Part One: Leaven of the Pharisees

The Pharisees and Sadducees, during Jesus' time, represented the spiritual elite. They were at the top of the religious hierarchy so to speak. As such, they were supposed to represent God and all that was right and good as Moses and the prophets did before them. Their righteousness, however, was not based on the Word of God, but rather on their traditions, things that man esteemed. "Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees" (Matthew 16:6); because, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (Galatians 5:9). Today within Christianity, like the time of Jesus, the "established" Church with the influence of secular Academia and the satanic world system at large are carrying on, to an even greater degree, the traditions of the Pharisees much to the disgust of the Lord. The multitudes of the branches of Christianity follow the traditions of men over the Word of God. The majority of these branches are not at all connected to the true vine, Jesus; rather, they are withered branches "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof" (2 Timothy 3:5).

The largest withered branch traces its roots back to the Roman Empire. The majority of the other withered branches extend from this branch. Thus, most churches that thought they were disconnecting themselves from this major withered branch are indeed still siphoning their nutrients from this branch. These child withered branches have made several changes to demonstrate their seeming disconnection but it happens that they are very much like their parent branch. These are, in effect, movements away from the branch that have developed into their own branches of sorts. Yet, they are still the same. For the various movements over the years have not done a full-scale inquiry into all the practices of the branch they were leaving. They only focused on the practices that they deemed offensive; rather than, on all the practices that were offensive to God—against his Word. Therefore, instead of having a new branch with its roots back in the true vine; the movement simply created what seemed to be a new branch but with its roots still in the branch they thought they left.

I am [Jesus] the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (John 15:1-8)

The teachings and practices of these modern day Pharisees—their deviations from scripture—make up what we call in this book, popular theology because it is what most Christians believe. "And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16:15). It is theology intrinsic to man's sinful nature; it is the natural ideological as well as theological outgrowth of a people who are in bondage to the devil; it is all they know. The reason Jesus came was to save us from this thinking but we have taken this thinking and incorporated it into what we call Christianity.

DRAFT V2010-06-28T4:47:26 PM