Enemy for Truth

Within seminary, the scholastic wing of the Church is contempt for the Truth. I have witnessed in both Christian College and in Churches the same contempt. Pastors, Preachers, Teachers, and Board Members are satisfied if you devour their soliloquies and dance to their drum. But as soon as you speak from Scripture and see through the veils they have erected to hide their vanity and vitriol; you become the object of vehemence. You become an enemy for speaking the Truth.

St. Paul experienced this and said, "Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?" (Galatians 4:16). The Apostle was confronting a heresy that was spreading amongst the Church that had Christians believing that had to be circumcised to be saved and be part of the Church. What Paul discovered and what I now experience, is that the Church and its Campuses of Learning have become those Pharisees and Sadducees that condemned Christ Jesus Himself.

I am finding that more and more brothers and sisters hate the Truth. They do not want to be confronted with the words of Christ and the Apostles. Instead they build their traditions and manmade religion (Colossians 2:22-23) with glee and shake their fist at any messenger of God who seeks to show them that their piety is actually pernicious and full of pride. Jesus confronted the duplicity I now see in the Church realm, He said,
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started! "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar." (Matthew 23:29-35).

Jesus finishes this long rebuke of the religious leaders by saying, "Truly I tell you this shall all come upon this generation." (verse 36). Thus the rebuke seems to be only for the Pharisees of that day. However, I argue that this is exactly what Church leaders since the Middle Ages to current day have been doing. Think of how the Bishops and Clergyman built shrines and houses for the saints to be venerated, but that they often killed, burnt, and destroyed anyone who dared speak the Truth: that their control hindered Christ, their indulgences were antichrists, and keeping Scripture from the layperson was wrong. I think many institutions that are not Catholic, that are Pentecostal and Charismatic are as guilty today. They proclaim fealty to Christ Jesus and His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit, but then condemn those that make them feel insecure about their infallibility. The more scholastic brothers and sisters are so proud of their knowledge and ideas; that they hate a challenge from a student who is confronting their notions with Scripture and the Spirit of God.

I think is Jesus Christ were to enter a Christian College now, he probably would be expelled (if He entered a church he would be asked to leave). We no longer have the freedom to debate or discussion things; people are offended if you ask "why?" or say "but this Scripture or Scholar contradicts your words and you profess to follow the Scripture and that scholar.." Immediately those so called venerable people react harshly towards any challenge. The Truth is that our Protestant Churches and Colleges are as controlling as the Papacy of the Catholic Church; we merely exchanged one Pope for many popes. I am glad we gained access to the Word of God and The Holy Spirit; but the organization, structure and governance in Christian circles is not as reformed as many think; churches and Christians colleges are perhaps more closed minded than ever.

While I am not saying to abandon the Church or hate Christian Colleges and Universities; I am pointing out that if you dare speak the Truth, do not be surprised if you find yourself in the Savior's position before the Sanhedrin (high religious leaders) Court. Religious leaders want to protect their position and their sense of piety and 'profound' knowledge; and they will devour you like lions if they can. So beware my brethren! Jesus Christ will be with you, for He himself suffered in this way. Do not be afraid to speak the Truth, but be prepared to incur the wrath of those who do not want to hear it.

Lastly, remember that Jesus is the "Way, The Truth, and the Life." (). When you speak Truth, you speak Jesus. If someone reacts, then they react to the Son of God Himself. When they reject your words, they reject the Word of God. Granted your words need to be supported by the Scriptures and Holy Spirit; but the point is that when some rejects the Truth you have spoken or written; they reject the Lord too. So actually, you are not alone in the rejection; you are in the best of company; the company of Christ who is God himself! (Colossians 2:9).