No Substitutes
by Van Robison
While many people struggle with issues dealing with the institutional churches, there is a flip side to this issue, and it is the fact that multitudes of Christians are leaving churchianity forever. Not because they have given up on Jesus Christ, but to the contrary, because they want to follow Jesus Christ instead of men and the organizations of men.
In his latest book Revolution (Tyndale; 2005) the famous George Barna has this to say on the back cover:
"MILLIONS OF BELIEVERS HAVE MOVED BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH ... AND CHOSEN TO BE THE CHURCH INSTEAD. Research by renowned pollster George Barna points to a hidden revolution -- one that will impact every Christian believer in America. Millions of committed Christ followers, looking for more of God, have stopped attending church on Sunday mornings. Why are they leaving? Where are they going? And what does this mean for the future of the Church?".
Barna predicts that in the next twenty years only 30% of American Christians will be attending an institutional church, while 70% will be expressing their faith in Jesus Christ outside of the walls of the ages long institutional church system.
Having been in a cult group for about twelve years in the past, ending in 1974, I am of the conviction that the primary reason for cult groups has to do with the "clergy/laity" concept of churchianity, as well as the false foundation called "tithing" from which the money flows. I have suggested these resources in the past, and in my view it is extremely important that Christians be set free from the bondage of false doctrines and authoritarian leadership. It is often a great inner struggle for people to accept truth, when they have been deeply ingrained in error. It is not only in cult groups, but there is also a great deal of false teachings in "mainstream" institutional churchianity; for example, the very false "prosperity gospel", as well as tithing.
I could only wish that every
Christian website would post information about
resources that will "set the captives free". One of
the key issues that millions of Christians struggle
with is the "tithing" issue. In his very enlightening
book Tithing: Low-Realm, Obsolete &
Defunct (Tekoa Publishing; 2004), Matthew E.
Narramore clearly proves from New Testament scriptures
that tithing is a relic of ancient history, and is no
more valid in the context of the New Covenant than
physical circumcision or animal sacrifices. It is
beyond dispute that the apostle (meaning "envoy" or
"one sent" and not an "office of authority" over
others) Paul never taught or demanded tithes of any of
the groups of people he was a missionary to. In fact
the envoy Paul was a tentmaker, worked with his own
hands, earned his own income, paid his own expenses,
and coveted no man's gold or silver (Acts 20: 29-34).
This fantastic book is available through Amazon,
Barnes & Noble, and other book outlets and can is
also available for FREE on-line reading at: http://www.tekoapublishing.com/books/.
In my personal opinion, this book should be in the
hands of every Christian on earth, and especially
gullible churchgoers sitting in the pews of
institutional churches and paying "tithes". If the
truth were known about this very false doctrine, it is
very likely that the institutional church system of
this world would collapse.
In addition to the tithing issue, the heart and core of the institutional church systems of this world has to do with the false belief in a special class of people called the "clergy" or "professional pastors, priests, or preachers". In the awesome article "The Great Ecclesiastical Conspiracy", George Davis, Michael Clark, and Kirk Pearson prove conclusively that many passages of scripture in the King James Bible are woefully mistranslated in regard to this "priestly" class of "rulers". It becomes very clear as one reads and studies this issue, that those scriptures that say to "obey those who have the authority over you", are in fact intentionally mistranslated. These scriptures have led countless "pastors", "leaders" and millions of Christians to believe in an authoritarian type of leadership that Jesus Christ never ordained. This great article would help countless people to be set free in they are exposed to this truth, and it needs to be in the hands of every Christian on earth. The real Pastor/Shepherd/Highpriest/Mediator and Head of the Body is Jesus Christ, and not men, clergy, organizations, or "professional preachers" with flattering titles.
Jesus Christ ALONE is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the Living Waters. There are NO SUBSTITUTES.
A Response
by Rod Campbell
I am writing in regards to the above article. I too have read the books suggested and believe it is important for people to read and understand what Christ really has established for His Church.
People will continue to be "battered sheep" as long as they continue to accept what man has institutionalized in the name of Christ. Many people are sincere in their desire to follow Christ but are easily led astray by smooth talking leaders who appear to be correct. If people really want to follow Christ they must begin to listen for His voice and not the voice of the wolf who has disguised himself with things that look Christlike. Christ does not batter His sheep and those who are being battered are deceived by following the wrong leaders.
The topics mentioned in these books are difficult for people to wrap their heads around, especially when they are so bound to the institutional system of churchianity that man has invented. Many people trust what man has invented more than Christ. God has taken me to the place of leadership where I saw how easy it is to batter the sheep. I saw how easy it is to make people reliant upon man for spiritual nourishment rather than pointing them solely to Christ for Him to be their Shepherd.
The books that Mr. Robison has mentioned are important for all followers of Christ to understand. The deception that goes on within churchianity towards the sheep is very subtle. People will quite often say one thing and deny that they are in fact teaching the exact opposite, usually by their actions. People are by far more devoted to their earthly leaders than they are to Christ. This alone demonstrates that there is a serious problem in the Church, i.e., people are creating substitutes.
There are many other issues. Those mentioned in the Matthew Narramore's book on tithing draw our attention to the fact that man holds people captive to a 10% tithe, while Christ is asking 100% of us. Other issues that should be addressed to the Church is that people have substituted what Christ wants to offer them with simple rituals, symbols and traditions. People quibble over baptism rituals without understanding how Christ Himself desires to baptize them with His Spirit. Which is more important to people: Christ's baptism or any one of the many that have been invented by man as substitutes?
These issues have made me very aware that the real lost sheep are many of those who are trapped within the systems of man. They are lied to and are malnourished, having been fed the wrong food. These books demonstrate how in different ways that people have been spiritually starved by man trying to gain glory for himself.
It's time for people who really want to seek after Christ to begin to question themselves, their belief systems and begin to search the Spirit of God for His truth and not the substitutes that man has created. They may in fact feel very alone at first when they abandon those earthly things for the things of God that matter so much more.
I am determined in my life to rescue battered sheep, and to proclaim His truth. The books mentioned are important starting points for people to begin grasping the reality of what Christ has to offer them in His Kingdom.
Editor's Note: For a study on tithing with extensive bibliography, click here.
