MONUMENTAL the movie ... A monumental "Christian" mistake!

..(2) preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (3) For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, (4) and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths - 2 Timothy 4:2-4

A MONUMENTAL MIS-STEP

Is seems like the Christian Narrative for our country is becoming more and more dilluted with each passing day.  Jesus states in the Gospel of John ... "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me" - John 14:6.  I cannot find anything within the scripture that states that the Founding Fathers, the Tea Party or the restoration of a pagan Masonic monument will restore America and get us back to the ideals of the 1600's ... can you?  Please don't misunderstand, I am in agreement with my Christian brothers and sisters that our country is in steep decline, but it is becoming clear that the "conservative" side of the aisle is taking a page out of the playbook of the left by ... "not letting a good crisis go to waste ..."

Kirk Cameron (Way of the Master / Living Waters) recently released a film entitled MONUMENTAL: In Search of America's National Treasure.  Cameron is passionate in his desire to preserve the nation for generations to come, but is his desire misguided?  There are many questions that DISCERNING CHRISTIANS must answer before discussing or endorsing this film.  Questions like: Is his presentation of history accurate?  Is Cameron un-knowlingly misleading millions of "well-meaning" down a road that is unbiblical?  Is there another agenda behind the release of this movie? 

It is interesting that Cameron states .... "this is only the beginning" ... One only has to do a google search to find out what Cameron is referring to ... click here to see the number of resources for Monumental.  After viewing all of the resources - let me ask you a question - who are these resources marketed towards?  Will the market be left-leaning, humanistic democrats?  Or, is Cameron and his team marketing this project to conservatives, evangelicals, home-schoolers and Tea Party Patriots ... I think we all would lean towards the latter ....

As you embark on researching this project to determine its accuracy ... I feel it is important for you to understand a few of my concerns surrounding MONUMENTAL ... You can find them listed below:

1. Monument to the Forefathers ... THE monument of MONUMENTAL ...

•  Former Mormon and Freemason, Ed Decker details, "The Monument at Plymouth was not constructed at the site of the Pilgrims' crossing in 1620 and was not erected at God's instruction, by the pilgrims who were the ones who actually crossed. They never referred to any such thing as their memorial or their Gilgal, as it might have been.
  
  
  
  Instead of a set of memorial stones, such as we read about throughout the Old Testament, this Masonic monument rises 81 feet above its base. It is hardly a Gigal.
  
  
  
  It's cornerstone was laid in a grand procession and ceremony by Freemasons in 1859, 239 years after the Pilgrims landed. When I say grand procession, I mean several thousand Masons marched with their banners held high." - The Decker Report - The Freemasons and America: A Monumental Strategy

• The Decker Report - Free Masonry and Mason Lodge - Resource Library - click here

• The Freemasons and America: A Monumental Strategy - full article - click here

• Worldview Weekend - Brannon Howse - Monumental Article - click here

2. Monumental - A review - Vince and Lori Williams (authors of Falsified: the danger of false conversions) - click here

3. Is MONUMENTAL historically accurate?  The questionable history of David Barton - Throckmorton article - click here

• Wing Clips Video Excerpt - Explanation by Barton to Cameron - watch it here

4. Monumental Tour ... billed as an opportunity to re-trace the steps of the Pilgrims, become trained and equipped regarding the formation of America ... but why study and become trained in the things of the occult? (see Decker articles for more context)

5. Monumental Tour Speakers

• Kirk Cameron - www.kirkcameron.com
• Marshall Foster - World History Institute
• Gary Demar - American Vision
• most alarming of all the speakers (from Evangelical perspective)
• Demar is a PRETERIST ... it is this belief that fuels his RECONSTRUCTIONISM
• Preter-ism is 2-pronged (Full versus Partial)
• Preter-ism ... is not a biblical concept, rather it originated with the Jesuit Order
• Noise of Thunder Radio - Chris Pinto Article - Jesuit: Romanist Preterism - click here

As you can see, there is more than one reason for the confessing church to be concerned.  We are on the edge of a very slippery slope ... I hope that you take some time to investigate the information contained within this post and discern what action you need to take with the results.



David Barton ... Telling Lies about Jefferson

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ - Colossians 2:8

David Barton (self professed Christian and historian) has recently published a book entitled "The Jefferson Lies".  Discerning readers only need to look at who composed the foreword (none other than LDS Mormon Glenn Beck) to know what "lies" ahead of them as the thumb through the pages.  I once admired and looked up to David for his "historical perspective" and his deep admiration for the founding of our nation.  Admittedly, I was caught up in the romance of his mythology and worse, I thought he was biblical.  Then I started to READ for myself and began to research the "historical evidence" that David gave in his presentations ... what I fool I had been!  I quickly came to learn that David was only giving half the story ... And, the side of the story that he was proclaiming - was dramatically out of context.  With the "The Jefferson Lies", Barton does his magic to portray Thomas Jefferson as a Christian ... something that is clearly NOT TRUE!

The bottom-line for me ... I can no longer sit back and listen to David Barton and the lies he is weaving (and has already weaved) within our churches. Not only is Barton's message devastating ... his target audience, which are made up of Evangelical Christians, are hanging on his every word and for the most part buying into his false view of history. If you doubt what I just said, answer this question - what will be the largest group to purchase Barton's latest book?  I am sure many home school families already have it in their libraries and are devouring its contents to teach to countless unaware and trusting children - what a shame! 

What convicted me the most has been our laziness (as a Christian community) regarding United States history.  We took what David Barton said as gospel and for the most part ... never really studied or researched what he said in context.  With blind faith, we opened our doors and let him speak from our pulpits - that mistake is on us and we must take responsibility for it - And, promise to be dilligent to speak out against false teaching ... (Acts 17:11)

As I compose this post my mind is racing ... I do not know where to start, what to say or what direction to lead you???  The lies and misdirection(s) are numerous and in no way could be covered in one post on a simple blog.  Here is my plea - Churches stop having this man occupy your pulpits and present to your congregations ... He is a wolf that has been let loose in the pasture.  He is deceiving people by the thousands and I can no longer sit on the sideline and watch .... You shouldn't either!

Think about this for a second ... We (the Christian/Conservative community) have sat and listened to David Barton for years.  We have been mezmorized by his smooth delivery regarding the Founding Fathers, the Constitution and how it all goes back to the scripture.  We fell in love with the story and never bothered to get serious about researching his claims for ourselves - BUT, the un-believing world did AND they knew that for the most-part, we were wrong !!!!! 

Ladies and Gentlemen, if we cannot get our history correct ... how in the world can we expect them to believe us when we proclaim Christ and Him crucified ?????

At this point, I still have many unanswered questions ... I am struggling with feelings of resentment toward Barton, but I also must sift through many feelings of shame due to the fact that I was once deceived and proclaimed his message to people that trusted my opinion ... for that I am sorry!  Over the next few weeks I will be diligently researching many things related to Barton and his view of history - WILL YOU DO THE SAME?  In the meantime, I have provided some "nuggets" that might jump start your research ... I hope they are useful ....

1. David Barton Lies About Jesus and Taxes - Fighting for the Faith / Chris Rosebrough

(listener note ... go to 41:21 of the podcast ... segment begins at 41:21 thru 1:02:25)

2.  The Christian Advocate by Ashbel Green (pgs 78, 135, 194, 246 and 305) .... Green was in the inner circle of the Founding Father's.  Green was also an outspoken opponent of the views of one Thomas Jefferson - Barton never gives his audience the perspective of Green ... why not?

3. Fox News Report ... Easter Sunday 2012 ... Jefferson denies the Resurrection - click here

4. GBTV - The Jefferson Lies w/David Barton - click here

5. Warren Throckmorton - GBTV Follow-Up - The Jefferson Lies w/David Barton - click here

• Barton Spins Jefferson Lies - click here
• Barton Spins Jefferson Lies - Part 2 - click here
• Warren Throckmorton - David Barton Page - click here

6. "The Jefferson Bible" .... view it here

7. Chris Pinto - Noise of Thunder Radio - Radio Archives ... The Jefferson Lies - click here

8. Chris Pinto - Noise of Thunder Radio - Articles ... The Founding Fathers - click here

9. Chris Pinto - Adullam Films - Documentary ... Hidden Faith of the Founding Fathers - click here

(scroll to 1:45:26 in the film ...)

10. WVW - Brannon Howse and Chris Pinto - The Jefferson Lies/Book Review - P1 - click here

    WVW - Brannon Howse and Chris Pinto - The Jefferson Lies/Book Review - P2 - click here

11. Library of Congress ... read the letters of Jefferson in context - The Jefferson Papers

David Barton: Deceiver or Deceived?

Adullam Films Update

by Chris Pinto

The anti-Republican website, Right Wing Watch recently featured an article on our newest film, “The Hidden Faith of the Founding Fathers” with the headline: “Bad News for Beck and Barton: the Founding Fathers Were Antichrists.”

The headline was based on the powerful information contained in the documentary, which reveals what the chief founders of the American Revolution actually believed about the Christian faith. To read the full article from Right Wing Watch, click here.

The Bible tells us that we are saved by God’s grace through faith, not of works lest any man should boast. As such, our documentary is not a diatribe into the works or deeds of the founders, as if to accuse them of some immoral acts. Instead, it is an examination of their FAITH. But what was their faith? What did these men actually believe about God, the Bible, and Jesus Christ? Incredibly, men like Jefferson, Adams and others wrote extensively about Christian doctrine and the teachings of Scripture. But what most Bible believers are unaware of is that these men were radically anti-Christ. Unfortunately, many professing Christians seem to be abandoning the Gospel in favor of “conservative values” which allow for “all faiths” to be included that are willing to take a stand against abortion, gay marriage, and the general wave of liberalism in the country today. We have come to believe that this is a snare prepared by the devil to diminish the power of preaching the cross of Christ, and render ineffective the Church in our country.

Sadly, the devil’s tactic seems to be working, and the key instrument of the deception is the Founding Fathers of the American Revolution. Conservatives present these men as “angels of light” who are exalted more highly than any apostles or prophets in our country today, quoting their great swelling words as if they were equal to the record of Scripture. What is devastating and diabolical, is that the glow of “faith” said to emanate from these oracles is quite the opposite of what is presented in many churches. In short, their own letters prove that many of the founders hated Biblical Christianity and wanted to see the Gospel destroyed. The letters in question are beyond dispute and can be found among many collections of the Founders writings, and in the Library of Congress. They were not merely deists or agnostics or humanists (which we have come to believe are very deceptive terms) but were antichrists according to the Word of the Living God.

We have further come to believe that Christians who prefer to define these men in worldly terms (calling them “deists” or “theistic rationalists” etc.,) do no service to the Church or to the unbelieving world, since political correctness in matters of spiritual importance tends to lull the hearers into a place of uncertainty; whereas the holy scriptures give no uncertain sound as to how those who reject Christ are to be regarded.

“Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son.” (1 John 2:22)

The importance of this is seen in the reaction of those (even among believers) who become especially troubled at hearing that the Founders were “antichrists.” The initial thought is that such a term is too extreme. “Well, I wouldn’t necessarily say that they were anti-Christ,” is a common reply. “They just held to certain humanist ideas, and did not believe in the divinity of Christ.” Yes, but that is the spirit of antichrist. The name “Christ” is not merely the last name of the man Jesus, as if we might call him Jesus Jones or Jesus Johnson. The name “Christ” embodies the whole doctrine of who the promised Messiah is, according to the scriptures set forth by Moses and the prophets, with the witness of the apostles. This is why John in his second epistle to the Church tells us that one is “a deceiver and an antichrist” who “abides not in the doctrine of Christ.” (2 John 7, 9)

Furthermore, we also consider how Jesus said:“And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not … He that rejecteth me, and receivethnot my words, hath one that judgeth him: the wordthat I have spoken, the same shall judge him in thelast day.” (John 12:47-48)

When the Lord returns, He comes with a two-edged sword from His mouth, by which He smites the nations (Revelation 19:15). That sword from His mouth is the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). In other words, when the Lord returns, He will judge the nations according to His Word – not according to secular terminology. Not according to the wisdom of man, or of the rulers of this age which comes to nothing (1 Corinthians 2:6). That is the wisdom of the Founding Fathers – it will ultimately come to nothing. One might just as soon invest in Enron stock as in the philosophies of Jefferson, Adams, Franklin and Washington. You will find prosperity for a while, but in the end you will be bankrupt, and only once it’s too late, realize that you have been lied to. This is the place our country is reaching even today, as the wicked leaven of “universalism” sown by the Founders through the U.S. Constitution seems to produce more tares than wheat in the fields of the American harvest.

It is our responsibility as believers to obey the Lord, to declare the wisdom of God, and teach men to observe all things that Jesus has commanded (Matthew 28:20), that through the words of God, men might know the truth.“For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 2:7)  If we accept that all who believe Christ are counted as “priests” under the New Covenant (1 Peter 2:9), then it is our responsibility to communicate the words that God has given us; to set forth the wisdom of God, not of man.“… we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth …” (1 Corinthians 2:13)

Our pastors tell us, “Well, the Founders spoke of God as Divine Providence, and they believed that God was active in the affairs of men. They were just influenced by the Enlightenment, and could not see Jesus as the Divine Son.” This is often offered as an apologetic to excuse their unbelief, and gives Christians (not to mention unbelievers) the false hope that perhaps these men went to heaven in spite of their rejection of the Gospel.


Again, such ambiguity is unknown in the New Testament: “Know ye not that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived …” (1 Cor. 6:9) “… when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power …” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9) For those who have not seen “The Hidden Faith of the Founding Fathers,” I will present here some of the quotes that we show in the film. Here are some examples of things said by the key founders. First, from Thomas Paine, the man who is said to have inspired the Declaration of Independence:

“Whenever we read the obscene stories, voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and tortous executions, the unrelenting vindictivenes, with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistant that we called it the word of a Demon than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind, and, for my part, I sincerly detest it …” (Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason, part first, 1852 edition, p. 19)

Next, from Thomas Jefferson, author if the Declaration of Independence:

“… where did we get the ten commandments? The book indeed gives them to us verbatim, but where did it get them? For itself tells us they were written by the finger of God on tables of stone, which were destroyed by Moses … But the whole history of these books is so defective and doubtful, that it seems vain to attempt minute inquiry into it … we have a right to entertain much doubt what parts of them are genuine …” (Jefferson, letter to John Adams, January 24, 1814)

Concerning the teachings of Jesus Christ, Jefferson wrote:
“Among the sayings and discourses imputed to Him by His biographers, I find many passages of fine imagination, correct morality, and of the most lovely benevolence; and others, again, of so much ignorance, so much absurdity, so much untruth, charlatanism and imposture … I separate, therefore, the gold from the dross … and leave the latter to the
stupidity of some, and roguery of others of His disciples. Of this band of dupes and impostors, Paul was the … first corruptor of the doctrines of Jesus.” (Jefferson, letter to W. Short, April 13, 1820)

When Jefferson makes reference to separating “the gold from the dross,” he is referring to his so called Jefferson Bible, in which he literally cut out all references to the supernatural: the virgin birth, the miracles of Christ, His resurrection, etc. Jefferson elsewhere called the Book of Revelation “the ravings of a maniac.”

Then we have this testimony from Benjamin Franklin, who had this to say just a short time before his death. In fact, it is shown in this letter to Ezra Stiles (the President of Yale College at the time) that Franklin himself expected to die in the near future. Here is what he said:

“As to Jesus of Nazareth, my Opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the System of Morals and his Religion as he left them to us, the best the World ever saw, or is likely to see; but I apprehend it has received various corrupting Changes, and I have with most of the present Dissenters in England, some Doubts as to his Divinity: tho' it is a Question I do not dogmatise upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an Opportunity of knowing the Truth with less Trouble.” (Benjamin Franklin Letter, to Ezra Stiles, March 9, 1790)

Then we have this testimony from John Adams, who is probably most often seen as a Founder who believed in Christianity. But as we show in “Hidden Faith,” Adams’ faith in Christianity was like the faith of the Pharisees in Abraham and Moses. If they had really believed Abraham and Moses, they would have also believed Jesus. Likewise, if Adams really believed in the “Christian principles” he is so often quoted for, he would never have written these words to Thomas Jefferson:

“The Europeans are all deeply tainted with prejudices, both ecclesiastical and temporal, which they can never get rid of. They are all infected with … creeds, and confessions of faith. They all believe that great Principle (God) which has produced this boundless universe … came down to this little ball (the earth), to be spit upon by Jews. And until this awful blasphemy is got rid of, there never will be any liberal science in the world.” (John Adams, Letter toThomas Jefferson, January 22, 1825, emphasis added)

Finally, we come to George Washington, who was certainly the most moderate of the Revolutionaries, and who was careful not to offend the religious beliefs of anyone. As a Freemason, Washington defined “God” with the traditional vaguery Masonry is known for, employing the name “Great Architect of the Universe” in his letters.

“I sincerely pray that the Great Architect of theUniverse may bless you and receive you hereafter into his immortal Temple.” (George Washington, Letter to the Massachusetts Grand Lodge, December 27, 1792)

What is interesting is that David Barton, who defends the idea of Washington as a Christian, says in his own writings that the god of Masonry is not the God of the Bible. Barton writes that in Christianity: “Only one God is worshipped – and that God is not the universalist deistic god that Masonry denotes as the ‘Great Architect of the Universe’ (G.A.O.T.U.)” (David Barton, The Question of Freemasonry and the Founding Fathers, p. 20)

Barton, while failing to acknowledge it, is inadvertently admitting that the “god” of George Washington was not at all the God of the Christian faith. Perhaps the most convicting testimonies come from Washington’s own pastors who ministered to him for more than 20 years. One of them (Bishop William White) said there was no evidence that Washington believed the Gospel; the other (Dr. Ashbel Green) said that Washington did not believe the Jewish-Christian revelation, while the opinion of the third, Dr. James Abercrombie was recorded by Dr. Bird Wilson this way:

“Long after Washington’s death, in reply to Dr.Wilson, who had interrogated him as to his illustrious auditor’s religious views, Dr. Abercrombie’s brief but emphatic answer was: ‘Sir, Washington was a Deist.’” (Six Historic Americans, by John E. Remsburg)

Forsaking GOD for the sake of a flag ....

CONFRONTING THE PATRIOTIC FAITH

By Christian J. Pinto - http://www.adullamfilms.com/

"For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither

hid, that shall not be known." (Luke 12:2)

Perhaps more dangerous than yoga, psychology, or any of the new age doctrines that have crept into modern churches, is the ongoing love affair that some believers have with patriotic Christianity. Many Christian leaders, who can easily spot the lies of the New Age movement, abandon all discernment when it comes to the history of America and the idea that this country was founded as a Christian nation. Yes, they are well able to recognize the kundalini serpent crawling up the spine of believers at the gym, but can't seem to figure out that the Washington monument is a pagan phallic symbol that glorifies a demonic entity. They are unable to discern that just because certain Freemasons wrote "Glory to God" on it does not make it a Christian icon.

Christians who live in America understand that we are soldiers of Christ, who are strangers and pilgrims upon the earth, and who happen to be stationed in a place called America. American Christians, on the other hand, believe that the United States represents the kingdom of God on earth, and their purpose is to promote American values and the revolutionary principles of democracy, rather than the message of life eternal. They will politely refrain from being too forward about such sensitive issues as heaven and hell; but will be bold to speak about freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. "I don't want to intrude my beliefs on yours," they say, "unless it comes to my Constitutional rights!" If their zeal for the Lord Jesus were equal to their love for America, we can only wonder what great things might be done for the sake of the truth. As believers living in America, we must ask: is the core message of Americanism, even at its best, really that of the Bible?


Church and State

If one studies these elite societies at any length, he will quickly realize that their religious views cannot be separated from their political machinations. Their insistence on a separation of church and state does not mean they want to separate religion from government. It means they want to separate The Church (i.e. Christianity) from the state. This is why they demand that all Christian icons (the cross, ten commandments, etc.) be removed from government buildings, seals, etc. Yet the pagan icons, such as the Statue of Liberty, the Eye of Horus, the Washington Monument, along with countless other celebrations of the occult religions are never threatened. Yes, the Ten Commandments must be taken away from in front of the courthouse, but the statue of the blindfolded Themis, the Greek goddess of justice, can remain unfettered. The message is clear: the devils can stay, but God must go.



The Founding Fathers of America

Many Christians are repeatedly told by their pastors, teachers and church leaders that America was founded as a Christian nation. This assertion would not be so bad if it were confined to the arrival of the Puritans at Plymouth, and the early development of the new world. If that were the case, it would be an accurate statement in this writer's opinion. It is very clear that the Puritan/Pilgrims who built the towns, cities and roads for the original 13 colonies did so as Bible believers who were establishing Christian communities.



The problem arises when one marks the foundation of our country at the American Revolution and the establishment of the United States. It is at this point where all bible believing Christians should be very wary, since the working of occult societies during this era was at an unprecedented height in history. Some historians even argue that you simply cannot understand the history of the world for the past few hundred years if you do not take these societies into account. Their members have been the planners, leaders, and engineers of a global agenda, one that they do not readily share with the rest of the world. More importantly, they often use "religion" as an instrument to manipulate the masses, their belief being that the end justifies the means.

For Christians, our concern should be not for their conspiracy to take over the world, which is simply the fulfillment of God's prophecies and proof that His Word is true. Rather, our concern must be their corruption of the faith of Christ from within our ranks. In the New Testament, Jude gives us this important exhortation:


"… it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our
Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 3-4)

Notice that Jude is warning us that we must "contend" (i.e. fight) for the true faith because "certain men" whom he calls "ungodly" have crept into the church. Such warnings are found throughout the New Testament. Jesus warned of "ravening wolves" in "sheep's clothing" (Matthew 7:15), while Paul warned of "grievous wolves" who would not spare the flock (Acts 20:29), while Peter warned that such men would bring in "damnable heresies" (2 Peter 2:1) and would be denying the Lord, just as Jude confirms.

Sadly, all of the above warnings can be found among the chief Founders of the American Revolution, which will be shown in the following articles. The question is, are the Founders men who have crept into the church? The answer can only be "yes." Not only were these men involved in churches in their lifetimes, but even two centuries later, their names and philosophies are sounded regularly among the congregations of the Lord. Their influence is among us, as surely as if they lived and breathed at this very hour.

Consider this: when our Puritan fathers founded Harvard University in 1636, they set forth the motto: Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae which means "Truth for Christ and the Church." That was the original focus of Harvard and they had no problem stating it openly. Nearly four hundred years later, the motto has been shortened to: Veritas. Simply the word for "Truth." As with many things, "Christ and the Church" have been thrust out. But this is no accident, and is not a betrayal of the "original intent" of the Revolutionaries. On the contrary, it is exactly what they wanted. Yes, the Pilgrims would be turning in their graves, but they are separated from Jefferson, Adams and Franklin by more than a hundred years.

Taking America Back: but back to what?
The evidence will show that the troubles for Christianity in America did not begin when they took prayer out of schools in the 1960's. It began with the American Revolution. This is especially bad news for those who think we need to "get back to the founding fathers." George Washington and Thomas Jefferson do not represent the solution -- rather, they were the very beginning of the problem. But to understand this, you must first understand them.
 The Bible vs. Secular Terminology

It may be that the greatest single hindrance to discerning the truth about these men is that they are often defined – not by a Biblical standard – but by secular thinking. It is one thing for teachers and professors in universities to have such a view, but quite another for pastors and ministers in the church. Our first responsibility is to the Word of God and the preaching of the Gospel, not to promote secular philosophies and ideas.

It is often given out that certain founders were "deists" or "theists" or some other such thing. Unfortunately, such worldly terms are very misleading and only succeed in masking the truth. It reminds me of an interview I heard with a woman who said she represented a "Pregnancy Alternative Clinic," which was really an "Abortion Clinic." The words pregnancy alternative helped to soften the blow of what she was really promoting. So it is with those who refer to the founders as "non-religious" or "free-thinkers" etc. It does not represent the Biblical point of view, which is of great concern since Jesus said:

"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48)

Ultimately, all men will be judged according to the Word of God; so our service toward mankind is to inform them of how their condition is viewed in the sight of God. Imagine a doctor telling a man that he has some "respiratory irregularity," when the truth is that he has lung cancer! Does the doctor do a service to a dying man by misleading him?

I am reminded of a popular TV show, "The Biggest Loser," about overweight people who are brought to a work out camp for weight loss. At some point, these people are made to sit down with a doctor, who often informs them that if they do not lose the necessary weight, they will die in a short time. Often, those who are given such news weep, and are shocked to hear the report. Nevertheless, it is that very shock that compels them to do something about it. A patient needs to know the dire nature of his condition so that he will be compelled to act. Where spiritual matters are concerned, we must seek the Great Physician for an examination of how the beliefs of deists and freethinkers should be viewed.

Judge Not?

Whenever discussions come up about the faith of others, some will often object and cry out that it is wrong to question. "If someone claims to believe God, or says they have faith in Christianity, we ought to take them at their word," they say. But according to the Bible, it is in no way wrong to examine the faith of those who claim to be Christians. If anything, the fault is in failing to exercise discernment. We are not expected to politely accept a confession, especially if we are given cause to doubt it. On the contrary, we are told:

"Beware of false prophets …" (Matthew 7:15)
"Take heed that no man deceive you …" (Matthew 24:4)
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God …" (1 John 4:1)

In the articles that follow, we will examine some of the beliefs of the key founding fathers, whose own words prove that these men were not Christians and had no intention of founding a Christian country. As you read the words of these men, consider how their so-called "faith" would be viewed in the sight of God. How does the Word of Life judge their testimonies? Remember this verse:

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son."
(1 John 2:22)