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Greetings brethren, friends and neighbors, I have written extensively in prior scrolls what it means to "come out from among them." This is part two in a series of wonderful articles penned by Ron and Karen Schwartz discussing more elaborately the difficulties many of us experience in making a separation from mainstream Christianity. I relied on mostly New Testament remedy and examples in prior writings but Ron and Karen have taken it a step further. They have accurately supported the concept of necessary separation with Old Testament witness and have eloquently married it with the same expectations found in the New Testament. Their articles are a powerful witness in and of their own testimony. For any of you that are interested in receiving their periodic articles, please contact them directly and ask to be put on their email list. I am sure you will find their ministry to be edifying to the entire Body. Ron and Karen can be reached at kmsrjs@triton.net By The Rivers Of Babylon Revelation 18:4 KJV We came to understand in Part 1 that to "come out of [Babylon]" is not a change in geography. Simply leaving an institutional church does not necessarily mean that we have left Babylon. People who leave institutional churches often simply take the church with them. It comes along in their hearts. That is why people who leave institutional churches over the course of time tend to eventually reproduce that from which they came. There are matters of the heart that must be dealt with before they are truly free and "out of" Babylon. These issues extend through almost every area of our hearts. They affect us culturally, emotionally, and spiritually, and until these issues are addressed we will never be "out of her." Another problem Christians who come out of Babylon face is in understanding exactly who they are. Remember that many of the Jews never left Babylon. Babylon had come to define them to such a degree that leaving it would mean losing their identity. To them, Babylon was not just the place where they lived: it was that which they had become. It's not that the Jews in Babylon had forgotten who they were: many simply never knew. They adopted the language, they adopted the culture, they adopted the land as their home, and they taught their children the same. So their children grew up knowing it was not their "real" home but treating it as such, they bought land, built homes, started businesses and established life long friends. Babylon had become their home in every sense of the word.
The first exodus out of Babylon had occurred decades prior, but the city was still in ruins. The Jews who left Babylon and now lived in the ruins of Jerusalem were described as being "in great affliction and reproach." The word reproach (which means disgrace and shame) here can be used to describe either the feeling or state of shame. For instance, the woman caught in the act of adultery felt shame from her public humiliation, but she was also in a state of shame for what she had done. Reproach here is used to describe the state of shame in which the exiles existed [i.e., "let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach, (Nehemiah 2:17)"]. The State of Shame Leaving Babylon was not a magic pill they could take to make everything all right. Instead, leaving brought them into a state of disgrace and shame. In reality, they were already in that state: they just didn't recognize it. Leaving caused them to recognize where they had been. Whether they lived in Babylon or in Jerusalem, the city was still in ruins. It just wasn't until they left the great city of Babylon to live in Jerusalem that they recognized the ruination. Their geographical location did not change their state. They were still Jews wherever they lived. So what has this to do with Christians of this era? Christians today live in a state of shame: we just don't recognize it yet. Revelation 17:4-5 KJV Babylon gave birth, but it gave birth to harlots. There are many people who have come to understand the harlot nature of Babylon. But what they fail to see is that we are still the children of that system. We were birthed as harlots. This is probably the hardest thing for any Christian to accept. Some of the harlot daughters may have left their mother, just like those leaving the institutional church today. But they are still harlots. Their disassociation with the great harlot did not change who they were. We realize that this seems harsh, but it is crucial that we get through to the spiritual Babylonian exiles. There is a spiritual redemption/transformation that must accompany your exodus or all you will be accomplishing is the enlargement the harlot's family. Jesus speaks to this church age through the letter He sent to a church. In the letter, Jesus describes the state of shame in this church. Notice how this state of shame is not shame that the church actually feels: Revelation 3:14-18 KJV This church felt "rich, and increased with goods, and [in] need of nothing." But it nevertheless was in a state of being "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." If a person in this church were to simply leave, it wouldn't change the fact that he would take with him the state of being "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Similarly, your state while in the Babylonian systems is most likely your spiritual state now. It is a state of shame and disgrace, whether you feel it or not. Few people consider the need for transformation when they leave. If you have left Babylon, you must assess your spiritual condition carefully. You are most likely Laodicean without even realizing it. You probably do not see nor measure your spiritual condition the way Jesus does. There is a good chance that you are at least partially "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." You must become aware of this fact and accept it before you can do anything about it. Jesus didn't say that the Laodicean church wasn't doing good things. It was rich; therefore, it was probably prominent and influential. It could probably easily finance many social and community functions. It probably had community centers, food pantries, and gymnasiums for the community youth. The problem was that this church mistook their financial riches for spiritual riches. Many people who leave their Babylon continue with the same Babylonian value system. As a result, they do not see the spiritual needs in their lives. So they stay busy doing things and avoid dealing with the real issue of being "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Don't look at the spiritual decadence of the institutional church and think, "I'm sure glad that I'm not a part of that system," unless you are truly not a part of that system. Just because you no longer attend an institutional church does not mean "the shame of thy nakedness do[es] not appear." This state of shame, this "lukewarmness," is the defining issue. Whether you have a house church, attend a group Bible study, or just roam through the land of the un-churched, if you are a lukewarm Laodicean, then you are still in Babylon spiritually. You may not be a part of the harlot, but you could very easily be a daughter of the harlot. When Jesus wrote to the Laodicean church, He was not interested in where they were geographically but in where they were spiritually. Community Nehemiah 3:2-5 KJV Building the city of God will require a community effort. This is where institutional churches will claim to shine. Most of these churches are little more the social clubs in the first place. To them, community is what defines them. In the rebuilding of Zion, each family worked shoulder to shoulder to rebuild their portion of the wall. There was no competition. In fact, for the wall to be strong, each section had to "knit" into the next. This is not what we find with institutional churches. Not only do they compete against each other, but they also try to tear down the wall that others are building. There is no community effort. What about the house churches and other groups who claim to have left the Babylonian church system? You will find that, in general, they tend to follow the same course as the institutional churches. They compete with other churches for "members" and keep to themselves. They even form pseudo-denominations. Are they really out of Babylon, or have they become just another institutional church and/or denomination? Just because you meet in a house or you don't have pews or you don't have a liturgy does not make you different - Not if you're going to emulate the behavior and characteristics of an institutional church or denomination. What about the un-churched who are alone? We meet and hear from people who tell us that they are alone. We have even felt alone at times. We hear people tell us that (just like Elijah), "I, even I only, am left (1 Kings 19:10)." Elijah felt alone, but he was not alone. He was wrong. God told him, "Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him (1 Kings 19:18)." God's people are everywhere, even all around us, even all around you. Each time we moved into a new area we felt alone, but we knew that finding the people of God was our responsibility. We struggled with it, but we got out, visited churches and other groups, talked to people, and eventually we would come across someone who knew someone who knew someone. It might have taken a few months or a few years, but we eventually discovered other people who loved God and wanted out of Babylon. Then together, we begin to build the walls. Similarly, we know many people who say they have left Babylon and now use it as an excuse not to fellowship anywhere. If they are invited to visit a church, they refuse, perhaps meaning well, but without realizing that such a response is very much like the pompous Pharisee looking down upon the sinners. They want everyone to know that they are, in fact, better than their "church-going" counterparts. They act as if they will somehow backslide if they even set foot in an institutional church building. Sometimes the real reason is that they are already backslidden, and going to any church merely brings conviction for their sin. If you are not working shoulder to shoulder with others, then you do not have part in the building of Zion. We know there are a lot of people who will not like to hear this, but usually the reason they are alone is their own apathy and lukewarm spiritual condition. Quite often, they simply do not like the Christians near them, the brethren that God has put into their lives. Whether or not you like your brethren is not an excuse to be alone. It is your choice… and a bad one at that. Some people rationalize themselves into the twisted notion that God wants them all alone, while there are masses of God's people in bondage to the many institutional churches all around them. Do you really believe that God would rather have you sitting home on Sunday, by yourself, watching TV, rather than going to an institutional church developing friendships that would place you in a position to help these people out of their bondage? If you believe that, then you are still in Babylon and Laodicea. It is our sad duty to report that many people who have left institutional churches are now in a far worse spiritual condition than they were before they left. At least in Babylon there were Christians around them who could speak to them concerning their apathy, compromise, and "lukewarmness." From where will this warning come for those who choose solitude? Regardless of how they spin it, if they are alone, then they are alone. There is no one to whom they are accountable. How can we say this so that it is clear? Let's try: God does NOT want you to be alone! You are meant to be part of a community. Quit complaining about how alone you are, and go find God's people. If you can't find them, try making them. There are plenty of unsaved around. By staying alone, you are merely perpetuating your "state of shame." You are not getting better.
Just as the Jews lived in the reproach and shame (of Jerusalem's ruins), so do today's Christians. They who claim to be victorious overcomers are just retelling the fairytale of "The Emperor's New Clothes:" it's simply make-believe. There will be no victors or overcomers until the walls are rebuilt and the city is restored. If you think that you are overcomers just because you have a small portion of your wall repaired, then you are misled. Until the complete wall is rebuilt, our enemies endanger us. And until the city is restored, we are incomplete. Reproach can only be taken away by the actual restoration of what was lost, not by pretending and not by hype, which is all you see from many who claim to have left Babylon. There is currently nothing about which to brag. Set aside your notions that being alone is inevitable. It is a clever deception designed to prevent you from receiving the help that you need. Zion will only be rebuilt by a community effort. If you are not part of that community, then you are not part of the rebuilding. Many who have left institutional churches believe that they now hold a deep knowledge (truth) of God's end time revelation. But if they have not dealt with the lukewarm condition of their hearts, then their truth is no deeper than the truth they left behind. Therefore, each of us must look to the spiritual condition of our own hearts. The spiritual temperature of our own hearts reveals the degree to which we have come out of Babylon, not our geography and not our knowledge. Coming soon, Part 3 of this series: "Learning To Love." Amen. A Repeating Pattern of History It would seem that what happened with the Jews during their exile into Babylon also has happened time and again with various Christians throughout history. The Schwartz's analysis, "Babylon had become their home in every sense of the word," can also be easily applied to the changing differences in Christianity throughout history. One of the first examples we see is the Roman influence on Christianity, which resulted in the "all powerful Catholic Church." via Emperor Constantine's legalization of Christianity; ala Rome. Just as Babylon had influenced the exiled Jews culturally so too have other societies influenced both Jew and Christian faiths throughout the centuries. Rather than becoming separated from secular and worldly influences and embracing sonship and identity with God alone, people have carried with them their cultural baggage and customs expecting entry into God's Kingdom. When in the case, they had taken little with them, they took for themselves what was offered in their new societies. We see the same thing having developed in American culture and westernized Christianity today. By looking at all the similarities between ancient Rome and modern America, one can easily make the argument that we never really made a separation. Looking at the close ties and relationship with Great Britain, one can see definite influences in our Government and society that never changed. Recently, there seems to be a preponderance of re-identifying ourselves with our English roots by "knighting" certain American citizens in Government, Science and even the Entertainment industries. Similarly with the Corporate Church, rather than maintaining a separation unto God as a called and chosen people should, there has long been an upsurge in promoting ecumenical alliance between differing faiths and churches. Even certain Protestant denominations are allying themselves with the so-called "Mother Church;" as claimed by the Roman Catholic Church. This is a perfect example of compromise rather than complete separation. In the process, the church is becoming more and more mediocre and less able to stand against the worldly influences it was supposed to be separate from. So, rather than standing apart from corruptive influences, the Church in its attempt to increase membership rolls has and is embracing ungodly doctrines, traditions and precepts that have nothing to do with true holiness. To put it more simply, rather than being separate from the world, the Church of Man has welcomed it in and has embraced the way of Gentiles. Indeed, many daughters of the harlot have become adulteresses. This however is not a new problem for the church. This ecumenical shift in power largely began with Constantine I who also was responsible for initiating the first Ecumenical Council. So, the shift in the corruption of the Christian Church and its dark influence dates back as far as the early fourth Century. Constantine I called the first Ecumenical Council into session in AD 325. Attending this council at Nice, Bithynia were 318 Bishops and 2048 Ecclesiastics. Understandably, the most devout of Christ's Apostles and the following second and third generation of disciples who knew them directly were now dead and no longer around to protect the early Church from Rome's worldly influences. The very fabric of fundamental identity with Christ was already diminishing with Rome's influence. And so the history of human error seems to repeat itself throughout the ages. Self Evaluation Leads to Repentance The Schwartz's article promotes assessing one's own spiritual health and this is profoundly good advice for all of us. It should be understood without my saying that this is the process of genuine repentance. That is, acknowledging that we are yet helpless and powerless apart from God and we require His healing power to effect change in us. In order for that to become a reality, we must first admit and acknowledge that we are still yet sinners unable to make the necessary change apart from receiving God's forgiveness. In order to do that then the believer must confess that they're are indeed problems and issues with institutionalized religion - especially contemporary Christianity. Can the alcoholic be delivered or healed unless he first admits he has a drinking problem? Avoiding Legalism The Schwartz's series of articles deal specifically with the problems associated with obedience to God's Word calling for necessary separation. Every "legalized" form of Christianity is merely a faded copy or loose representation of the real call to discipleship. Christ never called us into religious hypocrisy but commanded us to become separate from all forms of "leaven." Some excommunicated groups understand the need to escape the "letter of law" or legalism and things which are at best, "empty religious works" and end up recreating differing forms of legalism. While clergy today are promoting differing religious worships, Christ only promoted "trusting in God the Father." Few in today's congregations understand that "faith" is simply defined as "trust." Is our faith therefore centered on Christ's selfless example
of obedience to the Father's will knowing that what awaits us
is various hatreds and persecutions by "so-called"
brethren or is our faith centered on merely comforting ourselves
with some form of religious fellowship and shallow worship? Do
we belong to divisive religious orders of fallen men or do we
belong to Christ alone and live as willing, Godfearing, obedient
disciples to Christ? Are we living like men who are at every
hurdle "overcoming" adversity in the work place, home
and in our community fellowships? Is our Godfearing testimony
making a difference and having an impact on other peoples lives
as would the faithful testimony of any Godfearing disciple? Or
is your own application and faithful practice of discipleship
being ignored or disregarded by appointed leaders in your community
and churches? Understanding what the real church body of Christ
is will help to guide your choices in life. Understand Church 2 John 1:8-11 "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresses, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." The word "Church" as represented in our Bibles should
be understood as "gathering." Most biblical gathering's
took place in people's homes where invited guests or visitors
(of like faith) would also share in eating, drinking and fellowship.
So the context in which we should understand this more closely
resembles what you would or would not allow in your own home.
For instance, today's Churches are largely public places of corporate
worship and usually hold some type of incorporated status like
a 501c3. With that come many rules of Public engagement handed
down by the Federal Government therefore making them subject
to the rules of human government. God has a way of confirming what He means by utilizing other related passages of scripture speaking in similar context. Remember too that it was Jesus who said, "A man [You] cannot build upon another man's foundation." So therefore, don't even try - just let them alone but don't ignore opportunities to bare faithful witness of the true gospel when the opportunity presents itself. Paul says of the wicked man you cast out - "Do not condemn him but rather, reprove him like a brother." This is so that he may later repent and be accepted after demonstrating penitent behavior. But in the meantime, you must stay aloof from such individuals. Note that Jesus NEVER invited anyone over to His abode except His disciples. He instead went out to the people. He also accepted invitations to dine and drink with sinners but not so that He could learn their ways but to preach the true gospel bringing conviction along with Him. This is not to say that you should not invite a hungry stranger or a weary traveler into your home if your Spirit is convicted to do so. But if you were like me with small children in the household or are an old woman home alone... I would not necessarily recommend inviting total strangers into your home. In all cases, we must prayerfully consider the options and be prudent in our actions. So that is how we should be among all the peoples in whatever segment of society we are living. AMEN Building Community In my own awakening a number of years back, I did indeed continue trying to visit various churches and stay involved with the known and visible Christian community just as the Schwartz's recommend. In the process, I started to experience the real suffering that was promised any who would disciple after Christ. It seemed after a while that God was showing me what Jesus meant by no man being able to build upon another man's foundation. I inadvertently became a reproach to various clergy and a threat to their corporate infrastructure and religious tradition. Sound familiar? That was exactly what Jesus experienced and understanding that gave me insight to what was actually taking place. My relentless nature and unwavering commitment to God kept me going even though I was not being warmly received by clergy who were themselves often pompous Pharisees. So I did what the Schwartz's recommend in the latter, I began reaching outside the visible churches of man to search out my brethren and found a modest number of others doing the same. It did not happen over night but progressively my fellowships began expanding. As I said in Part I of this Scroll, a new ministry formed on the Internet and new fellowships blossomed as a result. I knew for certain that I was no longer alone and had found brothers of accountability in cyberspace. I continue this pursuit today because God desires us standing as a unified community working to build upon His Kingdom. It is imperative that men engage themselves in fellowships of accountability recognizing one another as fellow workers. What does not seem important here is stated hierarchy for if each of us agrees that we have but one Father and one Lord and His Word is our authority, judge and plumbline then all men who are desiring fellowship with like minded men can do so safely without the fear of oppression and subversion. I have enjoyed the times when disagreement occurred between another and myself and we both allowed the Word of God to ultimately judge the matter or define and confirm various problems and resolutions. This requires little or no interpretation on our part because the Holy Spirit reveals the truth and conviction is evident in those who are seeking it. Such exchanges promote maturity and growth if our love and respect for the brethren remains central. This kind of fellowship is radically different than what is evident in many mainstream examples. We are not a body of believers gathered around listening to what one man preaches but rather are a community of Godfearing men who listen to what the Spirit is conveying through others in our assembly. We each share proportionately according to the gifts we exhibit and the offerings made by each. All together, the body is edified as it should be and no one I know is trying to be the leader of the pack. If there are leaders among us then they are acknowledged as such by other men who benefit most by their witness and testimony but generally, all are equal unto God. A man is known by not just his word alone but also by his works according to Christ. Jesus made it abundantly clear to those with ears to hear that being the least among brethren was a greater honor than being at the top. So, humility is common among our ranks and is what keeps our love for the brethren safe and free from idolatry. This is very much like what the early Church became as the disciples traveled about bearing witness of Christ from town to town and region to region. If you are encouraged by this and are longing for godly fellowship and are not afraid of changing your present circumstances, by all means please participate and share our web ministries among the brethren. I was so moved by the profound accuracy and truth in Ron and Karen's article that I had to share it with everyone in my group. Of course, I sought permission to do so and am happy to add my own testimony for further edification to your understanding. Ron and Karen have developed a fine ministry and I am one who believes in freely promoting other fellowships when I see great potential and benefit for others in maturing their faithful application. They did not solicit me for this and I receive no other benefit by my promoting their ministry other than the satisfaction I derive in helping to assist believers in promoting community growth. Fitly Joined Together… Ephesians 4:11-16 "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: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness 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; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint Supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." We are a Body and each being members of that body have different form and function. We must learn to recognize the true Body of Christ and other Godfearing members and realize that many of our brethren are still held in captivity not unlike the ancient Jews were in Babylon. We must continue to respond faithfully to the leading of God's Holy Spirit and reach out to them, wherever they are and not be afraid to get our hands dirty or our knees scuffed up when we experience trouble or tribulation by our efforts. Our suffering was a promise! Networking Works… If you wish to stay tuned in with the Schwartz's publications, by all means please contact them directly and get on their list. Because God has me traveling widely and engaged in other projects and concerns, I will not be continuing to reprint their articles. Anyone who is engaged in a relevant ministry will tell you the work load seems double for the amount of time afforded us and so I must continue on with other matters of agenda and purpose God has laid on my heart to share with you. One of the current projects I am working on is much bigger than I had first anticipated. Future Upgrades Coming Soon! At some point in the near future, God willing, I will be adding a pictorial witness of my journey to Israel and Jordan incorporating various commentary and Scripture to aid participants in understanding Biblical history with fresh visuals. The images I brought back from my trip in October are spectacular and there is a story behind each one of them. I will also be adding a new worship feature to my MP-3 archive featuring "home grown" songs written and produced by a couple different brothers in Christ that participate with this ministry. Their acoustic guitar talent, voice and some harmonica accompany the music and makes for a break from having to read my "long-winded" Scrolls and Exhortations. If any of you out there are as gifted with musical ability, I would be interested in giving your own personally produced worship songs a listen. As long as the music is you're own and not copyrighted by other artists then we could possibly add your offering to the Nicholas Scrolls providing for the Body's enjoyment and edification. With all sincerity and love for the truth and our scattered
brethren abroad, |