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Conspiracies of Faith
December 8, 2018

Conspiracies are a normal part of life for many Americans. A conspiracy is a secret agreement between two or more parties to commit an illegal act. To be believed as a conspiracy, proof is not needed. The perception that something wrong was done is sufficient to cause a believe in conspiracy. It has been more than fifty year and more than half of Americans believe the assassination of President John F. Kennedy was the result of a conspiracy; less than one-third accept the official government account. About half of Americans believe in the existence of UFOs. It seems like in a country that cherishes freedom of speech, conspiracies abound. No one ever talks about the conspiracies of faith. Have you ever noticed how the early church described in the Bible is so different from the churches of today? Is it because the churches have merely kept pace with time, or is this because of a conspiracy? This week we are going to begin talking about some of the differences between modern religious practice and the practice of the early church and see these differences through the lens of conspiracy.

James 1:16-18
Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James, author of the first epistle to be written in the New Testament era after the death of Jesus reflects what the early church believed. James was quick to remind the church that every good gift comes from God in whom there is no variableness, shadow of turning, or simply change. James knew God does not change. It was through God's word of truth that Christians are identified as a type of the first fruit of his creation. Many who read this would gloss over the reference to a Holy Day ordained by God. Some see the New Testament in conflict to the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus the Christ as having overthrown the teachings of God the Father.

Hebrews 13:7-14
Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

We know that Jesus does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We are also warned to not be carried about with diverse and strange doctrines. Some will cite this verse to show any claim of conspiracy of faith is a diverse and strange doctrine, yet conspiracies of faith exist. Think. For those who believe Jesus came to undo, free us from the burdens of, supplant, or overthrow the commandments of God, how closely these concepts are aligned to "Ye shall not surely die," and, " I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." Yet we are told Jesus doesn't change, and that he is like his Father, who also doesn't change. We started this study in James, the first epistle written after the death of Jesus. Later in the first chapter James writes, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." James knew that in bringing His Son as our Lord and Savior, God the Father was not abdicating; nor did He foolishly position another to overthrow His teachings. James knew God does not change, and God is against those who oppress others. To God, nationality and societal status makes no difference. Whether it is the undocumented immigrant who broke a law to provide for his or her family, a political intern who wanted to serve a country while learning more about the political process, the children of foster care who at age 18 preferred homelessness to living in a foster home, the singer, the actress, or the widow who struggled to live, and to every segment of society in between, to God it makes no difference. To all who have been in a position of authority, trust, and mentoring, and have used your position to help others you have done well. To others who have used your position in any way to oppress others know this one fact. God is against you.

Malachi 3:5-6
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Perhaps the oppressors might say, "If God is against us, who can be for us?" Those who oppress others have God against them. God was against oppressors thousands of years ago. He is against those who oppress today. Similarly, conspiracies of faith oppress others also. Did Jesus come to undo what God had done? Why has pedophilia been allowed to secretly exist in churches and as a result oppressing children? What is the gospel? Why is Sunday observed when Saturday is acknowledged to be the Sabbath of the Bible? What Holy Days are to be observed? Will the Saints be going to Heaven to be with God, or will God be coming to Earth to be with the Saints? For those who die and are judged to be evil, is their fate condemned to eternity in hell, or will all knowledge of them be incinerated in a lake of fire? For the righteous, what happens at death? Many will see these questions and think they know the answers, but do they really? Have they merely accepted what they have been told, or do they really know what they know? Yes, we are not to be carried about with diverse and strange doctrines, but exactly who has been carried about with strange and diverse doctrines is what we will be looking at over the next few weeks by examining conspiracies of faith.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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