The Uselessness of the Sermon

What good has the sermon ever done for the people of Yahweh?

Self-professing believers will listen to anywhere from one or two sermons to a dozen or more sermons throughout the week. They will listen to one or two sermons on Sunday, perhaps a sermon on Wednesday, and download and listen to several sermons from their favourite preachers. With all these sermons being consumed, and all the 'Christian' material available at their fingertips (books, music, videos, etc.), why has it done nothing in their lives? Zero transformational change has occurred in their day-to-day attitudes, behaviour and conduct! If the sermon had any practicality, any usefulness, then why does the world see little to no difference in those professing to be "Christians" compared to the world's testimony concerning the first three centuries of Christians?!?!?

Like Ephesus, they still have a lack of love for Jesus and for others, including their enemies. Like Pergamum, they believe those wrong things that tickle their ears, majoring in the minors and minoring in the majors. Like Thyatira, they are too tolerant, failing to deal with the sinful behaviour and false teachers among themselves, including calling out the sins and false teachings of their favourite preachers. Like Sardis, their works are not as great as they think (although some of them erroneously believe they do not have to do works of any kind, despite Scripture repeatedly saying we will be judged by them in the end). Like Laodicea, they think they have it all together, despite the fact they are falling apart. They conduct themselves and their business practices through the week separate from anything Jesus had to say. They put on a charade on Sunday, masquerading as if a genuine Christian, but live like the Devil from the moment they walk out of their organized religious institutions and for the rest of the week! And they have the nerve to attempt to call themselves "Christians"?!?!?

If sermons were biblical, which they are not, they should be practical and result in transformational change. However, there is nothing practical about the sermon! Preachers speak on issues they have no experience in or with. The sermon was not part of congregational practice until the 4th century, when they started imitating the Sophists. While things started going amuck in the latter half of the third century, the Lord's Congregation was turned completely upon its head in the 4th century, and we have never recovered from it! Sermons fill peoples' heads with all sorts of useless information and opinions of men. They do not bring about transformational change. Only encounters with the living God will do that! As Paul prayed for Timothy, that he would "know the love of Christ." This experiential knowledge surpasses any educational knowledge, which does not save but only puffs up the ego.

Any genuine believers out there reading this, it is time to "come out of her" (the various man-made denominations with their opinions and traditions of men) and to take your profession of faith seriously, being obedient to the teachings of Jesus. The letters to the seven congregations are also letters to us, because we face the exact same issues. We need to repent of these things and to fix what is broken. We need to stop being religious and to start living out what we profess to believe. If we believe it is important to help the widows, orphans, sick, poor, and imprisoned, but never lift a finger to do so, then we are liars and hypocrites! As the old cliche goes, "Actions speak louder than words." Read James 2:14-26. Your actions complete, perfect, and confirm what you say you believe.

Read the Bible every day. Read the New Covenant thrice as much as you read the Old Covenant. Read the New Covenant Scriptures and obey what they say. The only time you will find the words "by faith alone" in God's Word is in the negative, when James says, "not by faith alone." Let that sink in. Anything you believe contrary to this is a heretical false teaching that is separating you from our Lord and Saviour, King Jesus. Repentance and obedience are part and parcel of salvation! Stop believing what some pulpiteer has told you and start reading the Word of the Lord for yourself! You cannot get into Heaven by riding the coattails of someone else or by believing everything they tell you to believe and opposing everything they tell you to oppose. Read the Scriptures! In context!!!

If you never find time to open the Scriptures, and you are constantly making empty excuses for why you do not do so, it is no different than when Jesus said, "whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 10:33) and "the angels of God" (Luke 12:9). You are merely paying lip service to Him while your heart is far from Him. Do not kid yourself otherwise!

My prayer for my brothers and sisters in the faith all around the world, regardless what denomination you find yourself in having been seduced by their particular theologies that have replaced Scripture and usurped the power of God:

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."

The Sunday Mornin' Chainsaw Massacree

The Sunday Mornin' Chainsaw Massacree
Don Francisco

They were goin' to church: all the regulars and a few more
Nobody had a clue what was comin' when they walked through the door
They were sayin' hello, they were takin' their seats
And everyone was ready for the basic repeat
Some songs then an offering and a sermon like the Sundays before

Nobody noticed what was sittin' underneath the front pew
No-one had imagined what the pastor was intendin' to do
When he got to his feet, they were settlin' in
Waitin' for the preacher man to begin
But that expectation was never again to come true

'Cause the sanctuary suddenly filled with a deafening roar
When the chainsaw started that the pastor picked up from the floor
He laid into the pulpit and he cut it right through
Only pieces were left after a second or two
And when he turned the thing off, you know he had their attention for sure

It was the Sunday Morning Chainsaw Massacree
Nobody died except religious co-dependency
The heavens were opened when that pulpit went down
And God's Holy Spirit started movin' around
And those half-baked pew potatoes got really set free
At the Sunday Morning Chainsaw Massacree

And the minister asked, "Do you all understand what I did?
Everyone's a minister here; you know you're not little kids
The Holy One's in each one of you, and it's time I let you see that it's true
My name isn't 'pastor'; from now on, call me 'Uncle Sid'
Don't you dare call me pastor; my first name's really just 'Sid'."

It was the Sunday Morning Chainsaw Massacree
Nobody died except some habits and formality
The heavens were opened when that pulpit went down
And God's Holy Spirit started movin' around
And that pastor and the congregation got really set free
At the Sunday Morning Chainsaw Massacree

Now the reason I know is 'cause I happened to visit that place
By then, the pews were gone and we worshipped and danced in the space
Some had a teaching; some had revelation; some had a psalm; some interpretation
Jesus was Lord, and he was shining on every face
By the time we were done, I'd been filled by his power and grace

It was the Sunday Morning Chainsaw Massacree
Nobody died except religious co-dependency
The heavens were opened when that pulpit went down
And God's Holy Spirit started movin' around
And the pastor and the congregation got really set free
At the Sunday Morning Chainsaw Massacree
At the Sunday Morning Chainsaw Massacree

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En-6040PEqs

Godless False Accusations Against Me

There are ignorant un-Christ-like hate-filled people out there guilty of IMAX-level projection engaging in ad hominem, name calling, and character assassination attempts who are trying to make themselves feel better about themselves by saying that I am "trying to start [my] own cult." Other ignorant people who lack the ability to think critically for themselves will simply hate me and engage in the same Christ-less behaviour just because of what these ignorant clowns have said about me. They have never met me, they do not know me from Adam, and they have never personally talked to me to learn anything about me or my faith. Yet they believe what they have been TOLD about me. You should never discount someone else just because of what some ignorant clown has TOLD YOU. Give them a chance; listen to them or read them in order to make up your own mind about them based on legitimate facts, reality, and truth.

I have no desire to be a leader of something. The cults are already here with the 40,000+ Christian denominations that exist today. I have a personal desire to return to first century New Covenant Christianity, as recorded in Scripture and practiced by the early Christians of the first three centuries. I am seeking to be free of these opinion-laden cults of men and to return to the Lord Jesus by making Scripture my ultimate authority. That is all. If you are content with the establishment and their lies, good for you. Where are you most likely to find accurate biblical truth? Those of the first three centuries who were directly taught by one or more of the apostles, or by one or more of the disciples of the apostles, who spoke the same language and had the same customs and culture as the apostles, and maintained unity of the Spirit and the faith for 300 years? Or us, who are removed from those teachings, the language, customs, and culture by 1,900 years, and have splintered into 40,000+ opinionated denominations, groups, and sects? The answer is obvious, but for some reason we tend to think we are "smarter" than the previous generations. All one has to do is read the apologetic defenses of the early Christians to see how that is not true.

While most professing believers are comfortable being religious nominal (name only) "Christians," I want to live it by practice. As James wrote, "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." Like the song from Petra says, "Sometimes God's children should be seen and not heard." Where are the Christians who are supposed to love their neighbours and their enemies and put the words of Christ into action? At the end of the Instruction on the Mount, Jesus told us what those who hear His words and obey them are like. If you dressed as a homeless person and walked into most "churches" today, the majority of people would look through you and ignore you, give you looks that tell you that you are not supposed to be there, tell you to sit in the back, and not acknowledge that you are there. Is this how they learned Christ Jesus?!?!? Is this how a "Christian" is supposed to behave and act? Yet they claim I am "trying to start [my] own cult"??? *LOL* They should really look in the mirror, because they are already part of one! These people "honour God with their lips, but their heart is far from [Him]," "teach as doctrines the commandments of men," "neglect the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men," and "reject the commandment of God in order to establish [their] tradition" (Mark 7:6-9).

A distinguishing mark of Christians is their integrity. That integrity is demonstrated by following the Lord Jesus—regardless of what others do—simply because He is Lord. That integrity is demonstrated when we desire to be aligned with Him, subjecting every aspect of our lives to His leading, regardless of how it contradicts our opinions, our feelings, our proclivities, how we were raised, what we were taught, or what we might presently believe. That integrity is demonstrated when we do right because it is right, and when we keep our word no matter the cost to ourselves. We are to act upon revealed truth, not merely be informed by it. That is the difference between obedience and disobedience and rebellion. Christian integrity conforms to the Lord Jesus and His revealed Word, no matter the cost to self. The lack thereof is conformity to the traditions of men.

Like Ephesus, many believers today have lost their love for Jesus and for others and need to overcome their lack of love. Having been like Ephesus, I am learning to love others the way Jesus commanded me to, to love my neighbours as myself and to love my enemies and do good to them. Like Pergamum, many believers today have believed the wrong things and need to get rid of the lies. Having been like Pergamum, I am getting rid of the lies of the past 1,700 years and conforming to the faith of the first 3 centuries. Like Thyatira, many believers today have become too tolerant by putting up with sinful behaviour and false teachers among themselves. Having been like Thyatira, I am willing to be unpopular by calling out sinful behaviour and false teachers among Christ's Body. Like Sardis, many believers today need to stop living a double life and realize that their works are not as good as they think. Having been like Sardis, I realize my works are not what they should be, and I need to be fully committed to the Lord Jesus. You cannot serve two masters: choose either the Lord or choose the world, but you cannot have both. Like Laodicea, many believers today think they are rich and have it all together but are actually poor and falling apart, needing to get serious about their faith. Having been like Laodicea, I have become serious about my faith, wanting to be obedient to the teachings of Christ Jesus. Unlike these people, I have a desire to be like Philadelphia, to keep the Lord's Word, stand strong, and not deny His name, and like Smyrna, to be faithful unto death. I can only pray that the religious nominal believers out there who are constantly giving Christianity a bad name by their behaviour and conduct before the world would become faithful followers of Jesus by obeying His commandments and teachings.

When someone elevates Jesus as their authority to the center of their life and their faith, who is the one who attacks that person to try and tear them down? The Devil! When you confront the establishment, challenging their power, position, popularity, and/or pay cheque, of course they will turn on you and claim you are "trying to start [your] own cult." These ignorant un-Christ-like hate-filled people can say whatever they want about me. I will be all too happy to bear that cross in order to reform and conform myself entirely to Scripture and the Lord Jesus.

Jesus' Letters to the Churches

Jesus gave the apostle John a letter to write to seven different congregations. These letters were not merely for those seven congregations alone, but for every denomination and every organized religious institution and every professing believer today as well! Read them with wisdom, understanding, and discernment, and you may see yourself in one or more of them. Then REPENT and get back on course!

Dear Ephesus,
I know you are patient and hardworking. You believe the right things, and you don't give up when things are hard. But you've lost your love for me and for others. Repent and remember what you used to be like. If you overcome your lack of love, you will live with me in paradise.
(see Rev. 2:1-7)
Like Ephesus, many professing believers today have lost their love for Jesus and for others and need to overcome their lack of love. Having been like Ephesus, I am learning to love others the way Jesus commanded me to, to love my neighbours as myself and to love my enemies and do good to them.

Dear Smyrna,
I know you are poor and have many trials, but don't be afraid of suffering. If you are faithful unto death, I will give you the crown of life.
(see Rev. 2:8-11)
Wanting to be like Smyrna, I desire to be faithful to my Lord and King, Jesus, until death.

Dear Pergamum,
I know you live in a difficult place. You hold fast to my name and are not afraid to share the good news. But some of you have started believing the wrong things. Repent and stick to the word of God. If you get rid of the lies, I will give you the bread of eternal life.
(see Rev. 2:12-17)
Like Pergamum, many professing believers today have believed the wrong things and need to get rid of the lies they have been told and have embraced. Having been like Pergamum, I am getting rid of the lies of the past 1,700 years and conforming to the faith of the first 3 centuries.

Dear Thyatira,
I know your love and faith and service. But you are too tolerant. You put up with sinful behaviour and false teachers. Repent and deal with the sin in your midst. If you are willing to be unpopular, I will make you shine like stars in the heavens.
(see Rev. 2:18-29)
Like Thyatira, many professing believers today have become too tolerant by putting up with sinful behaviour and false teachers amongst themselves. Having been like Thyatira, I am willing to be unpopular by calling out sinful behaviour and false teachers among Christ's Body, especially when they behave contrary to it.

Dear Sardis,
I know you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Your works are not as good as you think. Repent and stop living a double life. If you put off dirty things, I will give you clean, white clothes so you can live with me forever.
(see Rev. 3:1-6)
Like Sardis, many professing believers today need to stop living a double life and realize that their works are not as good as they think. Having been like Sardis, I realize my works are not what they should be, and I need to be fully committed to the Lord Jesus. You cannot serve two masters: choose either the Lord or choose the world, but you cannot have both.

Dear Philadelphia,
I know your good works. You may seem small and weak, but you have kept my word and not denied my name. If you stand strong, I will make you a pillar in my heavenly temple.
(see Rev. 3:7-13)
Wanting to be like Philadelphia, I desire to keep Jesus' word by obeying His commandments and teachings, standing strong and not denying His name.

Dear Laodicea,
I know that you are lukewarm, like bland, yucky water. You are leaving a bad taste in my mouth. You think you are rich and have it all together, but you are poor and falling apart. Repent and get serious about your faith. If you open the door, I will come in and feast with you.
(see Rev. 3:14-22)
Like Laodicea, many professing believers today think they are rich and have it all together when they are actually poor and falling apart, needing to get serious about their faith. Having been like Laodicea, I have become serious about my faith, wanting to be obedient to the teachings of Christ Jesus.

List of Sins

Most people take sin far too casually, shrugging it off as merely something that everyone does, thus not being a "big deal." Yahweh sees it quite differently. "Sin" means "to miss the mark." In this case, it is missing the mark of holiness and righteousness, which Yahweh requires of us: "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt. 5:48); "Be holy, for I am holy" (1 Pet. 1:16). Sin will condemn, destroy, and lead most people to eternal ruin (see the entire epistle of 1 John). Ergo, we must carefully read Yahweh's Word and study the meaning and results of sin. We must also realize that Jesus is the only answer to the disaster of sin because He provides us forgiveness and liberty! Here is a list of sins as found within the New Testament Scriptures:

Adultery—Matthew 5:27-28, 32; 19:9, 18; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Mark 7:21; John 8:1-11

Anger—Galatians 5:20; Ephesians 4:26, 31; 6:4; Colossians 3:8; James 1:19-20

Anger with one’s brother—Matthew 5:22

Arrogance—2 Timothy 3:2; 2 Corinthians 12:20; 2 Timothy 3:2; 1 Corinthians 4:6, 18,19; 5:2; 8:1; 13:4

Bitterness—Ephesians 4:31; Hebrews 12:15; Romans 2:24; 3:14; Acts 8:23; James 2:7

Blasphemy—Mark 8:38; Acts 18:6

Boasting—Romans 1:30; 2 Timothy 3:2; Galatians 5:26; 1 Corinthians 4:7; 5:6

Brutality—2 Timothy 3:3

Brother going to Law against brother—1 Corinthians 6:1-7

Carousing—Romans 13:13; Galatians 5:21; 1 Peter 4:3

Clamour—Ephesians 4:31

Complaining—Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:13; 1 Peter 4:9; James 5:9

Conceit—2 Timothy 3:4

Coveting—Mark 7:22; Ephesians 5:5; Acts 20:33; Romans 13:9; 1 Corinthians 5:10-11; 6:1

Cowardice—Revelation 21:8

Deceit—Mark 7:22; Acts 13:10; Romans 1:29; 1 Peter 3:10

Defrauding—1 Corinthians 6:7-8

Denying Christ—Matthew 10:33; Luke 12:9; 1 John 2:22-23

Desiring praise of men—John 12:43

Disobedience to parents—Romans 1:30; 2 Timothy 3:2; Titus 3:3

Divisions—1 Corinthians 1:10

Divorce—Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18

Drinking parties—1 Peter 4:3

Drunkenness—Romans 13:13; 15: 13; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 5:11; 6:10; Colossians 3:13; 1 Peter 4:3

Eating the Bread or drinking the Cup unworthily—1 Corinthians 11:27
What precisely does this look like? "Therefore [What is it there for? See verses 17-26!] whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord." Preachers like to add all sorts of "rules" as to what is 'unworthy,' but what does the CONTEXT tell us? It has NOTHING to do with the many types of sins you might find yourself guilty of. It has to do with how you treat the Lord's Supper!

Effeminacy—1 Corinthians 6:9

Enmities—Galatians 5:20

Envy—Mark 7:22; Galatians 5:26; Titus 3:3

Evil thoughts—Mark 7:21; Matthew 15:19

False witnessing—Matthew 15:19

Fathers, provoking children to wrath—Colossians 3:21

Fearfulness—Matthew 10:26, 28

Filthiness—Ephesians 4:3

Fleshliness–1 Corinthians 3:3

Foolishness—Mark 7:22; Titus 3:3

Foolish talking—Ephesians 5:4

Fornication (pre-marital sex)—Mark 7:21; Matthew 15:19; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Galatians 5:19

Greed—Ephesians 4:19; 5:3; 2 Peter 2:14

Lust, lusting—1 Peter 4:3; Titus 3:3

Haters of God—Romans 1:30

Hatred—Matthew 5:; 2 Timothy 3:3; Titus 3:3

Homosexuality—1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10; Romans 1:26-27

Hypocrisy—Matthew 23:13,23, 25; 23, 27,28, 29; Mark 12:15; Luke 12:1; Romans 12:9

Idolatry—1 Corinthians 5:11; 6:9; Galatians 5:20; Revelations 21:8; Ephesians 5:5

Immorality—Galatians 5:19; Revelation 21:8; Ephesians 5:3; 1 Corinthians 5:9-11; 6:13, 18

Impurity—Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5: 3, 5

Jealousy—Galatians 5:20; 1 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 12:20; James 3:16

Jesting—Ephesians 5:4

Judging—Matthew 7:1-5; Romans 2:1; 14:13; Luke 6:37 James 4:11

Knowing to do good but not doing it—James 4:17

Laying up treasures on earth—Matthew 6:19-21; 19:21; 1 Timothy 6:9-10; Luke 12:21, 33; 18:22

Legal matters, court–1 Corinthians 6:1-6

Living for pleasure—2 Timothy 3:4

Lovers of self—2 Timothy 3:2

Loving another person more than Jesus—Matthew 10:37; Luke 14:26

Lusting after another person—Matthew 5:27-28; 1 Peter 4:3; Matthew 18:9

Lying—Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:15; Ephesians 4:25; Romans 9:1; 2 Corinthians 11:31; Galatians 1:20; 2 Timothy 2:7

Malice—Romans 1:29; Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8; 5:8; Titus 3:3; 2 Peter 2:1

Man praying or prophesying with head covered—1 Corinthians 11:4-16

Murder—Revelation 21:8; Mark 7:21; 5:21; 10: 19; 19:18; Luke 18:20; Romans 1:29; 1 Peter 3:15; 4:15; Matthew 15:19

Murmuring, complaining—Colossians 3:13; 1 Peter  4:9; James 5:9

Pride—Mark 7:22; 1 Peter 5:5, 6; James 4:6; Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18;14

Prostitution–1 Corinthians 615-16

Quarrels—James 4:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:11; 2 Timothy 2:23

Reviling—1 Corinthians 4:17; 5:11; 6:10; 5:11; 2 Timothy 3:2; 1 Peter 2:23

Sensuality—Galatians 5:19; Mark 7:22; Romans 13:13; 2 Corinthians 12:21; 1 Peter 4:3; Ephesians 4:19; 2 Peter 2:2

Slander—Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:22; Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 Corinthians 4:13; Romans 1:30

Sorcery—Galatians 5:20; Revelation 21:8, 15; 9:21; 18:23

Speaking against the Holy Spirit—Matthew 12:32; Luke 12:10

Stealing—Ephesians 4:28; 13:9; Matthew 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 2:21; 13:9

Strife, quarreling—Galatians 5:20; Romans 1:29; 13:13; 1 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 12:20; 1 Timothy 6:4

Swearing an oath—Matthew 6:34-37; James 5:12

Swindling—1 Corinthians 5:10-11; 6:10

Thievery, theft—1 Corinthians 6:10; Mark 7:21; John 10:1, 8; 1 Peter 4:15; Matthew 15:19

Treachery—2 Timothy 3:4

Unbelief, lack of faith—James 1:6; Mark 9:24; Hebrews 3:12, 19; 1 Timothy 5:8; 2 Corinthians 6:14-15; 7:13; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Titus 1:15; Revelation 21:8

Unforgiveness—Matthew 6:14-15; Mark 11:25-26

Ungodliness—Romans 1:18; 4:5; 5:6; 1 Timothy 1:9; 2 Timothy 2:16; Titus 2:12; 2 Peter 2:5, 6, 7

Ungratefulness—2 Timothy 3:2; Romans 1:21; Luke 6:35; 2 Timothy 3:2

Unholiness—2 Timothy 3:2; Hebrews 12:14

Unrighteousness—Romans 1:18, 29; 2:8; 6:13; 1 John 1:9; 5:17; 1 Corinthians 6:9

Wickedness—Mark 7:22; Luke 11:39; Acts 8:22; Romans 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:8, 13; Ephesians 6:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:10, 12; 2 Timothy 2:19

Woman cutting her hair short—1 Corinthians 1:14-15

Woman praying or prophesying with head uncovered—1 Corinthians 11:5-16
Preachers will tell us that "the Bible transcends culture and society," but then they turn around and tell us that "this is not applicable to us because it is not a part of our culture or society." Can they please make up their minds? If the Bible transcends culture and society, and if the early Christians believed this should be a practice in every congregation, then would that not mean that regardless of what any culture or society practices, including our own, this should be part and parcel of each and every congregation of the Lord?

Woman speaking or teaching in public—1 Timothy 2:11-15; 1 Corinthians 11:33-37
Let us be specific here; this refers to exercising spiritual authority over men. Women were no less valuable to the Lord (they were the first to see Him risen), but they were not selected as part of His inner circle, they were not chosen to be apostles, and they were not chosen to be shephards/watchmen/overseers of the congregations.

Wrath—Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8; 1 Timothy 2:8

Wrong–1 Corinthians 6:8

Ephesians 1:3-6

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:3-6

Dear Scripture-twisting Calvinists, please curb your presuppositions and preconceptions from being imposed upon the text and pay attention to precisely what verse 4 is saying and what it is not saying. It does not say, "just as He chose us to be in Him." Rather, it is talking specifically to those of us who are "in Him," and speaks of us with such an esteemed position as being chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him.

In verse 5, the word "predestined" does not refer in the least to God choosing who will be saved and who will not be, misquoting this passage and claiming that such choices were made before the world existed. Paul is writing to Christians, to "saints...who are faithful in Christ Jesus" (v.1). He is saying to believers, those who are "in the Beloved," that such persons, because of the condition of being "in Christ," are therefore predestined to "every spiritual blessing" that Yahweh chose before the foundation of the world for all who are in Christ.

From before the foundation of the world, Yahweh God had determined to bless us, who are "in Christ," with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. From before the foundation of the world, Yahweh God had determined that we, who are "in Christ," would be holy and blameless before Him. From before the foundation of the world, Yahweh God had determined to adopt us, who are "in Christ," as sons. Everything is determined by our being "in Christ."

Yahweh does not pick and choose who is going to be "in Christ." Numerous New Covenant passages contradict and oppose such a false teaching. He does, however, have a condition — faith (Rom. 4:16; Heb. 11:6). Yahweh invites and will bestow His blessings on whoever will come (Matt. 11:28; 22:9; Rev. 22:17).

A Pagan Origin for the Sermon

Taken from To Preach Or Not To Preach by David C. Norrington, pages 44-48.

Rhetoric

Through the classical period the theory and practice of rhetoric did not change greatly and what follows is a brief outline of its main features in the Greco-Roman world.⁷

Rhetoric was particularly the province of the rich and powerful and was the most prestigious of all forms of learning. Furthermore, eloquence had become the principal aim of education; acquiring the art of speaking was perceived as the route not only to culture but also to thinking and acting correctly, since wisdom and eloquence (and social status) were believed to be intimately connected.⁸ Acquiring rhetorical competence was a lengthy process and a hallmark of a higher education. It required the mastery of an elaborate technique dominated by the traditions of the past and centered on invention and arrangement of material, style, purity of language, memory, delivery, voice modulation and posture. The principal medium of rhetorical expression was the public speech or lecture and capable exponents of the rhetorical arts looked forward to a distinguished career, fame, wealth, power over others and the admiration of the populace.⁹

The Greeks were intoxicated by rhetoric and the Romans later fell under a similar spell. Roman rhetoric was an adaptation of the Greek form with perhaps less emphasis on persuasion and more on style and artistic effect.¹⁰

Rhetorical displays ranked with theatrical performances as great spectacles of entertainment—even if the audience could not understand the language of the speaker—for a fine rhetorical display was regarded as a true work of art (Philostratus Vit Soph 491, 589).¹¹ These performances could excite the same kind of enthusiasm as that generated by popular entertainers in our own day.

Not only was rhetoric popular, it had real merits. It offered a clear-cut framework within which practitioners could express themselves coherently and fluently. As these techniques were widely appreciated, rhetoric offered a common standard throughout the Greco-Roman world which all could appreciate, irrespective of education.¹² It demanded some thought, logical ingenuity and psychological observation.¹³ Rhetoric also exercised a liberalizing influence. Rhetoricians were prone to argue for and against, with often the same rhetorician arguing both sides of a disputed case in quick succession. This demonstrated that there were two sides to each issue and that even the worst examples were entitled to a hearing.¹⁴ Lastly, as G.A. Kennedy points out:

In political debate there was in the best periods of ancient history a willingness to entertain the opinions of others when expounded with rhetorical effectiveness. At the very least rhetoric imparted vigor to ancient intellectual life; it has long been noted that oratory flourished most in the democracies and least under tyranny.¹⁵

For many, the virtues of rhetoric were self-evident and no alternative foundation for education was seriously considered.¹⁶

The problems with rhetoric surfaced early on and became increasingly severe with the passage of time. Indeed, when rhetorical studies dominated the timetable the disadvantages were formidable. First, style and form took precedence over substance to the extend that, for many listeners, content was immaterial.¹⁷ Second, rhetoric was not primarily a method of instruction, encouraging a disinterested analysis of data, but rather a technique of persuasion more akin to seduction than ratiocination. As its emotional content was often high and its subject matter distorted, audiences were frequently swayed by specious argument. The rhetorician himself was likely to be swayed by his own speech even more than his audience.¹⁸ Third, as the influence of rhetorical traditions gained in strength, rhetoric gradually discouraged independent thinking and intellectual curiosity, and in their place emphasized conventional content.¹⁹ Fourth, in spite of a concern for honesty in rhetorical theory, rhetoric failed to encourage a love of truth. For many rhetoricians, since content was secondary to victory in argument, truth was almost irrelevant.²⁰ Fifth, the rhetorician like any stage performer, was concerned, at least in part, to display his genius and to receive the acclaim of the audience.²¹ Such a method inevitably fostered egotism and arrogance (Philostratus Vit Soph 616). This was particularly the case in the unreal atmosphere of the schools where declaimers had difficulty at times in preserving their own mental balance.²² The judgment of Sir William Tarn that rhetoric 'debased everything it touched' is perhaps not too severe, particularly of rhetoric during the latter days of the empire, the period the sermon came to prominence within the church.²³

The Influence of Rhetoric in the Church

A hundred years ago [sic], Edwin Hatch argued that the extensive use of the sermon arose under the influence of Greek rhetoric brought into the church by those Christians who had been trained in rhetoric, and perhaps even taught rhetoric themselves—before or after conversion—and who subsequently achieved influence in the church. Many of the church's fathers—Tertullian, Cyprian, Arnobius, Lactantius and Augustine among them—had been professional rhetoricians before becoming Christians.²⁴ Moreover, as rhetoric was the mainstay of the educational system, the Christian community had little choice but to recognize it and respond to it in one way or another.²⁵ But the Christian use of speeches and rhetorical forms did not arise form copying the activities of pagan religion. There were no 'sermons' in Greco-Roman religion as, for the most part, it knew little dogma and so required little use of formal teaching. The church, on the other hand, valued dogma and used formal teaching methods. It was here that rhetoric made its impact. The christian rhetorician would expound the sacred text of Scripture, just as the sophist would supply an exegesis of the near-sacred text of Homer, although the Christian aimed to teach the congregation, including the simple, and to change lives, rather than to concentrate on the rhetorical arts.²⁶ Simplicity of style was achieved on occasion as in the homilies of the 4th century²⁷ but, more often than not, although the content was more or less Christian the style was Greek. Often indeed the content was mixed, for pagan ideas were corrupting Christian thought even by 100AD, as can be seen from the writings of Clement of Rome; the influence of techniques current in the schools is clearly visible in Augustine's biblical exegesis.²⁸ As the majority of great Christian leaders had received a better training in rhetoric than philosophy,²⁹ the finer points of philosophical debate frequently eluded them, with the result that pagan philosophical/theological³⁰ ideas were unwittingly incorporated into the corpus of Christian doctrine even by those who, like Tertullian, claimed to despise pagan philosophy.³¹ This tendency should not be confused with the deliberate use of pagan philosophy by Christians as a weapon against their opponents. The problem of inadvertently utilizing non-Christian ideas and thought forms in the explication of Christian faith is a perennial one.

It may be objected that Greek rhetoric entered the church at least as early as the apostle Paul and that later developments stem from his contribution. Paul's precise knowledge and use of rhetoric are still disputed, but his epistles reveal a considerable understanding of the rhetorical conventions taught in the schools.³² Whatever the case may have been, rhetoric did not dominate Paul's presentation of the gospel in substance or form, and he rejected the cultural values associated with rhetoric (1 Cor. 1:10-2:5; 1 Thess. 2:1-12).³³ Moreover, although Paul relied on public speaking to a great extent in introducing the gospel to others, there is no reason to suppose that he was limited to this one method. As well as the home, the workshop and other locations may have been used for missionary activity among small groups or with individuals, using a variety of means. But it should be noted that there was often no sharp distinction between the home and the workplace.³⁴ Later, we shall see that Paul did not advocate the use of public speaking as a means to Christian growth. The church's use of rhetoric does not have its origin in the work of Paul.

When men such as Origen, John Chrysostom and Augustine made extensive use of the sermon, this was seen not as a distortion of New Testament methods but as a revival of the noble art of preaching as practiced by Paul. Many since have viewed preaching as re-awakening of spiritual power. But the use of Greco-Roman rhetoric depended for success entirely upon the skills and self-confidence of the individual rhetorician (to whom went the acclaim).³⁵; it involved forms designed to entertain and display genius rather than instruct or develop talents in others; it had little interest in the spiritual welfare of the hearers,³⁶ and it seldom required action on their part.³⁷ Such a method was not designed to foster Christian virtues or intellectual maturity, and there is little evidence to suggest that it can do so.³⁸ It seems that even the sermons of Augustine, delivered to his congregation at Hippo, failed to develop critical skills or independent judgment and were of questionable value in the development of spirituality.³⁹ Furthermore, as we shall see, the use of the sermon even without rhetorical coloring distorted New Testament practice considerably. The belief that methods into Christianity are unimportant, eloquently summed up in the assertion of Adolf Harnack that 'a living faith needs no special methods',⁴⁰ may sound deeply spiritual but is a distortion of the teaching of both testaments and certainly of the work of Paul, who was concerned with method as well as content—as we may see, for example, in his discussion of rhetoric, his practice of evangelism and his attitude to money and gifts.⁴¹

From a Christian standpoint, the pagan origins of rhetoric do not pose a problem. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with the church embracing ideas from the surrounding culture. The Old Testament supplies several cases where the results of pagan influences were beneficial such as the appointment of judges to assist Moses (Exod. 18:13-26), the (possible) use of ancient Near Eastern concept of wisdom and the design of the Tabernacle.⁴² More frequently, however, syncretism and acculturation were harmful both to Israel and the church. This was because they led to the absorption of ideas and practices inimical to biblical faith and frequently to subsequent contempt for that faith.⁴³ So it was with rhetoric, with its insatiable demand for speeches as the medium for its artistic expression and its unavoidable confrontation with the more personal methods of the New Testament.