Our Responsibility: To Examine All Who Teach And Preach.

If any man among you seem to be

religious and bridleth not his tongue,

but deceiveth his own heart, this

man's religion is vain. Pure religion

and undefiled before God and the
Father in this, to visit the fatherless

and widows in their affliction, and to

keep himself unspotted from the world.

James 1:26-27

     A the early Church grew in numbers of Christians and numbers of Churches problems arose, not only from the Gnostics, the Judaizers, but from those who taught heresy and falseness so that they could have the most esteemed place among the congregants. Oh! These men talked a good talk, even sounded to be Christian, even Scriptural, but upon examination it was found that they did not hold to the truth of Scripture. This problem exists today as many teachers and preachers shout, scream, act drunk, and teach a supernatural mysticism (Bethel Church in Redding is a good example of this) and have come to be very rich, drive the most luxurious cars, and have the most luxurious homes, clothing, go on expensive vacations and all the while decrying that the poor are so needy and people need to do more, and all the while they live in opposition to what they say. In other words: they "speak with forked tongues," and they "speak out both sides of their mouths at the same time." Here are some facts to be considered:

  The average salary for a lead pastor in a megachurch is $147,000, according to a recent survey.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/46779/#SMdGBDq5XbXvfb1r.99

  It is sometimes argued that only a small portion of every person's donation ends up as part of the huge salaries of such ministry heads. That is true, but that is not the point. Why must those ministry heads receive so much money, especially money that is given to help those suffering in deep poverty? If what they are doing is justifiable and they aren't ashamed of it, I challenge them to report their salaries openly in their ministry magazines along side the photos of starving children. If they did, is it possible that donations might drop? Not only are these individuals accountable before God for their exorbitant salaries, but so are the boards of directors who set their salaries.

    It could be argued that we have no right to judge these ministry heads, because we don't know what they are doing with the sizable salaries they receive. Perhaps they are giving all their money away. But we do have some idea of what they are doing with their money from looking at their lifestyles. And if they wanted to give a significant percentage of their salaries away, they would do it simply by taking a lesser salary, because that would enable them to give away much more---due to the fact that they must pay taxes on their incomes. Being in the highest tax brackets, as much as half of what they receive goes to income taxes. Thus they could give away considerably more by taking smaller salaries and designating the reduced portion to charity. By doing so, they might also give unbelievers less reason to be offended at the gospel, those who otherwise might cynically reject it, convinced that those who proclaim it are only in it for the money. These ministry heads know that their salaries are a matter of public record. And before anyone judges me for being judgmental, please read my article, "Judge Not." Christ commanded us to judge all spiritual leaders (Matt. 7:15-23).

Joyce Meyer, for example, lives like a queen. The St. Louis Dispatch reported, "Minutes of ministry board meetings show that for 2002 and 2003, the board approved compensation packages of up to $900,000 for Joyce Meyer and up to $450,000 for her husband." More recently, she and her board cut her salary to a humble $250,000, but she formed a private for-profit company from which she now receives royalties from her many books, royalties that were previously received by her ministry (see: www.ministrywatch.org/mw2.1/F_SumRpt.asp?EIN=431382734). http://crossbearer-brian.tripod.com/id277.htm

     The average citizen of the United States earns approximately $45,000 per year. This begs the question: Why do these wealthy men and women supposedly preaching God's word (Some are, but most are preaching a gospel that is not the Gospel, rather a prosperity gospel as though man can cause or make God give to them by their works, or even by their "faith." Should not a Church leader live as to what the Bible says a Christian is to live? Yes! It is not that they might receive large sums it is what they do with that money. Is it large homes, expensive, cars, airplanes, etc. We can see that this is the case for many of those so-called Christian preachers. Our life, by our working and producing a product may make us to be rich, and this is ok, for a man made this occur by his production. A preacher has a responsibility to do what God's leaders, and Christians are to do: take care of the needy, the homeless, the sick, widows, and care for the children of those who are left orphan (did we not vow this when that child was baptized?) 

     Leaders of the Church are to keep themselves free from the world and cause nothing to bring reproach upon Jesus Christ, His Church. Are thses so-called "TV evangelists," other prosperity and famous preachers doing that: it is up to us to examine them and to know for sure that the Gospel is what is leading them in all they do and say. Check out your Church, your Church leaders, do they have a program to care for the needy and others who need support? Are you involved in aiding those and ensuring that the congregation is doing what Jesus commanded us to do within our Churches? Our responibility is not to ourselves, but to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

Give therefore they servant an

     understanding heart to judge

thy people, that I may discern

    between good and bad: for who

is able to judge this they so great

   a people?

                   1Kings 3:9

Check the gospel you hear? 

Richard L. Crumb

     

A Christian Life Is Active: Not Passive

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers

only, deceiving your own selves. For if any

be a hearer of the word, and not a doer,

he is like unto a man beholding his natural

face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way, and straightway 

forgetteth what manner of man he was.

But whose looketh into the perfect law

of liberty, and continueth therein, he

being not a forgetful hearer, but a 

doer of the work, this man 

shall be blessed in his deed.

James 1:22-25

     Yesterday in the blog I asked the question: "What is this thing conversion?" Conversion is an act, action, not simply something a person receives upon becoming a child of God. Faith in Jesus Christ is the beginning of your life in Christ for by faith you believed that Jesus is Who He says He is, and that what He says is possible by your faith in Him, that is just the beginning of your Christian life. To convert is is to change into something different. To change from one use to another. And example is that a person going to Europe and wants to use a hairdryer must understand that in Europe the electricity is DC and in the United States it is AC. The two types of electricity are not compatible. So what is a person to do? How can a person convert DC into AC? How can there be a change from one thing to another? You must have a converter. Plug the converter into the DC socket and then it is converted into AC which will run the hairdryer. Conversion is to modify so as to serve a different function. Before your faith in Jesus Christ, this free gift of God, and activated by you hearing the word of God and believing upon Jesus Christ as your Savior you were one thing in opposition to God and now you are in the mode of change from that to a life that is based, not on this world's culture, but on the commands and precepts of God found in His word. As the converter had to be plugged into the DC socket, and it will not do it itself, you too must plug into Jesus Christ and be converted. This active, not passive. For the hairdryer to do its purpose it must be turned on, so with you. If you are to fulfill the purpose that God has for you, and that purpose is first to live according to His word, you must "turn on" and then you are able to fulfill your purpose. 

     Conversion means that you lay aside all filthiness and receive the word of God. Then, now that you have plugged into Christ you are ready to fulfill your purpose and that purpose is to be a doer of the word and not just a hearer of the word. How many people come to Church, or go to Bible studies, or to various programs that are Christian based and only hear with no real change in their lives. Too many! To hear is the beginning, to do is activating what you hear. To do less is to be as one who sees himself as one thing, which is not real as looking into a mirror thinking that that image is real, but in reality it is only an image and does not depict the reality of the one looking into the mirror. You see one thing, you think one thing, and then go about your life as though there was no meaning to what you saw in the mirror. Look into your heart, there is where the real person lives. 

     Do you want blessings? Yes! Of course! Well, become a doer of the word and not just a hearer of the word. Now, you are not justified in God's sight by your doing, but you will be living out what God has done for you through Jesus Christ and that it to justify you by what He has done. by means of God's justification your sins are acquitted by the fact of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. You are pardoned but this pardon does not mean anything unless this pardon is communicated to you and then the doors of what has imprisoned you are opened and you walk through those doors. There is no special feeling that comes from this justification, you must receive it by faith. 

     Justification is not merely an ideal, it is fact, and in the course of your history you will demonstrate that you are justified for you will have changed from one thing to another, you will become a doer of the word and not just a hearer. We are in this world, but we do not have to follow this world. Live what you are and not what you think you are. 

For thus saith the LORD unto

    the house of Israel, See ye

Me and ye shall live.

                      Amos 5:4

Be a doer and not just a hearer

Richard L. Crumb

      

What Is This Thing Conversion?

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let

every man be swift to hear, slow to speak,

slow to wrath: for the wrath of man

worketh not the righteousness of God.

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and

superfluity of naughtiness, and receive

with meekness the engrafted word, 

which is able to save your souls. 

James 1:19-21

 

     I have often watched TV shows with judges (Judge Judy, or Hot Bench, etc) and notice one thing is prevalent among the litigants: They do not know how not to speak and the speak even to attempt to speak over the judge. This shows lack of self-control and lack of respect. This feeling of entitlement as though they have every right to speak and say whatever and whenever is rampart throughout society. This self-centered belief not only has affected society but even is seen within the Church. Where is respect and ethics? They seem far removed from a person' thinking and actions. There is an old saying: "he who speaks first: loses! This is often very true for one is not hearing the other but is thinking how they might proved their thinking to be correct over whatever the other might be proving. James is telling us by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit just the opposite: we are to swift to hear (we do have two ears: right) and slow to speak. The Greek word for slow is translated into English and medicine as "brachiocardia" that is slow beating, under 60 bpm/min. Do not be in a hurry to speak until you have heard the other person and maybe, just maybe, you have taken time to examine before you give an answer. Far too often when a person is slow to hear and fast to speak and cannot win the other person over to their thinking they get man, angry and become wrathful. This wrath will lead a person into unrighteousness, God is not leading that person. 

     A person may become so wrathful that they leave the Church or in their state of unrighteousness they fall prey to sin. We are to lay aside all filthiness, and the Greek word means more than just to be dirty, it means to be fouled, to be be defiled, to become dishonored. An interesting word: "superfluity" which is seldom if ever used in our modern English, means to be "superfluous" that then means that a person thinks more of themselves than should be, to excessive, or unnecessary, to be needless, so that a person becomes excessive in their naughtiness. 

     So how do we combat such? Receive with meekness and be engrafted with the world of God. This means to take time to read and study God's word, how else can one become engrafted? God will not do it for you, you must do it!. How is the result from your engrafting: your will be saved: "Faith comes by hearing, hearing the word of God" (Romans 10:17). 

     Yes, you must believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ if you are to be saved: but there is more to being saved than just being saved, you must convert. The Old Testament has two words for conversion, one means to repent with a repentance which is often accompanied with a change of plan and of action. The other signifies to turn about, and especially to return after departure. In the New Testament there are three important words for conversion. A most frequently used word: "metranoeo, or metanoia" denotes primarily a change of mind. Not just and intellectual change, but also a moral change. Another Greek word: epistrophe, means to turn about, or to turn back. This stresses the fact the the active life is made to move in another direction, and indicates the final act of conversion. A third word: metamelomai, occurs only five times and literally means to become a care to one afterwards. This stresses the element of repentance, this does not means that repentance is always true, as in the case with Judas Iscariot. This word carries an element of emotion, and if one truly believes, has faith in Jesus Christ, and converts there is and will be an emotional response, not as some have a euphoric emotional response, but a response that Jesus Christ would even think to save you. 

     The question that is begging an answer is: Do you believe and have you converted to Jesus Christ? If so, then, your life will demonstrate that fact. Christianity is not easy, it is hard, and at times almost hard to bear as it goes against the grain of this world's culture. But we can for we have the One who lives within us ready to aid us in our conversion. All we have to do is lean on Him. Will you?

 

O LORD God of Israel, thou art

     righteous: for we remain yet 

escaped, as it is this day; behold,

     we are before thee in our trespasses: 

for we cannot stand before thee 

     because of this.

                   Ezra 9:15

 

You are justified before God: live it!

 

Richard L. Crumb 

Who Is At Fault For Our Choses? God Or Man?

Let no man say when he is tempted,

I am tempted of God: for God cannot'

be tempted with evil, neither tempted

He any man: but every man is tempted,

when he is drawn away of his own lust,

and enticed. Then when lust hath 

conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and 

sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth

death.

James 1:13-15

     Scripture is very clear and plain that God is Good, not just an attribute, which He has, but that He is Good. Therefore, God cannot produce evil and no man can tempt God for God is above all temptation. Our God is not the god of the Grecian where their gods are anthropomorphized and cause all sorts of evil, fighting among each other, and even causing evil things to occur among humans. Our God is Supreme and has need of no other god, as the Jehovah Witnesses and the Mormons teach. Yet, we must understand that God has not taken away our humanity making us some sort of puppet doing only His will and we then have no recourse and all we do then is not of us but of another, either God, or in some cases the blame is put on Satan (the devil made we do it as Flip Wilson the comedian used to say). We are the ones who choose to either follow the wiles of Satan or to choose to follow God and His commands and precepts. Yes, Satan caused sin to enter into the world but we have, as Authentic Christians with Authentic Christian Faith, the ability to choose God for we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit leading us if we allow Him to do so. Our souls having been corrupted by original sin of Adam and passed down to all of his progeny we have sinful desires that can only be overcome by choosing to follow God. 

     Lust, what is it? It is uncontrolled or illicit desires, an ardent enthusiasm, zest, relish a pleasure or delight, to have that which one desire now, and have no desire to wait or examine that desire. This person who falls prey to lust is a lustful person and is so motivated by this lust that they stop following the will of God. We cannot expect a non-Christian to follow God and we can expect that person to follow their lusts. As for Christians to allow lust to overcome us is to sin, and this sin leads to death. This death may come only at the end of life, but it can and does so often lead to disease or some malady that leads to premature death: i.e., syphilis, or HPV, or heart disease, whatever it was this lust that led that person into sin and death. 

     So you want a gift? You can have it for: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is not variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures: (James 1:17-18). We, just as those early Christians are the "firstfruits" of God, and until Jesus comes again for His bride we are His "firstfruits" so we should live as what we are, the bride of Christ and the harvest that brings His fruit into His warehouse: heaven. God does not change, the wind of change on this earth does not change Him, He is not us for He is another Being, an everlasting being which means that He does not live in time as we do, and is before all things, knows all things from the beginning until the end and beyond the end of our sequential time. 

     We then, as Authentic Christians should be known  as what we are: God's "firstfruit" of all His creatures. We are to be a witness to and for God. This is our responibility to live and be what God has called us to be and are and only each person can decide whether or not to be an Authentic Christian or not. Did not God give us a perfect Gift? Yes, His word. Should we not be studying His word? Yes! This is how we keep from allowing lust to have control over our life. What then will you choose? God or yourself?

Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD,

    and my servant whom I have chosen:

that ye may know and believe Me, and

    understand that I am He: before Me

there was no God formed, neither shall

    there be after Me. I, even I am the 

LORD: and beside Me there is no saviour.

                    Isaiah 43: 10-11

Choose wisely: Believe God

Richard L. Crumb

How Can Christians Endure Temptation?

Let the brother of low degree rejoice

in that he is exalted: but the rich, 

in that he is made low: because 

as the flower of the grass he shall

pass away. For the sun is no sooner

risen with a burning heat, but it

withereth the grass, and the flower

tereof falleth, and the grace of the

fashion of it perisheth: so also shall

the rich man fade away in his ways.

Blessed is the man that endureth

temptation: for when he is tried,

he shall receive the crown of life,

which the Lord hath promised to

them that love him.

James 1:9-12

     Yesterday's question as to prayer was to remind us that we do not have faith in our prayers, rather our faith is in the One Who can answer prayers. We pray in that faith, a faith assured by the written word of God wherein He has revealed to us His answered prayers, and His promises fulfilled. We do not always pray in His will, but we pray knowing that God hears our prayers and will lead by means of His word and the power of the Holy Spirit to lead us to that place where we prayer according to His will. James gives this: "Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord" (James 1:7). We are to be living a life that is an Authentic Christian life and that can only occur if we study His word, take time to critically think about that which we have read, and then to apply what God has asked us to apply in our lives. 

     James now gives to us that God equalizes men so that neither the poor that has received salvation can boast, nor can the rich man who has received salvation boast. This is not some Socialistic, or Communistic life so that all men are equal, they are not, some are rich, some are poor, some are in the middle, but all are equal in Salvation. There is no preference by God for one or the other. It is the heart, our true self revealed to God as to whether or not anyone receives anything from God. All men have the same ending: DEATH! Therefore, it from B to D (Birth to Death) that we are accountable before God and to give Him and answer as to what we say and what we do. 

     All men are tempted: this is the world of sin that Satan brought into the lives of men. Yes, Adam and Eve are to progenitors that pass their sinfulness unto us and caused our souls to be corrupted. This is the prima facie evidence, that they caused this corruption but they are not to blame for our individual corruptions. We can choose, this was not taking away from man, so we are responsible for our sins. We can blame Adam and Eve, we can blame Satan, for instigating this sinfulness but we do not have to fall under the devises of Satan for we still have an understanding of morality and justice. We just do not want to do it and will listen to our fallen souls that no longer want anything to do with God. So how then can we escape this problem? We cannot! Not on our own. Jesus Christ paved the way for our salvation and we have the ability to read and hear His word. We can choose to accept what we hear, to listen to the Holy Spirit calling us to believe or not. This faith then comes by hearing the word of God and then accepting it as truth and then applying it to our lives. Now, when temptation comes, and it will for all men face temptations we do not have to acquiesce to it for we have a helper, the Holy Spirit, we have the word of God to lead us and teach, therefore we can choose not to give way to temptation.

     Do you love God? Do you love His Only Begotten Son? If so: Good! When faced with trials then remember who you are and Whose you are and run, turn away from that which would derail your faith and turn to the One who died for you so that you can run, turn away from sin. There is a crown of life waiting for you and all you have to do is to become an Authentic Christian with Authentic Christian Faith making Jesus Christ the priority of your life, and to grow in your relationship with Him. You will receive all the promises of God for His children. Love is action, not just a word. Jesus showed us love in a way that no man could ever do, He paid the debt we owe to God. Now receive this payment and live for Him. Remember it is from B to D that we live and how we live and what we say is eternal and we will give an answer to God, would it not be nice to hear: "well done faithful and discreet slave" and have your life in the Book of Life. Well, you know the course you must travel. Don't talk about it: do it!

The earth also was corrupt before God,

     and the earth was filled with violence.

And God looked upon the earth, and behold,

     it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted

his way upon the earth.

                      Genesis 6:11-12

Can you see the resemblance in our world?

Richard L. Crumb 

Are You Trusting The Answer To Your Prayers? Or In God?

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask

of God, that giveth to all men liberally,

and upbraideth not; and it shall be

given him. But let him ask in faith, 

nothing wavering. For he that wavereth

is like a wave of the sea driven with the

wind and tossed. For let not that man think

that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

 A double minded man is unstable in all 

his ways. 

James 1:5-8

     James is a book all about faith, and the pragmatic Authentic Christian lives true Christians must live. When we studied the book of Hebrews an important factor for people who desire to live Authentic Christian lives is: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). It seems as though most Christians can cite or in the least remember the words of Jesus: "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knockeh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask" (Matthew 7:7-11)? It is interesting to note that the Greek grammar having two words of "if," "ei," and "ean" the latter is used so we must understand this if we are to arrive at a correct understanding. The Greek word (and I did write this with our English letter "n" instead of the "v" which means "n" and give to you that this word is subjunctive and does not give the positive meaning that it would happen if the writer used "ei" but this subjunctive word is that it might happen or might not but in either case God just might fulfill your request. Am I saying that God just might not give what you ask? Yes! Two things: 1: Are you living an Authentic Christian life and are do you have Authentic Christian Faith. This will be demonstrated by your pragmatic Christian living. 2. Are you asking in the will of God? This means that you must know the will of God for you, for the circumstance before you ask. Christians are not to just ask! But if you do, then understand that God hears your request even if you do not know what to ask for and He will lead you to that place where you will come to know His will. Now you can ask properly. You say that it is impossible to know the will of God. Yes! At times this knowledge is out of reach. So we ask! But are you asking just for your own self, to get something from God that you might have caused?  No matter how much faith you have in God it would be ridiculous to thing that God is "hamstrung" to do what you ask. He might,then again He might not! Now, notice the context of the Matthew Scripture quoted above: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them: for this is the law and the prophets" (Matthew 7:12). Notice: "Therefore," and make note as to why this word is used, for it speaks about what was just stated in the above verse. Remember, this is a letter without verses and chapters, they were added much later to give us aid but we must read this as a letter if we are to gain truth. The writer of Hebrew gave us this rule about our faith, a faith that is pleasing to God and if we want God to be pleased we will live in His will. This requires turning off the TV, or other distractions and read His word, study to show yourself a workman unto God. Here is some more of the metric that will please God and God will give to the one asking: ask for patience, God give liberally to those asking according to His will. Ask for wisdom and God will give it to you, not some mysterious supernaturally wisdom, rather by means of the Holy Spirit living within you that when you study His word the Holy Spirit will guide you into the truth and not allow you to be led by man's speculation and heretical view.  If you are not willing to do this then James states that you are unstable and will be unstable in all your ways. This we can see by the many Churches that have become liberal and have the culture of this world. 

      God is Providential! We cannot know all there is to know of God but we can know what He has revealed to us in His word. Do you want to know God? Do you want to please God? Do you desire to be in the will of God? Then, and only then will God answer your prayers, and those prayers must come by means of Authentic Christian Faith, and due to the fact that God is Providential our Faith is not in the answer, it is in God. Our trust, our love, our very lives are to be placed in the hands of God. We live, we love, we do things, all in the will of God. God, Jesus Christ must hold the priority in your lives or you will be unstable and unstable people do not have the guidance that God has given to all His children, the Holy Spirit in you, and you the temple of God live as what you are. 

These are the thing that ye shall do;

     Speak ye every man the truth to his

neighbor, execute the judgment of truth 

     and peace in your gates: and let none

of you imagine evil in your hearts against

    his neighbor; and love no false oath: 

for all these are things I hate, saith the LORD.

                    Zechariah 8:16-17

Speak truth and that truth is the will of God

Richard L. Crumb

Learning To Be Complete In Faith

My brethren, count it all joy when ye 

fall into divers temptations; knowing

this, that the trying of your faith 

worketh patience. but let patience

have her perfect work, that ye may be

perfect and entire wanting nothing.

James 1:2-4

      A little more knowledge about James and the writing of this book is important so that false teaching may be thwarted and the truth remain. It was established in the last blog that this writer of James was the half-brother to Jesus Christ and that in the beginning he did not care much about his brother and came to believe in time but did know much about Jesus leading to his conversion. There has been some discussion among theologians as to the authenticity of this book and its belonging in the canon. We must be reminded that this book is referred to by several early Church fathers and is inserted in the early syriac version of the New Testament  which was written around 61 A.D. to warn the Christians against vices and to set them right as to justification by faith, that it was not mere assent to the truths of the Bible but a living, fruitful, evangelical faith, which worketh love. By the time of the writing of this epistle, in the 60's many of the Jews had converted to Christianity and by this time by local persecutions of the Christians and the Jews many have become dispersed throughout the Egypt and Grecian lands. 

     This epistle is in part doctrinal, and has many spiritual views and sentiments which are particular to this epistle. The author's main was to enforce the necessity of those practical duties which are essential to a justifying faith. Therefore this epistle teaches us about practical living and there is a strong appeal to one's heart. 

     First, I want to clear up the word "perfect" as in our idiom about this word we have a loose understanding that it refers to that which has no blemish. The Greek word: τελέω, means more, it means to be complete, to execute, to conclude, or to discharge as in a debt, to accomplish, to carry a thing out to the full. James is not teaching the heresy as to Christian perfection, meaning to become sinless and unable to sin. 

     Faith, tried in afflictions, and many of us have had our share of affliction as I just have had about my Melanoma cancer and the surgeries, etc., all that accompanied my recovery. This faith tried should consist in belief of the power and promise of God, and in fidelity and constancy to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is during a trial that must take care, that patience, and not passion, are set to work in us, not matter whatever is said of done, it is this patience that becomes a witness even to those you might never know that they watched you during your trial(s). We must bear all that comes against us, God will not necessarily take away from you your trials. It is in this time of testing that our faith in God is proved, now I am speaking not of your sinful thing you might have done that brought on this trial, no, it is that which is outside your control and is appointed, or by Providence, allowed to come into your life. It is in this time that with humble obedience to God, to our Savior Jesus Christ we can bear our troubles, and even rejoice in them, for it in this that our patience is complete and by this will furnish all that you need that is necessary for our Christian race and warfare and will enable us to remain faithful to the end, and then when finished this patience and faith well end with a crown of glory in heaven.

     Cultural Christians fail to remain faithful or will turn to superstitious theologies, or even worldly superstitions to find help. Authentic Christians have Jesus Christ as the priority to their lives and do not listen to anything other than the truthful teachings of the Bible. The Bible gives us the foundation for our faith, (Romans 10:17) and by this foundation we stand firm in any circumstance. Hard? Yes! Possible? Yes! God has promised to take us through whatever this world throws at us: "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be,ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trail of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1Peter 1:6-7). 

I am the LORD your God;

     walk in my statutes,

and keep my judgments,

     and do them:

                 Ezekiel 20:19

Hold fast to the promises of God

Richard L. Crumb

Who Is The True Writer Of The Book Of James?

James, a servant of God and of the

Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve

tribes which are scattered abroad,

greeting. My brethren, count it all

joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

knowing this, that the trying of your faith

worketh patience. But let patience 

have her perfect work, that ye may 

be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:1-4

     Who is this James who is accounted as the writer of this epistle? Much controversy has arisen as to this question. There is a James, the son of Zebedee, the elder brother of John and one of the twelve (Matthew 4:21; 10:2; 17:1; Mark 1:19,29; 3?17; 5:37; 9:2; 10:35; 41; 13:3; 14:33; Luke 5:10; 6:14; 8:51; 9:28, 54; Acts 1:13; 12:2). This James clearly the brother of John and there is no word that he wrote, or of anything that he spoke, there could be an exception in Acts 4:24-30, but others James was content to be a disciple. 

     There is a James who was called the "Lord's brother" (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3; Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18; I Corinthians 15:7; Galatians 1:19; 2:9, 12: James 1:1). Was he an actual brother of Jesus Christ and also one of the Twelve? Some will say that James was a child of Joseph in a former marriage as this fits with the Roman Catholic Church' position as to their doctrine for the perpetual virginity of Mary. The word according to Jewish usage could loosely mean "cousin," of so then James was the son of Mary's sister and James would have been the Lord's cousin, or "cousin-brother," as the Indians express it.

     Scripture does not allow for either argument, in fact it will be shown that James was the natural son of Joseph and Mary after their marriage. Looking at Scriptural language in regards to James it is to be noted that it indicates that James has a relationship with Jesus Christ within rather than without the immediate family of Joseph and Mary.  The circumstances point to James as being one of Mary's sons (Matthew 12:55,56; John 2:12; 7:3, 10). Here are some facts:

1. He is spoken of as being among the sisters and brothers of Christ (Matthew 13:55,56; John 2:12; 7:3,10).

2. He was not a believer during the Lord's life. Along with the other children of Joseph and Mary, James did not accept the Messiahship of Jesus (Matthew 13:57; Luke 7:20,21; John 7:5). Living some thirty years with Jesus Christ James must have been impacted by the life of Jesus and the words of Jesus. 

3. James was a witness of Jesus Christ' resurrection I Corinthians 15:7). According to this Scripture James saw the risen Lord. Paul would only have known of this James who is often alluded to in the Acts of the Apostles. After this experience we find the "brethren of the Lord" joined with the Apostles and the women assembled together in the upper chamber (Acts 1:14). 

4. James became the pillar of the Church at Jerusalem (Acts 12:17; 15:4-34; 21:18,19: Galatians 2:1-10).

5. James because of his piety became to be called "James the Just," and it is seen by his character he called himself, the servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

6. James became known for his belief in the power of prayer and by being a prayer warrior as "The Man with Camel's Knees." 

7. James was cruelly martyred be the Scribes and Pharisees, who cast him down from the pinnacle of the Temple. The fall did not kill him so he was stoned and finally he was dispatched by a blow to his head. Across from the Valley of Jehoshaphat, there is a sepulcher called "The Tomb of St. James." 

     We can be assured that the half-brother of Jesus, James, wrote this epistle. Furthermore, it was written by James who was a man of faith. Now that we have some history about the one who wrote this epistle we can turn our study to what he wrote and how it applies to our lives. 

And as soon as we had heard these things,

    our hearts did melt, neither did there

remain any more courage in any man, 

    because of you: for the LORD your God,

He is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

                Joshua 2:11

 Believe upon Jesus Christ and be saved.

Richard L. Crumb

         

Resurrection Day: Our Guranteed Hope

Pray for us: for we trust we have a

good conscience, in all things willing

to live honestly. But I beseech you

the rather to do this, that I amy be

restored to your the sooner. Now

the God of peace, that brought again

from the dead our Lord Jesus, that

great Shepherd of the sheep, through 

the blood of the everlasting covenant,

make you perfect in every good work

to do you that which is well-pleasing in

His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom

be glory for ever and ever. Amen. And I

brethren, suffer the word of exhortation:

for I have written a letter unto you in

few words. Know ye that our brother

Timothy is set at liberty; with whom,

he come shortly, I will see you. Salute 

all them that have the rule over you, 

and all the saints. they of Italy

salute you all. Amen.

Hebrews 13:18-25

     We now come to the end of the book of Hebrews and I do hope that you all have gotten out of it something that has caused you to examine your faith, and your pragmatic use of Authentic Christian Faith. Intercessory pray is a prayer that is heard by God and is once that all Authentic Christians should be involved in as we pray, both in our "closets," and in our communal worship. This is love that only Authentic Christians have that is not a love of self indulgence and is not narcissistic. Pray that they continue in a good conscience and to continue to listen to that small still voice of the Holy Spirit that speaks to them but never overrides their will. To live a holy life is difficult for sure, but it is possible of Jesus Christ has the priority for you life and not this world and this world's culture. 

     Jesus Christ is the Gospel and it is this Gospel that we live and preach and teach, not some other gospel, mostly a gospel of speculation and anecdotes that sound good but only are tickling the ears and leading more often than not to heresy. Jesus Christ rose from the dead and God is the one who raised Him from the dead but did not Jesus say that He would raise Himself from the dead? Yes! "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again" (John 2:19). God will raise Jesus up and Jesus said He would raise himself, in fact the Greek word "I will raise" is first person: "I" and future indicative active, therefore there is no confusion, even if such as Jehovah Witnesses attempt to prove that Jesus is a created angel, that both accounts point to the fact that Jesus is God and has the power to raise Himself and others from the dead: (John 6: 39-44). Innocent blood was poured out upon the ground as it dripped from Jesus and from the cross on which He was crucified and it is the pouring out His blood that establishes an everlasting covenant which is able to make you perfect in His sight and cause you to do good work according to His will. Jesus Christ deserves all the glory for you and I have done nothing to deserve this grace from God, this faith from God, albeit, we do have to come to the place where we know we need a Savior and then by hearing His word faith is bestowed upon us and we believe and convert to the One who is willing to accept us and to make us His bride. What is there that we must do for Him? Nothing! But we must work with Him and that work is to live the life He outlined for us and to spread the Gospel. 

     The time is coming where we take special time to remember and celebrate this act of God for man. Please do not get all wrapped up in "Easter" things, the finding of colored eggs and "Easter" baskets, and all the other things this world makes "Easter" to be; in fact this is a solemn time as it should be as we consider the love of God, a love extended to us through Jesus Christ. We have everlasting life ahead of us, we have a life that God intended for man and it is God who will make this new heaven and earth possible. 

     Celebrate this special event in history for it is this by which you will be saved. Praise God for it is Him who makes all this possible. 

Therefore will I divide Him a portion

    with the great, and He shall divide

the spoil with the strong; because He 

    hath poured out His soul unto death:

and he was numbered with the transgressors;

    and He bare the sin of many, and made

intercession for the transgressor.

                       Isaiah 53:12

How To Live Your Godly Sanctification

Wherefore Jesus also, that He might 

sanctify the people with His own blood,

suffered without the gate. Let us go 

forth therefore unto Him without

the camp, bearing His reproach. 

For here have we no continuing city,

but we seek one to come. By Him the 

sacrifice of praise to God continually,

that is, the fruit of our lips giving

thanks to His name. Both to do good

and to communicate forget not: for 

with such sacrifices Go is will pleased

Hebrews 13:12-16

     Outside of the city of Jerusalem Jesus hung on a cross along with two other convicted criminals. They had done legally wrong, but Jesus had not done anything wrong according to the Roman law and only by the cries of those who hated Him and wanted to be rid of Him, and by the fact that Pontius Pilate could not afford another "run" in with Ceasar He granted their cries to crucify Him. Although this act to crucify Jesus was wrong in every way possible God in His timing used this to do the very thing that man could not do for himself: man cannot save himself and only God can sanctify a person. By the pouring out of the blood of Jesus, innocent blood spilled could the debt of sin be paid and the justice of God be satisfied. Man cannot ever, now, or in the future, do pay this debt for man is sinful from his birth until his death and the only way that this sanctification can be applied is by putting one's faith in Jesus Christ and converting to Him. Are you seeking the coming of Jesus for the second time? Good! that is a result of becoming a child of God. Yet there is more that is a true sign of your authentic repentance: and it is the offering of praise for His sacrifice and giving thanks unto His name. The sign that this has been and is authentic is that you repent, that is, to turn 180 degrees from what you are to what you have never been and that is, to now follow Him in all that you do and say. By doing this God is well pleased!

     Pastors and teachers and others who are leading the children of God have the responsibility to do so in truth and not be speculation, or anecdotal stories, or philanthropic activities that are derived from desire to gain people, money, or power. When it is found that they are teaching the truth of Scripture then we are obligated to obey them and to submit ourselves to their authority: "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you" (Hebrews 13:17). All Authentic Christians are the City of God, the temple of God, the place where the Holy Spirit resides and to do anything that would bring shame or reproach upon this city is to have the Living God bring chastisement in an attempt to bring you back to the truth. The best way to avoid this is to be proactive and study God's word, to examine all things, and when the good is found, hold on to it. We are not to sit back in apathy, rather to be intentional in our Christian Faith. 

     Examine your election and your Christian Faith using Scripture only to be your factual guide and by keeping His word will you then be all that God wants from you, and that is to be His witness wherever you find yourself, wherever you go, you will be a witness even to those you may never see. God is faithful: you too be faithful. God will bless, in fact He has already for He has prepared a heavenly home for you just waiting for your arrival.

Let not them that wait on thee,

     O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed

for my sake: let not those that seek

     thee be confounded for my sake,

O God of Israel.

                     Psalm 69: 6

Prepare now for the Sabbath

Richard L. Crumb 

Remembering And Examing By The Word Of God

Remember them which have the

rule over you, who have spoken unto

you the word of God: whose faith

follow, considering the end of 

their conversation. Jesus Christ

the same yesterday, and to day, 

and for ever. Be not carried about

with divers and strange doctrines. 

For it is a good thing that the heart

be established, with grace; not  with

meats, which have not profited 

them that have been  occupied therein.

Hebrews 13:7-11

     "Remember," to exercise memory and what was needful to remember is the One who rose from the dead: Jesus Christ. We are not to passively sit by and allow anyone, pastor, preacher, teacher, whoever to just say what they want even if it sounds good to the ears. We must especially examine those who "rule" over us, our pastors, and teachers, and others and not just accept all that they say as though they have some special connection to God. Our responsibility is to make sure that what is being taught that which is being spoken is the "word of God." We cannot become disinterested in what goes on in our Churches, our homes and with our friends. All that we have studied thus far led us to the one fact: we are the temple of God. Therefore we have a responsibility to act accordingly. We do not blindly follow someone's else whose faith may seem truthful, no, we examine all things and hold fast to that which is good, (1Thessalonians 5:21). There are those who teach a Jesus that is not the Jesus of the Bible making Him to be "a god," or as a teddy bear Savior, or willing to do all that a person may ask, and here is a thing to remember, if a person is not following in the footsteps of Jesus why would that person think that God, Jesus Christ, would answer their prayer? The only prayer that will be answered for sure is the prayer, a truthful prayer of repentance. Jesus Christ has not changed, He is the same, in the past, in the present, and will be in the future and only God can claim that so if Jesus, and He did, claim this then He is pointing to the fact that He is God, the Second Person of the Trinity. 

     So many various doctrines have come to mislead people and this misleading and those doctrines that are not based on Scripture began in the most early times of the Church. Some have persisted until now, others have been changed in some way but in actuality they are still a heretical view of God, of Scripture. Here is one persistent heretical view and can be found especially in the Roman Catholic Church: Baptism for the dead. Paul wrote: "Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead" (1Corinthians 15:29). An early Church father wrote: "He asks, "What will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise?" ... Do not then suppose that the apostle here indicated that some new god is the author and advocate of this practice. Rather, it was so that he could all the more firmly insist upon the resurrection of he body, in proportion as they who were batpized for the dead resorted to the practice from their belief of such a resurrection. We have the apostle in another passage defining "only one baptism." Therefore, to be "baptized for the dead" means, in fact, to be baptized for the body. For, as we have shown, it is the body that becomes dead. What, then, will they do who are baptized for the body, if the body does not rise again" (Tertullian (c.207,W), 3.449,450: italics mine)? Some denominations teach a form of doctrine that includes that there is a special anointing by the Holy Spirit and to speak in some form of "gibberish sounds," or as the Bethel Church of Redding and the School of the Supernatural teaches is that a person will receive some special visitation and that they are to go around and find people to pray for expecting that those anecdotal stories of healing and the raising of the dead are true and they will see this for themselves, and they believe this because they have come to believe that those teaching them are not attempting to mislead them. They do not examine all things. There are many more of such misleading doctrines that have taken its toll on people who are seeking the truth. Do not be one of them: Remember what Jesus taught, and what the inspired writers wrote who always taught the Gospel, nothing else, and how we are to apply the words of Jesus in our everyday life. Do not add anything to the Gospel as others have done for it is simple: do and live according to the laws, commands, and precepts of the Bible, and do not live in any other way. Easy to say, hard to do, of course we live in a sinful world, but Remember: you are the temple of the living God and God, the Holy Spirit resides in you and will lead you if you allow Him to do so. 

     Today is my birthday, I am now 74 years old, and find that I must continue to study, to make sure of my election, to not fall back on those things that seemed so good and fun but led me to have many unnecessary heartaches. I have found to live for Jesus is the only way that truly brings joy, and happiness. Someday I will be with my Savior in heaven and with that promise I can face anything and so can you.

Hear me, O LORD, hear me, 

     that this people may know 

that thou are the LORD God, 

     and that thou hast turned

their heart back again.   

            1Kings 18:37

Do not allow yourself to be fooled 

Richard L. Crumb