The Polaroid’s of Life.
It is funny how the polaroid’s of life pass through our memories. Actually, it is more ironic than anything. But I am getting too far ahead of myself.
Humanity never really changes over time…we just repeat or recycle old ideas. What may be a new thing to the current generation can be a new twist on an old idea. Like the youth of today instant gratification was not uncommon in my youth. When the Kodak polaroid camera was invented the world of picture taking changed. Now we had a camera that could produce an instant picture for us to have and to hold. Once the picture was popped out of the port it was essential NOT to touch the picture as it magically appeared on the wet negative. Once dry we had a 3×3 picture called a polaroid snapshot. A snapshot that had magically captured a moment in time and for eternity on that lament piece of film sheet. One that you will always remember.
The year was 1995 and we were on break from class. At the time I was in my last year of Pastoral Studies at World Harvest Bible College (since renamed Valor Christian College). With a cup of coffee in hand I wondered into the little bookstore in the auditorium. I adore bookstores and for that matter libraires as well. My polaroid moment came when I glanced on the bottom shelf and this title caught my attention: Will the Real Heretic Please Stand Up.
I reached down and pulled it from the shelf. With great anticipation I presumed that once I glanced across the table of contents, I would see references to those so-called heretics down through the ages. Names such as John Hus, William Taylor, or William Tyndale. Yet much to my puzzlement I was seeing contents including; Who Were the Early Christians, What they Believed about Salvation, Prosperity: A Blessing or a Curse? As the class bell rang for us to return I replaced the book onto the shelf. As I passed through the doorway a mental picture of that moment in time, my polaroid moment, was tucked away into the back pocket of my memory only to be uncovered years later.
In relation to prayer Jesus gives us a wonderful promise, “Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you.” (Matt 7:7 NASB) It is when you find yourself in prayer that you discover the real you. Even in moments of doubt and defeat a small prayer uttered in frustration can finds its fruition years later at the precipice of total triumph. During a prayer time after graduating from bible college I found myself in despair. It was my sincere desire to be involved in an internship at a local church serving in a fulltime capacity. Yet all doors were closed, worse yet no doors were even present. I was frustrated and in prayer I let it be known. As the weeks and months went by there was no semblance of ministry in my life at all. I moved back to California and took a secular job. The year is 1997 and I was trying to rationalize to myself how I just spent the last four years of my life. I thought I was “called to fulltime ministry” and yet here I am. Little did I realize the twists and turns my life would take as I entered my next phase of preparation. God was enlisting me into what I have come to affectionately call UOGW (University of God in the Wilderness).
Who is the Heretic?
With great anticipation I presumed that once I glanced across the table of contents, I would see references to those so-called heretics down through the ages. Names such as John Hus, William Taylor, or William Tyndale. much to my puzzlement I was seeing contents including; Who Were the Early Christians, What they Believed about Salvation, Prosperity: A Blessing or a Curse?
It was during this time He was stripping me of every wrong thing I had learned. He challenged me to examine what I was told and test it considering the Scriptures. The sharpness of a two-edged sword cuts deep but when Jehovah-Rapha is on scene it heals properly. The contradictions came slow but steady as I would reflect on what I was taught was truth only to learn them not to be. As the months eclipsed by I began to go through the Four Stages of Grief: Denial, Anger, Depression, Acceptance. At the end of that semester, I reconciled myself now to be a “seeker of truth.” My hunger and thirst for righteousness would be satisfied as Holy Spirit continued to lovingly instruct as well as incite me onward.
Honestly, I wish I could tell you that moment when I once again crossed paths with the book, Will the Real Heretic Please Stand Up. I don’t know when that polaroid fell out of my mental back pocket to the forefront of my imagination. Regardless of when or how, I lunged at the book and began to devour it.
Up front I will tell you the book is not about the teaching of doctrine or theology. It is a book of how the early Christians, the disciples of the disciples; how the Christians of the first, second and third centuries understood what Jesus was teaching. Their lives are littered throughout history understanding the literal meaning of the words and ways of Jesus. My searching and seeking for truth was unfolding before my very eyes. As happy as I was this set in motion the need to a greater self-examination.
Topsy Turvy Teachings
These men (and others) all lived prior to the Council of Nicea in 324 A.D. Polycarp and Ignatius were personal disciples of the Apostle John. Irenaeus was a person disciple of Polycarp. Clement was a companion and disciple of the Apostle Paul. All these men had written letters to instruct believers during the second and third centuries.
Pastor Parsley’s words were reverberating in my mind and spirit. Yet I knew these “discarded values of the past” were not exactly what he would embrace. Of course, I do not throw stones at my spiritual mentor and one time Pastor. I embrace emphatically his thoughts that the Church has dropped some planks of the old “gospel bridge.” The truth that is plain for any opened minded independent thinker is the American Church has steered away and swerved across the center line of essential Christian teaching. I dare not use the terms theology or doctrine because honestly, in my opinion, those two are fuse sticks that have ignited the debacle of denominationalism.
On my journey I came across the term pre-Nicean church. What did that mean and what is it origins? More importantly why am I just now hearing about it. I had devoted all my efforts and energies, all my time, travels and treasure in four years of formal academic biblical studies and NEVER ONCE mentioned. Now of that revelation, I just dropped my head and shook it in complete amazement of the deception of The Deceiver. Understandably many generations of humanity have not been exposed to the twists and turns of Christian history. Let me quiz you briefly to uncover your lack of knowledge.
I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you have heard of Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. You have heard of the apostle John no doubt. That one who rested his head against the chest of Jesus: this same John who was boiled in oil on the isle of Patmos only to live past that and pen the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. How about the torturous murderer Saul who became the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus? Yet have you heard of Polycarp? How about the man Ignatius? Surely the man Irenaeus has not escaped your understanding? Clement of course you are acquainted with for you have seen his name in the writings of Paul. If you have not heard of these men of old then you, like me, have been at one time lead astray. These men (and others) all lived prior to the Council of Nicea in 324 A.D. Polycarp and Ignatius were personal disciples of the Apostle John. Irenaeus was a person disciple of Polycarp. Clement was a companion and disciple of the Apostle Paul. All these men had written letters to instruct believers during the second and third centuries.
In Conclusion
Yes, Pastor Parsley much can be gained by a return to the discarded values of the past. Adherence as well as universal acknowledgement to apostolic teaching is what is needed today. The American church has for too long been slowly adrift into teachings that are not truth. The early writings give us an understanding of what they believed and why they believed it. The reasons are because that is what Jesus and His Apostles taught. For nearly 400 years the Church had its Love Compass squarely pointing North. Then Diocletian rose and in 303 A.D. initiated one more persecution of the Church. It continued for 8 long years until he finally accepted defeated. He issued the Edict of Tolerance in 311 A.D. With such defeat at hand the emperor asked for the prayers of the Christians, retired from office, and committed suicide. A Satanic shift was about to happen. Knowing that he (Satan) couldn’t beat them he decided to join them. The Edict of Milan in 313 A.D. was penned by Constantine (Diocletian’s replacement) opening the door to the recognition of Christianity to other religions. And the rest is history…go learn it!
* As of this writing let it be known that Rodney disconnected from World Harvest Church & disavows any/all teachings from WHC or WHBC/Valor College
Will The Real Heretic Please Stand Up
Discover the hidden-in-plain site Biblical truths as you listen to this teaching. I warn you in advance they may be very different from what your you have heard taught in the Church. Be an independent thinker!
What the Early Christians Believed about Salvation
Is the Sinners Prayer a biblical concept? It is true we are saved by grace through faith as Paul taught. How did the early Church understand what the Apostles taught after hearing it from Jesus. Listen and learn what Jesus taught. You might be challenged so be open.
What the Early Christians Believed about Eternal Security
Is a “Once Saved, Always Saved” paradigm the proper one to possess? How did the early Church understand what the Apostles taught after hearing it from Jesus. Listen and learn what Jesus taught. You might be challenged so be open.
