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Are the majority right in regards to the gospel? I don’t think so. The main way I showed this was with my papers on death and trinity. I will now further explore this majority wrong phenomenon.

Peoples have had all kinds of superstitious beliefs throughout history. Before practical science proved otherwise, all kinds of strange notions were held. Mythology and misconceptions ruled the day for a very long time. Great majorities would believe in something as ridiculous as a flat earth.

I bring this historical fact up to debunk the idea that the majority is always right. I also believe that mythology has greatly influenced the beliefs of modern Christianity. The immortality of the soul is a myth that just keeps living. Multiple Gods morphed into trinity.

I can understand going with the majority in a lot of day to day decisions and observations. The majority believes:

Water is wet

Grass is green

The sky is blue

We all need oxygen to breathe

We all need to drink water

We all need to eat food

Cars are for transportation

A house is good for shelter

The majority believes these things because they are true. The minority opinion on these observations wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. When it comes to simple facts, I like being with the majority. The problem arises in general when you try and apply this group think to more complex issues.

Agree with the majority on everything or you are a whacko

Everyone knows you go to heaven when you die

Are you part of one of them there cults or something?

It turns into classic peer pressure thought. Believe this because the majority does. Don’t be an oddball. Some issues are more complex than just turning them over to the masses for a majority vote.

Determining the truth turns into some sort of political decision of appeasement. Even in politics it is amazing how certain points of view can radically change in terms of public support. When this happens: group think logic eats itself for all to see. The person who originally had the minority view suddenly gets the majority on their side. Are they suddenly more right than they were before? Was their point only good once the majority agreed?

By way of for instance I give you Israel’s decision in the eighties to bomb Iraq’s nuclear facility. They were roundly criticized by most of the world including the United States. Now that more has come to light in terms of the wicked leadership of Iraq, the majority would at least see where Israel had a point. I’m sure Sodom insane and a number of radical muslims still don’t agree. In their circles I’m sure there is pressure to still say Israel was completely wrong. However, popular opinion did shift. When did this become a good idea?

Another popular tactic is to sling the good old “cult” label on those with minority opinions on scripture. If you don’t go with the majority you must be ready to commit suicide and try to ride the nearest comet. One must lead to the other to trivialize your point. There are only two groups given this way of thinking. Those in the majority who are right and the minority who must be crazy well past the simple disagreement they have in the Bible. Nice and tidy, isn’t it?

All kinds of labels and ideals can get assigned to you by going against the majority. Maybe you are the militant type like David’s wacky Waco crew. Or maybe you are just trying to rebel as though you want all this heat.

My personal favorite is that you must have been brainwashed. My favorite group saying this are those who can’t back their arguments up with scripture and logic. Who was brainwashed again exactly? What do you call stereotyping a minority opinion into some insane sect? What do you call blindly going against a point of view which is established with many passages from the Bible?

It is also funny when some of the same groups saying you were brainwashed act as though you just need to hear out their side. They make a great point out of being in the majority and then act like you haven’t heard their side a million or more times. You are not in the minority because you haven’t heard the majority view. By definition the majority view is out there way more than the minority view. They want you to be open minded with something you have already had to at least consider. They will then proceed to be completely closed minded on your side which they probably haven’t really heard out at all.

The whole things reeks of an ad homonym attack which is just so Christian isn’t it? I guess when you can’t win a debate on the facts this attacking the messenger is the only available tactic. It is a sure sign that someone isn’t confident on the facts driving their point of view. If they were, they would stick to the scriptures and logic. “You’re crazy” is their whole case.

I will use their numbers against them in my next point. Say an overwhelming majority had the truth on their side given what the Bible says. Say the minority were way off base. The majority should have an automatic advantage for a couple reasons.

1) There should be some strength in sheer numbers

Say I took one thousand and ten lawyers and divided them into one group of a thousand and the other group of ten. Say I parted them at random unless you want to say I put the wisest in the ten group, which would hurt your side. You don’t want to say the minority are just wiser. Then I could just say the minority are wiser and figured things out where the majority couldn’t.

Also, say the facts of the case are clearly with the majority. Finally, say you gave them years to bring their final arguments forth. Wouldn’t the majority group be able to hone some really devastating arguments? By combining their mental acumen the large group could really bounce a lot of ideas off each other. The best arguments could be built on by many others.

Even if you weed out the lesser ones in the thousand group, the best in this group should have quite an arsenal. They could mine all manner of precedents and points to be made from the many others generating all kinds of work product. They could eventually sift through the weak ideas and find out the strongest case. Two heads are better than one so a huge majority should be better equipped than a small minority.

2) Greater minds should emerge from the majority

Why do you think high school sports are divvied up by size of the school? By pooling from the larger group the larger school will generally find more athletes in their school. Say one in ten boys are truly gifted at football.

On average, the school with five hundred Jr. and Sr. guys should have about fifty with the ability to play. It is good to have about 30-50 players to cover offense, defense, and special teams and allow for backups. Even some of the good players wouldn’t see the field much.

A school with fifty Jr. and Sr. guys would probably only have about five who could really play. They would have to fill the roster with others who weren’t athletically gifted. It is possible to have one or more great players born in a small town but in general there is a huge inherent advantage for the big school. This is why they have a, aa, aaa.

If I pool from the overwhelming majority who believe in trinity or the immortality of the soul I should find standouts who can really debate. There should be more on this side if it were a neutral proposition. If they have the facts on their side, they should be able to back their position far better than the wacko: shouldn’t they. He is not even dealing with a full deck. His arguments should pale in comparison to the best of the other side.

They say they have a bunch of people on their side so they must be right. I say they have so many on their side they should be able to prove they are right beyond a doubt. Compare any work using scripture to my papers.

By the way: this is not about my ego. I could just be a wacko or the lesser athlete from the high school football analogy. If you think I can’t debate, it only bolsters my case. The most effective side combines facts with someone who knows how to use them. If I can’t do a good job presenting my side and it holds up to challenges: there must be something to my side.

Again, look at any book, paper, pamphlet, or speech given to prove trinity or the immortality of the soul. The ultimate guide we have for truth is the Bible. How do they use it compared to how I use it. Which side makes the most sense? This is all that should matter. If anything, their numbers should put them at a distinct advantage to outdo little old me.

I have used all these rambling debates to address a general attitude. I think they are worth your perusal. They at least give you a different perspective to consider when looking at majority and minority beliefs and who holds them.

The next logical question you might ask would start with why or how. How or why did the majority get the Bible so wrong? Even given my public opinion example, couldn’t they get it right eventually? Not necessarily.

Far better than using my logic and debates is using scripture to show the right. I will first show that only those chosen of God see the truth of the Bible. I will then show that most people aren’t chosen of God. If I prove these points by citing scripture it should be no surprise that the majority are wrong. That is what these two points logically add up to.

(Matthew 11:25-27 At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes, Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight. All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.)

Notice first that God hid knowledge from one group and revealed it unto another. God has the right and the ability to open or shut the minds of whomsoever he will. Then, even the worst sinners might well know the name of Christ. Only through God opening their eyes can they really know him and his significance.

(Matthew 13:10-13 And the disciples came and said unto Him, “Why speakest Thou unto them in parables?” He answered and said unto them, “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I unto them in parables: because they seeing see not: and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.)

Notice the word “given.” The mysteries of the kingdom of God are just that (mysterious) until and unless God gives someone to know them. It isn’t just a matter of who does the best research into scripture. There is something deeper going on here.

Christ spoke to huge masses. The Bible is in any number of households. Only certain are given to understand what is said. Others simply are not even though they see and hear the same things.

If you read on into 15 you should see that this lack of understanding leads to destruction. This withholding of the gospel gift might sound cold or callous. To me it again underscores the extreme importance of the knowledge of the basic gospel in regards to salvation. It also shows me that God won’t be used.

The general idea is to get baptized believing the truth of the gospel story and hold on until your end. Those who do this are basically the ones who will be saved. This sounds easy enough. The rub comes when you realize that God only extends this gift to those whose heart is right. I discussed the importance of this thoroughly in my paper on works and repentance.

If you want to game God’s system you will lose. A lot of people out there want to believe just enough and then go on with their life. They want the gospel to just be a get out of jail free card in their back pocket. These are the ones who will never see the truth. God will not allow the gospel to be trivialized by letting them see it.

To see the truth is like an internal check mark of approval. God at least sees whoever gets it as worthy of a chance. Then, it is up to the individual to do what they will with this chance. But seeing it in the first place was not just a matter of chance. It is a blessing.

(Matthew16:16, 17 And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered and said unto him, “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.)

Again, seeing the truth is a blessing given from God.

(Acts 2:47 -----And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.)

The apostles were out spreading the word as much as possible at this time. The gospel was being taught for the ultimate purpose of salvation. God didn’t leave who heard it and understood up to random chance.

Everyone has a choice and a chance. However, God is the one who chooses whom he will. Those who “should be saved” had to receive the gospel to achieve their destiny. There would be no reason for God to open the minds of those to be destroyed because they won’t be covered by the sacrifice of Christ.

The converse of those who “should be saved” are those who shouldn’t. God has no responsibility to open the path of salvation to those in this group. It would almost be like tricking or teasing them anyway. It would be like giving someone a ticket to the show only to chuck them out once they showed up with it.

God has some amazing way of telling the future and reading hearts. With his ability he can pick and choose on the fly. He knows who he wants saved and who should be destroyed. We are limited. We will only truly know who is saved in the end.

Pay close attention at this time to the story of the eunuch in Acts 8:26-40. Also notice the story of Cornelius in the tenth chapter. In both cases it is clear that God wanted the gospel to be preached to a particular individual.

In 10:2 it identifies the type of person Cornelius was. God must have seen him as someone that should be saved. These stories of conversion did not revolve around chance. God adds those he wants through belief in the gospel. Why would he make it known to those he doesn’t want?

If these aren’t enough, read the story of Saul in between these chapters in the ninth chapter of Acts. Christ talked directly to him to straighten him out. To me the scales represent spiritual blindness. Paul was given sight of the truth at this time. He didn’t just stumble across it on his own.

(Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.)

Just read “as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” Some are appointed to eternal life. This happens first through belief in the gospel and baptism. This all comes together in God’s plan. He appoints them through the truth. Their belief is not an accident.

(Romans 8:29, 30 For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.)

Salvation is meant to be. Belief in the gospel is an essential part of salvation. It must also fall in the meant to be category.

(Romans 11:7-10 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded<According as it is written, “God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear”;> unto this day. And David saith, “Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and recompense unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always.”)

Was it an accident that the elect of the tribe of Israel believed in Christ? Were Paul and Peter just brighter than the ones who didn’t see that the time of the law was over? I don’t think it is a question of intelligence. It says “and the rest were blinded.”

When you are blinded you can’t see something no matter how hard you look. You can even be wise enough to know exactly where and when to look. Blind is blind. This blindness was given to them by God for a purpose.

Verses 11 and 12 go on to explain how their fall was a chance for the gentiles. Paul picks up on this with the olive tree analogy in the 11th chapter of Romans. The majority of Israel didn’t please God. He wasn’t trying to offer them salvation any more.

The minority of the group which he wanted had their eyes opened to Christ. The rest were blinded so they could not understand him. It would serve no purpose for God to try and get rid of them only for them to understand the new platform of salvation. He didn’t want them to see it because they disappointed him. He wanted them to be blind and so they were.

This lesson is made directly meaningful to the church in the olive branch analogy. If you don’t come to God with a pure heart he can hide the truth from you just as easy. Also, as Galatians 3:28 and Colossians 3:11 point out, there is neither Jew nor Greek in the church age. This lesson of being blinded is applicable to everyone. If God chose to blind the majority of his first love: why not do the same with the majority of the gentiles?

(1st Corinthians 2:9-14 But as it is written, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” But God hath revealed him unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.)

The ability to learn God’s word all starts with having his spirit in you. The Holy Ghost performed all kinds of physical miracles. I believe God can also use it as a mental influence.

With God’s Spirit understanding is beyond easy. It is meant to be. You can’t miss it. Without God’s spirit it is beyond difficult. It is impossible. It will only be foolishness to you. God chooses who to give the spirit to.

(2nd Corinthians 4:3, 4, 6 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them.----For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.)

Can’t you now see that seeing the gospel is more than blind chance or whoever be the most clever. It is hidden to those that are lost. Their minds have been blinded. There is a greater power in play. There is something deeper and more telling going on.

I take “the god of this world” as God because he is God of everything. I have heard it debated that it would be Satan since most of the world is under his spell. This is plausible to me. Either way though, Satan can’t go beyond what God allows. Read the story of Job for one thing. Also this would still be a greater power than man.

Notice the phrase “lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ---should shine unto them.” Using the word “lest” tells me it would have happened otherwise. They are blinded because they are trying to see but God doesn’t want them to based on other reasons. There would be no need to blind someone if they weren’t looking for it anyway. Also take from this phrase that this is speaking directly of the gospel.

This whole thing makes perfect sense to me. There are basically only two groups or classes of people in my mind. Those God wants with him for eternity and those he will destroy. He determines who goes into which group through general faith and trust, belief in the gospel then baptism, works and repentance, and a heart that loves him.

Belief in the basic gospel and baptism are the essential foundation of building salvation. God could still reject someone who believed the gospel their whole life and was baptized in this faith. I say this only as a matter of argument because I can’t completely prove my next point or judge someone 100%.

Basically, I think someone as described above will enter into the kingdom. If God didn’t want them in he wouldn’t have opened their eyes to begin with. This, or he can give someone a chance and later blind their eyes once they reach a certain point of disappointment. I have seen some enter our church believing the gospel. They then live in a questionable fashion and then forget and latch onto some other church and doctrine. I can’t make a final judgment but it sure appears as though they were weeded out.

How would it be fair if salvation had to start with faith in the basic gospel and some righteous person weren’t quite smart or fortunate enough to see it. Would this be just by God? God can always make a way. He made Solomon wiser. He doesn’t need to go back on his word on the importance of Christ to get someone in.

Conversely, wouldn’t it put God in an awkward position if someone who didn’t really love him tried and succeeded to believe just enough to cover themselves? They could just believe the basic story of Christ and be baptized and then do whatever in the world they wanted. God takes care of all this long before the judgment. The person with this attitude won’t receive God’s spirit and won’t see the truth. It is every bit as just and right as making sure the one with the right heart does see it.

He can’t leave this stuff up to chance given the importance of it. He will live up to his word in regards to salvation. Those who die believing the gospel will be saved. Those who don’t believe it won’t be. The only justice is to make sure the right people fall into the proper category.

(Ephesians 1:17, 18 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,)

Paul knew that even with all his words it was up to God to open the eyes of the readers. This whole chapter is good to this subject. Verse 4 speaks of being “chosen in Him before the foundation of the world.” Verse 5 says “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself.” This again tells me that God had a plan for those who are his before they knew anything about it. Coming into Christ is something which is meant to be from God.

God can send someone your way to preach like he did in Acts. He can then “give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” If it was just up the individual to stumble onto the gospel of Christ it would have nothing to do with a predestined plan. It would have nothing to do with God giving you a spirit of wisdom or enlightening the eyes of understanding.

(2nd Thessalonians 2:10-12 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.)

Maybe you thought I was crazy when I first started this subject. Churches don’t talk about it much. If this isn’t talking about seeing the truth being decided by God, what is it talking about?

First look at “received not the love of the truth.” In order to receive, someone has to give. God only gives this gift out of love. If God doesn’t give it to an individual then they don’t receive it. They will never get it. This leads to them not getting saved. It says “that they might be saved” after “received not.”

It then says “God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” This isn’t the god of this world. This is just good old God. He doesn’t want them to see it. He is making sure they don’t. He is directly intervening such that they don’t accept truth which would lead to salvation.

He clouds their mind so they turn to false doctrine. He does this because he finds them worthy of destruction. It says “that they all might be damned who believed not the truth.” This blinding is done for a specific reason. You just don’t get to believe the truth if God doesn’t want you to. He won’t let anyone use his plan against him.

What would the last phrase “but had pleasure in unrighteousness” have to do with seeing the truth if I were wrong? What does one have to do with the other? A clever person could still understand the rather basic gospel story while committing all the sins in the world. I say this is referring to someone with the wrong heart trying to understand the gospel. This does matter if you accept that God determines who sees the truth.

It is ultimately self serving to want to have eternal life. It is self serving not to want to get thrown in flames. This isn’t bad. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

The problem is that there has to be more driving you in finding God. You must love and respect him. I went into this in great detail in my paper on works and repentance.

A lot of people will make some effort to understand the gospel so they can get everything God offers. They just don’t want to put much effort into doing God’s will. They don’t like the obedience part of the equation of salvation. This self serving manifestation is not admirable. Self preservation is a base part of what we are.

Just tell me the password and I will be all right. If this is your attitude you won’t get the password. God will make sure you don’t. The idea of a password is to give it to only those you want in. God isn’t an idiot. You can’t throw out the point of works and repentance and slide by through faith in Christ only. You won’t even really understand Christ with this start point.

People will say if someone really, really wants to see then God should let them. God should only ever do what he thinks is just. His will is for those in the above passage not to see it. This must be righteous judgment since it is from God. He isn’t going to reward those who want salvation on the cheap.

(2nd Timothy 2:25, 26 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.)

(2nd Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment to be punished)

I throw this into the discussion pile as to further establish God’s motive for what he does. By making sure the unjust don’t see the truth he is reserving their spot in the line of the final judgment. Their accepting the truth of Christ through baptism would only get in the way of this. The bottom line is that they just don’t deserve it. God gives people what they deserve: good or bad. He makes sure of it either way. This is perfect justice.

Say someone didn’t do their job and got fired. Would it be cruel for the company to make sure they didn’t have a code to get on the payroll or receive benefits? Of course the person would still really like to be paid. Is this fair on their part? They should have done their job and they would be given a code and all would be fine.

The point is that most everyone wants the benefits God offers. The true knowledge of the significance of Christ is like the code that gives you this. The rub comes when you realize that God decides who gets it. You better do what he says and get right with him if you really, really want it.

(1st John 2:20, 21, 27 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. ---------But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.)

The entire end of this chapter is instructive on this topic. Notice closely that it is an unction or anointing from above that reveals the truth. Verses 18 and 26 speak of antichrists or those who try to seduce away from the truth. To me this is the prevailing wisdom of the world. It is at odds with the truth of God.

(1st John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He That is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.)

These verses reveal the heart of the matter. There are two spirits at play in mankind. Some have the spirit of God/ truth and others have the spirit of antichrist/ error. These are the root cause of belief.

The spirit of God leads to the truth. The spirit of antichrist leads to error. In this case John deals with Christ coming in the flesh. Only the spirit of God inside will lead to the outward admission in verse 2. The spirit of antichrist leads to verse 3.

It wasn’t some random accident which side people fell on. It was where they were lead by the spirit inside them. It is an outward manifestation of an internal reality. What they proclaim with their mouth is a sure tell of what spirit is inside them to begin with.

Verse six makes it quite clear that those who are of God will hear the message. Those who aren’t of God won’t hear it. It isn’t someone believing the truth and thereby making themselves one of God’s but the opposite. God makes them to know because they are his. The cause and effect flows from God to the hearer not the other way.

Verse one says “many false prophets are gone out into the world.” Verse 4 states “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” Verse five makes it clear that the world will hear the antichrist. The truth won’t make sense to most of the world.

The world has to refer to the people of the world. I’m quite sure it isn’t talking about the actual ground and water of the earth believing something. It is talking in generality. The great majority will be lead by the spirit of antichrist.

I take this much like when it says that all men have sinned or that Israel has fallen going into the New Testament. Christ didn’t sin but the rest have so this statement is true save for a noted exception. Apostles and some of the early church were of Israel but the vast majority were lost in the Law.

The world has to refer to the great majority of the world. Some will be lead by the spirit of God but these are the exception. This neatly brings us to our next topic.

-----the Few, the Unproud, the Saints-----

(Matthew 7:13, 14 Enter ye in at the straight gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.)

To say that most will be saved is to go directly against this quote. Only few will be saved. You must take a difficult and strict path. The wide path is the many ways of the world. It is easy to find many on this easy path.

The rest of this chapter is also relevant. Verse 15 shows that false prophets will come in sheep’s clothing. They will represent the way of Christ while really preaching damnable heresy. They don’t come representing some other God or the devil. They try to look like one of the good guys according to scripture.

Verses 22 and 23 show that many who think they have a personal relationship with Christ have only a one sided relationship. Christ plainly tells them he never knew them. I bring these up because I have heard those in the Christian majority refer to my first quote as those outside of Christianity.

They will say those on the broad way are Muslims, Buddhists, pagans, atheists, or anyone who doesn’t accept Christ. I guess you could look at these groups as a part of that. However, I think this includes a lot of so called Christians out there. The rest of the chapter further clarifies this. Most of those who think they have Christ on their side really don’t.

(Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.)

Christ also says this in 20:16 but I love the context here. If you read the parable leading up to this you can easily tell who this is about. From the parable I would take Israel as those originally invited to the wedding feast. The strangers invited afterward would be the church age. Like Israel, many of these will get kicked out for being unworthy.

I would take the many literally as those who hear some version of the Bible story through some effort of their own. At that time it could be the multitude who gathered to hear Christ. These days a lot of people show up to some church at least on occasion. In the parable the guests made some effort in showing up at least.

Even just a few of these will ultimately make it. Those who are a part of some other religion other than Christianity aren’t even at the wedding to me. They are obviously left out altogether. This is segmenting it down to just a few of those called.

(Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.)

I again find someone like say Muhammad to be largely irrelevant to Christ. It is true that there are many Muslims but they have nothing to do with Christ anyway. This is talking about many false prophets deceiving many during the church age. There were already all manner of other Gods and religions since the time of Israel.

If you read 8-13 this sounds like part of a falling away anyway. If you count all Christians as the true church where is this these days? I think the deception and falling away is in the church itself. This becomes even more clear as you continue with the chapter.

(Matthew 24:23, 24 Then if any man shall say unto you, ‘Lo, here is Christ,’ or ‘there;’ believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.)

These false prophets are clearly representing Christ. They are not obviously false such that captain obvious can point them out. They try to twist scripture to deceive the elect if that were possible. They aren’t the guy that tells you to kill yourself to make the next comet. They aren’t part of a religion that doesn’t accept Christ or the true God. They are deceiving large numbers of people in regards to the ways and doctrine of Christ.

(Matthew 24:26, 27 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, ‘Behold, He is in the desert;’ go not forth: ’behold, He is in secret chambers;’ believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.)

If verse 26 doesn’t sound exactly like the rapture; I don’t know what does in the Bible. Anything less than an obvious to everyone and earth shattering return is not Christ. You must dismiss anything else out of hand. The desert or secret chambers are just examples although secret chambers in particular sounds just like the rapture. Anything less than 27-31 is false doctrine.

This is important because people use rapture or Christ has already returned as a vehicle to the idea you don’t have to wait on him for your reward. They say he is already here somehow so you can somehow get your reward secretly at your death. This is quite prevalent with Jehovah’s witness and the Christian church. This example of false prophecy is exactly what I am talking about. It involves Christ and the gospel.

These false prophets twist the story of Christ. This isn’t Buddha revealing some different story. This is a spin on Christ’s return leading someone away from the true gospel story. Most of those who say they follow Christ are duped by false prophets. Those who are completely outside (Buddhists, Muslims, pagans, atheists, scientologists) are easy enough for most anyone who has even looked inside the cover of the Bible to spot.

(Luke 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.)

To me this is so relevant in regards to the big time, big number, big name preachers and their large congregations. You aren’t necessarily shooting truth just because you can get a bunch of people feeling good about what you say. You should never craft your message to find consensus. You should speak the truth and let that draw a dividing line.

When the majority spoke well of false prophets did it make their message any more true? Is it any different today? Isn’t Christ saying that majority consensus is actually a bad thing? People pleasing can draw numbers but it inhibits the truth.

(Luke 17:25-30 But first must He suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.)

I don’t like to try and predict when Christ will come exactly. I don’t know the day, hour, or year. I can say that the last country to stand by Israel is the United States and this has become a burden. It is as a millstone around the neck internationally. I have nothing at all against Israel but this is prophecy being fulfilled to me. It points to the return at somewhat of a near point to me.

I am also not saying it will be exactly like Noah and the flood. It sounds like a fair number of regular folk will make it for the thousand year reign. However, the point here is that the overwhelming majority of people are at odds with God. Many of these will be destroyed on the spot.

In Noah’s case only eight were saved and only Lot and his daughters made it out of Sodom. Again this isn’t to say only eight will be righteous when Christ comes but I think it will be an overwhelming minority. The massive mega millions of Christians worldwide don’t sound anything like these examples. Luke 18:8 also makes this point to me with a rhetorical question about Christ looking for faith at his return.

The entire 17th chapter of John flows with both my main points. Verses 2, 6, 9, 10, and 11 all make it clear that God gave certain people to follow Christ. Verses 9, 11, 14, 16, and 18 show these chosen are at odds with the world.

(Acts 15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom My name is called, saith the Lord, ’Who doeth all these things.’)

(Romans 9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the Sea, a remnant shall be saved)

(Romans 11:2-5 God hath not cast away His people which He foreknew. Wot ye not what the Scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, “Lord, they have killed Thy prophets, and digged down Thine alters; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.” But what saith the answer of God unto him? “I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.” Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.)

Even though Israel was chosen of God, only a small percentage were really his. They had major rebellion in the wilderness. Then, over time things got even worse. Many of them forgot the miracles handed down by their fathers. They even forgot their responsibilities under the law. They got caught up in idolatry.

Over time things only got worse. This lead to the quote in 11:2-5. Only seven thousand stayed loyal to the true God by that point. Even then, God stayed with them. He didn’t go to the gentiles until things got even worse further down the road.

What does all this have to do with how many are his at this point of the church age? To me it is part of a trend. When God let’s things go with mankind things only go downhill by his standards.

When too many people got together with too much capability in Genesis 11 God split them through language. I already mentioned the flood where the entire world was wicked saving for one small family. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by God due to their wickedness.

Most of the tribe of Israel who went into the wilderness weren’t given to see the Promised Land. God directly killed large numbers of them along the way. This was with him directly shepherding them with a pillar of fire and a cloud leading the way. He even talked to them directly. They still went astray in large numbers.

Where do you think the church stands after about two thousand years? They weren’t even God’s first choice. It has been a long time since the miracles of Christ and the apostles. I think these were directly comparable to the miracles God showed Israel in getting them out of Egypt. But when the cat’s away the mice will play.

I see Sodom and Gomorrah all around me. I think the true church is at a low point. It has been swallowed up by a counterfeit. The counterfeit is geared to attract big numbers. It plays to what the majority want and not what God wants. God is just waiting until the day of the Lord to set things straight.

This is again comparable to Israel to me. When Christ came there were huge numbers of Pharisees and Sadducees. There were all kinds of people in Israel listening to their rabbis and thinking they were doing God’s will still. Even to this day there are a lot of people who still follow some form of Judaism. I’m sure if you ask them that they think this makes them right with God.

The problem was that the great numbers were all going in the wrong direction together. Only the small percentage of Israel who accepted Christ were eligible for salvation. God opened their eyes and shut the eyes of the rest. I’m sure within the Jewish community they don’t feel blind or lost to this day. The majority who didn’t accept Christ could look at the minority as freaks.

(1st Corinthians 1:26-28 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And the base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to not things which are)

Can you see that this isn’t about being intelligent or powerful? The despised and lowly are the ones God has chosen. I think this also applies to people with great power or sway in a spiritual sense. The most powerful preachers didn’t get there by telling the truth of the Bible. It just isn’t that marketable or palatable these days.

(2nd Corinthians 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.)

It is the many who corrupt the word of God. This was already true in Paul’s time. Do you think it has actually gotten better over the years? Are you still dying to be a part of the majority?

(2nd Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.)

The false prophet isn’t the guy who gets you to wear black, listen to satanic music, read the satanic bible, paint a pentagram, or such like. They aren’t really the ones who represent another God either. These are easy enough for anyone to spot.

The false prophets the Bible speaks of are far more cunning. They pretend to represent the scriptures with their message. The problem is that they don’t. They deliver a counterfeit message with a little truth and the right name mixed in.

They love the name of Jesus Christ. It covers all their lies to those who don’t know better. Just package your story with Jesus Christ and most people won’t tear open the package to check what your giving them. Even if it’s a ticking time bomb!

They then rely on a domino effect. They sell some watered down message of love and Jesus or love of Jesus. They put on a good and entertaining show. As people flock to them they become more credible in the eyes of many because a lot of people go to them. Therefore they must be right. Then more people go which perpetuates the cycle.

It almost becomes a circular argument where flocks go to them because they are right and they are right because they have a large flock. Never mind that large numbers might be turning to them as not to get offended and because they offer the easy way. This is irrelevant. They are so popular that they must represent God’s way. If this isn’t the broad path that leads to destruction, I don’t know what is.

(Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world)

(Titus 2:14 Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.)

(1st Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light)

My studies show that peculiar could also be translated special or elect respectively. Does this sound like a majority?

(2nd Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition)

You should see my point when you link this verse with the previous quotes. The true church was only a select group to begin with. What is it after many fall away?

This is then backed up by the third chapter of 2nd Timothy. I think this chapter crystallizes how I already described the downfall of the true church. The first verse proclaims the state of the “last days.” At about two thousand years after this was written I think this has been building for quite a while.

Verses 2-4 describe the natural, fleshly, and sinful state mankind will delve into on the whole. I think this is the state of our current world. There are few inhibitions and many unfettered desires and untimely imaginations running wild. The fact that most are falling deep into this is telling me that most aren’t in the true church. These are lead by the flesh and not the spirit of God.

Verses 5 and 7 are then particularly revealing. I love “having a form of Godliness,” and “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” We are talking about people who follow some form of Christianity here. They know some Bible verses. They might even study.

This is the counterfeit church. There are plenty out there which fall into this. They attract a lot the people described in the first four verses who want to try and cover themselves with God. The downfall of generations is directly correlated to the upswing of counterfeit churches just lowering the bar and aiming to please.

I really think the persecution verse 12 speaks of could refer at least in part to how the counterfeit treats the true church as time goes on. Remember the good old fashioned cult label I discussed? This is the main persecution I see nowadays. At least this is my observation given the majority Christian United States where I reside. The ungodly who claim Christ love to persecute those who “live godly in Christ Jesus.”

Verse 13 again refers to the declining state of the truth as time goes on in the church age. One false prophet builds on another who then builds on another’s lie. This spreads just as corruption or leaven spreads. It infects and keeps getting worse in the mainstream. It doesn’t get better for the mass message. Christianity is so watered down with paganism and hearsay that it has lost touch with the Bible.

(2nd Timothy 4:3, 4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.)

This fits right in with the gist of my paper. Is fitting in and believing with the majority a good idea given this verse? Is having a big flock proof that a preacher is shooting truth out his mouth? A lot of people don’t want the truth. They can’t handle the truth.

Many will search out someone who preaches exactly what they want to hear. If they can just get a preacher to say what they want to hear, this must make it gospel. This is all the confirmation they need. Does a guy with a fancy suit saying something in front a large group make it any more true with God?

These guys that a bunch of self serving people prop up as preachers aren’t to be respected in a spiritual sense. They are a cardboard cutout effigy of the wicked desires of a mob. Having a large number in a mob doesn’t make them right or serving righteousness. It doesn’t make the one leading them anything more than a rebel rouser.

I see fables in place of the true faith all the time. People want so much for their lost love one to be in heaven that he must be. They all get together to convince themselves of this. They hire a preacher to tell them this at the funeral. He must be right because a whole bunch of people at the funeral agree with him. You and your little old cult don’t know what you’re talking about.

People want to place Christ on such a pedestal that he must just be God. They want a comic book hero to accept. He can’t just be a man using the power of God like the apostles did. This isn’t big enough. Give them superJesus or spiderJesus.

Pagan days and rituals are the norm. They become the focal point of service. Fables and idolatry over fact.

They want love to become a magical and all engulfing word for God. Throw away faith, works, and baptism. Love is the overwhelming mystical force of salvation. Love is magic. Love is God.

Give them a show baby. People want to see David Blain on Sundays. Someone comes up with an exaggerated limp. The faith healin preacher smacks him on the forehead and he leaps in the air like Michael Jordan.

Give them a show y’all. Pump loud music throughout the church. Get them jumpin up and down so much they forget who they are and where they are and why they came. Is this a rave or church service, I forget? This is conducive to reason and understanding isn’t it?

Make it fun and don’t intrude player. Give the audience what they want. This is good marketing. The show must go on. Don’t let the Bible get in the way of some fun at church.

Look, the statue’s bleeding.

Look, the statue’s crying.

Look, the statue’s jumpin in the air like Michael Jordan after the preacha slapped it about the head.

Look, in the air, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, no it’s super preacher.

Mix in some stories of some patron saints. They are saints by the way because the group that worships them say they are. They are God. They are Elvis. They are who you should bow down to. Their story proves the ones who believe the story are right. A whole bunch of people say they are saints so God has to agree. They are mythological Titans.

Why do those with itching ears go at all?

Gamble at church (BINGO!!!!!!!!)

Meet Mr. or Mrs. Right (forget chat lines or clubs)

See the show (it’s free if you don’t want to put money in)

Feel included

Network (youth groups/ social groups)

Tell everyone you went (I’m a good person)

Tell them you went to a big and impressive and important church (I’m part of something big so I must be BIG TIME)

Open up the world of church socials and events

Go because someone in your family expects you to

Go because you want to feel good about yourself (no guilty conscience here)

ITS CHRISTMAS MASS (gotta go once a year)

This is all it takes to be good with God (might as well cover all bases for after I die)

Something to do on a Sunday morning (I was bored anyway)

I know I don’t have much time left (good to meet you god---LET ME IN AFTER I DIE)

WWWAAARRR (it’s a time of war, let’s go find God)

Change your luck (God will change my hard times to good times)

Go to learn the truth and accept God’s plan for whatever it is (NAH!)

You are the freak for not buying in with the majority. Their knowledge and worship are so pure. You should be like them. All this above has taught them the truth of the Bible better than your actual study. What’s wrong with you? CULT BOY

(1st John 2:15-18 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know it is the last time.)

The seeds for the antichrist system were planted in Paul’s time. The world has only gotten farther off course by now. The few that are God’s elect have to swim upstream against the mainstream.

Say you threw a party. Also say you only sent out a few invitations (say it out loud right now!!!---jus kidding). This party is in an out of the way place. To get in you need a special pass which you send out with the invite. No one gets in without it so people can’t bring tagalongs. You want it to be just for close friends and family.

Is this party not real because most people don’t know about it? Would the people on the list be crazy to show up? A lot of people might own a Bible. I think just a few get invited to the kingdom. This doesn’t mean it won’t happen how the minority see it.

The majority have gone against God in their hearts in our modern microwave culture. It is all about give me what I want right now in this sinful society. Most people place God somewhere deep on the backburner. It is no accident these same people will get thrown into God’s backslider burner.

It is also no accident that the majority don’t see his true plan of salvation. This is the only logical endpoint given the two things I showed above. For one, God decides who sees the path. And again, most people aren’t his.

There are a lot of so-called experts out there. There are a lot of amateur experts as well. The amateurs are the ones who have rarely cracked open a Bible. This in no way stops them from debating their side as though they spent the last twenty years studying. They don’t really scripturally know why they are right but all they know is that YOU ARE WRONG!

You are wrong because the so-called expert says so. He has a larger congregation. Therefore he has to be totally accurate in his analysis. He is right because more amateur experts agree with him. Of course they don’t know the first thing about it all anyway, but their vote counts just the same.

The whole thing starts to sound like my Daddy is smarter than you are. My Daddy has a college degree. My Daddy is tougher than your Daddy too. How about thinking for yourself!

Spend some time studying and hearing out both points of view given scripture. At least then you can move up from amateur to so-called expert. Or if you haven’t really studied and don’t know for yourself: just say so. This is very honest and respectable.

The so-called expert is the one that:

-has a college degree in theology

-wears a fancy suit

-fits in with other Christians

-gets on TV

-is appointed by some board or such like

-is put on a pedestal by the Christian community

-has a fancy title like father such and such or pastor so and so

Please enlighten me. What college or even primitive informal school did Christ, the apostles, or any of the prophets go to? Were they appointed by men or by God? Didn’t the ones who were appointed by men have Christ crucified? Are we to be respecters of persons given what the Bible says? What did John the Baptist where and eat? Did this make his message any less true or important? If the majority is wicked and has itching ears, what does this say about the leaders they choose? Please answer all these questions honestly.

Do you still want to practically idol worship a preacher? Do you want to blindly put your life in his hands because he’s a big name? Adolph Hitler had a large following. Usama Bin Laden has a lot that agree with him to one point or another. Does this make them more right or righteous?

The only true experts are those with their eyes opened by God. They see the gospel in a simple way. Those who are in the masses speak of mystery and college degrees. They can’t see the most basic story of a man who died and was resurrected. Then they want to lecture on deeper issues. It’s like the guy who can’t add, subtract, multiply, or divide teaching calculus.

Most modern church’s main motive is to attract/ keep as many coming to their church as possible. They feed the masses what they want to eat. They are like any business that markets their product. I have even seen and heard commercials for churches like this.

One of my favorites was the Methodist church which made it quite clear that they don’t judge ANY LIFESTYLES. Forget about advertising that we stick to the truth of the Bible here. That is a non starter with most folks. When your motive is numbers given a wicked generation the message has to become less than righteous. This is the problem with a lot of big modern churches.

I sampled some televangelists lately and quickly saw their whole angle. They want your money. End of story. The sad thing is that a lot of people fall into their web.

They are good salesman much like say a stock broker, or someone at an investment bank, or most accurately a member of a pyramid scheme. They go to great lengths to convince you that if you give five dollars to them, God will give you five hundred million. They should call themselves the lottery church or the church of finance. When someone puts money before God, do you really think they see the truth of God?

I didn’t try to pick the minority position. The Bible just happens to support this position. I just want to go with the Bible. I would rather God were on my side than masses. Who would you rather on your side?

Given the state of modern Christianity: you can count me out anyway. It is not the worship of God so much as the worship of worship and the fact that God loves you. Just fit Christ’s name in there somewhere.

Most all of Christianity comes back to trinity and/ or immortality of the soul doctrine. Either Christ was God, an angel, or he has always been somehow. Either your soul goes to heaven at death or Christ has already come and the resurrection is over past and he will come for you in some invisible way.

Methodist, Lutheran, Church of Christ, Catholics, Baptists, and all the rest believe some form of the lie. They separate themselves over petty issues for the most part. They look at me as a freak for separating completely from this unholy mess. This is the end of this song. This is why the majority is wrong.