Tag: False Doctrine

Will the Gospel You Believe Save You, or Condemn You?

Cynthia Cummings-Walker http://www.lifeandbibleblog.com

There are so many “gospels”, depending on what your pastor, religion, country, or denomination teaches. It is crucial to know what the true gospel is.  The gospel, according to the Bible, saves.  A different gospel condemns.

Some definitions to clarify what each term means: The Greek word for “gospel” comes from the word “Euangelion” which translates to “good news”.   The Greek origin for the word “Salvation” is “Soteria” which refers to deliverance.

The Biblical Gospel is Good News

Mark 1:1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

Luke 4:18a “The Spirit of the LORD is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news….”

What Do You Believe Regarding the Gospel and Salvation?

Many Christians believe that salvation is based on believing the gospel, that is a free gift from God. Other Christians believe that salvation requires a series of works. Many Christians believe that baptism is a requirement for salvation.

Baptisms may require the sprinkling of water; Others believe the Christian must be submerged in water; be baptized in Jesus’ name; be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Which One of These Do You Believe?

This belief requires baptism in Jesus’ name for the forgiveness of sins, and that salvation comes through works.

The belief is that a person must speak in tongues as a sign of salvation.  The saved Christian must live a sin-free life or lose their salvation. This “salvation” is contingent upon how a person lives on a daily basis.

Acts 2:38 “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

This salvation belief is that all one has to do is believe. No baptism or works required.

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Many protestant denominations say that all a person has to do is believe. Once saved, always saved.

This belief requires faith that accepts God’s gift of salvation. No baptism or human works involved.

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one can boast.” What do you believe?

A Different Gospel – Republican Politics

Galatians 1:6 “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel,”

I Timothy 4:1 “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” 

The republican gospel is good news for you if you are a White, far-right republican, Christian nationalist, evangelical, MAGA, or everyday White supremacist. This different gospel sanctifies the republican party as a means of salvation through secular policies and laws, rather than individual’s salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. 

The god of this gospel is the president of the United States. This different gospel promotes hatred, judgement, intolerance, injustice, cruelty, criminality, terror, murder, narcissism, greed, and all kinds of deviancy. All non-republicans are considered to be on the Left, and are of the devil.

This alternative gospel is the antithesis of what scripture teaches, to love God and people. Christ’s name may be used as a hook for the naïve, racists and unbelievers. However, Christ’s life, nor His teachings have any part in this false gospel.

This Far-right gospel is preached from pulpits and podiums across the nation. Its declaration is saving a nation through the republican party, rather than the biblical gospel that transforms individuals’ lives and therefore, a nation.

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” KJV

Which gospel brings forth salvation, and which gospel brings righteous condemnation?

What Can Be Done to Circumvent False Gospels?

From Pastors, Christian leaders and everyday Christians, there needs to be a commitment to knowing and spreading the truth of the biblical gospel that leads to salvation. Otherwise condemnation is at hand for many.

Preach and Teach the Bible Accurately

2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season, correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction.”  Exegetical teaching and preaching gives the Christian an example of how to apply scripture to their everyday life.  

Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God”.

1 Timothy 4:6-10 “If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,  you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths…; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

Evangelize and Disciple

Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus said:  “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Openly Condemn Heresies

When heresies were brought into the early church, the guilty were openly rebuked and condemned. Many Pastors and spiritual leaders in American do not condemn false doctrines and erroneous gospel. Whether pastors codify it or not, silence or apathy appears to be complicity.

Galatians 1:6-8 “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed.”

 The Biblical Gospel

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 “Now brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

John 20:31 “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

What We Do Shows What We Believe

Faith in the work of Jesus Christ saves. Faith in human works condemns. It is easy to say what we believe. Actions show what we truly believe.

Are you trying to work your way into heaven by some impossible sinless perfection?

Do you believe that Jesus Christ, the sinless sacrifice, is not good enough to save you?

Do you think the Son of God dying on the cross needs human works to solidify God’s plan of salvation?

According to Scripture: Will the gospel you believe save you, or condemn you?

John 3:18 says, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Predators, Pimps and Pedophiles in the Pulpit

Cynthia Cummings-Walker, http://www.lifeandbibleblog.com

Let’s begin with definitions for the title of this Blog

Predator – Someone who systematically hunts and exploits vulnerable individuals for personal gain through coercion, rather than through mutual consent, often seeking power and control over victims.

Pimp – To use someone dishonorably for personal gain, even in non-sexual contexts. Living off of or receiving financial support from victims through manipulation.

Pedophile – An adult who is sexually attracted to children, criminally abuses and exploits them.

This Blog would be too lengthy to cite all of the research, investigations, guilty pleadings, convictions, and those serving prison terms when there are so many pastor predators, pimps and pedophiles using their pulpit as a grooming center. However, I have included researchers and statistics below.

True Stories

Over the years I have counselled women who have been abused by pastors in different ways. A lot of stories begins the same. A vulnerable woman gets a lot of attention from a so-called caring pastor, counselling and sexual abuse.

  • A church that initially functioned as a Christian church, then devolved into a cult of pastor worship and blind obedience. I don’t know if that was the original intent of the pastor. Or, the corrupting influence of absolute power can corrupt absolutely when there is no accountability.
  • I know personally of a young woman who was not only sexually abused in a Christian school, the Church pastor was aware and did nothing. The pastor wanted a winning girl’s basketball team.
  • The Christian school hired a female coach who happened to be gay. The female coach sexually abused the girls and enjoyed seeing them form homosexual relationships with each other. I suppose winning a state championship was worth it for the pastor. Nothing for the girls accept a life of pain, struggle and anger with a God they believed had forsaken them.

The Predator Pastor

Pastors who are predators have different motivations, and ways to manipulate and control people. Spiritual abuse of authority is the basic foundation from which to demand obedience and submission as something God ordained.

Some predator pastors want wealth, so they fleece the flock by using tithing, or offerings, as a necessary component of Christianity and church membership.

Many promise health and wealth based on the amount of money a person gives. Some call it planting a seed.  Others know it as fraud.

The sexual predator pastor can manipulate a person they desire by making them feel special, create guilt, or fear that God will punish them if they do not obey the pastor.  

Any pastor’s self-exaltation, or enforcing dependency on themselves rather than on God should be a red flag.

Whether the pastor’s behavior is fraud, adultery, theft, sexual assault, homosexuality or pedophilia, there seems  to be quiet coverups or the pastor going to another church or ministry.

The Pimping Pastor  

The pastor who is a pimp lives off of the money he gets by requiring people to give their hard-earned money to the church through all types of schemes.

Pimp Pastors abuse their authority by claiming that financial blessing is tied to obedience to them.  This forces their members to fund their lavish lifestyles. There are exorbitant pastor’s salaries, his anniversary, church anniversaries, birthdays, and special offerings,

Many congregants give sacrificially to support the pimp, receiving nothing for their services except empty handed promises that sacrificing and struggling here on earth will reap a greater reward in heaven.

Have you ever noticed that if the Pastor has a need, he can just ask the church to provide it? On the other hand if a member has a need, they are told to pray.  If God doesn’t provide, the person is told to go to government agencies for assistance.

I’ve seen and heard of  this happening so many times, especially in mega churches.

The Pedophile Pastor

Many years ago the Catholic Church was proven to have covered up a lot of pedophilia going on in parishes. It all appeared to be within the Catholic church until investigations were conducted and discovered that the Protestant churches have also been guilty of pedophilia for years.

Here are a few examples of actions that may signal a pedophile pastor’s attempt at grooming a child.

  • Pedophile pastor having an unnatural, excessive interest in a child.
  • Inappropriate boundaries (requiring hugs or kisses).
  • Grooming behaviors like excessive gifts or special attention.
  • Requiring a child’s isolation for counselling or other activities.

Of course, these are very general actions. I would encourage you to be educated on what to look for, and preventative measures so that our children will be protected.

What Can Be Done?

Know the Signs:

Any pastor who requires blind obedience, and submission to the pastor without question, should be questioned. If that is not allowed, exit.

Take Personal Responsibility:

False pastors do not encourage their congregants to read and study the bible for themselves.  If Christians don’t know what the bible says,  they will have to solely rely on what the pastor teaches, whether bible-inspired or the fulfilment of their desires.

Christians are responsible for developing a personal relationship with the Lord so that you will be able to discern good from evil and truth from error. Be a student of the Bible, read, study, memorize scripture and pray, pray and pray some more.

If you see something, say something, do something. If Church leadership is unresponsive or asks you to keep anything a secret, it would probably be wise to exit that ministry. Law enforcement probably needs to know if there is a criminal act being committed.

Church Leadership Responsibilities:

Churches should have strong governance and accountability, so that pastors cannot act without oversight.

This seems to be lacking in many churches. Even when misconduct by a pastor is disclosed, without accountability, the pastor simply goes to another church, or begins their own ministry.

Because there are widespread cover-ups, you may learn that it has happened or been happening in the church you are attending. If something seems suspicious, ask questions and be equipped to take things further if necessary.

Resources

Here are just a few organizations with invaluable information and tools to assist when vulnerable adults and children have been abused.

  • Baylor University is a nationally recognized research and advocacy center on clergy abuse.
  • Praesidium, Inc. are nationwide experts researching and providing tools for preventing the sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults.
  • Guidepost Solutions is a national association of Evangelicals providing resources, ethical codes, and promoting confidential reporting.
  • Womenslaw.org specializes in Spiritual Abuses.

Questions to Ponder

Have you ever experienced Spiritual Abuse? What happened? How did you get free?

Have you ever been deceived by a promise of health and wealth if you gave lots of money in planting a financal seed?

Have you ever struggled financially after faithfully paying tithes, and received no assistance from Church the one time you needed it?

Have you had abuse, interactions, or knowledge of a Pedophile pastor? What was the outcome?

Is the Republican Party an Extension of the Church?

Lifeandbibleblog.com

By Cynthia Cummings-Walker

Some may wonder why I am singling out the Republican Party’s connection to Christianity, while not referencing the Democratic party (which certainly has its fallibilities).  The Democratic party does not claim to have God backing them.  The Republican party does. That is the issue herein.

It is well known that conservative evangelical Christian pastors, ministry leaders, and media purport that the Republican party is God’s choice to advance His initiatives in the political realm.

The two reasons being: (1) America was founded as a Christian nation and the Republican party will return her to her roots. (2) God has chosen the Republican party to do His work through enacting legislation that embodies Christian creeds.  

Countless Christian leaders vociferously admonish their congregants and constituents to vote for republicans as though the Republican party is an extension of the Church. What makes matters worse are the fallacious reasons given that are not in line with American history, civil law, nor the Bible. 

Myth: America was founded as a Christian Nation

Fact: The United States of America is not a Christian nation and never was.  She was built on human trafficking, theft of land and genocide of native Americans.  Furthermore, the first ten presidents of the United States lives were racked with scandals, and they owned slaves.

The United States of America was founded as a civil institution, governed by secular laws, as outlined in the Constitution of the United States of America:

“WE THE PEOPLE of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare; secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

There is no mention of God, or religion in the VII Articles of the Constitution.

Myth: God has chosen the Republican party to legislate Christian principles.

Fact: There is a separation between Church and State within the first Amendment to the Constitution.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;….”

Amendment I

The government is required to remain neutral when it comes to religion. It is prohibited from favoring one religion over another: or favor religion over non-religion. The government cannot interfere with religions and no religion  can dictate how government should function. There is a separation between Church and State (the Establishment Clause). That is why prayer was taken out of schools.

Bible Support for the Separation of Church and State

When the Jews attempted to lure Jesus into a divisive political discussion, Jesus’ answer was succinct. 

 “Then they asked Him (Jesus), saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth:  Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”  But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test Me?  Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” They answered and said, “Caesar’s.”  And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.””  

Luke 20:21–25

Jesus acknowledged that there is a legitimate duty to government, and a sacred duty to obey God.

Jesus Christ foreknew that under the corrupt Roman government He would be falsely accused, arrested, beaten, unjustly convicted, and sentenced to death. Yet, He did not try to change or disparage the Roman government. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  John 3:17 (NIV)  

There is no regenerative or sanctifying power within secular law or a political party which can change sinful human nature. Only salvation does. (John 3:3;16).

The Lord has revealed the way in which Christians can have a powerful impact upon society.  The believer in Christ should share the gospel while living in obedience to God’s Word, the Bible.

Christians are commanded to love God and people. Pray. Obey. Evangelize.  Disciple.  Be salt and light.  Be an ambassador for Christ. Being a political operative for any political party is not part of God’s plan to improve society.

Voting is an integral part of American government, and I appreciate having the privilege to do so.  Although it is an arduous process, I research the qualifications and character of each candidate. I believe it would be irresponsible for me to vote straight party line whether the candidate is qualified or not.  

If I were choosing a surgeon, dentist, electrician, or plumber, the person’s political party would not be a part of the process. Their professionalism, expertise and integrity are what my decisions are predicated on. When choosing a political candidate to vote for, basically the same pragmatic criteria is applied.  

The United States of America is a great nation with all of its ethnicities, cultures, laws, freedoms, and religions, which makes governing her complex and controversial. No political party is perfect or does everything it promises.  We pray, research, and do the best we can with who we have to work with. 

As for me, to the best of my ability I perform my secular duty to country in an honorable, conscientious manner; and my spiritual, sacred duty to God as He requires.