I received this in an e-mail from a pastor whose newsletter I subscribe to and whose ministry I follow in that he is indeed in search of Truth!  I neither confirm nor deny anything that may be said by anyone…UNLESS there is found in the Word (my barometer), should I choose to seek and search deeper myself.  I simply wanted to share this article with you because it so speaks to what my Spirit says, and that is that HaSatan’s greatest “weapon formed against mankind” has been “religion”. Now, you may want to shut down right here and right now, being a very religious person (ugh, still hate the word religion or any derivative thereof); but, don’t.  Hear what I say, and then if I pique your interest, then continue and read the article.

Satan’s greatest tool against mankind, and especially against those who call themselves “religious,” or “christian,” or “observant Jew,” or whatever (I categorize all of these as simply “religion” – something made up by man and which is, generally speaking and almost exclusively, it seems, ruled by “man’s rules and man’s dogma”).    Scripture tells us in diverse places and differing words that, “a house divided will fall,” and “satan inhabits empty spaces.”  Recall the story in the New Testament about the evil spirit leaving…and then seven more came back to inhabit….because the person was emptied, had a void…and something had to fill it!

Well, all religions are divided and satan inhabits and uses that diviseness to destroy what YHWH had intended to be a good and holy (& WHOLE) thing.  If you are a believer, that is that Yahshua is the Messiah, and that He is the “head” and we are the “body”, well come on folks, how many “bodies” can a “head” have?  Even, as the article says, amongst specific denominations we are divided, and why; because we have egoes and we have fallible human man trying to assert his or her “way” instead of letting it be the Way of YHWH.

A short drive through the downtown of any city of the Bible Belt will reveal an iconic “church on every corner.”  Take Newberry, South Carolina for example.  Here there are Lutheran, Baptist, and Presbyterian churches who offer contemporary, traditional or Spanish services.  There is a large Catholic congregation, a charismatic outreach center, and even one of America’s oldest Unitarian Universalist churches.

Worldwide, there are over 1,900 different denominations of Christianity.  Each differs in their own ways.  For example, Lutherans sprinkle, Baptists immerse and the apostolics baptize only “in the name of Jesus.”  Is this really what the Savior envisioned when He prayed in John 17:21, “Father, may they be one?”

History recognizes Christianity as originally a small sect of Judaism.  The first followers observed the Law of Moses and didn’t change their behavior when they accepted the Jewish Messiah.  As the good news began to spread many believers faced harsh persecution.

Christianity changed in 313AD when the Edict of Milan granted Christians the right to openly practice their religion.  Roman Emperor Constantine the Great had supposedly converted and now showed kindness to the church.  This affection came with many strings attached.  As time went on, many Roman laws were passed to establish the Roman Catholic Church as supreme.  Constantine declared himself the “Potinfex Maximus” and set up the hierarchy of archbishops over bishops.

In 321AD the first council of Nicea was held by the emperor to rid the Christian church of “Jewish” identity.  Church leaders who failed to attend this meeting faced the death penalty.  During the council, the idea of a Trinitarian godhead was mandated and Passover was replaced with the pagan Ishtar/Easter celebration.  This was just the start of changes that were made by Constantine.

In 325AD Constantine decreed the first day of the week as “Dies Solis” or “the day of the sun.”  It just so happened that Sunday was the official day off for the Roman civil government.  Changing the Biblical Sabbath was an easy trade as Sun’sday became the “Lord’s day.”

The acts of Constantine propelled the world into the dark ages when the church had supreme authority over science, learning, and government.  For hundreds of years, only the Catholic priests were allowed to read and interpret the Scriptures.  In 1517 Martin Luther started the protestant reformation as he led a theological rebellion against the Catholic Church.  Various groups later split from Luther as they discovered aspects of the faith that had been forsaken.

The past 2,000 years have seen a great struggle within Christianity.  The original faith of a small group of Jewish believers has now become the popular religion of celebrities.  To be accepted by the masses, the American church has adopted contemporary music and feel good sermons.  Mega-churches throughout the country boast weekly attendance of more than 5,000 while local groups offer everything from gymnasiums to modern-style dance troupes.  Is today’s model of church the most accurate as compared to the Scriptures?  Should the message and the method of the Bible change with the times?  “The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him,” Proverbs 18:17.

There has always been a small group in the church who would fight for the fullness of truth.  This remnant continues to escape the latter day apostasy and experience the restoration of Biblical worship.  One can discover the original faith of the apostles by knowing church history and studying the ancient language, culture, and words of the Bible.  Jude 1:3 explains that one must “contend for the most holy faith that was delivered to the saints once for all time.”

(c) Daniel Rendelman

www.emetministries.com.