Investigating Mega-Church Leader T.D. Jakes: Canker Or Health?

And their word will eat as doth

a canker: or whom is Hymenaeus 

and Philetus: who concerning the 

truth have erred, saying that the

resurrection is past already: and

overthrow the faith of some.

2Timothy 2:17-18

      Paul when writing to Timothy was warning not only Timothy but all Christians as this letter as well as all other letters were sent around to be read by other congregations. Heretics are those from within the Church that are preaching a gospel that is not a gospel. Those sinners outside the Church may speak of heresy, even fall prey to heresy but the canker that will destroy the faith of many comes from within the Church by those who preach a gospel that is not the Gospel. We read in our study of 1Thessalonians 5:21 that we are test all things and hold fast to the good and this is what I am going to do and to aid you to do the same. I include references for you, and I will do as Paul did, name names. I will not comment on what I haves gleaned from several articles and sites so that you can just read this for yourself and see whether or not this man, and others as I bring them to light fit what Paul wrote to Timothy.

         Megachurch leader and author of MegaFest, and Potter's Touch Broadcast, TD Jakes’ bad theology isn’t limited to the Trinity. Over the past few days the Christian blogosphere has exploded with posts, comments, and articles about TD Jake’s supposed change in his theological stance concerning the nature of God. According to his supporters from the Elephant Room he’s gone from a Oneness Pentecostal-based modalist view of God with God being expressed in 3 separate manifestations, to a now orthodox biblical stance of God being eternally co-existent as 3 distinct persons yet one God. I don’t agree with his supporters.Daniel Neades blog BetterThanSacrifice.org summarizes much of what’s gone on in the past week. Daniel posted the following in his article “Elephant Room 2: may we now regard T.D. Jakes as Trinitarian and orthodox?”:

Notice that the error of modalism is not that it denies God’s working distinctively as Father, Son and Holy Spirit – modalism expressly affirms this – but rather, that it denies the existence of three distinct Persons within the Godhead.

Daniel goes on later in the article to state the Athanasian Creed, which could have been a perfect way to determine whether TD Jakes was orthodox. Mark Driscoll and James MacDonald (the two men asking questions of Jakes in the conference) could have asked TD Jakes to affirm his understanding, belief in, and preaching of these central truths by asking him to affirm the Athanasian creed.
However, that’s not what happened. In a conference that was billed as a place where hard-hitting questions were expected, where differing views could stand toe-to-toe and really dig into the understanding of different theologies, TD Jakes was given a pass. The moderators (Driscoll and MacDonald) lobbed slow-toss softballs to TD Jakes, and allowed him to hit these out of the park. TD Jakes even went so far as to requalify his statements about the Trinity in such a way as to straddle the fence. His fellow Oneness Pentecostal friends must be happy. Read Daniel’s article above for more on the exchange that took place.
My concern goes deeper. I began asking myself these questions: If TD Jakes was wrong on the Trinity, what else could he be wrong on? Are there other core areas of doctrine where Jakes falls short? Wouldn’t you know it, he fails to preach the true Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s right. He FAILS when it comes to the Gospel.
The following excerpt is from a well-documented article on Jakes by G. Richard Foster titled ‘“GET READY” FOR T.D. JAKES – THE VELCRO BISHOP WITH ANOTHER GOSPEL’
Essentially, Jakes fumbles the Gospel in his book, ‘The Harvest’. In this book on pp. 46-47 Jakes confuses salvation and sanctification. Here’s the quote from the article:

He then goes on to propose the strangest Gospel to come down the pike in a while.
Jakes’ view can be called a two-tiered salvation or a two-step salvation or perhaps a progressive graduated salvation. His imaginary salvation is based on a distortion of John 1:12-13. It goes as follow:
“Scripture teaches that receiving Christ as your personal Savior does not necessarily make you a son of God, but if you choose to do so, the power (authority) and right to do so is present. … Just being saved does not make you a son of God, …only those who are willing to be led by the Spirit actually realize and manifest the sonship of God.”37
So in Jakes’ view being a son is not something you are, it is only something you can opt to manifest. His teaching is more at home with that of the late cult leader Herbert W. Armstrong, than with orthodoxy.38
Jakes does not realize how nonsensical he sounds when he says one can be saved and not be a son of God. Does he not realize that the terms are interchangeable and that one really means the other? Being “saved” and “being a son of God” are one in the same. The moment we exercise faith in Jesus and accept Him, we are sons. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ,” Galatians 3:26 declares.
Jakes confounds and distorts the salvation process by making a distinction between accepting Jesus as Savior and being a son of God. He says that these are different states arrived at in different ways. The Bible does not recognize Jakes’ false dichotomy.
The truth of Scripture regarding the riches of our salvation is summarized by Thomas R. Edgar:
“Every person who believes in Jesus Christ has their sins forgiven and is immediately justified. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer immediately upon salvation. Every believer has access to God in prayer and has other believers available for fellowship, edification, and counsel. Every Christian has all of this immediately upon justification.”39
If we were to believe Jakes, we would have to believe that receiving Christ and being saved are one thing (doing very little if anything for you, except for being a first step) and being a son of God is something entirely different that you can choose or not choose to become. So you can be “saved” but not really saved. When you decide to be led by the Spirit you then manifest son-ship.
Romans 8:1 indicates, however, that walking in the Spirit is something you can and will do because you are already a son of God. Walking in the Spirit is a privilege and the manifestation of sons. Jakes totally misunderstands and confuses salvation and sanctification.”

So Jakes believes that being saved DOESN’T make me a son of God?
HUH?
I would ask Jakes to read this from Scripture:

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

So to those of you within orthodox Christianity, and ESPECIALLY the folks from the Elephant Room conference, why are you so eager to welcome TD Jakes into the fold?
Ask yourself these questions:

1. Has Jakes repented and publicly stated he’s changed his view on the Gospel?
2. Has Jakes removed the sale of his book from Amazon since it clearly confuses salvation and sanctification?
3. Why did it take a pay-per-view event like this for Jakes to come clean if he has changed his view on the Trinity?
4. Why didn’t he come forward publicly about his new ‘Trinitarian’ stance when he prayerfully realized he was in error?
5. IF Questions 1 and 2 are answered with a ‘No.’, then should I support TD Jakes? Should I welcome him into the church universal as a orthodox, biblical teacher?

I think it should be obvious by now that if TD Jakes was wrong on the Trinity, wrong on the Gospel, and such a huge proponent of the prosperity gospel (which is not THE Gospel, but is instead a false one), then there is no excuse for Driscoll and MacDonald welcoming TD Jakes into the evangelical fold.
I smell a wolf.
 http://apprising.org/2012/01/29/td-jakes-bad-theology-isnt-limited-to-the-trinity/

FINDING GAY-AFFIRMING CHURCHES AND ‘RESPECTING’ GAY RIGHTS
As previously reported, during an interview with the Huffington Post last Monday, Jakes was asked by a viewer if he believes that homosexuals and the black church can co-exist.
“Absolutely,” he replied.

“An obvious yes; the Church ain’t turning nobody away,” interviewer Marc Lamont Hill added. “How should the black church and the LGBT community co-exist?”
“I think it is going to be diverse from church to church. Every church has a different opinion on the issue and every gay person is different,” Jakes replied. “And I think that to speak that the church—the black church, the white church or any kind of church you wanna call it—are all the same, is totally not true.”
Jakes said that he thinks homosexuals should find congregations that affirm their lifestyle.
 http://christiannews.net/2015/08/10/t-d-jakes-shocked-after-theology-called-into-question-following-remarks-respecting-gay-rights
Essentially, Jakes fumbles the Gospel in his book, ‘The Harvest’. In this book on pp. 46-47 Jakes confuses salvation and sanctification. Here’s the quote from the article:
He then goes on to propose the strangest Gospel to come down the pike in a while. Jakes’ view can be called a two-tiered salvation or a two-step salvation or perhaps a progressive graduated salvation. His imaginary salvation is based on a distortion of John 1:12-13. It goes as follow:
“Scripture teaches that receiving Christ as your personal Savior does not necessarily make you a son of God, but if you choose to do so, the power (authority) and right to do so is present. … Just being saved does not make you a son of God, …only those who are willing to be led by the Spirit actually realize and manifest the sonship of God.”37

So in Jakes’ view being a son is not something you are, it is only something you can opt to manifest. His teaching is more at home with that of the late cult leader Herbert W. Armstrong, than with orthodoxy.38 Coleman asks Jakes how important it is for Christians to believe in the Trinity. Jakes responds:

I think it's very, very significant that we first of all study the Trinity apart from salvation, and first of all that we embrace Christ and come to him to know who he is. Having come to know who he is, then we begin to deal with the Trinity, which I believe is a very complex issue. The Trinity, the term 'Trinity,' is not a biblical term, to begin with.
It's a theological description for something that is so beyond human comprehension that I'm not sure that we can totally hold God to a numerical system. The Lord said, "Behold, O Israel, the Lord thy God is one, and beside him there is no other." When God got ready to make a man that looked like him, he didn't make three. He made one man. However, that one man had three parts. He was body, soul, and spirit. We have one God, but he is Father in creation, Son in redemption, and Holy Spirit in regeneration.

 http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/february7/5.58.html

     Many follow such a man because of sentimental Christianity, following such men do to their ability to sound good, sound godly, but do not take the time to examine what is being preached. Do not fall into this group, be a man, a woman and investigate for yourself and see if what is being taught is the Gospel. God will bless your efforts in ways you will not fully understand for this is the command of God for Christians. 

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,
     my soul shall be joyful in my God;
for He hath clothed me with the garments 
     of salvation, He hath covered me with
the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom
     decketh himself with ornaments, an as 
a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
                   Isaiah 61:10

Manifest True Worship of God   

Richard L. Crumb

Turning From False Faith To True Authentic Christian Faith

But shun profane and vain babblings;

for they will increase unto more

ungodliness. And their word will eat

as a canker....

2Timothy 2:16-17a

     In our everyday speech probably we would not use the word "profane" although we use its cognate, "profanity." What does "profane" mean? The Greek word means "unholy", or as our dictionary defines the word: Showing irreverence toward God or sacred things, blasphemous, coarse or vulgar, unholy. The word "shun" means to keep from, or to take pains to avoid. We must actively stay away from those who are teaching ungodly things, heresy for their teaching will eat away at your faith turning your faith from that which is of God to another gospel, another faith. This requires study, study of God's word, prayer for God will answer this prayer and as you study will guide you to the truth, that is, if you are really open to know the truth, if not: do not expect God's help. 

     Many people have turned from the true faith to a faith that is ear tickling, pleasing, easy to accept, and have little knowledge of the truth for they have blindly accepted what they want to hear. Oh, we may see them as what they are, frivolous, and we see them increase and if look at intently, with true investigation what is found that they are teaching ungodliness while professing Christianity.

     One problem that stands out is that those heretics use Scripture and if you are not studying Scripture you will accept their version of Scripture as truth. Far too often these heretics are given sanction by other Church leaders so long as they at least teach about the Trinity, and do other things that most Churches do, but in fact these heretics are frauds plotting our heresy under a name not its own, and often attempt to use ancient worthy documents that have some vagueness, some obscurity by means of the writer's own doctrine. Some of these heretics teach that they are the first or even the only ones who believe that vague belief that they are advancing, as though they but some providential guide they now have a "secret," or, some "key" to the Scriptures that have been long lost. An example is Mary Baker Eddy, who wrote "Key to the Scripture" promoting her doctrine that is not Scriptural, rather is founded upon some mysticism. Another example: Jehovah Witnesses who follow Charles Taze Russel who promoted his form of doctrine that taught against Scripture when it comes to the subject of hell, and other reasons that led him to teach a heretical view even of Jesus Christ who he has led people to believe that He is not God, but a god, a created being, and have rewritten the Bible using the Critical Text, because that text supports their doctrine. It is interesting that when I ask current Jehovah Witnesses who is Charles Taze Russel they do not know. Mormons are another example for they teach that God has a body, in other words, they anthropromorphize God making Him a man, and that the soul has existed forever (Doctrine and Covenants), and have misled many to this heresy that is not found in the Bible.

     We ought, with great fear, to dread the sin of altered and polluted faith, a crime from which we are deterred not only by the teaching of the Church's constitution but also by the authority of apostolic censure. We can know how serious this is, how grave, how vehemently, the blessed apostle Paul inveighs against certain doctrines and people who are promoting their theology who are calling people into a gospel that is not the Gospel (Galatians 1:6-7). Paul even mentions the names of some who were teaching heresy. We too can mention names of those who are teaching a gospel that is not the Gospel of Scripture. We we know this we are to shun them and teach against them, helping people to return to Authentic Christian Faith. Those who are following such heresies are making a shipwreck of their faith and rejecting a good conscience. 

     These men who teach falsely, heresy, are filling their bellies, and filling the minds and ears of those who are seeking the truth with cancerous facts as though they are truth. These men are capturing weak people, often weak women, weak men, weak children, and this they do with fair acceptable to the ears speeches: "For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of he  truth" (2Timothy 3:6-7). Men, you are to be the leaders of your home, your wife, your children must learn the truth and this is your responsibility. Paul is clear about this: "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but no to doubtful disputations" (Romans 14:1). 

     These men who teach heresy are not going to go far, no, God will judge them, as He will judge all men, (Revelations 20). These men who are gathering wealth, fancy cars, airplanes, mansions, with all the finest and expensive furniture and trappings, all making them feel good about themselves at your expense if you are following them. What about that preacher of a small congregation who too is teaching heresy? Shun him, run from him, run to the truth, take time to study to show yourself a workman of God. 

     As we go about life, working on our jobs, taking care of home, family, going on vacations (Which is a good thing from time to time to do), live according to Scripture then and then only will you have blessings unfolded, manifold, full of meaning, and when you will be of use to God for your conscience is clear, you are guided by the Holy Spirit as you study and apply His word. 

Who is the wise man? 

    and who knoweth the

interpretation of a thing?

    a man's wisdom maketh

his face to shine, and the

    boldness of his face shall 

be changed. I counsel thee

   to keep the king's commandment, 

and that in regard of the oath of God.

     Be not hasty to go out of His sight:

stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth

    whatsoever pleaseth Him.

                     Ecclesiastes 8:1-3

Run, run, from error

Richard L. Crumb

What Does It Mean To Study? Hardship Or Blessing?

Study to shew thyself approved

unto God, a workman that 

needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word

of truth.

2Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

     When we think of "study" we may have deprecation because we associate that word with School, and that may or may not have good memories or just bring back the time spent in "study." Grades were important then so "study" was important but as we grew into adulthood "study" took on another meaning or just something to be avoided unless somehow necessary such as in work. In this culture parents are busy running children to and fro, to this dance class, or soccer practice, going to games, trying to find a little "down" time so a person could relax: study does not even come to mind and if it did, you would do as many of us have done: shun the thought. I'll get my knowledge from the preacher when I go to hear a sermon: that is enough! I'm tired! I have been that way myself! Then, I realized that my priorities were askew. Time to examine myself, my prioities. 

     The Greek word translated as "study" may be good but does not tell us what the word in Greek: σπούδασον, an imperative. second person singular, 1aorist, means, so let us examine this word so we get the full understanding of it so we can follow the word of God. This Greek word means to use speed, to make an effort, to be prompt, or earnest, to exert oneself, to endeavor , to give diligence. It is used in many ways in the New Testament: to be diligent, to be found in peace without fault and blameless, let us labor, of making our calling and election sure. So, it is more than sitting down with a text book and pouring over the pages in study. This word is imperative, in other words, it is a command, not a suggestion. 

     If you cannot express yourself, and if you cannot defend your faith (1Peter 2:15) on any subject, (it might be politics, or cooking, or gardening, or working on a car, etc.,) and if it is important to you then you must struggle until you can express yourself. If you do not then you will be poorer all your days of your life. Take time to re-express yourself in regards to some truth of God to yourself, and here is an important part of this study: God will use that expression your gain, this illumination, to someone else. God will use what you put in to your mind for His purpose and if you put nothing in your mind about God, then God will not use you. God will not call to your mind that which is not already in your mind. You must go through the winepress of God, just as grapes must go through the winepress before they become wine. Yes, you will have to struggle so you get the expression experimentally, and then this "wine" of strengthening will become the "wine" of strength for someone else. Now, if you refuse and say: "I will not go through this struggle, I am busy enough already, and I will borrow, or get from a sermon only, what I will express, to myself, or to others, you, and this expression will not only be of no use to you, but of no use to anyone else. You do not have to become a theologian, no, but you must study diligently so you can express your faith to anyone who will ask, and by your life a person(s) may then just ask: why? Then you will be of use to express your faith. What to you explicitly state to be God's truth? If you have diligently studied God's word, and this may mean going to Bible studies, sermons, etc., and personal study, then you are giving God a chance to use you to pass this truth to someone else. Remember we are not left on earth after our conversion to Jesus Christ, to just say that we are "Christian" and then just go about doing everything but study, diligent study of God's word. 

     Always make it a practice of provoking your own mind to think out what it accepts easily. Our position on a subject is not ours until we make it ours and this may, probably will, cause suffering. Study what the pastor has preached, make sure that you are benefited, not just telling you what you did not know before, but the one who give expression to the truth that has been dumbly struggling in you for utterance. 

     We hear so much soft preaching, teaching, and easy to accept verses that make us feel good, or cause some sort of sentimentality in us, and in some sense making Jesus to be a "teddy bear," or One who is sitting by to give us prosperity, a job, money, health, etc., that we forget that we are eternally saved and that while we are on earth our job is to "study" to make sure of what is being told to us, and then, to take the truth, the Gospel to our world. Be a workman who has studied diligently God's word and be of use however you can, however God providentially will use you. Here is a blessing that cannot be measured.

Keep thy heart with all diligence;

     for out of it are the issues of life.

                   Proverbs 4:23

My son, attend unto my wisdom,

     and bow thine ear in my understanding.

                   Proverbs 5:1

Set time aside to study

Richard L.Crumb  

Becoming A Watchman Approved Unto God

Of these things put them in remembrance,

charging them before the Lord that they

 strive no about words to no profit,

but to the subverting of the hearers.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workmen that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the words of truth. But

shun profane and vain babblings; for they

will increase unto more ungodliness.

and their word will eat as doeth a canker:

of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

who concerning the truth have erred,

saying that the resurrection is past

already: and overthrow the faith of some.

2Timothy 2:14-18

EVERY PERSON CLAIMING TO BE A CHRISTIAN SAYS THAT THEY HAVE THE TRUTH! ALL CLAIMING THIS USE SCRIPTURE TO PROVE THEIR THEOLOGY.  

WHO HAS THE TRUTH? HOW CAN I KNOW?     

     I will take some excerpts from: "The commonitory" written by Vincent of Lerins probably around the year 434 A.D. because he wrote about the time of the Council of Ephesus that took place in 431 A.D. This problem of determining who speaks the truth is an old age problem as can be seen by the opening verses by Paul. We must use a Standard Test for Orthodoxy as we examine Scripture in light of what a person teaches and preaches saying that it is "truth." To do this one must study as Paul admonishes and this requires an earnest and diligent inquiry about the men who seem to have an outstanding holiness and learning, seeking to know if this is true so we can assure ourselves of the truth of the catholic (universal) faith and in regards to the falsity of heretical perversity.  We need to be able to unmask the frauds of heretics as they arise, and avoid their snares which is an unhealthy faith so that we would remain sound and whole. First then, is to fortify faith by divine law and then by traditions of the catholic (universal) Church.This is the rubric therefore; we do not put traditions ahead of divine law. It may be asked: "Since the canon of the Scriptures are complete, abundantly sufficient for every purpose, is there a need to add to it the authority of the Church's interpretation? Scripture has a depth to it causing it not to be received by all in one and the same sense, making its declaration subject to interpretation and their are as many interpretations as there are men. For this reason it is very necessary that, on account of so great intricacies of such varied error, the line used in exposition of the prophets and apostles be made straight in accordance with the standard of ecclesiastical and catholic (universal) interpretation. Likewise the catholic (universal) Church must take special care so that they hold to that which has been received, believed everywhere, always, and by all men. Some will object and will only use Scripture and remember this is the first part of the rubric for the Standard to know Orthodoxy. Remember the words of Paul who at his writing did not have the New Testament, but did have the Old Testament and the testament in regards to history of the Jewish people and used this when he wrote to Timothy: "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shall both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (1Timothy 4:16). What doctrine? Paul spoke the doctrine to the Church that Jesus Christ was God, the Son of God, died, rose again, and ascended into heaven and that all believers must follow the commands set forth by the Old Testament in regards to the Ten Commandments for the other laws instituted were no longer in affect, and in regards to the words of Jesus Christ. So Paul followed the Standard Test for true Orthodoxy. 

     We have a Rule for Evaluating Dissent. This is necessary in our investigation to find the truth for is some part of the Church, some preacher or teacher cuts themselves apart from the communion of the universal faith is only cause the of the health of the whole body of the Church to be diseased and injured. This contagion is an attempt to infect not only some, but the whole of the Church. Therefore we must watch out so that you or whoever, will not be led astray. If this falsity, or heresy be exposed then an Authentic Christian will carefully oppose this rashness or ignorance. We do have decrees from men of antiquity to examine the universality of a doctrine and even if we do not have a decree to examine in regards to some teaching that is being examined we will take time to examine and investigate the view of our forefathers and compare them with each other. What then is discovered, not with one or two alone, but all together, with one and the same agreement, openly, often, and continually, have held, have written,have taught, let him understand that he must believe this without any hesitation. All this is first, second, thirdly, and more, having been Standardized by Scripture rightly exegeted, rightly understood in its original language, then by the traditions, or history we can rightly accept a person's doctrine or teaching. 

     You say that you do not have time for all this? Time is hard to keep and to be set aside for this, but, time is in your control. You determine what is your priority. There may by necessity an adjustment in the use of your time. It would be good to read, the Bible, other books, not just books about your denomination or belief, but books written by men who may not hold to what you believe. If you do not know both sides of an argument how then can you know if you have the truth? You, your spouse, your children, relatives, friends, and others are depending upon you. Will you let all this go down the drain just so that you do not have to be bothered? I pray that this is not the case. I attempt in these blogs to bring to you the truth, use Scripture and define the Greek and Hebrew so that a full understanding may be reached. Check me out! If you do not agree, write a comment. Steel sharpens steel!

But if the watchman see the 

    sword come and blow not

trumpet, and the people be 

    not warned; if the sword

come, and take any person

    from among them, he is

taken away in his iniquity;

     but his blood will I require 

at the watchman's hand.

                 Ezekiel 33:6

You are called to be a watchman

Richard L. Crumb

 

Denial Strikes Both Ways

It is a faithful saying:

For if we be dead with Him:

if we suffer, we shall also

reign with Him: if we deny Him,

He also will deny us: if we 

believe not, yet he abideth 

faithful: He cannot deny Himself.

2Timothy 2:11-13

  

     Let me break down this verse so we can gain a better and more thorough understanding. The Greek is explicitly clear that if the word is faithful, and that, as the Greek word denotes: "If we died together with (Him)" and how is this possible for we, at least the chances are very slim, that we would die on a cross  with Him for He has already died on the cross, so, the meaning is this: that we must have converted to Jesus Christ and be living as an image of Him by denying ourselves as though we are already dead, at least we would be dead to this world and its culture. Next, If this is our life, then, we have an eternal life to live with Him as He has promised. Now, for the word "suffer," the Greek means to remain, to bear up under, to endure, suffer patiently. Furthermore it means to remain constant, to persevere. We are not to be idle, to passively sit aside believing that all that occurs while having been recorded that it would happen and use this as an excuse for not following Scripture when it clearly teaches that we are to be active, active in bringing the Gospel to the world.  Some are active only in seeking a Church where they can find some sort of sentimentality or euphoric experience which is very narcistic. Bob Marely in his song "Redemption Song," speaks of such who would use such an excuse and then do nothing, or very little. If we remain, persevere and this is necessary for this world is in opposition to Jesus Christ, to Christians, Authentic Christians, for why would they openly oppose those who call themselves Christian and yet do not follow Scripture and make all kinds of excuses for why they have allowed the world's culture to permeate their Church, and their doctrine. If we expect to live together with Jesus Christ then we must be ready to deny ourselves and to deny ourselves is to remove from us this world's culture and follow obediently Scripture. No matter whether or not we or anyone is faithful, or has become unfaithful Jesus remains the same, Faithful for Jesus Christ cannot deny Himself. Why? He is God! God cannot deny Himself! God is God! Jesus is the Second Person in the Godhead! Jesus became man but He also is God for God by means of the Holy Spirit placed Himself, the Word, His Wisdom into the virgin Mary so that by this act God could satisfy the debt man could not pay Himself. Jesus is faithful, so, why are we not faithful? If we say we are Christian then we must live as a Christian and remove from us the stench of this world. Yes, we will have to persevere, yes, we will have to endure, or suffer in our endurance as we follow Him and not some other doctrine that is not the Gospel. Do not fear him who could kill the body, fear Him who can kill both body and soul (Matthew 10:28). 

     Let us not forget: By means of Jesus Christ, His death, resurrection and ascension into heaven, death is, not will be, but is abolished. The power of death is abolished, the sting of death is abolished for the Authentic Christian. Death has become the friend of an Authentic Christian for it is the gate into heaven, to eternal life which no man can take away, even God has promised not to take away this eternal life. Jesus Christ has opened up another world a world whereby happiness resides and that happiness is eternal. We have nothing to fear for then can no longer triumph. We must entrust our souls, our lives, our eternal interests to Jesus Christ who is our deposit, our surety that we have all that He has stated that His bride would have upon their leaving this world and entering into heaven. 

     We must commit to Jesus Christ. Commit what? The salvation of our souls, and that they are preserved to be in the heavenly kingdom, and He is faithful so that what we will keep: He will keep. There is coming a day in which we will give an account to God for our lives, this is a solemn and dreadful day. Will God find you faithful to His cause? To whom are you offering your life, your soul? Is God or Satan? The answer is in your, mine, obedience, and active obedient faith, denial of oneself and a commitment to Jesus Christ. Our hope is an assured hope for Jesus Christ rose from the dead, sits at the right hand of the Father and makes intercession eternally for all that God has given to Him. We have now learned more about the meaning of the opening Scripture and have a better understanding so we now know and understand the value and the dangers of our souls. We who have committed to Jesus Christ also know and have experienced the truth about Jesus Christ, what is expected and the truth that Jesus Christ is compassionate and will answer our prayers, prayers that are not just about our needs, but prayer that is worship to our God, our Great King Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ, and I am persuaded and hope this is true of you, that He will preserve us to His heavenly kingdom. This world is not my home, I am just a passing through, my treasures lay up somewhere in the blue.

In whose hand is the soul of 

    every living thing, and the

breath of all mankind. Doth

    not the ear try words?

and the mouth taste his meat?

    With the ancient is wisdom;

and in length of days understanding.

    With Him is wisdom and strength,

He hath counsel and understanding.

                Job 12:10-13

Obedience: the sign of authenticity

Richard L. Crumb

How To Receive Fruit From Your Labor

The husbandman that laboureth must be

first partaker of the fruits. Consider what

I say; and the Lord give the understanding

in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ

of the seed of David was raised from 

the dead according to my gospel;

wherein I suffer trouble, as in evildoer,

even unto bonds; but the word of God

is not bound. Therefore I endure all 

things for the elect's sakes, that they

may also obtain the salvation which is in

Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 

2Timothy 2:6-10

      The precedent that must be considered is: A laborer must labor before he is allowed to take of the fruits. Sounds simple but is often a rule that is not followed and may so-called pastors receive way above what they have labored for for God will not reward any pastors because they are pastors, no, God will reward the laborer, although many people advance a pastor even though they misuse their office of leadership and pastor office.  You may have heard of, and I have investigated those famous and prominent pastors and have found that they are very rich, in the millions, and it is not that they are rich that is all the problem, it is the money they receive is money given by others so that the pastor can labor to bring the truth to a lost and dying world. More often this idle, in the sense of not laboring correctly, are proud and show it be buying mansions, expensive products, preaching prosperity is a gift of God that all can reach for and receive. God gives gifts, no doubt, but the gifts that God gives is not for a person to just prosper, for the gift of knowledge and ability is to be used for family, and for other Christians and to extend to the world wherever it is possible. 

     All ministers must be faithful and advance the kingdom of God, not their pocketbook, not teaching and preaching a gospel that is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul instructs Timothy to not deliver anything other than what he had taught to Timothy, and what did Timothy receive? The Gospel that Jesus Christ was of the seed of David making Jesus in line with David and all those whom God had used from the line of Judah, God's elected people to lead His people. Furthermore, Paul reminds Timothy and us, that Jesus died and rose from the grave and from this resurrection then the debt owed to God was satisfied and by this satisfaction God through Jesus Christ would call and enable people to be of the bride of Jesus Christ and have their sins absolved. This is the Gospel, not some preaching that tickles the ears and teaches that success and prosperity are signs that a person is in favor with God. No, Paul was in bonds, and this was a different bonding as a prisoner this time for no longer was Paul attached to a guard, no, Paul was in chains, bound to prison and awaiting the swing of the sword that would behead him. We, do not have to have such imprisonment, but we are to follow this example that nothing can separate us from the love of God so that when we are hounded by hateful and deceitful people, persecuted in some way because of our faithfulness to Jesus Christ, we can stand the heat, stand for the truth, knowing that by the resurrection of Jesus Christ we too will rise again to be with Him eternally. 

     You, as an Authentic Christian having Authentic Christian Faith are soldiers for the Gospel and we must not allow ourselves to become entangled in the affairs of this world. We have no need to drive for prosperity as though this is God's blessing. If God allows you to be successful it is so that you can use your success to further the Gospel. Why else would God allow this? Why are you on the earth if you are going to heaven when you die? Why did not God, since heaven is where you are going, take you immediately to heaven when you converted to Jesus Christ?  God has not left you here to strive for temporary things, no, God has allowed you to be left here in this evil world to bring to this evil world the Gospel. We do not know who the elect are, so, we take the Gospel to the world knowing that by the Gospel God's elect hears it, and responds to the Gospel. We are still being bombarded by the lusts and corruptions that attack our faith, our ability to stand firm for the truth, but we have no reason to fail for the Holy Spirit resides in all of God's children and speaks to our souls, to our thinking, and reminding us of what God has spoken through His word. It is like a computer, our minds, what goes in comes out, in other words, garbage in, garbage out, the truth in the truth out. We must exercise our faith and by this exercising our faith grows, just like our muscles grow when we exercise them and by this labor we too are able to receive the fruits of our labor. The fruits are not just for those in leadership, fruits are for the laborer. Be a laborer! What fruit will you receive by you faithful labor? Eternal life! Yes, it is already there but as written: "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, ye shall never fall" (2Peter 1:10).

     Today, make out your agenda for the day and be sure to include how, when, and where you will labor for the Gospel. We are to become the image of Jesus Christ and He took the Gospel to everyone, everywhere He went, so as an image of Jesus Christ we are to imitate Him. This is a privilege that God would us us, a sinner, saved, by Him, to take the truth about Him to the world. It is a privilege to see people change the course of their evil lives to become living children of God. This blessing cannot be measured, for God is bringing home all of His children, and we have this blessing to be part of His work. 

So I was great, and increased more than

    all that were before me in Jerusalem:

also my wisdom remained with me.

     And whatsoever mine eyes desired I 

kept not from them, I withheld not my 

    heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced

in all my labour: and this was my portion

    of all my labor. 

Then I looked on all the works that my hands

    had wrought, and on the labour that I had 

laboured to do; and, behold, all was vanity 

    and vexation of spirit, and there was no

profit under the sun.

                Ecclesiastes 2:9-11

Labor for the Gospel

Richard L. Crumb

Our Greatest Taskmaster: Hard And Demanding: But Loving!

Thou therefore hardness, 

as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

No man that warreth entangleth

himself with the affairs of this life: 

that he may please him who hath 

 who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

And if a man also strive

for masteries, yet is he not crowned,

except he strive lawfully.

2Timothy 2:3-5

     The greatest taskmaster of all time is Jesus Christ. Unlike many Churches and many people who attend a Church, they are looking for a sentimental form of Christianity, or they are in a Church that promises and teaches prosperity, and many other such doctrines that make a person feel as though they are doing the will of God. What is not taught in any depth at all is that Jesus Christ is the greatest taskmaster and if a person has truly converted to Jesus Christ he is led by this great taskmaster. Hear the words of Jesus: Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven....He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:32-33; 37-38). The words of Jesus are harsh, demanding, and very clear, if we are not putting the highest priority of our lives Jesus Christ we are not worthy to be called one of His bride. 

    A soldier in the day of Paul had to endure hardship and were treated a little more than a beast of burden. A soldier is under a taskmaster and is known as a good soldier for he obeys the taskmaster no matter how hard a situation may be. Our trials of this life, whether we caused it, or caused by others is a part of life and we need to grow stronger and have our resolutions so fixed upon Jesus Christ our leader that we follow Him no matter what. We cannot do this under our own strength, by our own mental gymnastics, no we follow our leader because He know the way and has the ability to correct or handle any situation. A soldier is faithful to the cause and we as Authentic Christians are to be faithful to the cause. And what is this cause? "What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops" (Matthew 10:27). A good soldier makes sure that his uniform is clean, pressed with the ironed lines are straight and in the right place, his hair is cut, and his shoes shined. Why? Because this not is a command to do, but for himself/herself, it is a pride that is not prideful, it is pride in a person that knows that he/she is doing what is right. The orders from a superior may not always be understood, but he knows that he has been ordered.

      Yes, the orders are hard for a person because he/she is still sinful, has sinful tendencies and misses the most important part of this hardness that is hardness to a person. God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit do demand certain things, and they seem hard when in fact they are more tender than what a person can conceive, and every now and then He gives us a chance to be that rugged one that He might show His tenderness. If  person cannot follow what is taught plain and clear in Scripture, it is because there is something that that person does not want to give up. Oh, a person may intend to give up something, but intentions are that, intentions and not action. There is no possibility to deal with such a person with sympathy, there must be a deep down, to the root, until there is antagonism and resentment against the message. People want blessing from God, but they will not stand the thing that goes straight to the quick. 

      Is God having His way with you? If so, then your message as His servant is merciless insistence on the one line, cut down to the very root, of not, then there will be no healing. We must drive home the message until there is no possibility for refuge from its application. Yes, this is the harshness, the hardness of being an Authentic Christian: "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him" (Luke 11:13). It takes the power of the Holy Spirit that resides in all of God's children to be able to do what He commands. God is Loving for He has provided for you Himself to lead and guide you by the Holy Spririt. 

     How can you do this? There must be a sense  of need before your message is of use. If you do not feel the need of a Savior, the need to follow the Savior our great Taskmaster, who is loving, then you will be of no use. Many Christians point to happiness and their morality, well, if this is all that was needed then why did Jesus come to earth, die for sins, if you could do what is needed from your own strength.  This peace and happiness is on the wrong line, the wrong level, Jesus came to send a sword through every peace that is not based on a personal relationship to Him: "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). 

      Stop looking for peace and happiness by what you do, or by the culture of this world. Do you want peace? Well follow the commands of our greatest and loving Taskmaster and peace that is not understandable will come, and you as with a good soldier will have a pride within yourself that you are not only a good soldier but a good person. As a good servant and soldier for God you will manifest God in all you do and by this others may come to know this peace and furthermore will convert to Jesus Christ and be saved by Him.

Let them praise His name in the dance:

    let them sin praises unto him with

and the harp. For the LORD taketh

    pleasure in His people: He will 

beautify the meek with salvation.

                   Proverbs 149:3-4

Put on your marching shoes

Richard L. Crumb 

What Is Heresy? How Can We Know If It Is Heresy?

Hold fast the form of sound words,

which thou hast heard of me,

in faith and love which is in 

Christ Jesus. That good thing which

was committed unto thee keep

by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth 

in us. This thou knowest, that all

they which are in Asia be turned away

from me; of whom are Phygellus

and Hermogenes. The Lord give

mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus;

for he oft refreshed me, and was not

ashamed of my chains: but when he

was in Rome, he sought me out very

diligently, and found me. The Lord

grant unto him that he may find

mercy of the Lord in that day; and

in how many things he ministered 

unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest

very well.

2Timothy 1:13-18

     It would be good before we continue to get an understanding of Hermogenes, Phygellus, and Onesiphorus and why they were pointed out by Paul as those who turned away from Paul. Also, it would be good to refresh our understanding of the word "heresy:" αίρεσις, does not primarily convey an unfavorable idea. What the Greek hearer heard when this word was spoken was: a denoting of a choice, or preference. This word was often used to indicate an adoption of a certain idea, pr philosophical sentiment, and came to signify a sect or a denomination. Paul in Acts 24:14 uses this Greek word for heresy and is translated heresy: that prior to his conversion,says, that, "after the strictest heresy" of his religion he lives as a Pharisee. The early Christians were known as "the heresy of the Nazarenes." In the book of Galatians we learned that heresies were enumerated among the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:20) and the Bible teaches us in regards to erroneous theology as sinful, and traces every deviation from "the one faith" of the Gospel to a darkened and corrupt intellect. Therefore, the Bible, and other ecclesiastical writers, describe all classes of unbelievers, sceptics, and innovators under the general name heretics. 

     So what about the men mentioned in the opening Scripture?  First, it may mean that those men took place in Asia itself following the Neronic persecution and by this they became fearful and forsook the Christian name. In addition to this temptation was also to deny Christ's name and go back to heathenism or to Judaism, and also it is possible to deny and repudiate the authority of Paul. In the Apocryphal works: Acts of Paul and Thecla, chapter 1: "When Paul went up unto Iconium after he fled from Antioch, there journeyed with him Demas and Hermogenes the coppersmith, which were full of hypocrisy, and and flattered Paul as though they loved him." We shall see that others are mentioned as holding onto and teacher error. Many did not like the teachings of Paul, especially his view of marriage and held Paul up to ridicule and disdain. Paul reminds us that we are to hold fast to the form of sound words, those words he taught which are the words of Jesus Christ. 

      When heresy is used today with reference to Christianity, it denotes the formal denial or doubt of a core doctrine of the Christian faith as defined by one or more of the Christian Churches. It should be distinguished from both apostasy and schism, apostasy being nearly always total abandonment of the Christian faith after it has been freely accepted, and schism being a formal and deliberate breach of Christian unity and an offense against charity without being based essentially on doctrine.

     Many preachers today, and many denominations have turned away from sound doctrine of the Christian Faith and are teaching heresy duping people to believe that what they say is truth when in fact it has no warrant in Scripture. Practices that are not Scriptural, have no basis in Scripture are being done so that those who are seeking will see them as good, causing sentimentality to rule, rather that a study of Scripture, sound study, examination, thinking, not just accepting because it sounds good. It is often said that to hold control of people it is necessary to give them something to do so that they feel that they are partners with the teaching. This feeling, relying on feelings outside of the feeling one should have in regards to the truth, their feelings are being manipulated, they are being manipulated. Facts: The words of Jesus are harsh: "deny yourself, even you family, friends, etc., and put Him first, to stop using excuses for reasons to do that which is not Scriptural. Paul wrote: "Thou therefore, my son, be strong n the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (2Timothy 1:12-2). Not strong in what a man has speculated, or taught, be strong in Jesus Christ, and this is only possible if one develops a Biblical relationship with Him.

The pride of thine heart hath

     deceived thee, thou that 

dwellest in the clefts of the rock, 

     whose habitation is high; that

saith in his heart, Who shall bring

     me down to the ground? Though

thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and 

     though thou set they nest among

the stars, thence will I bring thee 

     down, saith the LORD.

                    Obadiah 1:4-5

Hold fast to the received truth

Richard L. Crumb

The Laying On Of Hands: What Does This Mean?

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance 

that thou stir up the gift of God,

which is in thee by the putting on

of my hands. For God hath not

given us the spirit of fear; but of

power, and of love, and of a sound

mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed 

of the testimony of our Lord, nor

of me his prisoner; but be thou

partaker of the afflictions of the

gospel according to the power of

God; who hath saved us, and called 

us with an holy calling, not according

to our works, but according to His

own purpose and grace which was

given us in Christ Jesus before the 

world began, but is now made 

manifest by the appearing of our

Savor Jesus Christ, who hath 

abolished death, and hath brought

life and immortality to light through

the gospel; whereunto I am appointed

a preacher, and an apostle, and a

teacher of the Gentiles. For which

cause I also suffer these things; 

nevertheless I am not ashamed:

for I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded that He is able

to keep that which I have committed

unto Him against that day.

2Timothy 1:6-12

         We find Paul exhorting Timothy to "stir" up the gift of God that was in him; this is true for all Christians to do, "stir" up the gift God has given to you and that gift is salvation from all your sins and eternal life. Paul reminds Timothy that he had laid hands on him and we must understand what this means for some have used these words to infer that they can by some power they have give this power to another by their laying on of hands. Is this true? We must come to understand the Greek word used by Paul so we can fully understand this word, its usage, thereby not falling in to error. The Greek word is:  έπιθέσεως, which is genitive, in other words "of" and a word combining two Greek words: έπι, upon, and
θέσεως from τίθημι a verb which means "to put" as in an appointing to a service, to choose, not to impart some power from person to another as some teach and preach. It is to impose a name (Mark 3:16), to inflict (Acts 16:23; Luke 10:30), to impose with authority (Acts 15:28), to set or fall upon, assail, assault, attack (Acts 18:10). Many misuse this to somehow prove that they are "apostles." In the United States we use a handshake to set something or someone into motion. There have been and are, books, programs to teach a person what gift that God may have given them, this is wrong, if God has given you a gift and your relationship is with God you will know what your gift is and you will be using it. It may be that what you are doing is not seen as a gift but you are having success, well, maybe, just maybe this is your gift from God. Remember as a being, a human being you have certain talents and gifts and God can use those talents or gifts in His service. Just be ready to be used by God and not tell Him what you are willing to do, or by what gift you will serve Him.

    In the early Church God used extraordinary gifts and this was necessary to assist the Church in its infancy but as the Church grew in knowledge, as the Bible was set forth as the inspired word of God, which it is if you do any critical research you will come to the same conclusion, and those extraordinary gifts ceased. Some have attempted to reinstitute those extraordinary gifts as though God is now using them again, but there is no Scriptural warrant for such teaching. Paul instructed Timothy to use his gifts, and we too are instructed to use our gifts, thereby bringing the Gospel to your world. Fear often causes a person not to use a gift, or they have decided that the work they are doing is enough showing that by this usefulness they are actually Christian. This is wrong: you are a Christian because you have believed upon Jesus Christ, heeded the calling of God, converted yourself to Him, and all you do is the result of your faith in Him. Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel, and all the persecutions that came to him due to his belief in Jesus Christ. Are you? Are you ashamed of being a Christian and will succumb to pressure by those who are not Christian? Are you so ashamed of the Gospel that you are not willing to speak to others about it, maybe in fear of retribution? Authentic Christians have the Holy Spirit residing in them ready to guide and assist a person so that there is not need of timidity or cowardly dispositions, or of slavish discouraging fears. 

      Are you persuaded and by this persuasion committed to Jesus Christ? You souls are saved and preserved to the heavenly kingdom, and by the promises of God you are secure because God always keeps His promises. This knowledge should make you strong in faith, in works to always put God first, and to do all things to bring glory to God. Nothing should be able to separate you from your gifts, and nothing can separate you from the love of God. It is our returning love to God that we are not idle, but we are willing to be used by God. Don't look for gifts: Look to God and praise Him for He has given to you a gift of eternal life, salvation, and this is never to be taken from you, no matter what happens in this life. Use your natural talents, use the gifts of God that you have come to use, seek only to be used, seek only God, His Son Jesus Christ, live for Him, and the Holy Spirit (God) Who is residing in you will give you grace and peace until that day when you will be called home.

Be strong and of a good courage;

     for unto this people shalt thou

divide for an inheritance the land,

     which I sware unto their faithers

to give them. Only be thou strong 

    and very courageous, that thou

mayest observe to do according

    to all the law, which Moses my

servant commanded thee: turn not

    from it to the right hand or to 

the left, that mayest prosper

     whithersoever thou goest.

                Joshua 1:6-7

God is able to keep you

Richard L. Crumb