How Shall We Then Live?

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2, NIV)

Holiness is an issue that I find most Christians don't want to discuss; the subject usually gets turned around to claims of legalism. But holiness is what we pursue because we love God and want to represent him well; it is not a way to earn our salvation. Holiness is a subject that is avoided by most preachers. In fact, I have come to learn that even doctrine is usually avoided so as to not cause division in the assemblies. It is a sad commentary on the Christian church today that most teaching ends up being anecdotal and fence-straddling fluff for fear of stepping on toes. But we do need to learn our doctrine, and we do need to learn about living holy lives.

In Paul's letter to the Romans, he spends the first 11 chapters developing the entire Christian doctrine, the full meaning of the Gospel message. It is very important for our understanding of our faith.

In his commentary on Romans 12:1-2, James Montgomery Boice tells us: If revelation is the basis for social morality and ethics, it is impossible to have valid, effective, or lasting values without it. We must have the doctrines set forth in Romans 1-11 in order to understand and act upon Romans 12-16.

Charles Hodge stated, All the doctrines of justification, grace, election, and final salvation, taught in the preceding part of the epistle, are made the foundation for the practical duties enjoined in [chapters 12-16].

Beginning at chapter 12, Paul is saying, in effect, "Therefore, in light of all that I have just told you about in these past 11 chapters, how it came about that we are saved from our sins and are set apart to God - how shall we then live?" My rather lengthy message today will be surrounding chapter 12, verses one and two, the two-verse summation of the answer to that question: "How shall we then live?”

At the very beginning Paul tells us the reason we must act in accordance with the rest of this passage, and that is because of God's mercy. God's Word to the Nations version says, ...because of God's compassion toward us. The New Living Translation puts it, ...When you think of what he has done for you.

So what does it mean to be "living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God"? It means giving our whole life, body, mind and soul to the service of God. It means to be holy in order to please God. Today' English Version (GNB) says, dedicated to his service and pleasing him. The Revised English Bible translates it: dedicated and fit for his acceptance.

Paul had previously told us in chapter 6:13-14: Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your bodies to him as instruments of righteousness. (NIV)

Paul has a similar theme in 2 Cor. 7:1, again after expounding on doctrine: Therefore, my dear friends, since we have these promises, let us purify ourselves from everything that can defile either body or spirit, and strive to be completely holy, out of reverence for God. (JNT)

Paul says that presenting ourselves as living sacrifices to God is our "spiritual act of worship." Today's English Version says, the true worship that you should offer. God's Word to the Nations says, This kind of worship is appropriate for you. J.N. Darby says, ...which is your intelligent service. William F. Beck tells us to worship him as thinking beings. The Revised English Bible says, the worship offered by mind and heart.

Well, just what does this mean? For one thing, it means that our worship should be rational and intelligent. It does not consist of altered states of consciousness, nor is it rolling on the floor laughing or making animal sounds as with the so-called Toronto Blessing and Pensacola Outpouring. Real worship isn't just liturgy or something that happens one or two days a week in a church building. Real worship is offering our everyday lives to God. Real worship is seeing the whole world as God's temple, whether it is on the farm, in the factory, behind a desk or even at home with the family.

The idea of our bodies, ourselves, as being set apart for God is not unique here. In 1 Cor. 3:16 Paul says, Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple, and that God's Spirit lives in you? He expounds upon this three chapters later when he says, Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Peter 1:18-19 rounds this out by explaining the price Paul referred to: For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

This then returns us to the question of, "Why should we offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God?" The answer is because of God's mercy, his compassion, and the price of Jesus' blood.

Romans 12:2 then tells us just how this worship, this sacrifice of ourselves to God, takes place. Paul says we are to not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Let me show some other translations to give the full idea behind this text:

1. Today's English Version says, Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind.

2. God's Word to the Nations says, Don't become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think.

3. The New Living Translation: Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.

4. The Jerusalem Bible: Do not model yourselves on the behavior of the world around you..

5. J.B. Phillips: Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its mold.

According to James Boice the verse means, Do not let the age in which you live force you into its scheme of thinking and behaving.

The final part of this passage tells us of the benefit: Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. Or, Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants - what is good, pleasing, and perfect. (GWN)

Before I discuss what this means from a practical stand-point, let me remind you that being a Christian who daily offers one’s self as a sacrifice to God, who daily worships God with his body and in fact treats his body as a temple of God, is not going to be easy. In 2 Tim. 3:12 Paul said, In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. He didn't say "may be persecuted", but rather, "will be persecuted." Lest we become pessimistic about this, we are reminded of the words of 1 Pet. 4:14,16: If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.... [i]f you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

Even Jesus said it would be hard to be his disciple. In Luke 14:28-33 he tells this parable: Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, "This fellow began to build and was not able to finish." Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

A couple of centuries ago William Law wrote: If you would now devote yourself to perfection, perhaps you must part with some friends, you must displease some relations, you must alter your life. Nay, perhaps you must do more than this - you must expose yourself to the hatred of friends, to the jest and ridicule of clever mockers, and to the scorn and derision of worldly men. But had you not better do and suffer all this than to die less perfect, less prepared for mansions of eternal glory? Indeed, suffering all this is suffering nothing. For why should it signify anything to you what fools and madmen think of you? And surely it can be no wrong or rash judgment to think those both fools and mad who condemn what God approves, and like that which God condemns. But if you think this too much to be done to obtain eternal glory, think, on the other hand, what can be gained instead of it.

Following Christ takes work. We have to choose whether we really want to follow Him enough to leave the world's ways; we must "count the cost". We can't say we want to follow God on the one hand, and then on the other hand say we don't want to give up all that the world has to offer - we must make a choice. As Elijah said at Mt. Carmel: How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.

You may say that the world has so much to offer, that there is just too much stuff that a true believer would have to give up. Jesus answered this also when he asked in Matt. 16:26, What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

Another thing to remember is that we are not called to live a holy life just on our own ability. 2 Cor. 5:17 says that we are new creations. Paul tells us in Gal. 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. In Gal. 5:16 we are told to Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Remember that, if we are Christians, then the Holy Spirit lives in us and is our guide.

Now let's talk about the practical aspect of living a holy life. A good place to start is with 1 Pet. 1:14-17: As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy because I am holy." Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.

In his book The Pursuit of Holiness, Jerry Bridges says, When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives at our salvation, he comes to make us holy in practice. If there is not, then, at least a yearning in our hearts to live a holy life pleasing to God, we need to seriously question whether our faith in Christ is genuine. It is true that this desire for holiness may be only a spark at the beginning. But that spark should grow till it becomes a flame - a desire to live a life wholly pleasing to God. True salvation brings with it a desire to be made holy. When God saves us through Christ, He not only saves us from the penalty of sin, but from its dominion. ... This does not mean the desire for holiness must be a conscious desire at the time a person comes to Christ, but rather that the Holy Spirit who creates within us saving faith also creates within us the desire for holiness. He simply does not create one without the other. ... If we know nothing of holiness, we may flatter ourselves that we are Christians but we do not have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.

Philip Schaff reminds us that: Religion is not a single, separate sphere of human life, but the divine principle by which the entire man is to be pervaded, refined and made complete. It takes hold of him in his undivided totality, in the center of his personal being; to carry light into his understanding, holiness into his will, and heaven into his heart; and to shed thus the sacred consecration of the new birth, and the glorious liberty of the children of God, over his whole inward and outward life. No form of existence can withstand the renovating power of God's Spirit. There is no rational element that may not be sanctified; no sphere of natural life that may not be glorified.

God's Word has many instructions in the practical application of his desire for holiness. Let's look at some of them.

Paul tells us in Eph. 4:1-6 to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of us all, who is over all and through all and in all. Think about this passage whenever you are discussing various traditions in the local assembly.

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians we are told to Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God, without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.

1 Peter 2:12-17 urges us to Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Are we living good lives among the pagans when we have a disregard for speed limits or other seemingly insignificant traffic laws? What about cheating on taxes? Does our language glorify God? Do people see our families as having something different or do we just look like the rest of the world?

Jerry Bridges tells us that, This call to a holy life is based on the fact that God Himself is holy. Because God is holy, He requires that we be holy. Many Christians have what we might call a "cultural holiness." They adapt to the character and behavior pattern of Christians around them. As the Christian culture around them is more or less holy, so these Christians are more or less holy. But God has not called us to be like those around us. He has called us to be like Himself. Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God.

How often do we conform to what other "Christians" are doing instead of conforming to the character of God. Do we take items from our place of work? Do we watch inappropriate movies or television programs, being entertained by sins that Jesus died to save us from? The Psalmist in 101:3 says, I will set no vile thing before my eyes: Do we practice that? Do we attend all the parties regardless of the drinking and other behavior taking place? Do we wear immodest attire because it's in fashion?

The whole world view of Christianity starts in the mind. BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND!

Proverbs 4:23 gives us a warning here: More than all that you guard, guard your mind, for it is the source of life.

Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 10 to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

So what do we fill our minds with - how do we spend our time? This will determine to a great extent just what kind of Christians we will be! What sort of books or magazines do we read? Do we fill our minds with nothing but thoughts of sports, recreation and entertainment? Do we fill our thoughts with all that the secular culture has to offer? Paul tells us that our thinking is to be distinctly different from that of the world around us. If we truly desire to live in the Spirit, we must continually feed our minds with the Word of God. How can we ask God to give us victory over our sins if we neglect the study of his Word? How will we get the discernment as to what holiness is if we don't know what God has to say?

The psalmist writes, in chapter 119:9-11: How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. In Job chapter 23:12 he says: I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

That's the ticket to holiness - hiding God's word in our hearts, living according to it, and treasuring it more than our daily bread. Hebrews 4:12 says that the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 2 Tim 2:15 says we are to Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. And 2 Tim. 3:16-17 says that All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Studying God's word means more than just reading your favorite parts. Some people say, "I only read the New Testament because the Old Testament isn't important for Christians," or "So much of the Old Testament is boring," or "I only read the Gospels because the rest is too difficult." But the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, has been given to us by God for a purpose. Study the entire Scriptures and you will develop the relationship with God that will automatically give discernment and lead to a holy life.

Knowing and memorizing God's word has the added benefit of protecting us from false teachings far beyond those of the cults. Learn to be Bereans: no matter who does the teaching, check what they say against the Scripture so you won't be led astray. Knowing the true Word of God will give us discernment to identify such things as the false teachings and scripture-twisting among various para-church ministries who tell us they have God's way of raising our children or of relating to our spouses and families, and the unbiblical teachings about spiritual warfare and so-called deliverance ministries. We will be able to avoid the false teachings of the Word-Faith movement and its so-called signs and wonders, and we will be able to recognize the watered-down doctrine of ecumenical movements.

We also need to be protected from the latest fads and spiritual junk food such as the Alpha Course, The Prayer of Jabez, or the heretical The Shack. Keeping our minds holy includes not bending to every new teaching that comes our way, distracting us from the truth that God would have us to know. Remember this little saying in reference to Scripture, "If it is new, it isn't true; if it is true, it isn't new."

Can we try to live this way? Can we call Jesus "Lord" if we don't at least try? Even he asked in Luke 6:46, Why do you call me "Lord, Lord," and do not do what I say?

I think it is important to remember Heb. 12:14: Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

In closing, let us think on these lines from Isaac Watts: Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.

ELCA - Another Apostate Denomination

George Tiller, serial murderer of children, especially known for his use of partial-birth method of extermination of children, was a member in good standing of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Question: How could the leadership of any Christian church allow an abortionist to be a member in good standing? How could they biblically allow him to take communion or fellowship in general? Well, I believe it is because of statements posted on the ELCA web site (http://www.elca.org/).

A developing life in the womb does not have an absolute right to be born…. Abortion ought to be an option only of last resort. … Because of the Christian presumption to preserve and protect life, this church, in most circumstances, encourages women with unintended pregnancies to continue the pregnancy. … This church recognizes that there can be sound reasons for ending a pregnancy through induced abortion. ... An abortion is morally responsible in those cases in which continuation of a pregnancy presents a clear threat to the physical life of the woman. …A woman should not be morally obligated to carry the resulting pregnancy to term if the pregnancy occurs when both parties do not participate willingly in sexual intercourse. This is especially true in cases of rape and incest. This can also be the case in some situations in which women are so dominated and oppressed that they have no choice regarding sexual intercourse and little access to contraceptives. Some conceptions occur under dehumanizing conditions that are contrary to God's purposes.

Notice that, although they are ostensibly for reducing the numbers of abortion, they don’t really see it as an absolute moral evil and, in fact, can find instances where abortion is right and proper. So having an abortionist in their assembly isn’t problematic at all.

The ELCA has been quite liberal for decades. While not as far to the left as the Episcopal Church, they are nevertheless violating the Bible in many ways. For one thing, the ELCA allows women pastors. Whether you agree or not that women should not be pastors is irrelevant; what I think has been demonstrated empirically is that churches who allow women in leadership always go liberal in their teachings and practice.

My file on the ELCA is not as thick as on other apostate denominations, but let me share with you what I do have, so you can see the problems with this organization, especially in the realm of homosexuality. (Yes, they are another denomination with a love affair with homosexuality)

Fundamentalist Baptist Information Service, 5/23/03 reported on four ELCA assemblies:

(1) Gloria Dei Lutheran Church In St. Paul, MN voted to allow “pastors” (goat-herds) to bless same-sex unions. (2) The Lutheran Church of Christ the Redeemer in Minneapolis ordained a lesbian as a pastor. Five years earlier she had been a co-pastor of another (3) Lutheran church with her husband, but declared her homosexuality and divorced him. Her lover is the church musician for (4) Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.

Fundamentalist Baptist Information Service, 8/22/03 reported that the ELCA’s youth organization “meeting in Atlanta in July, also voted to support ‘the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of non-celibate individuals in committed relationships of all sexual orientations.”

AgapePress Christian News Service 3/8/04 reported that the Lutheran Social Services, overseen by the ELCA, was promoting homosexual adoption.

AgapePress Christian News Service 4/19/04 listed three ELCA congregations who appointed open homosexuals as their pastors: (1) Central City Lutheran Mission, San Bernardino, CA; (2) Hollywood Lutheran Church, Hollywood, CA; (3) Bethany Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN. The pastor of the latter church was again in Agape Press on 7/27/04 when they reported on his ordination.

The Cedar Rapids, IA Gazette (9/4/04) reported on a 2-part study being done by the ELCA. The first part dealt “broadly with the ELCA’s statement on human sexuality in general.” The second part, which was still in the process at press time, “deals with whether to ordain people in committed gay and lesbian relationships and whether to bless the unions of gay couples. The current policies of the ELCA hold that gays or lesbians in a same-gender sexual relationship are precluded from ordination but that celibate, self-identified homosexuals may be and may remain ordained.” I don’t understand why a study was needed - the Bible is very clear about homosexual behavior being an abomination before God.

Another report from Religion News, 4/6/05, about the 2-part study gave this information:

The task force recommended the ELCA “Continue under current standards that expect unmarried ministers to abstain from sexual relations - defining marriage as being between a man and a woman - but, respecting the consciences of those who find these standards in conflict with the mission of the church, the ELCA may choose to refrain from disciplining gay and lesbian ministers in ‘committed relationships’ and from disciplining those who call or approve partnered gay or lesbian people for ministry.” I wonder if they would expect the same for adulterers in “committed relationships,” or brother/sister committed sexual relationships, etc? Or is it just homosexuals they are encouraging? Anyway, the Metropolitan Chicago Synod asked that the standards include, “It shall be the policy of this church that there be no policy barrier to rostered service for otherwise qualified persons in same-gender covenanted relationships that are mutual, chaste and faithful.” The Southeast Michigan Synod recommended the adoption of an opinion that “would have the church remove references to homosexuality from its standards for ministers.”

AgapePress Christian News Service 8/19/05 reported that the ELCA approved the development of a gender-neutral hymnal, and that it was already in the works. The “Lutheran Book of Worship” is going to eliminate all “Father” and male terminology in reference to God. “The hymnal overhaul will include other gender-neutralizing and diversity-affirming changes to traditional Lutheran worship lyrics and liturgies as well.” The idea is to have options for prayers that refer to God and Jesus as “holy eternal majesty” and “holy incarnate Word” instead of “father” and “son.” Male terms in songs will be replaced with “terms that include both men and women.” They will, in some cases, have two versions of the song - the old one and the mutilated one. The hymnal had already been in the works for five years at the time of the report, and includes songs from all over the world, and mostly contemporary songs.

Then there is the Ebenezer Lutheran Church in San Francisco, which is about as feminist as you can get. I’ll let you decide for yourself whether this assembly practices true Christianity: www.herchurch.org.

Yahoo News 8/11/07 reported that the ELCA “passed a resolution at its annual assembly urging bishops to refrain from disciplining pastors who are in ‘faithful committed same-gender relationships.’”

So, the ELCA has decided that same-sex “committed” relationships are now equal to heterosexual marriages. It has been building for a long time across the nation. Ten years ago the ELCA removed gay pastors and now they say to refrain from disciplining them. Does that mean God’s Word has changed?

Promotion of the feminist agenda, sanctioning of abortion and homosexuality, gender-neutralizing worship, gender-neutralizing God and Jesus, promoting homosexual adoption. The ELCA is apostate and should be abandoned by all true Christians.

Episcopals Can't Understand Scripture!

The Christian Post reports that a panel of Episcopal theologians are working on preparing "a paper on same-sex relationships in the life of the church." This group of "theologians" "very intentionally represents a robust range of views on the subject and includes gays and lesbian persons."

Wow - I am so happy to hear that a panel studying "same-sex relationships in the life of the church" includes same-sex advocates. This should be a really unbiased examination of what God's Word has to say, dontcha think?

According to church representative, Henry N. Parsley, Jr., the project is "designed to articulate theologically a full range of views on the matter of same-sex relationships in the church life and to foster better understanding and respectful discernment among us." Can you imagine them having a similar study on adulterous relationships within the church?

I don't understand this love affair the Episcopal Church has with same-sex relationships; don't they ever read the Bible to see what it has to say? The Bible is very, very clear in condemning same-sex relations, so what do they expect to discover in their study?

The study is not about discerning what the Bible says, because we all know what's there. This study is for one purpose only: the justification of a wicked behavior and the Episcopal Church's sanction of it.

Again I ask, are there no real Christians in this denomination? And if there are, why are you still there?!?!

More on the Mormon Priesthood

Another collection of notes I found in my files are a good follow-up to my post on the Melchizedek priesthood. This collection was done so long ago that I don't know how much of my own writing is included or how much is from other sources. If I am citing someone's words without credit, I can only trust that any part of this that is direct citation will be approved by the author for this purpose. ===================================================

Notes on Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods.

The O.T. clearly says that only direct descendants of the tribe of Levi can hold the priesthood (Ex. 28:1, Num. 18:1-7, Lev. 6:19-23, Nehemiah 7:61-65). Most Mormons, including Joseph Smith, claim to be from the house of Ephraim. Ephraim had no right to the priesthood, which would mean most LDS men would be cursed if they tried to usurp the priesthood (Num. 16:1-3, 21 and 1 Kings 13:33-34).

Additionally, to be ordained as a Levitical priest, there were certain rituals required that LDS does not perform (Ex. 29:4-27). The need for a Levitical priest was done away with when the temple veil was rent at Jesus' crucifixion.

Supposedly the Melchizedek priesthood was bestowed on Smith and Cowdery by the apostles Peter, James and John. Mormons say that you must hold the Aaronic priesthood before you can hold the Melchizedek priesthood. The three cited apostles were definitely never Levitical priests! And we know Melchizedek didn't hold the Levitical priesthood!

The Melchizedek priesthood was a priesthood of ONE. It existed before the law was given (Gen.14:18) and after the law ended (Heb.7:11-17). Jesus became that one high priest that presented the final sacrifice, negating the need for further temple priests. At any rate, no where in scripture do dead priests come back to confer the priesthood on another.

The law of Moses and the priesthood went together. All the people without exception were sinners, subject to the law's condemnation, and were thus in need of a priestly system to mediate between them and God. The Aaronic priesthood was imperfect, but the Melchizedek priesthood was perfect (as implied in Hebrews 7). The announcement of the coming one who would be a priest forever (Ps.110:4) was written midway in the history of the Levitical priesthood, which could only mean that the existing system was to give way to something better. Jesus came from the non-priestly tribe of Judah, but became a priest forever in the Melchizedek order. There is no indication in the scripture that any other person held this high priesthood.

The Melchizedek Priesthood

One of the claims of the Mormon church is that they have the Melchizedek priesthood. But do they really have such a priesthood? Who was Melchizedek and what was his priesthood?

Melchizedek was King of Salem, which means "King of Peace." His name means "King of Righteousness." He was the first priest mentioned in the Bible, and he is first mentioned in Gen. 14 after Abram rescued Lot and his people from King Kedorlaomer.

Abram just returns from the victory when vv.18-20 tell us, "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.' Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything."

The interesting thing here is that the victory laurels were Abram's and he could have taken the spoils. God sent Melchizedek to Abram to remind him of his place - that it was God who delivered the enemy to him. (Was the bread and wine brought for ceremonial purposes, followed by the blessing?) It was after the blessing that Abram tithed him, then Abram refused the spoils, partially quoting Melchizedek, "God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth." In Gen. 15:1 God tells Abram that He is his reward.

The question is, how did Abram recognize him as a priest in a pagan Canaanite land? Melchizedek obviously recognized the true God by calling Him "God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth." We don't hear of Melchizedek again until Ps. 110, where we are told that the Messiah is a "priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek." It's not until the letter to the Hebrews where we again hear of him.

Hebrew tradition says he was Shem. The name Melchizedek would be a title, the eternal order being the line of the promised seed; from Adam through Shem through Judah through Jesus. This is the assumption I take for the remainder of this article (much of the following information was gleaned from Bridges for Peace, Israel Teaching Letter, #99-9)

In Hebrew "malchi" means "My King" and "tzedek" means "is righteousness". Jewish sages say that he was the king over Tzedek, a nickname frequently given to Jerusalem because it was known for its righteousness in the pagan Canaanite lands that would one day be inhabited by Israel.

In Gen. 22:14 Abram calls the place where he was to sacrifice Isaac, Yireh, "The Lord Will Provide", and tradition says this is the same place where the temple was built centuries later. Yireh and Salem became Yerusalem. Just a side note I thought was interesting.

"The Jewish sages and commentaries are unanimous in their identification of Melchizedek as Shem...son of Noah.... Shem is also not a name, but a title.... Shem, in Hebrew, means ‘name’. In Hebrew word usage, a name is synonymous with character. In other words, we don't know Shem's real name. But, we do know that his title, Shem, shows he was chosen by God to be the ‘name carrier’ who was taught by God about the character and nature of God and also about everything that occurred before the flood all the way back to Adam. So, Shem (name carrier) was chosen by God to bring all this knowledge through the flood."

This also squares with the tradition that Moses merely edited Genesis from records passed down from Adam through Lamech, Noah, Shem, Terah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, to the "sons of Israel."

Since Shem lived 600, years, he lived 35 years after Abraham died. "God not only made him the king and high priest of the Most High God in Jerusalem, but he was also chosen to be the spiritual instructor of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob right up to the Twelve Tribes of Israel. [He] taught the patriarchs about the knowledge of God Most High and how to have direct communication with God. He also tutored them about the things that occurred from before the flood."

Okay, so now that we see who Melchizedek was, what do we find about the Melchizedek priesthood - what is the “order of Melchizedek’?

"It is a perpetual priestly order that is higher than the order of the Levitical priesthood ...[It] brings the knowledge of God directly from God to man and allows man to directly communicate with God. This... order can only be filled by the promised Messiah, who then makes its benefits available to us."

"Melchizedek (Shem), who existed both before and after the Flood, was appointed by God as the high priest and king of Jerusalem.... At no time in Israel's history was the king and high priest of Israel of the same office...." Yet that is exactly the office Jesus now holds.

In Hebrews 7:3, "the term, 'without father, without mother,' ...is a description of his spiritual station whereby [Melchizedek] was chosen of God to start a new thing and represent God in a new way in 'the order of Melchizedek.'... When we accept God's salvation and are born into God's kingdom and family, our earthly genealogy is no longer relevant.... (1 Tim. 1:4). We are of a new family of faith in God, a new spiritual family, 'without father and without mother,' because our new identity is in God, our Father. As far as Melchizedek being 'without descent,' this is not saying Shem did not have children. Again, this is in reference to his spiritual office, which was not passed on to his earthly offspring by right of descent. It was only available to the promised Messiah...Who truly has no beginning of days nor end of life, but is the Son of God who remains a priest for us perpetually."

The law of Moses and the priesthood went together. All the people without exception were sinners, subject to the law's condemnation, and were thus in need of a priestly system to mediate between them and God. The Aaronic/Levitical priesthood was imperfect, but the Melchizedek priesthood was perfect (as implied in Hebrews 7). The announcement of the coming one who would be a priest forever (Ps.110:4) was written midway in the history of the Levitical priesthood, which could only mean that the existing system was to give way to something better. Jesus came from the non-priestly tribe of Judah, but became a priest forever in the Melchizedek order. There is no indication in the scripture that any other person held this high priesthood.

Jesus "fulfilled the Levitical priesthood in that He became the ultimate sacrifice for us as the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world.... His shed blood not only covered sin, but did more in that it erased the sin from our lives. This is what is meant in Hebrews 7:12 when it says, 'For when the priesthood is changed (from Levitical to the order of Melchizedek in Jesus), there takes place a change of the law also.' No more would the Levitical priests have to make offerings for the people, as it was done once and for all in Jesus."

The Melchizedek priesthood was a priesthood of ONE. It existed before the law was given (Gen.14:18) and after the law ended (Heb.7:11-17). Jesus became that one high priest that presented the final sacrifice, negating the need for further temple priests.

So the only conclusion that can be drawn from this study is that the Mormons do NOT have any Melchizedek priesthood no matter how much they want to claim otherwise.

Presbyterian Church (USA) - Another Apostate Denomination.

In the 5/13/09 issue of the Cedar Rapids, IA Gazette is the following report:

DAVENPORT — Members of the East Iowa Presbytery voted last night in favor of changing the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to allow the possibility of gay and lesbian ministers. Pastors and ruling elders of the East Iowa Presbytery voted 74-21 in support of an amendment that would change wording in the church constitution that currently requires ministers to adhere to sexual chastity unless they are married. Marriage is legal for same-sex couples in only a handful of states. The amendment would not guarantee that gays and lesbians could become ministers but it would open the possibility, said the Rev. Kristin Hutson, Coe College chaplain and a member of the East Iowa Presbytery. Although the amendment has already failed in the denomination nationwide, Hutson said the vote Tuesday was an important show of the East Iowa Presbytery’s ongoing support of furthering the possibility of ordaining gay and lesbian people into the office of minister of the word and sacrament.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) is one of those liberal churches which long ago left any semblance of following Christ, diving headlong into apostasy. I have kept a file of news items on the PCUSA for quite a while, and here are some gleanings from this file. Notice that homosexuality has been a major issue in that church, deciding whether it is right or wrong. (In the following reports, “CRG” is the Cedar Rapids, IA Gazette.)

My earliest article is not about homosexuality, however; it is about abortion. I have a citation from a report adopted by the 195^th General Assembly of PCUSA in 1983. The report is titled: “Covenant and Creation: Theological Reflections on Contraception and Abortion.” Here is an amazing citation: “The decision to terminate a pregnancy may be an affirmation of one’s covenant responsibility to accept the limits of human resources…. Abortion can therefore be considered a responsible choice within a Christian ethical framework when serious genetic problems arise or when the resources are not adequate to care for a child appropriately.” SO, if you don’t think you have enough money to care for the child you’ve conceived, kill it and that’s okay. The report continues: “Elective abortion, when responsibly used, is intervention in the process of pregnancy precisely because of the seriousness with which one regards the covenantal responsibility of parenting.” How does one murder their child “responsibly”? What about the responsibility not to have sex if you don’t want a child? This next statement leaves my jaw hanging: “Even in the face of the most difficult decisions, of which abortion is surely one, the gospel assures us that we can trust in God’s Spirit to guide us in our decision.” I’d say the Spirit has already guided us - the Word of God says we are not to murder.

Back in February 1991, the church’s Special Committee on Human Sexuality issued a report “challenging thousands of years of teachings that sex should be reserved for marriage.” This report actually recommended that the “denomination approve premarital sex, homosexuality and bisexuality.” They claimed that “re-marriage is a near impossibility” because of a “shortage of partners.” Their solution was to have “Sexual relations outside of marriage, same-sex intimacy…” (Aurora, IL Beacon-News, 6/22/91, p.1B). Although the General Assembly soundly rejected this, the fact that it was even brought for consideration should say something about the leadership.

Some items from 1996: The Associated Press reported that the governing body of the PCUSA okayed the ordination of celibate gays. (CRG 7/6/96, p.5B) Does this conform to the requirements for elders as cited by 1 Timothy and Titus? World Magazine 8/17/96, p.24, reported that PCUSA continues to accept practicing homosexuals as members in good standing and welcome at the Lord’s Table; the G.A. elected John Buchanan, who favors ordination of homosexuals, as moderator; the G.A. adopted a resolution calling for the “equal civil liberties…with all the civil rights of married couples” for same-sex relationships; the refusal of the G.A. to condemn partial-birth abortion; and the setting aside the teachings of 1 Tim. 2:12 to allow women in church leadership. From the CRG, 11/2/96, and Newsweek magazine, 11/4/96, we learn

PCUSA minister, Eric Swenson became Erin Swenson after having his body surgically mutilated to resemble a woman. They voted to allow him to retain his ordination. This guy not only did sundry church duties as pastor, but he was also a chaplain at a psychiatric center, an instructor and supervisor at a seminary and even had a private marital counseling practice. (Would you want a marital counselor who was that deceived and muddle-headed?).

Reading from the 2/16/97 CRG, p.15A, I see where the East Iowa Presbytery of the PCUSA voted down an amendment “that would deny ordination to practicing homosexuals and promiscuous heterosexuals.” Their executive presbyter was interviewed and stated, “The ordination of gay and lesbian persons is a complicated issue. My reading of this is that God isn’t finished with us yet.” Um, how complicated can it be to decide that what the Bible says about homosexuality would prohibit ordination of these people? Well, a later report in the CRG, 3/22/97, said that the amendment was voted for nationally, and unmarried church officials were required to be celibate. However, 3 months later, on 6/21/97, CRG published an AP report saying, “Presbyterian Church (USA) leaders agreed Friday to amend their constitution to support ‘fidelity…in all relationships of life,’ in an attempt to temper a rule that bars homosexuals from the pulpit.”

In 1997 the church elected as their leader Pat Brown. “She is unashamedly pro-abortion and will not discuss her views on same-sex marriage or the ordination of homosexuals.” (American Family Association Journal, 9/97, p.11)

I’m not going to check the web to see if the National Network of Presbyterian College Women still exists or still has a web site, but the September 1998 issue of the American Family Association Journal reported that this group worked on college campuses in support of lesbianism. “The NNPCW web site had links to pro-homosexual, pornographic and New Age web sites.” This group was receiving thousands of dollars from the PCUSA for “evangelism.” When the General Assembly decided to end funding of this group, a protest was staged by homosexual activists and the next day the G.A. decided to continue the funding.

Family News From Dr. James Dobson, 9/99, cited a Washington Times article from 2/18/99, which reported on the Hudson River Presbytery in New York. It seems this presbytery voted to affirm “the freedom of any [congregation] to allow its ministers to perform ceremonies of holy union between persons of the same gender.”

In 2002 the General Assembly passed a resolution supporting evolutionism, calling it “reliable scientific knowledge” that needed to be taught in public schools. The resolution said there was no contradiction between the theory of evolution and the doctrine of God as creator. (Answers In Genesis “Update” newsletter, 9/02, p.6)

An article from “O Timothy,” the newsletter of Way of Life ministries, in August 2003 reported that “The 500 high school students at the Presbyterian Church (USA) Youth Connection in Louisville earlier this month voted to ‘affirm the call of homosexuals, bisexuals and transgendered persons to all areas of ministry.’” (O Timothy, Vol.20/No.10, p.17).

From Agape Press, 12/29/2003, there is a report about the Presbytery of Western North Carolina seeking to strip Pastor Parker T. Williamson for writing in The Presbyterian Layman that Presbyterians should “withhold undesignated gifts to the denomination because of its support for partial-birth abortion, homosexuality and other practices that violate Scripture.” On 2/10/04 Agape Press reported that this was a done deal - that Williamson was disavowed.

On May 7, 2004. Agape Press and Fundamental Baptist Information Service both report about the PCUSA court ruling that the church’s constitution doesn’t prohibit homosexual marriages, and therefore exonerated “Pastor” Stephen A. Van Kuiken, who was defending himself for performing same-sex marriages.

In June 2004 the G.A. elected Rick Ufford-Chase, “a peace activist who supports the inclusion of gays in the ministry,” as head of the church for the following two years (Cedar Rapids, IA Gazette, 6/28/04, p.5A).

In 2006 the G.A. stated that “Father, Son and Holy Ghost” have been used “to support the idea that God is male and that men are superior to women.” (Must have been something they taught in the PCUSA - I don’t know of any denomination that teaches men are superior to women.) They gave some acceptable alternatives for those wishing to use a different label for the Trinity: “Mother, Child, Womb” and “Rock, Redeemer, Friend” were a couple cited. (Kathleen Parker, Townhall.com, 6/30/06)

In 2008 the PCUSA’s highest court decided that a woman minister, Jane Spahr, did not violate denominational law when she officiated at two “weddings” of lesbian couples. The court decided that they weren’t really weddings (well, at least they were correct there) so Spahr didn’t violate anything. (OneNewsNow.com, 4/30/08 citing an AP release)

OneNewsNow.com reported on 6/28/08 that the PCUSA General Assembly voted to drop the ban on homosexual clergy. This news item also included the information that ministers can bless and perform same-sex unions as long as they don’t call them marriages, and the ceremony can’t “mimic marriage ceremonies.”

Not much later - 10/3/08 - the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that a Presbyterian court acquitted Rev. Janet Edwards of guilt in performing a lesbian marriage. The court said she did not violate their constitution or Scripture. (I wonder what “Scripture” they read?) They said since the church’s constitution doesn’t allow same-sex marriages, the ceremony could not have been a wedding ceremony.

Abortion, homosexuality, evolutionism, women leaders, defrocking those who stand for biblical truth - this is what the Presbyterian Church (USA) is all about. My question becomes, why do any true Christians remain in that denomination (if there are any)? From all the evidence, I’d have to say that Satan has had a hold on PCUSA for a long time.

More Apostasy in the Episcopal Church

This little item was in my daily e-mail from The Berean Call on 5/11:

Abortion is a blessing and abortionists are doing holy work, says Anglican priest [Excerpts]

The new Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has given a sermon describing abortions as a "blessing" for the women who undergo them. The Rev Katherine Hancock Ragsdale also thinks that the people who run abortion clinics are "heroes" and even "saints".

Ms Ragsdale, speaking in Birmingham, Alabama, said that "when a woman becomes pregnant within a loving, supportive, respectful relationship; has every option open to her; decides she does not wish to bear a child; and has access to a safe, affordable abortion - there is not a tragedy in sight - only blessing."

Do not, please, make the mistake of assuming that she is an unrepresentative extremist: liberal Anglicans in America are among the most fervent supporters of abortion in the world, outstripping even atheists in their enthusiasm for this gruesome procedure.

[Dean Ragsdale finished her sermon with the following exhortation]: “These are the two things I want you, please, to remember - abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Let me hear you say it: abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done.

“I want to thank all of you who protect this blessing - who do this work every day: the health care providers, doctors, nurses, technicians, receptionists, who put your lives on the line to care for others (you are heroes -- in my eyes, you are saints); the escorts and the activists; the lobbyists and the clinic defenders; all of you. You're engaged in holy work.”

The reference source was cited as thus: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/damian_thompson/blog/2009/04/02 /abortion_is_a_blessing_and_abortionists_are_doing_holy_work_says_anglican_priest (Damian Thompson, Telegraph.co.uk, Society/Religion, April 2, 2009).

I have previously posted articles about the heretical and apostate nature of the Episcopal Church, let alone the parent Anglican Church. This is just another example of apostate thinking of their leadership. So why would any true Christian want to remain associated with this apostate church?

How to Sing in Church

The Spring 2009 issue of the Emmaus Bible College magazine, Journey, has a very good article by Lisa Beatty entitled, “Encouraging a Singing Church.” What I found really interesting was the opening section where she cites John Wesley; it will give you some food for thought:

In the preface to a collection of Charles Wesley’s hymns, Sacred Melody, published in 1761, his brother John Wesley provided instructions for singing the songs in the collection:

Learn these tunes before you learn any others; afterwards learn as many as you please.

Sing them exactly as they are printed here, without altering or mending them at all; and if you have learned to sing them otherwise, unlearn it as soon as you can.

Sing All. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up, and you will find it a blessing.

Sing lustily and with a good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep, but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, than when you sung the songs of Satan.

Sing modestly. Do not bawl, so as to be heard above or distinct from the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony, but strive to unite your voices together, so as to make one clear melodious sound.

Sing in time. Whatever time is sung be sure to keep with it. Do not run before nor stay behind it; but attend close to the leading voices, and move therewith as exactly as you can; and take care not to sing too slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it is high time to drive it out from among us, and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first.

Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing Him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your Heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve of here, and reward you when He cometh in the clouds of heaven.

Homosexual Behavior Is Biblically Wrong!

I keep reading where church leader after church leader comes out in favor of same-sex unions between those who practice homosexuality. Then there is Rick Warren’s vacillating position trying to be friends with both sides of the issue. And don’t forget the many people who claim to be Christian and yet are actively practicing homosexual behavior with the claim that it is okay with God.

I don’t understand the problem. Homosexual behavior is either right or wrong - there is no in-between. So the only thing we have to do is ask what God says about it:

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. (Lev. 18:22)

If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. (Lev. 20:13)

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. (Rom 1:26-27)

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9-10)

Well, Scripture seems very plain to me: homosexual behavior is an abomination before the Lord. It is wrong. Nothing can justify its practice.

So any person who claims to be a pastor or leader of the flock and yet teaches that homosexual behavior is not an abomination to the Lord, is obviously a liar influenced by the devil. There is no other conclusion. Therefore, “gay marriage” or “civil unions” shouldn’t even be in the picture because they would only sanction what is an abomination.

If you think I am wrong in my assessment, I welcome your correction. (note on 4/25: I do not welcome attacks and crude language - you will not get your comment posted. One has been rejected already.)

A.W. Tozer quotes

A couple goodie from A.W. Tozer have come across my computer this week that just have to be shared. First, this one was posted on Apprising Ministries' blog (no reference given):

"The church has lost her testimony. She has no longer anything to say to the world. Her once robust shout of assurance has faded away to an apologetic whisper. She who one time went out to declare now goes out to inquire. Her dogmatic declaration has become a respectful suggestion, a word of religious advice, given with the understanding that it is after all only an opinion and not meant to sound bigoted. Pure Christianity, instead of being shaped by its culture, actually stands in sharp opposition to it."

The Berean Call posted this on their e-mail newsletter:

"Some of my friends good-humoredly - and some a little bit severely - have called me a 'mystic.' Well I'd like to say this about any mysticism I may suppose to have. If an archangel from heaven were to come, and were to start giving me, telling me, teaching me, and giving me instruction, I'd ask him for the text. I'd say, 'Where's it say that in the Bible? I want to know.' And I would insist that it was according to the scriptures, because I do not believe in any extra-scriptural teachings, nor any anti-scriptural teachings, or any sub-scriptural teachings. I think we ought to put the emphasis where God puts it, and continue to put it there, and to expound the scriptures, and stay by the scriptures. I wouldn't - no matter if I saw a light above the light of the sun, I'd keep my mouth shut about it 'til I'd checked with Daniel and Revelation and the rest of the scriptures to see if it had any basis in truth. And if it didn't, I'd think I'd just eaten something I shouldn't, and I wouldn't say anything about it. Because I don't believe in anything that is unscriptural or that is anti-scripture." - What Difference Does the Holy Spirit Make?, A. W. Tozer