The Indictments Against ‘Cultural Christianity’ and Man Made Traditions of Old – A Time2Stand and the Urgency to Rise is now – Calling all Professing Christians back to Biblical Truth and Accountability.
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“Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Mikael Thomsen Calls Out
The Cross Alone.com
Axiom – the denial of American ‘Christianity’
Will you be the same? Will your church be the same? Will we remain in our comfort?
moving back towards biblical truth, through repentance and igniting sanctification
“I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me.” Hosea 5:15 ESV
Purpose:
To outline and set out a beginning application process for the tension between Biblical Truth and the reality of the current ‘church’ condition today. Clear biblical distinction should be shown as to what is true and what is of partial truth or in other words a lie. Truth is unalterable and anything outside of the truth of Jesus Christ is nothing but a deceptive ploy set into motion by satan to deceive and blind a person to who God is. The importance of this cannot be overstated.
“Half a truth is a whole lie.”
Mark Olmstead
We need to stop trying to be perfect in the ways of men and strive after holiness with an authentic passion to know the Way, the Truth and the Life. Only a desire to be with the Only True God will contentment, peace, love and joy be found. All of mans intellect, if not completely set upon Christ and His will, is of no avail and vanity in the eyes of the Lord. Only through the strength, love, truth and power of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit, can we live, love and worship as we ought. (I highly recommend reading, praying through and questioning the ‘church’ today in regards to these verses: Joel 1:13-14, 2:12-17; James 5:1-7; Hosea 5:15-6:4, 14:8-9; Malachi 1:6-2:12, 2:18 – these are just for starters.)
“We must give up routine work. It is written, “Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord deceitfully” (Jeremiah 48:10). The Church must wage a frontal, spiritual attack on the principalities in captive nations. Wars are won only by offensive, never by defensive, strategy.”[1]
Even though this was written regarding the Underground Church, the principle for our local ‘churches’ and sin is the same. We must wage a frontal, spiritual attack on sin and hypocrisy of man-centered traditions in the local ‘church,’ otherwise we are not wise in our discernment, absent of the Spirit and powerless to convert souls. Our community essentially will not come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ and our outreach will be weak at best.
“But it is not enough that they (Western churches and Pastors) do not love those in captive nations and do nothing to win them for Christ. By their complacency, by their neglect, and sometimes by acting as actual accomplices, some Western church leaders strengthen the infidels in their infidelity. They help the Communists to intrude into Western churches and to win leadership in the churches of the world. They help Christians remain unaware of the danger of Communism. Western church leaders do not love their own flocks either, if they do not allow them to participate in the spiritual battle around the world.”[2]
Once again, Wurmbrand is talking about Communism and the disregard for doing nothing for the persecuted and Underground Church. But is this not the same with sin and man-centered traditions in the ‘church’ of America today? We must take the Scriptures seriously and apply them to our local congregations first. Once a congregation is working through repentance and on a path of sanctification then would it be right to do and be active in worldwide missions. If we do not confront sin specifically we thereby unconsciously strengthen sin and blind the eyes of men to justify their sinfulness with the most selfish of arguments. If we do not repent in the areas that we need to, we will then just spread our disease to people overseas who need Christ and not some sick form of ‘culturally relevant Christianity.’
“Christ does not belong only to America, England, and other democratic countries. When He was crucified, one of His hands was stretched out toward the west, the other towards the east. He wishes to be the King not only of the Jews, but also of the Gentiles, of the Communists, and of the Western world. Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). He gave His blood for all, and all should hear and believe the gospel.”[3]
We are to preach unto all the world but how can we when we do not even preach the full truth in our local ‘churches’ at home? We need to stop trying to be perfect in the ways of men. We need to stop trying to become better intellectuals. All of man’s intellect, if not completely set upon Christ and His will, is of no avail and vanity in the eyes of the Lord; to hell with man’s way of doing Christianity!
Understanding the call of God – the truth brought to light
1. The Lord is revealing the truth to individuals all over the world. With the wisdom that God has given, handling that wisdom properly is of essential and crucial responsibility. To whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48).
2. The revelation of this truth is causing people to earnestly pray for a movement of God to occur. People are crying for true revival back to the Holy Scriptures and to a pure worship of Jesus Christ in and through sanctification. These people are studying God’s Word with diligence, on their knees and seeking the LORD’s ‘face’ until He moves people to action.
3. These people are earnestly and authentically striving to know God’s wisdom and seek to change that which is wrong, all while waiting on the LORD for direction.
4. Eventually and swiftly these people will begin to move at any and all costs in total love. Their goal is to see that souls are saved and demonic influence and ritual in the church is completely purged. These believers will risk their homes, their families and their lives to spread a true Gospel. This has been ongoing since Christ ascended into Heaven and continues to this day.
So how do we go about in moving?
1. As Paul Washer has said, “With bloody knees.” We must be in prayer crying out to God with a passion and a desire to see Him save souls. We need to be continually praying. We should be in constant intercessory prayer. 1 Samuel 12:20-25, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Hosea 5:15-6:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Romans 8:26-27, and Jude 1:20 for starters.
2. We are to see people as Ezekiel – “The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry” (Ezekiel 37:1-2). We have to understand that in Ezekiel we see the very process of salvation (37:1-14). We must understand that salvation is a supernatural work of God and God alone. We must see people as ‘dry bones’ needing God to breathe life into dead hearts.
3. We must repent, not only of our sinfulness, but of the way we have preached the Gospel. We cannot hold back nor use any excuse for doing so. People’s souls are and eternally at stake – eternal salvation/damnation.
4. We must bring to light the unbiblical issues of our ‘churches’ in prayer, in fasting and in absolute love. There can be no other way. So how do we actually move towards repentance and approach the people?
a. Identify that which is not biblical
i. Practices, traditions, friendships, ministries, lack of accountability and lack of loving discipline. This list should be backed up with Scriptural references to point out every point made on the list. There should also be Scriptural references that describe the consequences of refusing to repent of such ways.
ii. The Scriptures must not be sacrificed for tradition. If some way or something is not biblical, repentance is then required and change must be made; otherwise tradition has become an idol.
b. Present the “Ten Indictments” DVD preached by Paul Washer to ALL church Elders, Deacons, leaders, teachers and pastors at the same time. Tell them of the urgency and importance of this matter. Ask the people to pray about what they are going to see and the truth of what they will hear.
The first indictment: A practical denial of the sufficiency of Scripture.
The second indictment: An ignorance of God.
The third indictment: A failure to address man’s malady
The fourth indictment: An ignorance of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The fifth indictment: An ignorance of the doctrine of regeneration
The sixth indictment: An unbiblical gospel invitation.
The seventh indictment: Ignorance regarding the nature of the Church.
The eighth indictment: A lack of loving and compassionate Church discipline.
The ninth indictment: A silence on separation. (pursuit of holiness)
The tenth indictment: Psychology and sociology have replaced the Scriptures with regard to the family.
Not to show the Ten Indictments video to the ‘church’ is to have a greater fear of man and a lesser fear of God. (the time in between the next step has to be handled in prayer, led by the Spirit and with great care and concern)
c. Present the list of unbiblical ways to the appropriate members of leadership following the current chain of command. Be sure to show a great amount of respect to those in leadership authority. Once leadership understands the biblical necessity to change and the issues at hand, then the people/congregation must be addressed.
d. Once again urge the people to pray and examine the Scriptures and examine themselves throughout this process. Prayer cannot be emphasized enough!
e. Meet often to pray as a group seeking God’s will for addressing the necessity to change.
i. A small group study of the narrow way/path and biblical sanctification would be extremely helpful here. Isaiah 52 & 53, Jeremiah 31:31-34, John 3, 1 John, Hebrews, Romans, James, 1 & 2 Timothy, 1 & 2 Peter would be great in this study. This will help to expose the sheep and the goats in leadership.
ii. Church membership classes/mentorship should be a process lasting at least 6 months. Although this should be based totally upon the individual as the Spirit leads. We need to strive to know if a person is saved and is in the sanctification process. We must tarry to find out the truth.
5. During this process begin a one year study/preaching/teaching on “Who God Is.” During this initial first year the attributes of God, what is the True Church, the Word of God is inspired and sufficient, biblical fear of the LORD, the acropolis of the Christian faith (Proverbs 17:5; Psalm 5:5; John 3:16 ect…), regeneration, sanctification, and what does the narrow way look like, should be the main topics of preaching. A clear painting of the holiness of God should be painted for the congregation; although at the same time a clear and accurate picture of mans moral depravity and darkness of heart must also be painted. During this year, initiate small changes as the LORD leads the leadership team. Once again I quote Wurmbrand:
“I have decided to denounce communism, though I love the Communists. I don’t find it to be right to preach the gospel without denouncing communism.
Some tell me “Preach the pure gospel!” This reminds me that the Communist secret police also told me to preach Christ, but not to mention communism. Is it really so, that those who are for what is called “a pure gospel” are inspired by the same spirit as those of the Communist secret police?
I don’t know what this so-called pure gospel is. Was the preaching of John the Baptist pure? He did not say only, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2). He also “rebuked [Herod]… for all the evils which Herod had done” (Luke 3:19). He was beheaded because he didn’t confine himself to abstract teaching. Jesus did not preach only the “pure” Sermon on the Mount, but also what some actual church leaders would have called a negative sermon: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!… Serpents, brood of vipers!” (Matthew 23:27, 33). It is for such “impure” preaching that He was crucified. The Pharisees would not have bothered about the Sermon on the Mount.”[4]
6. DO NOT BACK DOWN! There will be people who are unregenerate. God’s Word, if preached/taught with a passion led by the Holy Spirit, will bring these people to light. The first signs of these people will be their refusal to change and back-stabbing gossip. They will seek to take those who question tradition out by all means possible. “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). Remember, God’s Word when preached fully through true love and with great power, will not leave people lukewarm. People will either draw closer unto Christ or will become angered and run more into selfish desire and away from everything representing biblical truth. The Gospel does not leave a church looking like Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22).
“The Underground Church is a poor and suffering church, but it has few lukewarm members. A religious service in the Underground Church is like nineteen hundred years ago in the Early Church. The Preacher knows no elaborate theology. He knows no homiletic, as Peter did not know it. Every professor of theology would have given Peter a poor grade for his sermon on the day of Pentecost. They are like Job who said that he would believe in God even if He would slay him.”[5]
7. We must realize and understand some things.
a. We are to be like Ezekiel when we look out upon people when we preach. (See point number 2)
b. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit in truth and conviction and by the Grace of God will people be saved/converted/regenerated. Ezekiel 37:1-15, Acts 16:14, Mark 9:24 & John 3, 6:60-65, are places to start.
c. People who are of the flesh do not understand the things of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians chapters 2 and 3 are a great start in this area. Romans 8 is also a good place to start here.
d. We must understand that true theology is theology that does not remain at seminaries, in private study and in an office, but rather is applied when moving within the world and within the Church.
8. Movement – a time2stand, even unto death if necessary (this is not the goal – should go without saying), must be initiated by true bible saturated believers. There is no sacrifice too great for the Gospel.
Parts of this is credited to Paul Washer of HeartCry Missionary Society. This has not been endorsed by HeartCry.
Random Quotes and Scriptures
“A game cannot be won by talk. We must show up and play.”[6]
“When Christians in free countries win a soul for Christ, the new believer may become a member of a quietly living church. But when those in captive nations win someone, we know that he may have to go to prison and that his children may become orphans. The joy of having brought someone to Christ is always mixed with this feeling that there is a price that must be paid. We had met an entirely new type of Christian – the Christian of the Underground Church.”[7]
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”
“But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”[8]
“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”[9]
Cultural ‘christianity,’ pastors, teachers, professing Christians – you have no right to deny any part of the Scriptures!
“Whoever has known the spiritual beauty of the Underground Church cannot be satisfied anymore with the emptiness of some Western churches. I suffer in the West more than I suffered in a Communist jail because now I see with my own eyes Western civilization dying. Oswald Spengler wrote in ‘Decline of the West:’
You are dying. I see in you all the characteristic stigma of decay.
I can prove that your great wealth and you great poverty, your
capitalism and your socialism, your wars and your revolutions, you
atheism and your pessimism and your cynicism, your immorality, your
broken-down marriages, your birth-control, that is bleeding you from
the bottom and killing you off at the top in your brains – can prove to you
that there are characteristic marks of the dying ages of ancient states –
Alexandra and Greece and neurotic Rome.
This was written in 1926.”[10]
“Tremble because of the sufferings of those persecuted in different lands. I tremble thinking about the eternal destiny of their torturers. I tremble for Western Christians who don’t help their persecuted brethren.”[11]
“The West sleeps and must be awakened to see the plight of captive nations. I cannot put the guilt on some of the Church leaders of the West who compromise with the haters of Christians. The evil comes not from them. These leaders are themselves the victims of a much older evil. They did not create the mess in the Church; they found it.”[12]
“Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” James 4:17 RSV
“My brethren, if any of you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20 RSV
“Jesus has been dressed up as a corporate CEO, life coach, culture-warrior, political revolutionary, philosopher, copilot, cosufferer, moral example, and partner in fulfilling our personal and social dreams. But in all of these ways, are we reducing the central character in the drama of redemption to a prop for our own play?”[13]
“Demonic oppression and mental idolatry has crept into the ‘church’ virtually unnoticed by the majority of professing Christians. Satan’s subtle deception has led the ‘church’ to operated in a superficial mode by denying the true God of the bible. This denial is obvious as the demonstration of ‘Christian living’ by most people appears as only a vague outward transformation, at best.”[14]
Axiom
1. a self-evident truth that requires no proof.
2. a universally accepted principle or rule.
3. Logic, Mathematics. a proposition that is assumed without proof for the sake of studying the consequences that follow from it.
[1] Richard Wurmbrand – “Tortured for Christ” pg. 61
[2] Richard Wurmbrand – “Tortured for Christ” pg 64
[3] Richard Wurmbrand – “Tortured for Christ” pg 77
[4] Richard Wurmbrand – “Tortured for Christ” –pg. 83
[5] Richard Wurmbrand – “Tortured for Christ” pg 84-85
[6] Unknown athlete heard on ESPN clip 12/22/2008
[7] Richard Wurmbrand – “Tortured for Christ” pg. 22-23
[8] Luke 6:46, 49
[9] Revelation 22:7, 19-19
[10] Richard Wurmbrand – “Tortured for Christ” pg 85
[11] Richard Wurmbrand – “Tortured for Christ” pg 88
[12] Richard Wurmbrand – “Tortured for Christ” pg 89
[13] Michael Horton – Christless Christianity – The Alternative Gospel of the American Church, 2008, pg 25
[14] Jeremy B. Strang, Urgency to Rise – a call to the American ‘church’, 2008, pg 20
Resources and Links
Ten Indictments Video Preacher Paul Washer
Down Load for Free Here – click below
by: Jeremy B. Strang
Free Preview Click Here
www.time2stand.net / www.time2stand.wordpress.com / www.time2standladies.wordpress.com
Get Tortured for Christ for FREE!
Censoring the Church can be found by accessing the link below:
http://www.repentamerica.com/hatecrimeslaws.html
Links
www.time2stand.net / www.time2stand.wordpress.com / www.time2standladies.wordpress.com / www.heartcrymissionary.com / www.anchoredintruth.org / www.gfa.org / www.repentamerica.com / www.bromalachi.wordpress.com / www.thecrossalone.com
God Bless His Church and may you seek to know God for who He is!
10:31 Sermon Jams
Remember if you do not apply this to yourself, communicate this with your local congregation and refuse to share this with everyone you know, then all of this knowledge means absolutely – NOTHING!
If you are not willing to deny yourself and willing to die to yourself this day, then what makes you think that you will die for your faith when under persecution in the future?
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Awesome job. I’ve sent mine out. May God receive the Glory!!
Bill, awsome thank you so much for your dedication and long for soul to be saved! You are right – may God get the glory!!!!
Hey Jeremy, I think a lot of churches today opt out for convenient “truths”, whether it be to gain new members, popularity or not to be controversial. I feel most churches are focused on: Building bigger. More people. Bigger conventions. Prosperity Gospel. “Our church is bigger, better and on TV more often than your church.” attitude.
Jesus is critical and deliberate when addressing what it means to follow Him. How to treat the broken, the poor, the widows. After reading the Gospels, all of my self-righteous motives were brought into the light. Owning a Mercedes Benz became of less importance, and helping people I didn’t even know moved up towards the top of the list. Worldly things slowly moved down the list, and giving, both of time and of money, moved in the opposite direction. Church has become too much about US and what we can get. Not about HIM or what we can do for Him.
I don’t pretend to understand all of these ideas and have it all together, but I’m moving towards understanding the Kingdom with His grace in every step. I’m understanding the words of the King and what it truly means to be a follower of Jesus, what it means to be His hands and feet. Not what it means to justify a lavish, worldy lifestyle
May God restore what has been misguided, may the Church of Jesus Christ arise in 2009 for the Glory of God. It’s time for the church to stop ACTING and start BEING.
Insightful resources. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your reply. Feel free to stop back any time. Jeremy
Thank you for your reply and I agree with you! Praise God that He is moving in you! May He raise up the true believers, wake up those who think they are believers and save many souls!
God bless, Jeremy
I would like to study this more and be a part of Christ’s cross.
Donna Ritter
Thank you so much for visiting. Anything I can get you to assist learning more please let me know. God bless, Jeremy Strang
May God bless you as you work in His vinyard. Great effort keep up the good work. If I can assist let me know.
Thank you so much for checking my site out. I have added you to my blog links. Feel free to send this blog on to everyone you know. God bless, Jeremy
I Have always been a person whom is easy to forgive but when I became a Christian I began to learn the true meaning of forgiveness. God is so merciful to us and I realize just how merciful he has been to me, About thirteen years ago I found my mom bludgeoned to death she had been murdered by a handyman he he beat her to death with death with a carpenters hammer and I was about the age of 35 and I was raising 5 children it was tragic but the Lord was there and today I do a prison ministry along with I go to the jail to talk to the incarcerated. I forgave this man a long time ago, he is on death row in Florida. I work with a Christian publisher and writer that sends Bible Studies to the inmates that she has written with the help of the Holy Spirit. I am in hope of one day that God will provide a way for me to help the prisoner to obtain jobs and to reunite with their family, I believe thqt God will provide the financing as well. I am just unsure as of yet how to run it, I am in search and have spoken to the man whom leads the faith based program here in Florida the jail I do to that he would help show me and wisdom I seek from God. I love the Lord and I know we all can be of selfish nature but it is when we give of our time and compassion to others is when we see that the things of this world become dim and that as an example for all things work out for good for those whom love the Lord, I loved my mother deqrly but there has been transformations in my life and my families as well. I knew the Lord when mom died but my one brother did not and he has come to know him and he is so faithfil in his walk more than I am I feel guilty at times when I do not spend enough time with JEsus but I know inmy heart that he is the way the only way the things upon this earth will fade away and the only thing that matters is God, So when we look at what is real we can truly say that the greatest of these is LOVE and that GOD is LOVE and HE is The GREAT I AM~~ and JESUS IS THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE…THE only life theree is!!!!!God BLess YOU Friend….
In Christ unfailing love,
Jane
Jane, please keep in touch. I do know someone up here who is very active in prison ministries. His name is Pastor Jonathan Bird (jailoutreach@cfaith.org). He was saved in prison a number of years ago, but man does he love the LORD. I believe He may be a good contact for you. Please tell him my name. I am going to do some bible study now and I am going to pray for you as well! If there is anything I can do, please do not hesitate to ask. I will hope to at least point you in some direction if I do not have any answers. One of my pastors here in IL just wrote a new book called, Unpacking Forgiveness – by Chris Brauns, this is out everywhere right now and I believe it may help in your ministry. If you would like a free copy of my new book, Urgency to Rise – a call to the American ‘church,’ please contact me again via email. Thank you for your story! And God bless. May your every prayer in reaching the lost be fruitful and come to pass very soon!
Your brother in Christ, Jeremy Strang
PS. Continue to know the LORD. Spend much time in prayer and carve time out to know the Scriptures and God’s attributes. This will be very crucial to your future ministry, crucial in these dark days for our sanctification and crucial for peoples salvation. People need Christ! They need to want Christ for who He is rather than what He can do or give. Peace, power and the Holy Spirit be with you!
PRAISE GOD BROTHER. WERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
I’LL SEND YOU AND EMAIL!
LOVE IN CHRIST,
BRETHREN EZEKIEL
Brother, thank you so much for your words and for visiting my site. Please feel the freedom to send this link out to everyone you know. We want to reach the planet and call people to action. There will be more coming in the upcoming days! We hope to send out tons of info. Feel free to check out the other two sites as well. http://www.time2stand.net and time2standladies.wordpress.com
God bless and let me know how I may be able to assist you! I have added a link to your site under The Blogs of Others on my site.
Greetings Brother Jeremy. I have enjoyed reading the biblical grounded truth that firms up this blog. The video by Mikael Tomsen- The Cross Alone.com is worthy of consideration and that in the Light of God’s prophetic word and illuminated by His Spirit of Truth.
Thanks for the continual stand upon the unadulterated word of God in a day in which we have heaped to ourselves teachers having itching ears.
malachi
Good to hear from you. Have you had a chance to check out the True Church Conference coming up in Feb up in Muscle Shoals? Would love to meet you. Another brother and his wife from Flordia who I met on the blog page are coming this year. Will be good to meet them as well. You are so right – itching ears are everywhere! Stay strong, keep focused, and remain obedient. Are you interested in a copy of my newest book? If so, send me an email back to my address, or just reply back to this.
God bless brother, Jeremy Strang