WHEN THE SWORD COMES INTO A FAMILY

When a family is presented with the gospel, some believe and some do not. This brings division. This also brings deep sorrow of heart. This has been true in my life. It was true when I was born again. It is true today, almost thirty years later. (As I review this post, in August 2020, it is still true.)

Matthew 10:34-36 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

Luke 12:51-53 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Psalm 45:10-11 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house; So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.

Ephesians 4:17-18 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

1 Peter 4:2-4 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

Psalms 69:19-20 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor: mine adversaries are all before thee. Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

In all our trials in this life we are not alone …

Psalms 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Keep the faith …

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Our real family …

Matthew 12:47-50 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

THE SWORD

Parents, brethren, child, in the flesh,

Same family we do share,

God’s Word, His Sword, came to our clan,

Dividing wheat and tare.

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The nearest, dearest, ones we love,

Now keep quite far away,

But pray we will, and not give up,

They’ll join with us one day.

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The sword is real, though not of steel,

It separates in two,

Those who believe, and those who don’t,

It’s left for us to choose.

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Do we love them, oh yes we do,

But Christ we love much more,

If we turn back, once truth be known,

He’ll one day shut the door.

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It was foretold, in days of old,

This way that it would be,

For those of us, who love the Lord,

Who choose to follow thee.

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It’s plain that if we silent kept,

And never did we speak,

So many lost relationships,

Would still be ours to keep.

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We preach of sin, and saving grace,

Repent, believe, we say,

These words are what upsets them most,

They tell us, go away!

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My hands are clean, I’ve done my job,

Misunderstood I’ve been,

My great concern, without the Lord,

They will die in their sin!

Cathy White 2007 ©

Matthew 10:36-38  And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 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.

WHILE THERE’S LIFE … THERE’S HOPE

My father just turned 91. He had a stroke last April, shortly after my mother died, which left him unable to walk. His speech and memory have also been affected. We had a birthday celebration for him at the nursing home where he lives. Most in attendance were born again Christians. My Christian friends, who visit often to share Scripture and pray with him were there. He had a birthday cake and gifts to open, and one of my friends sang a song to him. It’s a song she used to sing at tent meetings held in Trinidad long ago. The Lord has not given up on my father yet. How blessed he is to have this evangelizing ministry at the very end of his life. A pastor once said … “The Lord will follow you to the grave.” Has he come to saving faith? I don’t know, but he seems more receptive these days. Is it too late for him to be born again? While there’s life, there’s hope. I wish I had realized the value of such ministry long ago. I wonder how many perishing souls were neglected because I was too busy running to church.

Here are the lyrics of the song …

(Title & Author Unknown)

(1) Some people say that old time religion

Is just a thing of the past.

But in this modern age that we live in

It’s the only thing that will last.

Now you may think I’m a little old fashioned

But friend that is alright with me.

For I am so glad that I am a Christian

From sin I have been set free.

CHORUS

I know, I know, there’s no doubt about it,

He lives in my heart and I’m going to shout it.

I know, I know, my sins are forgiven,

And I’m on my way, to a place called heaven.

(2) Not long ago at an old fashioned meeting

I knelt on my knees there in prayer.

He lifted my burdens and shackles fell from me

His presence was so real everywhere.

Now that the load that I carry is lighter

I changed my gray skies to blue.

My steps are now higher cause I have this assurance

His sweet love will carry me through.

CHORUS

I know, I know, there’s no doubt about it,

He lives in my heart and I’m going to shout it.

I know, I know, my sins are forgiven,

And I’m on my way, to a place called heaven.

(3) Come go with me to the land over yonder

It’s made for the pure and the true.

It’s a land where sickness nor death cannot enter

I’m going how about you?

And maybe today or maybe tomorrow

He’ll return in robes pure and white.

I’m packing up now getting my things together,

Who know He may come tonight.

THE ROSARY

Years ago I overheard a Christian speaking to another Christian. He said something to the effect that the Lord wouldn’t send his grandmother to hell just because she prayed the rosary. I didn’t say anything, but my thought was that if someone is praying the rosary it is an indication that they do not know the Lord.  And if they do not know the Lord, it is a tragedy not to witness to them.

This is a quote by Billy Graham:

“When Mother Teresa died the only thing she owned was her rosary beads and the simple clothing that she wore. But one writer said of her she took a vow of poverty and became fabulously wealthy in the ways that really matter. She’s wealthy in the next world.” (Billy Graham San Francisco Bay Area Crusade, Excerpt from December 1997 televised broadcast, Speaker: Billy Graham, Topic: The Value of a Soul)

The is a quote by Mother Teresa:

“If coming face to face with God we accept Him in our lives, then we . . . become a better Hindu, a better Muslim, a better Catholic, a better whatever we are . . . . What God is in your mind you must accept.” (Desmond Doig, Mother Teresa: Her People and Her Work, Harper & Row, 1976, p. 156)

As a born again Christian, and former Roman Catholic, I am grieved that within the “born again church” there are those who teach that praying the rosary is acceptable to God. I am also grieved that Mother Teresa is held up as an example of true Christianity.

This is how I prayed “the rosary” to “Mary” before I was born again:

“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

I prayed to Mary and I petitioned Mary. I prayed this prayer over and over again, for many many years. Then I was born again and, as a born again Christian, I repented of the idolatry of praying to Mary. I call it idolatry because the bible calls it idolatry. The bible also says that idolaters will not enter heaven. It was a vain hope for me to think that Mary would help me at the hour of my death.

These are simple, basic bible truths. If we really love someone we will tell them the truth. Souls are at stake, yet it seems that false prophets within the “church” are praised no matter what they say. Why?

MY TESTIMONY – Part 1 (Salvation)

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

It began in the 1980’s. We lived across the street from a Catholic Church and one evening I happened to be looking out my front door. I saw a crowd of people gathering and it was apparent that some of them were ill. Something unusual was going on and it piqued my interest. I found out later that the people were there for a “charismatic healing Mass.” I had never heard of such a thing. My teenage son had asthma so I was eager to know what the healing Mass was all about. Through further inquiry we found out that there was a Catholic priest who traveled from parish to parish conducting healing Masses. The next time he came to our church we went to the Mass. This was the beginning of our misguided  journey through the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

As a result of our involvement in the renewal, my husband and I became:

1. Devoted to the Mass.  (The Mass continues the Sacrifice of the Cross. Each time the Mass is offered, the Sacrifice of Christ is repeated. The New Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism, pages 5, 7, 162, 168, 171, 182, 254, Official Revised Edition, No. 2, Catholic Book Publishing Co., NY)

2. Devoted to worship of the “host”.  (The “host” is the communion wafer. The priest said the wafer was Jesus. That is idolatry.)

3. Devoted to Mary. (The renewal promoted the rosary, and the global apparitions of “Mary”, especially the most recent ones in Medjugorje, Bosnia. These apparitions were bringing forth “messages” for the world to hear. We began to proclaim these “messages” to others not realizing that they contradicted the bible and teachings of Jesus. We became “evangelists for Mary!”)

We did these things because we did not know the scriptures.

Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

One day I asked God if I was doing anything wrong. I wanted to do what was right in God’s eyes and was willing to turn away from whatever He showed me to be sin. That prayer was answered through a series of events. True believers witnessed to me, clearly showing me Rome’s errors. I was encouraged to seek truth by reading the Bible, which I did. As I read the Bible, and prayed for understanding, it was as if a light bulb went on in my head. I understood, for the first time, my sinful condition and my need for forgiveness.

I understood that Jesus alone was my Savior and that “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12”. I realized that receiving the “sacraments” could not save anyone. I learned from Scripture that the “sacrifice of the Mass”, the worship of the “communion bread”, and praying to “Mary” (or any dead person) were heretical and idolatrous teachings, and would certainly damn my soul to hell! I realized that the “Mary” which was appearing to people around the world was not the real Mary but rather a demonic counterfeit spirit. I knew the “messages” this “spirit” was proclaiming clearly contradicted the Word of God, and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

I prayed that if God would continue to give me understanding concerning the truth of His Word, I would follow Him wherever that truth would lead me. I had been deceived by false teaching. I thought I was headed for heaven when in reality I was headed for hell and didn’t even know it. I thought I knew Christ but I didn’t know Him at all! When I was born again and knew the truth I repented of my involvement in the Roman Catholic Church and it’s charismatic renewal. I could not stay there and at the same time be faithful and obedient to Jesus Christ and His Word.

As I sought truth, I learned a biblical principle in 2 Kings 17:33,34. That principle is that the true God cannot be worshiped in our own way nor in an idolatrous way. If that’s what we are doing we are not worshiping the true God at all. It is mixture and is nothing more than a mongrel religion.  (Matthew Henry Commentary:  Assemblies that worship God in spirit and in truth are the Israel of God; assemblies that either worship false gods, or the true God in a false manner, are the synagogues of Satan: though they may profess to be the only people of God, their profession is a lie.)

2 Kings 17:33, 34 They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence. Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;

My life has never been the same since I was born again, born of the Holy Spirit. It’s not that my life is free from trouble, but there is a constant deep peace and joy that can only come from God. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, is called the Comforter, the Teacher and the Spirit of Truth. I often want to tell people that all they could ever want, all the peace, joy, love and comfort they could ever dream of can found in the real Lord Jesus Christ and that is true even in our darkest hour.

Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Psalms 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Continued  …

MY TESTIMONY – Part 2

MY TESTIMONY – Part 3

CHRISTMAS … PERPETUATING A LIE

When I was born again I knew certain things. I knew them because I had become indwelt by the Holy Spirit and knew the Word of God. I knew that the Halloween celebration was pagan and occult in origin. I knew Roman Catholicism was “another gospel.” I knew that we were to love our enemies. And I knew that Christmas was not of the Lord.

When I started attending church, I could never understand why most “born again” churches accepted Roman Catholicism as a valid Christian denomination. Halloween would roll around and I couldn’t understand why many churches would celebrate Halloween in some way. Then I couldn’t understand why the churches had become so political, so pro-war, and so pro-military. And of course I couldn’t understand why there was a Christmas tree in church. It has taken me a long time to realize that the institutional church is in apostasy. The world has entered the church, and all the things that I have mentioned above are all of the world. They all go together. I finally got it!

We as human beings are very influenced by our peers. Christmas has been one of those issues for me. I feel it’s time to share, with those who would be interested to hear, why I do not celebrate Christmas. Maybe a better way of saying it would be why I try not to celebrate Christmas. It seems to me that there is something supernatural “surrounding” the celebration of Christmas, because the pull to conform is incredible. This is what the Lord has shown me:

(1) SCRIPTURE TELLS US TO REMEMBER THE LORD’S DEATH, NOT HIS BIRTH

1 Corinthians 11:24-26 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

The Christmas deception/seduction can be very subtle. Christmas takes the focus off of Christ’s atoning death and the sinfulness of sin. Instead of focusing on the risen King of Kings, Christmas focuses on the “infant Jesus.” The spotlight is on baby Jesus, Mary, & Joseph, the “holy family” of the Roman Catholic Church. When my husband was in Catholic school, he had to write “JMJ” at the top of all his assignment papers. So at Christmastime we have little Jesus, big Mary. By celebrating the birth of Jesus we are doing the exact opposite of what Jesus said we should be doing. That fact made me do some thinking. Jesus told us to remember His atoning death not His birth. Should we, as born again Christians, add to God’s word?

(2) PERPETUATING A LIE

James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

The celebration of Christmas is of pagan origin, not biblical. The Roman Catholic Church took a popular pagan winter festival (the winter solstice) and changed it’s name to Christmas. The word Christmas is an abbreviation of the words “Christ’s Mass.” In the Roman Catholic Church, the Mass is called “the holy sacrifice of the Mass.” It is called that because during each Mass Christ’s sacrifice is repeated. Rome teaches that, during the Mass, the communion bread is changed into the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ. The communion bread, called the host, is then worshiped and adored. This is idolatry, and an abomination. With a broken heart I tell you that multitudes are under the influence of this deception. Unless they repent of believing Rome’s sacramental/works gospel, and believe the true gospel, they will perish in hell forever. How can I, in good conscience, go around saying Merry Christmas when I know what these words mean? As I said before, it seems to me that there is something supernatural “surrounding” this holiday, there’s something “robotic” about it. December comes, and everyone seems to take their appointed place, perform their appointed tasks, and say their appointed words. Who is the initiator of this day called Christmas? Is it Jesus? Would Jesus perpetuate a lie? In addition, unsaved people belonging to various religions see the idolatry and frivolity associated with Christmas and it hinders them from coming to the Lord.

(3) UNEQUAL YOKING WITH UNBELIEVERS

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Celebrating Christmas causes Christians to yoke unequally with unbelievers. These are just a few of my thoughts on this. If we witness as we should, including both the love of God and wrath of God, would the unsaved really want to celebrate Christmas with us? My experience has been no, they would not. If we don’t witness as we should, how can we joyfully celebrate the birth of Christ with unbelievers, knowing the wrath of God is upon them? Are we giving them the right message when we do that? Are we leading them to think they are fine just the way they are?

(4) PRINCIPLES FROM PILATE’S LIFE

There are certain principles to be gleaned from the life of Pilate. Years ago as I was seeking the Lord about celebrating Christmas I was led to study the following. I believe the principles apply. There are many reasons why we don’t do what we know to be right.

The following are study notes from the New Life Application Bible:

“For Pilate there was never a doubt about Jesus’ innocence. Three separate times he declared Jesus not guilty. His fear of the pressure the Jews would place on him controlled his decision to allow Jesus’ crucifixion. Pilate went against what he knew was right. We share a common humanity with Pilate. At times we know the right and choose the wrong. He had his moment in history and now we have ours. What have we done with our opportunities and responsibilities? What judgment have we passed on Jesus?

In fairness to Pilate, he really didn’t want Jesus to be crucified. In fact, he even tried to set him free. But in the end Pilate gave in to the insistent shouts of the bloodthirsty crowd. Pilate’s sin was merely to turn away and give them what they wanted – his was the sin of complicity.

Pilate chose the easier path rather than standing up against the crowd. There are times when we would all like to just blend into the crowd. Sometimes holding to a belief or an opinion that sets us apart is just too threatening – just a little too exposing. We long for the warm approval of our peers, the welcoming slap on the back and the feeling that we are part of the “collective” – and sometimes even at the cost of truth and justice.

Pilate caved in under political pressure. He abandoned what he knew was right. When we lay aside God’s clear statements of right and wrong and make decisions based on our audience, we fall into compromise and lawlessness. God promises to honor those who do right, not those who make everybody happy.

Pilate’s greatest sin was compromising what he knew to be true and right for the sake of position, status, and personal gain.

Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but the crowd loudly demanded his death, so Pilate sentenced Jesus to die. No doubt Pilate did not want to risk losing his position, which may already have been shaky, by allowing a riot to occur in his province.

When the stakes are high, it is hard to stand up for what is right. Had Pilate been a man of real courage, he would have released Jesus no matter what the consequences. But the crowd roared, and Pilate buckled. When you have a difficult decision to make, don’t discount the effects of peer pressure. Realize beforehand that the right decision could have unpleasant consequences: social rejection, career derailment, public ridicule. Then think of Pilate and resolve to stand up for what is right no matter what other people pressure you to do.

Pilate had no good excuse to condemn Jesus, but he was afraid of the mob.

In making no decision, Pilate made the decision to let the crowds crucify Jesus. Although he washed his hands, the guilt remained. Washing your hands of a tough situation doesn’t cancel your guilt. It merely gives you a false sense of peace. Don’t make excuses – take responsibility for the decisions you make.”

So there it is. This is what I believe the Lord is showing me. I know He is showing similar things to other believers. I hope I have given you some food for thought. My prayer is that we, as God’s children, will allow Him to continue guiding us into all truth.

Jesus said …  John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

See also … CHRISTMAS – A Poem

and … CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD