True Discernment

Two things that are clear about this article, one that John Hagee is now saying that the Roman Catholic Faith is not a false Belief system, nor is it an Anti-Christ belief system. And the other we already knew, he is a media savvy apostate who see’s no problem with speaking out of a different side of his mouth depending upon the audience!

It is sad that there is a growing chorus within Protestant circles that wants to welcome the apostate and Idolotrous Roman Catholic Church back with open arms as a valid form of Christianity, even though they have not, post reformation, changed or repented of one bit of their false anti-Christ Theology, but instead have become more intrenched in it and continue to extend it!

When you begin to feel the pressure of persecution for being a Christian, what do you do? It seems many wish to reduce that persecution by gaining the acceptance of as many apostate groups as they can! Persecution? Christians havent seen persecution YET!  What will happen when the real persecution begins.

The word “testimony” in the Greek comes from the same root word we interpret into English as MARTYR.  Likewise, it is the same word (i.e., “martyr”) that we interpret the word “witness” (e.g., “ye are My witnesses” and “faithful and true witness” or “My faithful witness (i.e., “martyr,”) “).  

Merriam Webster Defintion of Martyr:  “1. a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion” “2. a person who sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle”

Revelations 12:11:

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

“The entire thrust of the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ–virtually in every single chapter of that book–speaks of the TRIUMPHANT TESTIMONY of God’s people–both the Church and Israel–to come forward throughout our history and most definitely at the close of this age.  Since the “Testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” – Rev. 19:10) – it is altogether clear that such a “testimony” is NOT done in a closet or off in some wilderness, but is straightforward–it must be SPOKEN, TESTIFIED TO, WITNESSED TO, PROPHESIZED ABOUT to every tongue, nation, tribe and people.” 

So you do not really have a Testimony unless you are willing to hold to Biblical Truth unto death, and when you hold it you do not hold it in hiding, you must be in the world defending that truth no matter what persecution you face!

John Hagee does not have a Testimony because he is not willing to hold to Biblical Truth unto death, but instead like the rest of what he calls “The Major Leagues” of Evangelists is willing to modify his beliefs and words to avoid public persecution! to him its not about holding to Biblical Truth! Its about how great a “communicator” you are. As if you are a greater communicator of fallen human wisdom, your audience and following will increase.

However that ideology is diametrically opposed to God’s Word and how we are to live as Christians:

1 Corinthians 1:17-31:

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: 

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”

1 Corinthians 2:1-16:

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.  For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.  And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Spiritual Wisdom

However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,  which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written:

      “ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
      Nor have entered into the heart of man
      The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

From The New York times:

As a prominent evangelical pastor based in San Antonio, you were recently catapulted into national controversy when you endorsed Senator
John McCain for president. Is it true that McCain actively sought your endorsement? It’s true that McCain’s campaign sought my endorsement.

How did you feel when critics called you a Catholic-basher and said McCain should reject your endorsement? My statements regarding the Catholic Church have been grossly mischaracterized. I never called the Catholic Church “the anti-Christ” or a “false cult system.” I was referring to those Christians who ignore the Gospels.

What about your observation in a recent book that “most readers will be shocked by the clear record of history linking
Adolf Hitler and the Roman Catholic Church in a conspiracy to exterminate the Jews”? What I was trying to express was the fact that Christian anti-Semitism — both Catholic and Protestant — contributed to an environment in which Nazi racial anti-Semitism could flourish.

But why bring all of that up now? ’Cause most of the world don’t know it. Christians don’t know it at all.

Two years ago, you founded Christians United for Israel , an influential lobbying group that has won accolades from many Jewish leaders. I’m trying to do something beneficial for the state of Israel and the Jewish people. It’s the right thing to do. If you take the Jewish contribution away from Christianity, there would be no Christianity.

That’s a touching sentiment, but some are concerned that the Zionism of American evangelicals stems from self-interest. Isn’t your involvement in Israel based on a desire to speed the second coming of Jesus? Our support of Israel has nothing to do with any kind of “end times” Bible scenario.

You’re not just sitting around waiting for the Rapture? No. My support of Israel is based on a recognition of the enormous debt we gentiles owe to the Jews. I have given millions of dollars to build hospitals and orphanages in Israel and to bring 25,000 Russian immigrants to Israel, because every Jewish person who comes to Israel makes it a stronger nation.

You’re often described as the pastor of a megachurch. Yes.

What makes it a megachurch instead of just a big church? I think they call you a megachurch when you go over 5,000. I have over 19,000 active members at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio.

You are also the president of Global Evangelism Television, which broadcasts your Sunday sermons around the country. I am on five days a week. My show can be seen throughout the world on several networks, including God TV, TBN and Daystar.

What do you make of
Barack Obama’s oratorical skills? He is going to be difficult to beat, because the man is a master of communication. If he were in the ministry, he would make it in the major leagues overnight.

Let’s talk about your much-quoted comment that Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment for a gay rights parade in New Orleans . We’re not going down there. That’s so far off-base it would take us 33 pages to go through that, and it’s not worth going through.

I am not eager to rehash it either, although I wish that evangelicals were not so hard on gays. Our church is not hard against the gay people. Our church teaches what the Bible teaches, that it is not a righteous lifestyle. But of course we must love even sinners.

Do you have any gay friends? I don’t want to say that I have any friends, because when you say, “Who are they?” I don’t want them jumping off the balcony.

Do you have an Easter prayer to share with us? May the joy of Easter fill your heart and home.