Housing First: Chronic Homeless or Homeless Families?

Posted: February 15, 2012 in homelessness
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In October of 2003, a cross-section of stakeholders from Nebraska attended a Federal Policy Academy in Denver, CO. The Policy Academy was one of several in which all States eventually participated. The purpose of the Academy was to assist States in developing “10-Year Plans to End Chronic Homelessness.” Nebraska’s resulting 10-Year Plan was titled “Nebraska’s 10-Year Plan for Increasing Access to Mainstream Services for Persons Experiencing Chronic Homelessness.”

Nebraska’s 10-Year Plan was unveiled in 2004 and was formally adopted by the governor-appointed Nebraska Commission on Housing and Homelessness. To ensured sustained and continued implementation of the 10-Year Plan, the Commission created a standing committee titled the “Ad Hoc Committee on Ending Chronic Homelessness.” The Ad Hoc Committee’s membership includes State inter-agency personnel, nonprofit housing and homelessness prevention service providers, and representatives of various consumer demographics. The Ad Hoc Committee serves as a State level version of the United States Inter-agency Council on Homelessness.

During 2010, the Nebraska Plan was revised to include five overall objectives. The Plan’s revised title is now “Completing the Journey: Nebraska’s Action Plan for People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness.” The Plan includes implementation objectives for the period beginning January 1, 2011 and ending June 30, 2012.

Chronic Homelessness

According to Homeless Emergency and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009, the Federal definition of chronic homelessness is: “Individuals or families headed by an individual with any of the following: diagnosable substance use disorder; serious mental illness; developmental disability; post-traumatic stress disorder; chronic physical illness or disability; and/or co-occurrence of two or more disabilities.”

The Nebraska Ad Hoc Committee on Ending Chronic Homelessness believes that the path to ending chronic homelessness starts where people are at risk of being homeless and involves meeting people where they are with a place for supports and connections to occur.

http://dhhs.ne.gov/children_family_services/Pages/fia_nhap_nhapplan.aspx

From under a bridge to a home

Homeless for years, Mark Rettele lived in the most improbable places; His usual habitation was under the bridge near 36th and L. During that terrible winter of 2009-10 his friends had fled, leaving Rettele alone to survive on that concrete ledge through the snow and the cold. His way of life was getting old. And so was he.

Rettele is one of the “chronically homeless” — people who typically have a disability, an addiction or both and have been continuously homeless for more than a year.

Their needs and society’s cost have propelled a national push called “Housing First” that offers permanent supportive housing — apartments or assisted living with case management — to chronically homeless people without first requiring that they get sober, get healthy or have jobs. It reflects a thrust by the government to get chronically homeless people off the streets and, some skeptics point out, off homeless census counts.

Proponents say it can save lives and money. One recent study of formerly homeless alcoholics in Seattle reported a $30,000-per-person savings a year. Omaha’s Housing First was launched in October 2010. That’s when the city joined others in a campaign called 100,000 Homes, named after its goal of housing 100,000 people nationwide.

The campaign gives priority to the most medically fragile, and so an Omaha team works off a list built after a massive census of the homeless. Outreach workers canvass known hangouts or sleep spots for the homeless and try to find and keep up with those on their list. They try to persuade them to agree to housing, and then find a place for them to stay.

The team in 2010 surveyed 908 homeless people, identifying 520 as vulnerable under a measure that takes into account emergency room visits, presence of chronic disease, addiction, mental illness and occurrence of frostbite. Of those 520, 120 have been placed into housing in Omaha. Local advocates plan to analyze costs, but the Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless couldn’t immediately say how much it had spent to get these 120 people housed.

They expect a savings, given national research shows that vulnerable people, once housed, are less likely to wind up in emergency room care or in jail. And their research indicates that reduced jail and ER time would save money. In 2008, the continuum looked at the costs of a one-night stay in an emergency shelter ($12.54), hospital emergency room ($2,156) and jail ($82 plus $179 for arrest costs).

Under the 100,000 Homes program, those housed get their own apartments; in some cases they go to assisted living with roommates. They also get caseworkers who visit regularly and offer support geared to make that housing stick.

What it takes to house the chronic homeless 

Heartland Family Service is paying Mark Rettele $500 monthly rent and utilities. It also has provided caseworker Lisa Rice, who estimates that she has spent more than 20 hours in the past three months on Rettele’s needs and about 20 hours before that trying to persuade Rettele to trade bridge life for an apartment. (And he’s one of her lowest-needs clients)

Rice met Rettele during that Housing First homeless census. At the time he wasn’t found vulnerable enough to immediately qualify for an apartment. But Rice kept her eye out for him during countless hours in South Omaha looking for other clients and trying to encourage more chronically homeless people to come inside.

For nearly a year he stayed off her radar — in part because of three hospital emergency room visits and five jail stints for misdemeanors ranging from having an open container to trespassing.

Then, in August she ran into him and updated his profile. He was back under the bridge. Turns out, that after his hospital stays, he qualified for housing. What surprised Rice was that he had registered for class at Metropolitan Community College.

Rettele trusted Rice and the two spent hours in her car driving around South Omaha looking for an apartment. The place had to comply with Heartland’s requirements of affordability — rent plus utilities couldn’t exceed $600 — and it had to have a landlord willing to take a chance on someone like Rettele with no job, no recent record of renting and a criminal record laden with misdemeanors.

They finally found a willing landlord and an affordable apartment in November and Rettele moved in with nothing more than some clothes. So a homeless resource team in Omaha provided a move-in kit that included trash cans, cleaning supplies, pots, pans and dishes and some other basics.

It’s a nice story, but there’s a tough reality of housing long-time homeless people with addictions, mental illnesses and other problems.

Mike Saklar runs the 340-bed Siena-Francis House in north downtown. Del Bomberger runs the Stephen Center in South Omaha.

Both shelters deal with really difficult cases that need the most support. Even when a chronically homeless person lives on the street, they tend to come back to the shelters for motivation, moral support, meals and pantries.

Homeless services here, as elsewhere, rely on government grants and private donations. One major federal grant has increased overall funding for Omaha from $209,000 in 2009 to $360,000 this fiscal year. But the emergency shelter portion is now capped at 60 percent. At least 40 percent of the formerly Emergency Shelter Grant, now called Emergency Solutions, must go to other long-term housing strategies.

Saklar and Bomberger have plans of their own to add “permanent housing” to their emergency shelter campuses. Siena-Francis House is building 48 efficiency-style apartments; Stephen Center has plans for a complex to house 14 families and 40 single people. The Open Door Mission in east Omaha opened 42 two- and three-bedroom apartments.

Saklar said his staff has had to retrieve formerly homeless people from off-site apartments because conditions became too unsafe. He said the apartments he’s building on campus will help his staff keep better tabs on their homeless clients.

Saklar said his shelter calls 911 at least once a day for what is often a seizure or heart problem.

“A lot of homeless people need 24-hour care,” Saklar said. “We see lots of people who have head trauma, heart problems, and they need medical care. You have to ensure they’re taking their meds daily. If someone like that is placed in off-site apartments, how do you do that?”

But proponents of Housing First say the alternative leaves some of society’s most vulnerable to street life, which is dangerous and expensive.

The 2009 Seattle study found that it was twice as costly to do nothing than to provide free housing to the homeless. Over the course of a year, participants in the Seattle Housing First program reduced their total costs by more than $4 million, compared with the year before they enrolled, according to results published in the April 2009 Journal of the American Medical Association. That amounted to a savings of nearly $30,000 a year per person when Housing First costs were considered.

In other words, it’s all about saving money. In the year they were on the streets, this population of homeless people with jail and hospital time racked up costs of about $43,000 apiece. But when fully paid apartments and on-site social services were factored in, costs dropped to about $13,000 per year per person.

What about families?

The U.S. Conference of Mayors 2010 Status Report on Hunger & Homelessness in American Cities in their annual assessment of 26 American cities tallied a 9 percent overall increase in the number of homeless families between September 1, 2009 and August 31, 2010. Fifty-eight percent of the cities analyzed showed an increase in family homelessness.

Based on this survey, on an average night, 1,105 family members are on the streets, 10,926 find refuge in an emergency shelter, and 15,255 stay in transitional homes. Trapped in this deteriorating economy, low-income families find themselves stuck in financial sinking sand and, although they have work, they must move out of their homes, and onto the streets because of low wages.

Of the 1.6 million children who are homeless each year in America, 42% are under age 6. Spending their critical early years in unstable housing, unhealthy environments, and chronic stress poses serious risks to a young child’s healthy development.

These are families that have lost their homes and don’t have the credit rating to get into another apartment and don’t have the savings to afford first- and last-month rent payments. Seventy-nine percent of the households with children accounted for in the U.S. Conference of Mayors Report claimed that the main cause was unemployment, and 72 percent declared lack of affordable housing. Homeless shelters will soon become overcrowded as more families are losing their homes. These are working families. They just don’t have the resources to put a roof over their head.

Families experiencing homelessness are under considerable stress. They move frequently and many are doubled-up in overcrowded apartments with relatives or friends. Others sleep in cars or send their children to stay with relatives to avoid shelter life. Once in shelter, families must quickly adjust to overcrowded, difficult, and uncomfortable circumstances. Despite the efforts of dedicated staff, many shelters are noisy, chaotic, and lack privacy. Homelessness increases the likelihood that families will separate or dissolve, which may compound the stress the family feels.

http://www.familyhomelessness.org/media/306.pdf

And yet so many the resources that are spent on the chronic homeless overlook families that are left to fend for themselves. On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which includes $1.5 billion for a Homelessness Prevention Fund. Funding for this program included the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) that was designed to assist families facing homelessness.

HPRP ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The first step in any HPRP program is determining if a household applying for HPRP assistance is eligible to receive assistance under HPRP. In order to receive HPRP-funded Financial Assistance and/or Housing Relocation and Stabilization Services, households must meet at least the following minimum criteria:

1. Initial Consultation & Eligibility Determination: the household must receive at least an initial consultation and eligibility assessment with a case manager or other authorized representative who can determine eligibility and the appropriate type of assistance needed;

2. Income: the household’s total income must be at or below 50 percent of Area Median Income.

3. Housing Status: the household must be either homeless (to receive rapid re-housing assistance) OR at risk of losing its housing. (to receive homelessness prevention assistance)

AND must meet the following circumstances:

a. No appropriate subsequent housing options have been identified;

b. The household lacks the financial resources to obtain immediate housing or remain in its existing housing; and

c. The household lacks support networks needed to obtain immediate housing or remain in its existing housing.

The criteria listed above are the minimum criteria set forth by HUD to determine eligibility for HPRP.  But HUD encourages grantees to examine local needs to determine if additional risk factors or other determinants should be used to determine eligibility.

Because HUD encourages grantees to use additional factors to determine eligibility, many families may not get assistance; even though they meet all of HUD’s requirements.

Living independently can be a lot harder for chronic homeless

Apartment life doesn’t last long for some accustomed to life on the street. A man similar to Mark Rettele was placed in an apartment that was a quick walk from a liquor store. The man resumed drinking and while taking a shower, he passed out in the tub. A building manager found him and called 911. So the caseworker came up with a different plan: an assisted-living center where drinking is not allowed. The man now has a roommate, eats community meals and is trying to stay sober. But just last month a reporter driving downtown on Leavenworth Street spotted him outside slumped on the sidewalk, and leaning against a building.

I have personally witnessed this same type of behavior in friends and family members who struggle with addiction. Some my wife and I have taken into our home when they were facing homelessness. Sadly, in most cases, the addict will return to the street rather than get sober.

Some of the chronic homeless helped by the 100,000 Homes program may try to change but it won’t be easy. In the three months that Mark Rettele has lived at his apartment on South 25th Street, he has endured a near-eviction and a break-in. Many longtime homeless people such as Rettele, who built friendships on the streets, want to help their friends and invite them in. But in Rettele’s case, Rice said, she had to tell him it was either keep your apartment to yourself or go join your friends on the street. Rettele is working on that problem. He told his friends, “You have to leave.” Rettele said.  “I’m not here to take care of everyone.”

I only wish that more families could get assistance from programs like HPRP and the 100,000 Homes program, but I guess it only proves that the squeaky wheel really does get the grease. Because while the chronic homeless may be the most visible and have the greatest impact on downtown businesses and services; the homeless families have become invisible – and yet you see them every day – in the grocery store; at the gas station; and at your children’s school.

For more information about homeless families visit http://www.familyhomelessness.org/

(Some of the information reprinted with permission from WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER Erin Grace) http://www.omaha.com/article/20120213/NEWS01/702139945

Prayer and Politics

Posted: February 13, 2012 in Christian Living, politics
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We all know the statistics showing the high rates of divorce, babies born out of wedlock, youth violence, and so on. Anyone who reads a local newspaper or watches the evening news will have to admit to the fact that America is in deep trouble.

Sanctity of life is no longer fought for and more often is legislated against. Our children have become uncontrollable beasts who murder without conscience and pornography has been piped into our homes for us and our children to view at the push of a button on the remote control.

We are no longer, the land of the free and home of the brave, but the land of deceit and home of depraved. Just as Israel of old, we too, have forgotten God and replaced him with our own golden calf. We have bowed down to the idols of humanism, secularism, and government control, and we have reaped the rewards of our actions.

When it comes to politics, Americans are divided on a variety of issues, but there is one thing on which almost everyone agrees regardless of their political affiliation: They don’t like Congress and would replace the entire membership if given the chance.

Will Rogers once said, “Congress meets tomorrow morning. Let us all pray: Oh Lord, give us strength to bear that which is about to be inflicted upon us. Be merciful with them, oh Lord, for they know not what they’re doing. Amen.”

When our nation’s Founders designed their plan for a more perfect union, they understood that the success of a modern republic would require more than a political document like the Constitution. Because of their study of history and knowledge of human nature, the Founders knew the pitfalls that plagued civilizations before this one. They concluded that the Constitution alone could not curb individual selfishness. They believed that virtues were necessary for sustaining the American experiment.

In today’s media-saturated America, everyone has an opinion – From Bill O’Reilly to Rush Limbaugh and everyone in between. There is no shortage of viewpoints. But how many of those perspectives bring us back to a place of a consistent life of freedom in America?

This year’s presidential election may be one of the most important in recent history. The outcome will determine whether we live under an overreaching administration that violates our constitutional rights or one that will promote the true freedom that our nation’s Founders envisioned.

The only way I see to attain true freedom is to seek God’s mercy with a repentant heart and pray that He will place the leader we need, and not the leader we want, in the White House.

Rather than just saying a general prayer for the candidate of your choice, I would like to challenge everyone reading this to commit to joining me in a 40 day morning to evening fast, beginning March 5th, and pray that God would appoint the leader that He desires – A leader who will have a heart for America and the World, with humility and a faithful spirit, like David.

I believe as a follower of Jesus, it is our responsibility to stand in the gap for our fellow Americans. Your involvement will help ensure, as President Abraham Lincoln said in The Gettysburg Address, “…that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.”

The power of prayer should not be underestimated. James 5:16 declares, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James goes on to explain that, “Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” (v. 17-18)

God listens to prayers, answers prayers, and moves in response to prayers. Jesus said, “…if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matt.17:20)

Besides praying for our nation there are also other things you can do to promote a greater America:

  •   Get involved – Educate yourself about our national leaders and how they vote on key issues. Contact them about issues important to you and your family. Most members of Congress are easily reached by letter, phone or email, so take advantage of the privilege you have to become an active participant in American democracy.
  •  Vote – Let it be known to those who represent you that you do watch their actions and will vote accordingly. Politicians these days realize they are constantly running for re-election and that your vote matters, so encourage them when they do take action you agree with and politely speak up when you oppose their actions.

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

LORD, we pray for this election – that truths will be revealed and that each candidate focus on what they have to offer and give for America. Let no pride be found in our future leaders, but instill in them only a servant spirit. Amen.

What Should The Church Do About Homelessness?

Posted: February 6, 2012 in Christian Living, homelessness
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The homeless have become the invisible people of our society. They remain in our minds as the lowest, the outcast, those who don’t fit in. It has become much easier to ignore them than to acknowledge that there is a problem that we are responsible for.

Not all of the homeless are the same. Some have lost jobs and fallen on hard times. For others, they have a network of supporters that give them a place to crash for a period of time. But for others the hard times perpetuate over years, sometimes even decades. These are the chronic homeless and they stand out as the most obvious failures in our society.

Our Town

Omaha is a fresh, dynamic city, merging the best in Midwestern hospitality with the energy of a big city at full throttle. There is something here for everyone. In addition to all of the great attractions and things to do in Omaha, you’ll find a number of things that are budget-friendly. Omaha’s nightlife offers a variety of Irish and Micro Brew Pubs, Dance Clubs, live Jazz and Rock bands. With 17 public and semi-public courses Omaha offers something for golfers of all levels. In Omaha, we have so many attractions you’ll have a hard time choosing where to start and how much fun you can pack in.

But there is another side of our city which is not as well-known and much harder to see. We also have a homeless community living here in our midst. These people largely stay out of sight. They live their lives in quiet desperation largely unnoticed by the rest of the community. They are known to each other and often help each other. Although their stories are different, they each have their own difficult lifestyle in common. Their focus is on the most basic elements of life – food, shelter, basic clothing and companionship.

Certainly, we have agencies trying to help these people. Many of our local churches are involved as well. There are food banks and feeding programs and a program to provide warm, dry, safe shelter– especially when the weather is bad.

A New Way for the Church

Many of us look at the homeless in disgust, knowing that if they would just shake their addiction and apply themselves they could get a job and get back on their feet. Others look at the homeless and feel sympathy for them and want to help, but are only able to throw an occasional dollar their way.

But as followers of Jesus Christ, how are we supposed to react? Many believers think that if the homeless would just commit themselves to Jesus, then their lives would get straightened out and they could be normal participants in society. What many Christians don’t know is that at many of those who live on the street already have committed themselves to Jesus and are doing their best to live a Christian life. Yes, some are addicts and are mentally ill, but we cannot blame homelessness exclusively on mental illness or addiction either.

As followers of Jesus we should not to stand at a distance from the homeless. We must not separate ourselves from what we perceive to be the lowest in society—whoever they are. Can we continue our practice of throwing evangelistic messages and food to the cold and grief-stricken, while we stay warm, comforted and well-fed in our buildings? We need to embrace some of these outcasts as brothers and sisters, and others as the poor who need our help. As followers of Scripture which teaches compassion, we must stand with those on the street.

But how are we to do this? Thousands of homeless are just too much for any church to bear, let alone the small percentage of believers that are stirred by the Spirit to assist the homeless. But the Lord has not called us to help the massive crowd, only those we know. To assist the homeless is not a matter of a huge ministry with hundreds of thousands of dollars. Rather it is a one-on-one ministry.

From time to time my wife and I have invited homeless people into our own home. At times it was hard. Many times we were taken advantage of. A few times things were stolen from us. But there was not one time that we felt that we were not doing the right thing. Because there are some that we helped who are now our good friends who are living healthy lives dedicated to God.

If every church had only two people or three people among their congregations who would be a friend and support just a single homeless person, then I believe our whole society would change. The homeless would no longer be outcast, or invisible strangers in our midst. They would be members of our churches, participants in our society and our friends.

Very few churches have the resources to have a shelter. And it is not necessary for every church to have a food pantry; But there is one common problem within the homeless community that any believer can help with—their isolation. The strength of true followers of Jesus is not money, or political power. But our strength has always been our faith, hope, and love— faith in One greater than ourselves, hope in a better way of life, and love for one another.  If we take these strengths and focus them on the homeless, then the landscape of the American homeless will change. The Church will have a new people. And Christ will be glorified.

Why the Homeless Don’t Come to Church

I believe that many of the homeless are committed, baptized Christians. Yet most of us don’t see them in our churches. This is not because the homeless don’t go to church. There are missions that hold bible studies, individual worship services, and many other venues for the homeless to worship and serve God. But why are there so few churches that specifically target the homeless, and welcome them? If you don’t see the homeless in your church, it’s likely due to a cultural difference.

The homeless do not refrain from coming to these churches because they are not really Christian. They don’t avoid them because they feel they are greater sinners than other church-going Christians. It is because they feel uncomfortable or out of place and that everyone is judging them.

Every church is not just a spiritual experience, but a cultural one. We have certain customs and different kinds of worship that on one hand are specifically for a certain cultural group which, on the other hand, push away those of different cultural or social background. For instance, if we speak only Spanish in our congregation, we do not offer a welcoming atmosphere to those who only speak English. This is not a bad thing, but we shouldn’t wonder why no Spanish speaking people come to our English only services. Similarly, if everyone in your church is exclusively clothed in suits or dresses, and associate with like-dressed friends, it should be no wonder that homeless people, even if they wandered into the church, wouldn’t feel welcome.

Although much is being done already by agencies, churches, and individuals, I wonder how Jesus would view our concern for these people? Is there a way in which we could be more involved personally? What would Jesus do if he had the resources most of us have, to help meet the needs of these struggling people? How does Scripture tell us to react to these poor and outcast of society?

Here is what God said through the prophet Isaiah:

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter–when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: ‘Here am I.’ If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” (Isa 58:6-10)

We are to show the same respect to the poor as we do to the rich:

“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”  (James 2:1-4)

We are to offer hospitality, clothing, shelter and food:

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:35-40)

We are not to think of ourselves as more highly than others:

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” (Romans 12:3)

Most of all, according to Scripture, we are to love. This doesn’t always mean giving money or food, although we shouldn’t be closed to that. But it does always mean being patient, being kind, not putting ourselves above the other person, but bearing each other’s burdens and enduring with them. (See: I Corinthians 13)

Religious Organization or Cult?

Posted: February 3, 2012 in Christian Living
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Recently I started a Bible study series on religious cults. We discovered that many Evangelical Christians are quick to point to many religious organizations as being cults without really trying to understand its beliefs.

I want to make myself perfectly clear; this is not an attempt to point out scriptural inconsistencies with doctrines within other religions, but to try to unite us on some common ground.

Many Evangelical Christians have been taught that the Mormon Church is actually a religious cult. But is it really? Very few Evangelical Christians I know have ever even researched themselves what the Mormons believe or teach, but rely solely on what they’ve heard from pastors or other “Bible scholars”.

The Mormon Church

The Mormon Church was founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith and his followers. It was claimed that it was a restoration of primitive Christianity as it had been lived in the time of the Apostles with the addition of more recent revelations.

Today, there are two major groups claiming allegiance to Joseph Smith. The differences between the two groups are summarized as follows:

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Brighamites) Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Josephites)
Followed Brigham Young on the death of Joseph Smith. Claimed that succession must be through the seed of Joseph Smith, therefore rejected Brigham Young and chose the son of Smith as head of the church.
Headquarters at Salt Lake City, Utah. Headquarters at Independence, Missouri.
Believe in the revelations regarding polygamy (but do not officially practice it). Reject polygamy and the Brighamite claim that Joseph Smith wrote “Revelation on Celestial Marriage”.
Reject the official use of Joseph Smith’s Inspired Translation of the Bible. The Inspired Translation is published and officially accepted.
Accept the Adam-god doctrine as taught in Doctrine and Covenants. Reject the Adam-god doctrine but retain the belief in gods with flesh and bones. Reject Section 132 of Doctrine and Covenants.
Practice secret rites in temples. No secret temple rites. In the Kirtland Temple all meetings are open to the public.

(from www.wrestedscriptures.com)

Mormon “Revelation”

Continuing revelation is held by Mormons to be an essential characteristic of their faith. The following are considered to be divine sources of revelation:

  1. The Bible – The official version is the Authorized “King James Version. It is authoritative insofar as it is translated accurately.
  2. The Book of Mormon- It purports to tell the histories of two nations which flourished in America as descendants of small colonies brought from the “eastern continent”. The first of these – the Jaredite nation followed Jared from the Tower of Babel (2,250 B.C.) By 590 B.C. internal warfare led to the destruction of these people. The colonists are alleged to have crossed the Atlantic in eight cigar-shaped barges and located in Central America. The second nation – the Nephites followed Nephi, the son of Lehi, who (it is said) left Jerusalem in the time of Zedekiah and migrated to the American continent arriving on the coast of Chile by 600 B.C. The golden plates on which this story was written were hidden by the last surviving Nephite, Moroni, (A.D. 421) in the Hill Cumorah in New York State. In A.D. 1827, this same Moroni, then a resurrected personage, delivered the engraved plates to Joseph Smith.
  1. The Doctrine and Covenants- All but two of the 136 sections are revelations allegedly given to Joseph Smith. A concluding “word and will of the Lord, given through President Brigham Young” is included. There is also an “official declaration” prohibiting polygamy, added by Church President Wilford Woodruff in 1890.
  2. The Pearl of Great Price- A small volume containing a “selection from the revelations, translations and narrations of Joseph Smith”. It is usually bound with the Doctrine and Covenants. The thirteen Articles of Faith are included.
  3. Pronouncements by the President – The Mormon church have twelve “spirit-guided apostles” and a president “like unto Moses”- a seer, a revelator, a translator, and a prophet, having all the gifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the church.The president is to Mormons what the pope is to Roman Catholics.

I don’t believe it is advisable to condemn Mormon books as many Evangelical Christians do, based on Rev. 22:18, “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book”. A more fruitful approach would be to utilize the small common ground that the Bible is the Word of God. The Bible can then be used to test the basic issues of Gospel doctrines rather than disputing Mormon beliefs. Christians who assert that the Mormon Church is a religious cult may be surprised to find out just how much they have in common with them.

Similarities between Mormon and Christian beliefs

Mormon:   

Man is an immortal soul living in a fleshly body – “the soul could never die” (Alma 42:9,p. 299)

Christian:

Man is mortal, and possesses an immortal soul - “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)  

Mormon:

Heaven promised to the righteous – “those that keep the commandments of God . . . if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness.” (Mosiah 2:41, p. 139)

Christian:

Heaven promised to the righteous – “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2)

Mormon:

Eternal hell-fire torment -  “…which lake of fire and brimstone is endless torment” (Jacob 6:10, p. 122-2) “…his final doom is to endure a never-ending torment” (Mosiah 2:39, p. 139)

Christian:

Eternal hell-fire torment – “… And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:14-15)  “… for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched;.” (Isa. 66:24)

Mormon:

The devil is a fallen angel – “…an angel of God had fallen from heaven; wherefore, he became a devil.” (2 Nephi 2:17, p. 54) “…that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil” (2 Nephi 9:8, p. 67)

Christian:

The devil is a fallen angel – “..How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!  How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! “(Isa. 14:12)  “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:2)

Mormon:

Pre-human existence of Christ – “Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father? . . . Yea, he is the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth.”  (Alma 11:38, 39, p. 223)

Christian:

Pre-human existence of Christ – “Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58)

Just like many religions, Mormon teachings contradict many Bible truths:

Mormons     

God is a progressive being – “What sort of being was God in the beginning? God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man and sits enthroned in yonder heavens.” (Joseph Smith)

Bible

God, unchanging in nature - “…with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17) “For I am the LORD, I change not.” (Mal. 3:6)

Mormons

Revival of the Aaronic Priesthood – “Upon you, [Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery] my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I [John the Baptist] confer the Priesthood of Aaron . . . and this shall never be taken again from the earth . . . ” (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 13. pp. 20, 21)

Bible

Priesthood of all believers – “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (1Pet. 2:5)

Mormons

Sabbath Observance mandatory (Mormons believe Sunday is Sabbath)

“And the inhabitants of Zion shall also observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 68:29, p. 112)

Bible

Sabbath observance binding

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 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.” (Ex.20:8, 11)

Mormons

Restrictions on meats and drinks

“. . . flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air . . . should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or of famine.” (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 89:12, 13, p. 155)

“That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father . . . hot drinks are not for the body or belly.” (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 89:5,9, p. 154)

Bible

Kosher diet is commanded

“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These [are] the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that [are] on the earth. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, [and] cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.” (Lev. 11:2-3)

“And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after … for wine or for strong drink … and thou shalt eat there before the LORD …” (Deut. 14:26)

Mormons

Site of Zion to be Independence, Missouri

“  . . this is the land of promise, and the place for the city of Zion . . . Behold the place which is now called Independence, is the centre place.” (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 57:2, 3, p. 89)

Bible

Site of Zion to be in Jerusalem

” …  Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.” (Matt. 5:35)  “… the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:2)

Mormons

Heathen take part in the First Resurrection

“And then shall the heathen nations be redeemed, and they that knew no law shall have part in the first resurrection.” (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 45:54, p.72)

Bible

Heathen will be resurrected unto damnation

“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Dan. 12:2)

 ”Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:28, 29)

These contradictions are not just between the Bible and the teachings of Mormonism. But also between the Bible and many mainline denominations. Many Evangelical Christians use the Book of Mormon as undisputed proof that the Mormon Church is a religious cult. But doesn’t the Christian Church have similar books that they use in the same way?

Today the Apocrypha is often used in some editions of the Bible in a separate section between the Old and New Testaments. It had been in use since the 5th century and was in Luther’s Bible of 1534.There was agreement among the Reformers that the Apocrypha contained “books proceeding from godly men” and therefore recommended reading.

The English-language King James Version of 1611 followed the lead of the Luther Bible in using an inter-testament section labeled “Books called Apocrypha”, or just “Apocrypha” at the running page header. Later, during the English Civil War, the Westminster Confession of 1647 excluded the Apocrypha from the canon and made no recommendation of the Apocrypha above other human writings and the name, “Apocrypha” soon came to have an unfavorable significance which still remains with some Protestants today. Because of this hostile attitude towards the Apocrypha, (considered Catholic by some Protestants) many newer translations of the Bible now omit the Apocrypha. Does this make the Catholic Church a religious cult?

I don’t believe reliance on a book other than the Bible confirms that one is involved in a religious cult. There are many books that were not included in the biblical canon that many rely on and are even mentioned in Scripture.

“The Book of Enoch” is referred to, and quoted, in Jude 14-15  “Enoch the Seventh from Adam” is attributed to 1 En 60:8. many Bible scholars believe that all the writers of the New Testament were familiar with it and were influenced by it.

“The Book of Jasher” (whose title fully translated means the Book of the Upright or the Book of the Just) is mentioned in Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18.

“The Book of the Wars of the Lord” is referenced in Numbers 21:14.

“The Chronicles of the Kings of Israel” is mentioned in 1 Kings 16:20 regarding King Zimri, and many other times throughout 1 and 2 Kings.

“The Book of Shemaiah the Prophet, and of Iddo the Seer” (also called Story of the Prophet Iddo or The Annals of the Prophet Iddo) is mentioned in II Chr. 9:29, 12:15, 13:22). Iddo was a seer who lived during the reigns of Solomon, Rehoboam, and Abijah. His deeds were recorded in this book, which has been completely lost to history, except for its title. However, it is interesting to note that Zechariah was the son of Iddo (Ezra 5:1, Zechariah 1:1)

At times some of these books will aid in better understanding Scripture. Without the knowledge of 1 & 2 Maccabees in the Apocrypha we would have very limited information about the Feast of Dedication, commonly known as Chanukah.  Another example of a non- canonical book aiding us in a better understanding of Scripture is the story of Esau selling his birthright for some stew:

“And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.” (Gen 25:29-34)

At the time, a person’s birthright was very important. Esau’s birthright made him heir to Isaac’s wealth. The oldest son inherited a “double portion” over his brother, and was viewed as the leader of the family. (Deut. 21:15-17) By its design, a birthright brought immediate honor, and in some cases, great personal wealth to a son. That would have been true in Esau’s case and he was first-in-line to inherit that all that wealth. So why would he forfeit all of that for a bowl of stew and some bread?

In the Book of Jasher chapter 27 we get the answer:

1. And Esau at that time, after the death of Abraham, frequently went in the field to hunt. 2. And Nimrod king of Babel, the same was Amraphel, also frequently went with his mighty men to hunt in the field, and to walk about with his men in the cool of the day. 3. And Nimrod was observing Esau all the days, for a jealousy was formed in the heart of Nimrod against Esau all the days. 4. And on a certain day Esau went in the field to hunt, and he found Nimrod walking in the wilderness with his two men. 5. And all his mighty men and his people were with him in the wilderness, but they removed at a distance from him, and they went from him in different directions to hunt, and Esau concealed himself for Nimrod, and he lurked for him in the wilderness. 6. And Nimrod and his men that were with him did not know him, and Nimrod and his men frequently walked about in the field at the cool of the day, and to know where his men were hunting in the field. 7. And Nimrod and two of his men that were with him came to the place where they were, when Esau started suddenly from his lurking place, and drew his sword, and hastened and ran to Nimrod and cut off his head. 8. And Esau fought a desperate fight with the two men that were with Nimrod, and when they called out to him, Esau turned to them and smote them to death with his sword. 9. And all the mighty men of Nimrod, who had left him to go to the wilderness, heard the cry at a distance, and they knew the voices of those two men, and they ran to know the cause of it, when they found their king and the two men that were with him lying dead in the wilderness.10. And when Esau saw the mighty men of Nimrod coming at a distance, he fled, and thereby escaped; and Esau took the valuable garments of Nimrod, which Nimrod’s father had bequeathed to Nimrod, and with which Nimrod prevailed over the whole land, and he ran and concealed them in his house.11. And Esau took those garments and ran into the city on account of Nimrod’s men, and he came unto his father’s house wearied and exhausted from fight, and he was ready to die through grief when he approached his brother Jacob and sat before him.12. And he said unto his brother Jacob, Behold I shall die this day, and wherefore then do I want the birthright? And Jacob acted wisely with Esau in this matter, and Esau sold his birthright to Jacob, for it was so brought about by the Lord.

Without the information written in the Book of Jasher the question of Esau’s birthright might never have been answered today. Even the Apostle John wrote, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (John 21:25)

So connecting books alone is not a factor that a religious group is a cult. A better gauge to tell if one is involved in a religious cult is to examine the leadership and find out if it is abusive or controlling. (See my article “Warning Signs of an Unsafe Church”) If it is simply a matter of theological differences maybe we should try to concentrate more on our common ground that will build up rather than on the differences that divide us.

I have personally known several Mormon families over the years and found them to be honest, upright, and sincere to their beliefs.  And although I don’t agree with many of the Mormon doctrines I have found a great appreciation for their dedication to their faith and their love for people.

The Bible doesn’t teach us that people will know we are Jesus’ disciples by the correct doctrine we have but, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:35 – NLT)

Warning Signs of an Unsafe Church

Posted: January 30, 2012 in Christian Living
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Some of the most well-known and widely accepted religious cults have been accused of using mind control to bring their followers into mental and emotional bondage. It sometimes becomes so powerful that the followers seem to lose the ability to think for themselves. Many mainstream denominations warn its members to be wary of groups that they consider to be religious cults.

Below are some warning signs of a religious cult that are posted on several “Christian” websites:

PRIVATE REVELATIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS WITH GOD’S WORD: Private revelation and interpretations are added to the Word, and sometimes substitute it. Passages contradictory to the orthodox beliefs are twisted and taken out of their context. Strong emphasis is placed upon certain passages making them their thrust in ministry. While other pertinent scriptures on essentials and practice is completely ignored. Bible scholars who give a different interpretation from them are ignored or ridiculed.

MISPLACED LOYALTY: Loyalty is nurtured and even demanded. Loyalty for Christ is replaced by an organization, church or leader. Because authority is usually from an individual or a group, one is asked if they will be loyal to God confusing the member that to be loyal to a person or group means the same.

ISOLATION:Members are discouraged to have contact with other ministries or Christians that could influence them. And are discouraged to read other books if they oppose their views. Members are kept so busy that they don’t have time for life outside of the cult. A cult leader will try to persuade you to reduce or eliminate altogether outside friendships and even family. Many times the leader or cult group will drive a wedge between the family unit by coercing them into separating them from family activities.

MOTIVATIONAL TEACHING: Techniques designed to stimulate emotions, usually employing loud speaking or music with group participation, group dynamics are used to influence responses. You become overwhelmed with smiling faces and handshakes and hugs with unconditional friendship. Those who were newly invited will be asked how they liked it and told how much fun they have and what they have to offer. They will immediately become your best friend and want to know when you’re coming back.

A DOUBLE STANDARD: There is one standard for the followers and another for the leaders. The leaders are allowed to do almost anything wrong while others will be rebuked and made examples of if they do the same things. Cult leaders exalt themselves, requiring the followers to serve them or the church’s program.

RULES OF SILENCE: They do not allow members to disagree with the church authorities — especially the pastor or your spirituality and loyalty will be questioned. Silence becomes a fortress wall of protection; many will shield the pastor’s position of power from any scrutiny or challenge. If one questions what is said or the rules they are seen as being against them and God.

PRIDE OF THEIR CHURCH: We are the only ones who are right. If you are not one of us, then you are destined for hell. Correct doctrine is used by them alone to the exclusion of any others; they alone have the truth so one must join them to be saved.

DISTORTED RULES ON TITHING: Members are asked make a commitment to give and keep their obligation. More and more money is needed to attain higher degrees of spirituality and submission to God. Give to get back from God, the more you give the more God will give back.

INTIMIDATION:  Intimidation and accusation are the most often used. For example, any questioning of authority is treated as rebellion, and not trusting. They suppress questions and encourage members to conform to the group’s behavior. Critical thinking is discouraged being called prideful, sinful or rebellious. No independent thinking is encouraged and they may reply with comments like, “Satan is the cause of all doubt; he is keeping you from the Truth.”

Controlling Leadership: For abusive cults, the key word is control, control, control. By submitting to the leadership – leaders tend to be the absolute end. It can take time for them to gain power over the new convert, but it will eventually be there. Control is usually overwhelming and can cover most aspects of the followers’ lives: Dress codes, activities, finances, time, possessions and relationships. They can dictate to the member who to see, what to do, what the right thing to say is, and how to say it. Various degrees of control can be experienced, from subtle manipulation to blatant ordering.

These “cults” will expect rigid obedience of the members’ time and activities – involving their followers in physically and emotionally draining activities leaving little time for privacy and reflection, or questioning their authority. They expect, (and at times demand) that members show up when everyone else does, and everything is usually done in groups. The methods of control which are used are usually fear of displeasing God, the leader, or both. Fear of rejection, punishment, losing one’s salvation, missing the rapture, going to hell. Guilt, fear, and intimidation are weapons used to maintain their loyalty and devotion to the group.

Members may experience:

  • A marked mental or emotional weakness, compliance, and a sense of servitude.
  • Flattery that is used to puff up in order to make them feel accepted and valued.
  • Being asked to spy on other members and report on their lives.
  • Manipulation of their emotions and downplaying their feelings as unimportant or in error.
  • Being unable to visualize a positive, fulfilled future without being in the group for fear of punishment or consequences.
  • Being reprimanded for not participating in every meeting or activity for fear that their loyalty will be questioned.

You may have noticed a lot of similarities between the tactics mentioned above and the church where you worship at. Unfortunately, these tactics of spiritual abuse are not limited to only religious cults but are also used in many churches that are considered by most to be mainline denominations.

Spiritual abuse is a growing trend in many religious organizations across the country. There are many reasons that religious leaders would stoop to these tactics: Lust for power; spiritual delusions; or fear of losing their congregation are only a few. But whatever the reason, we must be on guard so as not to fall into the spiritual abuse trap.

The Lord Jesus does not want you to participate in a church where fear and intimidation is used. From scripture we know that his desire is for us to freely choose him as Savior. What kind of relationship would the Lord have with you if you felt forced or coerced to love him?

The Lord wants us to live in freedom.

“I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out in freedom,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Come into the light.’ They will be my sheep, grazing in green pastures and on hills that were previously bare.”   - Isa 49:9

“I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.” -Ps. 119:45

 ”For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” - 2 Corinthians 3:17

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1

“He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.” – 1 Tim. 2:6

So how can you protect yourself from becoming involved in spiritual abuse?

  • Study to know the Bible.
  • Question and compare all teachings to the Scriptures.
  • Be sure all the teaching and practices are in agreement with the Scriptures.
  • If you find yourself in a place where spiritual leadership is abusive, then walk away and find a place where the true Gospel is taught.

In Galatians 1:6-9 we read, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

“A Child Will Lead Them.”

Posted: January 22, 2012 in Other Voices
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“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling* together; and a little child will lead them.” Isaiah 11:6

We need to think more like this young girl and take action to make our world a better place to live. I pray that one day we will before it’s too late.

Eve and the Serpent – Bible fact or fabel?

Posted: January 16, 2012 in Christian Living
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I assume that you’ve already heard or read the story of the serpent and Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. But have you ever wondered why Eve wasn’t shocked or even surprised when the serpent spoke to her? When we read the account in Genesis 3 there doesn’t seem to be any indication that her conversation was out of the ordinary – but why would that be?

Some in the Church have explained this by teaching that back then the serpent could talk and walk upright on legs. You’ll excuse me when I say that that’s the most absurd way of evading the question! The only other instance in the Bible where an animal spoke to a human is in Numbers 22:22-41 where Balaam’s donkey spoke prompted by the appearance of the angel of the Lord and the text plainly tells us that it was God who enabled the donkey to speak in order to warn Balaam of the unknown danger confronting him. (v.28)

There are two other passages that most scholars agree have to do with what happened in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3: Ezekiel 28:1-19 and Isaiah 14:1-22. In those passages God rebukes and passes judgment on the kings of Tyre and Babylon. To prove to these kings that they deserve God’s judgment the prophets compare them to a supernatural being (a cherub in Ezekiel 28 and Lucifer in Isaiah 14) whose pride resulted in a failed coup against God.

Notice that these passages refer to a divine being, not a serpent. And since Scripture will never contradict itself, that’s what we will use to clear up this difficulty.  In both of these passages this ancient enemy of God, the being who causes the fall of humankind into sin, is not a snake that talks and walks upright like a man but a supernatural being. And I am absolutely certain that Ezekiel 28 is referring to Genesis 3 since Ezekiel 28:13 mentions Eden and the Garden.

Those who argue that Lucifer appeared as a snake must explain why there isn’t a single text that says Lucifer (or any other divine being) can change into an animal. This is simply another convenient “escape clause” the Church has used over the years to promote one of its fairy tale doctrines. And even if there was such biblical proof, it still doesn’t answer why Lucifer would need to speak to Eve as a snake or why Eve wasn’t surprised that a snake could talk. The Church’s view of Lucifer appearing or possessing a snake actually complicates the matter, since that would mean that prior to this appearance or possession snakes did not talk or walk upright. Eve would probably have run away screaming for help. So who or what spoke to Eve? It must have been someone or something that Eve regarded as rather normal at the time.

The answer for all of this is very simple. The reason that Eve was not shocked or frightened that a snake was talking to her is because she wasn’t talking to a snake! She was talking to a luminous divine being with a serpentine appearance and not an animal of any kind.

Look at Genesis 3, Ezekiel 28, and Isaiah 14 more closely. And consider the ancient backdrop of these passages: The Bible as well as other Eastern texts describes where the divine council met for business. Council meetings took place on a cosmic mountain, the place where divine decrees were given and decisions were made. (See Job 1:1-12, Gen. 1:26, Gen. 3:22, Gen. 11:7) This cosmic mountain is mentioned many times in Scripture as “the mountain of God”. Ezekiel 28:2 also mentions the “seat of the gods”. The word “seat” refers to the place of administration. Even in our own language, such as the county seat. This imagery is consistent throughout Scripture.

But isn’t it clear that by the wording in Genesis 3 that Eve was talking to a snake? The vocabulary is clear but the meaning that traditional interpretation has given is not, and is in fact been the cause of the confusion. The Hebrew word that was translated serpent or snake in Genesis 3 is ha-nachash. (Pronounced – ha-nakash) The word nachash can function as a noun, a verb, or an adjective. As a noun nachash means snake, so the traditional translation would be possible, but then it contradicts Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14. When nachash is used as a verb it means to practice divination and could also be used in Genesis 3 if Lucifer was using divination to appear as a snake. But the solution comes when we use the word nachash as an adjective because it then means shining bronze or polished. The Hebrew word “ha” always means “the” so ha-nachash as an adjective would translate to “the shining one”. Consider that angelic or divine beings are often described in the Bible as shining or luminous and at times use this same word, nachash. In the New Testament Writings the word “serpent” is translated from the Greek word, ὄφις (ophis) but the root word is ὀπτάνομαι (optanomai) and means to look at, or behold, to allow one’s self to be seen, to appear.

What’s so significant about translating ha-nachash as “the shining one” is that the name Lucifer comes from the Latin Vulgate translation of the Hebrew in Isaiah 14:12, “Helel ben-Shachar”  and  literally means, “Shining One, son of the Dawn”. Translating ha-nachash as “The Shining One” removes the contradiction of snake vs. supernatural being in the Garden of Eden. We have the same type of words that interplay between noun, verb, and adjective in our English vocabulary. The word “word” is a noun, adjective, and verb. It is most common as a noun as in “the words on the page blurred as she moved the magnifying glass”. It can also be used as a verb as in “I will try to word my sentences carefully, so as not to confuse you.” Finally, it can be used as an adjective as in “I completed a word find.”

Eve was confronted by a member of God’s divine council, so to speak. She wasn’t surprised because she and Adam probably saw these beings come and go on a regular basis. Notice in Genesis 3:22 God laments that the two “have become like one of us…” The same plural language is used in Gen. 1:26. It seems that Eden was near the place where God’s council met and this is the day that Lucifer decided to settle the score he had with God.  To say that Eve was speaking to a divine being of serpentine or shining appearance seems much more logical than she had a conversation with a talking snake. And Ezekiel 28 supports this. Even though the word nachash is not used notice the description that is used:

“You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created.” (Ezek.28:13)

The same description of a supernatural being with a brilliant appearance is used in Isaiah 14 and Genesis 3. Not only that, but many passages describe angelic or divine beings as having a serpentine or shining appearance. (See Ezek. 1:13-14, 26-27, Dan 10:6, and also Mar 9:3 and Luke 24:4)

Some may say, “But what about the curses in Genesis 3? Doesn’t that rule out the translation of a “shining one” and keep with the traditional interpretation of a snake?”  That would be a misguided approach since it would make more sense if the curse were directed at a fallen divine being than a snake. First consider the curse with respect to Eve. God tell the nachash that there will be enmity between the offspring of Eve (humankind) and the offspring of the nachash. If the nachash were a snake then all humans would hate or fear snakes and snakes by nature would exist to attack and harass humans. That is not the case.

In Genesis 3:14 God tells the nachash that he will eat dust all the days of his life. Snakes do not eat dirt as a means of sustenance so the curse is not meant to be taken literally. If that were the true it would make a great case for evolutionists. I believe that snakes were created by God the way we see them today and that their method of propulsion has nothing to do with the curse. Eating the dust of the earth was a term used for someone of lowly social status of defeat. (Micah 7:16-17, Isa 49:23) If all Scripture is to agree with itself then a divine super natural being is the only explanation of what tempted Eve and not a snake.

It amazes me how gullible some adult Christians have been to believe such fairy tales taught by the Church. That might sound unkind, but if you take this view of Genesis 3 then how you can your children differentiate between the stories you tell them about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy and the contradictions in Scripture this creates?

Years ago I explained the truth about Eve and “the serpent” to my 10 year old niece using these same passages. She responded by exclaiming, “I always thought that story about a talking snake was dumb.” You see, even a child is able to discern the truth from Scripture!

What all this means is that there is no contradiction between passages in Scripture. They all speak of a supernatural shining one who rebelled against God in an attempt to usurp His headship of the Divine Council and was cast from His presence. More importantly the nachash knew that it was God’s intention to make humankind members of His Divine Council and give them authority over the earth, the place where He will one day rule. Humans were therefore a threat and had to be eliminated. But he wanted to plan it so that God would destroy them. And God would have to make that decision if the humans sinned. And with the help of the nachash, Adam and Eve did sin. But God reacted in a way that the nachash did not anticipate; He gave them another chance.

And while the humans were driven from the Garden of Eden, at least they weren’t destroyed. But even more important; God mad a way so that their transgression could be atoned for. And He knew that one day a human child of Eve would undo the effects of the fall in the Garden.

The New Testament Writings confirm that God’s own son was born of human flesh, paid the penalty of our sin through his death, and rose again so that we could regain our status as children of God and will one day rule with Him over all that is His. But we must also remember that those same New Testament Writings also encourage us not to give in to fables (1Tim 1:4, 1Tim 4:7, 2Tim 4:4, Titus 1:14, 2Pet 1:16)

In closing, I encourage you to, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane [and] vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” (2 Tim 2:15-16)

Promo Video

Posted: January 12, 2012 in Accidental Proffit Ministry, Music & Videos
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Below is a promo video I made to better describe the ministry of Jonah & Accidental Proffit.

A new music video

Posted: December 29, 2011 in Uncategorized
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Below is a new video I made using clips from a 1929 Mickey Mouse cartoon titled “Wild Waves”. It’s one of the songs from the new CD “Living In Babylon” due to be released early in 2012. Me & the guys will be playing at the Coffee Bistro in Fremont, Ne. Thursday, Dec. 29th at 7:30 PM. Stop by if you’re in the area.

 

Gig at Coffee Bistro

Posted: December 26, 2011 in Events
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Join us at The Coffee Bistro Thursday, Dec. 29th, 2011

 

We hope to see you at The Coffee Bistro in Fremont, Ne. Thursday, Dec. 29th. We’ll be playing songs from the upcoming CD project, “Living In Babylon” as well as some old favorites. Be sure to sample some of the Coffee Bistro’s great beverages and sandwiches while you’re there. Music begins at 7:30 PM

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