Friday, October 04, 2013

The Gospel of Hate

THE GOSPEL OF HATE
 
 
I have been an imperfect follower of Jesus for almost 39 years. There has never been one moment where I did not need God's grace. I remember being saved for only a couple of months when I heard a pastor take a stand against making gambling legal in New Jersey. Even as a new babe in Christ I felt something not right about bringing politics into the pulpit. That was in 1975 and since then not only has politics become a mainstay in the pulpit, but hatred is now invited into the pulpit as well and even into the lives of professing believers.

But as preachers became more political than spiritual, and more conservative than gracious, and more American than Christian, the church slowly drifted into the morass of political pride and hatred. To hear a so called preacher lament over how to save the republic is not only shocking it is also frightening. And his heart is so given to this secular nation that he openly believes a military coup would be good. These kind of men like Joyner are leading millions astray and actually are part of the end time antichrist spirit. They are bound in a prison called nationalism and are enlisting others to come join them. Again, it is shocking.

Where did the church walk away from Jesus and all He lived and taught? Isn’t the faith supposed to be about following Jesus? Isn’t He supposed to be our Lord and Master? What year was it that the church decided that being an American superseded being a devoted follower of Jesus? Where did the ax head fall and where did the church begin the road to apostasy? Things that would have been unheard of many decades ago are now championed by the western evangelical church.

So here we have a so called minister wishing for an armed takeover of the United States government because he hates President Obama and wishes to return to the “good ‘ole days”. His hatred refuses to allow him to love the man Barak Obama and to pray for the salvation of his eternal soul. He can only see in the carnal and temporal realm. The eternal kingdom is foreign to him and so it is to the church. Marching in lockstep with the world the church is wallowing in the carnal delights and pursuits of this fallen kingdom.

Jer.5: 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

Those who claim to be God’s people sit and listen to abominable lies about money and power and success and they love to have their ears scratched. They leave church buildings feeling refreshed and ready to go and earn more and enjoy entertainment more and buy more and get promoted. And all the while the wolves they submit to gain more and more of this world. I suggest that if the sacrificial and intense prayer time of the average preacher was revealed it would shock the world.

The truth about New Testament Christianity is now almost lost even to the evangelical churches. We have concocted a hybrid which soothes the conscience, satisfies the flesh, and has nothing to do with Jesus at all. In essence the west has created a religion which calls itself Christian but which has abandoned the Person and teachings of Jesus altogether.

When professing believers who spent little if any time with Christ during the week, and who watched things that offended the Holy Spirit, and who spent money almost entirely on their own lusts, when these kinds of people can leave the church building feeling uplifted and good about themselves then we can be assured they have not been in a Christian service. And mi9llions upon millions drift out of a church service every Sunday morning only to repeat a week where Jesus is nothing to them. There pro-life and anti-gay positions will satisfy their souls until next week’s fleshly service. It is an exercise in redundancy.

But in an attempt to appease their lack of contrition and submission to Christ men like President Obama can fill the gap and provide some type of enemy which will make people feel like spiritual warriors when in fact they are just religious “conservatives” who sacrifice nothing, who speak unkind and carnal words, and who close their eyes every night after living the day just like their unbelieving neighbors. And this is what we call “Christianity”?

And the hatred becomes so deep and visceral that men even suggest a military overthrow complete with blood, life changing injuries, and death. And again, this is what we call “Christianity”? This a fraud, a forgery, a bastardized version of the faith. In fact in most ways it is the exact opposite of what it means to follow Jesus.

Lk.7: 34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

Look and see dear people. Jesus was accused of being a “friend of publicans and sinners”. But what they could never realize or understand was that Jesus would literally give His own life for these vile sinners! And who among us can fathom such a love? And even in the face of such profound sacrifice and suffering carnal men speak atrocities toward other men simply because they fear for the country in which they happen to live. And more than just vicious words they suggest massive violence against their political enemies.

Where is the blessing we are commanded to give to our enemies? Where is the good we are commanded to do to them? And where is the love that God Himself showed to the whole world that caused Him to sacrifice His own Son? What kind of religious nonsense and spiritual poison is now carried over the airwaves? Men like Joiner are servants of the Wicked One and not servant of Christ. There are many exhortation in the New Testament, and yes, Jesus did show anger in a few places. But the overwhelming and overarching theme of this New Covenant is love and redemption. The kind of head shaking hatred spoken by these kinds of men does not come from the Spirit.

Let us rebuke and reject the vicious ramblings of such false teachers and let us bow before the glory of the cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Jesus did not come to condemn sinners since we all were already condemned. But He came to seek and to save those that stood condemned, and when a sinner is rescued from darkness and by grace brought into God’s glorious light, that redeemed sinner should be permeated with humility, and he should reach out in love and grace to those with whom he was once numbered.

Lay down your arrows all you redeemed of the Lord and shine forth His wonderful gospel. Stand still and see the salvation of your God. Run from any allegiance aside from the Lord Jesus. Forsake all except for Him, and live the cross. Love the sinner and hate the sin, and especially your own sins which are many.

17 comments:

Lorena said...

Amen Rick, my brother.
Keep our allegiance to the Lord only...otherwise, we get strange ideas, and sin greatly.

Cherie c. said...

Like you said the Anti-Christ spirit in the end times. Will this spirit help the revealing of the one Anti-christ spoken of in Revelation, or is this spirit that grows worse by the day, the Anti-christ spoken of in Revelation?

We all need to remember;

Proverbs 18:21
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

your sister in Christ Jesus,
Cherie c.

John Cole said...

The video you linked to has been taken down. Try this one (I dont know if it is the same one you linked to).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D52tXSCWHJ0

Rick Frueh said...

Thank you, Brother.

Cherie c said...

I was just going to tell you Pastor Rick that the video was taken down. So glad, kind of, that John was able to locate it. Now I'm really scared. Really.

Chris Rose Borough did a speaking event on the dominionist. Really makes you shake a bit. Persecution is coming. And it won't be from the secular world, but those who profess to be brothers and sisters.

Looks like another sleepless night tonight. Praying for the peace only Jesus can give.

your sister in Christ Jesus,
Cherie c.

Anonymous said...

The visible church boasts of the wonders of itself-the things of this world and the people that worship it.

The invisible church repents and believes on the LORD Jesus Christ worshipping our LORD in Spirit and Truth.

The visible is many, the invisible are few.

May God, our Father forgive us for what we have become through our Mediator and King, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Anonymous said...

Ecclesiastes 1:9 That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. :10 Is there anything of which it may be said, "See, this is new"? It has already been in ancient times before us.

Jesus was persecuted, beaten severely and put to death on the cross, by Jews, His own people. Why should we expect anything different from those that call themselves Christian?

Do not forget that Jesus instructed us to pick our cross and follow Him and to put on the yoke along with Him. Jesus instructed us to spread His Gospel. Jesus said to feed His sheep and tend His lambs.

Jesus sent The Comforter to instruct us and guide us. Jesus is with us always, even to the end of the age.

Do not fear.

Joel

Anonymous said...

Amen.

This is what I've been observing about this transformation in the church and it's discouraging and frightening. Spiritual wickedness has been unleashed in the world and it's primary target is the western church. These man like Joyner, along with the prosperity teachers and purpose-driven doctrine, the best life now doctrines, any teaching that gives christians the idea they have to DEMAND their rights and freedoms from secular governments is steering christians down the wrong road.

The whole atmosphere now, in the news, is heavy with harmful politics that is setting everyone on edge. No one can understand what has taken over the minds of politicians who are playing games with the people, and nations are questioning the childish theatre that's playing in the U.S. Now, a ministry leader is calling for a military takeover, saying that elections won't bring about the "right" candidate, and that the "right" candidate can only come through violence? And this is the Way, the Truth and the Life?

I pray that christians who see this are as shocked as some of us are, and that these developments stir brethren to see the delusion set before us and don't yield to this.

There are forces at work that are hitting from many angles all at once, and it's very easy now to see how an anti-Christ system is ready to deceive the very elect.

Dear Lord Jesus, please help us through this. Amen.

J.

michael said...

I like your point Joel. Jesus said if this is how I'm treated when the tree is green what do you think they will do when it's dry?

We are citizens of Heaven and it's Christ's role not ours to keep it that way: Philippians 3:20-21. I and you, citizens of Heaven, need to keep our eyes on Him!

John Cole said...

Cherie C said "Now I'm really scared. Really."

Don't be scared Cherie. :) Everything is going right according to the Lord's Plan. I used to get a little scared too seeing all this nonstop evil washing over the world but I have changed my thinking. Now I actually get a little bit excited every time the devil gets another toehold. Why?
Because Jesus said:
"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
(Luke 21:28)
The fact that my redemption draweth nigh makes me want to do cartwheels.
You know what I do when I get to feeling a little depressed? Read Romans chapter 8 over and over.
To me this is the most uplifting chapter in the whole Bible.
Blessings

Cherie c. said...

Dear Brother John,
Thank you, I will do just that. I admit that while scared I'm also excited to see all that Jesus said is coming to pass. My other fear is Jesus finding me worthy to be with Him. I hope so.

Before I go to sleep tonight I'm going to read Romans 8 just like you suggested. Thanks again John. So blessed to meet another member of the Body of Christ. God bless.

your sister in Christ Jesus,
Cherie c.

Anonymous said...

Cherie c. said, "I admit that while scared I'm also excited to see all that Jesus said is coming to pass. My other fear is Jesus finding me worthy to be with Him. I hope so."

The fact that you have fear about being found worthy puts you on very firm ground! The more we grow in our understanding of a Holy God, the more we tremble in our awestruck love of Him.


It is Joyner's lack of fear (and loveless heart) which lead him down the dark path of following his father, satan. The Word of God has no place in his heart as is evident from the "fruits" of his mouth.

Thank you, Pastor Rick, for posting this. How I hope and pray that it shakes some people away from Morningstar...

Anonymous said...

A few weeks before Christmas last December, I was watching one edition of TBN's weeknightly "Praise the Lord" series, originating that night from their lower Manhattan (New York City) studio. The host was a thirty-year veteran of the Contemporary Christian Music industry. One of the guests was a short, fat, bald, black-garbed little man of Italian descent who was identified as a "Christian comedian", which always sets off WARNING! in my spirit. This gent proceeded to make an utter imbecile of himself by launching into a "rant" no different from those of any Conservative political talker, except he threw in the Lord's name a few times just to reassure viewers whose "side" he was on. Cutting up, bamming, slamming, "everything stinks", the whole bit. NO mention of the Lord or His Church doing anything to rectify any of it. And the studio audience, predominately middle-aged African-American ladies, reacted like they were witnessing a beatific vision. His segment was followed by a film clip of U.S. troops overseas with the sentimental secular Christmas song "I'll be Home for Christmas" heard on audio. After that, they switched back to the studio as the audience stood and rocked back and forth singing "Amen" from the old film "Lillies of the Field". To me personally, it was like they were all saying "God can't do anything about the world's wrongs and we don't expect Him to, but we're gonna sing and enjoy Christmas anyway."

Go figure.

Anonymous said...

If Rick or anyone else can stand it, (or if you can find it) you may wish to read an expose' book describing in minute detail the mindset discussed in this post. It's entitled "God, Guts, and Guns" by Phillip Finch (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1983).

There's also a website that is unrelated to the book, but with a similar title: godgunsguts.com.

Anonymous said...

I think we have reached the point where, in general, the Western Church is viewed as just another clique of angry old white gripers who are disgusted because they can't have everything their way.

Anonymous said...

Four decades ago, I read a short paperback book written (essentially as a recruitment tool) by a leading spokesperson (back then) for the John Birch Society, in which he (not saved) seemed to equate membership in the JBS with admission to Heaven. He implied at the end of the book that any reader who did not join the Society after finishing the book might be denied entrance into Heaven on the grounds of "contributing to America's downfall".

Anonymous said...

Back in the '80s, I read a newspaper story about a Baptist pastor in Texas who told the parents in his congregation to urge, if not force, their children - especially boys - to watch violent TV programming, including Saturday morning cartoons, in order to "put them in a violent, killing mood that we will need when we have to go to war with Russia someday".