C.S.A. News
Diversity and Multiculturalism
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The Way of Salvation
* * * While speaking to a certain Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews named Nicodemus. "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3). Regardless of race, nationality or religion, those who make heaven their home, will have first adhered to this verse, and Jesus Christ of The Holy Scriptures, defines the terms. This is not a denominational issue, nor a matter of believer verses non-believer. It is eternal and we are all equally bound by these words! The word ‘Except’ makes it a command, not an option, and the meaning of those words cannot be watered down or diluted, for they will stand in eternity as a witness. There is no intermediary such as a Minister, Priest or Rabbi who can soften or alter the impact of what has been commanded. An alternate route or meaning cannot be provided by a Saint or an Angle, irregardless of what we may have been taught to the contrary! The words "...Except a man be born again..." are clearly spoken and is unalterable and unchangeable. In order to become ‘Born Again’ one must open the door and allow Jesus Christ to enter, for as indicated in the illustration below, there is no door knob on the outside. Only you alone before Christ in repentance can make it happen, and the price has already been paid. |
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Welcome to a frank presentation on the way of salvation! Table of Contents 'And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free' Introduction Section One - The One True God Section Two - Nature of the New Birth Section Three - The Coming Judgement Section Four - Foundations of Society Section Five - Perfectly In His Will Summation Introduction When I think of having faith in the Almighty God in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior and believe the Holy Scripture. A greater majesty comes to mind then denominationalism, and the differences which divide Christendom. A prayer closet greater then any man made construction is found, when I look up into a clear night sky, and behold the stars, and the planets. Realizing even the moon was shaped by his power. All the heavenly bodies were sent spinning through the galaxies of space. I stand in awe before the creator of such splendor, and I am humbled. Yet this same God, found it in his grace to create man, and gave him of his own likeness and image. Among those precious gifts endowed to us in creation we find our unalienable rights which he granted to us, along with the breath of freedom to live that life. Therefore, whether you call yourself a Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Lutheran or some other denomination. After reading this statement of faith, my prayer is that you find that highway of holiness spoken of in the aforementioned scripture. Thereby cease living as if you are defending that which is indefensible. My struggle is that I might so live my life, that life itself will be an example and a testimony unto the world! That as we live and practice our faith, those things which are not always easy to say in words, might be made clear. Section One The One True God We first begin the process by describing in general terms what is meant by The Christian Faith' and thereby the 'Highway of Holiness.' We shall described herein those divinely ordained principles and beliefs we have titled 'like precious faith.' 1. The Almighty God of the Holy Scripture 'is God' and beside him, there is none other. The one true God is manifested in three persons or manifestations, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. "...ye are even my witness. Is there a God beside me? Yea, there is no God; I know not any." (Isaiah 44:8). Also: "Then said I, Lo, I come in the volume of the book it is written of me..." This verse is also stated in Psalms 40:7 of the Old Testament. 2. The Holy Scripture, consisting of 66 books of the Old and New Testament, as presented in their original manuscripts, are inerrant and infallible. The King James Version of the Holy Bible of 1611 provides the best linguistic and spiritual translation. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (II Timothy 3:16). This version 'is the Holy Scripture' in the English language. The proper understanding of words and phrases contained in the scripture may require a reference to an unabridged dictionary, and perhaps a minimal knowledge of history and culture, rather then a new translation. As for modern translations: "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophesy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." (Revelations 22:18-19). Also read: Deuteronomy 12:32. It is a dangerous thing to meddle with the Word of the Living God, making it more palatable, or to deny the scripture, under pretense of law, regulation and adjudication. God's Law is law, and those who stand against it, will be judged! 3. Jesus Christ is the only begotten son of the Almighty God, conceived of the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, crucified, dead and buried. He arose again bodily from the dead on the third day. He ascended into heaven, to the right hand of the Father, as our intercessor. There is no other name given among men, whereby we must be saved (born again). See: (Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:26-38 and Acts 4:12). 4. Through the shed blood of Jesus Christ on Calvary's Cross, we are justified through faith in him. We are sanctified, or set aside (separated) by the New Birth, in salvation. The New Birth takes place upon our recognition that we were born in sin. When we have confessed 'all' of our sins, while having a contrite heart and an humble spirit, having completely accepted him as Lord, Savior and Master of our lives, according the Holy Scripture. See repentance: (Mark 1:15, Luke 13:3, John 3:3, Acts 3:19). Justification: (Romans 5:1 and Titus 3:5). Regeneration (Titus 3:5). 5. Salvation consists of more then a ritualistic utterance of a prayer, and an intellectual or passing belief in the existence of Almighty God, through Jesus Christ our Savior and of the Holy Ghost. A change in attitude, interest, mindset and lifestyle takes place, as complete and total, as the original biological birth. The New Birth: (Matthew 12:50, John 3:1-8, I Corinthians 10:21, II Thessalonians 2:10, I Peter 1:23 and I John 3:9). 6. The Christian message is not one of begging the unbeliever, to bow before our Lord Jesus Christ. "For it is written, As I live saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (Romans 14:11-12). The issue is not will every individual bow? But will the individual do so under his love, grace and mercy, or wait until time has passed and it is to late. Thus we fall under his wrath and judgment! Section Two Nature of the New Birth We believe in a separate and distinct baptism in the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. Speaking in other tongues should not be confused with 'babbling' or nonsensical sounds, but real languages never learned, and sent of the Holy Ghost, for divine purposes. This gift is exemplified by a person having reached adulthood, and found to be able to speak a multitude of foreign languages, in their proper dialect and accent, having never studied them. See (Matthew 3:11, Luke 24:49-53, Acts 1:4-8 and Acts 2:1:14), 1. Baptism by complete immersion in water, symbolic of a clean spirit, as directed by the scripture, should be carried out as soon as practice after salvation, as a testament of the New Birth. See: (Matthew 28:19, Mark 1:9-10, John 3:22-23, Acts 89:36-38). 2. The Last Supper should be carried out in fellowship, with those truly of the faith. This should be partaken once a year, on the evening before 'Crucifixion Friday.' See: (Matthew 26:21-25, John 13:2-30). 3. We believe spiritual gifts will follow believers. We speak here of real gifts and miracles such as healing of the sick and casting out of devils. An example of miracle working power is a young man possessing the ability to play classical music on a concert piano, with the skill and talent of the masters, having no background in music. Such miracles are outside the realms of science, and human understanding. While these gifts may be impersonated, they can not be duplicated, save through the Holy Ghost. See: (I Corinthians 12:1-7-10-28-31 and I Corinthians 14:1). Also note: (Matthew 8:178, James 5:14-16 and I Peter 2:24). 4. We believe firmly, that Christians, by the nature of the New Birth, will hunger and thirst after righteousness. They will desire to become a living witness, testimony and an example. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6). They will also dress in modest and non-sensual attire, according to the traditional dress of men and women respectively, as appropriate to their own sex. Clothing styles or garments resembling those of the opposite sex, as exemplified in unisex fashions, will not be worn. In effect Christians are to 'set the style' as it were, not follow those of the popular culture, and do so in the spirit of holiness. If every believer did so, pagan clothing manufacturers would either follow suite or face bankruptcy; their fashion designers in New York and Paris, would go out of business, or measure up. Afterward replaced by those of the Christian Faith! As it is, we are faced with wearing such as the pagan world may furnish. Even so, we do have choices, and we should exercise those choices in the way of holiness. "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garments: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord." (Deuteronomy 22:5). Also: Leviticus 10:10, Proverbs 7:10, Matthew 5:28, and II Corinthians 6:14-17). 5. We do not believe it appropriate for believers to decorate or punch holes in their bodies with ornamentation, jewelry, ear rings, finger rings, bracelets, lockets, except wedding bands, or wear painted faces. We believe women should have long hair, and men short hair, according to the Holy Scripture. There is no intent here of becoming involved in a technical or theological debate, for those of the New Birth and of a Godly nature, will know and understand. As for the others, it is our hope that you will be found at an alter of repentance and prayer. See: (I Timothy 2:9 and I Peter 3:1-6) 6. We believe proper Christian mannerisms and the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ in ones life, will not allow condoning vulgar speech, fowl language or off color remarks, in any form. See: (Genesis 20:7 and Deuteronomy 5:11) 7. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God: Not of Works, least any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9). How many times have these verses been quoted? Standing alone, these verses are not the whole story. One must continue reading! "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10). This last verse is normally left out of the discussion. The principle here is a 'holy lifestyle and mindset,' brought about through the New Birth. Also read: (Ephesians 2:5 and II Timothy 1:9). Section Three The Coming Judgement We believe eroding values have caused the feminization of men, and causing women to become masculine. Ever spiraling downward into apostasy, decadence and debauchery, resulting in a pagan form of Christianity. See: (II Timothy 1:6 - 4:2-8, II Peter 2:4-8 - 3:3-7 and Titus 2:1). 1. We believe there will be a pre-millennial bodily 'taking away' in the twinkling of an eye of the true believers, known as 'The Rapture.' The dead will be raised first, then immediately after, those believers which remain alive. This will be followed by seven years of tribulation such as the world has never known, nor shall ever be again. After the tribulation it will come to pass that our Lord and Savior will come again in the fullness of His Glory, bodily to the earth. See: (I Corinthians 15:52, I Thessalonians 4:15-17, II Thessalonians 2:1). 2. The Lord Jesus Christ will reign supreme upon the earth for 1,000 years, followed by the bodily resurrection and ascension of the righteous, to eternal life in the glories of heaven, and the unsaved to eternal damnation of the wicked in hell. See: (Matthew 25:46, Luke 18:30, John 10:28, Romans 6:22, I John 5:11-13). We also recommend ( Matthew 25:41-46, Mark 3:29, II Thessalonians 1:8-9, Revelations 20:10-15 & 21:8). 3. There shall be a judgment of the wicked known as the Great White Throne Judgment. "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; a |
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| The Holy Scripture - Leviticus 25:10
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In writing this article titled 'Confederate Holiness Fellowship' it has been my desire to express a lifelong observation. Having read, traveled and met so very many people, I have witnessed far more then could ever have been dreamed possible, when I graduated from high school so very long ago. But the sadist of my life's observations is in knowing how far the Christian Churches had drifted prior to my birth, and how even further from their foundations during my lifetime. I am old enough that the Second World War, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War, have all come and gone in my lifetime. And, I am certainly not the oldest among my generation of Christians. As I lay in an infants crib, there were five major world powers; The British Empire, United States, Soviet Union, Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. Only the British Empire Remains, in name only, and the United States, as the last world superpower. The Seemingly Impossible The one constant, even though the churches in general were already in decline in my youth, was the deep abiding respect for Almighty God and the Holy Scripture, particularly in the Southland, already known even then, as the 'Bible Belt.' But this sense of respect extended to other areas. This sense of respect was reflected in how the sanctuary of the church was treated. Certain things were just not tolerated in 'The House of God' then, which are common place now. There were standards for those who might have wished to speak or sing at the podium. You might ask; are you talking about my church? Yes, we are all in the same situation here. Perhaps there are exceptions; churches tucked away in some forgotten corner of society, still observing and practicing the faith, according to the highest calling. These are few to be certain! I need not detail the fall of the Christian Churches, to those who choose to open their eyes to the tragedy. Look about you at the congregations and the television ministries; observe and listen. A Christian citizenry, as numerous and influential as the church rolls indicate, would be able to radically alter society, and set the course of future history, simply by their presence. In our lifetime we have spawned a new religion in the States, described as 'Christian Paganism.' This is because it mixes a wee bit of Christianity and a lot of pagan practices and beliefs. There is just enough truth involved to draw the multitudes into 'false doctrine.' The television ministries, for the most part, resemble a Hollywood Heathen Festival. When I was a boy, we had names for the way so many of their members appear in public. Which would have any shamed any member a generation ago! The doctrines they spew out have far less then a form of godliness, realistically only a faint shadow of Christianity remains, when compared to the Church laid down in scripture. All that remains is a 'designer religion' created in the back rooms and pulpits of modern 'political correctness.' There is no need to go into detail, we are either know or willingly ignorant. I have lived my life for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and naturally, I would love an even closer walk. Yet I feel like I have been so often blessed, to have been able to walk where angles have treaded. I have experiences His glory, splendor and majesty about me, so many times. I have seen miracles, where men say there are none, and felt his hand reach out and defend me against imminent and certain death. I could live out my life, and cross over that same river, as spoken of by the prophets and have my rest. Even now, as my father said before me, 'I can almost see the lights of that city, almost hear the angles singing' and that to me is home. Yet, if I would stand at the last moments of my life, and look back, I'd want to know of a certainty, all that could be done, has been done, and I've left behind, a lighted way through this pagan world, as my forefathers had done before me. If you feel as I do, we can together action to correct the situation. We can rebuild the Christian Churches in at least one small sector of society, and through them become a beacon imitating its light across the world. Our Lord calls those of us still rooted in the founding principles and doctrines of the Church, to be about our glorious heavenly father's business. There may be remaining only a few bastions of anything resembling Christianity. So if we do not take action, it likely will never be done! You can be a part of what may well become the greatest worldwide outreach for our Lord Jesus Christ in 2000 years. Such an outreach will not begin in the columned halls of the various fallen churches. It will begin in cottage prayer meetings, or home bible studies, where a few are gathered together, working its way into Southern coliseums and stadiums. We can begin by linking these small individual groups together into a loose association, until we can expand our numbers. Then we can organize into the Confederate Holiness Fellowship. We would need to follow the scriptural described offices of the Church, and appoint Bishops, Elders and Pesters. Many of you may enjoy caring for children, bringing them into the fold, and teach them. Each of you who have not done so, study the article titled 'Confederate Holiness Church. Should you find yourself in agreement, begin now and form a local cottage prayer meeting, home bible study or house church. Meet together, perhaps in alternating homes on a weekly basis. When your numbers are large enough, seek out some structure sufficient for your numbers. Remember, the Church is where two or three are gathered together, and not the building! It is essential that you do not carry those doctrines with you, as taught by the dead churches. Churches which for the most part, have departed from the faith as laid down in the Holy Scripture, even while the phraseology and terminology of Christianity is used. We ourselves need to go back all the way, past the great bible commentaries and expositors, to the very foot of Calvary's Cross. Back to the empty tomb, and we will see, 'he is not there, he has arisen.' He has conquered hell, death and the grave, and is now seated at the Fathers right hand. We should all seek to fellowship with other likeminded home churches, prayer groups, or home bible study groups, and communicate with one another. Compare notes, and fellowship by whatever means; pending that day, wherein we are large enough to organize properly. We look forward to that day wherein we can hold meetings throughout the width and breadth of the land. Perhaps we might maintain a listing of those of like faith! We would not be building a 'new denomination' rather a new beginning. Finally, when we reach that hour, when we are able to build our own Church Buildings, we might consider mean of taking over structures already built. There is the potential of opening storefront churches in many areas. Allow me to close with this; it will not be easy, to weed out the pagan practices, which have infiltrated our society and into our worship. We can not reclaim past moments, or correct previous errors. We can however begin afresh and raise a generation which will become living examples, bearing witness, because of a changed heart, soul and mind that they have been with Jesus. We can allow our Savior through the Holy Spirit, to write the Commandments of God upon the fleshy tables of our hearts. We can build a society wherein true Christianity is common place and nearly universally accepted. Where divorce is rare, and children are born with two parents in the home, married for a lifetime. Where abortion is something read about in history books, because children once conceived, are loved and wanted. We can do all these things and more, in Christ Jesus who loves us. Begin today, 'where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20).' Dry Bones "...there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came unto them, and they lived and stood up upon their feet, and exceeding great army." God Bless |
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"Without God's blessing I look for no success, and for every success my prayer is, that all the glory may be given unto Him to whom it is properly due. If people would but give all the glory to God and regard his creatures as but unworthy instruments my heart would rejoice. Alas too frequently the praise is bestowed upon the creature. " --- Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson, 31 July 1862. |
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"The march of Providence is so slow and our desires so impatient; the work of progress is so immense and our means of aiding is so feeble; the life of humanity is long; that of the individual so brief, that we often see only the ebb of the advancing wave and are thus discouraged. It is history that teaches us to hope." --- General Robert E. Lee
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