The other night I was flipping channels on the TV and ran across a program about cults. I decided to watch for a while and found out about a so-called cult down in Tennessee called the “Twelve Tribes.” A young lady that had escaped the cult was the focus of the show. She described her life within this strange group of Christians. They lived in a commune and were led by a charismatic man who taught they were bringing in the kingdom. The so called “expert” the show used to describe cults described them as “taking the Bible literally.” Wow. Don’t I tell you all the time I take the Bible literally? YES I DO. So what gives? Doesn’t pretty much every church tell you they take the Bible literally? YES. There is a fine line between this group that has a TV program about them calling them a cult and every major denomination found in the US today. And a fine line it is indeed. Let’s read a few verses together.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Acts 2:44-46 Your church no doubt claims to be a “New Testament” church as pretty much every major denomination does today. Churches today take pride in calling themselves “New Testament Christians.” How can you with any integrity claim to be a new testament Christian and not sell all your possessions and live in a commune with only other Christians just like this cult does? I thought you claimed to take the Bible literally? This verse VERY clearly tell us that is exactly what they did back in the so-called New Testament times. See, this is where the rubber meets the road. Christians claim to take the Bible literally and claim to be a new testament Christian but really only take the verses literally that they choose to. Your pastor would use some slick talking to explain away the need to take this verse literally today no doubt. This is the plain, clear, and obvious difference between a right divider of the Bible and every denomination and non-denominational church today. Churches claim to take the Bible literally, but they only do when it’s convenient. The difference between a right divider of the Bible and all of Christianity today is I actually DO believe this verse literally. I do not pick and choose which ones to believe and which ones to skip. These verses were written in Acts chapter 2. Your apostle Paul, the ONLY Apostle sent to gentiles was not saved till Acts 9. I believe this verse EXACTLY as it stands because I know that this doctrine IS NOT for the body of Christ today. Most of Christianity believes their church started in Matthew 16/18 or in Acts chapter 2. These same churches pick and choose which verses they want to believe because they don’t want to be called a cult like the group in Tennessee. As a Bible believer that rightly divides my Bible according to the instructions MY apostle Paul gave me I know I can believe these verses EXACTLY as they stand because at THAT TIME the little flock of Israel were waiting for the tribulation to start, hence the reason for selling all their possessions and living communally. I believe the words exactly as they are written because I know they are not my doctrine for today. I also DO NOT claim to be a “New Testament” Christian. Why? Because according to the Bible LITERALLY, the New Testament belongs to ISRAEL and JUDAH. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Jer 31:31 I am not a New Testament Christian because the New Testament belongs to Israel. I would ask those today that claim to take the Bible literally, why do you claim to be a “New Testament” Christian when the Bible tells us plainly that it belongs to Israel. Here’s why: This cult calls itself the “Twelve Tribes” for the same reason Christians today call themselves “New Testament Christians.” Both this cult and every major denomination today has assumed things God promised to Israel. The difference is how much you assume. As a right divider of the Bible I leave to Israel EVERYTHING God promised to Israel. YES, this includes the New Testament. We live in the age of Grace that our Savior Jesus Christ revealed to Paul. Were there some strange/wrong things going on inside this cult? Yes. Rightly dividing the Bible brings clarity and harmony to the confusion being taught in so much of Christianity today. Maybe it’s time to stop picking and choosing and start believing it as written. Jesus’ earthly ministry was to Israel, Jesus called the Apostle Paul to sent him to you. It is that simple. We are NOT building a kingdom, we are building the body of Christ. Jesus will return and build HIS kingdom HIMSELF. Comments are closed.
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AuthorSteve Schoenberger is a student of the Bible and the minister at Abundant Grace Bible Fellowship, A Mid-Acts Dispensational Bible church teaching the Bible rightly divided according the revelation of the mystery delivered to the Apostle Paul Archives
August 2024
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