Briderism Contradicts the Bible

Baptist “Brider’s” teach that one can be saved and still not be a member of “the Lord’s Church”. They teach that, in order to be a member of “the Lord’s Church”, one must be baptized in a “proper Baptist Church”.

 

By “proper Baptist Church”, they mean; neither non Baptist’s, nor infants are a part of the Lord’s Church.

 

Yet, their doctrine totally contradicts Acts 2:47

 

Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

 

Scripture does not say one must be baptized in water in order to be a part of the Lord’s Church. It gives as a prerequisite, “such as should be saved.”

 

The Best Teacher

The Best Teacher
by Ronald W Robey

I have often heard the phrase, “Experience is the best teacher”.

And for many years, I believed it.  After all, who is best qualified to instruct a person in job skills than one who is skilled at that job?  If you want to learn all about firefighting, you would not go to an English Teacher who’d never fought a fire in his life.  You would go to a fireman.  And since you want to learn all about firefighting, you would probably seek out the most experienced of firefighters you could find.

However, even professionals tend to make mistakes in their own fields  Many who make mistakes, learn from those mistakes and move on.  Many, are greatly injured or even killed because of mistakes they have made.

Many mistakes by one can greatly affect others   For instance, a great mistake in the early 19^th Century caused the deaths of more than 1500 people.  I am speaking of the tragedy that occurred with the Titanic

Many who identify as “Christian” today believe that, “Experience is the best teacher”.  They base this assumption on the fact that they have been “tithing” their monetary income for years, and they’ve always been able to pay off any and all financial obligations on time, every time.

“It has always worked for me.  I tithe; God opens the windows of Heaven,” seems to be their unified cry.  Experience, to them, is their teachers.

However, their “experience” is not the best teacher.  Nor is at a reliable teacher.

Why not? Because the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. There is a way that seems right to us, but the ends thereof are the ways of death.  We cannot trust our own hearts.

Many base experience of having a money supply as being proof that tithing money is right.  They say Malachi 3 is proven by their experience of always having money when they need it, or God sending unexpected money when they need it.  However, Malachi 3 was not speaking of a tithe of money. He was speaking of the tithe according to the Law.

Had Malachi called for monetary tithes, he would have been calling for transgression of the Law. No, my friend, Malachi was speaking of agricultural tithes in chapter three, not money.

And the blessing attached was speaking of rain from heaven to water the gardens so that food would grow. The rain would bring a harvest of fruit and vegetables so large that the barns would not be big enough to contain them all.

Malachi’s promise was not for enough money to pay bills. It was for more agricultural crops than the barns could hold. Your experience contradicts what the word of God clearly states, and that is why experience is not “the best teacher”.

One thing to consider… the enemy of our souls will often reward people for listening to and yielding to his lies.

Remember the story of Jesus and the Temptations He faced in the wilderness?  Satan told Jesus he could give Him the wealth and prosperity of the world.   Had Jesus believed satan; had He bowed to satan; there is no doubt in my mind that satan could give Him great riches and prosperity.

But Jesus knew who satan was.  He used the word of God to defeat satan.  Jesus said, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him alone shalt thou serve.”

Today, many pastor’s flash pictures of wealth and prosperity before the eyes of their flocks.  They handle the word of God deceitfully; telling the flocks, “If you tithe, God is going to bless your finances, your home, your health, and the work of your hands.  If you fail to tithe, God will allow the devourer to ruin your finances, your home, your health and the work of your hands.”

Pastors may be experienced in teaching from the Bible.  However, when they teach the monetary tithe requirement, as experienced as they may be, they err greatly.   They are going outside of their field of training; whether knowingly or unknowingly.

And their error affects others.

They have many in their congregations believing their “twist” on Malachi 3:8-12 so much that they don’t see that God’s promise was not money here and money there… it was for an abundance of agricultural crops so big that the barn could not contain it all.

Because they fail to study their Bibles, they foolishly believe the lie that they are told.  Their “experience” of a little money here and there blinds their hearts and eyes to what is actually going on.  They are not walking in truth, but in a lie.

Experience is not the best teacher… the word of God is.

 

A Warrior’s Armor

A Warrior’s Armor
by Ronald W Robey

Many pastors, in an attempt to prove that men should not dress like women, will often use Deuteronomy 22:5 as their “proof-text”.  

Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

If one looks at the Hebrew from which the English was translated, one will discover that the verse is not saying what many Pastors today want it to say.

Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

The Hebrew from which the word “man” is translated is the word גֶּבֶר geber. (pronounced gheh’-ber) It means, “a valiant man; a warrior”.

Had Moses been speaking of man in general, he would have used the word “adam”. (pronounced ah-dahm) Instead, Moses used the word for a valiant man, a warrior.

What is it that a warrior wears? He wears battle armor, correct? So the admonishment is that a woman is not supposed to put on battle armor.

But, is there further proof to substantiate this thought? I believe there is,… and I believe that proof is also found in Deuteronomy 22:5.

The word “pertaineth” is translated from the Hebrew “k@liy”. (pronounced kel-ee) The primary definition is “something prepared”. There are several secondary definitions given for the Hebrew word “k@liy”. Interestingly, one of those definitions for “k@liy” is “armour”

I believe the admonishment is for women not to put on battle armor to go to war. Likewise, the warrior is not to put on the dress of the woman in an attempt to neglect his duty as a soldier.

There are other verses that do tell us that males in general should not dress up like women. The strongest argument against men “cross-dressing” is found in the first epistle to the saints at Corinth.

1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1 Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The word “effeminate” is speaking of those men who would put on the dress of a woman. Those that do such “shall not inherit the Kingdom of God”.

 

Bewitched!

Bewitched!
by Ronald W Robey

Recently, I was told in no uncertain terms that I am guilty of witchcraft.

Why?

Because my posts on Facebook “could cause some to stop tithing their monetary income to their local church”.

The fact is, I am not the one guilty of witchcraft at all. Rather, it is the Pastor’s who teach that God’s tithe is money,… they are the ones that are guilty of witchcraft..

They have bewitched many in their congregations into believing that God requires monetary tithes, when there is no such requirement written anywhere in the pages of God’s Holy word.

There are three reasons as to why many today believe that God requires tithes of their monetary income:

1. Lack of proper study of God’s Holy word.

2. Lack of understanding what God said His holy tithe is.

3. Lack of sound doctrine from the pulpits in the religious institution they attend

The only commands that God has given in His word concerning His holy tithe are:

1. They are to be agricultural. Leviticus 27:30-33

2. They are to be observed in the Promised Land. Deuteronomy 12:1,10-11

3. They are to be given to Levites, widows, orphans and foreigners in the Promised Land every three years in a seven year cycle. Numbers 18:24-26; Deuteronomy 14:27:29; 26:12

4. The tither is also supposed to eat of a tithe with his family . Deuteronomy 14:22-26

5. If the tither is not a Levite, that tither is not to take his tithe to the House of God. Nehemiah 10:37-38

6. If the tither is not a Levite, that tither is to take his tithe to a farming community to give to a Levite. Nehemiah 10:37-38

7. A descendant of Aaron MUST BE PRESENT at the time that the tithe is given. Nehemiah 10:37-38

The above referenced verses reveal that:

a) If you are tithing money instead of agriculture, you are not obeying the word of God.

b) If you are tithing in any geographical location other than the Promised Land, you are not obeying the word of God.

c) If you are not giving your tithe to Levites, widows, orphans and foreigners in the Promised Land every three years, you are not obeying the word of God.

d) If you are not eating a tithe with your family, you are not obeying the word of God.

e) If you are not a Levite, but take your tithe to the House of God, you are not obeying the word of God.

f) If you are not taking your tithe to a farming community in the Promised Land, you are not obeying the word of God.

g) If you are giving your tithe with no descendant of Aaron present, you are not obeying the word of God.

Pastors would do well to turn from their false doctrine of a monetary tithe requirement and to begin preaching and teaching the truth as it is written in the word of God..

 

Robbery in Progress!

Robbery in Progress
by Ronald W Robey

Often, when discussing the topic of the widow’s mite, many argue that Jesus was commending the widow for her “generosity” as compared to the rich who only cast in little.

I do not believe “generosity” was a part of the picture that day. Let’s examine the account, shall we?

Just the day before, Jesus had visited the Temple and had delivered a scathing rebuke to the scribes.  Among the many charges He levied against them, He said they had made the Temple a “den of thieves”.  (Mark 11:17)

He leaves and comes back the following day, exposing more wrongs the scribes and Pharisees are guilty of.  This day, Jesus says the scribes are robbing widows houses. (Mark 12:40)

Then, he sits against a wall facing the treasury box.

It is no coincidence that a poor widow came in right after Jesus had said widow’s houses were being robbed.

What did this poor widow do?

She threw the last bit of money she had to live on into the treasury box… a box governed by people who rob widows. A box in a building that had become a den of thieves.  (if you look up the word “threw” in Mark 12:42, you wills see that the word denotes an action of disgust.  Strong’s compares it to casting away dung, saying it is down with some degree of force; doesn’t sound like the widow say “happily” giving that money into the Treasury to me)

Jesus knew that widow would be there that day. He finished His message of warning just in time for the widow to arrive.

The widow’s arrival was a demonstration to the crowd just how widows were being forced out of their homes… they were being forced to give all they had to the thieves that Jesus was warning the crowd of that day

This widow entered the den of thieves poor, and left even poorer… she was now destitute.    For this reason, I believe Jesus subsequent statement to His Disciples was not a statement commending the widow.  I believe it was a statement of disgust and pity..

Jesus’ statement that the widow gave more was not praise for what she gave. Rather, it was a statement of pity for a widow who had just been robbed; a woman who had just given everything to thieves.  It was also a statement of disgust brought one by the obvious neglect of care for widows.
She came into the Temple poor, and left the Temple destitute

The context of the story reveals that the crowd was not witnessing a widow giving with a cheerful heart,… they were watching a robbery in progress!

 

They Which Preach the Gospel

They Which Preach the Gospel
by Ronald W Robey

1 Corinthians 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

When attempting to expound on 1 Corinthians 9:14, many believe that the Apostle Paul was acknowledging the right for Pastor’s to be salaried.

But, is that really what Paul was saying?

A careful examination of 1 Corinthians 9:14 in its context reveals that Paul was speaking specifically of Apostles, not Pastors.

There is a reason for this. Apostles are not stationary, as Pastors are. Apostles travel around in the world, taking the Gospel to the lost.

The message of 1 Corinthians 9 is, because of their mission trips, they have a right to being fed and housed by those they are ministering to. The Apostle’s post-crucifixion journeys were no different than those of the Disciple’s pre-crucifixion journeys.

Jesus sent out Disciples in Luke 10:1-12, telling them not to take money for their journey. (which is in contrast to the missionary deputation drives we see in our churches today) He told them to accept food and lodging from those they ministered to.

Paul’s defense in 1 Corinthians 9 was for the Apostle’s right to food and lodging to those they ministered to. Apostle’s were separated from the local Church and sent out into the world to preach the Gospel to the lost. (see Acts 13:2)

Elders (Pastors) of the Church were not supposed to accept payment for their preaching. Acts 20:33-35 tells us that the Elders were encouraged to follow Paul’s example; working a job in order to support themselves and the weak.

Elsewhere, Paul stated that, “If any will not work, he should not eat.”

The preaching of the Gospel should be done by those who have been called out of the local assembly to go out into the world to the lost. Those in the local church should have already heard the Gospel and responded to the Gospel call. Once saved, they have no need to be told they have to be saved. They’re already past that.

They need to be fed the milk of the word that they might grow.

The Pastor’s responsibility is to feed the flock/church of God. (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2) The Missionary’s responsibility is to preach the Gospel to the lost, (Acts 20:28) that they might hear, respond, and subsequently become members of a local church

 

Nor Thieves, Nor Extortioners Shall Enter