Will Publishers of Books That Go Contrary to the Word of God be Held Responsible for the Writers Content?

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly, (James 3:1 NIV)

     Zondervan Books recently announced that it has signed a book deal with author Tim LaHaye to publish his latest tome, Edge of Apocalypse, another premillennial dispensational-oriented book by the writer who’s “Left Behind” series has sold over 65 million copies, worldwide.

     Tim LaHaye (with co-author Jerry Jenkins) is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 70 nonfiction books, many on biblical prophecy and the End Times, and is the coauthor of the record-shattering Left Behind series, initially published by Tyndale Fiction books. He is considered one of America's foremost authorities on biblical end times prophecy. The new book is co-authored by Craig Parshall a highly successful lawyer from the Washington D.C. area and the author of the legal thrillers, Chamber of Justice series. Zondervan plans to release the book worldwide on April 20, 2010 with a first print run of 500,000 copies.

     The renowned publisher claims it is the world's leading Christian publisher of books whose authors are noted for their excellence in the craft of writing as well as their worthy contribution to the ongoing global evangelical conversation. Zondervan adds that “the works published by Zondervan not only confirm readers' faith and understanding, they also challenge and stretch readers' thinking.”

      Zondervan also claims that “for more than 75 years, it has delivered transformational Christian experiences through general, ministry, and academic resources by influential leaders and emerging voices,” and boasts of  having been honored with more Christian Book Awards than any other publisher and many of their books are translated into nearly 200 languages in more than 60 countries.

 

     Three years after the success of the Left Behind series, LaHaye returns to publish Edge of Apocalypse, an apocalyptic epic infused with political intrigue, of which the premise is gleaned by him from today's news headlines, and will be the first edition of a new series called The End. 
      Based on comments quoted by Zondervan, LaHaye says he is "thrilled to partner with Zondervan to produce a series hopefully even more innovative than Left Behind; "While my past works have piqued interest in biblical prophecy on a global level, The End series includes many prophecies that were not covered in Left Behind." 

     One cannot question the fact that Zondervan, as well as Tyndale and other Christian book publishers, have published numerous books throughout their existence that have been not only edifying to Christian readers, but many secular folks as well. The basic tenets (salvation, faith, the life of Jesus Christ) have impacted millions of people to a greater understanding of Christianity itself.

      However, a doctrinal position (such as Left Behind) which has been hotly debated for the last 150 years, one where the majority of born again, evangelical Christians have accepted without question, is rather disturbing. Zondervan, I’m quite certain, has published books on numerous Christian issues regarding the basic tenets of Christianity, which few (in the theological community, at least) recognize as orthodox. But the “Left Behind” theory (and now more with the Edge of Apocalypse) begs the question of Zondervan’s eschatological credibility.

      Did Zondervan, when it was first presented with the idea of LaHaye’s Edge of Apocalypse premise, do any research with members of the theological academic community as to its biblical soundness or hermeneutical veracity, besides Dallas Theological Seminary, whose basic eschatological foundation is based on dispensational premillennialism?

     The End Times debate as to whether Christians will be raptured to heaven before, in the middle or at the end of a seven year period of tribulation preceding Christ’s return has been hotly debated (especially) for the last three to four decades. The prevailing doctrine has been premillennial to say the least, but does that mean that position is biblically correct? Should we not ascertain this information beyond a shadow of a doubt before we prematurely publish it?

      Most recently, new authors have emerged that provide sound biblical proof and evidence that not only challenges the dispensational premillenial position, but out right debunks this premise. Authors such as Stephen Sizer, Steve Wohlberg, Barbara Rossing, Arnie Suntag, Dave MacPherson and others present more than a sound case against the Left Behind and Pre-Tribulation Rapture to heaven notions being propagated by not only Tim LaHaye, but also by many other authors and preachers like Mike Evans, John Hagee, Tommy Ice and Hal Lindsey, who jump started this mind set with his (also) extremely financially successful book, The Late Great Planet Earth.

One can only surmise publishing companies like Tyndale and Zondervan can claim it’s not their responsibility to deeply check out the biblical veracity of the premises that authors such as LaHaye, Hagee, Evans, Ice and Lindsey promote or write about. Their bottom line is the profit margin; this is why they are in business to begin with.

However, if it ends up that the theories of these authors are proven wrong (many of these authors have been publically challenged and warned about erroneous interpretations concerning their theology, and they have had the opportunity to recant their respective positions, but chose not to), will their publishers be subject to the consequences that were forewarned to all those who chose to be the teachers of God’s word?

….and when were we forewarned?

"You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." Deuteronomy 4:2

"Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it." Deuteronomy 12:32

"Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar." Proverbs 30:5-6

"If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." Revelation 22:18-19

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              For more information click here Joe Ortiz

Renowned Prophecy Author Uses Ortiz' Blog to Send Open Letter to Proponents of the Left Behind Doctrine!

[Dave MacPherson, renowned author of several books that challenge Pre-Tribulation Rapture and Left Behind doctrine, sends ‘open letter’ to so-called prophecy experts]

By Joe Ortiz

    [We are deeply honored that renowned ‘anti-Left Behind’ author, Dave MacPherson has chosen our blog to send an open letter to a group of authors, writers and evangelicals who believe in the Left Behind, Pre-Tribulation Rapture doctrines. Dave Macpherson is a great writer who has authored about a half a dozen books aimed at refuting the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, including Rapture, The Great Rapture Hoax, Incredible Cover Up, The Rapture Plot, The Three R's as well as thousands of articles that are currently featured on the Internet. The following OPEN LETTER to proponents of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is the most recent polemic by MacPherson and we are honored he chose our blog site as its launching pad before he disseminates the open letter throughout media and the Internet.] 

     I have read Joe Ortiz' two books (The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation)  and believe they provide possibly the most biblically sound and well documented material that out right refute the dispensational premillennialism doctrines of Left Behind and the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. Authors such as Tim LaHaye, John Hagee, Hal Lindsey, Mike Evans, Tom Ice and others who support the Left Behind notions and the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, would do well by reading and studying Joe Ortiz' books to finally put closure to that debate and instead focus on enhancing the kingdom of God. Following is my open letter to those who still believe in the Left Behind and Pre-Tribulation Rapture deception. (Dave MacPherson, 11-12-09)

                              EDWARD IRVING IS UNNERVING!

     All of my books since 1973 have stated that Rev. Edward Irving and his followers (Irvingites) - as well as Margaret Macdonald - taught a pretribulation rapture before John Darby did.
     Margaret's 117-line pretrib "revelation" account (which, by the way, contains 59 Bible verses or parts of verses - about one in every other line) was admittedly not as detailed as the many articles in "The Morning Watch" (Irvingite journal) which from 1829 to 1833 clearly and extensively portrayed a pretrib rapture. Naturally my Darby-exalting critics gang up on Margaret so that they won't have to face up to overwhelming evidence that the Irvingites did in fact precede Darby!
     (While I'm at it - I wish now that I had never used terms like Margaret's "revelation" or "vision" even though others have. I should have referred only to her "view" or "Scriptural interpretation." If I had done so, my opponents wouldn't have had an excuse to associate "occult" or "witch" or "demon" with her totally Biblical discussion while playing the current rapture debate "game of gossip"!)
     Scofield and Ironside are among the Darby defenders who have boldly concluded, minus evidence that pretrib rapturism never existed in Irvingite circles.
     Even Ernest Sandeen's "The Roots of Fundamentalism" (p. 64f) asserted that Irving and his followers didn't teach anything resembling a Darbyesque secret, pretrib rapture. (His conclusion was based on only two unrelated (!) prophetic utterances which were spoken many months after pretrib was first clearly taught in Irving's journal in Sep. 1830!) J. Barton Payne responded to Sandeen by writing that "MacPherson has once and for all overthrown Ernest Sandeen's assertions that the Irvingites never 'advocated any doctrine resembling the secret rapture' and that to connect J. N. Darby and early dispensationalism with Irving's church is 'a groundless and pernicious charge'....For serious students of the history of dispensationalism the study of MacPherson's discoveries has become a must." (Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Winter, 1974)
     R. A. Huebner, a militant member of the Darbyist Plymouth Brethren, added his own name to the Irvingism-bashing list and even talked Walvoord, Ryrie, LaHaye and some other pretrib leaders into joining it. In his 1973 book Huebner actually stated: "The Irvingites (1828-1834) never held the pretribulation rapture or any 'any-moment' views." His 1991 book repeated this by declaring that "the Irvingite system was a complex" that can be found "in posttribulational writers."
     But the champion Irvingism-basher, who isn't bashful, is Thomas Ice whose Darby-shielding darts are multiplied and repeated on the internet, world without end. He makes sure that readers of his "When Did J. N. Darby Discover the Rapture?" piece will discover his repetition that "Irving never held to pretribulationism." In his "Myths of the Origin of Pretribulationism - Part II" he states that "One of Dave McPherson's strangest claims is that Edward Irving and the Irvingites taught a pre-trib rapture." And he even speaks disparagingly of "two British theologians" (Mark Patterson and Andrew Walker) who have written that "it is incontrovertible that Irving held to a pretribulation doctrine in a form that is developed and remarkably similar to contemporary dispensational views." (!) 
     My book "The Rapture Plot" (available online) includes many quotes from Irvingites proving that they taught a pretrib rapture as well as pretribulationally-correct imminence. Here are just a few examples from several issues of "The Morning Watch":
     "Philadelphia" is described as worthy Christians who will be raptured before "the great tribulation" (TMW, Sep. 1830, p. 510)
     "...the great tribulation from which those dead in Christ, and those who shall then be alive and looking for him, shall be exempted, by being caught up to meet the Lord in the air...." (TMW, June 1831, p. 284)
     Walvoord's, LaHaye's, and Ice's "any-momentness" is clearly seen in this Irvingite journal which stated: "...we miss the true object of faith and hope in the coming of the Lord, not only when we overleap it altogether, but when we interpose any screen whatever; when we look for any event of persecution or tribulation, for any combination of kings, any gathering of people, any manifestation of Antichrist." (TMW, Dec. 1831, p. 253)
     One writer spoke of "the translation for the living...of which we may daily expect the accomplishment...." He added: "During this most horrible time of the reign of the last Antichrist, the risen and translated saints shall be with Christ...." (TMW, Mar. 1832, pp. 12-14)
     John Tudor, TMW editor, said that "some of these elect ones shall...be left in the great tribulation...after the translation of the saints...." He added that there is "nothing further to expect before the actual coming...." (TMW, Sep. 1832, pp. 11-12)
     "The literal time of 1260 days...does not commence till the moment of the translation of the saints...." (TMW, Sep. 1832, p. 48)
     It should be pointed out that during pretrib dispensationalism's earliest development, there were those who quickly changed from the prevailing posttrib historicism to pretrib futurism, some who changed later on, and some who never changed. Naturally Darby-guardsmen such as Huebner and Ice have selectively focused on historicist Irvingites and purposely covered up pretrib futurists among the same British group to make it appear to their trusting readers that the Irvingites were totally pretrib-deficient! 
     My first paper on Biblical prophecy was written in 1968. If I could have known beforehand that Darby protectors would either ignore, smear, or pseudo-scholarly skip over Margaret's main point (a rapture before Antichrist's revealing) and deviously quote lines only before and after it (what Dr. Tommy Ice does repeatedly), I would have focused on the incredible quality and quantity of the output of the innovative Irvingites - and brought in Margaret only as the one they claimed as their inspiration.

     Even William Kelly, Darby's editor, knew that for 60 years evangelicalism had credited Irvingism, and not Darbyism, with pretribism. Which is why Kelly (while noting "the early prophesying and tongues in Scotland" but adding that "we may pass these over") focused on Irvingite writings, and not Margaret's, in a lengthy series (1889-1890) in his own journal. Readers of "The Rapture Plot" know that Kelly, in Ice-like fashion, made so many dishonest changes while analyzing Irvingism in a supposedly fair and balanced way that evangelicalism, unable to examine hard-to-locate Irvingite writings, eventually accepted Kelly's revisionism, the goal of which was to project Darby as the pretrib rapture originator as well as the "father of dispensationalism" - and we know how well Kelly was successful!

     I have focused on pretrib rapture beginnings for 40 years and have offered $1000 if anyone can show where I have ever dishonestly concealed or changed anything in any important rapture-related document. Unlike my opponents, my book royalties have always gone not to any individual but to a nonprofit corporation which has never paid any salary to anyone. While you're wondering if you should obtain my 300-page book "The Rapture Plot," I invite you to read my many internet articles including "Famous Rapture Watchers," "Pretrib Rapture Diehards," "Humbug Huebner," "Thomas Ice (Bloopers)" and "Thomas Ice - Hired Gun," "X-Raying Margaret," "Deceiving and Being Deceived," and "Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty." 

      

Dave MacPherson

[Thank you Dave MacPherson; I’m truly honored by your comments and for choosing our blog to send out your ‘open letter’ to Left Behind and Pre-tribulation Rapture theorists.

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For more information or author contact, click here Joe Ortiz

Blessed Are The Pure of Heart!

     As a former Hollywood publicist, it was my duty to showcase my clients who were famous celebrities, sports personalities and elected officials. A good publicist (and a good journalist) hopefully never inject themselves into the story, nor publish anything about themselves. I have always believed in that edict and pretty much followed the script.
     I had many close friends who chided me because I avoided publicity and mostly gave credit to others for many community and professional achievements. I told them heaping credit on me is just not my style. I also told them that a great man once told me that the most successful people in the world are those who work hard to get the job done and worry not about who gets the credit. And, that’s worked very well with me throughout my adult and writing career.
     My actual goals with this blog and the various articles I write is to advocate for the little guys, such as the entire maligned immigrant community (whether legal or not, according to many haranguers), the homeless, infirmed, imprisoned (falsely accused and convicted) and today’s troubled youth, who are experiencing much more trauma (through technology and modernity) than we did as kids.
     However, as an Internet pundit and blogger, my name is obviously attached to the stories I write along with some biographical information that needs to be mentioned, if for no other reason than to let the readers know who is writing the columns and why they should be viewed with any credibility. It’s unfortunate that this aspect is required by most credible media. Even book publishers decide who gets published based on their accomplishments as opposed to what the writer is saying. This is changing fast due to the Internet and many heretofore people no one has ever heard of who are writing books and articles that make more sense than established authors and journalist. This is great!
     However, the problem of credibility not only looms large in the political, literary and institutions of academia, it embarrassingly thrives more so in the theological community, one where few authors are considered credible speaking or writing about the church, the Bible or anything theological unless they have attended Bible College, seminary or completed graduate school work at major theological or even famous educational institutions such as Harvard, Princeton, Yale, et al).
     Unfortunately, many over zealous authors (mostly self-proclaimed prophecy experts) dominate Christian publishing houses and on the Internet with tomes that are based mostly on speculation rather than producing highly researched and biblically documented books with verifiable evidence to back their theories.

John Hagee

Hal Lindsey

Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins

     Many such books actually have inundated and have hoodwinked the Christian literary world with the likes of Tim LaHaye’s Left Behind series, Hal Lindsey’s The Late Great Planet Earth, and other books written primarily by premillennial dispensationalists such as John Hagee, Jerry Jenkins, Mike Evans, Tommy Ice and many other Christian Zionism-oriented authors. Yes, some of these authors have attended seminaries and Bible colleges, but are still found lacking biblical (knowledge and) credibility; but, unfortunately they have struck a responsive chord with their audience who seek a soothing and ear-titillating Gospel that was prophesied in 2 Timothy 4 3-5:

     For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine, instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and discharge all the duties of your ministry, (2 Timothy 4:3-5, NIV)

     Unbeknownst to these self-proclaimed prophets of peace, safety and Rapture rescue, God is raising up a unique group of people that will amaze and trump the ersatz biblical and political messages that emanate from the rich and famous religious community, the intellectuals and their benefactors, the powerful and the mighty. These will be a group of people with no names, no titles, no degrees, no certificates nor letters of academic authority other than God’s blessings and power. Many of these faithful may actual come from the aforementioned individuals I mentioned earlier (the maligned and slandered). These are they who in the Gospel of Matthew 5:5-8 are called “the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
     One of my all-time favorite authors, A.W. Tozer, summed it up best in his book, The Dwelling Place of God, pages 96 and 97, when he stated:
    
     “We have but to become acquainted with, or even listen to, the big names of our times to discover how wretchedly inferior most of them are. Many appear to have arrived at their present eminence by pull, brass, nerve, gall and lucky accident. We turn away from them sick to our stomach and wonder for a discouraged moment if this is the best the human race can produce. But we gain our self-possession again by the simple expedient of recalling some of the plain men we know, who live unheralded and unsung, and who are made of stuff infinitely finer than the hoarse-voiced braggarts who occupy too many of the highest offices in the land. . . .

     . . . the church also suffers from this evil notion. Christians have fallen into the habit of accepting the noisiest and most notorious among them as the best and the greatest. They too have learned to equate popularity with excellence, and in open defiance of the Sermon on the Mount they have given their approval not to the meek but to the self-assertive; not to the mourner but to the self-assured; not to the pure in heart who see God but to the publicity hunter who seeks headlines. “

     The Bible speaks of the positional status in the Kingdom of God that will be granted to the disciples of Jesus, many of them receiving higher ones than others. The positions will be granted not on the quantity of their works (for Jesus after they chose to follow Him), but for their faithfulness in the few things that He requested of His disciples.
     I thank God for the opportunity to advocate for the rights of the lowly, the downtrodden, the infirmed, and those maligned and slandered for being humble, contrite, and grateful for grace, more so than the haughty elite and inheritance-privileged, and many of those who call themselves "Christian" who feel their publicly-renowned status has earned them extra points with God. Many of them who will enter the kingdom of God (by the skin of their chinny chin chin), will be amazed at the thousands of unknown disciples who will be seated on thrones closer to God than they.

    
     I can already hear some of the renowned, famous, so-called Christian leaders even now, evangelists and authors who had over a million followers, a throng of fans buying their prophecy books, who attended their humongous revival meetings in packed out auditoriums, as they mumble quietly to themselves, as they look upon their works with pride, believing somehow that they will be rewarded greatly and will even be seated next to Christ: "I ask you, my fellow Christians, are not my efforts worthy of laudatory note?"
     One of his fellow assistants next to him, who knows the truth about the scriptural compromises that the minister chose, as he looks at his boss' prideful grin, replies in his own mumbled thought, "Hey, dude, we should be grateful we will even make it!"

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For more information, click thw following link Joe Ortiz

Former Broadcaster Claims "Left Behind" Proponents Are Fanning The Flames of the World's Religious Conflicts

  

 Joe Ortiz, Author

The End Times Passover

Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation

     (Redlands, California, 11/11/09) A former radio-television talk show host today tossed a theological gauntlet at those who support the Left Behind doctrine, claiming that form of theology is not biblical and is leading many true believers astray from the Gospel.

      Joe Ortiz, who recently published two books, The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation (Author House), which he claims out right debunk the Left Behind doctrine, today stated that Left Behind and Pre-Tribulation Rapture doctrines are myths and a contradistinction to orthodox Christianity.

      Ortiz said has researched this subject for over 35 years and began writing his books in 1984. He completed the books in 1987 but worked for twenty more years before publishing them in 2006 to ascertain the data was provable beyond a doubt. Other commentators who also dispute the Left Behind mythology and recently published their books that confirm Ortiz’ data, include published authors Ted Noel, Barbara Rossing, Stephen Sizer, Steve Wohlberg, Arnie Suntag and many others.

     “It is not our intent to create discord within the Christian community,” said Ortiz, “However, there are many theologians throughout the world who are convinced the Left Behind doctrine is a blatant lie, and its proponents are more concerned with making money than teaching biblical truth.  The Left Behind doctrine, formulated by religious leader Tim LaHaye and author Jerry Jenkins, teaches that born again Christians will be secretly caught up to heaven seven years before Jesus Christ returns back to earth, thereby escaping a period they call The Great Tribulation.

     “It is prophecy writers and preachers like Tim LaHaye, Jerry Jenkins, John Hagee, Mike Evans, Hal Lindsey and Tommy Ice, who are the most well known promoters of this mythology,” says Ortiz.  “They and their publishers are more concerned about profiting greatly from these books and movies, rather than preaching the true gospel,” stated Ortiz, who adds the Left Behind series has sold over 65 million copies.  “Unfortunately, these books and movies are seducing spiritually hungry people away from God’s truth.”

     Ortiz added that adherents to these mythologies are being duped into believing and supporting doctrines that are actually fanning the flames of world politics. He said they willingly or unwittingly are also promoting doctrines that foster religious conflicts throughout the world. Unlike a multitude of so-called “prophecy experts” on television and Internet who also promote the Left Behind notions, Ortiz said he biblically proves in his books that the state of Israel is not God’s time piece to Armageddon, that there will be no Pre-Tribulation Rapture, and that God’s true disciples will experience a certain degree of tribulation.

      “It is the intent of these right-wing evangelicals to provide unlimited and unqualified support for the current governmental leaders of the state of Israel because (as they claim) the Palestinian region was given to them by God,” said Ortiz.

      “The scripture prophecies they cite to support this contention came with conditions calling for Israel to abide by eternal faithfulness, loyalty and service to God,” said Ortiz. “However, the Israelites, over two thousand years ago, broke that covenant because they failed to follow those conditions and, thereby, nullified God’s commitment to honor His initial promise.” 

      Ortiz said he does not side with either Palestinians or Jews in their centuries old conflict, other than promotes that both sides have to reach a mutually beneficial peace agreement. He said that his books are not anti-Semetic as some will want to charge; but rather a theological polemic that provides scripture that today’s Jewish people are not favored by God any more nor any less than any other race, ethnicity, culture or religion, citing 2 Samuel 14:14 and Romans 2:11 which state “For there is no favoritism nor respect of persons with God.”

      Ortiz, a veteran journalist, talk show host and news columnist with 40 years experience in the greater Los Angeles media market (most recently as a publicist since 1988), added his books provide succinct biblical evidence that refute the Left Behind mythologies, and he is willing to sit down with any author, politician or national leader to present his research .

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11-10-09

 For more information, click on:

Joe Ortiz Blog and Web sites

Does God Want Us To Sever Our Family Ties or Become Its True Members?

I love to write about family because I believe family is the strongest foundation we can build to safely and successfully travel on this road called life.

Families come in different forms and sizes, some may have extended family members besides their blood-line siblings, due to divorce and remarriage, some may have only one person in their family life, which is usually the case as we age and look back at how many have passed away. As little kids, our families were so huge and there were so many of us you couldn’t count them. Most recently you begin to notice that all those young folks we palled around with have either gotten married or moved out of city and state and we feel a great degree of loneliness as our families grow apart, faster than we expected, or wanted.

Many of us try to hang onto these relationships as best we can, remembering (or trying to recapture) the fond memories of times gone by; the family gatherings, the food, the games, the fun and laughter, those most precious moments of innocence gone by. We are a nostalgic bunch, trying to hold onto these memories, most of the time trying to relive them as best we can, sensing they are not really the same, yet we follow that yellow brick road in hopes of recapturing that magic. But, sorry Toto, this just isn’t Kansas anymore.

Now, in today’s fast paced society, we are caught up too much with duties such as jobs, schooling, domestic chores, trying to bring new excitement to our latest love affair, hanging on desperately to any form of affection, dealing with the lives of our children and their children, hoping for the best, kneeling down at night (OK, laying in our beds) and whispering to God words of desperate need, hope and maybe some thanksgiving!

Sometimes (if we stay quiet enough and try to listen to that still small voice of God) we may receive an instant answer to the pain, exhaustion and many times frustration we experienced in the last 12 to 18 hours. Some do not experience any of this, by either drinking down that last shot of vodka, a six-pack or that (legitimate) capsule of medicine called ambien, valium, vicodin, darvocet or the less addicting Tylenol.

Then, suddenly, that little voice whispers in your ear, and asks you, “Who is your true family?"

“Well, “ you say, “ there are my kids Freddie, Mary, Greg, Robert, my uncle Ignacio, my aunt Porfidia, my mother Eunice and my father Guadalupe, my sister-in-law Laquisha, her husband Mortimer, and of course my brother Nguyen Bong.

“How many of them are my disciples and daily follow me?” that voice further queries?

“Well, most of them, I think, except for Dad, who says ‘those Christians’ are a bunch of religious fanatics and I don’t want to hear anything about them!'”

Guess what? A time is already here where a line in the sand has been drawn and each of us has to make a decision: a choice between who is our true family. Is it our blood relatives, or those who God calls His Family of Believers? You may say to yourself that you will never be placed in the position to have to make this decision, but the fact remains is that you will soon have to make that choice. Not the choice where you have to kick out of the house a child, uncle or spouse to the curb because they don’t believe in Jesus Christ; but the choice of prioritizing your life where an unbelieving relative does not impinge your own walk with Christ.

Jesus told us that the day is coming when “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death, (Matthew 10:21).

Whoa! That is some heavy stuff! Our kids could rebel enough to the point they will become part of an entity that would persecute us unto death? Well, this concept is not a new one. During the Second World War, many young German soldiers were trained from infancy to spy upon their parents and report to the authorities whatever information they could find concerning clandestine efforts against the Hitler regime.

Those parents were later executed for their efforts and their children received great rewards. The above scripture is telling us that a day is coming when the disciples of God will be betrayed by their own children and turned in to the existing (dictatorial) authorities of that time in order to exterminate them. This scripture does not describe just kids turning against their parents, but brother against brother and fathers against their own kids! But, why? Why should this be so? Believe it or not (based upon the following scripture) Jesus is telling us that His purpose for coming to earth was not only to suffer the passion and surrender His life on the cross to pay for our sins, He did so for us to choose sides, His or the forces of evil!

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, (Luke 12:51-53).

Throughout history, those who call themselves Christian have believed and trusted scripture that speaks of the love of God, one who forgives sin, who is patient and not wanting anyone to perish. But, yet, (based on the above scriptures) it plainly states we must choose between Him and everything and everyone who is important in our lives, including close friends and blood relatives. Many quickly say, “If this be so, then I cannot, nor will I ever choose against my family because I love them tremendously. Besides, who wants to serve a God who would ask such a thing? Nevertheless, this is a choice we have to make.”

Personally, I don’t believe God is saying to turn against our family, but it appears that He wants to know if push comes to shove are we prepared to do so! This theme is repeated in the Book of Matthew, where it states:

Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's foes will be members of one's own household. (Matthew 10:32-36).

Once again, these scripture appear to paint an extremely harsh picture of Jesus Christ. For Him to make us choose between our family members and Him is the most ridiculous burden to place on the shoulders of any human being. But, if examined very carefully, this request should not really be that difficult if all our family members were all in accord with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It would (or shouldn’t) pose any problems for a family of two or a family of five hundred if all were committed to the gospel and all were lights and salt in their respective community. It would mean that all of our family members were in one accord, practicing the religion that Christ states is ‘true’ religion,’ by responding to the cry from those next door neighbors who suffer tremendously more so than we.

It requires that all family members be willing to sacrifice and put others before themselves. It requires the daily practice of living a life in the spirit and not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. It means recognizing that we need to outright reject the acts of the sin, which include sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. Christ has forever warned us that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

If we are true disciples of Christ, we cannot just honor Him with our lips and deny the calling. We cannot say, “Yes, I am a Christian” and then turn around and commit those very same acts that go contrary to His will!

Remember, the above are not the only actions that go against Christ, so do pride, over indulgence while others go without, vanity, haughtiness and……yes, lack of true faith!

Therefore, choosing between Jesus Christ and family members is not as loathsome an act of which we over-reacted; if anything else, it behooves us to reach out and bring into the fold our brothers and our sister, mothers, fathers, daughters and sons, grandchildren, each and everyone connected to our hearts, to encourage them to become an active part in the true family of Christ. Not just in proclaiming we are disciples of Jesus Christ, but behaving and walking in like-minded manner of His true Holy Family!

And who are His true family?

The last words Jesus spoke to His relatives before he was crucified are more profound than we realize. He could have said something like, “Remember me always,” or “Trust me,” or “Have no fear, I will be near,” or “I shall return.” But He didn’t. His last words tell us and clearly defines who we are, and that his true family is to do the will of God:

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother," (Matthew 12:46-50)

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They That Love Their Life Will Lose It!

For those who scoff at people who follow Jesus Christ, and what is perceived by them as foolishness, they may never see the reality and truth in God’s word. For example, in John 12:25, it states that:

"He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal."

To them that has to be one of the most stupid verses ever promoted by any sane human being. Probably, to them, they do not understand its profound meaning.

We have been indoctrinated by our American society ethos that to pursue liberty and happiness is what life is all about. What person of sound mind could deny this is a healthy and even noble purpose.

We have been raised to work hard, to achieve as much happiness as possible, and there is nothing wrong with that. Yet, for the disciples of Christ (those who have chosen to pick up their crosses and follow Jesus), there is an even more significant purpose for those who not only understand true love, but who know what it requires.

These folks do not prepare for the future by working solely to purchase things that please the flesh, nor do they work solely to enjoy all the recreational and fun things being offered up by the money changers of the world in this roller coaster journey we call life. They don’t even think about their life's work as a means to save enough to one day retire in comfort.

Obviously it takes money to purchase the necessities of life, but working hard primarily to make tons and tons of money to insure your future, or even to keep up with the Jones', was not God's intent to live a completely fulfilled life. Having millions of dollars can never insure your future; it merely means you have been entrusted by God to see exactly how you will use those funds. To spend that wealth solely to indulge your dreams and desires is not the true purpose of that blessing. Actually, you have been given the opportunity to handle those funds to examine what positive impact you can have on others; mostly they should be used to secure resources to help those without. Those whom God has chosen to bless financially (through honest means) recognize that all money is God's money and that we are mere stewards of the funds we have been entrusted to manage. The unselfish disciples of Christ recognize that their work is not geared to earn funds to buy things many people cherish, the things of the world that amuse and titillate the flesh, to spend them by eating at those new restaurants, buying expensive but not necessarily unneeded clothing and jewelry, new cars and homes, and all the other luxuries life has to offer. They have chosen the life of a servant to do God’s will, which is to care for the poor, infirm, homeless, orphans and other people in need. They know that all money should be used for the service of others.

Are we speaking of practicing a "Socialist" economic lifestyle such as taking money from others and giving it to someone else? Absolutely not! Without getting into examining the existent and or varying standards and philosophies of any country's economic structures, we are speaking of viewing the management of our personal money in a way that not only blesses other needy folks, but God's method of insuring that He will always take care of our needs because we take care of the needs of others. That's God's formula for financial success. The more you give to others insures the more He will insure all of your needs are met! You cannot out give God (see 2 Corinthians 9:6-11)!

Also, by helping others, we are not talking about pouring all of your funds to the local church. True churches should never depend on their existence solely from its members. The church that prospers is the church that trust God for it administrative needs, including a pastor's salary and the upkeep of the building and its expenses. Too many church groups (especially its leaders) have outlined programs designed to extract money from their members, just as if they were operating a local 7-11 store. We are focusing on how each individual should view their own finances, which require prioritizing!

If the money we have obtained through hard work (or even an unexpected windfall) is spent on unnecessary items, then we fail to understand God's formula for financial success. Focusing our funds on those things that supposedly provide self-esteem, such as the latest fashions, haute cosmetics, gym classes, fad diets, occult awareness sessions and all of those things that (are supposed to) bring us self worth and other intrinsic, ego-stroking pleasure, is a misguided purpose in the journey of life.

No, these folks who do not love this current (temporal) life are devoted to work that results in their storing their treasures in heaven, those acts and deeds that touch the lives of those less fortunate, not those temporal toys (and tangible) accouterments that will eventually turn to dust, which will also be tested by fire to see if they last on Judgment Day (see 1 Corinthians 3:12-15). These are the folks who do not view their lives as a means to achieve fame and fortune, but rather to serve their fellow man. For that matter, based on the prevailing quest by most humans to achieve fame and fortune is rather disgusting to them. They actually hate their lives for the meaningless opportunities that confront them, those that do not fullfil them with the peace of mind in knowing they have helped others less fortunate, but actually become repulsed with gluttony-filled aura that rules the world!

However, those who are prepared to give up everything to gain the peace and joy that can only be filled through a deep relationship with Jesus Christ, actually hate their temporary lives, and would rather lose them than co-exist in a world that seeks to gain all things, but yet lose it all in the end.

Once again, Matthew Henry, one of history’s greatest commentators on things biblical, provides deep insights to what it means when God tells His children, that if you love your life (in this temporal world) you will eventually lose it:

"He foretells and promises an abundant recompense to those who should cordially embrace him and his gospel and interest, and should make it appear that they do so by their faithfulness in suffering for him or in serving him.

In suffering for him (v. 25): He that loves his life better than Christ shall lose it; but he that hates his life in this world, and prefers the favor of God and an interest in Christ before it, shall keep it unto life eternal. This doctrine Christ much insisted on, it being the great design of his religion to wean us from this world, by setting before us another world.

See here the fatal consequences of an inordinate love of life; many a man hugs himself to death, and loses his life by over-loving it. He that so loves his animal life as to indulge his appetite, and make provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof, shall thereby shorten his days, shall lose the life he is so fond of, and another infinitely better. He that is so much in love with the life of the body, and the ornaments and delights of it, as, for fear of exposing it or them, to deny Christ, he shall lose it, that is, lose a real happiness in the other world, while he thinks to secure an imaginary one in this. Skin for skin a man may give for his life, and make a good bargain, but he that gives his soul, his God, his heaven, for it, buys life too dear, and is guilty of the folly of him who sold a birth-right for a mess of pottage.

See also the blessed recompense of a holy contempt of life. He that so hates the life of the body as to venture it for the preserving of the life of his soul shall find both, with unspeakable advantage, in eternal life. Note, First, It is required of the disciples of Christ that they hate their life in this world; a life in this world supposes a life in the other world, and this is hated when it is loved less than that.

Our life in this world includes all the enjoyments of our present state, riches, honors, pleasures, and long life in the possession of them; these we must hate, that is, despise them as vain and insufficient to make us happy, dread the temptations that are in them, and cheerfully part with them whenever they come in competition with the service of Christ, Acts 20:24; 21:13; Rev. 12:11.

See here much of the power of godliness—that it conquers the strongest natural affections; and much of the mystery of godliness—that it is the greatest wisdom, and yet makes men hate their own lives. Secondly, Those who, in love to Christ, hate their own lives in this world shall be abundantly recompensed in the resurrection of the just. He that hateth his life shall keep it; he puts it into the hands of one that will keep it to life eternal, and restore it with as great an improvement as the heavenly life can make of the earthly one."

Thank you, Matthew Henry, for your gift of discernment, and for allowing us the privilege to see deeply into God’s word for its illuminating and edifying wisdom.

Folks, the true followers of Christ throughout history have been persecuted and many have been killed for their belief in Jesus. The early disciples were heavily persecuted, yet they continued to grow in faith. Not only did they have to deal with tribulation, they also had to deal with false teachings.

Sadly, some people use Christ as a tool for personal gain in this world. We don’t have to point to the obvious group of “fire and brimstone” preachers who use their religion as a means to get wealthy; their deeds are known to most people, to the shame of those who truly work to tender their skills, time and talent to serve the downtrodden. Some so called “Christians” even (today) persecute and kill innocent people for more wealth and power. These corrupt the truth of the gospel to lay up treasures on this earth rather than in heaven.

It is important to realize that just because one calls themselves a Christian people (or nation), does not mean they will enter the kingdom of God and have eternal life. Those who do the will of the Father which is in heaven will enter the kingdom. Jesus said to love your enemies and to do good to them that hate you. He said to pray for them which persecute you.

Today, there are still those who do the will of God, and those who do not do the will of God. And, the end of it all, for them, is the eternal promise of God for those who choose to lose their lives for Jesus. That promise is found in the verse (26) that follows:

If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor (John 12:26, KJV)

Contact information on his books, articles, blogs and web sites, please click on Joe Ortiz.