The Truth Which Sets Free - Chapter 21. Church Judgment

An exposure of the false teaching of Christianity concerning the reason for evil and suffering. This is one of the most challenging and deepest areas in the Word of God.

The following four booklets are now also included in the Addendum of The Truth Which Sets Free.

Raising the Dead

Spirit of the Living God

Amazing Grace

Harlot Babylon

Acknowledgements and Sources

Chapter 21. Church Judgment

Blessed is the man who does not walk, nor stand, nor sit in the manner of sinners, but instead delights in the Word of God and bears the right fruit. So starts the first Psalm. This calls for a mind of discernment. If you walk with the ecumenical crowd you will soon stand with them, and then be sitting in those pews. Jesus said to his disciples, "Do not cast your pearls before swine." (Matthew 7:6) This is a judgement call that no elect disciple can avoid. Do not confuse discerning judgement with condemnation. God alone has the power to condemn. But do not fall for the churchmen’s allegation that you are being judgmental when you expose them by choosing the right Way. The church has no discernment, it flocks to almost any sin in loving crowds, in Jesus’ name. The elect must exercise this discerning judgement, or "fruit sniffing" as my Australian friend John called it. Every time the sheep turn away from any house of sinners, as they are required to do by their Master, they will be labelled as self-righteous, just as the Sodomites called Lot judgmental. (Genesis 19:9) Homosexuals and the harlot church will use this tactic repeatedly, even trying to classify any exposure of their sin as a hate crime. The Church vilified Luther for thinking that he alone was right and they were all wrong. What was actually happening was that One much greater was there with conviction. Most often when churchmen say, "You are judgmental," they are feeling inside, "This is very upsetting, I do not want to hear this." Bunyan named this kind of churchman Mr. Envy, because his faith is false and he hates the assurance of the elect, lashing out with the "judgmental" defense ploy. However, a note of caution. They may be right, the elect may be overbearing, or pompous and carried away, or striking out without due compassion, because all are still terribly flawed and fallen. Even our best will come short, so the daily dose of humility is always applicable. As the apostle Paul put it, "In such ways we also once walked," following the prince of disobedience, hostile in mind, doing evil. (Ephesians 2:2; Colossians 1:21)

But it must be done. The great prophets blasted the churchmen personally and severely, including John the Baptist, approved by Christ as the greatest of them all, the prophet predicted to come like Elijah, in similar spirit and power. (Matthew 11:11,14; 17:10-13; Luke 1:17) He called them a "brood of vipers" while at the same time telling them to "bear fruit that befits repentance," an offer of hope. But in truth there was no hope for them, he knew the axe was coming to chop down their tree, and that God would push them aside and raise from lifeless hearts of stone a people for Himself. (Matthew 3:7-10) Paul makes the same statement, that God chooses the simple to shame the wise, and raises "even things that are not to bring to nothing things that are." (1 Corinthians 1:27,28) This is not a once-only event. God never stops by-passing the goats of churchdom to awaken his children, and the finger must be pointed at the pastors, evangelists and Christian writers, the hirelings who seek to lead the sheep astray into the wrong flock. They may have the goats, but not the sheep. It is these blind guides, the priests and clergy, who receive a royal whipping in scripture from the Lord himself. Jesus’ warnings to such people, especially where the deceived ones are young, are most terrifying. The elect must also discern and readily identify those who have died in error. The living still have a chance, but the dead have exhausted their lot. Those who have passed on without awakening and repentance are toast for the fire, especially Christian writers because their works continue to infect and mislead.

We cannot escape this paradox of judgment, because if we believe one thing and someone else believes another, then we are caught up in it. We can both be wrong, or one can be right and the other wrong, but both cannot be right. Thank God for Tyndale and Bunyan and Fox who were utterly convinced that they were right when all about them were wrong. Where would we be without them? Thank God they did not waver when they were accused of being pig-headed and judgmental, as every one of them was so branded. Tyndale’s table talks went sour when he kept explaining the scriptures, while the others wanted to merely consider religious precepts without resolving anything or making the change in their lives which the Word was demanding. For that they cast him out. Just look at the abuse Jesus took from the churchmen, wanting to throw him off a cliff, saying his works were of Beelzebub, that he was a friend of the lowest people, a drunkard and glutton. They will also smear his sheep with mud. Luther rightly concluded that it did not matter. You cannot enter this fray without getting dirty, so roll up your sleeves.

But do not point any finger unless it is also points to the Way by which men are saved. Do not do it to score points, to put people in their place, to display a greater knowledge, to fill seats, for gain or any such base motive. The sheep will certainly be tempted by every one of these, and give in to some at the moment they least wish to, offending those who best know them, friends and kin. Satan loves to portray us as disagreeable when we are unavoidably forced by our understanding to differ. We must "contend for the faith" without being simply contentious. The apostle Paul says to Timothy, avoid silly myths, accept no other message, guard the truth, fight, contend, convince, rebuke, exhort, only do not be a useless wrangler, for the time is coming when men will acquire teachers to suit their own taste and wander into myths. (1 Timothy 1:14; 4:7,11; 5:20; 6:12,14,20; 2 Timothy 3:16 to 4:4) The neo-pagans do not want this in their sleepy, entertaining, or comfortable pews, acceptable to one and all. But the elect must argue as well as defend their case. (1 Peter 3:15) And for this we will most assuredly be labeled as lovers of dissent. Like many in the religions of the East our critics may say anger or argument is a sign of a lack of spirituality. It is quite the opposite. They are dead, lovingly gazing at their navels. See Christ overturning the tables in the temple, quoting the scriptures as he goes. Show me anyone truly awakened any other way, coming from darkness to light, two opposite realms that cannot possibly co-exist in peace. And our sole weapon is the Word. Just read the defense and highly judgmental probes made by Stephen or Peter in the Book of Acts when the churchmen put them on trial. (Acts 5:27-32; 7:51-53) They denounced them as murderers, spiritless and stiff-necked resisters of God. They relentlessly applied scripture after convicting scripture. Luther and Tyndale both used the same basic tactic: debate anything you like, but not from conjecture, only from scripture. Their judges (yes, it is the goats who sit in judgment) did not want to have that piercing Word brought into the matter, for the more it is discussed the greater the liability. By staying fast to the confines of the Word the elect cannot help but bring judgment into the arena. He who believes is not condemned, he who does not believe makes God a liar and is already condemned. (John 3:18) Such judgment cannot be avoided; it comes with the territory. It comes from Him, not us. You cannot speak the truth without exposing the lie. Christians do not like any such conflict in their "loving circle."

Goats are always quick to point out that Jesus said, "Judge not, that you be not judged" as though that meant no judgement at all. Not so, that is another goatish half-truth in their sly strategy to escape. Christ said do not judge the speck in another’s eye until the plank is removed from your own. (Matthew 7:1-5) Paul likewise emphasizes many times that being guilty of the very thing we teach against is obviously unacceptable. (Romans 2:1-3) We cannot be hypocrites, but neither are we perfect and we do have to say something. Do not remove the plank from your own eye and then just walk away, leaving the speck in the eye of another, especially a loved one. You must try. Getting anything out of an eye is particularly intimate and painful, requiring whatever tenderness and unswerving determination can be rallied. It’s not a pleasant experience for either party. We must always remember, our families know us. They spoon-fed us and changed our underwear. And so a double dose of humility is required. They know all about the "ways in which we once walked" and are the most likely to say, "Who do you think you are?" Yes, we do know more than their church pastors to whom they run for cover, infinitely more because we are taught directly by Him and not ordained of men, but this is very hard for family to accept. Churched family would much rather hear what one of those agreeable televangelists has to say (like Billy Graham, perfectly described as a Prophet with Honor in one biography), watching in stupor and drinking in the feel-good gospels. They have little time for family dissent. "‘And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?’ And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.’ And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief." (Matthew 13:56-58, Luke 4:24) If they said of Christ, this is just the local carpenter and we know him and his kin; if the Son of Man himself was not received by those he grew up with, then do not expect an easier time of it, because we stumble where our Master did not.

I have had many queries from elect disciples concerning the excruciating subject of outright condemnation. This is how I approach it, and be advised I fail very often in the whole matter. I will attempt to describe a path that leads to the wide gate, or portray the sample person whose beliefs clearly show which road they are on. But I try not to tell anyone directly that they are personally in that state, no matter how much I am convinced of it, unless they are the blind guides, the Christian clergy and writers mentioned above. I will say that a person who believes this and this, or a person who does this or that, is clearly displaying the wrong faith and fruit, contrary to the Word. But as to their being told they personally are going to the Pit, that is for the Spirit to convict in their hearts. He alone can make them put two and two together. And they are often quick to realize that implication. To state it blankly will not make a whit of difference to their ultimate destiny. Whether they are sheep or goats or sheep-in-waiting is not ours to worry about, thank God. The freewillers in every church cult and sect tie their souls in knots over what else they might do to get someone saved. From that the elect are free. Despite all our faults, our overly enthusiastic forays, our frustrated outbursts, all our flailing around and feeble presentations, He will bring all to complete and absolute perfection. Not one of His own shall be missing from the final number. Every single one that the Father has given to the Son shall come to Him, to His everlasting praise and glory (not ours).

But do not let the clergy off the hook. I write this with feeling because years ago I failed in a matter which required outright condemnation. When the works in the Addendum of this book were first published, I started getting weekly letters from a Baptist pastor in eastern Canada who was absolutely apoplectic in his hatred for election and justification by faith alone. I replied to his letters for months, carefully going over the scriptures. When there were no scriptures left to discuss he resorted to name calling, saying I was obviously an unregenerate hell-bound fiend, unable to be published by respectable Christian publishers. I was very honored to receive the names used of Tyndale and others. I never suggested he was a dead man, because I knew that he already felt it, which was why he became so dreadfully agitated and persistent, like the churchmen who could not leave Jesus and the apostles alone. But finally I gave up and said that I would decline further correspondence, as it was clearly pointless. The letters came for some time after, but I let it go. On reflection I know I was right to cut it off, but I was wrong to continue so far, and to end without judgment. I was far too long in "shaking off the dust" (Matthew 10:14) and I should have finished by putting his head squarely in the noose of liability, as Christ did with the churchmen. I should have ended with all those scriptures Jesus used to blast the priests precisely because they were in positions to lead astray. Who knows what hell that man put his "flock" through? When such blind guides are in charge of others (and their poor children) the verses which state "better to have never been born" and "better to be thrown in the sea with a millstone around the neck" should be applied.

Now if your ears are stinging with excitement, as some do when they read this material, I implore you not to rush out of the door and judge the church. Do not draw the sword until you have the armor to go with it or you will be cut to pieces in shame. Your adversary is no slouch, hence the critical time God gives his servants in preparation, even sending his Son into the desert before He came back to face the priests. You will not withstand the flaming arrows if you crash in half ready. There is no power like the Word, which can even kill the old man and raise anew, but the sword of truth is not for showy display or gain, but for Light to conquer. Look again at Saul changed to Paul (another who would have enforced faith by killing dissenters), saved from the church, and retiring for years before engaging in "the good fight." He actually thought he had been fighting the good fight before, only to have his world turned on its head, waking up to and being freed from the utter sin of religion and churchdom. Do not go to the front line right away, and certainly not unprepared. Also, consider this helpful comment from Luther, who knew what it was to stand fast against the church even in life-threatening situations, that you do not have to proclaim everything in face to face battle, or get caught in the guilt trip of thinking you must always be declaring yourself. If snared in the unavoidable circumstances, pushed to the wall, then confess the grand truths. Thus it is said of John the Baptist, when pressed by the churchmen, "He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ.’" (John 1:20) There are all kinds of church goats on the streets who make a binding law of witnessing their religion, because they have no concept of God’s sovereign and preordained election. These Christians will be at your door soon enough, and if you have ears to hear, your turn to judge the church will surely come.

There is a terrible cost that comes with judging the church, reader. Many knew what Luther did long before him and were not allowed to live. Luther was protected and thank God he was not satisfied with the truly woeful Augustinian City of God or we would all still be in Rome’s hellish chains. But we too must proceed as far as permitted with the Light, and that is much farther along the Way than Luther went. There is an almost overwhelming lure and desire to turn back and reform the church, which cannot be reformed because its foundation is rotten from the start. It can only spawn more of the same. This yearning to create or re-create churches is the heart of the Christian religion. The elect should spare no time for religion at all. The great Protestants appreciated this truth but only in part. The church, which they struck with a near fatal blow, was not just a part of Christianity, it was Christianity. In those days there was nothing else. Almost to a man they identified the church as the harlot of Revelation, and its Vicar as the Antichrist. But they thought this could be repaired. That was a colossal mistake, albeit ordained from eternity. Now there are two beasts, and the second is predestined to take the oikoumene back to the first for the final Blend of blends. There is no redeemed kyriakon. If the Papists were wrong then so are all the copies, and the history of the church shows this to be so. It is a disfigured, satanic catastrophe. Those whom God truly awakens sooner or later find themselves at odds with it. If you are on your way out of your pew, do not look back. It is no good asking me why God has permitted this beast to rule so long, any more than why Israel should wait 400 years in Egypt. All I know is that the Ace Card, the Church, is the slipperiest thing the Dark Lord ever created, and the offspring of the wounded jellyfish of mother Rome will always reform and revive (that is all they can do) into various images in her likeness. None look anything like the freed ekklesia of the apostles and disciples. They look exactly like the name they accept for themselves, churches. Never go under that unscriptural name again. Do not go back to Egypt, or Rome or Babylon. Do not remain as "children of wrath." (Ephesians 2:3) Flee from the punishment to come, get away from this target of God’s fury and final Judgment. The harlot’s cup that makes men tipsy and brazen with religion now will soon turn into a vessel of dread, too hot for comfort. "And God remembered great Babylon, to make her drain the cup of the fury of her wrath." (Revelation 16:19) I will say it to you plainly. Do not get caught sitting in the Christian church when the Son of God comes.

22. Separation & Destruction