WHAT SHOULD I BE LOOKING FOR IN A CHURCH?

In order to know what to look for in a local church, we must first understand God’s purpose for the church”the body of Christ”in general. There are two outstanding truths about the church. First, “the church of the living God [is] the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Second, Christ alone is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; Colossians 1:18). 

In regard to the truth, the local church is a place where the Bible (God’s only Truth) has complete authority. The Bible is the only infallible rule of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:15-17). Therefore, when seeking a church to attend, we should find one where, according to biblical standards, the gospel is preached, sin is condemned, worship is from the heart, the teaching is biblical, and opportunities to minister to others exist. Consider the model of the early church found in Acts 2:42-47, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer”They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

In regard to the second truth about the church, Christians should attend a local fellowship that declares Christ’s headship in all matters of doctrine and practice. No man”whether pastor, priest, or pope”is the head of the church. All men die”how can the living church of the living God have a dead head? It cannot. Christ is the church’s one supreme authority, and all church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are appointed through His sovereignty, as found in the Scriptures. 

Once these two fundamentals are in place, the rest of the factors (buildings, worship styles, activities, programs, location, etc.) are merely a matter of personal taste. Before even setting foot inside a church, some homework is in order. Doctrinal statements, purpose statements, mission statements, or anything that will give insight into what a church believes should be carefully looked over. 

Next should be visits to the churches that seem to have the fundamentals in place. Attendance at two or three services at each church will be helpful. Any literature they have for visitors should be scrutinized, paying close attention to belief statements. Church evaluation should be based on the principles outlined above. Is the Bible held as the only authority? Is Christ exalted as head of the church? Does the church focus on discipleship? Were you led to worship God? What types of ministries does the church involve itself in? Was the message biblical and evangelical? How was the fellowship? You also need to feel comfortable”were you made to feel welcome? Is the congregation comprised of true worshippers? 

Finally, remember that no church is perfect. At best, it is still filled with saved sinners whose flesh and spirits are continually at war. Also, do not forget the importance of prayer. Praying about the church God would have you attend is crucial throughout the decision-making process.

DON'T DIG UP YOUR SEED

Scripture tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). But one thing people do all the time is that they start speaking the right things; they speak words of faith and life, but then they turn around and speak the exact opposite of what they just said! They'll declare a promise and then start talking about how bad everything is. They'll say, "God is my provider!" Then they'll say, "Look how bad the economy is. I don't think I'll ever get out of debt." That's just like planting a seed in the ground and then digging it right back up again before it ever has a chance to take root and blossom.

If you and I are going to see the harvest of blessing God has for our futures, we can't "dig up" our seeds of faith by allowing words of defeat or negativity to come out of our mouths. Instead, we have to water the seeds of faith by continuing to declare His Word. When you wake up every morning, start thanking Him that His promises are coming to pass in your life. All throughout the day, focus on keeping an attitude of faith and expectancy.

This is what Joshua and Caleb did in the Old Testament. They declared what God was able to do even when everyone else around them shrunk back in fear. Because of their faith, they were able to possess their Promised Land.

At the time, Moses had led the children of Israel out of captivity, and they were on the verge of possessing the land that God had promised. This Promised Land was already inhabited, so Moses sent twelve men—including Joshua and Caleb—to spy it out and report back to him. The inhabitants of the land were huge people—giants—strong and powerful. Certainly, when the twelve Hebrew spies saw the giants, they were awestruck. I can imagine that over the many days they observed these giants, they saw things that invoked fear in their hearts. They may have seen the giants practicing their fighting skills or workers carrying huge boulders larger than what most humans could carry. Scripture doesn't really tell us what they saw, but apparently, whatever it was terrified almost all the spies.

I would imagine that Joshua and Caleb were also impressed by what they saw. No doubt they, too, were tempted to fear the giants. But Joshua and Caleb had a different spirit than their companions. They knew what God had promised, and they chose to trust God over what they saw with their eyes in the natural realm. The other spies spoke out of their fear, saying to Moses, "We are but grasshoppers compared to the giants" while Joshua and Caleb chose to speak faith and declared, "We are well able to overcome! Let us go at once and possess the land!

Because Joshua and Caleb stood strong in their position of faith, out of that entire generation, they were the only two who ever made it into the Promised Land.

We all have giants or obstacles that try to keep us from possessing what God has promised. We have two choices: we can quit and live in mediocrity, or we can fight and take hold of the victory. Today, don't let your circumstances dictate what's coming out of your mouth; instead, let what comes out of your mouth dictate your circumstances. And most importantly—don't dig up your seed! Give your faith a voice and let God will bless you and promote you. Before long, you will be entering your promised land!

"Since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, 'I believed and therefore I spoke,' we also believe and therefore speak." (2 Corinthians 4:13, NKJV)

WHAT CONSTITUTES MARRIAGE ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE?

This is a difficult question to answer because the Bible nowhere explicitly states at what point God considers a couple to be married. There are three common viewpoints: 1) God only considers a couple married when they are legally married. 2) A couple is married in God’s eyes when they have completed some kind of formal wedding ceremony. 3) God considers a couple to be married at the moment the marriage is consummated with sexual intercourse. Let’s look at each of the three views and see what strengths and weaknesses each has.

1) God only considers a couple married when they are legally married. The scriptural support typically given to this view is the verses that advocate submission to the government (Romans 13:1-7;1 Peter 2:17). The argument is that if the government requires certain “paperwork” to be completed before a marriage is recognized, a couple should submit themselves to whatever process the government requires. It is definitely biblical for a couple to submit to the government as long as the requirements do not contradict God’s Word and are reasonable.Romans 13:1-2tells us, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”

There are some weaknesses and potential problems with this view. First, there were marriages before any government was organized. For thousands of years, people were getting married with no such thing as a marriage license. Second, even today, there are some countries that have no governmental recognition of marriage, and/or no legal requirements for marriage. Third, there are some governments that place unbiblical requirements on a marriage before it is legally recognized. As an example, there are countries that require a wedding to be held in a Catholic church, according to Catholic teachings, and overseen by a Catholic priest. Obviously, for those who have strong disagreements with the Catholic Church and the Catholic understanding of marriage as a sacrament, it would be unbiblical to submit to being married in the Catholic Church.

2) A couple is married in God’s eyes when they have completed some kind of formal wedding ceremony. Similar to the way—in many cultures—a father gives away his daughter at the wedding, some interpreters understand God’s bringing Eve to Adam (Genesis 2:22) as God’s overseeing the first wedding “ceremony.” In John chapter 2, Jesus attended a wedding ceremony. Jesus would not have attended such an event if He did not approve of what was occurring. Jesus’ attending a wedding ceremony by no means indicates that God requires a wedding ceremony, but it most definitely does indicate that a wedding ceremony is acceptable in God’s sight. Nearly every culture in the history of humanity has had some kind of formal wedding ceremony. In every culture there is an event, action, covenant, or proclamation that is recognized as declaring a man and woman to be married.

3) God considers a couple to be married at the moment the marriage is consummated with sexual intercourse. There are some who argue that if any man and woman have sex, God considers the two of them to be married. Such a viewpoint is not biblically sound. The basis for this argument is the fact that sexual intercourse between a husband and wife is the ultimate fulfillment of the “one flesh” principle (Genesis 2:24;Matthew 19:5;Ephesians 5:31). In this sense, sexual intercourse is the final “seal” on a marriage covenant. However, if a couple is legally and ceremonially married, but for some reason is unable to engage in sexual intercourse, the couple is still considered married.

It is not biblical to consider a couple who have had sexual intercourse—but who have not observed any of the other aspects of a marriage covenant—to be married. Scriptures such as1 Corinthians 7:2indicate that sex before marriage is immorality. If sexual intercourse causes a couple to become married, it could not be considered immoral, as the couple would be considered married the moment they engaged in sexual intercourse. There is absolutely no biblical basis for an unmarried couple to have sex and then declare themselves to be married, thereby declaring all future sexual relations to be moral and God-honoring.

So, what constitutes marriage in God’s eyes? It would seem that the following principles should be followed: 1) As long as the requirements are reasonable and not against the Bible, a couple should seek whatever formal governmental recognition is available. 2) A couple should follow whatever cultural and familial practices are typically employed to recognize a couple as “officially married.” 3) If possible, a couple should consummate the marriage sexually, fulfilling the physical aspect of the “one flesh” principle.

What if one or more of these principles are not fulfilled? Is such a couple still considered married in God’s eyes? Ultimately, that is between the couple and God. God knows our hearts (1 John 3:20). God knows the difference between a true marriage covenant and an attempt to justify sexual immorality.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE?

First of all, no matter what view one takes on the issue of divorce, it is important to remember Malachi 2:16: "I hate divorce, says the LORD God of Israel." According to the Bible, marriage is a lifetime commitment. "So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate" (Matthew 19:6). God realizes, though, that since marriages involve two sinful human beings, divorces are going to occur. In the Old Testament, He laid down some laws in order to protect the rights of divorcees, especially women (Deuteronomy 24:1-4). Jesus pointed out that these laws were given because of the hardness of people's hearts, not because they were God's desire (Matthew 19:8).

The controversy over whether divorce and remarriage is allowed according to the Bible revolves primarily around Jesus' words in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9. The phrase "except for marital unfaithfulness" is the only thing in Scripture that possibly gives God's permission for divorce and remarriage. Many interpreters understand this "exception clause" as referring to "marital unfaithfulness" during the "betrothal" period. In Jewish custom, a man and a woman were considered married even while they were still engaged or "betrothed." According to this view, immorality during this "betrothal" period would then be the only valid reason for a divorce.

However, the Greek word translated "marital unfaithfulness" is a word which can mean any form of sexual immorality. It can mean fornication, prostitution, adultery, etc. Jesus is possibly saying that divorce is permissible if sexual immorality is committed. Sexual relations are an integral part of the marital bond: "the two will become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Ephesians 5:31). Therefore, any breaking of that bond by sexual relations outside of marriage might be a permissible reason for divorce. If so, Jesus also has remarriage in mind in this passage. The phrase "and marries another" (Matthew 19:9) indicates that divorce and remarriage are allowed in an instance of the exception clause, whatever it is interpreted to be. It is important to note that only the innocent party is allowed to remarry. Although it is not stated in the text, the allowance for remarriage after a divorce is God's mercy for the one who was sinned against, not for the one who committed the sexual immorality. There may be instances where the "guilty party" is allowed to remarry, but it is not taught in this text.

Some understand 1 Corinthians 7:15 as another "exception," allowing remarriage if an unbelieving spouse divorces a believer. However, the context does not mention remarriage, but only says a believer is not bound to continue a marriage if an unbelieving spouse wants to leave. Others claim that abuse (spousal or child) are valid reasons for divorce even though they are not listed as such in the Bible. While this may very well be the case, it is never wise to presume upon the Word of God.

Sometimes lost in the debate over the exception clause is the fact that whatever "marital unfaithfulness" means, it is an allowance for divorce, not a requirement for it. Even when adultery is committed, a couple can, through God's grace, learn to forgive and begin rebuilding their marriage. God has forgiven us of so much more. Surely we can follow His example and even forgive the sin of adultery (Ephesians 4:32). However, in many instances, a spouse is unrepentant and continues in sexual immorality. That is where Matthew 19:9 can possibly be applied. Many also look to quickly remarry after a divorce when God might desire them to remain single. God sometimes calls people to be single so that their attention is not divided (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). Remarriage after a divorce may be an option in some circumstances, but that does not mean it is the only option.

It is distressing that the divorce rate among professing Christians is nearly as high as that of the unbelieving world. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16) and that reconciliation and forgiveness should be the marks of a believer's life (Luke 11:4; Ephesians 4:32). However, God recognizes that divorce will occur, even among His children. A divorced and/or remarried believer should not feel any less loved by God, even if the divorce and/or remarriage is not covered under the possible exception clause of Matthew 19:9. God often uses even the sinful disobedience of Christians to accomplish great good.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TABERNACLE, TEMPLE, AND SYNAGOGUE?

The Tabernacle, Temple, and Synagogue are all places of worship central to the Jewish faith in Bible times. Each was distinctive and held a special purpose and nature.

The Tabernacle

When God gave Moses the law, after leading the Israelites out of Egypt, he gave instructions for building the Tabernacle. It was to be the centerpiece of Israel and would move wherever they camped in their journey to the Promised Land. The tents of all of the tribes were arranged in a circle around the Tabernacle (Numbers 2:1-31).

The Tabernacle was not like churches today. It was not merely a place where people worshiped. Instead, it was a place where God visited the people and made his glory known (Exodus 40:34-35).

The Temple

As Israel settled into the Promised Land, the Tabernacle did not have to be as mobile. When David was king of Israel, he wanted to create a permanent building in which God could dwell, but God told David through the prophet, Nathan, that he was not to do so (2 Samuel 7:4-17).

When David passed the throne to his son, Solomon, he passed the vision for building a temple on to him (1 Kings 5:3-5). Solomon built a majestic, gold-adorned temple to honor the God of his father (1 Kings 6).

Solomon’s temple stood through the division of the kingdom and the long line of kings in Judah. But when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, invaded the Southern kingdom, he plundered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and carried captives into exile in Babylon. Around the same time, the Assyrians invaded the Northern kingdom.

The Temple was rebuilt around 536 B.C. when some of the captives returned to Jerusalem. Most of this work was done by the Levites, the priestly line of Levi, son of Jacob. Although not much is known about this Temple, it withstood damage, but remained through the days of Roman rule.

Around 20 B.C. King Herod had the Jewish Temple rebuilt. The sanctuary was finished in about one and a half years, but construction of the outer courts continued through 64 A.D.

Herod’s temple was destroyed around 70 A.D., when the Romans, under Titus, invaded Jerusalem. Since then, the Temple has not been rebuilt, although it is prophesied that it will be before Christ’s second coming (2 Thessalonians 3:3-4).

Synagogues

After the destruction of Solomon’s Temple, the Jews were scattered and cut off from Jerusalem. Wherever they went, they tried to reestablish their religious traditions by setting up synagogues. These existed at the same time as Herod’s Temple, but served the Jews who became established in the surrounding countries. While they no longer performed sacrifices in them, worship in synagogues focused on the law, personal piety, and prayer.

Even after the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D., synagogues helped preserve the faith of the Jews, as they continue to do today.

I AM DIVORCED. CAN I REMARRY ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE?

I often receive questions like "I am divorced for such and such a reason. Can I get remarried?" "I have been divorced twice"the first for adultery by my spouse, the second for incompatibility. I am dating a man who has been divorced three times"the first for incompatibility, the second for adultery on his part, the third for adultery on his wife's part. Can we get married to each other?" Questions like these are very difficult to answer because the Bible does not go into great detail regarding to the various scenarios for remarriage after a divorce.

What we can know for sure is that it is God's plan for a married couple to stay married as long as both spouses are alive (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:6). The only specific allowance for remarriage after a divorce is for adultery (Matthew 19:9), and even this is debated among Christians. Another possibility is desertion"when an unbelieving spouse leaves a believing spouse (1 Corinthians 7:12-15). This passage, though, does not specifically address remarriage, only being bound to stay in a marriage. It would also seem that physical, sexual, or severe emotional abuse would be a sufficient cause for divorce and possibly remarriage. The Bible does not specifically teach this, however.

We know two things for sure. God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16), and God is merciful and forgiving. Every divorce is a result of sin, either on the part of one spouse or both. Does God forgive divorce? Absolutely! Divorce is no less forgivable than any other sin. Forgiveness of all sins is available through faith in Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7). If God forgives the sin of divorce, does that mean you are free to remarry? Not necessarily. God sometimes calls people to remain single (1 Corinthians 7:7-8). Being single should not be viewed as a curse or punishment, but as an opportunity to serve God wholeheartedly (1 Corinthians 7:32-36). God's Word does tell us, though, that it is better to marry than to burn with passion (1 Corinthians 7:9). Perhaps this sometimes applies to remarriage after a divorce.

So, can you or should you get remarried? I cannot answer that question. Ultimately, that is between you, your potential spouse, and, most importantly, God. The only advice I can give is for you to pray to God for wisdom regarding what He would have you do (James 1:5). Pray with an open mind and genuinely ask the Lord to place His desires on your heart (Psalm 37:4). Seek the Lord's will (Proverbs 3:5-6) and follow His leading.

MAMMON

Mammon is a term, derived from the Christian Bible, meaning "dishonest gain".^[1] The term is used generally to describe materialwealth or greed, most oftenpersonified as a deity.

Contents

• 1 Definition
• 2 Etymology
• 3 Personifications
• 4 In various countries
• 
  

Definition

Webster's dictionary defines "Mammon" or "Mann" as: 1) the false god of riches and avarice. 2) riches regarded as an object of worship and greedy pursuit; wealth as an evil, more or less personified.^[2] Winston defines it to mean: 1) wealth, worldly gain; 2) greed for riches; cupidity.^[3]Oxford defines: god of wealth, regarded as evil or immoral; 'those who worship mammon' are equivalent to greedy people who value money too highly.^[4]

Etymology

Mammon is a term that was used to describe greed, avarice, and unjust worldly gain in Biblical literature. It was personified as afalse god in the New Testament. The term is often used to refer to excessive materialism or greed as a negative influence. Adjectival forms are mammonish and mammonistic.^[2][3]

Etymologically, the word is assumed to derive from Late Latin'mammon', from Greek 'μαμμωνάς', Syriac 'mámóna' (riches),^[2] and was an Aramaic loan word in Hebrew meaning wealth^[5] although it may also have meant 'that in which one trusts'.^[6]

The Greek word for "Mammon",mamonas, occurs in the Sermon on the Mount (during the discourse on ostentation) and in the parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:9-13). The Authorised Version keeps the Syriac word. John Wycliffeuses "richessis".

Personifications

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can not serve both God and Mammon.

Scholars do not agree about its etymology,^[1] but it is theorized that Mammon derives from Late Latinmammon, from Greek "μαμμωνάς",Syriac mámóna ("riches"),^[2] Aramaicmamon ("riches, money"),^[1][3] aloanword from Mishnaic Hebrew 'ממון (mmôn) meaning money,^[4][5][6] wealth,^[7]or possessions;^[8] although it may also have meant "that in which one trusts".^[1]

The Greek word for "Mammon",μαμμωνάς, occurs in the Sermon on the Mount (during the discourse on ostentation) and in the parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:9–13). TheAuthorised Version keeps the Syriac word; John Wycliffe uses richessis.

Christians began to use the name of Mammon as a pejorative, a term that was used to describe gluttony and unjust worldly gain in Biblical literature. It was personified as a false god in the New Testament. {Mt.6.24; Lk.16.13} The term is often used to refer to excessive materialism or greed as a negative influence.

The Revised Standard Version (RSV) of the Bible explains "mammon is a Semitic word for money or riches."^[9]The International Children's Bible (ICB) uses the wording, "You cannot serve God and money at the same time."^[10]

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." – Matthew 6:19–21,24 (KJV)

In the Bible, Mammon is personified inLuke 16:13, and Matthew 6:24, the latter verse repeating Luke 16:13. In the Greek, Luke 16:9, and Luke 16:11 also personify Mammon.

Early mentions of Mammon appear to stem from the personification in theGospels, e.g., Didascalia, "Do solo Mammona cogitant, quorum Deus est sacculus"; and Saint Augustine, "Lucrum Punice Mammon dicitur" (Serm. on Mt., ii). Gregory of Nyssa also asserted that Mammon was another name for Beelzebub.

During the Middle Ages, Mammon was commonly personified as the demon of wealth and greed. Thus Peter Lombard(II, dist. 6) says, "Riches are called by the name of a devil, namely Mammon, for Mammon is the name of a devil, by which name riches are called according to the Syrian tongue." Piers Plowmanalso regards Mammon as a deity.Nicholas de Lyra (commenting on the passage in Luke) says: "Mammon est nomen daemonis" (Mammon is the name of a demon).

Albert Barnes in his Notes on the New Testament states that Mammon was a Syriac word for an idol worshipped as the god of riches, similar to Plutusamong the Greeks, but he cited no authority for the statement.^[11]

No trace, however, of any Syriac god of such a name exists,^[8] and the common literary identification of the name with a god of covetousness or avarice likely stems from Spenser's The Faerie Queene, where Mammon oversees a cave of worldly wealth. Milton'sParadise Lost describes a fallen angel who values earthly treasure over all other things.^[12][13] Later occultistwritings such as Jacques Collin de Plancy's Dictionnaire Infernal describe Mammon as Hell's ambassador to England. For Thomas Carlyle in Past and Present, the 'Gospel of Mammonism' became simply a metaphoric personification for the materialist spirit of the nineteenth century.

Mammon is somewhat similar to the Greek god Plutus, and the Roman Dis Pater, in his description, and it is likely that he was at some point based on them; especially since Plutus appears inThe Divine Comedy as a wolf-like demon of wealth, wolves being associated with greed in the Middle Ages. Thomas Aquinas metaphorically described the sin of Avarice as "Mammon being carried up from Hell by a wolf, coming to inflame the human heart with Greed".

In various countries

• "Mamona" (sometimes "Mamuna") is a synonym for mammon in Slavic countries. Currently, the word "mamona" is used figuratively and derogatorily in the Polish language as a synonym to money. This, however, has biblical origins; see above. The word "mammona" is quite often used in theFinnish and Estonian languages as a synonym of material wealth.
• In German, the word "Mammon" is a colloquial term for "money".^[14]
• In Arabic, the word amaana means a "financial or material trust held for someone else". Its triliteral root is /aleph – mim – nun/ and so it is likely a cognate with Syriac mámóna.Sumerian, however, is not a Semitic language, although it was supplanted by Akkadian, which is a Semitic language. In the Quran, a character named Haman is mentioned along with the name "Pharaoh" on six occasions in two Surahs, 28:6; 28:8; 28:38; 29:39; 40:34; and 40:36. Muslim tradition identifies this Haman as a person of incredible wealth.

THE OBELISKS

The power of Freemasonry is all to evident when we see that they have erected obelisks inLondon, Paris, New York and of course towering over the White House is theWashington monument erected in honour of Freemason George Washington. A true Egyptian Obelisk is 10 times higher than its width, so for instance the Washington obelisk is 555 feet tall and 55 wide at the base

History The earliest Obelisks were known as ‘benben’ stones. They were rough hewn and truncated, but they were tipped off by the pyramid ion shape which distinguishes obelisks from other monumental columns. The spirit of the sun god was supposed to enter the stones at certain periods, and on these occasions human sacrifices were offered to it. The victims were probably prisoners of war who had been captured alive, and foreigners, and when these failed the priests must have drawn upon the native population. At On, king after king erected benbens in Re’s honour, so that by 1300BC the city was full of obelisks. The Roman author Pliny wrote about this city of On where kings ‘entered into a kind of rivalry in forming elongated blocks of stone, known as obelisks, and consecrated them to the divinity of the Sun’. In 'Our Phallic Heritage' we are told that 'All pillars or columns originally had a phallic significance, and were therefore considered sacred. Pan, the goat god and god of sensuality, was often represented as an obelisk.  A former witch writes 'The obelisk is a long pointed four sided shaft, the uppermost portion of which forms a pyramid. The word 'obelisk' literally means 'Baal's shaft' or Baal's organ of reproduction' (Page 341 Masonic and occult symbols illustrated. Dr. Cathy Burns) To understand why the obelisk is so important to masons one has to understand the Masonic version of Egyptian mythology behind their rituals.  Osiris was a king of Egypt who married his sister Isis. His brother ‘Set’ wished to usurp the throne and so plotted his death. He tricked Osiris into climbing into a golden chest. As soon as he was inside, Set nailed down the lid and flung the chest into the Nile. It was carried off to Byblos in Syria where it came to rest against a small Tamarisk tree or Acasia tree, with the dead Osiris still inside. Isis found out what Set had done to Osiris, so she set off to find her husband. A vision led her to Byblos, where she recovered his body and took it back to Egypt.   Alas! Set stole it and tore it into fourteen pieces, which he scattered throughout Egypt to prevent Osiris coming to life again. Isis recovered all but one of the pieces - the penis - and gave Osiris a fit burial. Their son, Horus, avenged him by slaying Set. Another son, Anubis, resurrected Osiris with the ‘lion grip’ Having triumphed over the grave, Osiris now reigns as king and judge of the so called dead. The piece of Osiris that Isis never recovered was the penis, which Set had thrown into the Nile where it was eaten by fish. Ever resourceful, Isis manufactured an artificial organ around which the  Egyptians established a cult or festival. From this it is a small step to the conclusion that the benben or obelisk was itself a phallic symbol. Whether of osiris , Re or fertility in general, it was a symbol of fatherhood ‘The rock that begot’ To Freemasons groping for mystic enlightenment in the 1800’s the obelisk was the only architectural symbol of Osiris still in existence. And if, as some Masonic historians claim, Hiram Abiff is really Osiris reborn there could be no greater proof of Masonic ascendancy in the modern world than Egyptian Obelisks thrust by masons into the heart of the West’s great cities. These would also symbolise Boaz and Jachim, the twin pillars which masons claim were built in front of Solomon’s temple, in imitation of two obelisks at the entrance of Egyptian temples.  Martin Short - Inside the Brotherhood’ Scripture This is a sample of scripture relating to sacred pillars - sometimes translated as obelisks You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do according to their works; but you shall utterly overthrow them and completely break down their sacred pillars. Exodus 23:24 But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images  Exodus 34:13 You shall not make idols for yourselves; neither a carved image nor a sacred pillar shall you rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up an engraved stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I amthe Lord your God  Leviticus 26:1 But thus you shall deal with them: you shall destroy their altars, and break down their sacred pillars  Deut 7:5 And you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and burn their wooden images with fire; you shall cut down the carved images of their gods and destroy their names from that place  Deut 12: 3-4

BEWARE OF SATAN'S SECRET WEAPON!

The Devil has many methods and devices which he uses to try to discourage the faith of believers. But out of all of Satan’s strategies, he has a favorite “secret weapon” which has been more effective in destroying Christian lives than anything else in his arsenal. He delights in this weapon. Each time it succeeds, I imagine that he gleefully prances about, celebrating the downfall of another poor soul. Unfortunately for many Christians, Satan’s ultimate weapon still remains a secret. Even though its lethal strike has caused countless numbers of believers to stumble away from God and the fellowship of the Church, and into the clutches of the Devil, most never actually recognized what the weapon was. By now I’m sure that you’re very curious about this weapon and wonder why the Bible didn’t warn us about it. However, the fact is, the Bible does warn us! As a matter of fact, Jesus taught about it repeatedly. He certainly knew its danger and made it a priority to instruct his followers of how to protect themselves against it. What is this mysterious weapon? In the teachings of the Apostle Paul, he exposed the weapon, taught how to be protected from it and made it clear that believers shouldn’t be ignorant of its dangers. He said, “A further reason for forgiveness is to keep from being outsmarted by Satan; for we know what he is trying to do” (2 Cor. 2:11 The Living Bible). 

There! Did you see what the secret weapon is? Is it clear what Satan was “A further reason for forgiveness is to keep from being outsmarted by Satan” trying to do? If it’s not obvious to you yet, we see that John also taught how to overcome this weapon so that it would never make us stumble. He wrote, “He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him” (1 John 2:10). Are you catching on by now? Satan’s secret weapon is “unforgiveness... and an absence of love!” Satan knows that if he can deceive us into harboring “hurt feelings, anger, or bitterness” toward our fellow Christians, he can cause us to fall from the grace of God. The scriptures say, “look diligently lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled” (Heb. 12:15). 

It grieves the Holy Spirit if we will not forgive and love one another. The Apostle Paul said, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you” (Eph. 4:30-32). 

Is it really possible to lose our salvation by merely holding a grudge against someone? Jesus left no room for doubt on the subject. He clearly stated that we cannot have God’s forgiveness if we choose to withhold forgiveness toward others. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt 6:14-15).

Is it no wonder why Satan will work so hard to stir up turmoil and try to keep us from forgiving and loving each other? If he can deceive us into harboring offenses or bitterness, he knows that we would become exempt from God’s forgiveness of our sins. 

The consequences of retained unforgiveness is reiterated in many scriptures: Matt. 18:21-35, Mark 11:25-26, Matt. 6:12, Luke 6:37, Luke 11:4. It is very clear from scripture that the person who retains unforgiveness is not right with God. Their prayers go unanswered, they lack the Lord’s joy and peace. Often there is a feeling of dissatisfaction with virtually everything, which produces a critical and judgmental attitude. They blame their unhappiness on any number of things, but the problem lies within themselves; They’re simply out of fellowship with the Lord.

 My friends, it’s time that we wise up and become aware of Satan’s most effective weapon! Many believers still seem to be ignorant of these tactics of the enemy. They coddle hurt feelings and offenses as though they were “pets” to be fed and watered. There is probably nothing else that has been more devastating to the body of Christ than unforgiveness. It has split Churches, destroyed marriages, and ruined lives forever! No wonder Christ spent so much time on the subject. Jesus taught that loving God and loving one another were the highest ideals of His followers (Luke 10:27). 

Love and forgiveness is the most basic standard of Christianity - it is the mark of followers of Christ - the highest display of spiritual maturity! Love is the very evidence which convicts us as true followers of Jesus Christ (John 13:35). Therefore, Satan’s secret weapon is not really so secret after all! Every Christian can be totally protected and immune from its effect by merely obeying this simple scripture: 

“Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know Him better. But if a person isn’t loving and kind, it shows that he doesn’t know God for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8 The Living Bible).