Acts 17:11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
By Pastor Anton Bosch
Who’s Who? (Part 5/6)
It is important that we check every word we hear or read against the plumbline of the Bible. In addition, we need to check the source of the information as well. We must check two things: The message and the man.
Many times we will hear messages that sound spot-on, and may even be doctrinally correct, but the speaker is a deceiver. Remember, the Devil will present truth in order to get you on his hook. No Mormon or Jehovah’s Witness will knock on your door and begin the conversation by saying that they have come to present another Gospel and another Jesus. They all begin by affirming that they believe exactly what you believe. The problem is that by the time they get around to the lie it is often too late. Our only defense is not to listen to a single word from someone we have not checked out thoroughly first. Mormons and JWs are easy to recognize by their outward appearance. But how do we recognize someone who appears to be an evangelical, Bible believing preacher? Here are a few hints:
First, who is he and where does he come from? In other words who does he relate to and who has influenced his thinking? This can easily be established from his bio, personal history or curriculum vitae. Where did he train? Where does he fellowship? Who is he in relationship with? Who does he quote? Who quotes him? If he has a website, look at the other sites he provides links to. These questions will often reveal a lot about the messenger. Obviously, he may have had bad connections in the past and may have repented. If he has repented from former evil associations, has he publicly repudiated those links and doctrines and broken fellowship with them? If he has, his past should not be held against him; but, at the same time, some of those influences may continue to taint his thinking and one should be on the alert for signs thereof. “Evil company corrupts good habits” (1Corinthians 15:33) and a man can be known by the friends he keeps.
Second, and closely related to the first: What qualifies him to be a teacher? By this I don’t mean whether he is ordained or has papers, but what gives him the right to teach you anything? You need to ask questions about how long he has been a believer, how old he is, does he have a proven track record of serving the churches, or is he just a maverick who has set himself as a “prophet”? Is he in submission to others? Since the advent of the Internet and self-publishing any misfit who cannot work with others, and who has no desire to be a servant to the churches, can set himself up as a “ministry”. Does he exhibit skill and integrity in the way he handles the Word, or is he a workman who needs to be ashamed? (2Timothy 2:15). Does he faithfully teach and preach the Word, or is his message based on stories, testimonies and jokes? Finally, does he challenge as well as encourage, or does he only speak those things that will not offend the hearers? (2Timothy 4:2).
Probably the most important qualification is his life! How many times has he been married? Does he have a testimony of integrity, uprightness and holiness? How does he relate to money and material things? These are but a few of dozens of questions that need to be asked about the fruit of his life. Jesus said: “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” (Matthew 7:16). By their “fruit” Jesus did not mean the fruit of his ministry (how many converts, books etc) but the fruits of his life. What does his life produce? Do you really think that if he produces thistles at home he will produce grapes in your life? (1Timothy 3 and Titus 1 contain additional questions you may need to ask.)
Fourth, what does he believe? This gets a bit harder since he will very likely hide the real truth under language that appears to be sound. Sometimes error can be discerned by carefully scrutinizing his statement of faith. But mostly you will have to read and listen carefully. The internet may contain hints at what may be wrong, but don’t accept anything you find on the internet without thoroughly investigating that information and its source. Anyone can publish anything on the internet and many work very hard to discredit legitimate ministries through this means. But read carefully what is said about the individual and use that information as a cue what to look out for in his teaching. But allow me to emphasize: information from unknown sources on the internet can only serve as red flags; it cannot be trusted to approve or disqualify anyone. “Whoever… does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him (2John 1:9-10).
Fifth, we must ask the question; what do the witnesses say? In the third article in this series (Orthodoxy) we established that we need to look at the credibility of the witness as well as the testimony of the witness. Who approves of this man? If known false teachers give him a good testimonial, or he appears on the same platform as they, then you know he has to be a false teacher himself. Likewise, if those who are proven to be ministers of light condemn him, you better take note.
This is why it is important that we surround ourselves with those whom we can trust to advise and counsel. Many “discernment type” ministries have an axe to grind, but there are a few that can be trusted to give a balanced assessment of a particular ministry. These people who have been gifted to be watchmen to the church can save us a lot of time and research. (Next week we will examine the qualifications of a good discernment type ministry.) Check their websites and blogs for warnings about specific ministries, speakers and authors. The Lord says about watchmen that: “whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head” (Ezekiel 33:4).
Sixth, what is his agenda? Sometimes a speaker or author can pass all the tests and still have the wrong agenda. It is therefore important to ask what it is that drives him. Is it money, ego or power? Does he bear a grudge or bitterness? Is he trying to prove that he is right and everyone else is wrong? Watch and listen carefully and his motive will shine through. If he is not driven by a love for the Lord, a love for God’s Word and a love for God’s people – then he probably has nothing to say. When Jesus commissioned Peter, there was one question that mattered: “do you love me?” (John 21:15-17). If the speaker does not exhibit a love for Jesus then he is disqualified no matter how much he knows (1Corinthians 13:1-3).
Unless you are able to verify the bona fides of a speaker or writer, you should never receive from them. Very few would knowingly invite the devil to preach in their church, yet many are willing to have his messengers speak in his place.
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1John 4:1).
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Pastor Anton Bosch
For the Love of His Truth 
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You know, we Mormons used to single out Catholics as being some sort of evil. (Not all of us, of course.) Eventually our church leaders said no more of that. We may not agree doctrinally with all the Catholic beliefs, but we know that good Catholics are good people, even if “misguided.” Almost all of my active Mormon friends are good, honest people too. Singling us out for ridicule or saying we are trying to “hook” you with our “false” doctrines is just mean. Jesus criticized hypocrisy, not true honest believers who were trying to be good. Of course, I don’t see your post as coming strait from the mouth of God, but I still don’t think He would pick on Mormons and/or JWs, calling them evil, or any other honest seeker of truth, even if “misguided.”
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Most Jehovah’s Witnesses are decent folk who are trapped in an oppressive cult like organization the Watchtower society.
The Watchtower core dogma is Jesus ‘invisible’ return or second coming October 1914,this is a false doctrine.
Matthew 7:15-16 “Be on the watch for the false prophets,who come to you in sheep’s clothing…..”
God bless-Danny Haszard
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No arguments from me there, Danny. The Jehovah’s Witnesses are sure a weird bunch. But, being a Mormon myself I understand that might be the pot calling the kettle black. (Is that a PC phrase? Oh well.) Yes many of the JWs are wacky, but there are some honest ones too, I suppose. I don’t like to categorize a whole group based on the actions of a few. Kind of like saying all Germans or Japanese were bad during World War 2, though maybe most of them were to one level or another (but then aren’t we all?).
If it is any consolation, I hear the retention rate among JWs is about 5%. That is only 5 out of 100 new converts will continue their church affiliation into the next generation. Among Mormons it is around 60% in the U.S. and Europe, and between 40 and 50% in other areas of the world. I know that worries you all, but rest assured, even if you don’t agree with all our doctrine, at least we are trying to be the best we can morally and to emulate our Savior, Jesus Christ just like every other Christian. Besides, you all might just have a Mormon President soon. Won’t that be a kicker?
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The USA has, for a long time, no longer been a Christian country, and the leaders whom have been put into power by the people of America have not been Christian as a result. The next president of America will not be a Christian either, so nothing is going to change on that front. It is most unlikely that there will ever again be a Christian American president or a Christian government in the USA. The country simply cannot afford to lose its worldly position, or to be shunned, isolated and attacked by the rest of the unbelieving world as a result of electing a Christian into a position of authority. Imagine the Muslim outcry and the resultant devastating effect that will have on the US economy.
The Satanic ecumenical and interfaith movement, which accepts that there should be equal value placed on all religions has assumed a position of such great power, that the possibility of having a Christian believer as national leader in America, or almost any other country in the world for that matter, is almost non-existent.
Is there a country on the planet which currently has a Christian at the helm of their politics? I would love to be proven wrong, but I cannot think of one. Any takers?
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It is with GREAT trepidation and regret that we might have a Mormon president…I can only pray that God will have mercy on us and deliver us from the evil of his religion that falsely parades a Christian. I desire to be rid on this present president but am not sure at the spiritual expense we will be delivered from him. Mormon teachings from the beginning despise the Truth of the Holy Bible and the Apostles and have added much corrupt teaching to inspired Holy Scripture. They will answer in Hell for that, but in the meantime, their Pandora’s box of satanic teachings has been unleashed on this present day America. May God have mercy on us who are of the True faith of Jesus Christ.
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Admin Edited (John , we have respected your comments on this blog for some time now and even though some of them have been disturbingly ecumenical, we have approved them. However, this comment of yours cannot be placed. Your personal attack on commentators of the Christian faith and the Word of God is not warranted, hence we removed your comment)
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And penfire’s attack wasn’t personal? I’m sorry you have to tolerate me, unworthy sinner that I am. This isn’t really a discussion board, I suppose.
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John Hamilton
penfire did not address you at all in the comment.
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Yes, I suppose he/she did not attack me personally, just by beliefs, accusing me of not being Christian, indirectly, I guess. I apologize. Responding in kind—or nearly so—was very unchristian of me. So maybe he/she is right?
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Was Jesus Polite to False Teachers?
(Matthew 23)
Many Christians today are greatly concerned about the rising influences of communism, humanism, secularism, and social injustice. Yet those evils, great as they are, do not together pose the threat to Christianity that false shepherds and pastors do. Throughout the history of redemption, the greatest threat to God’s truth and God’s work has been false prophets and teachers, because they propose to speak in His name. That is why the Lord’s most scathing denunciations were reserved for the false teachers of Israel, who claimed to speak and act for God but were liars.
Yet for some reason, evangelical Christianity is often hesitant to confront false teachers with the seriousness and severity that Jesus and the apostles did, and that the godly prophets before them had done. Today, more than at any time in modern history and perhaps more than at any time in the history of the church, pagan religions and cults are seriously encroaching on societies that for centuries have been nominally Christian. Even within the church, many ideas, teachings, and philosophies that are little more than thinly veiled paganism have become popular and influential. As in ancient Israel, the further God’s people move away from the foundation of His Word, the more false religion flourishes in the world and even in their own midst. At no time have Christians had greater need to be discerning. They need to recognize and respect true godly shepherds who feed them God’s Word and build them up in the faith, and they also must recognize and denounce those who twist and undermine God’s Word, who corrupt the church and who lead lost people still further away from God’s truth and from salvation.
In Matthew 23:13–33 Jesus relentlessly condemned the false spiritual leaders of Israel, in particular the scribes and Pharisees, who then held the dominant power and influence in Judaism. Jesus warned about them in His first sermon, the Sermon on the Mount (see, e.g., 5:20; 7:15), and His last sermon (Matt. 23) consists almost entirely of warnings about them and to them. In this final public message, the Lord wanted to draw the people away from those false leaders and turn them to the true teaching and the godly examples of His apostles, who would become His uniquely commissioned and endowed representatives on earth during the early years of the church. He also gave the apostles themselves a final example of the confrontational stance they would soon find it necessary to take in their proclamation and defense of the gospel.
The unbelieving scribes and Pharisees whom Jesus addressed in the Temple stood alone in their sin and were condemned alone in their guilt for misappropriating and perverting God’s law and for leading Israel into heresy, just as the false prophets among their forefathers had done (vv. 30–32). But they also stood as models of all false spiritual leaders who would come after them. Therefore what Jesus said about them and to them is of much more than historical significance. It is essential instruction for dealing with the false leaders who abound in our own day.
In the first twelve verses of chapter 23, Jesus had declared that the scribes and Pharisees, typical of all false spiritual leaders, were without authority, without integrity, without sympathy, without spirituality, without humility, and therefore without God’s approval or blessing. Now speaking to them directly, He asserts they are under God’s harshest condemnation. In verses 13–33 Jesus pronounces seven curses, or woes, on those wicked leaders.
The scene in the Temple that day had become volatile in the extreme, in some ways more volatile than when Jesus had cast out the merchants and money-changers the day before. At that time Jesus’ anger was vented against what the religious leaders were doing outwardly, and that attack had outraged them (21:16, 23). Now, however, He attacked what they were inwardly, and that infuriated them even more.
In our day of tolerance and eclecticism, the kind of confrontation Jesus had with the scribes and Pharisees seems foreign and uncharitable. A person who speaks too harshly against a false religion or unbiblical teaching or movement is considered unkind, ungracious, and judgmental. Jesus’ indictments in Matthew 23, as well as in other parts of the gospels, are so inconsistent with the idea of Christian love held by some liberal theologians and Bible scholars, for example, that they conclude He could not have spoken them. What Jesus really said, they maintain, was modified and intensified either by the gospel writers or the sources from whom they received their information.
But the nature of Jesus’ condemnation of those corrupt religious leaders is perfectly consistent with the rest of Scripture, both the Old Testament and the New Not only that, but Jesus’ words in this passage fly from His lips, as someone has said, like claps of thunder and spears of lightning. Out of His mouth on this occasion came the most fearful and dreadful statements that Jesus uttered on earth. They do not give the least impression of being the afterthought of an overzealous writer or copyist.
Matthew 23 is one of the most serious passages in Scripture. Jesus here makes the word hypocrite a synonym for scribe and for Pharisee. He calls them sons of hell, blind guides, fools, robbers, self-indulgent, whitewashed tombs, full of hypocrisy and lawlessness, serpents, vipers, and persecutors and murderers of God’s people. He uttered every syllable with absolute self-control but with devastating intensity.
Yet Jesus was never cold or indifferent, even toward His enemies, and on this occasion His judgment is mingled with sorrow and deep pathos. It is not the Son’s will any more than the Father’s that a single person perish, because it is the gracious divine desire that everyone would come to repentance and salvation (2 Pet. 3:9). At the end of His denunciation, Jesus extended by implication another last invitation for belief, suggesting that He would still gladly gather any unbelievers under His wings as a mother hen gathers her chicks, if only they would be willing (Matt. 23:37).
http://www.macarthurcommentaries.com/Archive.aspx?question=309#
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Hi Grant, I think President George W. Bush read the Bible every day, or at least said he did. He claimed to be born again in Christ. I don’t know how narrow your interpretation of “Christian” is, but I for me if someone says he’s Christian, and his actions don’t directly contradict that statement (acknowledging none are perfect, of course), than he is Christian in my book. It will ultimately be up to God to judge, not me.
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John
You think George W. read the Bible everyday. You think? Or know? Whichever one it is, it remains irrelevant. Even if he did, reading the Bible would not make him a Christian.
Satan himself knows Jesus Christ personally, in fact Satan is a leading authority on the subject of our Lord. That carries more weight than a claim to being a Christian. Does that make Satan a born again Christian? No. Making a claim does not make one a Christian.
My interpretation of what constitutes a Christian is of no value whatsoever. Suffice to say that according to the Bible, the interpretation of “Christian” is very, very narrow indeed. As a Christian, it is imperative that I believe the biblical interpretation. The Bible presents an extremely narrow view: (Mat 7:14) For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Also, (Luk 13:23-24) And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”
John, just as my interpretation is irrelevant, those who are Christians in your book do not count. Only those who are Christians in the Saviour’s book will count. George W. might be a Christian in your book – but, from a distance it seems that his actions were certainly not those becoming of a Christian leader.
You are correct, it is God who calls those who will be saved. It is God who will finally judge everyone. Should we then not refrain from pronouncing George W to be a Christian?
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Isn’t the Pope the head of state of the Vatican City? Isn’t he Christian?
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John
Yes, the Pope is the head of state of the Vatican City.
No, he is not.
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John: Hope you’re still engaged here… I’d like to hear your view on the following question: ‘When did the Apostle Paul get saved?’ It’s not a ‘trick question’, but one that I think bears crucially on the subject matter here… You see, Paul had known Judaism from his birth, knew the Scriptures backwards and forwards, studied under Gamaliel, and was certainly considered to be morally ‘pure’ and upright in character; a leader amongst the Jews of Jesus’ day… It’s a fascinating, and troubling, question/issue, but I submit to you that he wasn’t ‘saved’ until his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus; the very trip being made to capture and imprison (and perhaps put to death) ‘real’ Christians…
And, assuming you agree, once he was saved, what was his view of the Jews who continued to reject Jesus as the Messiah – just as he himself had done? I suggest that his view is most eloquently captured in the following:
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:1-4
Now, it’s clear that there are many OT Saints; ‘believers’ who were saved by faith prior to the coming of Jesus Christ Himself… These placed their faith in Jehovah God, and accepted His provision for salvation through the Messiah to come… It’s equally clear that there were many OT individuals who knew the Scriptures well enough, and even served Israel in positions such as ‘High Priest’, ‘Prophet’, ‘Priest’, or ‘Scribe’ – who were not ‘saved’; who may have had a ‘zeal for God, but not according to knowledge’…
I’m going to try to be brief here, but it’s abundantly clear that the position a person has held, or holds – and the approbation of others, regardless of how many, or of what eminence – has nothing whatsoever to do with whether or not a person is ‘saved’… As hard as it is for us humans to accept, the Bible also makes it super-abundantly clear that salvation is not a matter of ‘good character’, ‘high morals’, or ‘right living’… No doubt, these things count for much in this world, and they may indeed have some significance in the next – but not in regard to the issue of whether or not a person is ‘saved’ and will spend eternity in fellowship with God, or separated from Him in Hell…
“But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6
There’s so much I’d like to share with you, John, but I’ll close by saying this: You certainly seem to be a ‘good, moral, conscientious,’ person, and you say you want to ’emulate our Savior, Jesus Christ just like every other Christian’… That is great, and I thank you for that; as far as it goes, it does indeed make things better for us all here and now. But, I fear that, as you are attempting to do so according to Mormon doctrine and theology, rather than ‘according to the Word of God’, then you – like God only knows how many others across time and space – are one who has ‘a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge’… It breaks my heart to think that this is true, John, but the Word makes it crystal clear that, unless that changes, what lies in store for you is not what the Mormon Church proclaims, but rather the horrifying, tragedy of hearing our Lord say, “I Never Knew You”…
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
I know how hard it can be to have many friends, family members, respected teachers, etc., that are all ‘good’, ‘loving’, ‘highly moral’, ‘deeply religious’, ‘patriotic’, ‘successful’, ‘respected’, and extremely ‘intelligent’ – and yet come to accept that they are not ‘saved’, regardless of what they profess… Think carefully about that please… This is precisely what Paul had to deal with in his day – and it cost him dearly to follow the Truth, but he knew it was nothing compared to what he gained by doing so.
‘Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.’ Philippians 3:1-11
God Bless!
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I agree with you, bluecheer777, wholeheartedly on virtually everything and thank you for your great concern for me. You pose an interesting question about Paul. I’ve studied Paul quite a bit and find that he is virtually unmatched in his zeal and total dedication to our Lord. I know that many people in this world have also experienced the conversion to the Savior that Paul did—probably not as dramatic as Paul’s conversion, but the same in spirit. (I think God knew Paul had the character traits to be greatly effective in the cause of the Gospel and thus gave him the experience commiserate to such.)
It is very true that not everyone who says “Lord, Lord… have we not done miracles in Your Name?” is going to be saved. They are everywhere and in every denomination, even the Mormons, of course. They are the hypocrites and deceivers, or just plain lazy and don’t really care—not honest truth seekers. Such will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven no matter what ordinances they had or church they belonged to.
The beauty of Christ’s teaching is that no one is left out in the cold because of simple honest ignorance. This is covered most poetically in the Sermon on the Mount. Mormons and many other denominations, such as the Unitarians, believe that everyone will get an honest and fully proper chance to be “saved,” whether in this life or the next. We don’t ascribe to the “death bed repentance” philosophy of some churches. We certainly don’t rule it out, anything is possible unto the Lord, but we view being “saved” as being on the right path more than any singular event. As Paul says, “if there is anything lovely, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things” [paraphrased]. Paul was never “saved” at any given point in the sense that he was guaranteed salvation despite anything he might do in the future. His heart was changed and therefore the likelihood of rebelling against God was quite diminished, but if he just sat around the house, didn’t care for the poor, did not seek after “things of good report” and never tried to more perfectly emulate his Savior, he would eventually loose out. God does not care where we are on the Path, just that we are on it.
I have witnessed the heartfelt conversions of several people when they were touched by the Good News, within my Church and in others. We all are given varying degrees of Light according to our spiritual needs as God sees in us. Once given that Light, to whatever degree, it is our duty to share it. Paul knew what he had and it pained him to know that anyone else might be missing out. Yes, the Jews of his time, for the most part, turned down his offer of the Gospel, and others turned away from it or altered it to their liking after accepting it. The Mormons contend that these alterations—for which Paul was combating in many of his now canonized letters—eventually overtook the Church and corrupted it. There is plenty of evidence throughout the history of the Catholic Church to support that. God then inspired good men, when the world was ready for them, like Martin Luther, and other reformers to prepare the way for the restoration of the full Church. Paul alludes to the structure of the Church of his time, referring to bishops, evangelists and apostles, and so forth. But nowhere in the Bible is it given what all their duties were or what even some of these offices were. It is our belief, as Mormons, that this organization was finally restored in its fulness by Joseph Smith. The main trouble most people have with us Mormons is that some of our Apostles are not sufficiently dead enough. Mathias replaced Judas after Christ’s Ascension and Paul was also appointed an Apostle by our Lord later. Where in the Bible does it say that Apostles (special witnesses of Jesus Christ) are to be no more? But because we believe in continuing revelation and listen to Apostles in our day, we are branded as a “cult.” I’m sure many Jews thought this little offshoot of Judaism in Paul’s day was a “cult” as well.
I’m sorry you feel to be upset by my beliefs, I don’t blame you. It is weird, when you think about it a certain way. I’m sure Paul felt the same way about the Christians of his day until the Lord set him strait. Joseph Smith himself said, “I don’t blame anyone for not believing me. If it had not happened to me [the witness of Jesus Christ] I would not believe it myself.” But he did his best to make that same witness available to everyone he could, much like a certain future Apostle on the road to Damascus. We don’t revere Joseph Smith or our Apostles today any more than the saints of Paul’s time revered him. They are often all-to-human (Paul apparently had a row or two with Peter) instruments God uses to help spread His Word. The Apostles of old have the benefit of a time gap on their side and we know very little of them. We don’t have that luxury with our Apostles today, so because they don’t have halos painted around them like those of old we are weirdos and evil for listening to them. Well, I like to think that I would have listened to Paul in his day too, and not waited two thousand years to acknowledge that he is okay now with the few scraps we have left of his mortal ministry.
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