The Beginning of Sorrows

Many years ago someone much wiser than me said something that has remained with me to this day. It was something that created within me a keen interest to discover its truth for myself. And so my search began. At first, with my limited education in theology and religious history, it was very hard for me to believe. But the more I researched and studied, the stark reality of his words proved true:

•  Christianity, the church, has always prospered amid persecution.

     The reason for my early dismissal seemed logical--that the church should thrive in times of great prosperity. And indeed it does if one only looks outwardly. We live in an age of such great ingenuity, industrial spirit and technological advancement only a sage or prophet could have foreseen the degree of the nation's future greatness. As welcomed as technology and science have been, unfortunately, they have overtaken and become the new religion. Our leaders, both secular and religious, have sacrificed us on the altar of their technocratic secular material shrine.
      Modernism has given way to a now   This had its subtle beginnings. The enlightened sophisticated secularists began chipping away at Christianity's long-held Biblical beliefs and its central place within America's communities, seeking to project its on secular view of the world and matters related to creation—i.e., abortion, redefining marriage, gender identity, etc.—not to mention their incessant search for life on some distant planet in another galaxy. Just one question, if there is, doesn't one think it would have been found by now, or, we would have been found?  Read More

Anyway, a new priesthood emerged, rewriting the order and every facet of society and culture. They decided if they could not defeat the churches on doctrine and Biblical truth they would co-opt it institutionally. They would challenge Christianity on the relevance of its ancient beliefs—no longer in vogue, they declared. How could a religion so ancient be relevant among a people so advanced and sophisticated than our predecessors?, they spouted. And these are the post-modern preachers (typically young) now leading many churches. For more than two centuries now, America has enjoyed its freedom of religion it fought so bravely to win. Millions have come to a new country founded on the belief no state should involve itself in matters and decisions that solely lie within its churches' institutions. Only an intellectually dishonest person would deny that our roots as a free country had its beginnings steeped in the faith of Christianity—with the Bible as its road map. Either that or they have not read one single document penned by many of our founding fathers. Agreed, some of our early fathers were not Christian themselves. Of those who weren't, the book many, Christian and non-Christian alike, most quoted was the Bible. Note the religious affiliation of those who signed the Declaration of Independence. In the beginning, many of the colonies did try to establish a central state church based on the faith of the majority of its colony. However, this effort gave way to the framers of our national constitution who wisely objected to such an effort that would have divided our country from the very beginning. Holding to the motive that most held who escaped countries that did enforce a strict state religion, they very carefully crafted a document that would prohibit this from ever happening in this new world they were beginning to carve out for themselves and future generations. Thankfully, they were successful. The individual would be free to worship or not to worship as their conscience dictated.^[1] Having experienced persecution for their faith and practice in the Old World, the early pioneers were very sensitive to the desire that all immigrants had to escape tyranny as well. Although the framework of our new government largely developed from the principles and teachings of the predominately Judeo-Christian population, laws were enacted to protect the individual's rights to worship or choose not to worship as their own conscience dictated. These principles were not only heavily rooted in the moral teachings of the Judeo-Christina faith, the newly emerging work ethic, also derived from Biblical teachings, lay the foundation for our nation to prosper as it grew from infancy into the engine of industry and science it is today.  Hide

The following is taken from the Book, Adam2: A Guide For The Walk Home, written by our founder. It is A Commentary On The Gospel Of John, complete with a background look at the contemporary Jewish groups active in Jesus' day. It includes a summary of each chapter, a redacted study of each disciple, a brief study of Gnosticism of the time, pertinent timelines, and much more. Each chapter of study includes extensive Biblical references to the notes on the chapter.

A chronological excerpt of each section will be posted here at the beginning of each month. You can access free of charge at any time a complete online digital version for your further study. In addition, a link will be provided to purchase the book on CD to install on your own computer for convenience of study and print. All we ask is that you observe the stated copyrights as with any book you buy over the counter, limiting your print to only one hard copy for your own personal use. If further hard copies are necessary, please contact us for an additional nominal fee. Thank you for your interest in this study. Our hope and prayer is that through the work of the Holy Spirit as you study you will be blessed by it, and if so, recommend it to a friend.

Turning from the Preface last month to the Introduction to the book: Adam2.

Although it is not necessary in order to experience and appreciate the depth of God's transforming love through His Son Jesus, it is, on the other hand, both rewarding and at the same time stimulating to know of the people and events in the history of the life and times of our Lord Jesus Christ. A wealth of this information awaits the Bible student who wishes to delve into this wonderful yet tragic and diverse period. For our study, however, we are limited in what can be incorporated for an overall understanding of the setting of John's gospel. But when we do have a working grasp of these times, people, and events, names on pages explode into full dimensional personalities. Standing as a spectator before their lives as they unfold upon the page, afresh to them then, yet seen in total by ourselves today, we can all but sense their presence, hear their voices, perceive their appearances, and discern their spirit. Aided by the Holy Spirit, we catch a glimpse back in time into their hopes, fears, motives, aspirations, and all the other complexities common to people of every generation, even ours today, thus making our reading relevant to our own personal lives. We are transformed by what we learn, never to be the same once having read it. Make no mistake, God intends and without respect or failure, does touch one who opens and reads His Word. Of this, be assured! (Isaiah 55:11) Our darkness becomes brighter, our eyes clearer, our understanding greater, our hope strengthened, our faith stronger, and our link to the chain of the continuity of Christ's Church since He walked the earth, more visible. And, when He begins doing His work through it, you will discover a profound love for Him unimaginable, only to grow the more you feed!

Therefore, it is hoped that included in the text of this limited study of John's gospel will be enough information written in such a way that it will bring these times, people, and events to life for this illuminating process to occur within each reader. It is also hoped that before anything is read of this writer the reader will first prayerfully immerse him or herself in the words of the Holy Scripture for His illumination process to begin. To read these words alone, yes, one may learn, but illumination essential for personal spiritual growth comes only through His Word.

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Though there were many groups present in Jesus' day, both political and religious, and each was not isolated from the context of the whole, only those major Jewish groups thought to be more germane to the scriptural setting are here considered. The order in which these Jewish groups are chosen to be examined is done to allow a natural development of the material as to their probable chronological appearance in history. In each group, we will look at its name and possible origins, trace its development and activities, identify its nature and some beliefs, compare or contrast its relation to other groups, and conclude with their role, if any, in Christ's death. Although some of the events and characters seen within this time are inspirational, some, however, are quite disturbing. I tell you these things that you might know that our Lord did not live within a sterile social vacuum. Like all humans, if we are to believe scripture (Heb.2:16-18; 4:15-16; 5:8-9), He was touched by the surroundings in which He lived that He might, with full understanding and compassion, reach out to us in our own time and circumstances. This was evidenced time and again in His encounter with hurting people wherever He went. To the blind, He gave sight; to the hungry, He fed by the thousands; to the mourners standing at the side of their deceased loved ones, He wept and restored life; to a thief who cursed Him in death, he gave the treasures of Paradise; even to those responsible for His physical crucifixion, as we shall see, He offered forgiveness and life.

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(Romans 12:1-2; John 15)

This is the first in a series of 5 articles addressing the changes in worship and other areas of church life regardless of its age or size. Without delving into the background of this phenomenon just yet, we will get right to your questions, questions, as you shall see, indicating you are not alone in having. I know these questions are quite disturbing to you, as they should be, and are to us as well. Please take your time as you read through the articles. We recommend reading them in the order given.

Each article is based on a point of discussion as these questions began to come to me. In the fourth and especially the fifth and final article, we will try and lay out more specifically some things behind your questions and give some implications we see where this might be headed. Thank you for taking the time to consider this and we pray you will find at least in part some understanding that evades you just now, and that God will give you a peace about what you are experiencing...

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Is your church emulating and imitating the world more and more? Do you find within your own house of worship a look that mirrors in alarming similarity the same on Sunday as an arena you sat within on Friday or Saturday at a secular event—a music concert, basketball game, a stage performance, etc.? Are the sights and sounds surrounding "worship" becoming all to familiar of such places of mass gatherings or media presentation, complete with its own version of a JumboTron switching scenes down to the calculated second of the average attention span? Is the music becoming more and more exclusively contemporary in secular sound, repetitive in chorus or extended refrains for emotional excitation, as though mimicking that of chanting for a favorite team at a sporting event? Is there a conformity by your church to the designs and creations of modern culture to appeal to greater numbers for increased size, budgets and programs? Is the decision making of your church being centralized more and more into the hands of a few or one person, with no voice allowed from the people? Is there a design by that leadership for members to treat certain other members with deference or prejudice, even to ostrasize and marginalize them in fellowship, to be treated in ways other than as Christ commanded—to love one another as He loved us—all for the purpose of "unity of the church" rather than unity in Christ as He prayed in John 17 and Paul teaches in Galatians 6:10? Is there a move to remove all traditional sights, sounds and symbols of those employed in previous generations in representation of the appearance of a religious "church" building within the community, even eliminating the use of the word altogether?

We will stop; but these are only a few questions in the rapidly growing list of many the serious worshiper and follower of Christ should consider in his or her changing church life today, more so than in any previous generation in America, or the world for that matter. Oh, and one other important question: What is the role and will of the Holy Spirit in all this? (John 3:8) We raise these questions, not because we are against all change in church polity and practice, especially those that would take us back to our Biblical roots, but that you may know what is happening right now in church offices all across America and around the world, look to the Bible to answer the questions for yourself, know where you stand, not be led blindly, and finally, as Jude teaches, we "... exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith..." (Jude 1:3)

As in Jesus' own day, the true worshiper who comes to worship in spirit is becoming and will be almost non-existent at the end (Luke 2:25-38). The "house of God", as then, is now becoming something to "behold." (Mk.13; Lu.21) As we move closer and closer to the time of the end as Jesus foretold, the false, or as is called the prostitute church of Revelation (chapter 17), will emerge, subtly as it manifests itself in the beginning, as more and more are awakening to this reality, until it has drawn many away from sound Biblical doctrine, principles, teachings and practices. As a consequence of this allure and worldly practice, many also will be drawn within her proud campus walls and lulled into a false sense of salvation and security without ever being truly regenerated, born again (John 3), and expected to submit to a life set apart from worldliness to holiness. Whether intended or not, what is developing across America, and around the world for that matter, is the sad scene of "church" becoming a spectator sport and attendees fans of their team. They can't tell you much about sound doctrine but they can sure tell you how exciting it is to see what awaits them each Sunday, enthusiastic to give free tickets to friends, family and co-workers for their attendance. Finally, in that end-time of which Jesus spoke, a great confluence concomitant with the convergence of world political power, there will be the death of many of its followers before she herself is slain by the very political powers she has sought, and aided, to gain favor and to whom she has aligned...

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The following is taken from the Book of New Testament Summaries.

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