World Darkness

In light of current world events, I was asked recently to comment on what seems to be an ever-growing darkness in so many areas of our lives today. This is a brief excerpt of those thoughts.

If one has lived long enough, we remember days of our past when the events of the world did not encroach and embed itself into our lives with the alarming number, regularity and intensity it seems today. We enjoyed days, if not weeks or months, without waking to a new or ongoing crisis that captured our attention. Our activities were not overshadowed with the pall of today that seems never-ending, provoking such anxiety we see and hear throughout our society. We awoke in our mornings to the peaceful hopes and expectations of continuing to pursue our happiness in the course we were making for our lives, satisfaction that came from all levels and stages of our progress in life. Occasionally, if we had heard from someone during the day of a newsworthy event, we might find the time from our busy lives to tune in at the end of the day to the news to see firsthand additional details that aroused our attention. We might even discuss it with others for a short time before moving on to other more personal priorities—job success, family events, community involvement, church and recreational activities, etc. Those things that divide us today along so many lines were not exacerbated by politicians seeking votes, certainly not to the extent we were less civil to each other as today. For most of us, life had yet to become a "game" with clearly defined sides in vehement opposition to one another. Labels were something on a product we purchased. Many of us did recognize moral and legitimate social injustices and worked cooperatively toward ending those divisions that prevented the fulfillment of the dreams of our forefathers, dreams we share in becoming one within a nation that values the rights of individuals without abolishing those of others. Our desire was that all would be given the opportunity to achieve their God-given potential. We understood there was much work to be done, not only in our own personal lives, but within our society. We elected representatives to see to the matters of government that we could not ourselves. We trusted them for the greater priorities of our nation and not to intrude upon our liberties promised within our constitution, especially infringement upon our religious freedoms and conscience. Our constitution was a contract we all understood to mean the church was not the government nor the government the church, taking to itself matters of social, moral and religious duties that have long been the calling and mission of the church, proselytizing from it through programs to obtain votes to grow it in competition and final defeat of it, using taxes gained at the point of the gun in contrast to tithes and offerings freely given to the local church. How is the church expected to compete with that system? To this point, we have abrogated our place in our society today. Somewhere along the way we went astray. National security and greater injustices of our time gave way to more petty personal grievances and social programs, so much so that the rights of many are being taken away in lieu of the offended feelings of one—a lesser group over the majority. The good causes of many seem to have been coopted by the selfish desires of a few. It seems those whose rights are favored are those whose voices can be magnified the greatest while the majority are suppressed in fearful silence. Logic appears turned upon its head—reason and common sense discarded upon the heap of the unpopularity of truth. And its shadow grows.  Read More

The world seems to be in chaos with no visible sign of abatement. Dangers from within threaten to rip apart the fabric of our country while our enemies plot and execute their plans to destroy us. We rightfully ask: Where are our elected? There is no answer. They have abandoned us. The state grows while our churches continue to decline. Who will stop the darkness? Who will stop the assault of the state on the rights of the people and the ordained role of the churches? Can it be stopped? Two thousand years ago Jesus clearly taught His kingdom was not of this earth and issued a call to any who would hear: "Come unto me you who are heavy burdened..." Today, our government has coopted that call and the hands reach out by the millions each year, year after year, creating a dependency without dignity, degrading and diminishing the human spirit to an almost sub-human level. And we wonder why the baser instincts of the masses are rising like a tsunami that will soon sweep us upon the rubble of history as it has other nations before us. I understand the sentiment of the sensible heart as it looks upon today's world scene. It is understandable why such anxiety exists, especially if one allows the bombardment of the gloom of world events to permeate ones thinking via a twenty-four cycle of breaking news. It consumes our national conversation. We wring our hands as we helplessly watch beyond belief events spiral ever more chaotic.  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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