Falling Away

A sad falling away that has probably been going on for years, but wasn't so noticeable before the advent of social media.  A group of folk are migrating out of the church in "righteous indignation" only to be going nowhere . . . else.  It's as if there is a new group of Christians who have gone rogue.  Most of these folks bill themselves as preachers and teachers, but following their posts and comments, the lifestyle is hard to identify.  They have apparently convinced themselves that they know too much Scripture to go along with the church, but they carry their religious tradition of picking and choosing when it comes to their new "independent walk."

Many claim to have left the church over the error of Constantine and the commingling of the Gospel with the pagan traditions of Roman and Greek mythology.  It's been heart wrenching to see and hear folks very sincere in their stand against Sunday worship or Christmas and Easter, while they fail to embrace and observe Sabbath, Passover, and the rest of the Holy Days of YHWH.  Messiah never called anyone to preach against what they don't believe, He called His chosen ones to follow Him.  That means we're supposed to do what He did, which is live by The Word, and The only Word written at the time He walked this earth, was the Hebrew Scriptures a.k.a. Old Testament.

Although the Talmud has complicated things for Judaism, the simple Torah in Hebrew Scriptures is pretty direct and straight across the board for all with eyes to see and ears to hear.  Messiah gave us the example of what it is to live by the Instructions and He called us to do it with a good attitude.   Judging others and then doing our own thing is not following Him, nor is it living in humble service bringing glory to our Heavenly Father.  Here are two simple "givens."  Judaism without Messiah is incomplete and Christianity without Torah has no foundation.  The absence of a foundation is spiritually dangerous when Christians take it upon themselves to leave the commingling of church ritual, but do not embrace obedience to Torah.

The sad fact of the matter is, what Paul warned about in his writings about the last days.  There would be a falling away, the rise of lawlessness, and a strong delusion because people choose to believe a lie.  Messiah is the perfect sin sacrifice.  Unlike the blood of bulls and rams that only "covered" sin, His perfect blood washes away sin.  Messiah was also the perfect example of what it is to live, pleasing to YHWH, and that is to follow the Commandments of YHWH.  We cannot disregard the commandments of YHWH and still be following Messiah!  It is impossible.  The Holy Spirit absolutely does not lead one, anyone, away from The Word.  The Word of YHWH stands forever.

I realize our society is on the fast track away from YHWH, but the church has been teaching against the Word for years, while excusing work on Sabbath.  In the man-made confusion of Sabbath being transferred to Sunday, the excuse and moving away from holiness on the first day of the week was done by the church, not society!  Now there are many claiming to be preachers and teachers who literally avoid the church on Sunday in their own self described "holiness," yet work and buy and sell on Sabbath.  They have erred in the faith.

When Paul warned of the "falling away" and Messiah's parable of the foolish virgins, we have chosen to overlook something . . . The foolish virgins knew enough to watch and wait, they were simply unprepared.  As for Paul's words, one cannot fall away unless one had once stood.

If you have a Bible and can read, here is a simple truth.  The Temple is not standing, so all instruction regarding the Temple does not apply to you at this time.  When Messiah said the end of days would be "as in the days of Noah," He was referring to the disregard of YaH and the rampant evil . . . The world wide flood was a one time deal, so do not build an ark, but prepare for the Second Coming of Messiah.  As for the rest of Scripture, obedience to The Word is two fold.  It is the way we show our love to YHWH and it is how we follow Messiah.  Many of us are without flesh and blood fellowship at this time, but to remain true to Messiah, we must obey The Word.  Sunday is not Sabbath, but to disregard Sunday worship while working on Sabbath is what many Americans are doing, without calling themselves teachers or preachers.

Pagan History

This past holiday season, I almost turned off the computer.  I simply didn't know how to share and respond to all the comments and arguments against any celebration.  Social media seems to afford a great many folks a confidence and assuredness that I just can't relate to.

I celebrate Hanukkah, although I have set aside the gift giving, and don't even try to gorge on fried food for eight days.  It seems every year, as more Christians leave the church, many bring with them the same perspective that "this is how it's to be done."   All religions, of course, believe they are correct, but when one changes beliefs, coming in as an expert is simply not possible.  I was truly saddened at the number of times I received a message or read a post calling the eight days of oil, a myth.  I've witnessed and experienced several miracles in my life, but they aren't included in Scripture!  The last verse of the Gospel according to John, says the world couldn't hold all the books, if all the great works of Messiah were recorded . . . so whether or not the oil lasted eight days, there was clear victory and deliverance by the hand of YHWH.  Then there were all the research sites about the origin of every part of pagan tradition . . .

 I don't celebrate Christmas with a tree or Santa or anything else, but I do pause on December 25 to tell Y'hshwuah I'm thankful he came to this earth, and I'm really sorry about the day.  I also thank Him for bringing me to Himself and showing me this holiday is not a Holy Day in his honor.  I thank Him frequently, but I feel badly that a false image of him has been created, and the day of materialism attributed to him, while the season really screams self, materialism, and lies.  Not just ridiculous myths and fables, but big horrible lies!

Acknowledging the obvious lies and taking note of Jeremiah 10:3-4 seems sufficient to discredit Christmas as a holy day.  How much does one need to know about Nimrod's reproductive anatomy or Ishtar's fertility celebrations to know YHWH is Creator?  I remember 20 years ago, the church spent more time talking about the power and deception of the enemy than the power and truth of our Creator, and twenty years before that, the power of the devil and eternal damnation . . . Now, another generation is hearing about pagan rituals . . .  I've pondered aloud many times, "if the pagans spoke of our Creator as much as "believers" speak of the enemy, the Good News would cover at least twice as much ground . . ."  How much wrong do we need to know, to recognize what is right?

I realized years ago, I did not need to know about the devil and hell to seek a loving G-d!  He is difficult to find, however; in the local church.  I also realized, once I found our Creator in Messiah, a devil had no authority; none whatsoever!  And I soon discovered pagan rituals had no hold on my spirit!  I was a new creation in Messiah, old things had passed away, all had become new.  It seems we spend an inordinate amount of time focusing on what we don't believe and studying traditions that have no value.  Could this be what Paul was referencing with the term [vain babblings?]

I knew I had no questions for any of the folks posting anti-Christmas and anti-Hanukkah messages, but I also know I didn't do all I could to proclaim the Good News through this recurring holiday debate.  What if my silence led someone to research some of the pagan history posts and embrace any of that?

But sanctify YHWH Elohim in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:  I Peter 3:15