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bible, christianity, David Wood, Eastern Orthodox, faith, Gavin Ortlund, god, Godlogic, jesus, Mike Winger, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Ruslan, Wess Huff
I have spent hours on end listening to Protestant apologists’ debate Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox apologists’ over the question, “Which one of these is the true Church?” Among these three groups are found the oldest, and historical roots of Christendom (the kingdom of Christianity). Almost everything connected to Christianity over the last 2000 years since Christ, the “Church” Fathers, the councils, can all be traced back to these three distinct groups of people who have, and mostly still do, claim the sole authority of Christ on earth. From the Great Schism of 1054, where the head of the Roman Catholic Church and the head of the Christian Center of Constantinople excommunicated each other out (kicked out), of which was widely accepted at the time as the only true Christian Church, the kingdom of Christendom. From 1054AD and forward, the Eastern Church leadership condemned everyone outside their organization to hell, and the Roman Catholic Church in the West, through the voice of the Pope, also called “The Vicar of Christ”, condemned everyone outside their organization to hell. In 1517 a Catholic Priest by the name of Martin Luther, stapled his publication of the 95 theses he had written criticizing the Catholic Church of his day on a local Church door in Germany, and what we call “The Great Reformation”, had officially begun.
There are a few facts that must be noted about these schisms, these “Church splits” that cannot be refuted.
- They ALL condemned the others to hell; they claimed by all intents and purposes to be the ONLY True Church headed by Jesus Christ. The reformers believed that they were leaving Mystery Babylon according to scriptures listed in Rev. 17-18. Martin Luther wrote a book about the Catholic Church keeping the people of God in Babylonish Captivity.
- All of these organizations had their own hierarchy. If you were a Roman Catholic Priest, you were not ordained to minister in an Orthodox Church, or a Protestant Church, and the same thing was just as true for an Orthodox Priest or a Protestant Priest; all of these organizations had separate and distinct hierarchical clergy.
- All of these organizations, when given political power, murdered those who opposed their Church hierarchy. When Roman Catholics ruled in government, they burnt Protestants alive, they created horrible torcher chambers which did unspeakable evil to their perceived enemies. When the Protestants ruled Europe, they also murdered their perceived enemies, just read the diaries of George Fox, he will tell you all about it. Now the Eastern Orthodoxy was conquered by the Ottoman empire, and for many years had little political power, but just ask Ukrainians or Russians today in a war, the war which is very much connected to the Eastern Orthodox Church.
- Today there literally hundreds and thousands of schisms among these three groups (Church splits), so that today we mostly debate about how many different organizations there are in Christendom today, all claiming to some level as the only true Church; we literally have thousands of “Only True Churches” competing with each other for the title!
All of these institutions – tax exempt organizations – are led by a hierarchy of men, most of who graduated from their human-built colleges of higher learning, called seminaries; all of these men were approved, ordained by a counsel of men who were also ordained by other men themselves. The only unapproved men in a Christian denomination are the founders of the organization they founded, which clearly had no one to approve of them. Now the Roman Catholics resolve this problem by claiming that St. Peter was their founder, which makes their organization founded by Christ. We all know that this isn’t true, Peter was crucified upside-down, he NEVER wore flowing robes with jewels and crowns; and he NEVER called himself “The Vicar of Christ”. The Eastern Orthodox fly on the notion that they are the oldest, and their veneration of the Saints, along with the Church fathers, prove themselves to be “The Only True Church”. Now the later of these organizations, the Protestants, formed in the 1500’s, claim authority by the words of various Church fathers, but mainly by the proof of scriptures – so they use the phrase “Sola Scriptura”, which means “Scriptures Only”. I should note that I was raised up in a long list of Protestant Churches, both Charismatic and non-Charismatic. Let’s now simply list the authorities by which all of these organizations get their reasoning from; the reasoning by which they can say to the common man, “Obey us or go to hell”
The Roman Catholics say “Obey us because the Pope is the representative of Christ, a successor of Peter the Apostle. The Pope has the infallible right to interpret all scripture, decree, define and mandate all Christian practice.
The Eastern Orthodox Church says “Obey us because we are the oldest and our Church council, our Patriarchy is infallible. The Patriarchy of Eastern Orthodoxy has the infallible right to interpret all scripture, decree, define and mandate all Christian practice.
The many Protestant organizations say “Obey us because we only rely on scripture as the infallible Word of God” When faced with the reality of many Protestant organizations that fail to agree on many things, the Protestants will loosely define doctrinal differences in order to create a wide tent of inclusion, called “Within the Pale of Orthodoxy”. They then can condemn and separate themselves from any proclaiming Protestant group teaching doctrines that fall outside the boundaries of “Christian Orthodoxy”. Protestants claim the idea of a visible local Church, which has ALL authority and visibility, and an invisible Church which is worldwide, invisible, without any authority, has no accountability to anyone, because they only exist in the imagination of the typical Protestant group, they are after all invisible! Unfortunately, when it gets down to real authority in Protestantism, and one closely examines the foundations, you will find as I have all of my life, Protestants rely on intelligence and reputation amongst themselves to accurately interpret scriptures. It would not be unusual for Protestants debating each other to point out stupidity and ignorance, using Greek and Hebrew and placing a high value on titles of higher education, titles like “Doctor”.
Now that I have written things that many of you may already know, things that are not really debatable, let me now explain to you why I am writing these things, and the reason for this article. I am about to tell you things that NONE of these religious leaders of any organization ever founded in the name of Christianity could EVER refute. I am completely serious; I challenge ANYONE of you to a debate – Godlogic – David Wood – Gavin Ortlund – Mike Winger – Ruslan – Wess Huff – Did I miss anyone who would like to be included in this challenge???
Now let’s give a defining statement of the issue in any would be debate: A Statement that Cannot be refuted!
God is NOT saving the Roman Catholics, the Greek Orthodox, any of the thousands of Protestant organizations, he is not the head of any organization, God is Saving Individuals! I would point to a key saying of Paul the Apostle in 1Cor. 11:3 “The head of Every man is Christ.” All authority belongs to Christ, and Christ is the head of his – not Church building -not manmade hierarchical organizations – but his Ecclesia – the called-out ones. And where two or three are gathered together in his name, he is there in the midst. For if we have fellowship with one another, then our fellowship is truly with Christ and the blood of Jesus cleanses us of all sin.
Here is why this concept is foreign to the religious leaders of our day; here is why it would never work for the average full-time minister; when you raise the value of “Every man” who’s head is Christ, you then lower the value of the clergy class of big religion. Such an idea many a religious businessmen would kill over; at the end of the day, it’s all about money and power – tell me I am wrong! These organizations, every last one of them have blood on their hands, here is the scripture: (Rev 18:24) And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. Yes folks, Mystery Babylon is made up of iron, the image in Dan. 2, the Roman Empire., mixed with clay, representative of the people of the Lord, he is the potter and we are the clay. Martin Luther was right about the Roman Catholic Church being Mystery Babylon, keeping the people of the Lord in captivity, he just didn’t lead the people of the Lord out of her as was his claim. Any time in history, once a religious group got political power, persecution of decenters and blood always followed, you cannot mix iron and clay, it doesn’t work. Notice I did not say that God cannot use these organizations, if the truth be told, the King of Babylon is a servant of the Lord, yet the King of Babylon is none other than Lucifer himself; in Isaiah 14 Lucifer sits in the congregation on the sides of the North, declaring himself the head of the Church.
I am just struck by this reality, the scribes and pharisees of our day, the religious leaders of our day, are stuck in a snare, they are stuck in a trap. They debate among themselves as to which religious organization has the mantel of Christianity, the authority, claiming to be the sole representatives of Christ on earth, even “The Vicar of Christ”, only to find out at the end of the day, NONE of them have such a mantel or authority! “God is not saving organizations, he is saving Individuals” – I will debate any serious person on this subject. It’s kind of like debating with a Calvinist on how the house got there, they spin their wheels swinging at the wind, only for a child to stand up and say, “Sirs the house is not there.” Or if it is there, is it pretty? Or is it built on Jesus Christ, or is it built on sand? It is no wonder that Jesus said to them “You are those who strain at a gnat and swallow a camel”. What I am saying is so true, it’s an easy layup, I don’t even need to be a trained debater, I could absolutely follow the words of Jesus when he says – (Mat 10:19-20) But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. Showing to a debate unprepared? Actually trusting in the Lord to guide your words? I would certainly be destroyed would I not? Folks that is a risk I am willing to take!
Here again I will show you the snare, I will continue to direct you to the very scriptures which foretell this trap that is to be set according to the wisdom and counsel of the most high God, it’s found in Isaiah ch. 28, here it is: (Isa 28:1-13)
Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up. In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
Now maybe as you read the above scriptures – maybe you still don’t understand, maybe it will take much longer for you to grasp the depth and reality of this truth found in the scriptures. Remember, the Roman Catholic Church says, “The Pope determines the Word of God” – The Eastern Orthodox Church says, “The Orthodox Patriarchy determines the Word of God” – And the Protestants say, “The scriptures are the Word of God, interpreted by our approved scholars”. Just remember that John Calvin said, “Unless the man behind the pulpit is approved by us, what he speaks is not the Word of God, even if it is true.” ALL of the forementioned claims – apologies – authorities – mantels – they are all shot full of holes to the simplest of men who have all made Christ their head. These claims are shameful, they have no grounds, they are even laughable if it weren’t so sad! It’s a trap to the spiritual drunkards of Ephraim.
Now let’s talk about what is true and just, that which is found in the deep wisdom of God, things I have said many times, in this you will find out MY Apology – My claim – none of which any organization on earth today can claim, not the Pope, not Billy Graham, not the Easten Patriarchy. This is a saying that only the individual whos’ head is Christ can claim.
My Apology kind goes like this: God is a God who hides his truth from those who are wise in this world, the professionals of this world, the highly educated, the smart people, God hides his truth from these people and gives his truth to little babes, those who’s wisdom begins with the fear of God – a fear not taught by the precepts of men (Isa. 29), but a holy fear, a fear that can only be found by the grace and mercy of God – in fact a great treasure for those who find it. I am crucified with Christ, I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me, Christ is my head. This is how you will know the spirit of error and the spirit of truth – he who hears me, and everyone like me, that would be us, hears Christ, he who does not hear us, does not hear Christ- “They went out from us to demonstrate that they were not a part of us. He who says he loves God and yet hates his brother, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against God, the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul and the testimony makes wise the simple. I am not under the law of Moses – which was only a school master to bring them to Christ, but under the law of the Lord, having my soul converted, so that I love the things that he loves and hate the things that he hates. As I live in Christ and in Christ have my being the Word of God is revealed to me by the Holy Spirit which lives in me so that I will fall short in no good thing. I live in Christ, I eat in Christ, being built up in the most holy faith, only by the grace and mercy of God alone, the captian of my salvation.
Now much more could be said brothers and sisters, God is saving individuals, not organizations, they will all get worse, being directed into hell, but those individuals which put their trust in the Lord – they will not be ashamed, but they themselves will become a company of Kings and Priests, notice not the kings and priests promoted by big organizations, but a tree shall by known by it’s fruit, and no murderer will inherit the kingdom of God. God is saving individuals – NOT religious organized businesses!
Can you prove me wrong?
Brother Robert Begnaud
The Straightway Church (not the organization, the blog)
Babylon Rescue (additional website)