HISTORICAL JESUS

Historical JESUS

I have recently seen an increase in those who refer to “The Christ Myth”. That is, those who deny JESUS came in the flesh. To this, I reply: HA!

It is unlikely that the Romans have ever made much of a list of the thousands of Jews, and others, they crucified. It is equally unlikely that the Sanhedrin, those who convened an illegal assembly, hired false witnesses, and had JESUS killed illegally, would have had their deeds recorded for history.

However, that having been said, I have been in a number of these conversations over the years and in one such conversation the following information was given. I do not know the name of the contributor, but I am certain he wouldn't mind my using this information.

ENJOY THE READ:

Josephus, Antiquities Book 18, Chapt. 3, part 3:
"Now there arose at this time a source of further trouble in one Jesus, a wise man who performed surprising works, a teacher of men who gladly welcome strange things. He led away many Jews, and also many of the Gentiles. He was the so-called Christ. When Pilate, acting on information supplied by the chief men around us, condemned him to the cross, those who had attached themselves to him at first did not cease to cause trouble, and the tribe of Christians, which has taken this name from him is not extinct even today."

Josephus: Testimonium Flavianum, Book 20, Chapt 9, part 1:
"...so he assembled the sanhedrin of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others, [or, some of his companions]; and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned... "

Tacitus Annals, book XV:
"Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular."

Pliny, Letters, transl. by William Melmoth, rev. by W.M.L. Hutchinson (Cambridge: Harvard Univ. Press, 1935), II, X:96:
"They (the Christians) were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food but food of an ordinary and innocent kind."

Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars - Claudius, sec. 25:
"He banished from Rome all the Jews, who were continually making disturbances at the instigation of one Chrestus."

The Talmud, Babylonian Talmud, transl. by I. Epstein (London: Soncino, 1935), vol. III, Sanhedrin 43a, p. 281:
A."On the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald went forth and cried, "He is going forth to be stoned because he has practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy. Any one who can say anything in his favor, let him come forward and plead on his behalf." But since nothing was brought forward in his favor he was hanged on the eve of the Passover!"

As well, William Foxwell Albright, one of the worlds foremost known Biblical Archeologists used the Bible as a Guide. As well Nelson Gluek of Harvard, who used the Bible as a guide to find some of the mines of Solomon, stated:
"It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference. Scores of archaeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or exact detail historical statements in the Bible. And, by the same token, proper evaluation of Biblical descriptions has often led to amazing discoveries.” Dr. Nelson Glueck, Rivers in the Desert, (New York: Farrar, Strous and Cudahy, 1959),

Hundreds to list? There are the Gospels, there is Acts, there is the apostolic epistles, particularly Paul who is admitted by all scholars to be a very objective witness to the things he describes. There are the disciples of the apostles such as Ignatius of Antioch and his epistles, Clement of Rome, Polycarp, Quadratus of Athens. There is Aristides. There is Josephus, since almost all scholars consider it to have partial genuineness to talking about Jesus being crucified by Pilate, doing great deeds, and the sect of Christians coming from him.

There is Celsus who used ancient Jewish traditions that mention how Jesus could do miracles of what they called them to be things he learned in Egypt, which would then point to the flight of Egypt in Matthew. They mention many other things about him in the Gospels, such as the bird descending from heaven announcing hm to be the Son of God in the river with John the Baptist.

There is Hierocles, there is Porphyry, there is Julian the Apostate, all secular men who hated Christians and still believed their founder lived and did miracles, Julian the Roman caesar even confirming the census in Luke's account being accurate. Julian was considered a very intelligent man historically and philosophically by his contemporary Roman historian Eutropius. Porphyry was considered the first INTELLIGENT debator against the Christian movement, yet not even he denounced Christ's existence nor miracles.

There are the many Christian sources who point to other secular sources or secular beliefs. Tertullian in his address to the Jews of his days talks about how not even they deny Jesus healed the blind, the leper, the deaf, and rose people from the dead among them. He also mentions (as a former Roman lawyer himself) that the archives of Rome preserve Jesus and his family names in them at the time of the census. He said that to the Roman officials as well, reminding them of that evidence they had.

He, Justin Martyr, and Eusebius, all indepenedently testify to Pontius Pilate's contemporary account right after Jesus was crucified, where he wrote to Caesar Tiberius, talking about Jesus of Nazareth healing the blind and sick and raising people from the dead in his province, how he just crucified him, and how the report of him rising from the dead and ascending into heaven was being noised everywhere in his province immediately after he crucified him.

There is Justin Martyr speaking to the Jews in his Dialogue with Trypho and tells Trypho (who was some time of leading Jew in his days) that he and his people were spreading the report ever since Jesus was crucified that his twelve apostles came and stole hs body from the tomb and reminds the Jews how they keep telling it today and how the story is wrong and based on progaganda.

And there are MANY more that I can keep mouthing off. That is why no scholar or professor that I am aware of, or EHrman, or any other apologetic scholar I have read denies Jesus existed, but not just his existence, his crucifixion by Pilate, and baptism by John, and probably a few things I am forgetting.

"Yet, once in a while, I run across someone like Russell who, in spite of the evidence insists on denying that Jesus ever existed at all. One of these occasions happened during a debate sponsored by the associate students of midwestern university. My opponent, a congressional candidate for the Progressive Labor Party (Marxist) in New York, said in her opening remarks: 'Historians today have fairly well dismissed Jesus as being historical.' I couldn't believe my ears. But I was glad she said it, because she gave me the opportunity to show twenty-five hundred students that she had not done her history homework."
(McDowell, NEDV, 119-20)

"Some writers may toy with the fancy of a 'Christ-myth,' but they do not do so on the grounds of historical evidence. The historicity of Christ is as axiomatic for an unbiased historian as the historicity of Julius Caesar. It is not historians who propagate the 'Christ-myth' theories."
(Bruce, NTDATR, 72, 119)

I removed the rest to shorten this blog.

Southern Baptists as the Linchpin

A linchpin - (not to be confused with lynch pin, or lynch tree or lynching in any way) is a word to describe a pivotal, or centrally important piece of a machine. In this case, the need for change in Christian churches of America and the nations. Southern Baptists, as the largest Christian denomination, could be the key linchpin in the machine that is the Christian church that could bring a needed revival to our nation.

I am a southern baptist preacher. I consider myself pretty loyal to the convention. There are those who read my blog and think I am slamming the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). But, that is not necessarily so. I have little to no voice in the SBC and there is a real need for a revolution and real change in our organization. Humanism has taken over and it seems that there is a serious blindness to the simple truth of what is going on around us.

Our leaders seem to have come from the same school, read the same books, and are following the same path that keeps leading us further into the darkness, and away from the JESUS we see in the Bible.

In my book, If My People;The Saving of America, I have done what I can to shine a light on this issue in an effort to open eyes and change the course of the Christian church in order to affect the direction of the nation, and all nations.

In a few short videos I have put on You Tube, under the heading of Kross Talk (K. Ross Newland - Kross Talk. Get it?) Anyway, I have continued to try to bring this message to as many as I can.

I also maintain a website, Bless God America, www.blessgodamerica.org

As a loyal member of the SBC, I love what Southern Baptist is really all about. We do so much good. BUt, the truth is, GOD is going to save souls with or without us. This message, this cause, is more about the type of radical faith and trust that brings the blessings of GOD to a nation. The fact that the world is going rapidly down the tubes is not my actual concern. Not being a part of the reason for it is my concern. In the end, the reason for it is the chastisement of GOD being poured out on HIS people.

If GOD has left an opening for a revival, than it is most likely going to start with this message catching fire and with the SBC repenting of their current course as political thugs and social bullies.

Recently, the LORD has brought a steady stream of “LIKE”s to my Facebook Page. I am not sure I know where they have come from. But, it is encouraging. I hope you will visit all of the pages and outlets this ministry is using and share the message.

Thank you for reading and Merry Christmas.

Defining Southern Baptist

     While I am a new pastor in Rockford, I have been a Southern Baptist for over 20 years. Through out that time, I have heard people refer to Southern Baptists and anything between “The frozen Chosen” to "Holy Rollers” running up and down the isles. The truth is, we are likely all of that and everything in between.

     The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) makes up over 48,000 churches throughout the US and some other countries. Each church is an autonomous (self governing) entity that establishes it's own personality and chooses it's own leaders. These churches then come together to work in concert for the kingdom of GOD and to fulfill the calling of JESUS.

     Through a program known as the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists fund over 5,000 over seas missionaries. These missionaries build schools and houses and orphanages. They provide free medical treatments and teach the locals to farm, drill wells, raise livestock and create an understanding wherein they are able to improve their lives and strengthen their villages.

Domestically, the Southern Baptist Convention operates the second largest disaster relief organization in America. To bring this into perspective, let's take a look at the recent events of hurricane Sandy.

     Our disaster relief organization was tasked with preparing 100,000 meals a day. Our unique position in disaster relief is that we feed those people who come to take care of the rest of the people. We feed the electrical workers and construction crews. We also provide other workers. In fact, some 700 chain saws and operators were dispatched to help remove debris. Southern Baptist still maintain a large group of people on the ground in that area today and are committed to supporting the needs of the people there through 2016.

     On top of that, each church has it's own ministries. We run a clothe closet at Halsted Road Baptist Church every 2^nd Saturday where people can get free clothing. Other local SBC churches have food closets and assist in providing shelter for the homeless and displaced.

     Each Southern Baptist Church provides money to fund all of these efforts and so many more. We come together and work together for the spread of the gospel and the saving of souls. We look after widows and orphans, feed the hungry and clothe the naked. We spend over $6 Billion a year doing it and every time there is a new disaster each Southern Baptist member knows they can give directly to the cause of that disaster and not one penny of their extra gift is used for administration. That is something that no other organization can claim. Not only that, but we never charge a penny for any service we do.

     We received a great gift from JESUS and we give as freely as HE gave.

     I know that many people only hear the list of what we are against. I know that many do not agree with SBC politics. Neither do I. But, there is no other organization that does the good we do as efficiently as we do it. That is why I am a Southern Baptist. Because taking care of people and sharing the good news of what JESUS has done for us is still the primary cause and commonality around which we rally in cooperation.

Transgender and Southern Baptists Pt. 3

Let's set the record straight. To be Christian is to follow the leading of The Christ. Politics is about worldly concerns and worldly ways. Jesus didn't have a political agenda. People who follow Him do not have a political agenda. People who follow Jesus are about the kingdom of God and saving souls.

So, when men of God lead His people to use the government and courts to further their idea of His agenda, they are wrong. Jesus said this, “This people draws near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Teaching the precepts of men as if they are the commands of God”.

Nowhere has this been more obvious than with the war against homosexuals and the latest downward turn of Christianity, the hubris and idolatry of declaring transsexual as sin, and the surgeries to correct it. This elevates men into the place and position that only God holds.

It was said to me by one of the staunch supporters of this new movement against transsexuals, that he didn't believe God makes mistakes. Neither do I. I think God has very clear intent in what He does.

IF you look into the resolution that was passed by the Southern Baptist Convention and most of the state associations, you will see resolutions against corrective surgeries based in the idea that God doesn't make mistakes. Interestingly enough, we don't see any resolutions being passed against surgical repair of a cleft pallet, or a misshapen arm, or a congenital heart defect. We don't even have resolutions against surgeries to augment breast size or change a person's appearance. So, evidently, God either didn't make a mistake in forming these different people in the womb, which I believe, or He did make a mistake and that makes it OK to fix the mistake.

Since I do not believe God makes mistakes, but He has given us the knowledge and ability to correct things that seem wrong to us, it makes no sense to argue that transsexuals shouldn't get a corrective surgery for a medical issue that can be corrected.

Now, in that same resolution it states that transsexual is a result of the fallenness of the world and is not in keeping with the original design and intent of the creation. So is every disease and malformation of every person mentioned in the above examples. So, since we know this is not in line with the original intent of our maker, it would make sense to do the surgeries that would correct that.

Further more, the idea that God made them man and woman is the foundation of the argument against transsexual. I do not know of any transsexual who relates to being more than male or female. I do know people who relate to being eunuchs. Which would be different altogether.

There are any Christians who feel that we are a soul trapped in a flesh and blood body. There are some who feel we are a person with a soul. IF we are a person with a soul, then it is possible that we get our gender from our biology. If, on the other hand, we are a soul in a body, then does our gender identity come from our soul or our body?

My final point is this; If God decides to do something new, and He hasn't addressed it in His word, then do we really have the position to determine it to be sin? Suppose God simply decided to do something to test whether His people would stay in their appointed place and pray about it and leave it in His hands, or would step out in humanism and hubris and declare what God has chosen to do is sin. Whether this was His intent is irrelevant. Because, in the end, His people have stepped out in sin and declared something to be sin that God never did.

All God ever asked of His people is to go into the world and tell the good news of the gospel. He never asked us to try to control the world He is in control of and He never asked us to try to control the actions of those around us. If we stay true to what He has asked us to do, He will stay true to His nature and reward that.

Transgender and Southern Baptists Pt.2

I nearly changed the title to Christians instead of Southern Baptists. But, I am a Southern Baptist and I believe they are the hinge pin organization to save or condemn this nation. So, it stays as is.

     I was told that these resolutions are a tiny part of what Southern Baptists do. This is true. But, what they represent is huge and brings the chastisement of GOD upon HIS people and the nations.

Here is the thing. The Christians who have chosen to declare Transgender a sin are playing GOD. Only GOD has the position to declare something is sin. Since GOD hasn't addressed this issue as sin, it is not right for mere humans to do so. That really is sin. And it is unnecessary.

     The Christian habit of turning to government and courts and trust in their numbers to effect change in the world is founded in hubris, humanism and idolatry. To understand why I say this, let me give you my definitions of these.

     Hubris – Extreme pride. The actions that come from an “I know best” mentality. When GOD puts down a perfect plan (go into the world and make disciples) and humans change/add to the plan (take a census and put your faith in your numbers to force folk into submission) that is extreme pride.

     Humanism – The idea that humans are in control of what goes on in the world, and that they can change things. ONLY GOD CAN CHANGE THE COURSE OF A NATION!!! The idea that humans can effect the course of the nations is contrary to a litany of scriptures.

     Idolatry – Believing in a force that can do something to change the the course of the nation and putting your faith in that force. It is GOD who raises up nations and tears nations down. It is GOD who brings peace and calamity. It is GOD who holds the heart of the leaders in HIS hands and twists and turns them to HIS purpose. It is GOD who establishes all of our authorities. So, when we decide we can stand against what GOD is doing by putting our faith in our numbers and in the people we elect into office, that is idolatry.

     When it comes to recent actions by major Christian denominations, it is the very height of hubris, humanism, and idolatry.

     Suppose GOD just decided to change things. Suppose transgender is another test of HIS people. Whether they would “Trust in the LORD with all their heart and lean not on their own understanding” or maybe they would “Walk by faith and not by sight”. Instead, they choose to play fast and loose with scripture and declare a thing to be sin that GOD never declared to be sin.

     Let's look at a scripture. Romans 1:25-27 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

1:26.    For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

1:27.    And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.

     This is a scripture uses to fuel the war against homosexuals. But, surely you can see that this is an act of GOD. It can only be changed by an act of GOD. No government or courts can effect this condition. Yet, because Christians have rejected GOD's plan, they seek to alter the world with laws and coercion. Do you think you can whitewash the exterior and GOD not see the rot inside?

     There is nothing in this world GOD doesn't hold complete sway over. NOTHING!! There is nothing human effort can do, outside of the plan GOD set down for us, to change the direction of the nations. NOTHING!!

     And so I battle. I fight to get my Christian brothers and sisters to see the extreme pride (which GOD resists) the humanism (which is powerless) and the idolatry (which brings the chastisement and punishment of GOD upon HIS people) so that we might humble ourselves before GOD, and turn from our wicked ways, that HE might relent and heal our land.

GOD's plan

The plan that GOD clearly laid out in HIS word was simple. We, Christians, are supposed to be spread out among the people of this planet as representatives of a kingdom that is not of this world. We were to be salt and light in our communities. We were supposed to take care of widows and orphans and keep our personal righteousness intact in a wicked world.

Operating in this plan, the Christian church grew from 12 disciples into a force for GOD that the Roman empire couldn't resist. Then it went bad.

The Romans made the Christian church part of the government (which was not part of the plan laid out for us). As a result, the Christian church became gangsters and thugs and resorted to bullying and intimidation to make people proclaim a belief. This was not part of the plan and is not reflective of JESUS. This manifestation of the church murdered millions in the name of JESUS (also not part of the plan). It murdered millions of GOD's people, both Jews and Christians.

People left there and came to America to get away from this church. They risked life and limb on the open ocean in tiny boats. But, they brought the evil of that church with them. They burned witches and slaughtered the native Americans in the name of JESUS and Manifest destiny.

Still, good Christianity rose up. Men that I believe were lead of the Holy Spirit of GOD established a nation and wrote a constitution that was intended to make sure the church never violated the plans of GOD or the freedoms of those who chose not to believe. Under this constitution and in a nation so conceived, and dedicated to the proposition that GOD knows what is best, the nation and the church flourished. We became the symbol of all that is right and good in the world.

Then, the Christian church grew complacent. After a good period of nearly 150 years, the nation became spiritually sick to the point that the church woke up and took notice. But, rather than honor the founding fathers of the nation, rather than honor the plans that GOD set down for HIS people, the Christian church  returned to it's previous methods. It once again began to use the heathen courts and the worldly governments in an effort to battle against flesh and blood, with a disregard for the spiritual forces and the spiritual sickness.

Once again, Christians set out to be gangsters and thugs and use there numbers and human effort to bully those who failed to comply. Once again the Christian church rejected GOD's plan and moved forward in pride and hubris. GOD resists the proud and these actions have had nothing but resistance from GOD.

We, who know that we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces, must rise up and fight against this stronghold that Satan has in our churches and in our lives. We must stop battling homosexuals and transsexuals and atheists. We must stop using the weapons of this world. We must renounce this course of action completely and make a radical change back to the radical faith and trust that the plan of GOD requires. AND WE MUST DO IT NOW!

Transgender and Southern Baptists pt1

GOD has, for decades now, poured punishment and chastisement down on HIS people with the idea that, when it gets bad enough, they would fall on their knees and proclaim, “It is enough. We have acted wrongly in our human effort and human pride. We have turned away from your ways and have followed the precepts of men as if they are the commandments of GOD”. But, it has not happened.

Time and time again, Christians have engaged in actions in the name of JESUS that JESUS NEVER SAID TO DO. Christians, who I confess have a zeal for GOD (but without understanding) have turned to the heathen courts, the worldly governments, and even violence in the name of JESUS. They have chosen a path of battle against flesh and blood based in a carnal understanding, and have left behind the real battle, and the real power and strength of the Christian people. Faith and trust in GOD.

GOD has destroyed our economy, and raised up leaders who continue to lead the nation into a deeper hole. HE has brought drought and floods and tornadoes and hurricanes. HE has raised up an army of militant atheists and Muslims and homosexuals to oppress and distress HIS people. Still, they will not relent of their human effort and rejection of HIS plans and purposes. So, HE did something new. Something that HE never even addressed in HIS words and laws from HIS prophets.
 

We call it “Transgender”. The idea that a male personality is trapped in a female biology. Or the other way around.
 

I was just at the Illinois Baptist State Convention where the issue of transgender was taken up in a referendum. It was stated the there are 700,000 people in this category. An overwhelming number, you would think.
 

Surely GOD has finally done something that will cause HIS people to fall on their knees and say, “We give up, LORD. We are going to leave all these concerns about the world at your feet and trust that you will handle them the way you choose, and we are going to return to doing only what you have told us to do”. Surely, after seeing all of their failures, they would acknowledge that while GOD has continued to the promised land, they have returned to Egypt. Surely they would see by now that GOD is not with them in the battles they have chosen. After all, in every battle GOD is in, HIS people have victory. Surely, doing something new, doing something that is not even addressed in the Word of GOD, surely THIS will drive them to their knees in surrender and submission. YES?? No!
 

No. Instead, the leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention and the leaders of the Illinois Baptist State Association draft a resolution that tells GOD and the world that Transgender doesn't exist. I kid you not. This was their action. To deny that transgender exists.

 

Oh, and the idea that the Bible doesn't even address the issue? They created a whole new doctrine by loosely using the scriptures and twisting them into the shape they needed for this (and adding a little something to it). Then, they created a whole new religious list of do's and don'ts. Yep, a completely made up theology to tell people that transgender doesn't exist and that surgical correction of the afflicted is sin and wickedness. Out of thin air, there came a resolution that is equal to the word of GOD. Even to the point that we were told, “If you do not vote yes for this, it is a sin”.
 

The basis of this new teaching from the keepers of the Word of GOD? “GOD made them male and female”. That is it. GOD made them male and female. Now, unless I am mistaken (which is always possible) transgender folk only identify with being either male or female. So, GOD made transgender people male or female. This fulfills the scriptures. Because GOD does nothing that doesn't align with HIS holy word.
 

So, then the new doctrine degenerates to a discussion of genitals. Now, no where in any scripture does it say that a persons equipment determines their gender identity. That is where human understanding adds to the scriptures. “Trust in the LORD and lean not on your own understanding”? Out the window. This new doctrine is all about trusting our own understanding and rejecting the notion that GOD is in control and can do whatever HE wants with HIS creation.
 

And there we are. GOD is in Heaven saying, “What do I have to do to get this people to acknowledge they can't do anything about anything”. OK, GOD really doesn't think that way because HE knows how stiff necked people are. HE also knows that men will see a problem, or a perceived problem, and try to fix it in their own strength (which is really weakness) because they will not acknowledge that they need GOD, and only GOD, to change things.
 

You see, GOD can put an end to homosexuality, transexuality, alcoholism, divorce, adultery, economic collapse, and all of the other plagues and chastisements with a snap of the finger. IF HE were going to do it, it will only happen when HIS people, who are called by HIS name, will humble themselves and place all of the worldly cares in HIS hands.
 

There are those who want to place all this on Satan, and it is true that Satan is the tool GOD uses. But, Satan does nothing original. HE doesn't create. HE only mimics. Transgender is something new. Something that is not referenced in the word of GOD of things past or future. It isn't as if GOD didn't know it was coming. It is as if GOD expects HIS people to see it and then leave it in HIS hands and move on with what they are supposed to be doing.
 

I stood in front of this freight train at the Illinois Baptist State Association annual meeting and got run over. After I spoke for about 30 seconds (and as you can see, there is more than 30 seconds of issue here) I was asked to make my point. Then a man stood up and said that to not vote yes for this resolution is sin. Then a man stood up and made a motion to table any further discussion and take a vote. All of which was done because the IBSA official who put the agenda together only left enough time to rubber stamp the resolutions.
 

Southern Baptist associations are supposed to be working for the churches. Each church that wishes to participate in the process sends messengers to communicate the concerns of the churches. Illinois Baptist State Association leaders do not want to hear from them. So, I am left with striving to be heard outside of the Illinois Baptist State Association. Because I believe GOD wants us to get the message.