of God on our country but will you? The Lord gives warning for the people and has put off judgment for a time in bygone days 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land but given the current circumstances this almost seems unlikely it could happen for us. Our nation has been so secularized and destroyed from within it just doesn’t seem possible. There is no doubt God is able to restore us but are we willing and able to be restored?  Here is the message; Jeremiah 51:8-9 Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies. This is a period of time when the Jews in America will go home to Israel. Currently it is estimated there are six million Jews in America. It is God’s final call for them and they will obey. Just as the Jews warned about 9/11prior to it happening God will also speak to them about the destruction and fall of America. Jews heeded the warning of 9/11stayed away and for the most part didn’t get killed if you will recall. I realize this was little recognized by the media for obvious reasons, which is our anti-semitism toward the Jew in these last days. This is another of our great folly of which I have already written of extensively.