Subtle Defiance

     One of the major tenets of the Bible is that all mankind are assigned to just two groups; those with saving faith in God and those without which translates once again to those preserved for everlasting life or those reserved for everlasting darkness.

      Those with saving faith give the highest priority in their lives to spiritual matters while those without do not. The latter may appear to live an exemplary lifestyle but their major priority might be to exact all they can from this lifetime.  The Bible has much to say about those whose priorities focus on the present instead of the future.

     Recently both presidential candidates, especially Governor Romney, stated repeatedly that every individual should have the right to pursue and achieve the ‘American Dream.’  The incumbent president on the other hand didn’t focus on that issue; his ideology included the concept that government should provide all that one might dream of having.

    The concept of governmental provision can be discarded immediately as unscriptural, but is the American dream in line with Biblical teachings?  One popular definition of the dream is as follows:

    “The American Dream is…a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity, success, and an upward social mobility achievable through hard work.”

     According to this definition the attainment of the American dream can be measured in material terms and upward social mobility, both of which are said to be achievable through personal effort.

     Let is be reiterated at this point that material success and upward social mobility are not in themselves ‘evil’ or necessarily to be classified as sin.  The issue centers on one’s priorities, or where one places their trust.

     Jesus addressed the issues contained in the American dream succinctly. 

     “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’…For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow…”  Matthew 6:31-34a

     Jesus was explaining the difference between needs and wants and then He plainly stated that one’s top priority should be to seek the righteousness of God.  If one’s priorities were in order, then they needn’t worry about their needs being met.

     Jesus taught his disciples in another passage, in which He was defining the cost of discipleship, that misplaced priorities could mean total failure.

     “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”  Matthew 16:24b-26

     And while upward social mobility is also a significant aspect of the American dream, Jesus offered quite a different viewpoint.  He was explaining both to the multitudes and His disciples that the scribes and Pharisees sought after and enjoyed social prominence.

     “But all their works they do to be seen by men...They love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’”  Matthew 23:5-7

     Jesus went on to explain the ineffectiveness of the Pharisee’s actions.

     “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.  And whoever exalts himself will be humbled (put down) and he who humbles himself will be exalted (lifted up).”  Matthew 23:11-12

     Thus it is apparent that the messages from both presidential candidates fell far short of scriptural teachings.  But then, how many votes would a candidate have received if he had campaigned on scriptural issues?  Hopefully this great nation will find itself and the issues in 2016 will be substantially different.

     And while priorities may not appear on the surface to play a significant role in defining a person’s spiritual condition, in reality the opposite is true.  An individual’s priorities are in fact a subtle indicator of which of the two basic groups of mankind one belongs.

The Christian Brotherhood and Heresy

     The Bible has much to say about its defenders and deniers.  The Christian Brotherhood has and will continue to be confronted by heretics, infidels, and unbelievers.

     The Brotherhood’s initial step in its strategy in dealing with heretics and infidels is to take a stand on their belief system.

     “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”  Ephesians 6:13

     “Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren…so stand fast in the Lord…”  Philippians 4:1

     “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”  Galatians 5:1

     The Brotherhood is encouraged to be bold in their stand as was Joshua when leading the Israelites into Canaan.

     “…Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9

      Such boldness was illustrated by Peter and John relative to speaking about Christ.

     “Now when they (Jewish leaders) saw the boldness of Peter and John…they marveled… ‘Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word…’”  Acts 4:13, 29

     “…And the high priest asked them, saying, ‘Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name?  And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!’ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.’”  Acts 5:28-29

     After taking the Biblical stand with boldness, the Brotherhood is to rebuke heresies. 

     The Apostle Paul addressed the issue boldly.

     “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! ....Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine…and they will turn their ears away from the truth…”  2 Timothy 4:1-4

     One might think that the Brotherhood’s bold stand on Biblical teachings and rebuking those entwined in Biblical heresy would provoke enmity.  That is absolutely true, but the Bible is also very clear on how the Christian Brotherhood is to handle deniers i.e. Biblical enemies.

     “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad…for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  Matthew 5:11-12

     “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy’.  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven…”  Matthew 5:43-45

      Note again the confirmation of sonship for those adhering to Biblical teachings.  The Greek base for ‘love’ for one’s enemies in this passage is from agapao meaning to be concerned for one’s total wellbeing by accepting Biblical truths.  It definitely does not translate from the Greek phileo which is associated with sharing belief systems or having common interests.

     Therefore, while the Christian Brotherhood will be hated and derided for their stand, they are to love those who persecute them by living exemplary lives in the midst of their enemies, thereby, reflecting their faith.  The persecutors will experience justice in due time.

     “…since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord …”  2 Thessalonians 1:6-10a

     There will be times when the Christian Brotherhood will be tempted to exact justice in the current age; however, Christians are never to be incited to violence against those who hate them.

    

Is the Christian Brotherhood Exclusive?

    Membership in the Christian Brotherhood is open to all citizens of the world regardless of ethnicity, gender, social status, or any other differentiating factor.  Perhaps that is why the Christian Brotherhood is the largest single cohesive group in the world and the Bible the most widely read book in history.

     “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus…There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”   Galatians 3:26, 28-29

     Christians are the seed of Abraham inasmuch as they exhibit the same faith in God as did Abraham.  That means taking God at His word.

     “…Just as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.  Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.   And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’’”  Galatians 3:6-8

     The faith of Abraham was a stumbling block for the Pharisees in Jesus’ time.  The Pharisees relied on their physical lineage to Abraham via Isaac and Jacob as their security.  Jesus very clearly explained to the Pharisees the truth regarding Abraham’s descendants.

     “They (the Pharisees) answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone’… ‘I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.  I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father…If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God…You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him…’”  John 8:33, 37-38, 42-44

     The foundation stone of the Christian Brotherhood is the deity of Christ.  The redemptive plan God offered to fallen mankind centers on the vicarious death of the sinless Christ, born of a woman.  The seamless redemptive plan was introduced in the third chapter of Genesis and will be fulfilled when Christ returns to claim all He paid for on the cross. 

     “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse.  And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war…Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.  And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.  He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”  Revelation 19:11, 15

     The latter part of this verse prompted the words of the powerful song, “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.  He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored…His truth is marching on!”

     The members of the Christian Brotherhood accept the Bible as the incorruptible word of God penned by 40 inspired writers over a period of 1,500 years.  The Bible concludes by stating that Christ is the final revelation of God.

     “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last...I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches…”  Revelation 22:13, 16

     “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book…”  Revelation 22:18

     Every person in the world has the freedom of choice to embrace or reject without recourse the charter of and membership in the Christian Brotherhood.  The United States exemplifies such freedom.

     God bless America and the freedom she provides.

     “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press…”

Christian Brotherhood - A Sleeping Giant

     The Christian Brotherhood was initially referenced in the Bible 3,000 years ago by David in the Psalms depicting the suffering and victory of the future Messiah.

  

     “They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones…But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me...You have answered Me.  I will declare Your name to My brethren…They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this.”  Psalm 22:16-22, 31

     The Hebrew term for brethren in the Old Testament translates to ‘similar’ and ‘friend’.  It is a term of affection.  Paul in the New Testament referred to the then present Christian Brotherhood. 

     “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”  Romans 8:29

     This powerful verse reveals that all those whom God elected to salvation He also predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus, His only begotten Son.  This is the very essence of the Christian Brotherhood.

     The Greek term for brethren in the New Testament is very similar to the Hebrew meaning ‘unity’ and ‘companion’, i.e. a fellowship of love. 

      Interestingly the Apostle John reveals the first time Jesus referred to His disciples as brothers was after His resurrection.

     “Jesus said to her (Mary Magdalene), ‘…go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’”  John 20:17

     Jesus will judge all nations upon His return to earth to end the great tribulation on the basis of how each person treated His brethren during His absence.

     “When the Son of Man comes in His glory... then He will sit on the throne of His glory…and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.”  Matthew 25:31-32

     The sheep will ask Jesus the reason for their favor.

     “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or imprison, and come to You?’  And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”  Matthew 25:31-40

     But there is even a greater privilege than being considered Jesus’ brethren; to be Jesus’ brethren means also to be children of God the Father.

     “Therefore, brethren…For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God…The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…”  Romans 8:12a, 14, 16-17

       The plan was originally revealed in Genesis when God said the ‘Seed of the woman’ would destroy the enemy, the devil.  Paul explained later to the early church how the concept of ‘sonship’ became reality.

      “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  And because you are sons…then an heir of God…”  Galatians 4:4-7

     And when the Apostle John revealed the incarnation of Christ he included that all who would receive the Son would be granted the status of sonship.

     “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name…”  John 1:12

     Therefore, the Christian is an adopted child of God and a joint heir with Christ.  Such is the highest position for mankind other than Christ Himself. 

     Due to the coveted position of being God’s children Christians are and will be subjected to great jealousy and persecution.

     Their Father will vigorously deal with their persecutors in His timing.

     “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves…for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”  Romans 12:19