Confronting Darkness

Know the Truth

Here's a good question for those believers in Jesus Christ who have jumped on the "Passion" movie bandwagon. Why would you want to endorse, condone, or fill your thoughts and imaginations with images from a movie that's filled with the false doctrine and heresy of a superstitious, apostate church responsible for the murder of your brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the ages without repentance, which is primarily based on the euphoric and demonic visions of an 18th century mystic nun, in which the characters are portrayed by idol worshippers, pornographic actresses and pagans for the love of and service to of the god of Mammon, when you have the truth of the Holy Scriptures and a promise contained therein that they are "living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword..." (Hebrews 4:12)?

Discern the Lie

This post asks why do "...God's very believing children see fit to attack these mighty moves of God...?" such as "The Purpose Driven Life," Benny Hinn crusades, "The Passion" movie, Promise Keepers and Roman Catholicism. It then concludes that because the "Rapture " is going to happen real soon, God wants to save as many as possible and is orchestrating these so-called "mighty moves" to do so. The author goes so far as to warn people not to "get in God's way" or "attack God when He is trying to save a lost world." "Re: "Christians attacking God's Mighty Moves - WHY"" is an attempt to answer the question "why?" by setting up a straw man argument that stereotypes anyone who is against these so-called "mighty moves" as a narrow-minded, religious, self-righteous, critical, pew-sitter who is "not being led by the Holy Spirit." Both of these posts are found on the Five Doves website and both reveal just how undiscerning and shallow we Christians have become in our complete and utter inability to "rightly divide the Word of Truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). The answer to their question "why?" should be obvious to anyone who loves truth and holiness especially when we are repeatedly warned in the Scriptures to beware of false prophets, lying signs and wonders, and the deceiving of the elect (Matthew 7:15-20; 24:24,Mark 13:21-22). We should not be so quick to endorse a book, a film, a movement, or even a man just because of the results we see with our eyes, but should always test the doctrine being promoted against the Word of God found in the Scriptures. If it does not line up with God's Word, we know that it is not from God because He does not, will not, and cannot deny Himself, no matter how many "good" things are happening as a result. The very fact that something is popular should cause us to immediately question it's validity. Jesus said that the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction and many are the ones entering in through it. Conversely, the way that leads to life is narrow and few are those who find it (Matthew 7:13-14). God's way is the way of the cross (Luke 9:23-24). It is the way of suffering and death to self (Acts 14:22). It is not popular and is avoided by most believers at all costs to their own destruction. There are various aspects about each one of these so-called "mighty moves" of God mentioned that should cause us to be suspicious of them, to question them ,and even to publicly confront them. To not do so when something does not line up with the Scriptures is not only irresponsible, it is to strengthen the forces of evil against God and to work in cooperation within the enemy to deceive people to hell. My question to the writers of these posts is "Why?"

Know the Truth

This article drives home the reality of just how far the so-called "church" in America has fallen from true religion. It sheds light on our true spiritual condition as "Pharisees" who are objects of the wrath of God because of our insistence on doing what is right in our own eyes, and despising those who expose our hypocrisy, deception, and sin. We neglect and shun a proper understanding of the Word of God and those who bring it so that we can to hold on to our self-gratifying, self-exalting religious kingdoms and continue to worship a god we created in our own image who satisfies our every craving and lust. We are starting to see the beginnings of the fulfillment of 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, where many churches have already given themselves over to "lying signs and wonders" because they "received not the love of the truth." At a church (religious meeting) where I used to attend, the so-called "pastor" (Matthew 23:8-9), referred to God, our Father as our "genie in a bottle" and "sugar daddy" who gives us whatever we want, whenever we want it. This same man is now wholeheartedly promoting the false unscriptural practice of praying for people to make them fall down and shake uncontrollably demonstrating the fulfillment of this very passage of Scripture because he insists on doing what is right in his own eyes rather than holding to the revealed Word of God in the Scriptures.

Discern the Lie

There are problems with some of the things Mel Gibson said in this interview that are disturbing given his elevated status as a so-called "God-commissioned" celebrity who gave us this "Passion" movie. In the article, Gibson is quoted as saying, "This is to me the whole problem with biblical movies, particularly this story ... one never got the idea that it was anything more than a fairy tale ... and I believe going for the reality of it is what gives it its power. It's believable now." Mr. Gibson either forgets or does not realize that the Holy Spirit does NOT need him or his embellishments to make the Bible more believable. Romans 10:17 is clear in that "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God," not by embellished graphic depictions of R-rated violence. The Word of God does NOT need to be made "believable."

The following statement found in the article is also careless: "Gibson thinks people who have a problem with the movie often have a problem with what's written in the Bible, as his film simply recounts events in the New Testament." First of all, Gibson's movie does NOT simply recount events in the New Testament. There is an extreme amount of embellishment, artistic license, and Roman Catholic doctrine put into the movie that makes this statement completely false. Secondly, to state that anyone who has a problem with the movie has a problem with the Bible is to set up a straw man argument that minimizes the importance of using discernment and sound Biblical interpretation principals to test the validity of what is being promoted in the name of God. (1 Timothy 4:16) It is irresponsible to stereotype those who are using Scriptural guidelines to critique Mr. Gibson's interpretation of the last 12 days of Christ's life as having a "problem with the Bible."

The article also makes reference to the "Book of Maccabees" as a book of the Bible. The "Book of Maccabees" is NOT part of the sacred cannon of the Scripture. It is part of the Apocrypha - which is not the "inspired Word of God."

Mel Gibson would do well to refrain from peddling his unscriptural, Roman Catholic, mystic interpretation of the Bible as the holy Word of God and stick to promoting it for what it really is - the fictitious writing of the "The Dolorous Passion" by the 18th century mystic Anne Emmerich.

"Know the Truth

"The Passion of the Christ" Movie Review - contains links to must-read articles about this movie that expose the real spirit behind it's popularity and influence. I am becoming more and more convinced that this movie is not of God but from the "father of lies" whose desire is to deceive as many as would be foolish enough to ignore the Holy Scriptures and give themselves over to this flesh-gratifying, emotion-inducing, ear-tickling deception. That so many "Christian" leaders have wholeheartedly recommended it even after watching it's blasphemy should give us a clear indication of just how awful a condition the church is in. The "senior pastor" at the church my family used to attend recently said in defense of this movie that even if it was done by Mormons, he would recommend it (Jeremiah 23:1-2). How undiscerning and downright foolish is that? It doesn't surprise me though knowing that this same man has no scruples about being entertained by other movies that are vulgar and have immorality in them (1 Peter 1:13-16). It is our duty to use our God-given discernment and to reject a "different gospel" when it is presented to us. But instead we have thrown it away and allowed an ungodly world and the heretical, Roman Catholic, false religious system to lead us blindly into this apostasy. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, Galatians 1:6-9

Discern the Lie

Here is a link to a copy of an email message from "Focus on the Family" responding to an inquiry about why they support the "Passion" with all of the doctrinal and moral issues associated with it that are contrary to the Word of God. The response which was forwarded to me by the person who made the inquiry is disappointing at best for those who love God and love the truth.

The reference to Philippians 1:15-18 to justify the "Passion" movie shows just how far the church has fallen from being able to rightly divide the Word of truth. If you look at the passage, you can see that Paul was writing about those who were using the preaching of the gospel to hurt him and cause him problems - "supposing to add affliction to my bonds..." . His rejoicing was obviously because there was an accurate and true presentation of the gospel being preached since he would not have rejoiced in the preaching of a message that embellished or added to the Word of God, especially if it promoted a "gospel" that was false. In Galatians, he called those that preached another gospel - "accursed." (Galatians 1:8-9) In Romans 16:17-18, he says "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."

Furthermore, how naive and blind does one have to become to make this statement? "What difference does it make if their lives are morally imperfect or their doctrinal perspectives don’t completely match our own?" According to Jesus, it makes every difference in the world which tree the fruit comes from. Matthew 7:15-17 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." And also in Luke 6:43-45, He says, "For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." Is this person at "Focus on the Family" saying, contrary to what Jesus states in the Word of God, that a "morally imperfect" tree will produce good fruit ? And with regards to doctrine, the apostle Paul, all throughout his letters warned us about the importance of correct, sound doctrine. In 1 Timothy 4:16, he says, "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." (See also Romans 16:17,Ephesians 4:14, 1 Timothy 1:3, 9-11, 4:6, 6:3-4, Titus 1:9) The apostle John also gives this warning about the importance of right doctrine in 2 John 1:9-11 - "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed: For he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds."

It appears that we have come to the time that Paul warned about in 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."

May God have mercy on the Church and raise up the Remnant to accurately represent Him and His Word!

Know the Truth

This is a must read article that addresses a Roman Catholic challenge to believers in Jesus Christ who oppose "The Passion" movie on the basis of its entrenchment in Catholic doctrine. The response is well written and does a great job of bringing clarity and the light of truth to this controversy.

Discern the Lie

With regards to the controversy over "The Passion of the Christ," this post found on Five Doves website contains a link to A. W. Tozer's teaching on The Menace of the Religious Movie and a link to Bill Bright's testimony justifying the use of movies for evangelistic purposes. At the bottom of the post, the moderator makes a comment that Tozer would have changed his mind had he known the testimony of Bill Bright. This is total conjecture on his part for the following reasons.

1. No one is authorized to speak for A. W. Tozer. We don't know that he would have changed his mind. We can say that he might have changed his mind, but we cannot and should not put words into a man's mouth who has passed out of this life.

2. The points made in his article are based in the Scriptures and one can hardly say that he would throw them away for an argument that is not based in Scripture but rather in human experience, observation and "results".

3. A. W. Tozer's article does not lead one to hold on to man-made traditions that "quench the work of the Holy Spirit," but rather to holiness and separation unto God that is required of all who are called by His name. He is not nullifying the commandment of God by a tradition, but rather upholding it by his desire to live according to God's Word in obedience. If anything is to be called "man-made" here it's the "religious movie" and A. W. Tozer would contend from Scripture that this man-made thing is what is nullifying the commandment of God.

4. One cannot compare the work of Charles Finney with the use of a "religious movie". Anyone who has read the works of Charles Finney would know that he would have opposed the use of the "religious movie" on the basis of it's tendency to produce "spurious," emotionally motivated and not genuine conversions. Also, Finney's "new measures" were in opposition to man-made traditions while the use of the "religious movie" is the validation of something that is man-made. Tozer, being the scholar that he was would have seen this.

One of the problems in the church today is the tendency of believers to create God in their own image and make declarations that He does or has to do things a certain way because it is logical and expedient by their own conclusions rather than going to the Scriptures and "rightly dividing the Word of Truth." God does not always do what is logical or expedient in our eyes and He most certainly is not subject to our ideas about what we think He should or shouldn't do. He is not vain, nor is He "results" driven. Rather, He is the Sovereign Lord of all and His Word found in the Scriptures is the plumb line by which all thing are to be measured including "religious movies," not the fact that X number of people are emotionally manipulated into saying a "sinner's prayer." (Especially when the current state of the church and the world does not reflect that "hundreds of millions have indicated salvation decisions to trust and follow Christ.") With God, the end does not justify the means.

So having had the opportunity to read both A. W. Tozer's article which is based in Scripture and leads the reader to holiness and submission to God's Sovereignty and Bill Bright's article which seems to draw conclusions about God based on externals and may lead the reader to mistake godly discernment as "bondage to traditions," I would have to conclude that A. W. Tozer would most likely not have changed his mind even if he had known the testimony of Bill Bright.

Know the Truth

Here are two articles that challenge the wisdom (or lack thereof) of believers in Jesus Christ jumping of this bandwagon called "The Passion of the Christ".
1. The Passion of the Christ: Firebrand for ecumenicalism and a universal religion?
2. "The Passion of the Christ" A Bible critique and alternative view of Mel Gibson's movie about the last twelve hours of Jesus Christ's life
There are a number of things about this movie that are troubling to those with Biblical discernment and these two articles address many of them. I, for one do not intend to see this movie nor can I recommend that others see it because I do not sense the witness of the Spirit that it is of God. There are too many warning signals connected to this movie and to those who made it that should cause us who are separated unto Jesus to think twice before so readily and blindly accepting this product of the world as some great thing that God has done. This is not to say that God cannot use it to draw those whom He want to draw. It is to say that "As Christians, we are to stand distinct from incorrect teachings and associations, especially if it will cause someone else to stumble!"