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December 04, 2024
Peace Publishers LLC. Resources in fifteen categories for self-instruction, classes, sermons, and conferences. An original 21st Century Commentary on Revelation is being added. Site administrator and publisher in English and Spanish: Homer Dewayne Shappley, evangelist and author of 2,500-plus documents in both languages. Oversight: Cairo, Tennesse Church of Christ.
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An artisan in India makes clay idols of Lord Ganesha, god of success.
The only authentic Sacred Writings of TRUE CHRISTIANITY, dating exclusively from the First Century of the Common Eraand compiled as the New Testament of Jesus Christ, say: "...an IDOL IS NOTHING in the WORLD..." 1 Corinthians 8:4. Applicable, as the Writings make clear in many texts, to all idols, icons, and sacred religious artifacts of all kinds, including relics, of all religions all around the globe of Earth, including churches that make and venerate them. They are "NOTHING." Worthless, of no value, to the "living and true God," author of True Christianity.
An ornate IDOL "formed by ART and IMAGINATION of MAN" of the "Virgin Mary."
The only TRUE GOD of True Christianity is NOT "worshipped with men's HANDS, as though He needed anything, seeing He gives to ALL life and breath, and all things." Acts 17:25. So, "what agreement has the temple of God with idols?" NONE! None whatsoever!" For WE," that is, true Christians, "are the temple of the living God," a spiritual temple through which God and Christ manifest themselves in the world—a truly sublime, glorious concept. Would you agree? 2 Corinthians 6:16; John 14:23; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19
WHY are all idols, icons, religious images, and relics absolutely "NOTHING" before the "living and true God?" 1 Thessalonians 1:9. Not only because they are made "with men´s hands," but also because, as the Sacred Writings say, they are all "DUMB!" 1 Corinthians 12:2.
The two largest churches by far of Christemdom are full of IDOLS and ICONS. A very large, WARNING SIGN made by God HANGS over them. It says:
"FLEE from IDOLATRY!" For all idols are "NOTHING." They are "DUMB."
"DUMB!" So classified repeatedly from ancient times by the "living and true God." For example in the Sacred Writings given to the Israelites. “Our GOD is in the HEAVENS; HE DOES ALL that HE PLEASES. Their IDOLS are silver and gold, the WORK of HUMAN HANDS. They have MOUTHS, but do not speak; EYES, but do not see. They have EARS, but do not hear; NOSES, but do not smell. They have HANDS, but do not feel; FEET, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their THROAT. Those who make them become LIKE THEM; so do all who trust in them.” Psalm 115:3-8.
Therefore, we humans "should not worship devils, and idols of gold and silver, and brass and stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk." Revelation 9:20. Esteemed reader, do you really want to be "LIKE THEM?"
If, 2,000 years ago, even the "POETS" of Athens, Greece, "the city wholly given to idolatry," their country filled with exquisite idols, altars, and temples made by "human hands," their culture, literature, and history saturated with idolatrous fantasies, understood that humans "are indeed" the "OFFSPRING" of GOD, all of us today should have the simple intelligence and common sense "NOT to think that the DIVINE BEING is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by ART and IMAGINATION of MAN." Acts 17:22-29. IF WE HUMANS ARE NOT SO MADE OF CLAY, WOOD, STONE OR PRECIOUS METALS, THEN HE DEFINITELY IS NOT! "Therefore, my dearly beloved, FLEE from IDOLATRY." 1 Corinthians 10:14
Accepting this GREAT TRUTH and timely exhortation, hundreds and hundreds of thousands of Greeks, Romans, and other peoples of those times "turned to GOD from IDOLS to serve the LIVING and TRUE GOD." 1 Thessalonians 1:9. They REPENTED "of the works of their hands" (Their idolatries. Revelation 9:20) and other sins, and were promptly BAPTIZED (immersed in water) "for the forgiveness of sins". Acts 2:36-47; 8:26-40; 22:12-16. Steps all who, today, are "CARRIED AWAY unto... DUMB IDOLS," should also take without delay.
If your spiritual-moral life revolves around IDOLS, why would you not turn from them "to the Living God?" Are ancient cultures, traditions, religious pageantry, and/or financial concerns too strong for you to renounce them, notwithstanding the fearful spiritual dangers for the soul they pose? They surely were NOT for multitudes in the first century! However, for even greater masses of humans, sadly, they were! Like "a man named Demetrius," in
Ephesus, "a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis-Diana," a "business" that brought wealth to him, and "workmen in similar trades." Such "a large number of people" in that city "turned away" from idol worship when they heard the apostle Paul say "that gods made by hands are not gods at all!" that Demetrius rose up in angry, violent defense of idols and idolatry, inciting a tremendous RIOT in Ephesus (the second largest city of the Roman Empire), "temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the
sacred stone that fell from the sky." Acts 19:23-41.
Most IDOLS and ICONS of the 21st century have been embedded in cultures, religions, economies, politics, races and families for hundreds, even thousands of years. Inherited by each new generation like genes, language, diets, clothing styles, etc. Accepted unquestionably as natural, right, and good. Turning away from them is almost unthinkable, even when correct knowledge and common sense demand that step should be taken. Tremendous will-power is required in most cases to make such a dramatic change. A "change" defined as "conversion" in the Living and True God's vocabulary. Conversion to True Christianity, and not a conversion to Pure Secularism or Atheism.
Are you, dear reader, perchance a mere "child
of traditions and cultures," believing in "sacred stones, shrines, idols, and places," or an objective, intelligent adult capable of "turning away" from idols to seek and serve "the LIVING and TRUE GOD?" Acts 17:22-31
What is your PERSONAL DECISION?
The "TRUE GOD" is a "LIVING GOD." Acts 14:15; Romans 9:26. Needless to say, he is not an inert, lifeless sculpture of clay, wood, or stone, nor a mere painting. "GOD IS SPIRIT," the "ALMIGHTY," and cannot be forced by any human to manifest his matchless Power and Glory in inert matter. "TRUE WORSHIPERS" worship Him "in SPIRIT and in TRUTH." "...in the CHURCH of the LIVING GOD, a pillar and buttress of the truth." John 4:23-24; 1 Timothy 3:15
TODAY, in the 21st century, there are tens of thousands of congregations of "the Church of the Living God" all around the globe of Earth. If you want to find one, search for "Church of Christ acapella," or "Churches of Christ acapella" on the Internet, in your country and local area, translating the above search terms to your preferred language if it is other than English. "Acapella" means "worship without musical instruments," a teaching of the New Testament Sacred Scriptures and a practice followed by almost all churches until modern times. "Acapella" is not a word in the name of the Living God's church, but a search term that distinguishes that church from most of Christendom. "SING... spiritual songs." Ephesians 5:18-21; Colossians 3:16. "We Sing, without Playing Musical Instruments," is Subtitle 5 of "The Church Christ Built." "The churches of Christ salute you" (Romans 16:16) is a divine identification of congregations that worship "in Spirit and in Truth." John 4:24
Contact information for Churches of Christ in India, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Pakistan is provided at the end of this message.
An ornate, graven image (idol), "formed by ART and IMAGINATION of MAN," of the "Virgin Mary," with a fantastic gold crown, a rosary in her left hand, and a crucifix in the right. Her worshippers call her "The Queen of Heaven," giving her many other high-sounding titles and attributing enormous powers to her, even greater than those of Jesus Christ and God the Father. In a dangerous mental-spiritual transaction, they project their own beliefs, desires, petitions, and veneration to the image, convinced they will be blessed by the "Virgin," NOT understanding that such interactions with IDOLS expose them to receiving a "STRONG DELUSION," of "power and false signs and wonders," "so that they believe what is FALSE," because they refuse "to LOVE the TRUTH and BE SAVED." 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12. Any serious student of these subjects knows that the entire, worldwide Mother Goddess cult (Diana-Artemis, Athena, Durga, Mother of God, Mother Earth, Gaia, Pachimama, etc. ) to an invented "Virgin Mary" is 100% absent from the original Sacred Writings of True Christianity in the New Testament.
"MY IDOL!" "Idolize. To worship as a god. To love or admire to excess. To practice idolatry." https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idolize. Of course, you may idolize anything or anyone. Saint, priest, teacher, preacher, theologian, shaman, philosopher, lover, singer, actor, actress, author, artist, designer, politician, financial wizard, wild type, rebellious soul, Internet influencer, mogul, mafioso, etc. A religious statue, sculpture, amulet, or painting BE CAREFUL YOUR IDOL DOES NOT DISAPPOINT YOU, DECEIVE YOU, CORRUPT YOU, DESTROY YOU ETERNALLY! No fully sane, intelligent human idolizes anyone or anything.
Following is Contact Information for some Churches of Christ in India, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Pakistan.
اسلامی جمہوریہ پاكستان ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਚੀਅਨ ਚਰਚ” (Krishchian Charach) Church of Christ. 218-3C1, Township, Lahore, Punjab 54770, Pakistan. +92 42 515 7057. Multilingual.
Filipinas. Iglesia ni Cristo. Church of Christ. Baguio City. Top Floor Marlett’s Bldg., Km.4 Marcos Highway, 2600. 0916 543 7746. midtownchurchbaguio.org
Thousands of Churches of Christ in the great country of INDIA, many bilingual.
Indonesia. Jakarta. Church of Christ: Gg Gading I/14 (Dr. Stovall Foundation), Jakarta, Java 10350, Indonesia. Phone: +62 21 386 1517. Many more in the country.
WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL DECISION? If you want to begin following "the Living and True God," you "must BELIEVE that" he "IS REAL and rewards everyone who searches for him," though "he is actually not far from each one of us." Hebrews 11:6; Acts 17:26-28. That kind of true "...faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ," or by reading it. Romans 10:16. Then, that true "...faith working through love" (Galatians 5:6) impels the sincere believer to REPENT of his SINS. For the Living and True God no longer overlooks "the times of ignorance... but now he commands all people everywhere to REPENT." Acts 17:30-31. Also, to CONFESS with" the "mouth that Jesus is Lord." Romans 10:9-13; Acts 8:37. And to "BE BAPTIZED... in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins." Without delay! Acts 2:38; 16:25-34; 22:16; Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 28:18-20. Indeed, "...there is salvation in no one else... no other name... by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12. This is THE WAY to Salvation and Eternal Life. When you take these necessary STEPS, Jesus Christ will add you to the CHURCH he established (Acts 2:47; Matthew 16:18), of which he is the only "Head" and "Savior." Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23; Colossians 1:18-20
If there is a congregation of this church near you, you may go there and ask to be baptized. If there is not, you may contact an evangelist or congregation through the Internet, by telephone, E-mail, texting, etc., requesting assistance in obeying the gospel of Christ. Another option is to ask a family member or friend of good conduct to baptize you, and then proceed, personally, to teach Pure Christianity to others, baptizing them and forming a congregation, using the GUIDELINES in two documents on this site to accomplish what would be a glorious work worthy of highest praise.
Dear Reader, my fervent desire is that this study may be a blessing to you. Sincerely yours, Homer Dewayne Shappley
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