To start out I would like to reflect on a vision my wife had of Jesus and the church back in 2004, it is eye opening.
“I saw a vision of Jesus, he was as big as a house. He was knocking on the door of a church building. He turned and looked at me with a sad countenance and said, ‘They won’t let me into the church, and not only will they not let me in, they have taken out my message.’ (He was referring to dying on the cross for sins.) They began to water down and even stopped altogether mentioning My blood. He told me to ‘remind the church to let Him in and to remember that he died to wash away our sins.’ He then said he was ‘giving fresh new songs about the cross for those who are listening.’” (Alina Parrott)
In the current atmosphere and demands of this world, there’s many things we are preoccupied with in daily life, it’s understandable. There’s still responsibility to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads in the midst of increased national disruption. Coping with the aftermath of the PLANdemic producing deep uncertainties, rampant sickness mentally and physically, the murder and mutilation of children, out of control inflation reflecting a failing economy, a wide open Southern boarder, the political upheaval, and the fight against authoritarianism creating a dystopian worldview, has gripped the hearts of many with fear! Confusion! Trepidation! Rage! Distraction! Thus, the ears of the majority have become dull to what is eternal, even in the current “church” experience. Let’s face it, we have failed to keep our priorities straight in many ways, and we have reaped the consequences.
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” (Col. 2:9-10)
The million dollar question, is Jesus Christ still Lord or not? If so, what does that look like in our current situation? He must be the center of all things, especially being the Head of the church. Unfortunately, the spirit of this age, “the father of lies” has crept into the church to delude and misinform “Christians” regarding many things. One such “doctrine” is this notion of carte blanche submission to the STATE in the affairs and exercise of the church. Twisting the scriptures of, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers...” and “rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar’s,” that we forget to “render unto God what is God’s.” Who is the Highest power? What belongs to Caesar? Is your soul Caesar’s? Is the breath in your lungs Caesar’s? Is your energy and labor Caesar’s? Is your family Caesar’s? Is the church Caesar’s? These are abominable notions if we are rendering to Caesar what is CLEARLY ONLY God’s! The Lord is “pleading” with us. Wake up! It’s time to be alert, reconsider what we consent to, agree with. The contracts we sign, the forms we fill out “begging for benefits,” from another god, at what expense? “Shall we gain the whole world and lose our souls?” Repent for those ungodly covenants, and renounce the agreements (get out of bed with the STATE). ONLY then, there’s restored SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY to speak truth to power! God wants a restoration of His church being the light of the world and the salt of the earth. We are ambassadors from the jurisdiction of Christ’s kingdom. Think about what that really means? Represent well! God’s got our backs when we do things His way.
Our Head, Authority, needs to be Christ in all things. We need to know how He governs in this realm practically and theologically, not just philosophically and spiritually.
“The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner…”(Matt. 21:42)
“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:…” (Eph. 4:15)
“And he is the head of the body, the church… that he might have the preeminence.” (Col 1:18)
Does Caesar (rogue worldly governments) own us individually and collectively as the church? Is Caesar our head, deserving our allegiance? NO! The scripture states very clearly that Messiah is our Head and the owner of our lives. Therefore, He deserves our allegiance.
I received a letter from John MacArthur a few years ago, with the headline” CHRIST, NOT CAESAR IS HEAD OF THE CHURCH.” I say amen. He has led a noble cause of resistance to the STATE for their overreach and soft tyranny. Yet we need to back up for a minute and consider how we got here? Be brave enough to evaluate the truth about the status and standing of most 501c3 “churches” in America. They are incorporated UNDER the STATE (the creator of the corporation) therefore, there’s an obligation to obey their “STATE master,” according to their consent or it’s considered rebellion. Unfortunately, we get what we signed up for, knowingly or unknowingly! It doesn’t cease to amaze me when “Christians” are shocked when the STATE abuses its power, like it’s something unusual. A snake will always act like a snake. A wolf will always have the appetite of a predator.
The voice of the church was very influential in colonial America to modern history. It was, and still is, protected with IMMUNITY from the STATE by the 1st amendment, “Congress shall make no law…” Unfortunately, back in the 1950’s, through the craftiness of demonized politicians, lawyers, and CPA’s, in conjunction with the unsuspecting clergy, the church’s moral compass began to erode significantly. Why? Metaphorically, an out of control snowball from hell, called, The Johnson Act of 1954. It brought precedence to the STATE controlled 501c3 “non-profit corporation.” Duped ministers went along with this mis-categorization of the church, which cut the legs out from underneath their First Amendment immunity with a stroke of the pen. The initiation of an unholy covenant began, mind you, this was voluntary NOT by law. So subtle, like The Serpent! This is no small matter, it’s foundational. Offering diabolical “hush money,” for alleged, “benefits.” This is the origin where the church agreed to “shut up” from being the moral compass in politics, and in “public policies” at large. To this day they are bludgeoned with the lie and misinterpretation of “the separation of church and state.”
I’m compelled to prophetically speak the truth in love. Ask yourself, how did the church form before 1954? Even a further question, what authority did the church preexist under before the nation was even formed? How do we get back to our roots? How can we regain the status as a free, organic church? Un-apologetically, it is necessary to meddle, IN HOPE to initiate positive change. God cares about purity, saints. We need to face the stone cold truth of our condition and how we got here. Who’s the head of the current religions organization I’m affiliated with? God said, “Come out from among them My people and touch not the unclean thing…” Come out from these ungodly structures, the snares of the STATE. BE free from the bondage, BE the ekklesia of Jesus Christ. Make the right decisions now, the whole nation is in the balance needing the godly influence of the church restored. God says, “it’s a fearful thing being in the hands of the Living God.” Ministers and saints, don’t overreach or make rash decisions, seek God, be honest, pray about this matter. Get strategy from heaven that harmonizes with the Word for restored kingdom authority, “as in heaven so on earth.” Jesus wants His church back!
When we understand the truth from a Biblical and historical viewpoint we can make solid decisions in daily life with the preeminence of Christ in mind. All glory to our King. TOGETHER, pursuing full surrender to The Head, “Christ, who is our life.” Col. 3.
