Scriptural Reading : Eph 4: 14: 2 Cor 4:2: 1 Cor 3:19: Job 3:13: Matt 11:25: Col 2:8: Exo 22:20: Deut 5:7: Ps 97:7: Jer 2:11: 1 Cor 10:7: 1 Jn 5:21: Rev 21:8; 22:15
Salutations beloved brethren in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Ideologies! Ideologies! Ideologies are in! Many message believers have been caught up with different ideologies! The word "ideology" is not directly mentioned in The New Strongs complete Dictionary of Bible Words, which could give us the Greek form of the word. However, the New Testament has some related terms to the word or meaning of ideologies. Let us describe some of them for better understanding.
Apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians as follows: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive( Eph 4:14). Let us explain some keywords, namely, doctrine and craftiness.
The Greek word for doctrine is didaskalia. It means teaching and learning. Therefore, ideologies are taught and learned. They form the basis of various beliefs, values, and attitudes in people who are exposed to such doctrines or teachings. See?
Now, the word ISM is often added to the end of the word to represent a specific belief, doctrine, or practice. For example, Doctrine/ Theology/ Belief: Thundersism, Successorism, Continuitism, Branhamism, Frankism, millenniumism. Values/ Holiness/: You have hairism, racism. Practice/: denominationalism, segregationalism, tribalism, nationalism. Behaviour/: alcoholism, Homosexualism. See?
Craftiness:
The Greek word for craftiness is panourgia. It means trickery or sophistry, cunning, and subtility. You know that Satan is associated with cunningess and subtility and deception! ( Gen 3:1: 2 Cor 11:3). So ideologies are established based on craftiness of the enemy and his transformation as an angel of light ( 2 Cor 11:14). See? You have to be very careful and watch him! The Bible warns us of not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully ( 2 Cor 4:2). See?
Unfortunately, many believers in the Endtime Message have been caught up in the spirit of craftiness, which has managed to build in them ideologies that are contrary to the truth of the gospel. Therefore, there is no more sincerity and honesty among many ministers. This is now openly manifested, and they seem not to listen to even their conscience anymore ( 2 Cor 4:2: It is long seared with a hot iron! ( 1 Tim 4:2). See?
PHILOSOPHY:
It is written! 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.( Col 2:8). Let us try to explain some keywords, namely philosophy, tradition, and rudiments, as linked to ideologies. The word philosophy comes from a Greek word, philosophia, which means fond of wise things. The Bible warns us not to be spoilt by philosophy! See? Notice that the love for wisdom of this world breeds only ideologies that are not aligned with the purpose of God! It is actually foolishness to God and its associated with craftiness ( 1 Cor 3:19: Job 5:13). See?
Indeed, Jesus thanked the Father for hiding the revelation of the truth from the wise and prudent ( Matt 11:25). The truth of the gospel is hidden from the theological and carnal minded, but it is revealed to babes, such would learn. The situation is the same today! You may not have well organised and established schools of theology among the message believers. But, it is obvious that many are caught with minds that are tuned to the theological / intellectual approach to learning the Message of the hour!
Notice! They are devoid of the revelation of the truth of the word of God! They just do not know how to keep balance in the word of God and to how to place different things that the prophet said and place them back in the absolute of the sacred Scriptures! ( 2 Tim 3:16). Otherwise, what explains the various squabbles, stewing, and fussing that is raging among Endtime Message preachers everywhere? Why can't we come to the unity of the faith as expected by the word of God ( Eph 4:13). See?
TRADITION OF MEN:
The Greek word for tradition is paradosis, which simp means, "Precept the" Hence, the tradition of men denotes the precepts or commandments of men! Remember, Jesus rebuked the religious men of his day for teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. They laid aside the commandments of God and held tightly to their traditions. And by their tr, ditions they made the word of God of none effect to the people!( Mk 7:7-13). See?
Friends, haven't we also noticed the same thing had happened in many Endtime message beliefs, teachings, values, and attitudes? These define the different ideologies that are now in! You find a preacher standing in the pulpit postulating his doctrine, but he is do g that, without proper reference to the sacred Scriptures as a basis of his teachings. The word of God demands that, the word be taught in a scriptural balance and rightly divided! ( Is 28: 10: 2 Tim 2:15). See?
Now watch! We must understand that, at all times, we must avoid "overboard" and "underboard" in our teachings! You have to "strike the balance" in the word of God. It is not enough to simply throw some , scriptures or quotes of the prophet, ( they like them!) which perhaps are even misinterpreted, or dislocated ( Message: WMB: Christ is Revealed in his own word). See? Without reference to the leadership and guidance of the Holyspirit, you end up injecting traditions of men hybrid in the word of God, in the hearts of your followers! And what will ye have at the end? As Jesus said, it will be vain worship of God. See?
Rudiments of the world :
The Greek word for rudiments is stoicheion. It simply means principle, or elements. Therefore, we need to be careful of introducing principles of the world as rules to be obeyed by the children of God. For example, women liberalism. In this way, compromise is built in women dressing or behaviours. Exactly!
This has happened alot in Pentecostalism. Now their women have invaded the pulpits ( 1 Tim 2:12). See? Their pastors too, because of the love of money have compromised on preaching the unadulterated gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, ( 1 Tim 6: 10). Now, they are in the lukewarm conditions of Laodicea, burdened more with gain of wealth and riches than reaching lost souls with the word of God (Rev 3: 16,17: Mk 16: 15). See? Rudiments of the world end up establishing ideologies that are contrary to the divine principles of Christ ( Heb 6:1). See? At the end, you have believers whose lives and condition is no where worthy of the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!
IDOL / IDOLATRY:
What is an idol or idolatry? According to one Bible Dictionary and Concordance, anything which is the object of the worship due only to God is an idol. Literally, an idol is an image that is consecrated to religious worship ( Deut 20:17). See? In the spiritual sense, it is anything that withdraws the affections from God ( Col 3:5).
What is more, idolatry consists in worshipping as the true God some created object , or in worshipping the Deity by means of symbolic representation, such as statues, and pictures. This is strictly forbidden by the word of God, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. ( Exod 20:3,4,5; 22:20: Deut 5: 7; 6: 14,15; 8:9,20: Psa 97:7: Jer 2:11). See? Notice that the first chapter of Romans gives the best description of the progress and accompanying immorality of idolatry ( Rom 1: 18-32). The highlight of it, is changing the truth of God into a lie, and worshipping and serving the creature more than the creator! ( Rom 1:25). Now, is this not what is happening in especially the Catholic church. The worship of images and pictures of so-called saints is exceplified in this bogus idolatrous and religious system! But wait a minute! Haven't you witnessed how fast this idolatry spirit has crept into the worship of many Endtime message believers? You say, is that so? Yes! This is already happening by worshipping the picture and image of the prophet William Marrion Branham! It is now common to see some message believers, prostrating before the picture of the prophet, which carries the Pillar of fire! Others have gone to the extent of changing baptism of converts from the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to using the name of William Branham! ( Acts 2:38: Col 3:17: Gal 3:27: Acts 19:5). See?
In some cases, it is the voice of the prophet in the tape, which is played while the convert dips himself or herself to the water! What is that? Isn't this a brand of an ideology, which is dangerous to our faith?( Jude 1: 3: Eph 4:5: Acts 2:42). What name can you give it?
Notice! They have truly changed the truth into a lie, and worshipped the creature more than the creator! ( Rom 1 : 25). They will pay for it, if they do not repent of that idolatry and cultism!( Rev 21:8; 22:15). Right!
The prophet himself tried to fight that spirit of idolatry and cultism while he was still alive. Moreover, it came from the very brethren who purported to love him and believed in his God-given ministry. He accused them of deifying him, lifting him above being a " brother " or a " minister." He told them emphatically in his pulpit in the Branham Tabernacle that he would rather meet God as a " quitter" than as an antichrist to take away from Him! See? Branham himself called it an antichrist spirit!( 1 Jn 4:3). See?
Notice! That same spirit of idolatry has messed up the evangelism program of God. By preaching Branham, instead of the Lord Jesus and waving his pictures before unbelievers are they not the cause for why the sinners, have rejected the Message of the hour, branding it as a bunch of a cult and idolatry? They now also loath the name William Branham! And you that are doing so are the ones to blame for that mess! It is only the risen and glorified Christ that we are supposed to lift above the shoulder of every man on earth ( Jn 12:32). That is the ultimate drawing power of the gospel! Exactly!
Remember, John, the apostle warned in his letter that: Little children, keep yourselves from idols. And he said, "Amen! ( 1 Jn 5:21). See?
THE STANDARD OF THE TRUTH:
In the final analysis , as seen from the discussion above, that ideologies are already in , among many message believers can not be denied or taken lightly! It is already a serious battle in our midst! We must be ready to confront them! And how are we going to do this? The only way is to raise the banner or standard of the truth ! Yes, sir!
As apostle Paul wrote, they have changed the truth into a lie!( Rom 1: 25). And you know lies are mixed with the truth! That was Satan's tactic in the beginning, which Genesis is the seed chapter of all these ideologies, theology, cuts, and religious systems and things that we have in the world today! Right!
Dear brethren, the call of God in this critical hour is that you must stand by the truth! The truth can never be compromised! ( 1 Sam 15:22,23). No, Sir! The Bible teaches that God has magnified his word above all his name! ( Psa 138:2). It is written: God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar. ( Rom 3:4). The word of truth, rightly divided, is our ultimate answer and deliverance! ( 2 Tim 2:15). Jesus said: You will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.( Jn 8: 32). AMP. Amen, and Amen!
To be continued.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you . Amen . One more soul . We work till Jesus comes .
Pastor Charles Obwoon
