What If We Are Wrong?

7 April 2019 / 2 Nisan 5779

If you truly love God, I hope you will read what I have written with a sincere desire to know more about Him. If you are a biblical scholar or learned individual, please listen from your heart and don’t let your knowledge get in the way. If you are a skeptic, please hear me out, and give me the benefit of the doubt for this moment in time. And if you are a man who will not listen to a woman, I pray you will set your pride aside and seek to hear the Truth.

The Wicked One has been very slow and calculated in his evil plan to deceive God’s people, and he knows that if he moves too fast, or becomes too obvious, he may alert his victims to the danger and scare his prey away. Sin is the doorway into darkness, and so many Christians turn a blind eye to sin or willingly participate in it, which opens the door to error and deception. For those who cannot see that the Apostasy is in full bloom, the devil has been very successful!

It is only through Jesus Christ—the true Jesus Christ—that we can see the reality before us. Satan’s objective is to lead God’s people away from Him, but all the while convincing them they are acceptable to God even in their sinful state. If people continually reject the truth, because they love their sin more, God will allow them to believe the lies, and He will eventually turn them over to their delusions. And that is a dangerous place to be in these Final Days!

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: Even Him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they [might] be saved.

And for this cause (their rejection of the Truth) God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all [might] be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

After doing an extensive study on this passage years ago, I discovered that the word “might” was not in the original text. For whatever reason, they were included in the King James Bible, but were not italicized to show they were added. I just know it is a much stronger statement to say that those who receive “the love of the truth” WILL be saved, rather than might be saved; and rather than MIGHT be damned, God’s word emphatically states, and I quote, “they all BE DAMNED who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

That really is the crux of this message–Do we know the Truth? Do we believe the Truth? And do we love the Truth above all else? Most Baptist’s will profess that Jesus is the Truth, and the only Way that leads to eternal Life, but the decisions that we make about the Son of the living God, and the way we live our lives, really proves whose side we are on!

After reading “Greear’s views incorrect” (2/28/19), by Tommy Jamison, in The Baptist Record, and then Adam Wyatt’s rebuttal, “Greear and Homosexuality” (3/14/19), which were written in response to “How the Fall Affected Us All,” a sermon by J.D. Greear—president of the Southern Baptist Convention, I realized the “war” is heating up! As it should!

Good men have been silent far too long! If God’s people don’t stand up for the Truth, and against the lies, no one will! I am sure both sides of this argument honestly believes that they are right, but because of the “fall,” all of us have the propensity to believe error, especially when it is mixed with truth. Yes, we “should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3), and never compromise the truth of the gospel of Christ, but as fallible men, we need to be willing to consider the possibility of “What if we are wrong?”

In Greear’s handling (or should I say, mishandling), of the first chapter of Romans, he wrongly lumps together those who love God, with those who rejected God. The Apostle Paul was addressing “the called of Jesus Christ” in verse 6, and then in verse 18 his focus turned to those “who hold the truth in unrighteousness;” and he goes on to describe them as unfaithful, unthankful, blind, and vain in their imaginations due to the darkness of their hearts (vs 21). And because of their continued rebellion against God, He finally gave them “over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient–” which manifests itself in unnatural sexual desires and others sins (vs 26-31). And in their darkened state, they try to get others to go along with them in their sinful lifestyles, but they know in their hearts that they are under the Judgment of God (vs 32). Please read this passage yourself, and may God open all of our eyes to the Truth!

Romans 1:18  “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Romans 1:19   Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

Romans 1:20   For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Romans 1:21   Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Romans 1:22   Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Romans 1:23   And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Romans 1:24   Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Romans 1:25   Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Romans 1:26   For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

Romans 1:27   And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Romans 1:28   And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Romans 1:29   Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Romans 1:30   Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Romans 1:31   Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Romans 1:32   Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

It disturbs me when Pastor Greear says, “I have a whole list of things that have taken God’s place in my heart…” If that’s the case, he really needs to reconsider his leadership role in the Southern Baptist Convention, and more importantly his relationship with Jesus Christ. Here’s another revealing statement from Greear’s sermon, “How the Fall Affects Us All.”

“Paul cites homosexuality, one scholar says, “not because it is a greater sin than any other, but because it is the clearest evidence of a rejection of God’s order in creation.”

That statement is “truth mixed with lies,” and it is that mixture which God hates! Admittedly, someone who is enslaved by this “detestable sin,” as Pastor Adam Wyatt called it in his article, has definitely demonstrated “evidence of a rejection of  God’s order in creation,” but to say homosexuality is not “a greater sin than any other,” is absolutely false!

Please seriously consider these verses:

1 John 5:16 “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.”

Romans 6:16 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

Proverbs 30:11-13 “There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.“

Hebrews 3:13 “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

1 Peter 4:17-18 “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

I have been alarmed at the direction that the Southern Baptist Convention leadership has been going for some time, and I have been particularly dismayed that so many preachers, teachers, and others are so accepting of “The Message,” of Eugene H. Peterson. As far as I am concerned, he is a heretic! And I am absolutely appalled by his so-called “Bible!” The first time I read Peterson’s per-version of the Scriptures several years ago, I knew he was NOT of the Holy Spirit.

I know that God prefers to deal with our sins privately, but if we continue to ignore His word and refuse to repent, God will eventually make our sins public. Two years before his death (10/22/2018), Peterson brought out his true colors very vividly for all to see. The following excerpt from an interview that Eugene Peterson had with Jonathan Merritt from “Religion News Service,” will prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, who this man really served.

12 July 2017 RNS:— “A follow-up: If you were pastoring today and a gay couple in your church who were Christians of good faith asked you to perform their same-sex wedding ceremony, is that something you would do?” [Emphasis mine–CR.]

EP: “Yes.”

The very next day, Johnathan Merritt posted another article, and here’s a snippet from that.

13 July 2017 (RNS) — “The Message” author Eugene Peterson says he regrets telling me he would officiate a same-sex wedding if asked to do so today by a gay couple who were “Christians of good faith.”

“On further reflection and prayer, I would like to retract that,” the evangelical author said in a statement.

It’s a misconception to believe that people living in that shameful lifestyle are “Christians of good faith!” And for those who teach that “all sin is the same,” especially when the word of God’s says otherwise, is diminishing the seriousness of this abominable sin and its consequences, and they are just paving their way to Hell!

Here’s an excerpt from an article that I posted at GoodReads on 2/26/2018, which is entitled, “The Power of Darkness”, that I hope you will prayerfully consider.

“In The Message of Eugene H. Peterson (Matthew 6:9-13), he uses the New Age term ‘as above, so below,’ and for those who have read my views, they know I am absolutely opposed to his blasphemous book! To my great dismay, the whole Christian world has accepted his message as the Word of God!

Satan has been systematically taking over churches, and I see that he has gained access to most Christian denominations. Only through the power of God working among those who are truly submitted to Him can God’s people be cleansed of the evil that is so prevalent in these final days. I just pray the “sleeping giant” will wake up before it is too late!”

End of Excerpt

LifeWay threatened to pull Peterson’s books from all their stores if he did not recant his view on homosexual marriage, and as you see, he immediately changed his “public” stance. LifeWay opted to continue selling his books and “bibles, and because of that whole episode, it just proves that “the love of money” IS the driving force behind the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention! And THAT is really sad!

Over the years, Southern Baptist Churches have declined in membership, and I believe it is partly because they have been “falling away” from the truth of the gospel. In their quest to be more appealing to the world, false teaching has wormed its way into the hearts of influential men (and women) in the churches, and they are destroying so many souls by making them feel comfortable in their sin. Jesus said a “house divided against itself shall not stand” (Matthew 12:25), and the devil was quite delighted to see the demise of the “Baptist Bookstore”–as it once was called, before the “politically correct” replaced “Baptist” with LifeWay. And now that LifeWay is being forced to close all their stores, Satan is not satisfied to stop at the bookstores—his objective is to break up the Southern Baptist Churches altogether!

The only churches that will survive the current onslaught of Satan’s lies and deceptions are those who are determined to do some major house cleaning! Rallying the troops/churches to give to the Co-operative program won’t get it! I don’t want to give to an entity that presents a false gospel! In fact, God’s curse is upon those who pervert the gospel of Christ!

Galatians 1:10 “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

Interestingly, Galatians was the first book that Eugene H. Peterson translated into his “Message.” So that means he knew from the start, what God thinks about those who “would pervert the gospel of Christ.” And all those individuals, publishers, and ministries who have given him a platform in which to launch his blasphemous book are equally guilty!

2 John 1:9 “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

As faithful Christians, our focus must always be on what is pleasing to God and not men! If you ever lose sight of that vital fact, the devil will be right there to lead you into the darkness, yet call it the light. If you are one that is caught up in a lifestyle of sin, I pray that God will allow you to see the Truth. And when the blinders are removed, you will have a major decision to make–do you love the Truth enough to reject your sin and unrighteous living?

And I must proclaim: Woe, woe, woe be unto those who call themselves Christians, yet do not follow Christ!

I haven’t even touched on the “unforgivable sin” (Matthew 12:31, Mark 3:29, Luke 12:10), or expounded upon the “sin unto death” (1 John 5:16), but obviously “not all sins are the same,” as some preachers and teachers are advocating today. Carefully read this next Scripture passage where the very words of Jesus will completely refute their claims.

John 19:5-11 “Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

When the chief priests therefore and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, Crucify Him, crucify Him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye Him, and crucify Him: for I find no fault in Him.

The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art Thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

Then saith Pilate unto Him, Speakest Thou not unto me? knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee, and have power to release Thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered Me unto thee hath the greater sin.”

There is still time to call upon the LORD, and turn your heart towards God! But realize, the “Once Saved Always Saved,” theory is a fallacy made up by men–It’s not how you start out that is the final determiner. Yes, you must take that initial step towards God in your heart, and reach out and accept His free gift of salvation that He offers, but depending on whose side you are on at the Judgement, will determine your eternal destiny! And there will be no turning back then!

Hebrews 10:22-27 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.”

I would like to share a very important message from my testimony that I hope you will read with a heart to understand, as you prayerfully consider what God revealed to me by His Spirit, in Light of the following passage.

2 Corinthians 2:14-17 “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.

For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.”

PROPHECY OF 28 FEBRUARY 1993

“Many things you have been taught here have been done in secrecy and in darkness. You have been taught truth mixed with lies, and the Lord says it will go on no longer!

And you [Pastor] are the one who has taught the lies, and the Lord says it will go on no longer in this home. And the Lord is giving you a chance to turn from your sin. And He is so forgiving that He will not hold your sin against you if you repent. And if you do not, you will die!

And he is my husband. I love him with a love that cannot be broken. I love you too, but with a brotherly love. And I beg you to repent!

Everything you have learned here has been tainted with evil, and you can’t hold on to any of it. The only thing that you can hold on to is the fact that Jesus Christ died for you, and by His mighty power, God raised Him from the dead. And if you believe that in your heart, and claim Him as Lord, He will put the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead inside of you to lead you and guide you into the truth!

Light will overshadow darkness, and darkness will not be able to stand in the presence of God!”

End of excerpts from “Walking With the Enemy: A Testimony,” by C. Read.

Let the word of God be the Light that you use to judge all things to see whether they are of Almighty God or not. Please don’t let a man, or the devil, come and steal what the Lord God has spoken to your heart through His word and by His Spirit. Jesus came to this earth to reveal our innermost thoughts and intents, and all men will be without excuse on the Day they stand before Him. Should you reject this message, and deny this prophecy as being from God, please be very careful what you say in your heart about the Holy Spirit. And it’s just as I once asked a young Jewish Rabbi while visiting his synagogue, in regard to Jesus Christ being the Messiah of Israel, What if you are wrong?