Mt. 18:20 π Mt. 24:5 π Mt. 24:10 π Jn. 4:24 π Jn. 5:39 π Acts 5:42 π Acts 7:48 π 1 Cor. 5:10-11 π 2 Cor. 6:17 π Eph. 5:27 π 2 Ths. 2:3 π 2 Tim. 3:5 π 2 Tim. 4:3-4 π Heb. 6:4-6 π Jas. 1:27 π 2 Pet. 2:1-2 π 1 Jn. 2:21 π Rev. 18:4
Embedded in John’s first letter is this simple statement: “…no lie is of the truth.” ( 1 Jn. 2:21; top ) From this simple statement we can confidently know that we are expected to evaluate and conclusively eliminate from our belief systems and practices each and every lie as soon as the deception is exposed to us by the Holy Spirit of truth. No lie is of the truth. Any lie we discover embedded in our thinking can and even must be discarded. This truth alone sets us free of much of the manmade garbage that must be rightly called churchianity. Consider:
- The lie called “revival.” The word comes from the Latin words that mean “bring to life again.” To be brought to life again requires that the one seeking to be revived be dead. The writer of Hebrews tells us, however, “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace.” ( Heb. 6:4-6; top ) The “church” that seeks “revival” must spin this plain statement away because it openly exposes the truth that those who routinely and lifelessly come to their “services” every week are, in fact, already dead.
- The lie called “preaching” from a “pulpit.” The New Testament preaching we see in the book of Acts is not what is practiced in modern churchianity. In the New Testament, preaching is a dialogue between equals – in churchianity, “preaching” is a monologue delivered by a superior who stands behind a raised lectern (“pulpit,” a piece of furniture that cannot be found anywhere in the New Testament.) This speech (“sermon,” that form of speaking that comes not from the New Testament but from the practice of Greek wisdom, “sophistry”) is aimed downward at obviously lesser beings who need to have their ears tickled and scratched every week so as to deceive themselves into thinking that they are doing the will of God and are recipients of His eternal life. ( 2 Tim. 4:3-4 , Jn. 5:39 ) Any gospel truths that are spoken, perhaps read directly from the pages of the Bible, are drowned out by the subliminal message delivered by this posturing. And in return for this expert tickling and scratching, the audience is reproved and manipulated with guilt so as to produce money (“tithes” and “offerings”) so as to support the “church” building and keep wealthy the paid professional staff. But none of this has any real place in the New Testament. In contrast, genuine New Testament preaching was built on the fact that the preacher went out (often without pay and sometimes without regular financial support) and sought out those with whom he could discuss the things of God. Modern “churchianity” must have gimmicks and programs to lure its unwary victims to come to the “church” building and seat themselves at the foot of the “preacher.” These transitions account for much of the reality that churchianity most produces only those who have a “form of godliness” but whose lives show no evidence of the transforming power of Christ and God. (see 2 Tim. 3:5 ) Further, the lie that gospel truths can be transmitted to a crowd is exposed by the modern “evangelism” results of 3 to 5% successful “conversion” rates (converted into becoming a “church”-ite, that is.) Jesus promised to be in the midst where two or three gathered in obedience to His rule, not two or more as He is so often misquoted at “churches.” (see Mt. 18:20 ) True discipleship occurs in one on one relationships and when one or two disciples go into every house to teach and preach the gospel of the kingdom. ( Acts 5:42 , etc.; top)
- The lie that the “church” building is “the house of God.” The New Testament tells us that “the Most High does not live in buildings built by human hands” ( Acts 7:48 ) – yet more money is spent on building and maintaining the “church” building than is or ever will be spent on the needs of the orphans, widows and the least (poorest) of Christ’s brothers. (see Jas. 1:27; top ) This complete imbalance in priorities alone exposes the deceptive roots of the “church” and calls into question everything that is done in such places. Since so many come to “the house of God” that isn’t God’s house, the very foundation of churchianity is exposed as being built on deception and thus cannot be a genuine element of the truth.
There are more lies that could be exposed but what has already been said is sufficient for those who have spiritual ears to hear the truth. It is also true that tomes and volumes could be written exposing all the “church” deceptions and lies but they would be entirely useless and pointless when placed in front of someone whose heart prefers these “church” deceptions rather than the truth.
Perhaps the greatest reason that “church” is so successful in deceiving so many is because it provides a “divinely approved” substitute for personally being responsible to obey and follow Christ wherever He might lead. We can participate, to whatever extent we so desire, in “ministry” and, even if all we give is mere lip service or even silent “participation” just by attending, well, God is just oh-so-pleased with us and there is simply nothing more we need to do.
No lie is of the truth. So long as we practice any lie – “church” or otherwise – we have no possibility of worshiping God in spirit and truth. Since God is seeking those who do worship Him in spirit and truth ( Jn. 4:24 ), we can only conclude that the “church” is simply the vehicle of the apostasy (the great falling away from the faith that occurs before Christ’s return – 2 Ths. 2:3 , Mt. 24:10 ) and that it is producing the many who are deceived into following the destructive and divisive ways (“denominations”) of the end-time false teachers. ( 2 Pet. 2:1-2 , Mt. 24:5 , etc.) Until we come out from among the “Christian” idolaters and idolatry ( 2 Cor. 6:17 , 1 Cor. 5:10-11 ), we have no chance of being His body, bride and ekklesia that is “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but [rather is] holy and without blemish.” ( Eph. 5:27 ) The choice of whether to be a genuine member of Christ’s bride and body or a participant in the worldly counterfeit that is only the latest expression of the Great Prostitute (“Babylon”) who usurps the place and role of the bride of Christ is ours to make. The same Spirit who causes us to cry out to Christ to return quickly also calls us to “Come out” of the practices and attitudes of deception that keep us from the truth that would set us free. ( Rev. 18:4; top )
Let he who has ears hear.
- Through the Looking Glass - Neil Girrard - ( in Adobe/pdf format ) If one looks into either end of binoculars or a telescope, a “looking glass,” one can see many things about the kingdom and the “church.” A surprisingly deep parable.
- The Lie Called Revival – Neil Girrard - ( in Adobe/pdf format ) “Revivals” are popular at many “churches” and everyone seems to think everyone needs “revived” – but what is the truth?
- The Subliminal Message - Neil Girrard - ( in Adobe/pdf format ) The subliminal message is the one that always sticks the longest even (and especially!) when that hidden message is not perceived or understood consciously – so what do we really hear when a man speaks from behind a pulpit?
- Two or Three - Neil Girrard There are multiple layers of deception around the modern practice of “meeting.” Are we willing to face this?
- Whose House Is It? Bible Bullet: Acts 7:48-50, 17:24 - Neil Girrard The Most High God does not live in temples made by human hands. So who really owns all those “church” buildings that are commonly and routinely called “the house of God”?
- Practicing a Lie - Neil Girrard Worshiping God in spirit and in truth is not an option.
- Come Out; The End Time Men - W.W. Fischer The call to come out was heard by this author in the mid-1980s – and written down for our edification!
- Come Out From Among Them - Neil Girrard - ( in Adobe/pdf format ) Why, at the end of His explanation of the parable of the wheat and the tares, did Jesus say, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear”?
I’d love to hear comments and/or questions from you! Email me!