Acts 29 Today

Hi and welcome to another ACTS 29 TODAY edition.

Well to me the history of these things is absolutely fascinating and will certainly pave the way to a new understanding and wisdom to go forward with the building by JESUS of the REAL CHURCH…THE PEOPLE OF GOD.

Constantin’s thinking was dominated by superstition and pagan magic, even after his conversion to Christianity. He never abandoned SUN worship and set up a statue of the SUN god that bore his own image in the forum of Constantinople (the new capital) . He also built a statue of the mother-godess Cybele (though he presented her in a posture of Christian prayer).

Historians still debate whether or not Constantine was a real Christian or not, the fact that he is to have reportedly had his eldest son, his nephew, and his brother-in-law executed does not strengthen his case for true conversion.  In AD 321 he decreed that Sunday would be a day of rest-a legal holiday to honor the god mithras the unconquered sun, he had a great affinity for the SUN.

He retained the title … Pontifex Maximus meaning CHIEF OF THE PAGAN PRIEST. In the fifteenth century, this same title became the honorific title for the Roman Catholic Pope. Constantine was an egomaniac to say the least and he thought he was the thirteenth disciple, after his death he was declared to be ” devine” (this was the custom for all pagan emperors who died before him). IT WAS THE SENATE THAT DECLARED HIM TO BE A…PAGAN GOD….AT HIS DEATH, AND NO ONE STOPPED THEM FROM DOING SO.

Because the church building was considered sacred, people had to undergo a purification ritual before entering, so in the fourteen century fountains were erected in the courtyards so the Christians could wash before entering the building. Also the Basilica put the clergy in a distinguished chair up above the laity Interestingly, most present-day church buildings have a spiecial chair for the pastor and his staff on the platform behind the pulpit. (like the bishops throne, the pastors chair is usually the biggest one of all) ALL OF THIS IS A CLEAR CARRYOVER FROM THE PAGAN BASILICA.

see if you can guess which one is the pastors

Under Constantine, the clergy who had at first worn everyday clothes, began dressing in special garments and those garments were the garments of the Roman officials. Separation of clergy was now even more prevalent in the gatherings .

Then the custom of starting the service with professional music and thus choirs were also added to the mix, worship became more PROFESSIONAL, DRAMATIC, AND CEREMONIAL.

Fourteenth century Christianity was being profoundly shaped by…GREEK PAGANISM and ROMAN IMPERIALISM. Bottom line….There was a loss of INTIMACY and OPEN PARTICIPATION.

THE…PROFESSIONAL CLERGY…PREFORMED THE…ACTS OF WORSHIP…

WHILE THE LAITY……LOOKED…..ON……AS…..SPECTATORS.

Constantine brought peace for all Christians, the faith had become LEGITIMATE so much so as to be above Judaism and paganism.   He was seen as sent by GOD to the Christians and had come to their rescue. CHRISTIANITY and ROMAN CULTURE WHERE NOW WELDED TOGETHER (kind of reminds me of where we are today THE USA CULTURE AND THE CHURCH OF TODAY MUCH THE SAME).

I am just going to jump in here and close with this thought. This morning the HOLY SPIRIT was talking to me about the salt of the earth, we are called to be salt and light. The bible says if the salt has lost its savor, or saltiness (the ability to preserve) it is worthless and is good for nothing except to be thrown out trodden under foot of men.

One time as I was wondering, how does salt lose its saltiness (ability to preserve) and it is just one word…...MIXTURE…….if you add anything to salt it loses its ability that it had when it was….PURE SALT……When Christianity was mixed with Roman culture….it lost its saltiness.

Today more of the world has changed the Church, than the church changing the world (other way around in the early church) because of the MIXTURE with the world and its cult-ture. We are IN THE WORLD….but NOT OF THE WORLD. We are in one… or… the other there is no mixture between the kingdom of GOD and the kingdom of this world, the flesh and the Spirit.

So sadly, Christianity today in America has been thrown out and trodden under foot of men, its is SCOFFED AT, MADE FUN OF, RIDICULED, MOCKED, AND GENERALLY DISCARDED AND DISREGARDED……WHY?……BECAUSE OF THE MIXTURE.

The traditions of man and flesh will NEVER PRODUCE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT….OR THE RESULTS OF THE SPIRIT.

NOW THE GOOD NEWS…..WE CAN REPENT (CHANGE OUR MINDS AND GO A DIFFERENT WAY(GODS) AND BEGIN TO SEE HIS REAL PURPOSE AND POWER AGAIN). I no it looks impossible, and with man it is….but with GOD all things are possible.

So will the Church (people of god, not a building) be able to stop supporting buildings and all that goes with it and all the other things that we will discover as we go thru all of this.

YES I BELIEVE SO….ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO THEM….WHO BELIEVE.

NEXT TIME I WILL TRY TO FINISH UP ABOUT THE CHURCH BUILDING AND MOVE ON TO SOME OTHER SACRED COWS (BS) Broken System…….THAT WILL HAVE TO GO.

Thanks for your time in reading this material its so important to understand in these last times.

Larry