Liberty, The Constitution And The LAW
Initially I didn’t intend for this article to be such a political commentary, but as I am writing this, I am struck by the following parallels!
Just as America is being led astray from its Founder’s intentions, so is Christianity being led astray from its Founder’s intentions…
Just as America is in the process of rejecting its Founder’s Constitution, the law of this land, so has Christianity been progressively rejecting its Founder’s Law…
Just as a substitute for the truth is being propagated in America, so is a substitute for The Truth being propagated in Christianity…
Just as bondage has been mistakenly called “Liberty” in America, so has bondage been mistakenly called “Liberty” in Christianity…
A LITTLE AMERICAN HISTORY
Patrick Henry, the American patriot discerned the advancing British gathering in strongholds throughout the fledgling colonies and sounded the alarm as to their real intentions. His speech to those present on March 23 1775 is not usually remembered in its entirety. The time that it would take you to read it would be time well spent. http://libertyonline.hypermall.com/henry-liberty.html Only the phrase at the end of his speech has been marked as a battle cry among those who would die for their freedom; “Give me liberty or give me death!” As I observed this year’s Independence Day celebrations, I wondered if those so caught up in watching the fireworks (ironically imported from China) were conscious of their freedoms going up in smoke as well…
Even though its been less than 250 years and the icons of a liberty past (The Liberty Bell, The Statue of Liberty, etc.) are still among us, do we enjoy the liberty that was originally typified by those icons? How would a Patrick Henry describe our current style of liberty today? Would he thank The GOD of heaven for it? Or would he see it as a progressive state of bondage disguised by a thin veneer of something called liberty? I personally believe that we would probably hear his immortal words again; “Give me liberty or give me death!”
Unlike in Patrick Henry’s day, we still have the liberty to make a difference in this great country peacefully. If you don’t like what is happening to your country and your liberties, get busy and make a difference! Get out and vote! Get others to vote and to get others out to vote! Get educated about the issues and exactly where the candidates stand (and have stood) on those issues! Ask them and the media tough questions and demand legitimate answers! Use email. Use town hall meetings and use the media to your advantage as a law abiding citizen to make a difference! It is not too late! Until YHWH clearly says that it is too late, work and do your part to make a difference!
A LITTLE CHRISTIAN HISTORY
Author and archeologist Richard Rives gives us some insight into that same type of erosion taking place in Christianity…
“A letter ascribed to Hadrian has caused many scholars to attempt to associate Jesus with Serapis, who is depicted as a long haired – bearded man. In his letter Hadrian stated that in the land of Egypt “those who worship Serapis are, in fact, Christians, and those who call themselves bishops of Christ are, in fact, devotees of Serapis. He goes on to say that there is no chief of the Jewish synagogue, no Samaritan, and no Christian presbyter, who is not an astrologer, a soothsayer , or an anointer.
As we can see, by 135 A.D. only a hundred years after the time of Christ, paganism had already been combined with true Christianity to the extent that the emperor of the Roman Empire had no idea what true Christianity was really like. It happened in only 100 years.”
You can find more of Richard’s fascinating information by going to www.toolonginthesun.com
In John 8:31-32, YESHUA links freedom with Truth! “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
MESSIAH said this to a group of Pharisees who didn’t recognize HIM anymore than they recognized their own bondage to Rome at the time! How could these Pharisees have rejected THE WORD, The Living Torah, WHO was standing right in front of them and instead believe that the doctrines and commandments according to their rabbis and sages would result in freedom? Notice YESHUA’S rebuke in Matthew 15:7-9 “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
Paul states in Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” What is the bondage that Paul was warning these “New Covenant” Galatians about?
Today’s Christianity would have us to believe that Paul is referring to the Law, the Torah of YHWH! But in fact Paul is referring to another law. Paul is referring to the same law of man that he previously believed while growing up in Judaism. It was the teachers of the law of Judaism who had previously commissioned Saul (later called Paul) to hunt down the followers of YESHUA, The WORD of GOD. Their law of Judaism was comprised of the Torah plus the teachings, doctrines and traditions of men which had enslaved all of Israel for centuries! And now it was threatening those in Galatia, who had come to believe and obey the pure, unadulterated WORD of YHWH! Paul, knowing the difference, would NOT have any of it!
According to the Scriptures, bondage comes as a result of rejecting HIS WORD(The Truth) in favor of man’s word(the lie). Consider what the Psalmist says in Psalm 119:44-47
“So shall I keep Your law continually,
Forever and ever. 45 And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts.46I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed.
47 And I will delight myself in Your commandments,
Which I love.
The apostle James echoes the psalmist in James 1:25 “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does”.
Just as we see many in America accepting men’s substitutes, which ultimately lead people away from the Constitution of its Founders, so has Christianity accepted men’s substitutes, which ultimately will lead people away from The Truth, The Precepts, The Testimonies and The Commandments of its Founder!
We can (and are) making a difference here too! Many of you who subscribe to this blog have friends, family, neighbors, co-workers and even enemies that have swallowed the lie that GOD has changed and has done away with HIS LAW, HIS WORD! You know that HE hasn’t, but you are not doing what you should in your own circle of influence to testify to HIS unchangeable character and WORD. Its time that you do! Share your testimony. Share the Truth of HIS WORD when the conversation warrants your input! Stop veering away from divine appointments and conversations because you are afraid! Take a stand for TRUTH wherever and whenever you have the chance. People are listening. They are watching. They are hoping for more than they are receiving. You may be the very person that YHWH uses in challenging their hearts to seek HIS TRUTH! Someone challenged yours!
In both scenarios discussed, as long as folks ignorantly accept the substitute instead of the truth, bondage will increase and continue to masquerade as liberty…
