THE MODERN CHURCH IS CONSTANTINES GIFT

Despite severe battering, the early Ekklesia capped a spectacular performance for 300 years without church buildings, clergy, musical instruments, weekly services, Christmas, Easter, Good Friday or regular tithing. Emperor Constantine of Rome, a hybrid Christian, who also venerated the sun god, introduced most of these extra-biblical traditions, giving birth to a completely illegitimate church.

HOW DID WEEKLY WORSHIP START?

After the first cathedral was built in Rome in 322, Sunday was declared a day of worship. People used to get drunk on Saturday night anyway, so everyone thought it was a good idea. Unfortunately, the six other days, when the believers used to meet in each other’s homes were lost. Meanwhile, the heathen continued to worship every day of the week. Each day was dedicated to different gods - Monday was dedicated to the moon, Tuesday to “Tiu,” Wednesday was dedicated to Woden, Thursday was given to Thor, Friday to Frigg and Saturn was worshipped on Saturday. In India, various planetary gods are worshipped on these days. The introduction of Sunday worship destroyed the reproductive DNA of the NT Ekklesia which met in homes and multiplied every day. 

CHRISTMAS AND EASTER ORIGINATED FROM FRENZY AND ORGY

Three billion people i.e. half the population of the world, worship female goddesses. One billion Catholics venerate Mary as the mother of God and the Queen of heaven. One billion Hindus worship Mahakali (black goddess with a big tongue and a necklace of skulls). In Babylon, Ashtoreth or Ishtar was worshipped widely as the Queen of Heaven, by the Diaspora Jews and hated by God (Judges 10:6; Jer. 7:18; 44:17, 21). Notwithstanding God’s judgment, Christians continue to celebrate Easter, instituted in memory of Ishtar, the queen of heaven. Even Good Friday is not good, because the Lord was crucified on Thursday not Friday, otherwise He could not complete Jonah’s mandatory sign of three days and three nights in the grave (Matt. 12:40). 

Jewish feasts were called “Special or High Sabbaths” when all customary work was prohibited (Lev. 23:3-8, 38). That week, apart from the regular Saturday Sabbath, there was the “Special Sabbath” of Passover on Thursday evening and ending on Friday evening. Yeshua was crucified exactly at the time when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed in the evening in the Temple. Hence Yeshua could not be crucified on Friday because he was already crucified on the “Day of Preparation” for the Passover, which was Thursday (Luke 23:54). 

Saturnalia, a carnival with unrestrained license, was celebrated for the Roman god Saturn, which was changed to Christmas to celebrate the imaginary date of the birth of Messiah. Eating, drinking and carousing still goes on but the humble carpenter who was born in a sheep pen, is conveniently forgotten. There are many theories about the birth of Yeshua. Some believe that he was born during Christmas, while others believe that he was born during the Feast of Tabernacle to fulfil God’s promise to “tabernacle” with humans, yet others believe that he was born on during Passover and died during Passover, as a year-old Lamb.

WHY DO PEOPLE WEAR GOOD CLOTHES TO CHURCH?

Yeshua was worshiped for the first time in a sheep pen. The congregation consisted of worshipful company of mooing cows, bleating sheep, donkeys making a charismatic din and bedraggled shepherds dressed in coarse clothes joining the angelic choir. Later, the believers gathered in the homes wearing ordinary clothes. However, after the building of the cathedrals, they began to copy the dress code of the Roman officials and the landlords of Europe. 

This tradition of “weekly best” continues even today. Of course, the necktie is a great help, because it effectively strangulates the blood supply to the brain, transporting the soporific Churchians for a weekly visit to slumberland, the heavenly abode of Somnus, the Roman god of sleep. This protects the gullible from the noxious effects of the monologue bellowed out from the pulpit. To ‘worship in truth and in spirit’ we must go to the earthly abode of a Gentile man of peace (Mal.1:11).

HEATHENS DONATE THE PULPIT AND THE LONG ROBES

In the heathen temples of Greece and Rome, the priests wore long white robes. Under the influence of evil spirits, they used to go into a trance, climb up the Greek “Ambo” or the Roman “Pulpitum” to proclaim oracles. During the reign of Constantine, large scale conversions took place and these heathen priests joined the church, with their religious regalia and the pulpitum. Yeshua or his disciples did not wear any religious clothes, nor did they need a pulpit. He simply sat on a rock, out in the open to deliver His famous “Sermon on the Mount” (Matt. 5:1). The fancy clerical apparel divides God’s people (Jam. 2:2-9). The only clothing prescribed in the NT, is repenting in sackcloth (Matt.11:21). We need to get out of the holy huddle of trendy fashion paradors and reach ragamuffins who need to meet the Bride clad in pure white linen. “Beware of the long robes” (Luke 24: 49; 20:46).

MARTIN LUTHER SHIFTS THE PULPIT TO CENTER STAGE

The NT Ekklesia did not need a pulpit because there were no sermons. It was a family gathering where everyone participated (1 Cor. 14:26). Later, an altar was established in the center of the building. It was a sacred place as the bread and wine were kept on it. It had mysterious and cultic significance as holy relics were also kept on it. In pursuit of his “sola scriptura” or Scripture as the sole basis for reformation, Martin Luther brought the pulpit to the center of the hall and had it raised high so that everybody had to look up to the speaker. He wrongly equated sermons with the Scripture. These unscriptural pulpit sermons gave spondylosis (pain in the neck), which was good business for the osteopaths but bad for growth and maturity of the members.

In the NT, people sat facing each other and maintained eye contact during interaction. Our Lord did not need a pulpit but used the simple facilities available in the homes of the people (Luke 10:3842; Mark 3:34). The word pulpit does not exist in the NT. Yeshua hates the Nicolas’ system that divides God’s people (Rev. 2:6). There is no place for pulpit performers in the Ekklesia of Yeshua. Pulpit also refers to a wooden beam projecting out from the side of a boat, where the fisherman sits to pull the net full of fish. If you must use a pulpit, then please use it for catching fresh two legged fish.

CONSTANTINE WAS THE FOUNDING FATHER OF FUNDING FATHERS

When Constantine started giving financial support to the churches, many heathen priests declared themselves Christians without any real conversion. This resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of nominal Christians from 4 percent to 84 percent in the 4th century, in the Roman empire. Constantine was also the original father of “rice Christians” who become Christians for worldly benefits. Nominalism is a phenomenon of institutionalized churches. In a small Ekklesia, there is constant mutual accountability. Any unbeliever either becomes a believer or quits. Peter and other founding fathers of the NT Ekklesia delegated the responsibility of management to the local Greeks and devoted quality time to ministry (Acts 6:2-4). Sadly, many of our functionaries have little time for ministry because they are constantly chasing funding fathers.

SUNDAY SERMONS COME FROM A HEATHEN

A Greek scholar named Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) wrote a book called “Rhetoric” about giving a good speech (rhetoric). He taught that there should be three main parts: Introduction, the main Theme and a good short Summary. This is to be presented in a dramatic way. Today seminaries teach homiletics, hermeneutics, sermonic, oratory etc. Some even teach “humoroletics” or jokes to keep them from falling asleep from sheer boredom. All these have no Biblical basis, but taught by Aristotle, a heathen, homosexual philosopher. Socrates (470-399 B.C.), another Greek philosopher, believed that truth is found by extensive dialoguing. He called it “dialectic”. Unfortunately, the church opted for rhetoric and shunned Socratic dialogue. Yeshua dialogued extensively in His daily ministry. He was pelted with questions all day long and He handled them deftly. It is still the best method for convincing, convicting and converting doubters. However, we are not called to make converts but disciples. Under pressure, converts may revert back but the disciples will carry their cross onwards.

ACTION PACKED EKKLESIA, NOT JUST HOLLOW ORATORY

Yeshua and His disciples, were not orators (Acts 4:13; 2 Cor. 10:9-10). They healed the sick, delivered the demonized, raised the dead, proclaimed the gospel, made disciples and changed the world. “For the gospel did not come to you in word only but also in power…” However, Paul does not give the highest place to the gift of miracles, amongst the gifts of the Spirit. His strategy was not resource-centered or program-based but people-centered. He was not pandering power ministry but salvation and abundant life. The greatest miracle is not healing or deliverance but transformed lives (1 Thess. 1:5; 1 Cor. 1:17-25; 2:4-5; Acts 17:32-33). It matters little how many that come to your church, rather it is that how many lives that are transformed – lives that change lives that matters.

CROSS OR A DOUBLE CROSS

The Cross was not the symbol of the Ekklesia, but the Menorah whose light and life symbolized the Ekklesia (Rev. 1:20; John 1:4). The word “cross” and “crucify” are not to be found in the original Greek NT. The Greek word “stauros” is consistently translated “cross” from the Latin Vulgate “crux”. The primary meaning in both the languages, is a pole or a stake. Some believe that Yeshua was hung on a pole with His hands nailed above His head. The modern cross came into prominence through Constantine, who saw the vision of cross superimposed on the sun (the solar cross), which led to his victory over Maxentius of Rome in AD 312. He engraved the sign of the cross on the helmets, belts and even sword handles of his soldiers, overnight making the cross a symbol of war instead of peace.

After this, people started wearing crosses on their bodies, clothes, belts and helmets. Even though Constantine professed to be a Christian, he was not of the regenerate but of the hybrid variety, who venerated the sun. Tau or “t” was a symbol of Tammuz, the sun god, hated by God (Ezek.8:13- 16). When pagan priests joined the church, they brought their religious symbol “t” with them.

It is immaterial whether Yeshua died on a single or a double beamed pole, His death and resurrection are central in our belief. God did not provide multiple solutions to our multitudinous problems but only one all-sufficient perfect sacrifice, “For by one sacrifice, Yeshua has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Heb. 10:14). The entire message of the gospel is summed up in “Stauros”, a symbol of shame and humiliation, which Yeshua suffered publicly. We are exhorted to “take up our stauros daily and follow Him” (Matt. 16:24). We have minimized it to a trinket, or an iconic object of veneration. The hucksters and profiteers have commercialized the cross. Hybrid Christians go around with ornate gold or silver crucifixes hanging from their necks, to show off their hackneyed religiosity, but will not move out of their comfort zones to suffer shame for His sake (Heb. 13:13).

THE SITUATION THEN AND NOW

The world is no more sinful now than it was, though the quantum might have gone up due to population explosion (Gen. 6:5; 19:1-30). Idolatry was rampant with huge temples dedicated to gods, where millions throng even today. Occult practitioners could be found on every street, just as it is today (Acts 19:13-17). Prostitution, LGBT were as common then as they are now (Rom. 1:23-27). Once celibacy was introduced, sexual abuse, pedophilia and alcoholism became rampant in the church and continue to be a curse today. Gay rallies are openly held like Sodom (Gen. 19:1- 30). Legal judgments were loaded against Christians, as is increasingly happening today. Violence against Christians, both by the government and the citizens, was rife in the Greco-Roman world. Today, it has reached alarming proportions in many countries.

LAND DEFILED BY BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION

Felix, the governor, expected a bribe before releasing Paul (Acts 24:26). The priests robbed the people by selling indulgences. Every year, church leaders pilfer ten billion dollars in the US alone. The Indian church is the largest private landowner with prime property in all the cities. Scams, scandals, and kickbacks, in the church are part of the daily news. The land is defiled by all these sins and vomits out its people as migrants. We need to repent and break the curses; lest millions remain Kingdom outcastes (Gen. 3:17-19; 4:10-12; Hos. 4:3; Lev. 18:22-30).

NARCISSISM AND TUNNEL VISION

In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a very handsome eligible young man with many beautiful goddesses crazy for him. One day he knelt down to drink water from a pool, fell in love with his own image, pined away and died of starvation. The Bride of Messiah is the most beautiful woman in the world with no spots or wrinkles (Eph. 5:26-27). Sadly, TV, Radio evangelists and convention speakers, like Narcissus, are abnormally infatuated with their own images and will not share the limelight with others. The only difference is that the modern-day Narcissus does not die of starvation but of overeating.

Sadly, most Christians are spectators with little impact on the lost. Some leaders believe in “only conversation no conversion”. Most Christians suffer from tunnel vision and cannot see the multitudes of lost Gentiles on the road to hell. God’s vision is global, for all nations. Corona virus has saved the Ekklesia by getting believers out of their weekly, holy huddles in their gospel ghettos. Today, the internet is exploding with gospel messages. However, the pastors are still preaching to the converted while the mature ones are reaching their friends and colleagues of other faiths and discretely engaging them on faith issues. We need to partner with our Lord and hasten the day of His coming by reaching the lost (Col. 1:26-28; 2 Pet. 3:9, 12; Rev. 5:9-10).

GEMS:

• Our Lord continually violated the man-made traditions of the Jews, even seemingly harmless ones like the ritual washing of hands, setting an example for you to violate all manmade traditions and rituals of your church that hinder Kingdom multiplication (Luke 11:38; Matt. 15:2,3).
• The NT Ekklesia is sometimes referred to as the “primitive church” as if the modern church is an evolved and an improved creature.
• It is the traditional church is the strange extrabiblical dinosaur with one big mouth and many deaf ears that is ready for extinction.
• Constructing the church building and appointing professional priests, forever destroyed the relational fabric of the Ekklesia. It recreates the stone Temple and its priesthood thus nullifying the sacrifice of Yeshua who died on the cross to remove the middle wall of separation so that everyone can have direct access to God without the services of a priest.
• Instead of worshiping, prophesying, dialoguing, loving, admonishing, edifying each other, sharing meals together and pulsating with organic life, the church is organized to boredom and reduced to a gathering of hearers of the word but not doers.
• Based on accumulated evidence, the institutional church stands convicted of manslaughter of billions of lost people by depriving them of salvation by not equipping pew sitters to engage with them.
• Yeshua was not born in a holy place, nor was He a priest to a holy people in a holy place, rather he went out and searched for sin-sick lost people and ministered to them wherever they were.
• Yeshua was not buried in a church cemetery but hanged on a cross outside the city.
• Yeshua did not proclaim from the Holy of Holies in Jerusalem but from Caesarea, an idolatrous city, “I will build my Ekklesia (Matt. 16:13-18).
• Yeshua did not come to give placebo sermons to sedate the righteous, but to call the sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32).
• Yeshua has not chosen you to be a Sunday worshipper but to be a daily disciple-maker. (Matt. 9:23)
• Religion is what you do on Sundays at the church. Worship is what you do during the week to advance the Kingdom.
• Some are sentimental about going to their church because they found salvation, fellowship and friendship there. Yes, but they also went to school and got their education, fellowship and friendship but did not stay there, instead used whatever they got there to advance their carrier. Similarly, whatever you got from your church; you must use it to advance the Kingdom, lest your going to the church prove worthless. 
• There is an idea percolating that the Church needs a great reset – no need of priests, pastors and bishops because they immobilize her and make her barren, rather she needs movers, shakers, disciplers, mentors, and movement catalyzers that leapfrog her into the Kingdom.

Copyright © 2023 Dr. Victor Choudhrie

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