Homily at Saint Paul's

I was ordained as a Southern Baptist Minister in the early eighties. I spent many years in various staff positions in various denominations and independent churches. I was known as the golden child, the orator, the talent, my Dad's son and his greatest hope to fill his pastoral shoes. I could speak impromptu with limited notes and could move a crowd by the power of my appeal. I gladly and arrogantly accepted my anointed role as a chosen spokesman for God. "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." 

On April 21st, 2007, I stood in the pulpit of Saint Paul's Mission as an Orthodox layman. I have never been more fulfilled. Notice the position of the pulpit in the photo. The speaker is not the center of the work of the people (liturgy). The altar of Christ is the center. We must decrease and He must increase. Saint Paul's is one of several former Charismatic Episcopal Churches now on its way to the Antiochian Orthodox Church, its members having been received as catechumens. Being a former member of Saint Paul's, I was asked by Father Denny Roland, priest of Saint Paul's, to speak the homily. I read from a prepared text, no longer dependent on my abilities to move anyone and fearful of the real presence of Christ at the Altar. My purpose and the request of Father Denny was to tell my story and encourage his people who are in transition to the One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Here is the text of my message to the church in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is a combination of several BLOG articles as it specifically relates to the people of Saint Paul's.

Text of Homily:

"Father Denny once told me he thought he might be a contented man just to live in the hills and raise chickens. He said he was "the most unlikely of men to serve as a priest". I have always lovingly referred to him as a "sawed-off hobbit of a priest". His short stature and robust build, his burly beard and personable demeanor, his cultural speech interlaced with an occasional "I seen it" and "I done it", causes some, at first glance, to miss the powerhouse of a man he is. But, I have discovered that his power doesn't come from his keen mind, or his uncanny literary retention, from his masterful ability as a wordsmith or his relentless pursuit of truth and holiness, but, it comes from his unwavering heart of servanthood. The very pews you sit on were painstakingly assembled, sanded and stained by his hands. Several of us in this room have labored with him but we always found it hard to match his pace. The roof on the parsonage, the whole of the rectory, the paint on the walls, he has labored to build up, repair and restore to health. This is a physical demonstration of how he labors for the souls of men, women and children, how he labors for your souls. Christ said the servant is the greatest of all. 

That being true, I deem it an honor to have served at this very altar with one such as him. I exhort you to realize, at this time in your life and in the life of the Church, it is God who has ordained that you should be under the care and pastorate of this priest. Honor him. Pray for him. Give financially and see the hand of the Lord in your midst.

Father Denny celebrated his 10th year in the Charismatic Episcopal Church July 1, 2006. On that day, at his own request, he was released from his Holy Orders as a priest in the CEC to pursue Holy Orders with the Antiochian Orthodox Church. Little did I know or even dream possible that when we, about two years ago, asked him to release us from his pastorate in the CEC Church so that we might become Orthodox, he too would soon step over into the One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church which is the Orthodox Church.

I am humbled and amazed at the work of God in the life of Father Denny and to see what God is doing in the life of this Church. I am especially thrilled that the Bishop of the Orthodox Diocese in which we serve, Father Antoun, is getting to know Father Denzil Roland as I have known him. The Church has been blessed this year by his entrance into the undivided faith of our fathers. I long for the day when I attend Father Denny's Chrismation service and am able to utter the words, "Welcome home Father. You have reached the destination and now the real Journey To Orthodoxy begins." Father, I am honored that you count me worthy to stand here today. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have Mercy on me a sinner.

On April 12th, 2006 I celebrated my 50th birthday. Several of my closest friends were able to make their way to Tennessee to join me personally while several others called or sent greetings and congratulations. It was a wonderful time of hope and gratefulness for the preceding years. Much was put into perspective… 

Ten days later on April 22, 2006, Holy Saturday, I was chrismated into the Eastern Orthodox Church. Here are three common questions:

"So what's a good former Southern Baptist boy doing in a place this? 

And after 50 years of life shouldn't you know better?

...by the way what is the Eastern Orthodox Church?" 

I have yet to meet one person in casual conversation who knows what the Orthodox Church is. I always give this 60 second explanation:

'The Orthodox Church is the original church of the Apostles. There is the Roman Catholic Church in the west and then there is the Orthodox Church in the east. The Orthodox Church has over 250 million members and is the second largest Christian group on the planet although there are currently only about 6 million members in the United States. For 1054 years there was only one united church on the planet with five main locations, Rome (Italy), ConstantinopleTurkey), Jerusalem (Palestine), Antioch (Syria), and Alexandria (Egypt), each pastored by a Bishop. Then the Bishop of the Roman church in the west claimed he had full authority and jurisdiction over the whole church. This unprecedented move was not well received by the rest of the church in the geographical east. The churches in the east remained in communion and unity with one another, while the Roman church in the west broke from that unity and became an independent body- the Roman Catholic Church. All existing protestant denominations, some 25,000 of them in the United States alone, extends out of the Roman Church during the reformation period almost 600 years after the Schism.'

Recently one of my five daughters asked me of our move to Orthodoxy. I told her I have been asking the same question of God since I was 17, "Where is the church?" That desire to find and be a part of the true church has led me on a path with many forks and dead-end. From Baptist, to Independent Bible Churches, to Charismatic Churches, to the Jewish Synagogues, to Messianic Fellowships, to the Charismatic Episcopal Church, and to the Roman Catholic Church. My puzzled Southern Baptist Father once referred to my journey as "the religion of the month" club. Perhaps now that I have traveled this road and am familiar with the paths and the dead-ends, I can, in some humble way, be a pathguide for others who are coming this way, and coming they are. Seeking evangelicals who, like me, have no idea or concept that they were born into a religious world with doctrines and practices that look very little like the church of our fathers. I have a degree in Religion from a Southern Baptist University and yet not once in any of my studies was I required to read or even informed of the writings of the Early Church Fathers. These were the men who formed and shaped the church, who knew and were ordained by the Apostles themselves, who continued to pastor the churches of Peter, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the other disciples after their deaths. In fact I was advised against reading anything other than that which was contained within the pages of the bible, the mantra being "sola scriptura", the bible alone. To look at church history or "tradition" was not necessary. The day I decided to consider what men such as Ignatius, Clement, Iraneus, Polycarp, and Justin Martyr wrote, preached, and shed their blood to preserve, the day I decided that that which was believed and taught by the undivided Church in the first 1000 years was more reliable than the latest popular author, religious leader or set of commentaries, was the day my religion was ruined. But MY religion needed to be ruined, for it was not the faith of our fathers. Could it be that my protestant university knew that if I read the writings of those so close to the apostles that I would discover a different church, a different doctrine, a different shape of worship, a different history than was being espoused in the institutions and churches throughout evangelical Protestantism which was birthed only 400 years prior? God forbid. Ignorance is much more easily accepted than intentional deception. 

It has helped me to see where the Church physically exists today, for the Church isn’t only seen in some mystic, nebulous unity of all who profess Christ, it is also a visible entity, established and indwelled by Christ for 2000 years. This priest, Father Denny, when the hands of ordination are laid upon him, will be listed with the succession of those who have come before him. We know who they are. We have their names and addresses. They are the Bishops and Priests of the Church of Antioch, where “they were first called Christians”. The Church established by Peter. You are becoming part of this Church, the church of our fathers. The Church of the Apostles… 

When Peter died, Eudoius became bishop. When Eudoius died Ignatius became bishop. When Ignatius died Heros became Bishop. When Heros died Cornelius became Bishop. There isn’t time here to list the names of all of the 169 successive Bishops who have pastored the Orthodox Church in Antioch. There were 97 Bishops in the first 1000 millennium. There were 73 in the second millennium. On June 2, 1979, His Beatitude Ignatius IV, was elected by the Holy Spirit to be Patriarch of Antioch. It is under his pastorate that we all have the honor of serving our Lord in His Church.

Today there are 14 equal, independent and self-governing Orthodox Churches who work in communion and unity with one another across the earth. Communion and unity do not mean an absence of human conflict born of flesh or selfish endeavor. I like what my Priest, Father Stephen Rogers told me when I first met with him. As we sat in his office in a separate building, he pointed in the direction of the Temple and said, 'Remember Nathan, there are people over there.' That has been true of the Church from day one. It amazes me the narrowness of some who always use the examples of the human element of the faith as fodder to discredit the relevance of the historic governance in the body of Christ. The Orthodox Church is well aware of issues facing it and speaks to these issues often. For instance there is not yet a North American Autocephalous Church. The Orthodox Church in this hemisphere is represented by several Churches in the East, such as the Greek, the Russian, and the Antiochian. All are still the same Orthodox Church but governed by individual entities which carry with them their own cultural flavors. We are moving toward having all of these cultural Churches unite into one American Church. I am delighted however, when I visit a local Orthodox Church with cultural elements different from mine, that I feel at home because the shape, ethos, and worship experience is familiar. The Orthodox Church is the original Church and has preserved the faith of the Apostles. It is unchanging and in this way has prevented in every century and culture the propensity to 'change with the times'. While 'change' may be a good word to some religious cultures, "change" is equal to heresy in the Orthodox faith. While other religious cultures are given to the newest movements or doctrines, you can be assured that when you enter the Orthodox faith, you are receiving the original doctrines of the faith of our fathers without mixture.

If I can be a little presumptuous, allow me to welcome all you who have been made catechumens in the Church. Though the CEC was a blessed bridge for many of us, into the historic faith, we now watch with great remorse as it disintegrates into disarray and confusion still locked into the false idea that any group or individual can exist separated from the One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. You are not alone in your Journey. There are other CEC churches coming this way and you have led them. You are the first and history will record it so. The mission of this Church extends beyond these walls. Though men may not remember your individual names, heaven has recorded that you in this holy temple, reached, with this priest, for the hand of God and felt his touch. You are not alone anymore. You are joining with over 250 million of your brothers and sisters to worship and serve God in unity of worship and doctrine. Guess what. You are becoming a part of the Church that believes the same doctrine and worships the same way. You can spend the rest of your life, not trying to figure out what is true, but in learning what the Church has already established to be true. For the Orthodox Church is the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church the pillar and foundation of all truth.

So, come on in. Let us reason together. But I will tell you right now that your closely held doctrines of the church, authority, salvation, the Eucharist, veneration of Mary, baptism, shapes and forms of worship, music, gifts of the spirit, and many other things will be challenged. You might get uncomfortable, angry or afraid. That’s understandable. God knows our frame. We die in order to live. Here are the words of Your Patron Saint-Paul. These words should be the core of your heart and attitude during this exciting time of Journey.

'For I have been crucified with Christ, yet never the less I live, yet it is not I who live but Christ who lives in me, and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.' "

CEC World News

"Good evening. This is the CEC World News Report. I'm Harry Mouse. Thanks for joining us. Leading our top story tonight: the exodus of both priests and bishops from the Charismanic Episcopill Church. Joining us via satellite is Patriarch of the CEC, Gandolf Sadler. "

HM: Your Eminence...should I call you "Your Eminence"?
GA: Yes. You should.
HM: I 'll get right to the point. To what do you attribute the recent exodus?
GA: Well, Mouse, there was obviously sin in the camp.
HM: Whose camp?
GA: Why theirs of course. The bishops and priests that have stepped out from under my authority obviously have fallen into deep error and we pray for their souls.
HM: Your emin..emin.. Is it okay if I just call you "Gan" for short?
GA: Sure, we're loose here, but those who know me best just call me "Sad".
HM: "Sad"...uh.. Your Eminence, our sources say that your own, and I quote, "unbridled moral conduct", was the catalyst for the exodus.
GA: What's that?
HM: "Unbridled"? Well...
GA: No, "moral conduct".
HM: Oh. Well, moral conduct is when you live out your life in the view of others, preferably in a manner in which no one can rightfully accuse you. It has been reported that you abuse alcohol and drugs and that you..., forgive me your Eminence..., are a womanizer.
GA: That's preposterous! It was one woman and I was drunk at the time!
HM: I stand corrected. Our sources also say that you encouraged the parents of your parish to allow their children to smoke cigarettes as some kind of statement to society?
GA: Yes. I guess we showed them. This is God's Kingdom. We are beholden to no government intrusion.
HM: So you had your children start smoking cigarettes?
GA: We just sent up a few smoke signals, that's all.
HM: And you don't see that as a little bizarre?
GA: Bizarre? Where you from son? I'm from California!
HM: Of course not all of your Bishops and Priests are from California. To what do you attribute the fact that they met with you in an emergency council to appeal to you to step down and get some help?
GA: How'd you know about that?
HM: It's my job.
GA: They are all rebellious sinners I tell you! Turn Coats! Mavericks. To step down would have hurt the CEC and brought shame to the name of Christ.
HM: But sir, isn't what exactly what happened anyway?
GA: [cricket...cricket]
HM: Sir?... Your Eminence?... Gan?... Sad?
GA: I need a drink.

"When the CEC World News continues, we'll be talking with Swimmy Jaggart, the fallen Charismaniac pastor. We'll hear how his decision to NOT step down brought his international ministry to a standstill, decreased his church membership by 100's, and led him to get caught in two more subsequent trysts with prostitutes. And we'll ask him why the pop tune "Whoops, I did it again", has been such an inspiration to him."

[Insert Commercial Break]

Are Antiochians Anti-Semites?

Antiochians are Christians. In fact it was in Antioch where "they were first called Christians". Christians love one another and love all people. They teach and practice that we are to "go into the all world and preach the gospel to every creature." The fact exists, however, that Antiochians are predominately Arabic, being raised, even as Christians, in an Arabic culture. The age-old struggle between the Arabs and the Jews for the area of Palestine has political as well as religious elements. This struggle has influenced many of today's Antiochian Orthodox leaders as they have watched their brother Arabs displaced by the establishment of the Nation of Israel. As individuals and groups make their way to the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese it is important to deal with existing imbalanced ideologies, especially Dispensationalism, that elevate the Nation of Israel to the status of being THE God-ordained center of all of human history. This is simply not the view of the Church, be it Antiochian or any other Orthodox Diocoese. The "Israel" of the biblical prophecies and the recipient of the New Covenant is The Church not the Nation of Israel in Palestine. Accusations of anti-semitism usually comes as a result of failing to differentiate between the Jews as a people and Zionism. One must understand that Arabs are not the only ones who oppose the Nation of Israel. Many Orthodox Jews do as well and are organized in their efforts to bring their own people back to an Orthodox Jewish faith.

I have discovered recently, however, what I deem to be Arab bias against Israel and favoritism toward Arabic Nations by some of our Antiochian Orthodox leaders, but a closer look will reveal the bias to be political in nature and not one of anti-semitism. Orthodox do not "hate" Jews which is the core definition of "anti-semitism."

By the way, Leslie Levine, our sponsor and godfather on the day of our chrismation into the Church, is Jewish. Leslie Levine is a cantor in our Church. Some of his chanting is in Arabic. Does God hear the prayer of the Jew if chanted in Arabic? Hmmm...

"In Christ there is no Greek nor Jew..."

A hard look or sometimes an easy glance may reveal warts on your fellow Antiochian Orthodox believers, but it is not likely one of those warts will be anti-semitism.

Sarah's Trip From Ur or Follow Your Husband "Ur" Else

By Cynthia Louise Lewis

There’s nothing more nerve wracking than being submissive to a man who hears God. That’s just the simple truth of it. Forget the security of friends, home, and any sort of root system. When God tells a man it’s time to move into His promises, those camels get packed and off you go! And, quite frankly, you don’t always care that he’s right, that the end circumstances will be better than the present, or worse yet, that it’s “good for you.” When you walk through a dessert, you get blisters. Camels stink. And watering holes are few and far between – even for the prophetic.

In the spring of 2004, events conspired to close down St. Peter’s Charismatic Episcopal Church (ICCEC) in Little Rock, Arkansas. Other issues were, of course, going on in the ICCEC of which my prophetic husband was aware, but quite frankly, I didn’t care. I was still devastated. After all, according to our Priest, Fr. Denny, St. Peter’s was born on my front porch. He and my husband and others who were seeking out the truth of the Historic Faith, would spend hours there searching the scriptures, eating my simple tuna sandwiches, and smoking their cigars. Long after sensible folk had gone to bed, one could hear the laughter of genuine brotherhood break out into the night.

I was beginning to see my own gifts, spiritual and otherwise, finally being used in ways I’d always dreamed. I was asked to take a principle role in planning Diocesan Women’s Retreat of 2004. I’d written a catechism for children, had received a glowing review from our Bishop, and was eager to see it put to use. But even I could tell there were serious cracks in the foundation of our little denomination.

During the course of a lot of prayer and study, My husband, Nathan, and I found ourselves faced with a very simple choice: go forward or go backward. Although we looked into the Roman Church, it became obvious to us that Orthodoxy was where we needed to go. And go we did.

Talk about adjustment. As we entered the Orthodox faith, we also embarked on a move to a new state. I got just an inkling of what Sarah must have felt. It was an all encompassing time of letting go. Good-bye to friends. Good-bye to family (my aging parents, my married daughter & her family which included 2 precious grandbabies, my unmarried daughter). Good-bye to the job that had been such a blessed oasis for me for 12 years. And, good-bye to worshipping my Lord the way I was used to.

Surprisingly enough, the doctrinal issues were more of a confirmation and comfort than a challenge. But nothing could have been so foreign to me than the shapes and forms of Orthodoxy. Although I’ve been a singer as far back as I can remember, nothing had prepared my ears for the unique tonalities of the Antiochian music. My parents had built in me an appreciation of fine art, so the icons looked childish and crude – and yellow! (My least favorite color) Even my prayers had to be exchanged for new ones as I switched from the Anglican book of prayers to more “Lord have mercy’s” than my lips could wrap themselves around. And, probably the most challenging of all, the pattern of Orthodox fasting – a pattern that rests VERY heavily on the shoulders of the woman of the house who has to prepare those meals – was practically my undoing!

I remember about 2 weeks into our first Orthodox Lent, bursting into tears as I told my husband, “I’m so consumed with when to bow, and when to kneel, and all the other new rules, that I haven’t spoken to Jesus in weeks!” And then something happened. We were in the service at which every church member asks the forgiveness of every other church member. As each person – adult, child, teen – came up to me and said, “I forgive you. Will you forgive me?” something shifted. The Church was no longer something I had to please and perform for. The Church was putting its arms around me and welcoming me home. I joined the choir shortly thereafter. Our choir master is very patient with me and little by little I’m learning the music, and yes, it is quite beautiful once you realize it isn’t supposed to sound like the Backstreet Boys. I’ve been able to help with the clean-up of a couple fellowships. Not the same as planning a retreat, but a lot of fun none the less. And the icons! I can’t explain it, other than to say, they aren’t art -- they are something much more.

I don’t know when or even if Sarah ever reached the point where she felt fully at home. I think it’s likely that she did; probably the first time she looked into her son’s eyes. After all, God’s promise to her husband was a promise to her, too.

The Early Church Councils

For over 1000 years there was only one Church on the planet. There were no denominations, and no divisions between East and West. All of the bishops, worked in communion with one another to preserve the faith and to assure that the testament of the Apostles was kept pure in fact and practice. Occasionally there would rise an individual or individuals who, acting independently of the unity and unanimous agreement of the church, decided they knew more or had a better understanding of the Apostles teachings. At other times there were matters of such great weight that the Bishops of the church had to seek the will of Holy Spirit together and decide a matter. It was during such times that the church would meet in council. Bishops, Deacons, and laymen would travel miles, taking days, weeks and months to arrive at an agreed upon city. There is no doubt that what was decided upon in these Councils effected the church preserving for all time the faith we have today. What happened in these Councils? Who attended? Why did these men have the authority to decided anything pertaining to the church?

I have had the pleasure the past several months to attend a series of classes on the Early Church Councils. The class is taught by Deacon Michael Hyatt. Deacon Michael is a convert to Orthodoxy. Most notably he is the CEO of the largest and oldest Christian Publisher in North America, Thomas Nelson Publishers. He is a masterful speaker and communicator, down to earth, and full of humor. Deacon Michael has taken what could be a dull historic subject and made it interesting and relevant to the hearer.

Thanks to Joel Smith of The Orthodox Project every one of these classes has been recorded. You can take part in these classes and thanks to a roving microphone you will also hear the questions and discussions of class members. Some of it gets pretty thick! The pod cast is FREE at The Orthodox Project. You can also subscribe so you will be notified by e-mail when a new class is available. Go there now and check it out. While you're there, pick up a copy of The Wisdom of the Saints CD. Your inexpensive purchase will help fund The Orthodox Project.

God Bless you and get ready to be challenged, because
"to be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant."

Crossing Yourself

As early as 200 A. D. Tertullian wrote:

"In all undertakings -- when we enter a place or leave it; before we dress; before we bathe; when we take our meals; when we light the lamps in the evening; before we retire at night; when we sit down to read; before each task -- we trace the sign of the cross on our foreheads."

Saint Augustine also mentions the common practice as normative in the life of the church. Even the Reformers in the 16th century maintained the practice as a form of worship. Crossing yourself is a physical expression of worship and a symbol of the person and nature of Jesus Christ. The two fingers and thumb touching one another represent the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, Holy Spirit. The two fingers touching the hand represent the two natures of Christ, fully God, fully Man.

The oldest and Eastern Orthodox form of crossing oneself is to touch the two fingers and thumb to the forehead, then to the breast, then to the right shoulder, then to the left shoulder. One may say, "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

AUTISM-There Is Nothing Orthodox About It-UPDATED

UPDATED: 10/15/13--Statistics say that if you are reading this you either have an autistic relative or you know someone who does. The current stats say that if you give birth to a child today there is a 1 in 166 chance they will have some form of autism. It is a curious and mysterious disease with apparently many different causes. In that sense there is nothing orthodox about it. In another sense, as an Orthodox Christian, I cannot ignore my responsibility to bring healing and help to those who suffer in this world. It is for that divine reason I believe I have been given an opportunity to be a beacon of hope and support for the millions of families across the world who are effected by this epidemic. If you have looked at my profile, you may have noticed that I am a film producer. A little deeper look and you may have discovered the name of my film company is Kingdom Films, Rocky Top Pictures, LLC.

                  www.RockyTopPictures.com

                            www.KingdomFilmsInc.com.

I ask all my BLOG participants and visitors to pray for KFI's RTP's current feature film project called Jason's Run. The feature film intended for theatrical release is in pre-development. We are making great strides in getting the film financed (20 million). With the inclusion of three producers, four consultants, the Autism Society of America, and the Autism Treatment Center in Dallas, TX., our support base is growing. We will make our first Offering to Investors in Dallas in February.

I also want to invite you to read more about the project on the KFI website and contact us. Although this offer may close very soon, Jason's Run still has an opportunity for Seed Investor/s to enter on the KFI RTP company side ($500,000) If you feel this project may be something you want to invest in, let KFI RTP send you our information packet.

God Bless you and above all PRAY for Jason's Run and for those who deal with the effects of Autism everyday.

"Left Behind"? Sure Hope So!

[This article was originally titled: Dissecting Dispensationalism or Judaism is a Religion not a Race]

In keeping with the purpose of this BLOG I won't provide a complete doctrinal or historic treatment on the theory of Dispensationalism. There are many good resources out there in which to dive a little deeper. Here, you will find definitions and outlines and a few personal perspectives to inform you as to the subject matter looking at the Dispensational view VS the Orthodox view. Being a former Dispensationalist I understand first hand the affront any opposition to the Dispensationalist way of thinking is. For years I thought that such a view was the predominant one, that all others were insignificant. Just the discovery that the Dispensational view of scripture and prophecy was the minority view and predominantly a western evangelical, relatively recent creation, was enough for me to start asking questions. My paradigm shift did not come instantly, but my willingness to question Dispensationalism came upon me suddenly.

One late night I was reading a book by an evangelical charismatic author. The whole of the book contained much that I would not adhere to today, but the most provocative thing I discovered was the fact that the author did not believe in the pre-tribulation rapture, the cornerstone of much Dispensational thought. The theory states that "All believers will be raptured from the Earth before Christ returns." The author simply challenged the reader to justify the usage of the scripture Matt.24: 37-41 as a proof text that believers would be snatched away off the earth and unbelievers would be "Left Behind".

"As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when the Son of Man comes...they suspected nothing 'til the flood came and swept them all away...This is what it will be like when the Son of man comes...one is taken the other left." The question presented was "who is actually left?.

I was a teenager in the 70's when the "good" contemporary Christian music was new and abundant. One of the most popular songs was "I Wish We'd All Been Ready", based on the passages from Matthew. "Two men walking up a hill, one disappears and one is left standing still. I wish we'd all been ready." One thing we all knew for sure, based on the premise of this song, we didn't want to be left behind! So the answer to the question posed that night, some 20 something years later, was found in the phrase, "As it was in the days of Noah". So how was it in the days of Noah?

Matthew 24: 37-41
"As it was in Noah's day, so will it be when the son of man comes. for in those days before the Flood people were eating and drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and they suspected nothing till the flood came and SWEPT THEM ALL AWAY. This is what it will be like when the Son of man comes. Then of two men in the fields, one is taken the other left; of two women grinding at the mill, one is taken the other left."

Do you see it yet? Here is the scripture from Genesis:

Genesis 7:23-24

"Everything on the face of the earth was wiped out, people, animals, creeping things and birds; they were WIPED OFF THE EARTH AND ONLY NOAH WAS LEFT, AND THOSE WITH HIM IN THE ARK."

So as Matthew compares the coming of the Son of Man to Noah's day. Who was left? The righteous. Who was taken? The unrighteous. When I first discovered that this scripture had been usurped by the Dispensationalists to prove their hypothesis and interpreted to say the opposite of what it says, I had to ask myself a question. What other scriptures have been usurped?

My next major Epiphany was the discovery of Tim LaHaye's book "No Fear Of The Storm", a treatment on the Dispensational view of the Rapture. Now, I am educated but I don't hold claim to any special ability or intelligence. Even so, I found the reading of LaHay's book bringing back the elementary skills I had learned in Philosophy 101. A sound argument is sound and the conclusion is valid only if it begins with a solid premise. If premise A and premise B are true then conclusion C is true. Conversely, if either premise "A" or premise "B" is false then conclusion "C" is erroneous. I found LaHay's book not only to be full of hypothetical premises based on ideas and preconceptions rather than scriptural proofs, but on more than a few occasions there were outright contradictions. In one instance, LaHay denounces the accusation some have made that Dispensationalists believe in the three comings of Christ. In the next paragraph he refers, as fact, to the "third time Christ comes." I was so amazed by the unreasoned, contradictory, and unintelligent diatribe and the obvious effort to prove the Dispensational viewpoint in the absence of verifiable scriptural evidence, that I set out to simply outline the weakness of his ability to argue. Thanks be to God for my discovery that that had already been done. A man named Larry Simmons had already taken the time to outline all 14 of LaHay's "14 Reasons For Believing The Pre-Trib Rapture." For a deeper and more provocative study I highly recommend Simmons' free internet book, "Unmasking Pre-Trib Fallacies".

So my paradigm was shifted and soon came the discovery that what I had been raised in was not what the Church across the world believed. In fact, the Church as a whole looks upon the Dispensational theory as a bizarre and puzzling aberration that invaded the western evangelical movement just 150 years ago. The most common question I get when discussing this matter with any one is, "What difference does it make?" The premise here is that it is silly to argue over when or if Christians will be zapped off the earth before Christ returns or whether they will be "caught up to meeting him in the sky" at the end. The difference it makes is profound, for Dispensationalism isn't just about the Rapture but contains an entire system of theories and doctrinal treatments that redefine the relevance and definition of "Church", redefines the purposes and reasons for the coming of Christ and the New Covenant and promotes practices and mindsets that directly effect the way individuals live out their lives, prepare for persecution, and "work out their salvation." For example, look at the four basic points in the system of Dispensationalism in relation to the Church:

1. God has two distinct people, Israel and the Church, and is pursuing two different programs in history with them.

2. There is little or no continuity between Israel of the Old Testament and the New Testament Church.

3. The Church and the Church age (extending from Pentecost to the "Rapture") is a "parenthesis" or "intercalation" into history, the existence of which was not prophesied or foreshadowed in any way in the Old Testament.

4. Christ offered an earthly, political kingdom to the Jews, but they rejected him and so he formed a new people, the Church, from both Jews and Gentiles.

5. The New Covenant was not for the Church but for Israel, just as the Kingdom is a future, earthly reality meant only for the Jews and not a spiritual reality inaugurated by Christ and/or located in some way in the Church today. (See Matheson, Dispensationalism: Rightly Dividing the People of God? 1995, pp 17-18)

So if you believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, just know that that theory comes out of the same system of beliefs that promotes the above five points. But what does the Church teach?

Contrary to the accusations made toward the Orthodox teaching on this matter, the Church does not negate the importance of Israel and the Old Covenant.

"Catholic doctrine emphasizes that the promises given to Old Testament Israel and the covenants made with it are brought to fulfillment in the New Covenant instituted by Christ. The Church and the New Covenant are in continuity with the Old Covenant and fulfill it precisely because Jesus Christ, the founder and head of the Church fulfilled the Law (Mt 5:17-18) and the prophets (Luke 24:44) and founded a New Israel (MT. 16:16-19.") ("Will Catholics Be Left Behind", pp 217-218)

So Israel is the Church and the Church is Israel. Dispensationalists share the same ideology as the Judaizers of Jesus day who looked for an earthly kingdom. Christ was very clear that that was not what he came to establish and yet the Dispensationalist still see the Modern-day Nation of Israel as the hope of the world and the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. They even assert that the temple must be rebuilt, that animal sacrifices must be reestablished, and that Christ will reign in this earthly kingdom for 1000 years. There is only one problem, it is not true and the Church has never taught it or held it to be true. This theory extends from just a few million evangelical, Dispensational, western, cultural diatribes who do not realize that they are giving more credence to the writings of men such as Darby, Scofield and Ryrie (who lived during the last 150 years) than the continuous teachings of the Fathers and Martyrs of the faith and the universal Church.

The Literal Interpretation Method

One word on the Literal Interpretation method used by Dispensationalists to arrive at doctrinal conclusions. While the Holy Scripture is true, it is not all "literally true." If one approaches the study of Dispensationalism, the Rapture, etc. using this approach, one subjects himself to a myriad of possible subjective interpretations. You will also find that the Literal interpretation method used by Dispensationalists to prove a text is done so without consistency. For instance, a Dispensationalist will say that "locusts" in a prophetic passage actually refer to modern-day helicopters. This is obviously not a literal interpretation. The same Dispensationalist will then interpret the usage of "1000" to mean a literal 1000 years. This presents a problem in light of how the term "1000" is used elsewhere. For instance: If "My Father owns the cattle on a 1000 hills (Ps 50:10)", who owns the cattle on hill number 1001? "1000" simply means "complete, all, forever." Yet, the Dispensationalist will interpret scripture based on this subjective method. A good rule of interpretation would include taking a look at what has been "taught at all times, in all places, by all the Church." Simply put, on any given doctrinal matter, look at what Christ said, then what the Apostles said, then what the Disciples of the Apostles (the Church Fathers) said, then verify it by the truth the Church has preserved for 2000 years. If you have problems with the disunity of the Church today seeing the divisions of Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant, then at least look at the doctrines established during the first 1054 years when the Church was ONE body. Ask yourself which is more reliable, the writings of modern men who look back and interpret the meaning of truth in isolation according to their own opinion, or the original foundation of truth-"The Church of the living God, pillar and support of truth." (1 Timothy 3:15)

The mindset of the Dispensationalist includes the idea that God had plan "A" that he offered to his chosen people, the Jews, but they rejected it, so God had to go with plan "B". He was forced to change his plan and form the Church to give the Jews time to turn things around. So, they say, the Church is just a temporary substitute until God's original plan can work itself out. This mindset follows the same theme as those who fully attribute the mess humanity is in with the choice Adam and Eve made. Would the Dispensationalist really suggest that God was taken by surprise in both instances? Did God say to himself in surprise:

"Damn it (I use the "literal" sense of the word) I had such a good plan set up and now I am going to have to do something else. Those pesty humans! They are so unpredictable! Oh, well...let's see..that's it. I 'll do this, this and this and see if that works. I hope they don't screw it up this time"?

Here is the question: Was God surprised when Adam and Eve sinned or did He know from the beginning that they would do so? Likewise, was God surprised when some (not all) of the Jews rejected him or did He know they would from the beginning? It is unimaginable that anyone would attribute to God such a wishy- washy, cause and effect, human attribute, but this is what the Dispensational theory does. The Church has always held that God's plan for mankind included the sin of Adam and Eve and the rejection of Him by the Jews. Man would be in need of a savior and God would become incarnate in Jesus the Christ to bring that salvation. The Old Testament Covenant is a forerunner of the New Covenant and salvation is extended to His chosen people-Israel- made up of Jews and Gentiles-The Church. We are not waiting for some future earthly Kingdom that henges on the earthly Nation of Israel-the Jews. Dispensationalists fail to understand that Judaism is a religion not a race and that not all Jewish leaders consider the Nation of Israel the epicenter or the prophesied future of Judaism. Establishing His Church was God's plan from the beginning.We are awaiting the glorious return of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to bring an end of the age (earthly humanity) and a beginning to eternity (Heavenly humanity). Members of the Jewish religion, along with members of any other religions who embrace Yeshua as the Messiah will be included.

Dispensationalism is an aberration from the truth. I hope you will not dismiss this article but will study on your own. to understand what the Church as a whole has held on this matter. I recommend the book "Will Catholics be Left Behind?" by Carl E. Olson, Ignatius Press.