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Is Exclusivity “An Unpardonable Sin”?
Sects = Heresy!
Chapter 35, Part 2 Preview: Here is continuing unmistakable Biblical proof that simply belonging to a “sect” is quite literally “heresy”! Yeshua’s (Jesus’) harshest words were undeniably those directed toward the most obsessive religious ideology of His generation—exclusivist sects. Why does sectarian “doctrine” so often make people arrogant? Why are there so many sectarian “ministries”? And what is more important—stroking the egos of a hierarchy or the acquisition of their wealth and power? Yeshua charged that these “hypocrites” greatly love public praise but have absolutely no concern for the spiritual well being of anyone!
Yeshua “defined” “the leaven of the Pharisees” as hypocrisy and sectarian (heretical) doctrine. Of course Paul later made a symbolic distinction between “old leaven” and other leaven representing “wickedness”. Still, we should not overlook the fact that Yeshua only singled out the two sins having to do with what a person says as being particularly noteworthy.
Luke 12:1 Meanwhile, large crowds had gathered by the tens of thousands and they were trampling on each other. Yeshua (Jesus) told His disciples, “First of all, watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees, they are con men.—The Gabriel Bible
Beware “the doctrine of the” popular sects!
Matthew 16:6-7,11-12 He told them, “Become acquainted with and be aware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!” 7 They began to discuss this among themselves, concluding, “He said that because we didn’t bring any bread.”... 11 Why don’t you understand that I wasn’t talking about bread? Be aware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!” 12 Then they understood that He wasn’t warning them to be aware of the leaven in the bread, but to be aware of the doctrinal teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Yeshua told these puffed up airheads that it was their “fruits”—that is, their interpersonal behavior that mattered to Elohim (God), rather than their heredity or race.
Matthew 3:7-9 But when He saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be immersed, He told them, “Offspring of vipers, who warned you to escape from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit that’s consistent with a changed mind. 9 Don’t think you can say, ‘Abraham is our ancestor’, because I tell you that Yehovah is able to raise up descendants of Abraham from these stones.
Purge out malicious wicked theology and replace it with “purity and dedication”!
1 Corinthians 5:6-8 Your bragging isn’t good. Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Clean out your old leaven so that you can be a new batch of dough, as you are unleavened. The Messiah, our Passover, was offered in our place. 8 So let’s celebrate the Feast, not with the old leaven or with the leaven of wickedness and bitterness, but with the unleavened bread of purity and dedication.
(It should not go unnoticed that Paul said to celebrate “the feast” of Unleavened Bread.)
Colossians 2:18–23 Don’t let anyone’s desire to degrade your mind subject you to bondage, so that you subject yourselves to the religious practices of 'angels', while they elaborate about gods that they haven’t really seen, being arrogantly inflated in their carnal thoughts, 19 rather than holding onto the Head, the One who frames and constructs the whole body with joints and ligaments, and grows as Yehovah causes it to grow.
20 If you’ve died with the Messiah to the predominant false teachings of the world, then why are you submitting to its rules as if you were still living in the world? 21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!” 22 All of these abusive 'notions' will perish. They are the commandments and doctrines of men. 23 These bogus 'notions' appear to reflect humility and deep respect for Yehovah, but it is ascetic severity, and nothing of any real value against carnal indulgences.
Yeshua said that righteousness is a prerequisite for entering the Kingdom of Elohim! Righteousness is the positive sum of our words and deeds and thoughts.
Micah 6:8 People, He has shown you what is good. What does Yehovah require of you but to act justly, to love loyalty, and to live your life humbly with your Elohim?
Most ministers convince people that they need the blessings of “the true church” to enter Yehovah’s Kingdom. People are led to believe that they cannot attain salvation without theocratic assistance. Yet the Bible says:
Philipptians 2:12 So friends, as you have always listened to and obeyed Yehovah, not only when I was near you, but now that I am far from you—continue in the necessary work to make sure of your own eternal lives, with fear and trembling,
People believe that they must be dependent on supposed “ministers” to make their life decisions rather than to learn Yehovah’s principles so that they can mature. If a parent to child relationship is expected by a “minister” then realize that you really have a “master”. You should expect to be in charge of your own life. A true “minister” is your servant—not the other way around!
Matthew 20:25-27 Yeshua called them and told them, “You know that the rulers of other nations are tyrants and their great men have authority over them. 26 It WON’T BE THAT WAY WITH YOU, because whoever wants to become great among you will be your steward [Gr. diakonos], 27 and whoever wants to be foremost among you must be your servant,
If you have a master other than Yeshua...
Many church groups try to complicate the simplicity of Yeshua’s salvation so that people put their trust in a “minister” rather than in Yehovah Himself. I know of a fine young man who at 23 years of age was “commanded” not to date a very charming young woman because they both came from broken families! In essence the sins of the fathers were being blamed on the children. Both families attend the same corporate church. There are many far worse examples that could be cited, but this one was “close to home”. The young man quite remorsefully broke off the relationship for several months before someone he respected greatly in the congregation mustered up the courage to explain to him that that “minister” had greatly overstepped his bounds and had become his master, rather than a “servant” or “slave”.
Symptoms of “ministers” trying to become your “masters” usually present themselves in the very names that they would have you call them!
They want to be called “Reverend”, yet that is Elohim’s title!
Psalm 111:9 He has 'paid' the ransom for His people. He has guaranteed His covenant forever. His name is 'special', and wonderful!
Or they want to be called by a title that Yehovah reserved for Himself and your true parent:
Matthew 23:9 Don’t call yourselves Father on earth, because there is only One spiritual Father—the Heavenly One.
Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days will be prolonged in the land that Yehovah your Elohim is giving you.
Or they insist that you use the very word from which “master” is derived from: “Mister” so and so.
Why not forget about revering men and simply become a “Saint” or a Disciple, by keeping Yehovah’s Ten Commandments?
Revelation 14:12 'This calls for' patient endurance by the 'chosen ones', who preserve [obey, guard] the Commandments of Yehovah AND the faith of Yeshua.
Yes, you can learn from others, but be certain that that person is not trying to replace Yehovah!
Fools in Hell?
If you indicate to someone, directly or otherwise, that they would be a fool (or any equivalent term) not to join your “church”—aren’t you “in danger of hell fire”?
Matthew 5:20–22 I assure you that unless your righteousness greatly surpasses the Torah teachers and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of the Heavens. 21 You’ve heard that the ancients were told, ‘Dont murder, and whoever murders is subject to the tribunal.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is rashly angry with an acquaintance is subject to the tribunal, and anyone who says to an acquaintance, ‘I spit on you’ is subject to the tribunal, and anyone who says, ‘You are a coward’ is subject to Gehenna fire!
The Church of Your Choice
By “simply” joining “the Church of your choice” you are essentially agreeing to be an exclusivist! You are asserting that the Assembly of the 'chosen ones' (saints) (if indeed they are) that you have chosen to fellowship with are distinctly better than other 'chosen ones', whether by differences in teachings or form of Church government or some other criteria. Why should we formalize and venerate divisiveness?
However, let me say right now that I am not opposed to someone fellowshipping with people in a sectarian group, so long as they don’t pretend that they believe that that group is all there is of “the true church” or “the best church”, or the “Philadelphian church” etc. A friend said: “True Philadelphians don’t go around calling themselves Philadelphians”!
You might be the best medicine for some few of them. Chances are tho, that they will eventually exclude you, at least to an extent, for not being exclusivist yourself!
Yeshua only built one Assembly! It is not incorporated or patented or found in exclusivist clusters.
Matthew 16:18 Also, I tell you that you are Cephas, and it is on this rock that I’ll rebuild My assembly, and the gates of sheol won’t triumph over it.
So when the Bible mentions “the Church of God”, (Assembly of Aloha), is it in reference to any existing humanly run organization? Actually, the Greek word “ecclesia”, poorly translated as “church”, simply means any group of people—even a mob is an “ecclesia”. Only when ecclesia is associated with the words “of God” (of (Elohim)) does “church” have any significance! So the “group of people of God” simply refers to anyone, anywhere, and at any time who is among those whom Yehovah has given His special spirit. To deny true workings of the special spirit in another commandment keeper who doesn’t happen to fellowship with you is BLASPHEMY against the special spirit!
Many do reluctantly “acknowledge” that there are some “second class” believers in some of the “other groups”. To deny that would greatly discourage their “sheep” (i.e. maybe affecting their income) who have relatives in those groups. So when someone says, in essence, “My special spirit is better than your special spirit”, that person’s attitude is of Satan. Even Simon the Sorcerer acknowledged that he did not have that kind of spirit!
Acts 8:18-20 When Simon saw that the 'special' spirit was given when the envoys laid a hand on someone, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me this ability so that whoever I lay my hand on will receive the 'special' spirit.” 20 Simon Cephas told him, “Your silver will perish with you, because you thought that the gift of Yehovah could be purchased with worldly goods!”
Divisions and Factions
The following verse has been used as a club by corporate groups to force their members to believe only what they teach. We were informed while Paul still walked the earth to anticipate “divisions” among “the brethren” so that those who are “approved” by Yehovah could be recognized as different. The only way that we could possibly “all speak the same thing” is if we speak the things that Yeshua spoke!
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. —KJV
All speaking the same thing is a sign of brainwashing. The Aramaic that I have rendered of the Word (miltha) is far more complex, and much more meaningful and different than the Greek translation, but it isn’t about speaking anything.
1 Corinthians 1:10 I implore you friends, in our Sovereign Yeshua Messiah’s name to all have one doctrine, so that there are no schisms [Gr. schisma] among you, but that you’ll become perfectly of one mind, and of one way of thinking.
Rather than view religious disagreements as a curse, we must learn to realize that they are a part of our spiritual boot camp, and that the end result can be quite good. If our faith won’t stand up to testing among people who are at least pretending to be Commandment keepers, how will it survive confrontations with those who openly despise Yehovah and righteousness? Unless someone is blatantly breaking the Commandments of Yehovah, there is no Biblical instruction to try to ostracize that person for having differing viewpoints.
James 1:3 ...knowing that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
Romans 8:28 We know that He brings everything into synergy [Gr. sunergeo], resulting in good for those who love Yehovah, those who were predestined to be invited [5].
[5] As in Matthew 22:14, “Many guests are invited [Gr. kletos], but few have chosen to participate.”
Paul cautioned us not to choose personal champions as “intercessors” between Yeshua and ourselves. He specifically told us not to “choose up sides”. That is what “no divisions” means in this context.
Men “weed out” of “their” congregations people who try to challenge the thinking on even the smallest of details passed down to the peons from the spiritually “elect”. This type of exclusivity is what Yeshua was describing in the following parable.
Matthew 13:24–30 He presented another parable to them, “The Kingdom of the Heavens can be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 While everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed tares in the wheat field, and then left. 26 As the grain began to mature the tares became noticeable. 27 The householder’s servants came and asked him, ‘Sovereign, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these tares come from.’ 28 He told them, ‘An enemy did this.’ The servants asked him, ‘Should we go and pull them out?’”
29 He replied, ‘No, because if you pull out the tares, you’ll also uproot the wheat. 30 They must both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I’ll tell the harvesters to gather the tares out first, and tie them in bundles to be burned, and then bring the wheat into my granary.’
This parable indicates that the good and the wicked are all mixed together—side by side, as is explained in the next few verses:
Matthew 13:37-40 He told them, “The One who sowed good seed is the Human Son. 38 The field is the world. The good seeds are the people of the Kingdom, but the tares are the people who belong to the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is Satan. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are the spirit messengers. 40 Just as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.
Who are we to decide on who can or should be the members of the Assembly that Yeshua built? Should you allow your name to be registered as a member of some “denomination” (literally “to name”), religious persuasion, faith, affiliation, faction, party, persuasion, cult or schism—or should your name simply be registered in heaven?
Hebrews 12:22-23 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living Aloha, to the Jerusalem that’s in the Heavenly realm, to the assembly of tens of thousands of spirit messengers, 23 and to the festival assembly of the firstborn ones whose names are recorded in Heaven, and to Yehovah, the Judge of everyone, and to the spirits of the righteous who are perfected,
Casting out Demons
When a religious leader casts out demons or heals the sick, is that necessarily an indication that Yehovah is backing that individual, or might Yehovah be blessing a poor person despite their not seeing the hypocrisy of “their guy”? Notice in the next quote that Yeshua did not deny that unconverted men had actually performed miracles in His name. That would have been an issue had it not been true!
Matthew 7:21–23 Not just anyone who says to Me, “Sovereign, Sovereign”, will enter the Kingdom of the Heavens, but only those who actually do the will of My Father in the Heavens. 22 Many will say to Me on 'Judgment' Day, “Sovereign, Sovereign, didn’t we prophesy in Your name and in Your name cast out demons, and perform many miracles in Your name?” 23 Then I’ll tell them publicly [see root words 3674 and 3056], “I never knew you. Get away from Me you Torah breakers” [2].
[2] The Greek nomos almost always means Torah in the Testimony of Yeshua, while anomos means without Torah.
Were not even Pharisees successful in casting out demons at times?
Matthew 12:27 If I cast out demons with the help of Beelzebub, then who helps your young men cast them out? So they’ll be your judges.
A question that naturally arises is: Do these exclusivist organizations merely attract conceited people or do they cultivate Satanic attitudes? While we can’t rule out that some begin their religious experience with a full complement of hypocrisy; we have Yeshua’s proclamation that these groups are capable of making their “proselytes” into hellions!
Matthew 23:13–15 I pity you Torah teachers, because you block the entrance to the Kingdom of the Heavens right in front of people. You aren’t coming in yourselves and you prevent those who are beginning to come in from entering [3]. 14 I pity you Torah teachers, Pharisees and pretenders, because you devour widows houses under the pretext of long prayers. This is why you’ll receive greater condemnation. 15 I pity you Torah teachers, Pharisees and pretenders because you traverse land sea to make a single convert to Judaism, and when they become one, you make them twice the son of Gehenna as yourselves.
Of all of the bad motivations that drove the Pharisees—their loyalty to the “corporation”—is one of the most revealing. They actually taught doing the things of Yehovah. I’d recommend reading all of Matthew 23 thru with today in mind, otherwise it will be of little value.
Paul also condemned the hypocrisy of the religious people of his generation. The fact that these people had not recognized that Yeshua had been among them was nearly irrelevant because their hypocrisy had already condemned them:
Romans 2:17-24 But if you call yourselves Jews, and rely on the Torah, and boast about belonging to Yehovah, 18 because you know what He wants, and discern the distinctions between good and evil because you have heard the instructions of the Torah, 19 and you are convinced that you can guide the blind and be a light for those who are in spiritual darkness, 20 and teach the ignorant, and teach the young, and appear to be knowledgeable of and objective about the Torah— 21 then as you teach others, you 'fail to' teach yourselves? You publicly proclaim that people must not steal, yet you steal? 22 You say, “People must not commit adultery”, yet you commit adultery? And you abhor the stench of idols, yet you plunder their churches [3]? 23 You who are exuberant about the Torah, does your violating the Torah insult Yehovah Himself? 24 Yehovah’s name is blasphemed by every ethnicity because of you, just as it is written!
[3] The Greek word “Hierosuleo” is translated as “to rob a temple.” Yet the root word, “hierosulos” is accurately translated as “robber of the churches.” This is in agreement with William Tyndale’s use of the word “church”—a word that he only used in reference to a pagan temple!
Any sin that gets you thrown into the lake of fire would be an unpardonable sin. Of the “seven deadly sins”, how many of them could be applied to the heresy of exclusivity? “Haughty eyes” [arrogant facial expressions] would certainly apply to exclusivity. If you attend a feast and people become quite aloof once they discover that you are “independent” then the “haughty eyes” seems to be a direct application. The middle seven can apply but the seventh deadly sin is a bulls eye: “he who sows discord among brothers”. Who is really sowing discord when a Commandment keeping Saint is shunned by a church?
Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things that Yehovah hates, seven things are an abomination Him: 17 arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a mind that plots wicked schemes, feet that swiftly run toward evil, 19 a lying witness who gives false testimony and a person who spreads discord among family members.
(Note that the Hebrew word translated as “discord” above means “strife” or “contention”, the first step toward sectarianism, division or hatred.)
Blasphemy against the spirit is when the works of Yehovah are condemned as evil. Whenever a righteous person is condemned solely for righteousness sake—how could that not be blasphemy?
Matthew 12:31-33 This is why I can say that any sin and blasphemy [Gr. blasphemia] of humanity will be removed, except for blasphemy against the spirit. People can’t have that removed. 32 Whoever says anything against the Human Son will have that removed, but whoever says anything against the 'Father’s spirit' can’t have that removed, either in this world or in the coming world. 33 Either produce [2] a good tree with good fruit, or produce a poor quality tree with poor quality fruit, because a tree becomes known by its fruit.
[2] This distinction is comparable to the wild olive vs the garden variety in Romans 11:23-24. Quality fruit trees are produced by grafting.
Chapter 36 is The Origin of Heresy
