The Scourge Of Racism
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Permeating the churches in these latter days is the false teaching born of feminism’s demand for worldly defined equality that God has changed His mind about the responsibility He has assigned men to lead in their homes and in His house. Contrary to this falsehood, leading precedes only teaching, providing1 and protecting as responsibilities the immutable God has assigned men in His image and likeness. That churches supposedly of Jesus Christ would follow the world in rebellion against God in anything is unconscionable! Yet, among other things, it is happening with gender roles and responsibilities! As I have written in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics2 and many prior posts,3 Christian men are being marginalized as a negative consequence.
Besides taking authority over men from the pulpit, in administration and instruction, women are leading worship in God’s house despite the extremely plain “whole counsel of God” showing this to be sin (Acts 20:26-27; 1 Corinthians 14:33-37, NKJV).4 It is not as if there are no men to lead worship in the full assembly of God’s house (and even if there were not, obedience dictates that it would fall to the male pastor or worship does not proceed), capable men are purposely ignored! Even churches that claim they faithfully honor God’s Word are compromised on this as though their hypocrisy is masked or isn’t doctrine and practice supposed to agree (Matthew 15:1-9)? Woe to the guilty as the Lord leads me to warn in this edited 2012 Commentary as a first of those that followed!5
Originally Published July 2012
Worship of God in motivation and form on earth is supposed to mirror that which takes place in Heaven. In these last days, however, many professed Christians and church leaders have given themselves permission in their assemblies to offer God whatever forms of worship moves them. While for some in ignorance this flesh driven effort at religious devotion is well intended, if God the object is not pleased with it, then it is worthless. So, it goes in many American churches today that what passes for worship of God, is really a matter of what pleases human desires and is rejected by Him. His heretofore, forbearance to judge is also sinfully misconstrued as acceptance (Psalm 50:16-23).
According to Webster’s Dictionary, to worship anyone or anything (deity or a religious object) is to give reverence (a feeling of awe toward and profound respect). Such worship also includes the prescribed form it is to be expressed and is typically accompanied by intense devotion, esteem, love and admiration for the person or thing worshipped. When God gave man the ability in the divine image and likeness to love, exclusive worship of and foremost love for his Creator was intended to flow from his heart and be demonstrated by the action of obedience (Genesis 1:26a; Deuteronomy 4:15-19, 5:7-10; 6:4-5; John 14:15)! God also taught man how to approach Him after falling into sin (Genesis 3:21, 4:4, 8:20-22; Exodus 29:38-46).
In God's covenant relationship with Israel, only the men of the tribe of Levi would serve as priests and attendants leading the worship in the place of assembly (Numbers 3:1-13). God put to death Aaron's two sons as priests that did not worship Him as He prescribed (Leviticus 10:1-3). Later, He killed a non-Levite man who though well intended, touched the ark of God in the midst of king David's sponsored celebration of its return to Israel (1 Chronicles 13). Next time, David got it right (1 Chronicles 15:1-15). After this, the Lord revealed to David that his son would build a Temple (house) for Him (Deuteronomy 12:1-14; 1 Chronicles 17:1-15, 28:1-21; 2 Chronicles 6:12-7:3).
Jesus Christ, the Son of God and David came in the 1st century AD and emphasized the worship of God in His prescribed way. As it concerned the Temple, He rebuked the religious establishment for their failure to treat God as holy (Jeremiah 7:1-11; Luke 19:45-46). He also revealed what would become the worship reality in the New Covenant inaugurated in the aftermath of His death, burial and resurrection (John 4:19-22). He taught the woman at the well, “true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him," (John 4:23, NKJV). The Lord further explains this is absolutely necessary because "God is Spirit" (John 4:24, NKJV).
To worship God in spirit is to do so out of the deepest aspect of our inner existence given to us by Him: spirit to Spirit (Genesis 2:7; Zechariah 12:1). Worshipping God in truth has to do with inner authenticity and conformity with His Word (John 17:17). Spiritually dead in our sins, this is all impossible to us as sinners since God does not accept polluted worship (Isaiah 1:10-17, 59:1-2; Malachi 1:6-14; Acts 5:1-11). But the Lord Jesus by His sacrifice has made it possible for our sins to be forgiven and washed through His blood so that in the Spirit and faith we are able to draw near to worship God the Father as He prescribes (Ephesians 2:11-18; Philippians 3:3; Hebrews 8-10:22).
The Lord Jesus shows us by His own life what Spirit energized worship looks like in Luke 10:21. Out of His spirit spontaneously burst forth thanks to the Father. There was no choir, praise team or building; just the Son worshipping the Father in the temple of His body (John 2:19-22)! Even so, when we that are true worshippers as Christians assemble together there is worship of God in word and song as seen in the example of Israel and 1st century AD Christians (2 Chronicles 5:2-6:2; Acts 2:44-47, 16:25-26). There is also to be order, for individually and corporately we are God's house and worship Him as He prescribes (1 Corinthians 11:2-14:40; Ephesians 2:19-22, 5:17-21; 1 Peter 2:1-10).6
The worship of God is not about us; it is about Him! It does not matter whether we enjoy it or not--though in the Spirit we will. What matters is did we please God by worshipping Him as He prescribes? Therefore, let every guilty pastor repent from flesh contrived services called "worship" that feature entertainment to please people and the performing of hymns and songs led by known willful sinners. Let the Holy Spirit lead! Too, let professed Christian women that will be true worshippers of God in spirit and truth repent and voluntarily relinquish authority as a worship or any leader over men in His house (1 Timothy 2:11-14). Near is His judgment (Numbers 16:1-40)!7 The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, "Who is on the Lord's side?"
1 See the July 14, 2019 post, A Man’s Responsibility To Provide, under the categories, Biblical Worldview and God’s Creatures.
2 Get a print copy or digital download of the book at major internet booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBooks.com and Apple (digital only). You can
also get a print copy of the book on sale in the Strong Man Store.
3 A sampling of posts to read would include the July 13, 2014 post, House Of Confusion, July 20, 2014, Confused Men, Compromised Sons, October 12, 2014, Whose
House? and the two-part, Feminism’s Entry Into The Churches, posted May 27 and June 3, 2018 all under the category, Call To Repent.
4 It is a full on lie to attempt to disarm the perpetual standing of the apostle Paul’s teaching in this passage by claiming it was only for this one church and of his histori-
cal-cultural thinking of the time since in vs. 33, he asserts the truth stated is “as in all the churches of the saints” and declares what he has written “are the command-
ments of the Lord” in vs. 37, (NKJV). Therefore, I’ll say it yet again: God’s assignment of men to lead does not end at the church house steps! They are all willful re-
bels who defy and disobey the clear apostolic instruction on women in God’s house and should repent.
5 Read the January 2015 three-part 2013 repost, Worshipping God Without God and the epilogue, Final Considerations On Worshipping God, all under the category,
Call To Repent.
6 Read the July 27, 2014 post, God Of Order, under the category, Instruction.
7 Those in the churches with spiritual eyes to see, see God’s judgment in His house is in progress as warned. Guilty men considering themselves fair-minded and pro-
gresssive have much to fear as a result since rather than the good of liberating women from God’s unfair and unequal restrictions by championing their rebellion, you
are instead putting yourself and them in harm’s way of His judgment (Mark 9:42-48; Hebrews 10:26-31)!
Looking back over everything the Lord has led me to post this year thus far, I am struck by how many bedrock New Testament commandments and instructions are being blatantly trampled upon by the many leaders and people that profess to be Christians in the churches they make up. I wrote about how as “ambassadors” of the “one Lord” Jesus Christ we are all supposed to be saying the same thing (2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 4:1-6, NKJV).1 Ambassadors represent a country or kingdom and speak and do among those in the nations they are assigned what their leader that appointed them has commanded. Not to do so is to invite certain consequences including dismissal!
The apostle Paul rhetorically asserts our Lord Jesus Christ is not divided (1 Corinthians 1:13), but we are and willfully so as each theologian, denominational leader, pastor, etc. teaches his following in accord with what is right in his own sight in spiritual lawlessness rather than what the Lord has purely declared in His Word; not “repeating God’s words after Him” as the religious educated elite are fond of saying (Judges 17:6; Proverbs 14:12). Paul also tells us why this is all so. In fulfillment of his prophecy each one teaches with a nuance that attracts followers to his wisdom and himself, not God and His wisdom in the Gospel resulting in followers for Christ (Acts 20:26-30; 1 Corinthians 1:17-25).
Because His program matters as I write in this edited 2012 Commentary, God’s judgment of the errant, disobedient and usurping ambassador/teachers is just (1 Corinthians 3-4:13; 2 Peter 2:4-11).
Originally Published March 2012
As I remind pastors in the closing chapter of my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics,2 Scripture plainly holds Jesus Christ up as Lord and Head of His Church (Ephesians 1:15-23). Christ presents His will (God's program) for those that belong to Him through new birth and supposedly make up the churches in the same Scripture He is proclaimed Lord! The local churches therefore, are not free to do as they please apart from the will of Christ. Yet, the evil spirits of disobedience, heretical corruption and apostasy that well began their work before the passing of the 1st century eyewitness apostles have brought their efforts in these latter days to a near frenetic intensity.
The aspiring strong man and great woman of God in the image of Christ delight to honor Him as Lord. They honor Jesus as Lord in their personal lives, in the local churches and before a watching world. They willingly honor Jesus as Lord out of their embrace of that factual truth from Scripture, the reality of meeting and walking with Him in His Lordship (John 14:18-20) as well as the joy of Holy Ghost fired affirmation (1 Corinthians 12:1-3)! As a result, they are not rebellious against or selective in their obedience to the Lord as the normative experience of their lives. When they sin, they do not delay to confess and repent before the Lord in all sincerity (1 John 1:5-2:6).
In the churches aspiring strong men and great women of God eagerly seek to fulfill His program to preach the Gospel to and make disciples of the nations; baptizing and teaching them to obey all of His will expressed in commandments communicated by His eyewitness apostles (Matthew 28:19-20). They do their part in God's program according to the gifts, calling and ministries they receive from the Lord through the agency of the Holy Spirit. They fully understand the Church is the Body of Christ and He the eternal Head. They labor in love to faithfully serve the members therein; being careful to obey the Lord's order of His assembly presently on earth (1 Corinthians 12:4-14:40).
Too many times I have heard preachers, teachers and professed Christians dismiss obedience to God's Word as an unimportant side issue to relationship with God. They portray God the Father as some benign, doting grandfather, Jesus as a cool, anti-rule keeping hippie sage and the Holy Spirit as a feel good force that just want us to love the Lord. However, Christ died to reconcile us back to God who had breached the relationship beginning with the disobedience of our forefather, Adam (Romans 5:6-21). Willful disobedience is not to characterize the New Covenant relationship of the Christian with the Lord he loves (John 14:15, 21-24; Hebrews 10:15-22; 1 John 3:4-10, 5:3).
The apostle Paul upbraided the Jews of his day for their hypocritical conduct that caused the Gentiles to blaspheme the name of God. How much more would he upbraid Christians in likeness today (Romans 2:17-24)? Indeed, the name of our God and His Son are regularly blasphemed in the media and on the streets of our nation due to the hypocritical conduct of professed Christians and churches that have no shame. The Gospel is maligned because racial division and bitterness mark the churches more than love. God's Word in the Bible is maligned because proud church leaders and teachers in disobedience will not say the same thing doctrinally (1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Peter 3:8).
If professed Christians and their churches will not honor Jesus as Lord and obey the divine will revealed in Scripture, then who else on the planet will? If professed white Christians and those of color refuse to love one another in disobedience to Christ, then how will the world know that we are truly His disciples (John 13:34-35)? If professed Christians regard the instruction of Scripture on God's family order, gender roles and responsibilities as dated, then how valid is Scripture as a continuing source of authority for other aspects of our faith and practice?3 Clearly, the foretold latter day apostasy and deception are upon us to the eternal detriment of the guilty (1 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Timothy 4:3-4)!4
God's program matters because men are saved and built up when we who say we love Him remain true to it. Moreover, God's program matters because Christians as aspiring strong men and great women of God in the image of Christ are the living signs of His Kingdom coming to earth; lights shining in a dark world (Philippians 2:14-16). Finally, God's program matters because the Father, Son and Holy Spirit share a holy disposition and wrath toward unrepentant sinners including those that profess to be Christians (Psalm 2:7-12; Isaiah 63:7-10; Matthew 7:21-23; John 8:21-29; Acts 5:1-11; Hebrews 10:26-31; Revelation 19:11-16). Repent! The time is nearer than you think. The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, "Who is on the Lord's side?"
1 See the opening of the March 31, 2019 post, Technically Speaking…, under the category, The Cause.
2 The book is available at all major internet booksellers, by order at your favorite brick and mortar bookstore or in the Strong Man Store.
3 As the Lord led, I wrote the following as an addendum to this Commentary in our March 2012 Strong Man Of God Newsletter: “The final source of Christian authority is
the unchanging Word of God contained in Bible translations that are true to the earliest preserved manuscripts (2 Timothy 3:14-17). It is not what fallen men say or
even say about the Word no matter how credentialed who easily read into the texts and twist the Word to say what they want bringing judgment on themselves (James
3:1; 2 Peter 3:14-16).”
4 In the same addendum I concluded: “Christians have been forewarned by the Lord Jesus and His apostles that false messiahs, prophets and teachers would rise up
to deceive (Matthew 24:4-5, 11; 2 Peter 2:1-3). It is so. They also warn about latter day apostasy (as the Commentary above references) that is very unambiguous in
its full blown form (Matthew 24:9-10; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3). It has been unfolding in earnest for a generation complete with outrageously deceitful teachings and
growing hostility toward the faithful. If the Lord Jesus and His apostles warn that falsehood and apostasy are to typify the days leading to His return, then professing
Christians need to snap out of their worldly slumber, strengthen their resolve to stand firm on God’s Word alone and prepare for worse (2 Timothy 3:1-13).”
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