The Top Ten Lies of the Church

By Brother Rabbi Dani’el Rendelman
Emet Ministries
ravemet@comcast.net

MEMBER OF BNAI YAHSHUA SYNAGOGUES WORLDWIDE

“Do not be deceived,”
James 1:16-17

Have you been mislead?

Is your faith real?

Scripture, encyclopedias, history, dictionaries, and general knowledge supports everything presented in this teaching. You are not reading someone’s opinions, but the facts. Study to show yourself approved. And please, please, don’t believe the Top 10 Lies of the Church…

Lie # 10: Sunday is the Sabbath

From the 10 Commandments we learn “ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it,” Exodus, chapter 20

Now, compare this verse to a calendar. What day is the seventh?

Sunday is clearly the first day of the week and therefore cannot be the Biblical Sabbath! The Savior kept the seventh day Sabbath and so did the apostles, including Paul. “And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them,”- Acts, chapter 18:3,4,11. Paul’s actions were the same as the Savior’s: to be in the synagogue on the Sabbath. “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,” -- Acts, chapter 17:1,2.

“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read,” Luke, chapter 4:16.

From creation, the Seventh day has been Saturday. Mankind has not lost track of time, nor confused which day is which. Nowhere in the Bible is the day of worship changed from Saturday to Sunday. This change was not made by the Almighty, but by the Roman Catholic Church.

“Prove to me from the Bible alone that I am bound to keep Sunday holy. There is no such law in the Bible. It is a law of the Roman Catholic Church alone. Chapter 20, verse 8 of Exodus says ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.’ The Catholic Church says not, but by its divine power it abolishes the Sabbath day and commands we 'keep holy the first day of the week'. And lo! The entire civilized world bows down in reverent obedience to the command of the Holy Catholic Church,” wrote Father Thomas Enrich, in the Roman Catholic journal The American Sentinel.

It is very important that we dedicate the seventh day for rest and worship. Honoring any other day than the seventh as the Sabbath is a direct violation of one of the Ten Commandments. Of those who do this, the Savior said, "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men,” Matthew, chapter 15:9

Lie # 9: The rapture

Do a Bible search for the word “rapture.” Go ahead, flip through some Bible pages and look for the word. No luck? This term just can’t be found in the Scriptures. It isn’t in the Bible. Anywhere. The idea of Christians being suddenly taken to heaven comes from preachers who misinterpret 1 Thessalonians - “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words,” I Thessalonians 4:16,17.

Many churches now teach that believers will suddenly disappear at the beginning of a seven-year period of Tribulation. The time of the anti-Christ will then begin, until the visible Second Coming of the Savior. Yet, this doctrine is fairly new when compared to the major tenets of the Christian faith.

The false teaching of the pre-tribulation rapture first surfaced around the 1830’s. This is when a thirteen-year old little girl had a vision that those baptized in the Spirit would be raptured before the antichrist came to power. She also saw that a second group of believers would then be raptured at the end of the tribulation. About the same time, a book was released about the Savior coming first to rapture His church and then, again to defeat the anti-Christ. Bible publisher C.I. Scofield promoted these ideas in his popular study bible, and the Church hasn’t looked back since. From movies to TV preachers to best-selling books, the church is taken with the pre-tribulation rapture theology.

The New Testament does speak of a certain event taking place, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed,” 1 Corinthians, chapter 15:52.

Again, many suppose this is the sudden disappearance of Christians. Is this really what Paul meant? No. The Bible does not teach a pre-tribulation catching away where unbelievers are “left behind.” Man teaches this. Don’t get caught up, in this false hope. Strengthen your faith for whatever the future holds.

Lie # 8: “Jesus” is the Savior’s name

Mel Gibson’s movie, “The Passion of the Christ,” detailed the last hours of the life of Messiah. The film was recorded totally in the ancient languages of Latin and Aramaic. Throughout the blockbuster, the Savior is called “Y’shua” in Aramaic. This further shows that Jesus is not Savior’s name. Just think about it, how could the Jewish Messiah have an English name?

When the angel spoke to Mary and Joseph about the pregnancy, the Hebrew-speaking couple was told that the Savior’s name was “Yahshua,” meaning “Salvation is of YHWH.” (more on the phrase YHWH to follow)

One basic reason that the name Jesus is not correct is that the English language is not that old. Moses did not speak King James English. And the Savior’s name could not start with a “j” because it simply did not exist. There isn’t even a Hebrew letter sound similar to “j.”

The King of the Jews was given a Jewish name. Christianity has used the name of Jesus for so long, that few people stop to question how a Hebrew Messiah could have an a Greek/English name. When the Messiah walked this earth, He was never called “Jesus.” His name was, and is, Yahshua. From this point forward, this teaching will refer to Him by His true name.

The name “Jesus” is derived from the Greek name “Ieasus,” which actually means “son of Zeus.” Sadly, when people call upon the name of Jesus they are actually speaking of Greek mythology. The Bible clearly reveals that salvation is available in only one name: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,” Acts, chapter 4:12. What is found in English Bibles is a fake name. Mel Gibson was right after all.

Lie # 7: Just ask “Jesus” into your heart and you will be saved

Evangelical churches’ message of salvation is pretty simple. They say to just “ask Jesus into your heart and you will be saved.” This message is so simple, that it can be understood by people of all ages. However, the idea of a fast and convenient salvation is a lie.

The Savior Himself never told anyone to pray the “Sinner’s prayer.” Nor can a single person in the New Testament be found asking Yahshua "into their heart". Even the criminal on the cross, who died beside the Savior, didn’t ask Yahshua into his heart. Yet, to this thief, Yahshua said, “today you will be with me in paradise.” Asking the Savior into your heart is an invention of man, aiding in the gospel of fire insurance. Promoting this heresy is promising a “get out of hell free card” to anyone who repeats a prayer. Sorry, but there is more to salvation than saying a prayer. The prayer of repentance is not some magical incantation that grants us access to heaven. Salvation is “by grace through faith” in the Savior. We must enter into agreement with him about our sinfulness, turn from our wrongdoing, and pursue His Kingdom. Trusting in the atoning sacrifice of Yahshua is the only path to salvation. This trust might begin with a prayer, but is shouldn’t end there.

Lie # 6: The Jews killed Jesus

Anti-Semitism is the ugly hatred of anything Jewish. “Anti-Semitism has its roots planted deep in the soil of the world religions of Christianity and Islam. Both of these claim to be the “true” religion of the Scriptures and claim to have replaced Judaism. Christianity, as it now exists, claims to be the “New Israel” and they claim the “New Covenant” has replaced the inferior “Old Covenant”. The “New Testament “god is one of love and grace, while the god of the “Old” is judgmental and shows no mercy to the sinner. The Torah is bondage and their anti-Torah teachings are called freedom in “Christ”. Their Messiah came to free the Jews from the law and to put an end to their legalistic religion. According to their doctrines, Yahshua came to stop all tradition and Torah observance. In their mixed up world, the “Church” replaces Yisrael and the Jews are destined for hell-fire unless they convert to their brand of Christianity. The Christian religion claims to love the Jewish people, yet their history only proves their distain and persecution of the Jews,” wrote Rabbi Ed Nydle.

Sadly, for many years anti-Semitism has been taught in the church by suggesting that the Jewish people killed the savior. This idea breeds dislike and disgust of the Hebrew people.

The Jews did not kill Yahshua. Nor did the Romans. No one took Yahshua’s life from Him. He gave up His life freely for all mankind. “I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again,” John 10:17-18. Don’t blame the Jews! Don’t harbor anti-Semitism. The Hebrew people were and are the chosen people of YHWH.

Lie # 5: The Law has been done away with

Like a boxing battle for truth, this lie has probably bruised and beaten more people than any other. In one corner is the church that proclaims the law is legalism and has been nailed to the cross. In the other corner is the Messiah who said, "Think not that I have come to abolish the Law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these Commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven,” Matthew 5: 17-19. The issue seems pretty plain doesn’t it? Heaven and earth are still here, so the Law must be too! What was wrong to do during the times of Moses is still wrong. What was commanded during the time Moses is still commanded today.

Many misunderstand and misquote Paul about this subject. Yet, if Savior didn’t do away with the Law how could Paul? Grace and faith have not taken the Law’s place. Consider these verses on the subject:

- "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law," Romans 3:31

- "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein," Romans 6:1-2

- “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good," Romans 7:12

- “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law," 1 John 3: 4

Part of the misunderstanding concerning this subject is in how we view the term “law.” For many, the idea of “law” seems to be like a binding set of rules that hinder enjoyment. Don’t think like this. Consider instead the Law to be like a stoplight that allows life, cautions when things aren’t going right, and stops dangerous behavior. Just read Psalm 119 for insight on how we should approach the Law of Moses.

So, don’t call it “law” anymore. This word is a horrible translation of the Hebrew. Instead of referring to the commandments as laws, use the Hebrew term “Torah.” Torah is the ancient Hebrew word for teaching and instructions. Torah is more like instruction manual than it is a rulebook. Found within the Torah is our blueprint for living, with information on pretty much every part of life, from what to eat, to how to dress, and when to worship. “Christians usually call the Torah "the Law," because most English translations of scripture translate Torah as Law. The reason this came about is because some rabbis translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, called the Septuagint. The Septuagint translated Torah into the Greek word Nomia. Nomia was used in Greek culture to mean an unalterable law. Following this tradition, the Greek New Testament also used nomia to signify the Torah. The Torah is unalterable, and technically it is Law, since breaking it does have penal consequences. (Remember, this includes all that God gave to the Prophets.) However, the Torah is first of all the teaching of a protective parent, the Most High Father, Abba, who loves His children enough to preserve them in righteousness,” wrote David M. Hargis.

Lie # 4: The Church

The word “church” originally comes from an Old English term “kirke.” Long ago, the Anglo-Saxons used to refer to their pagan places of worship as a “kirke.” When the Anglo-Saxons accepted Christianity, they simply continued to call their worship centers kirkes, which eventually evolved into “churches.” The word “church” is in fact a pagan term that describes a pagan worship system founded by man.

Early believers were never called “church goers” or even “Christians.” The faith in Messiah was originally just a sect of Judaism. The first believers were called “Nazarenes” or “Followers of the Way.” In Paul’s trial before Felix, the lawyer for the prosecution said, “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ring leader of the Nazarene sect,” Acts 24: 5.

So when did the church start? Catholics proclaim that the church began when the Savior commissioned Peter to become the first Pope. They believe the apostles were the original Catholics who lead the early believers to start the new religion of Christianity. They reasoned that since the Jews killed, God had now turned his attention to the rest of the world. “After the crucifixion, the apostles passed to the Early Church Fathers, the Faith. Later Emperors, like Constantine, and Monarchs accepted the Creed; their subjects followed. That's how it started,” says one web site. It was Roman Emperor Constantine who mandated Christianity to be the universal religion. Before he did this though, he made huge changes in the faith. Constantine gave several edicts that would separate the church from Biblical Judaism. These decrees mandated ancient pagan practices, like Christmas, Communion, Easter, and Sun day worship, as “Christian.”

In the preface to Edward Gibbon's History of Christianity, we read: "If Paganism was conquered by Christianity, it is equally true that Christianity was corrupted by Paganism. The pure Deism of the first Christians . . . was changed, by the Church of Rome, into the incomprehensible dogma of the trinity. Many of the pagan tenets, invented by the Egyptians and idealized by Plato, were retained as being worthy of belief."

Lie # 3: Christianity

If the term “church” is incorrect, what about “Christianity?” Isn’t our faith just another denomination of Christianity? No. Even the using the word “Christianity” is another mistake that needs to be exposed. Again, the earliest believers were called “Nazarenes.” The saints were only called “Christians” by those who did not understand the faith! The Bible shows though, that for a follower of Messiah, being called a “Christian” is not a good thing.

The word “Christian” can be found only a few times in the Bible. The three times it is used, are to describe a totally separate religion than the Biblical faith.

Christianity, as a religious system, has been perverted by paganism and corrupted by man. Everyone misled by traditional Christianity are not evil. The system itself is.

In our Bibles, the word “Christian” is derived from the Greek “Khristos.” Kristos is a popular ancient Egyptian god, better known as Horus. “Khristos” also means, “anointed one” in Greek. Confusion set in as outsiders mistook early followers of the Savior as members of another group that worshipped “Krist.”

Interestingly there are many similarities between the pagan god of Krist and the Christian version of Jesus. For example, Greek mythology tells of Krist bring born to the virgin Isis on December 25. This confusion isn’t new. The apostle Peter understood the confusion surrounding Krist and Christ when he wrote, “Yet if any of you suffers as a Khristian, do not consider it a disgrace,” I Peter 4:16. The other places the term “Kristian” appears in the Bible are:

- Acts 11: 25, “Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were first (mistakenly) called Khristians at Antioch.”

- Acts 26: 28, “Agrippa said to Paul, "Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Khristian?"

Lie # 2: The Trinity

This doctrine of the church just doesn’t make any sense. Many different Trinitarian ideas exist, which generally present the Godhead as three persons. This doctrine says that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are separate but each equally “god.” This is very confusing! Even the Encyclopedia Americana notes that the doctrine of the Trinity is considered to be “beyond the grasp of human reason.” When questioned about this doctrine, most preachers respond that we should “just believe” and that we might not every really understand the trinity.

Not surprisingly, the word Trinity cannot be found in the Bible. And it wasn’t formally a part of church doctrine until the 4th century, when the Catholic Church first began teaching god as being in three separate persons. The New Catholic Encyclopedia says, “the Trinity is not directly and immediately the word of God. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is not taught in the Old Testament." The Savior himself said, “Eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus whom you have sent,” John 17:30. It is pretty clear that Messiah didn’t believe in the Trinity.

The truth is, that the Bible doesn’t teach the trinity. What the Bible teaches is Unity. The Father, Son, and Spirit are One. Devarim 6:4, “Hear O Israel YHWH our God is the one, the only YHWH.” Paul wrote that “God is only one,” in Galatians 3:20. "I am YHWH your God . . . You shall have no gods except me,” Exodus 20: 2,3. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three separate persons with different personalities. The Father is not some upset parent ready to strike disobedient people with a lightening bolt. The Son did not come to save us from His angry Father. The Savior came, as an expression of the Father’s love, to save us from our sins.

Lie # 1: The LORD our GOD

Throughout this teaching, the words “god” and “lord” have been used to describe the recipient of Christian worship. Sadly, even these terms are a lie. They shouldn’t have been used. God’s name is not the “Lord.” When a person uses these generic terms, they are actually referring to the false Babylonian deity of good fortune or luck. This is according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and Dictionary #H1407-1411. This claim is further validated by the Oxford Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. This dictionary teaches that ‘god’ comes to modern English from the ancient Sanskrit language meaning – “to invoke by incantation, sorcery, magic.”

Please understand that the English word “god” has been falsely used as a substitute of the Father’s real name for centuries. This is in prohibition to Exodus 23:13 that says we are to, “make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.” God is not the Creator’s name, is not His title, is not a substitute, is not a translation, and is not what He desires to be called.

Just ask any person on the street “Who is god?” and you will get a variety of answers. Most people will say that he is a “supreme being,” others will argue god’s name is “Allah” or “Jehovah.” Most people though, view god from the background and teaching of their religious affiliation. The truth is that “God” is the source of worship for those involved in Wicca and Christianity. Even some people claim to be god! It is both amazing and troubling that the Muslims and the Masons both call their being of worship “god.”

It makes no difference whether or not the “g” in god is capitalized. Using this general term for the creator is in violation of Exodus 20:7, which tells us not to take the name of the LORD in vain. Surely calling him the name of a pagan deity is defaming His character and taking His name in vain.

The Encyclopedia Americana says under the topic “God: that “god is a common Teutonic word for personal object of religious worship, formerly applicable to super-human beings of heathen myth.” While further research reveals that the Druids called the sun Gud, Gudh, Goth, or Gott which where translated into English as “gawd” or “god.”

So, if we shouldn’t call the Most High “god” then what should we call him? Well, why not call Him by His real name as revealed in the Bible as “YHWH,” which is usually pronounced “Yahweh.” (YHWH is the English equivalent to the Hebrew letters yod, hey, wav, hey.)

Just read the introduction in most Bibles and you’ll find that translators have hidden the name of the Creator within the English term “LORD.” Whenever we find the English word “LORD” or “GOD” in all capital letters, the translators are letting us know that the sacred name of Yahweh is being used. But, Yahweh says emphatically in Exodus 3 that Yahweh “is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” This name was not intended to be hidden by scribes and translators; rather Yahweh Himself gave it to man as a sign of His existence and as a means of personal relationship. This is similar to how a person introduces himself on a first name basis. Yahweh gave us His personal name so we could approach Him with intimacy.

It’s very important to note that “YHWH” is used almost 7,000 times throughout the Bible as the only and unique name of the Mighty One of Israel. The KJV sometimes even uses the poetic form of “Jah” to reference the mighty name of Yahweh. (see Psalm 68:4) Other titles such as Adonai and El Shaddai are just that – they are titles that describe His attributes and actions. The English word “god” that you find in your KJV is usually a poor translation for the Hebrew “Elohim” which according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance means “mighty one, judge, or deity.”

One last verse, from the New International Version Isaiah 65:11, 12 "But as for you who forsake Yahweh and forget my holy mountain, who spread a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny…you did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me." Here the capitalized word “Destiny” is the Hebrew form of the deity of good fortune. It is clear from this verse that we are not to mix Destiny worship or “god" worship with the true worship of Yahweh. Those who do, according to this verse, “displease” the Creator.

Experience a closer relationship with the Most High by using His name. Follow the footsteps of the only begotten Son of Yahweh, who said in John 5:43 “I have come in my Father's name.” The Father’s name is Yahweh, not “god”. It is in this power that we have been commissioned to proclaim that “everyone who calls on the name of YHWH will be saved,” Joel 2: 32.