Saturday, December 31, 2005

True Truth

The key to understanding this book is to have child like faith. Knowledge and reason will assist you to realize that the final step to true understanding is faith. You can listen to an numberless concourse of preachers, read endless books on philosophy and religion, but never as the Bible says "ever come to a knowledge of the truth."



Truth is a hard word which frightens even those who think they know or believe it. For the truth is not ridged and dead like unto the law, but alive and free flowing like the spirit of God. Christ is the truth, the way and the light.



The greater question is who is this great Messiah and who truly represents him in this day and age? The house of Israel has often been deceived or deceitful. Think of Joseph who was sold into Egypt by his brothers and how they must have felt when they discovered the truth of who he became. Moses was challenged by Koran and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed him up. The Messiah came in the flesh as the Son of God and the Jews rejected him much like the way the sons of Jacob had initially rejected Joseph. Paul the once great Pharisee frighten the Jews with the truth of his great conversion to Jesus Christ.



This book might frighten the Judo-Christian and Muslim world, but to the opened minded, honest of heart, true believer and sincere seeker of the greater truth a straight and narrow path will be opened which leads into the greater light even eternal life.



Beware my fellow believers of those who are quick to throw stones. Be not deceived by those whose ministries might be financially effected by these truths. Look to the Lord Jesus Christ who will give you milk and honey without money.



Christ is the answer for surely he is the Son of God, the promised Messiah. He was born of the virgin Mary and suffered temptations of every kind while living in the flesh. He endured the crosses of this world and sinned not. He atoned for the sins of all mankind as he died upon the cross and on the third day he rose from the dead with healing in his soul for all those who will call upon his name in faith. He is the resurrection and the life, the truth and the light.



The true gospel of Jesus Christ is the straight and narrow and only way to eternal life. The first principles and ordinances of the gospel are faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance of personal sins, baptism by emersion by the proper authority and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands as recorded in the Bible and Book of Mormon.



I write in defense of all Christians everywhere from Adam even down until this very time. Woe be unto those who judge unjustly for they shall be judged by the Lord of Hosts. Have not many of the true prophets been judged and killed by the pious self appointed religious leaders of their day. How quick the general populous falls in line to throw stones at those whom their leaders point the finger of scorn. Even those who profess themselves as Christians have at times been guilty of the most murderous deeds. For to accept and profess Christ is not enough. Even the devils believe, and tremble as recorded James 2:19. To these false witnesses let us let God be their judge as recorded in Matthew 7:21-23.



"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity".



Come to the Lord with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and he will guide you by his Holy Spirit. Beware of the babbling of men for they often cry the loudest and judge the quickest. Their pointing fingers of scorn remind me of the Pharisees of old. Men with a mission to control the hearts, minds and purses of the everyday people. Many of the leading ministers of today practice the same art of trying to convince the people that their views of Christ and the Bible are the only true ones. They are the very ones who point the finger and judge others saying "he is of the devil".



The real question is; who do you listen to? God or man, the Holy Spirit or the voice of your minister, the Word of God or your priest's interpretation. These are tough questions which all Christians must face. Those with opened minds and understanding hearts who have been born again and read the word of God by the power of the Holy Ghost will be lead into the greater light and know the truth of all things.



Paul raised this issue to the Ephesians as recorded in chapter 4:11-14; "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;"



The great apostle Peter gives us the keys to understanding the Bible in 2 Peter 2:20-21: "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."



You must come to the Lord on your own with faith, hope, charity and trust in the living God who will guide you by the Holy Ghost to his true servants. Beware of the rhetoric of men who have their own secret agendas. They are usually self proclaimed Bible experts who claim their views are the only true gospel while denouncing others with differing views as teaching another or false gospel. They prey upon the weak and simple minded warning them not to listen to others, but to only follow the Bible.



This is ironic because these men in the same breath are telling the people they have the only true interpretation. So in reality they are saying listen only to me for I know best. They are saying close your minds, hearts and doors to any others with any new or different thoughts. I beg to differ with this type of thinking. I think its demeaning to treat fellow human beings as if they lack the intelligence to understand what others are saying. This is the most subtle form of censorship and mind control. Did not the priests in the days of Christ strip their fellow Jews of this same freedom of choice.



America was founded on freedom of religion and freedom of thought. It is this very principle which has opened our minds to new horizons and our country to many different cultures. We are one nation under God devoted to respecting the rights and privileges of others. Sometimes our self righteous attitudes to dictate and force others to believe the same way we do is a greater evil then the life style of the sinner. Did not the Savior tell the Pharisees that the harlots and publicans would enter into the kingdom of heaven before them.



Who are you? The all wise authority or the humble, opened minded sinner. The reason the sinners were being saved is they stopped to listen and to do what this new comer, Jesus had to say. The well learned honorable religious leaders knew better then to give heed to these new revelations of Christ. It was easier for them to label him a devil and condemn him for blaspheme then to repent and be baptized in his name.



Now truly think which group would you have been in back in those early days of Christ. A blind follower of the religious leaders, a knowledgeable religious leader or an opened minded earnest seeker of the truth. Those same groups exist today though their faces and names have changed. God will force no man into heaven, but he has promised to deliver us from evil by guiding us by the Holy Ghost.



Again Peter gives us the true keys for gaining a knowledge of the truth. When the Savior ask Peter,"But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."(Matt 16:15-19)



Revelation is the rock and Christ is the answer and you must gain that testimony from the Father in heaven and not from man. I know by the power of the Holy Ghost that Peter did receive the keys of the kingdom of heaven and in these last days he truly appeared to the prophet Joseph Smith and ordained him to that same office. The truth of this might cut you to the heart even as the truth about Joseph of old in Egypt cut the other sons of Israel to the heart. Now Joseph forgave them, but could they forgive themselves and acknowledge that Joseph was truly a prophet of the Lord God Jehovah.



You know the answer, but can you be humble and man enough to do the same. Why kick against the pricks and fight against the living God; for he is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. Even the Savior chastened his disciples when they complained about a man casting out devils in his name. "But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part."(Mark 9:38-40)



Judge not unjustly or you might find yourself in the same position as those who judged Peter and John in Acts chapters 4 and 5. Peter's testimony of Christ was sharp, quick and powerful and they that heard it "were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.... And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God."(Acts 5:33-39)



That same counsel should apply to Christendom in these last days when so many in the Counsel of Churches have been quick to defend the traditions of men and condemn the modern prophets such as Joseph Smith the American "Joseph" and Brigham Young the American "Moses". I know these men were prophets of God and if you will open your hearts and minds to the true spirit of Christ and read the Book of Mormon under the influence of the Holy Ghost, rather then listen to the opinions of men, you too shall become a true friend to God and all men.



So my fellow Christians, Jews, Israelites, Muslims and all ye ends of the earth think twice before you cast those stones. For if God is with us who can be against us. Remember what the Lord said,"by their fruits you shall know them." Come with us and let us reason together, go the extra mile and turn the other cheek to prove your patients in the Lord. We may believe different things about the Christ, but that doesn't give us the right to persecute one another. May we learn to love and understand one another as we await the day when we shall all see eye to eye in the Lord in Zion