by T. M. Meek
The First Congregation of Christ's Church in Silver Streams, Kansas was led by a humble man who was simply called Pastor James by all who knew him. It was never his intention to grow the church in the way that he did when the previous leader, Pastor Mark, retired and turned over the reins to a then younger twenty something Pastor James. When Pastor James first led the congregation it had only a few hundred members. But now, nearly thirty years later, it had become a large congregation of over eight thousand followers. He built a new church to accommodate the growing flock.
This may not seem significant in a city of nearly one million residents as Silver Streams had, but it was significant to the people that attended his church services as so many were faithful to attend each Sunday. Although only ten years earlier, a larger church had been built to accommodate the growing flock, it was not an ostentatious church house built to impress men with it's price tag as the budget was intentionally limited to build a more modest building.
“I’d rather worship God in a building that is nice enough so as to be respectful to deity, but not so nice that I can’t also afford to care for the poor,” he said to a man who was dusting one of the pews.
“That’s why you reduced the building budget by a million bucks, right?” he retorted cheerfully.
“Absolutely! Spending one million dollars less for a more modest building frees up that much more money to care for the poor. The King James version of the Holy Bible seems clear to me as to the difference between building a simple church to meet in on Sundays versus to building an actual temple or more elegant House of God. Building a temple is quite another thing. That’s only done properly when a prophet of God is instructed to do so. And I am certainly not a prophet. So building a modest church was the more sensible thing to do for our growing congregation of worshippers.” He said this as he looked around and admired the new building. It was less than a month old.
“Amen.” The janitor smiled humbly as he worked.
When Linda Wise parked her car in the church parking lot, she turned off her car, unbuckled her seat belt and turned off the ringer to her cell phone. She sat in her car and said a brief, silent prayer in her heart to recognize when she was receiving the counsel God intended for her and the courage to follow it through properly in a timely manner. She often did this whenever she was about to visit Pastor James which was usually on Sunday. She then got out of her car, locked it, and went into the church.
Pastor James could often be found at the church on certain weekday mornings and today was no different. As she entered the chapel, she saw a custodial person dusting a beautifully carved holy cross hanging on the wall and she took a moment to think about the great sacrifice of her Lord, Jesus Christ. Although she didn't understand everything about Him, she was grateful for God's sacrifice of His beloved Son. The custodial person then moved on to dust several other items within the chapel as she then continued walking past several rows of pews until she was only a few feet away from where Pastor James was. The Pastor was wearing modestly priced attire that consisted of neatly pressed dress pants and an equally neat dress shirt. He was putting away several books of church hymnals.
As a man who was familiar with the sounds of the church, he had heard Linda's footsteps early on and he turned to smile gently at her before she could reach him. He put away the remaining books in his hands and then reached out to graciously shake her hand.
"It's so nice to see you again, Linda. How are you?" he asked with a sincere smile.
"I'm doing well. Thank you," she happily replied. “This new building is simply beautiful.”
"Thank the Lord for that. How's your new research project coming along? I understand you broke ground yesterday on the new museum. You know I would have been there for you if it hadn't been for the unexpected death of Ms. Burke."
"Things are good. We're right on schedule. And please, don't worry about the fact that you couldn't attend it. The Burke family really needed you and I understand that. By the way, how are they?" she asked intently.
"They're doing about as well as could be expected of anyone for their circumstances. A forty-year-old woman dies of a sudden heart attack. It's not an easy thing to go through–– especially with a divided family. Half of them think she should've followed her doctor’s advice about heart care and taken more responsibility and the other half simply say it was her time."
"Did they ask you what you think?" Linda asked curiously.
Pastor James smiled as he sighed. "Yes. But I don't think they liked my answer. It's not necessarily for me to say whether it was her time or not. But it is always right for us to encourage one another to take responsibility for our choices in life. If she truly did the best she could to improve her own health, then I feel the Lord will know it, and so will she. But if she didn't do her best, there are consequences either in this life or in the next and often in both. I simply hope she did her best to do what was right when she could." Linda nodded in agreement as Pastor James so often shared wisdom that made sense. "So what brings you to stop by? Is there something I can help you with, Linda?" he asked genuinely.
She thought for a moment and then said, "You know I don't usually stop by and visit with you very often. In fact, I can think of only one other time I've visited with you when it wasn't on a Sunday and that was..." her voice trailed as she paused reflectively before finishing her thought.
"Last year. On the anniversary of the death of your husband and daughter," he interjected compassionately. "Tomorrow is the fifth year anniversary, correct?"
"Yes. Tomorrow marks five years," she admitted quietly.
"How are you doing? I'm sure you still miss them very much."
"I'll always miss them," she smiled halfheartedly.
"But I'm actually here for something else," she said somewhat relieved to talk about something that wouldn't provoke her to painful heartache.
"I apologize if I came across as presumptuous," he replied sincerely.
"No. You're okay. I appreciate your good memory and concern," she reassured him. "I was just about to ask that although I don't usually visit with you very often, I was wondering if, since I'm working on this new research project, if it would it be okay if I stopped by a little more often to get some feedback from you about some of our findings? I mean, for example, if I visited with you once or twice a month during the week, would that be too much to ask? Because if it is, I totally understand. I know you're a busy person."
"That's not too much to ask. I'm happy to do what I can to make myself available for you," he kindly responded.
Linda was grateful and relieved. "Thank you so much. I'll do what I can to schedule with you in advance out of respect for your time," she said.
"That would be greatly appreciated. Although if you really need me, you should still feel free to reach me anytime," he smiled.
"Thank you again."
"You're very welcome."
"Well, I won't take up anymore of your time, as I know you weren't expecting me today," she said. She then turned to leave.
Sensing she might want to talk more now, Pastor James asked, "Before you leave, Linda, did you have something else you wanted to ask me while we're here?" Linda turned back to him and let out a brief sigh of relief. She smiled as she appreciated his insightfulness.
"Do you have just a few minutes?" she asked.
"Of course. Please, sit down," he said encouragingly. He was genuinely patient and interested. The two sat down on a nearby pew while the custodial person continued quietly cleaning the chapel in the distance. Linda opened up.
"Well, as you know, I'm hoping to finish the research my father started before he passed away and you know that I'm hoping that the concept behind the museum will provide more of a unifying effect on the people who come to visit and see the art more than something that stirs debate. It's not my desire to have a debate as much as it is to hopefully inspire others to simply want to get to know the love and goodness and wisdom of God and His mercies upon us all. Hopefully, in that pr
ocess, the museum will bring people together harmoniously in a good way. There are so many things about this research that can help us understand better that God loves each of us so much. He created each of us as his children spiritually so he loves us more than we think.
“Yes, God certainly does love us more than we know. So, hopefully all true followers of God will be eager to hear new truths about Jesus Christ,’ he smiled encouragingly.
“The one thing I'm struggling with as I learn new things about God from my father's notes, which I feel are true teachings, is the fact that it points out clearly but mercifully that some of the things that many people believe are true are actually false. Still other things are simply misinterpretations of what is true and so there are many of us who are innocently led astray on some things while still being absolutely right about other beliefs about God.
“Well, the bible is clear with warnings for our day that we will learn things that are not true about God. In Galatians 1:9 we’re told to recognize that there could be some who preach of some other gospel other than what Jesus and his apostles taught.”
“It is not my intention to offend anyone as I try to bring to light those things about God which I feel in my heart are true and are supported by God's teachings, such as in the bible’s holy scriptures. The things I'm learning are so positive, so hopeful and so uplifting that it brings me such joy. As I said, God loves each of us so much. We’re his children so he loves us perfectly. He loves us so very, very much. But there may still be some who are offended despite it all."
“Do you recall what our Lord said in Matthew 10:34?” Linda shyly smiled and shook her head indicating that she didn’t recall the lesson. Pastor James patiently reminded her. “It says, ‘Think not that I come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace but a sword.’ Then he elaborates in the verses that follow. He explains how a son and his father will disagree over what is Christ’s gospel and that a daughter and mother will dispute over the same. Even a daughter-in-law with her mother-in-law. In other words, entire families will be at odds, one against another, simply because they don’t share the same beliefs. When one family member holds onto religious traditions that are not entirely correct but only partially correct, and then another family member tries to show the fully correct path to God, arguments are bound to unfold.”
“Is that the chapter that says we must take up our cross and follow him?”
“It does say to take up our cross. It encourages being willing to disagree with one’s own family in favor of following Christ.”
“There certainly was a division among the people of Christ’s day as he taught them,” Linda recalled somberly.
“John 7:43 tells us of that division. That’s true.”
“Isn’t there an Old Testament prophecy, I believe it’s in Isaiah, where he saw our times and how wicked people have a desire to only hear nice things from prophets. It’s a verse that says the people only want to hear what they want to hear, not what God has to say.” Pastor James walked over to his podium and took down his bible and began thumbing through it.
“Isaiah 30…oh where is that?” He sat back down next to Linda and ran his index finger down a column of verses as he searched for the reference she mentioned. “Ah, here it is.” He read it aloud. “Isaiah 30:10 says, ‘Prophesy unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.’”
“Deceits. That’s referring to false doctrine?”
“Yes. False doctrine.”
“So people want some leaders of churches or some false prophets to tell them things that are lies about…salvation, morals, right and wrong and to say these things as if it’s true? As if God says it’s true?”
“That’s what that verse means,” he sighed heavily.
“So no wonder some people will be upset over what my father’s discovery reveals about God’s true doctrine. But those that love God will love the truth, right? Those that are sincerely seeking God’s will, those that truly desire to make good choices in life, to follow Christ…they’ll be the only ones that won’t reject God.” She then looked up at the ceiling and shook her head as if to wonder what the world was coming to. Then she had a sudden burst of illumination she shared with Pastor James. “It just occurred to me that, in Jesus Christ’s time, only when people refused to be open to more truth did they reject Jesus. Only those people that looked for a savior that resembled their own ideas of who he should be, how he should reveal himself and, most importantly, what he should teach and do, only those people were the ones that rejected him…or worse. Pushed for his crucifixion.”
“Those that rejected Christ’s teachings in His day were those that scorned him.”
“Only scorners are so eager to start contention. It’s like they live to start a fight.”
“Proverbs 22:10. ‘Cast out the scorners and contention will go out.’”
“Cast out the false doctrine and contention will go out. That’s how you bring harmony!” She was so glad to receive more enlightenment as she spoke with him that she clapped her hands once in joy. “That’s what Christ was trying to do was to bring harmony by correcting the problems of the false doctrine in His day. And His followers had peace while they were with Him. There was peace in the truth of His teachings. The only time there wasn’t peace was when the scorners came along because they preferred the false doctrine. Certainly some of the scorners were the authors or perpetrators of the false doctrine He was dispelling.”
“Yes. Truths like that are so interesting to me.” Pastor James thought deeply for a few moments before being briefly interrupted. His secretary walked quietly up to him and handed him a note about a scheduled food drive. He then smiled a quiet thank you and she returned to her desk. The Pastor continued talking to Linda as he folded the note in half and stuck it in his shirt pocket.
"You've mentioned to me before, if my memory serves me correctly, that this scroll or ancient record you believe your father has learned about is very likely a record of an ancient people even of ancient prophets of God that not only teaches of Jesus Christ to the degree that it answers many of life's greatest questions, but that these answers in truth satisfy the deepest yearnings of the soul. But just as importantly, you feel that this ancient record has been brought to light only by divine power through a man inspired of God, but you nor your father know who that man is. Do I understand you correctly so far?"
"Yes."
"Then here's the bottom line: You simply cannot worry about who you may offend or who receives your discoveries favorably. You shouldn't concern yourself with worries over those people in life who look to turn anything and everything into a debate. There are some people that welcome anything God desires to reveal. There are others that are so closed to anything contrary to their imperfect views that they lock and bolt their hearts against truth. If you were to ask me what I think the chances are for your research or your father's research or your resulting museum being turned into a point of debate by others I think the chances are fairly high that it will be debated by some. Just remember a few things. First, some people care more about debate than about finding lifesaving truths and standing up for them regardless of whether it's truths about God for our individual salvation or truths to save our country or our families or our health or even our wealth. You can often spot those who are more interested in debate because their focus as they talk is more about if they are right and how they are right. They seek recognition and are often proud and at times insulting and contentious as opposed to those who do not seek debate.” He shook his head in reflection as if thinking back on some disappointing memories and then continued.
“But more importantly are those that are more interested in being peacemakers. Those that are peacemakers, those with integrity are more interested in what is right so they can make whatever changes they need in life to do what is right since learning about what is right and then doing it changes lives for the better and often times even saves lives and brings peace. Those who focus on learning what is right so they can beco
me better at doing good are usually not rude or contentious or proud in their language and communications, but they are instead very concerned for the wellbeing of all people who are affected by the revealing of or the hiding of certain truths.
“Good people, when given a choice, simply seek to expand the blessings that come from following what is right to as many as will freely follow correct principles and teachings to do those things that make themselves and their fellow men better people. Better people make for stronger communities, stronger cities and states and a stronger nation. The good fruits that come from it are clear that way. I mention this because debate so often goes with politics. That's why when I vote, I'd rather elect a man or woman who humbly strives to do good and lead a righteous life over someone who has years of experience in government. A good and honest person that may lack experience in government is still more likely to be humbly led by God through prayer and can be better able to recognize sound counsel and wisdom of others than a proud person who is convinced that he or she will do best to trust primarily in their own experience rather than seek divine guidance such as through prayer when making important decisions that affect the lives of others.
“Someone with humility is a person who's willing to admit they might be wrong in the course of corrective conversation and then be open to implementing better solutions suggested by others. A humble person doesn't have clear ambitions for power. A good person doesn't need to brag. Their life's choices, although at times imperfect, will often be right choices that strengthen themselves and others for good. A good person does what they say they will do and they tend to put principle above their party. They are unafraid to speak for themselves and let the consequences follow because they honestly believe in their heart that what they stand for is right rather than using a spokesperson to take the fall. And if you can find someone who has experience in government and is a good person with humility, that's a good choice to vote for."
Linda was deep in thought as she recognized that what he was teaching her felt like good counsel. She knew he was a man who was unafraid to speak the truth yet sensitive to the audience he addressed. This made him especially trustworthy. She continued to listen intently as Pastor James continued.
"The next thing to keep in mind is that throughout history, God has always followed a very specific pattern. Anytime God has revealed truths it has been through a prophet He has called and the truths revealed are often recorded as scripture and all scripture that is truly of God does three specific things: First, it teaches about God's character and the full meaning of His will as blessings for humankind. Second, truths revealed by God are intended to bring peace and stop contention by pointing out those teachings of the world or of men and women that are false doctrine. But this brings about peace only to the righteous not to the wicked. Because truths of God, true divine doctrine, justifies the righteous, it also simultaneously exposes the work of Satan as the fallen son of God and adversary of God and thereby more fully condemns the wicked who are inspired by Satan or otherwise misguided by him as he leads them to believe the lie that wrong choices can lead to happiness when in fact his happiness is a counterfeit and that always eventually leads to misery and pain.
“When the wicked feel condemned as they choose not to follow God's path towards true and lasting happiness, too often they seek to stir debate and justify their wrong choices rather than freely choosing to have a change of heart which causes them to confess their sins to God and those who they may have wronged and choose also to forsake their sins and do what is right in true repentance. Rather than become righteous and truly justified in Christ by His salvation, too often the wicked seek to argue to defend their sins and believe in the lie that there are no eternal consequences and the lie that so long as they don’t kill anyone then whatever they do is right even if the laws endorsed by man allow people to do things that are contrary to real happiness or contrary to God. But true doctrine teaches of Christ and brings peace to those who are righteous who are the sincere seekers of Christ and His salvation. The righteous will find joy in the truths of God.
“The third thing that true doctrine of God provides is multiple testimonies or witnesses of His truths. In 2 Corinthians 13:1, the Lord spoke through one of His apostles saying, 'In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.' In other words, true scripture and true teachings of Christ will always be supported by other scriptures and other prophets who witness to its truthfulness. It is also particularly witnessed of by the Father Himself, witnessing through His Holy Spirit. I’m still learning about that myself and all I can say about it now is that God witnesses his truth by peace – a feeling in the heart that only God can give. But He will give that feeling to anyone who will sincerely ask about His truths.
“So my counsel to you is not to worry because those things that are of God will be supported by Him in ways that can only be done by His power. Things of God are eternal and if there's ever anything about God that isn't clear, it's usually because man mixed it up somehow either accidentally or unfortunately intentionally as inspired of the devil. But God always has a way of making Himself and His teachings clear again by removing the often man made clouds of confusion or disagreement. Sometimes God will withhold truths and revelations of Him because we're not truly ready to hear it. But usually God wants His truths to be understood clearly and accurately and always for our blessings. So go forward with the faith that so long as you pray only to do what's right that things will go right and that there's no problem that can come up that you can't handle because with His power, nothing good is impossible."
"You said basically that sometimes we get truths about God mixed up, sometimes innocently from human error?” She asked.
“Yes.”
“Can you give me an example of that?" Linda asked intently. He smiled and motioned for Linda to follow him over to a shelf of books. They were a custom set of individual books of the bible from both the Old Testament and the New Testament. He removed several books from off of the shelf and began to put them back in different places.
"You see I’ve just moved these books that appear to be possibly out of order.”
“I see that.”
“For instance, many people don't realize that the books in the bible weren't put together in perfect order. That simple fact alone causes many people to misunderstand certain verses of scripture. When John wrote the book of Revelation, some of the books in the New Testament had not yet been written and those that had been written at that time still hadn't actually been compiled yet. It wasn't until many years after John's prophetic writings that the sixty-six books that make up the Bible were eventually compiled into one volume that puts at the end of the collection the book of Revelation.” He then took the book of Revelation and added it to the end of the set before he continued.
“So when people read in Revelation 22:18–19 “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book ,” people often misunderstand it. The warning to not add to or take away doesn't refer to either the New Testament or to the whole Bible because it only pertains to 'the words of “the book of this prophecy” which refers only to the prophecy contained in the book of Revelation that many scholars concede John wrote while on the Isle of Patmos.” He then removed again the book of Revelation to show it was just the vision in that book alone that was not to be added to. He then put the book back at the end of the set and led the way back over to the pew where they sat down again as he gave another example.
“Another honest mistake people so often make is that they aren't careful enough to notice that the warning uses the specific words of 'the words of the book of this prophecy' and 'the prophecy of this book' which u
ses the word 'book' in its singular form to refer only to The Revelation of St. John the Divine as is found in the King James Version of the Bible. Since it wasn't associated with any other books at the time it was written it had to be a referred to as a singular book since it wasn't even included in the New Testament canon until after many long years. Most people also don't realize that it wasn't until long after John left the Isle of Patmos that he actually wrote his first epistle. This means that he himself essentially added to the new canon of scripture of the New Testament after he wrote the book of Revelation.”
“I can see how people would misunderstand what John meant when they don’t understand how the bible was put together to begin with,” Linda said with her brows furrowed as she was learning something new.
“This is a vital truth to understand because it shows that he knew and taught by example that revelation of God continues. The verses in Revelation are similar to what was said earlier in the time of Moses in Deuteronomy 4:2, that says 'Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.' And in Deuteronomy 12:32, it reads: 'What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.' If those verses were to be misunderstood by us like the verses in Revelation are often misunderstood, then people would foolishly think it's right to throw out the greater portion of the Old Testament along with the entire New Testament. But unless people are more careful in their studies of sacred scriptures, they are prone to unfortunately get things wrong. So we must be patient with one another in what we learn and teach about God since so many of us are at different levels of understanding. Some people have more of a fullness of God's teachings and meanings than do others," he smiled gently. “God loves us so he sent his Son to provide a fullness of understanding what we need to do so we can feel his love better and eventually live with Him and those we love in a place of eternal love and happiness after we die.”
"Thank you so much, Pastor James. That really helps me have the right perspective about all of this," Linda said gratefully. Pastor James continued to smile understandably as he gave Linda a few encouraging pats on her hand.
"I don't have all of the right answers but the ones that I do have I'm happy to share," he replied humbly as she stood to leave.
"Well, what you said certainly feels true to me. It feels right."
"It feels right and true to me too." He then stood and put his hands in his pants pockets and smiled patiently.
"Thank you again."
"You're welcome, Linda. Have a good day."
"You too."
As Linda left, she decided she would record what he said as soon as she had the chance so she could use it as a guide during her research with her team. She knew his counsel and the peace that she felt should be written down so as to help her remember and also as a means of expressing gratitude to God for helping her to receive it.
"Linda," Pastor James called to her as she left. She turned back around and stopped to listen to him. "There's one more thing I'm reminded of."
"What's that?"
"God always let's us choose whether or not we will believe in Him, believe in his teachings or follow His teachings. He never forces us to do what's right. We are free to choose those things that will bring us happiness and salvation or to choose its opposite through choices that bring us misery and condemnation. But God wants us to make the choices to do what's right and to do so freely of our own will as often as possible to prove what we truly value in our hearts. The freedom to choose was one of the first lessons in the Garden of Eden and the freedom to choose to believe in God and his goodness or to not believe through freedom of religion as one of the primary foundations of our country is what makes the United States so very special and great as compared to all other nations. It's no coincidence that you are seeking God as you are at this time and in this place, a place for freedom of religion, freedom of conscience. Remember that the exercise of ones right to choose what is good and what is right in advance in an anticipation to overcome future temptation is one of the highest forms of expression of ones free will choice any man or woman or child can exercise pertaining to the right to choose freely. The best way to remember this is to live it daily."
"Thank you. I agree. Freedom of religion to freely teach and practice sacredly held beliefs, the freedom to be guided by our own conscience, is indeed one of the most important things that makes America great –– especially because so many of us still freely choose to believe in and worship God the Father through His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Personally, I believe that when we worship God we have greater love in our lives which is a key to our own personal and individual salvation, just as Jesus taught when He said to ‘love one another’."
As Pastor James nodded, smiling in humble agreement, Linda walked away wondering if what she was about to discover would cause even Pastor James to be offended. Or worse. To fight against her.
Chapter 12: Revealing God…and His Enemies