Almost two thousand years ago a warning came forth from the mouth of Jesus Christ and he used the example of leaven to press home his point. The Lord often used similar illustrations so that the people would understand what he was saying:

And he (Jesus) charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. (Mark 8:15)

Leaven is yeast which is able to work inside dough, causing it to rise rapidly.  When the dough is kneaded the leaven is spread to the rest of the dough, touching every part of it.  The Lord was warning his disciples about the corruption of the political system (Herod) and the corruption of the religious system (Pharisees) who had an outward form of righteousness, but did not truly want Jesus.  Leaven (yeast) can be added to a lump of dough and it will do its work without anyone even knowing it was put there.

This leaven of political and religious corruption that Jesus Christ spoke about has been at work within the “church” for a very long time now, and it is accelerating at a very rapid pace.  The “whole lump” ( 1 Corinthians 5:6) has  just about been leavened by the corrupting influence of these systems.

THE WAR IN IRAQ

When one looks at the war in Iraq, and the incredible support that came from Christian Pastors across America, you would have been hard pressed to find a Pastor who did not support the war. I remember reading an article, prior to the invasion of Iraq, about President Bush speaking to a large group of Christian leaders.  The overwhelming majority of leaders gave their heartfelt support for the invasion, with the exception of one unnamed Pastor.  He said he could not picture Jesus standing before a crowd and encouraging a nation to go forth into war.  In other words  he was saying that there was “something wrong with this picture.”

So here we are, more than four years later, with over three thousand American soldiers dead, thousands more serverely injured, and countless thousands Iraqi people dead, both insurgents and civilian alike. Millions of lives have been affected by what is taking place and yet there seems to be very little comment from the leaders in the church. There have been professional reports done to verify the high death toll of the Iraqi people, but they have been dismissed.  This is how the leaven of Herod works and it has entered the thinking of the church in a very big way.

I believe the absolute scandal of Abu Ghraib was a wake up call to those who saw it for what it was.  I personally believe that the Lord Jesus Christ allowed everybody throughout the world to have an opportunity to see what was going on behind the scenes.

Few voices were ever heard from the “Christian” community about that, simply because that leaven of corruption has worked its way deep inside the church. Where was the voice of the prophet during that scandal?  Where was the voice of the “anointed” ministers and Pastors who are supposed to be concerned with righteousness?  We entered another country based on false information and the results have been nothing less than chaotic, with millions of lives completely shattered.

Another thing that I have noticed is that the people in the “world” who are not Christians show more concern about the innocent civilians that are killed then do the Pastors in the churches in America. I can honestly say that I do not know of even ONE well known “man of God” who preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ who has ever stood up and opened his mouth against the war in Iraq. Not even one!   I have seen the placards which say “WAR IS NOT PRO LIFE” and I agree with them. We as Christians are quick to fight against abortion and I am in full agreement with that, but we do not seem to have a problem with the slaying of the innocents of war, which are simply dismissed as “collateral damage” by the media. Pastors lay hands on their young missionaries on the one hand and send them off to other countries to win souls for Christ, and then they lay hands on young men and send them off to war with the full approval of the church.

A CHRISTIAN MAN NAMED MARCELLUS

What does the bible teach about the subject of war and the duty of the Christian?  What have Christians done in the past?  This excerpt from the book ”They Loved Their Enemies, True Stories Of African Christians”, by Marian Hostetler, will give you some insight into the position of the biblical Christian.

“About thirty years after the death of Cyprian, the whole Roman Empire was celebrating the emperors birthday. In Tangier (in what is now Morocco) a certain Marcellus was not celebrating.

Now Marcellus was a centurion in the Roman army. (A centurion was an officer over 100 men) He had become a Christian, a soldier of Jesus Christ.  How could he keep his oath and serve the Roman emperor? How could he earn his living by killing others?  He therefore decided he could no longer be a soldier for the Roman emperor.

So instead of celebrating, Marcellus carried out the decision he had made.  He stood in front of his hundred men, took off his soldiers belt and the badge showing his rank, and spoke to them.  ‘I am a Christian.  I can no longer serve the emperor.’

In July of the year 289, Marcellus was brought before Fortunatus, the governor of the province. Fortunatus wanted to hush up the affair, but since Marcellus had publicly proclaimed his faith and his resolve to quit the army, he had no choice.  He had Marcellus arrested.  The last of October, Marcellus was brought to trial before Judge Agricola.  ’Are you guilty of this deed you are accused of? demanded Agricola.  ‘Yes answered Marcellus.’   ’What madness has made you break your oath as an officer and has led you to believe this Christian foolishness?’   ’It is not foolishness to fear God’  ‘But you have laid down your weapons!’  ’Yes, because it is not good for a Christian who serves Christ to serve other powers as well’ Marcellus answered.  The judge sentenced him to death by beheading.  Before leaving for his execution, Marcellus said one more thing to the judge. May God bless you Agricola’ [They Loved Their Enemies, True Stories Of African Christians by Marian Hostetler, Herald Press, 1988, pages 19-20]

I was truly struck by the contrast between the testimony of Marcellus and the testimony that comes forth from the majority of “Christian” pulpits today.  Marcellus was so totally transformed by the Spirit of God that he totally abandoned his former life as a soldier and declared “I am a Christian, I can no longer serve the emperor.”  Now that is biblical Christianity at its best. The bible tells us that we should give honor where honor is due (Romans 13:7) and I honor that man for what he did.  The judge questioned Marcellus about believing “…this Christian foolishness” but Marcellus responded “It is not foolishness to fear God.” Wow, what a heart Marcellus had, to stand against the government of his day and refuse to kill anymore. What was the end result of it all? It cost Marcellus his head.  Marcellus was simply following in the footsteps of his new master, Jesus Christ.  I am sure that Marcellus suffered much but he knew where he was going when he left this earth.  Marcellus remembered the words of his Saviour Jesus while he was dying on the cross:

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34)

I am sure that Marcellus knew that the Jesus he served  just happened to be the creator of ALL things (John 1:1-3) and he knew that Jesus would be the one who would judge him one day also:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Marcellus went from being a child of wrath (Ephesians 2:3) to a child of God (Galatians 3:26) and the fruit of that change was that he laid down his weapons. Marcellus probably knew the following verse of scripture where Jesus equated the destroying of mens lives with that of a different spirit.

But he (JESUS) turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. (Luke 9:55-56)

Now if this man Marcellus saw that it would not be Godly to continue as a soldier, then why is it that the majority of modern day Christians do not see it?  I believe that it is simply because the leaven of Herod and the leaven of the Pharisees has so permeated the church that it has become acceptable.

COULD IRAN BE NEXT?

John Hagee, the preacher from San Antonio Texas, has been pressing for an attack on Iran and he has many enthusiastic supporters, both in political and religious circles.  I spoke about this in another blog entitled THE STRONG DELUSION OF CHRISTIAN ZIONISM.  I believe that the apostle Paul’s head would have been spinning if he was listening to Hagee and others speak at the CUFI convention.  He would have heard a “Christian”preacher calling for an attack on another country. WHAT?  Perhaps this should have been called the Guns-n-Moses Convention.  If Paul was there he would have stood up and faced the audience and told every Jew and Gentile that was present that  “… except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3)  The warning about the leaven, that Jesus gave all those years ago, has been totally ignored and we are reaping the consequences in the present day church. 

As a Christian, I know that it is the Lord Jesus Christ who will judge me one day. I also know that it was the Lord Jesus Christ who spilled his blood on the cross for my wretched and sinful soul, so I take him at his word. After Jesus rose from the dead he said:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Jesus told his closest followers that ALL power has been given to him both in heaven and on earth. Now if that does not speak of authority then what does?  I call Him King Jesus because the bible calls him “… King of Kings and Lord of Lords…”(Revelation 17:14, 19:16)

Now listen to King Jesus again on the subject of war: 

 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (John 18:36-37)  

Jesus prophesied of a time when the love of many would wax (grow) cold and we  most certainly are living in those days:

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:12-14)

THE CORRUPTION OF POLITICS,
ZIONISM, AND WAR IN THE CHURCH!