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miércoles, 5 de septiembre de 2018

7 Razones por las cuales no soy dominionista: Apostol Dr. Joseph Mattera

Lea el original en ingles aqui

Ha habido algunos en el campo cristiano que se han catalogado como dominionistas cristianos, posiblemente porque se refieren al pacto original que se encuentra en Génesis 1: 26-28 como "el Mandato del Dominio" y porque defienden un enfoque de arriba hacia abajo con respecto a la imposición de ética bíblica en la sociedad secular.


En cuanto a mis enseñanzas sobre el Reino, algunos con un prejuicio anticristiano sin duda me han referido como un dominionista cristiano a pesar de que predico contra ello. Estas personas tratan de etiquetar e intimidar a cualquier líder cristiano que crea que la ética bíblica pertenece a la plaza pública.

Como no estoy de acuerdo con el lenguaje, la metodología y / o el marco conceptual cristianos dominionistas, utilizaré esta misiva para dar siete razones por las que no soy un dominionista cristiano. Algunas razones son teológicas y algunas metodológicas.

1. La palabra "dominio" en Génesis 1:28 no se refiere a ejercer el dominio sobre la humanidad.

Al examinar este pasaje nos damos cuenta de que Dios nunca le ordenó a Adán ejercer dominio sobre otros seres humanos, sino tener mayordomía sobre el orden creado. (Lea el contexto en Génesis 1: 29-30).

En consecuencia, tengo problemas teológicos con aquellos que usan un lenguaje como "¡Dios ha llamado a la iglesia para tomar nuestras ciudades"! La iglesia nunca es llamada a forzar el mensaje del evangelio sobre el público en general. Por supuesto, cuando una ley que refleja la ética bíblica se convierte en política pública, las autoridades civiles deben hacer cumplir su aplicación, que es muy diferente de las conversiones forzadas.

En una sociedad pluralista como los Estados Unidos, solo aquellos que ganan la percepción del público se ganan el derecho (meritocracia) de enmarcar la cultura con su cosmovisión. En lugar de usar la fuerza o depender de la mera coerción política, los cristianos están llamados a probar que sus valores bíblicos sirven mejor a la sociedad en el contexto de la vida cotidiana.

2. El modelo del Nuevo Testamento para la influencia del evangelio es a través del servicio, no a través de la coacción.

El equivalente del Nuevo Testamento al dominio es influencia. Jesús modeló cómo la iglesia tendrá influencia cuando lavó los pies de sus discípulos y dijo que el más grande en el reino es el que sirve. Los que sirven finalmente lideran porque se convierten en los solucionadores de problemas de sus familias y comunidades. Jesús no solo predicó la palabra sino que satisfizo las necesidades físicas, emocionales y espirituales de la gente.

En consecuencia, si queremos influir en una ciudad, no la tomamos, sino que la amamos y la servimos. El problema con la iglesia primitiva después de que el emperador Constantino comenzó a favorecer el cristianismo (AD 313) no fue que Jesús fue proclamado el gobernante universal o imperial, sino que la iglesia se transmutó a sí misma y se volvió de naturaleza elitista. De alguna manera, los oprimidos (la iglesia) se convirtieron en el opresor y el Imperio Romano influyó más en la iglesia.

3. No creo que la política sea el principal medio para la influencia del reino.

Como ejemplo, la derecha cristiana puso la mayor parte de su tiempo y dinero en las elecciones políticas desde finales de los años setenta. Aunque han ganado muchas elecciones que incluyen dos presidencias (Reagan y Bush), han perdido la batalla de las relaciones públicas con los humanistas seculares y han perdido influencia en la cultura mayoritaria. En consecuencia, mientras se enfocaban en la mera política, sus oponentes se enfocaban en las industrias de la música, las artes y el entretenimiento y se ganaron los corazones de la mayoría de la generación del milenio.

En la actualidad, el valor más elevado en el mundo occidental es la libertad de expresión, y la derecha cristiana ahora se considera intolerante a los intolerantes que están en contra del progreso, la creatividad y la igualdad.

La política es muy importante, pero nunca funcionará a menos que los corazones y las mentes de una cultura estén de acuerdo con su plataforma y filosofía de vida establecidas. Por lo tanto, la iglesia debe enfocarse en reflejar la verdad de Dios en cada aspecto de la cultura, no solo en la política.

4. No voto por un candidato político solo porque él / ella es cristiano.

Hubo varias elecciones, tanto nacionales como locales, en las que voté por un candidato no cristiano sobre un candidato cristiano. Preferiría votar por una persona calificada que alguien que esté de acuerdo conmigo en teología. En cuanto a la presidencia, no estamos eligiendo un teólogo en jefe, ¡sino un comandante en jefe! Además, si elegimos a una persona no calificada solo porque son creyentes, puede ser contraproducente si sus fallas en la política son culpadas de las creencias cristianas. Votaré por una persona independientemente de sus creencias y estilo de vida si sus valores, calificaciones y enfoque metodológico de la política están más cerca de mi punto de vista que su oponente, incluso si su oponente es cristiano.

Por supuesto, en igualdad de condiciones, si dos candidatos son virtualmente iguales en cuanto a política, valores y pragmática, elegiría al cristiano por sobre el no cristiano. Mi esperanza es que, eventualmente, más personas que honren a Cristo estén calificadas para liderar en todos los ámbitos de la sociedad, porque la consumación de la historia finalmente unirá el cielo y la tierra bajo el señorío de Cristo.
5. Dios usa a los no creyentes para cumplir Sus propósitos.

En Romanos 13: 4-7, los magistrados no cristianos son llamados siervos de Dios. Isaías 45-46 y los libros de Esdras, Nehemías y Ester demuestran cómo Dios usa líderes políticos no salvos para Sus propósitos e incluso los llama Sus ungidos. (Los reyes paganos como Ciro, Artajerjes, Nabucodonosor y Darío son todos ejemplos bíblicos de cómo Dios usó reyes para salvar a su pueblo de un holocausto, devolverlos a su propia tierra y reconstruir y restaurar Jerusalén).

A través de su gracia común, Dios obra a través de todas las personas por el bien de la humanidad, incluso si se oponen filosóficamente a él. Por ejemplo, muchas de las actividades de beneficencia en las que he participado han sido financiadas y / o ayudadas por agencias seculares, funcionarios políticos y algunos ciudadanos privados que han adoptado un estilo de vida diferente al mío y aún servimos juntos por el bien de nuestras comunidades.

6. Creo que Dios ha llamado a los creyentes a trabajar para tener comunidades florecientes.

No me opongo a que los cristianos se involucren políticamente y creo en la ética bíblica en las políticas. Sin embargo, nuestro mayor ethos con respecto a la ética es amar a nuestro prójimo como a nosotros mismos.

En consecuencia, esto significa que la iglesia no debe hacer un servicio comunitario simplemente cuando pueden evangelizar y agregar miembros. Esto es falso y el mundo lo ve y tiene derecho a ofenderse por ello. Debemos amar por el amor y usar nuestros dones y habilidades como portadores de la imagen de Dios, para mejorar creativamente nuestras comunidades para el florecimiento humano.

A medida que vivimos una vida dedicada al amor y al servicio, cambiaremos inadvertidamente la narrativa que las personas tienen con respecto a nuestras iglesias y nuestra fe. La iglesia alguna vez transformó el mundo occidental a través de la música, el arte, la promoción de la estética, la abolición de la esclavitud, la lucha por los derechos civiles y la fundación de universidades, agencias de socorro y hospitales. Sin el amor y el ingenio de la iglesia, el mundo occidental seguiría viviendo como lo hicieron sus antepasados ​​bárbaros precristianos.

Por lo tanto, Dios llama a los creyentes a la ortodoxia y la ortopraxia del reino.

7. No creo que todas las naciones serán cristianizadas antes del regreso corporal de Cristo.

La Biblia nos enseña que Jesús no regresará hasta la restauración de todas las cosas (Hechos 3:21) y que todos Sus enemigos están bajo Sus pies (Salmo 110: 2). Además, Jesús como el último Adán (1 Corintios 15:45) llegó a implementar plenamente el mandato cultural dado al primer Adán (Génesis 1:28), por lo que llamó a los creyentes a discipular a naciones enteras (Mateo 28:19). ) Mientras que algunos cristianos (algunos no todos los dominionistas cristianos) han interpretado que estos pasajes significan que cada nación eventualmente se convertirá en cristiana antes de regresar, yo no estoy de acuerdo.

La Biblia no es clara con respecto a lo que significa que Sus enemigos sean puestos bajo Sus pies, por lo que solo nos quedan conjeturas sobre qué tipo de reino será el testigo en la tierra antes de Su venida. Jesús dijo (Mateo 25: 25-41) que habrá naciones de cabra desobedientes cuando regrese, mostrando así que todas las naciones no serán salvas a su regreso. Además, las Escrituras enseñan en 2 Tesalonicenses 1: 7-10 que "cuando venga castigará a los que no conocen a Dios ni desobedecen el evangelio". Por lo tanto, habrá muchos incrédulos a su regreso.

Finalmente, dice en Apocalipsis 20: 8-10 "que cerca del final de la historia humana Satanás engañará a algunas de las naciones" y Apocalipsis 21:24 (KJV) que "las naciones que son salvas podrán entrar en el Santo Ciudad ", lo que implica que habrá grandes colecciones de grupos de personas no salvas en la consumación de la historia humana. Lo que todos estos pasajes enseñan es que, desde este lado del cielo, nunca experimentaremos la plenitud del reino hasta que Jesús regrese. Esto no quiere decir que no tratemos de manifestar Su reino donde quiera que vayamos, sino que lo ocupemos y funcionemos como la sal y la luz del mundo hasta que venga (Lucas 19:13, Mateo 5: 13-16).

lunes, 21 de mayo de 2018

Should the apostolic usurp the authority of pastors or churches?: Joseph Mattera

Recently I have been reading some articles critical of NAR (the so-called new apostolic reformation) which (oftentimes) correctly calls attention to some abuses perpetrated in the name of the apostolic. When a friend told me I should respond to one article in particular—I smiled when I read it because I had nothing to rebut except a few things written that I attribute to misunderstandings regarding language, perspective, and intent.
One of the primary fears some opponents of the NAR have is that the apostolic movement can be (or is) harmful to and can overthrow pastors and churches as we know it. That is to say they are concerned that leaders will use their (so-called) apostolic title and or office to usurp authority over the church and even force some pastors or churches to submit to them in a particular region.
Now I must say that based on my own experience—this is possible—but not probable in my estimation. Since the mid-1980s, I have only seen this happen a few times (once upon a time a false apostle tried to usurp my pastoral authority and take over the local church I founded in the late 1980s) and I heard of one situation where a person claimed to be the “apostle over a city” but few pastors submitted to him (most pastors have enough discernment not to be fooled by such braggadocios nonsense) and the said so-called apostle quickly crashed and burned and lost everything anyway.
To be fair, I have heard of far more so-called prophets, evangelists, teachers and pastors that abuse their power (to seduce women and solicit funds for themselves and more) than I have heard of leaders coming in the name of an apostle title. In spite of this, I do not hear of anybody calling for the end of pastoral or evangelistic ministry since the true and bonafide leaders far outweigh the bad.
No, the way forward should be to continue to refine, evolve, and work towards attaining a more biblical view regarding our orthodoxy and orthopraxy. One (well-meaning and good) leader recently questioned me for saying in an article I wrote that the Church will eventually go from a pastoral paradigm to an apostolic. (They most likely perceived I was referring to the apostolic over throwing the pastoral model of church and leadership.)
They did not understand the fact that I was not referring to apostolic leaders usurping authority over pastors and churches but that my hope was that the body of Christ would go back to the “Way of Christ and His original apostles”—which is the NT pattern of making disciples and multiplying churches.
I was referring to paradigmatic change—which has to do with a change of thinking regarding the church that would eventuate in an embrace of the NT pattern of church which elevates and never dissipates pastors and churches. (Which can be done with or without the use of the title apostle.)
That being said—any pastor or church that partners with an apostolic leader should do so of their own volition (not because of being manipulated) but because they believe that aligning with said apostolic leader will maximize their efforts regarding the spread of His gospel. (I have seen true apostolic leaders edify pastors and churches hundreds of times both in the NY region and in the global church.)
Am I saying there is no abuse in the apostolic? No, although I have rarely witnessed apostolic leadership hurt pastors and churches in the context of my region (I cannot speak for other nations and cities outside NYC where I am unfamiliar with their history and context). I have witnessed some extremes and misuse of the title in other ways as I have already enumerated in past articles (see “the NAR and the Restoration of Apostolic Ministry Today”).
Extreme statements and practices are a common problem historically whenever the body of Christ attempts to restore a new biblical truth. Part of the confusion in the topic at hand stems from the use of the title apostle as an office instead of a function. This is due to the fact that apostle is used as an office in the first chapter of the book of Acts when Matthias was chosen to take the place of Judas (Acts1:20) since the Greek word is episcopè, which, means an office like that of the episcopos.
Of course, Peter used this word because the original 12 apostles of the Lamb did have the ecclesial office of apostle conferred upon them by Jesus. (Because their teaching was to be normative for the whole body of Christ for all time as is recorded in the writings of the NT Scriptures and as is illustrated in practice when they convened the first ecumenical council to direct the future of the church as recorded in Acts 15.)
Unfortunately, many in the apostolic restoration movement interpret the passage in Acts 1:20 to mean that those called to serve in apostolic ministry have been given a permanent office that never changes irrespective of where they minister geographically and who they are ministering to.
(Only the original 12 apostles of the Lamb have that permanent office/ every other apostolic leader since then only has limited apostolic function related to their particular sphere of influence and is only contingent as far as their teaching and pattern of behavior align with the teachings of the original 12 apostles.) That being said, I have taught since the 1980s that the word “apostolic” is governmental not just ministerial—and describes a limited function (even more so than the other four cluster gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:11) which means that a person may function apostolically in their church or network—but that doesn’t make them an apostle every where they go since their level of governance in their ministry is limited to churches and networks in which they have oversight / see 2 Corinthians 10:10-14).
(EG I may function as an apostle in my church and network but that doesn’t mean I have the same kind of apostolic influence when I minister in a Methodist church or in another country. The best I can do is preach in another context as a prophetic voice or as a teacher of biblical principles—but I cannot go to churches or nations outside the scope of my governance and claim to be their apostle in their context unless they of their own volition and leading as me to serve in that capacity.)
Because of the above, the past several years I have moved away from using the term “office” in conjunction with the apostolic since it connotes permanent institutional ecclesial authority instead of a mere (limited) function. Because I was taught since the 1980s by many in the Charismatic Movement that the apostolic was an office, I was using this language for many years until recently when I realized it did not comport with my view that it is a function limited to a particular sphere of authority (as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 10:10-15).
Even some of my old articles and a book I wrote may contain that language (which I will eventually revise). The biggest danger I see in teaching the apostolic is an office instead of a function is because those who think they minister in the office of apostle may be more prone to think they have institutional ecclesial authority in wherever region or church group they minister to (which I totally disagree with!).
In summary let me close with some bullet points:
1- the apostolic is a function and not an office and should never be used to manipulate and or usurp authority over pastors and churches
2- Pastors and churches can voluntarily submit to and or align with apostolic leaders if they so choose
3- The apostolic ministry gift today is a limited function and not an office
4- True apostolic leaders will edify the Body of Christ and be instruments of fostering biblical unity (Ephesians 4:12,13; 2 Corinthians 13)
5- The restoration of the apostolic paradigm should serve to recognize and release the NT pattern of disciple making and the multiplication of churches (we should plant movements and not mere myopic churches)
6- Recognizing apostolic function can make way for entrepreneurial visionary church leadership with a focus on expanding Kingdom influence more than shepherding one congregation in one community
7- recognizing apostolic function can release those called primarily to pastoral leadership from the pressure of thinking extra locally—so they can focus on their assignment of caring for the congregation they were called to serve and let the apostolic leaders they are connected with focus on the community, church planting, and beyond
8- all of the five cluster gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 should work together—and not in competition with each other—to equip the saints
9- We in the global apostolic movement are still evolving in our understanding and will continue to do so until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (see Ephesians 4:11-13)
10- All true apostolic leaders should endeavor to mimic the servant leadership style of Jesus who led by washing the feet of those He worked with (John 13).
Consequently, any so-called “apostle” who attempts to use their title (as a big A instead of a small A apostle) to usurp the leadership of pastors and churches is not a true apostle and should be called out by the rest of the Body of Christ in their region of influence.

sábado, 24 de marzo de 2018

About the house church: John White

I went to seminary (Fuller) with John Piper and generally I find him to do a good job of interpreting Scripture and drawing appropriate conclusions.  In this case, he has missed the boat, at least to some degree.  I submit that his paradigm of church (shaped by his own experience) is preventing him from seeing what Scripture and history teach us.
I'll work through his six observations with my comments (might take several postings).
1.  John:  "Church is about people not places.  In the NT, church is never referred to as a building or a place."  Then, John goes on to largely refute his first observation with his second observation.  There he lists all of the references to church that are linked to a house.  For instance, "Greet also the church that meets at their (Priscilla and Aquila's) house"  Rom 16:5. 
I contend that every church mentioned in the NT met in a home and functioned like a small spiritual family.  And, that this practice continued until the time of Constantine (early 300s).  Consider...
*Scripture is our authoritative guide for faith and practice.  The common practice of church in the NT was meeting in homes.
*Up to Acts 10, all churches were made up of Jews.  "Foundational to all theory on the biblical concept of family is the Jewish teaching that the home is more important than the synagogue.  In Jewish tradition, the center of religious life has always been the home.  The Church has yet to grapple seriously with this crucial concept."  Wilson, Our Father Abraham, p. 214.
*"Since 1980 we have seen a flood of popular and scholarly publications on the subject.  Here again it appears most scholars are in agreement:  the fact that early Christian communities met in homes is of great sociohistorical, ecclesiological, and missional significance.”  P. 1"  Gehring, House Church and Mission, p. 1.  In other words, meeting in homes was not just a matter of convenience.  It has major theological significance.
*“Of fundamental importance is Elliott’s insight that ‘households thus constituted the focus, locus and nucleus of the ministry and mission of the Christian movement.’” Gehring, P. 6
*“For Verner this concept of church as the ‘household of God’ (1 Tim. 3:15) incorporates two aspects:  (a) the house or family is the fundamental unit of the church, and (b) the church is a social structure patterned after the household.”  Gehring, P. 7
*"On the basis of our exegesis, we can go even one step further:  in Christ, mediator of creation, neither Paul nor the churches in Colossae and in Ephesus had the freedom to choose other social structures in the place of marriage and family.  They were theologically obligated to choose these, as both had been handed down to them through the creation traditions found in Scripture, primarily in wisdom literature…This is one more reason the Pauline churches attributed such great significance to the oikos as the seminal cell of the church…” Gehring, p. 250.
*"“…the choice of the gathering place was formational for the self-understanding and the organizational structures of the individual churches to such an extent that the ancient oikos can be seen as the formational model for ecclesiology.”  Gehring, P. 255.
*"Not until the third century do we have evidence of special buildings being constructed for Christian gatherings..."  Banks, Paul's Idea of Community, p. 41.
*"The Christianity that conquered the Roman Empire was essentially a home-centered movement."  Viola, Pagan Christianity, p. 14.
I could add more quotes but you get the picture.  More to come.

sábado, 10 de marzo de 2018

Emil Brunner Quotes about ekklesia



Emil Brunner Quotes about ekklesia

Ever since I encountered the risen Jesus in a Spirit-led meeting on a college campus, I’ve wanted to go beyond the formal way of doing church and meet the way Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 14:26. In 2008, The Salvation Army asked my wife and me to open a “non-traditional church” in Nashville on that model. In 2015 I wrote a book about meeting that way: Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible–Ekklesia.
Today I discovered Emil Brunner, a Swiss theologian who died in 1966, and his writings about ekklesia. I am amazed at how much Brunner’s writings match what we do at The Salvation Army Berry Street and my book. Here’s a quote from him that matches how I feel about the opportunity to experience ekklesia with The Salvation Army:
“I am inexpressibly grateful that the Lord of my life has granted to me in such abundance these opportunities to take part in the life of His Ekklesia and to bear witness to the Living Christ in so many places and in so many ways.” –Emil Brunner (1889-1966)
Here are quotes from two of Brunner’s books:
Quotes from: Dogmatics: Volume III – Christian Doctrine of the Church, Faith & The Consummation
“The Spirit who is active in the Ekklesia expresses Himself in active love of the brethren.”
“The Ekklesia does not only know that God is love. The Ekklesia also lives from the love of God.”
“Christ did not give the Ekklesia the Word alone, but His life also.”
“Luther realized that the true Church, the Ekklesia, was based wholly on the Word and Spirit of God and not on the Sacrament. He realized that faith is not the obedient acceptance of a doctrine but encounter with Christ present in His Word and Spirit.”
“The more time passed, the clearer it became that the official and institutional character of the the Church hindered the creation of Ekklesia.”
“Only by starting with the Ekklesia can we understand this bond that unites faith to the fellowship of faith.”
“Ekklesia, in it’s love individuals are bound together in fellowship and brotherhood at the same time.”
“The faith which stems from the Church and not from the Ekklesia, from doctrine and not from witness, is not in itself living faith.”
“The misunderstanding of the Ekklesia as the Church, as a sacred institution, corresponds to the misunderstanding of faith, through which faith was misunderstood as affirmation of doctrine.”
Quotes from: The Misunderstanding of the Church
“The ekklesia is what it is through the presence of Christ dwelling within it.”
“The very being of God is Agape — that love which the Son brings to mankind from the Father — and it is just this love which is the essence of the fellowship of those who belong to the Ekklesia.”
“The historical Church . . .has arisen, in the course of a long and complicated history, through a process of development, transformation and retrogression, out of the New Testament Ekklesia.”
“The New Testament Ekklesia is a is not an it, a thing, an institution, but rather a unity of persons, a people, a communion.”
“The Ekklesia of the New Testament, the Christian fellowship of the first Christians, was not a church and had no intention of being a church.”
“There was in the Ekklesia a regulation of the functions— Scripture declares this explicitly— assigned by the Holy Ghost to the various individual members who were thus equipped to perform their special services — falsely represented as offices. For an office belongs to a public organization; an office is part of an institution. The diakoniai, however,
the services, should be conceived on the analogy of the organs with their specific functions which inhere in a living body. Even though it be only a metaphor, this is relatively
the most adequate expression of the truth.”

“The New Testament surprises us again and again by the multiplicity of these functions and their bearers, of the various services and those who render them. One thing is supremely important: that all minister, and that nowhere is to be perceived a separation or even merely a distinction made between those who do and those who do not minister, between the active and the passive members of the body, between those who give and those who receive. There exists in the Ekklesia a universal duty and right of service, a universal readiness to serve and at the same time the greatest possible
differentiation of functions. The metaphor of the organism illuminates one aspect of the reality; the dependence of all kinds of ministration on the one Lord reveals the other. The
head of a body is something different from the ruler of a people. Yet both sides of the reality are expressed and must obviously be expressed, in order to do justice at one and the
same time to the vertical and the horizontal relationship, on the one hand to bring out the mysterious vital fellowship, on the other hand to show that it is the one Spirit who effects
the differentiation of functions. It is therefore quite wrongheaded to describe this pneumatic ordering of the Ekklesia as anarchical simply because it is something different from an organization or institution.”

“It is the mystery of the Ekklesia as the fellowship of the Spirit that it has an articulate living order without being legally organized.”
“The impression made by the life of believers plays a part of decisive importance in the genesis of faith. People draw near to the Christian community because they are irresistibly attracted by its supernatural power. They would like to share in this new dimension of life and power, they enter the zone in which the Spirit operates before they
have heard a word about what lies behind it as its ultimate transcendent-immanent cause. There is a sort of fascination which is exercised mostly without any reference to the Word,
comparable rather to the attractive force of a magnet or the spread of an infectious disease. Without knowing how it happened, one is already a carrier of the infection.”

“It is so much easier to discuss from an intellectual and theological standpoint the ideas implied in the revealed Word of God and to analyse them conceptually than it is to allow
oneself to be transformed at the center of one’s life by the action of the Holy Ghost”

“It is so much easier to secure the life of the fellowship, its coherence and its indispensable hierarchy by means of solid legal forms, by organization and offices, than it is to allow the
life of communion to be continually poured out upon one, to allow oneself to be rooted in it by the action of the Holy Ghost. You can handle and shape as you please such things
as law and organization, but you cannot act thus towards the Holy Ghost.”

“The fellowship of Jesus discloses a paradoxical unity of terms which elsewhere are incompatible. It is a mystical unity of visible earthly persons with an unseen,
heavenly, and yet present Person, their Head, with the eternal ever-present Christ.”

“The Ekklesia is the sphere of actual and realized fellowship with the Christ — a fellowship which is as real as faith and love and hope are real.”
The Ekklesia wherein the one Spirit bestows upon each his peculiar gift and therefore assigns to each his characteristic ministry . . . is reality, heavenly divine reality.”
“The Ekklesia of which the apostles speak was thus not simply a theory or ideal springing from the vision of Christ; it was also the sphere of the new life grounded in the historical
fact of redemption through Jesus Christ, and in His effective presence and power as living Head of the body.”

“What we know as the church or churches resulting from historical developments cannot claim to be the Ekklesia in the New Testament sense.”
“The meaning of the Ekklesia is what we recognized from the New Testament as its characteristic essence: communion with God through Jesus Christ, and rooted in this and springing from it, communion or brotherhood with man. The oneness of communion with
Christ and communion with man is the characteristic mark the Ekklesia.”

“With or without the churches, if necessary even in opposition to them, God will
cause the Ekklesia to become a real community of brothers. Whether the churches yield to this recognition or on the contrary blind themselves to it will determine the question whether or not they have a future.”

Here are a few additional quotes from Emil:
“To be united with Christ through the Holy Spirit means: to be directly united with Him. Here there is no difference between an ordinary Christian of our own day and an Apostle.”
“The fact of our redemption—the history of salvation—is transmitted by the proclamation of facts, that is, by the testimony of the Apostles under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.”
“Above all the teaching of the Church, even above all dogma or doctrinal confession, stands Holy Scripture.”
“The Dogmatic Theologian who does not find that his work drives him to pray frequently and urgently from his heart: ‘God be merciful to me a sinner,’ is scarcely fit for his job.”
“Theology is an assault on the sin-distorted intellect.”
“Gospel preaching, is the spreading out of the fire which Christ has thrown upon the earth. He who does not propagate this fire shows that he is not burning. He who burns propagates the fire.”
“Take oxygen away and death occurs through suffocation, take hope away and humanity is constricted through lack of breath; despair supervenes, spelling the paralysis of intellectual and spiritual powers by a feeling of the senselessness and purposelessness of existence.”
“I am trying to express a view of revelation which does not fit in any of the ready-made patterns.”
Emil Brunner

lunes, 22 de enero de 2018

Prophetic Warning from Prophet Mark Taylor (The Trump Prophecy Author)

The Spirit of God says, “Who do you think you are, you who call yourselves Christians, but further Satan’s kingdom?
Woe! Woe! Woe to you leaders who stand in the way of My Agenda but call yourself mine. You brood of vipers!
My divine judgment is being poured out on the leaders of My United States of America and My Church.
You leaders who want open borders, attack and pray against My anointed men and women, sow division and strife among the people. You hypocrites!
Repent! My righteous Judgment is falling now – you who indulge in the corrupt things of this world for power and greed.
You who call yourselves leaders, America’s leaders. Yes, even My Church leaders, I will not only remove your authority and position, but some I will remove from the face of the earth!
Repent, before it’s too late, for My righteous judgment is falling on those who have mocked, deceived and led My People astray.
For many are about to find out what the Spirit of the Fear of the LORD is, and who the one true God is.”
The Spirit of God says, “Two will be taken and three will be shaken! For I will remove two from the evil crew of 32 and the other three shall be shaken to the core.
The 32 years they have altogether served and empowered that entity called Baal, and the covenant they had holding up his house with the Illuminati and the New World order, shall come crumbling down.
For when the first one is taken, it will be a sign that the New World Order shall die.
When the second one is taken, it will be a sign that anyone calling himself Mine, but who comes against My Israel, sympathizing with her enemies, will not be tolerated.
The three that will be shaken, will be a sign that no one is above the Most High God. Not even those who hold the highest office in the land.
These among many others who have tried to exalt themselves above Me and My law, will be exposed and imprisoned by Me for the entire world to see.
Righteousness and Justice are the foundations of My Throne.
Yes, even the Supreme Court will be shaken.
Do not fear America, when you see these things manifesting, for these things must come to pass.
They will clean up the darkness and it will usher in My light, for I have America in My hand.”
The Spirit of God says, “Why are those who call themselves My people, praying against My President?
Why are you praying against My Agenda for the United States of America?
Repent! You pray against My Agenda, therefore you are not for Me, but against Me.
You pray against My Agenda, because you do not know your Father’s business.
You pray against My Agenda, because you do not know Me!
Repent! Stop listening to Satan’s frequency and tap into heavens frequency. Then you will know the plans that I have for you.”
Mark Taylor 1-21-2018

2 of the 5 ex-presidents will die and the other 3 will be shaken to their core. (Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama)
America & The Evil Crew of 32
by Mark Taylor

martes, 12 de diciembre de 2017

Oprah, Joel Osteen, Rick Warren - They Killed Our Churches

I Have Seen Lucifer In The Christian Church: Ex Occultist Reveals Hidden Truths!/The Corrupt Christian Church: Beth Eckerdt





If it is true that secret societies of Satanists have infiltrated the Christian church, and many churches have gone astray from the truth of God, then the next plausible question is, is the Christian church corrupt? Before we answer that question, we must first understand what the meaning of corrupt is. Here we look at the dictionary as our base on what we are talking about when we say corrupt: to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions to become tainted or rotten to become morally debased to cause disintegration or ruin
Here we can clearly see that if we are speaking of corruption, we are speaking of changing the Gospel message, the truth of the Word of God, and/or the authority and sanctity of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This means, anything that takes away from these things, or changes them in any way, is corrupt.
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
Romans 16:17
In my last post I revealed the many truths I have witnessed of secret Satanism taking place in our Christian churches. Christian leaders and congregation members living lives as God-fearing individuals, who have mind controlled alternate personalities that come forward and lead them in satanic rituals and worship. This is all done in secret, as the occult always keeps their true agenda hidden from the world.
How can we tell if the Christian church as a whole is corrupt, or if it just sects of Christianity, or even just certain churches? As we look at the definition of corrupt, we must use this, as well as the Word of God, to closely examine the Christian church today.
For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
2 Timothy 3:2-5
I have been to many churches in my area, as well as some outside of the area I live in. I have been in Baptist churches, Presbyterian churches, non-denominational churches, and Pentecostal churches. On the outside looking in, no one could take fault with these churches. Some were great and some were small. All had their hand in missions, whether it be in the community or in the world at large.
Upon closer examination of these churches, I think anyone could find one fault or another. There is no one church that is perfect to everyone. Church is an institution of man, and man is full of sin. There is no such thing as a perfect church, just a church that strives it’s best to follow Jesus Christ and spread the Gospel message.
Yet how can one know whether a church is a good church that follows Christ, or a corrupt church? If all churches appear to be good and godly to the outside world, then what parameters could one use to make a determination? The truth is, there is no one thing, outside of Christ Himself, that is going to lead you to the true heart of a church. I have been in churches that look perfect. There is no flaw in them. Yet I have sat in their worship service and felt the witchcraft and the astral rituals tearing me apart. I then would go home and try to pull myself out of the pit of hell for hours afterwards.
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:24
The early church started very simply. Jesus spread the message of God’s love and of our need to repent of our sins. He lived with men and women whom He personally trained to teach these inerrant truths and continue to spread them throughout the world. There was no church building, but indeed corruption had found a way in through Judas. Judas Iscariot lived as one of Jesus disciples and trained with him for years. Although he walked the walk in appearances, his heart and mind were deceived and he aligned himself with the devil.
No one is exempt from becoming corrupt. We all fall short of the glory of God and all have hearts that will lead us astray. We go where things feel good and where we can be most comfortable. However, Jesus was never comfortable in this world. He never even had a place to call His own or lay His head. He moved from place to place, condemned and hated by His own people, mocked by His own family.
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
When we take a closer look at what the Gospel message is, we find that it has nothing to do with comfort or convenience and everything to do with dying to self, even in the midst of the most severe trials life can bring. It has to do with going out of your way to be uncomfortable and putting others above yourself. There is no room for out selfish regimes and paltry idols that we build in our creature comforts. There is only room enough for One. Christ. Otherwise, why are we even here?
Continually the message of the Gospel has been watered down and even removed from the Christian church. Who do we have to blame? Is it the generations before us? Or does the blame rest squarely on our own shoulders? If we are not standing up for the truth, and speaking out in its name in love, then how have we truly brought justice to the name ‘Christian’? We have made our comfortable spot in this world, and we will fight to preserve it at any cost.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’  And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 7:21-23
That is exactly what I see when I look at our churches today. It goes beyond the visible to the hidden and secret lives of those who make up the church. Yes, Satan has infiltrated our churches in the deepest levels, but more than that, we have opened the door wide for him and made him a home there. How? Because we refuse to see the very corruption before our eyes is one of our own making.
The moment we as individuals decided to stop examining our hearts for sin and grievances towards God, is the moment the serpent crawled in. He not only crawled into our churches, but into our homes and our hearts. We are so busy looking for everyone else’s wrong we can’t even see our own. We have sinned against God, and while He is willing to forgive us a million times over, we still have the job of recognizing where we have cheated on Him and given our hearts to another.
It was so easy for the devil to creep in to the church. All he needed were those who wanted power and money more than God. The price was high, but they sold their souls to the devil. And now their legacy’s live on as our churches our built as temples to greed, sin and immorality. So I ask you, how do you know that a church is corrupt? If it has four walls and is run by humans, then the chances are, yes, it is.
Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray.
Mark 13:6
Many will say that it can’t be possible for every church to be corrupt. Surely there is a church that hasn’t bowed down to idols and whored themselves over to Babylon. If a church has leaders who have corruption in their hearts, then the whole flock has gone astray.
The Bible has given us many signs and warnings that these things were to come, and indeed are already here. While we wait for the Jews to build a new temple so the antichrist can come onto the scene, we have ignored the fact that Lucifer has already taken the throne of power in our churches and is reigning among us right now. We are looking for godly men and women to help us and teach us, yet we instead idolize and worship them as though they were our lifeline to God Himself.
Who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
2 Thessalonians 2:4
It is not enough to go to church every week, or go to Bible studies and even lead one. None of that matters. God does not care about our meaningless sacrifices and He definitely does not want our second-hand offerings that we just took off the alter to another God. He wants our hearts, and He wants our pure worship. Not because He demands it, but because He deserves it. God is goodness and love, and there is nothing in this world that has any goodness or love in it that didn’t originate from God. He is the creator of everything in existence, and when everything in this world falls away, God will still stand. He is the Alpha and the Omega, and nothing can stand against Him.
Yet because of His great love and mercy, He has deemed us worthy enough to be adopted as sons and daughters, to be made righteous and cleansed before Him, remaining in His holy presence even in the stench of our sins.
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.
Mark 13:22
How can we turn a corrupt church around? Is there even a chance or is it just too late? For with God, nothing is impossible. He is the Almighty and nothing can stop Him. We need to go back, all the way back, to John the Baptist. Repent and be saved, for the Kingdom of God is near.

I am not a perfect person, nor do I claim to be. I have had to learn all of these truths the hard way. It was only through my submission to God, and my desire to be in the presence of Jesus, that He was able to lead me to where I am now. Week by week I have to go in to a healing session with Jesus to hear about secret areas of my heart that are standing against Him. And week by week, sometimes even day by day, I have to repent and renounce for the things I have done.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:8
God knows my heart. I am not evil, just because I have been given over to evil so many times in my life. So I come before Him, humble and ashamed of my sin, yet able to confess it to Him and let Him cleanse me of my inequities. Inequities in which it seems there is never an end. Yet in this life we are not here to achieve perfection. We are here to love and be loved by the One who made us all. We are here to learn the truth of who our Father in Heaven is, in ways that we would otherwise never know. And it is only through our submission and repentance that we can see how absolutely wonderful He truly is.
It is only our selfish pride in the form of shame that keeps us from a contrite heart. God despises the proud but shows favor to those who are willing to fall on their face in humility. Is it easy? No. Was it easy when Christ was sweating drops of blood before He went of to His death sentence? No. Yet He humbled Himself in favor of love, and because of His loving sacrifice, we can know a love greater than any shame or sin.
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
James 4:6-10

lunes, 6 de noviembre de 2017

SEER VISION - SATANS TROPHY ROOM: Wendy Alec


THE FATHER SHOWED ME 3 INCREDIBLE THINGS - THE FIRST WAS A HUGE CRYSTAL DOME-IT WAS CALLED HOPE DEFERRED-
inside the dome was a huge most incredible array of crystal glittering lights like fairylights-the dome was filled with a wondrous almost fairytale glow...it was filled with WONDER...I said Father what are the fairylights and He said...Each glowing light is a PROMISE to my precious sons and daughters that have been delayed or hijacked By the enemy.These are my promises of MY GOODNESS;MY KINDNESS;MY OVERWHELMING FAITHFULNESS IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING....
I said Daddy but why are they here
Because my beloved child...in these past few years one of the MAJOR STRATEGIES OF THE ENEMY HAS BEEN TO CONTEND SO VIOLENTLY FOR MY CHILDRENS HOPE...
To TRY TO LITERALLY HIJACK AND DELAY THE FULFILMENT OF MY PROMISES ON EARTH SO THAT SO MANY MANY OF MY CHILDREN HAVE BECOME HEARTSICK BECAUSE OF SO MANY OF THEIR DREAMS AND HOPE DEFERRED.
I said Oh Father....How do we get it back...oh beloved it was the most beautiful dome I had ever seen....there was peace and joy and wonder and New life bursting inside that Dome...
First let me show you something..said the Father
I looked and saw an enormous glass vat...it reached to the ceiling was filled with rainbows...and a see through liquid like water...
The Father spoke again...
THIS VAT IS FILLED WITH MY CHILDRENS TEARS....THEY ARE TEARS OF JOY....
Oh Daddy...I gasped...THEY ARE THE TEARS OF JOY THAT HAVE BEEN STOLEN AND DELAYED BECAUSE THE PROMISES HAVE BEEN SO DELAYED IN THIS PAST SEASON
The Father was so anguished
The enemy saw that much ground was being taken
And so in this past season his strategy became more violent against my champions
He knew that those who have loved and served me so faithfully would never never give up...so he strategically contended for every promise and to circumvent;delay and hijack my promises of goodness in the land of the living...
Many many ...SO MANY of my children were used to miracles manifesting in their lives....But these same champions in the past few years have been crying out to me saying Father...I have stood..I have been faithful...but what used to so easily manifest...the miracles that would come overnight...there is just barrenness...and continual contending....and fighting in the spirit for what never seems to manifest...
The Father said
Beloved Beloved Of my heart...this was a targeted strategy of the enemy..He could not keep the answers from you forever..but in this past season in the spirit realm...the powers and principalities have been contending violently for every promise....for they knew that this would wear down my saints
My eyes started to be drawn to a third dome..
It was once again full of wonder but each time I was drawn to it a huge eruption of SHEER JOYYYYY would come from my heart..
oh Father...he has stolen our joyyy
That my child is the JOY OF MY PROMISES FULFILLED ON EARTH...MY PROMISES AND MY MIRACLES...MY KINDNESS AND MY GOODNESS IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING....
FOR THE ULTIMATE STRATEGY OF THE ENEMY WAS TO ERODE MY CHILDRENS STRENGTH...
Because your joy is our strength..I murmured...
I sighed...But Daddy were meant to have that anyhow just by being with you...
Oh the Father is so wonderful...I could sense Him laughing at me...
We had had certain conversations earlier today......
Yes my beloved Princess...that you know is true...
Oh he was still laughing...
But as your Father...your Daddy...the lover of your souls...I understand that you live on the earth and that so many times you see through a glass darkly...and hold on to me by faith...
so it it my utmost JOY to answer your cries for promises and my miracles...Oh what joy it gives me...when I see your tears of joy and your wonder...
For I AM GOODNESS
I AM KINDNESS
I AM COMPASSION
And I yearn to see my children thriving and joyous...I love to give my children good things...I watch them even as you watched your own children open their presents...and took SUCH JOY IN THEIR JOY..
I AM YOUR FATHER
I TAKE SUCH JOY IN YOUR JOYYY
So Daddy...how do we get this back...
REMEMBER DANIEL...When Gabriel called on Michael..there was a 21 day delay....
As my children release the hosts of heaven in THIS SEASON YOU WILL SEE A RESTITUTION OF THESE 3 THINGS I HAVE SHOWN YOU....FOR IT IS TIME TO DEMAND THEM BACK IN THE SPIRIT REALM...
For I tell you that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH..LThe time of transition is upon you
The last snares are being broken
The victory is assured
And miracles are about to BREAK FORTH IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING
A NEW DAY
AND A NEW SEASON
DIFFERENT FROM WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE
I TOLD YOU..I WOULD BREAK THROUGH FOR YOU SO THAT OTHERS MAY HAVE HOPE
I said Daddy you mean the 3 year battle with my book rights
Yes beloved child...the battle was fierce...there were many days it seemed impossible but THEY ARE BACK IN YOUR HANDS JUST AS I PROMISED THEY WOULD BE
OH yes Daddy...it was such a miracle
And you signed with Harper Collins
oh yes Daddy I said the rights came back JUST IN TIME...one day later and it would have been too late...2 incredible breakthroughs after 3 years...
‘I could feel the Father smile..And So now for my children...
When this battle is over miracles after miracles will break forth and the sounds of wonder and laughter and tears shed of joy will be my CHILDRENS heritage...so pray beloved ones pray
RELEASE THE HOSTS OF HEAVEN TO TEAR DOWN THESE STRONGHOLDS IN THE ENEMIES CAMP..FOR EVEN AS FOR DANIEL....YOUR ANSWERS ARE ON THEIR WAY...
JOY PEACE HOPE RENEWED WONDER PROMISES FULFILLED DELAYS FINISHED ABORTED SITUATIONS RESURRECTED.....A NEW DAY...A NEW SEASON...NEW STRENGTH NEW VIGOROUS..NEW FOCUS....FOR I AM THE I AM...THE RESTORER OF THE BREACH...THE BINDER OF THE BROKEN HEARTED...YOUR COMPASSIONATE LOVING KING OF ALL KINGS....The lover of your soul....Oh how I yearn for you....beloved......Your Abba...your King❤️

lunes, 9 de octubre de 2017

Why I broke down in tears at "The Future of the Church Summit"

The Shocking Truth about the Future of the Church-Francis Chan

Former Satan Worshipper: I'm Shocked Christians Celebrate Halloween

https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/67594-former-satan-worshipper-i-m-shocked-christians-celebrate-halloween

 Anton LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan, said: "I am glad that Christian parents let their children worship the devil at least one night out of the year. Welcome to Halloween."
We are quick on our feet to rush and honor the devil in so many ways. We see no harm in Halloween, because we think it is fun. We paint our faces, we wear our innocent costumes, we dress up our doorways—even churches dress up their entryways for Halloween with pumpkins. These actions are like giving the devil license, saying, "Here's my church. You can have it."
We think because we are not performing any demonic rituals or human sacrifices that we are on safe ground, but did you know that as soon as you dress up, whether you color yourself or put on a costume, the enemy owns you? Because by doing so, you have turned over your legal rights, and you have dedicated yourself and your kids to celebrating the devil's holiday. You have just made a pact with the enemy, and you are already sacrificing your children spiritually by dressing them up and changing their identity.
Losing Our Identity
My mind goes back to the night of Oct. 31, 1987, when I had the most diabolical wedding on the planet. My fiancé and I decided to get married on Halloween, in a demonic ritual that lasted all night, and the wedding bells were heard all the way down to the gates of hell.
As devil worshippers, Halloween was very special to us, and we looked forward to celebrating it because we knew the implications and the dark power behind the night. It is very different from every other night in the witchcraft world. It would be like me saying to believers today, "How important to you are Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday?" Halloween has that much weight and importance to those who dwell on the dark side.
I remember the days leading up to Halloween, we devil worshippers had our instructions from the demon world about what had to be done, and we knew it was going to be a long night. I would sleep all day to be rested up and ready for midnight so I could unleash hell on the world into the wee hours of the morning.
Some churches remove the word "Halloween" and call it "harvest" instead, with members dressing up in costumes, giving out candy and bobbing for apples. It saddens my heart. Turning away from this "holiday" is not missing out on anything, so let us get that off our minds.
If they are trying to use certain secular holidays for evangelistic purposes, to win souls, this is the way I would do it as a minister: I would make it a biblical movie night with popcorn and soft drinks for the kids and grownups, and invite unsaved friends and family. My intention for the event would be to expose the origin and dangers of Halloween, then turn it into a great movie night, with a small teaching afterward from God's Word about His love and the finished work of the cross. Finally, I would have an altar call and make it a special night for all to remember.
The only harvest we should celebrate is the harvest of souls.
For many who celebrate Halloween, that celebration carries over to Nov. 1, which is also known to some as the Day of the Dead, or All Saints' Day, but there is nothing holy about it—it is demonic.
I am surprised at how the world embraces this holiday, because the title of All Saints' Day is a deceiving one. We have a picture in our minds that it seems holy, but there is nothing innocent about it. This holiday is practiced all throughout South and Central America and distant parts of the world, and even in the United States. To the Spanish culture, it is called Día de Muertos, and they celebrate the dead through rituals and ceremonies and even cemetery visits. YouTube would be a good place to go and see for yourself what this is about. This holiday has nothing holy about it nor anything to do with saints.
How might we counter this darkness as ministers of the good news of Jesus?
In the Bible, when the Lord calls the believers "saints," the term means we have been sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ and the finished work of the cross. We are set apart for good works to glorify God.
As a minister, I would use All Saints' Day to turn the tables on the devil and to celebrate my salvation and the salvation of my family and loved ones. I would use it as an evangelistic opportunity at my church to bring in unsaved people to hear testimonies of God's goodness and how He can transform their lives, too. And that night, I would give the devil a black eye in Jesus' name, because many souls would be saved. 
John Ramirez is an internationally known evangelist, author and highly sought-out speaker who for more than 16 years has been teaching believers around the globe how to defeat the enemy. He has shared his powerful testimony—of being miraculously saved as a high-ranking satanic priest—on It's Supernatural!The 700 Club, TBN, Daystar and more.

Preparate para la Guia Profetica año 5787 (Sept 2026-Sept 2027): Tiempo de cumplimiento-PEY ZAYIN

  PEY ZAYIN: TIEMPO DE TRANSICION HACIA EL CUMPLIMIENTO Y LA VICTORIA, ALELUYA, AMEN.