"Come out of her my people"

Breaking the chain of errors within the Church of Elohim (God)
 
In my search for truth I realized, GOD's PEOPLE ARE NOT REALY  "CHRISTIANS"!  Well, at least not in the "traditional" sense, but please let me explain.

I DO recognize Yahshua the Messiah, commonly known as “Jesus the Christ” in the Greek to English translation. So, why reject Traditional Christianity? Because it was highjacked by false teaching and infused with paganism soon after our Savior left the Mount of Olives just before Pentecost in 30 AD!!! Even the very name "Christian" was never even given to us by Elohim the Father, by Yahshua or by any of the early apostles!!! It is only used 3 times in scripture, It was given to the followers of the Messiah (Christ) by non-believers, outsiders, non-followers of our Savior...
 
Acts 11:26
26    And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
 
This was many months, maybe a few years after Yahshua was crucified. So clearly this name “Christian” was not the name Elohim or Yahshua gave to his people, it was given by the people of the outside world who mainly held us in contempt.
 
Acts 26:28-29
28    Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
29    And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
 

The Jews, Romans, and others were using this name "Christian" to describe Yahshua’s follower,  Paul wished Agrippa would be “altogether such as I am”, note that he avoided calling himself a "christian".
 
1 Pet 4:16
16    Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
 

The above is the only place in the Bible where one of Gods people uses the name "Christian",  it is used here to describe the way in which His people were suffering at the hands of the non-believers that gave us the name in the first place. Notice Peter's statement "let him not be ashamed" . The name had a negative, contemptuous connotation, such as a "liar", or the way many people call a new belief system a "cult", or much like the way a believer would use the word "pagan" or "idolater". So what he is saying here is don't be ashamed if they call you names and make you suffer as a "christian" (liar, idolater, pagan, cult member), but believers should glorify God when persecuted.

Note the commentary from Vines Expository Dictionary:
 
CHRISTIAN
 
    christianos ^5546^, "Christian," a word formed after the Roman style, signifying an adherent of Jesus, was first applied to such by the Gentiles and is found in <Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16>.
    Though the word rendered "were called" in <Acts 11:26> (see under CALL) might be used of a name adopted by oneself or given by others, the "Christians" do not seem to have adopted it for themselves in the times of the apostles. In <1 Pet. 4:16>, the apostle is speaking from the point of view of the persecutor, cf. "as a thief," "as a murderer." Nor is it likely that the appellation was given by Jews. As applied by Gentiles there was no doubt an implication of scorn, as in Agrippa's statement in <Acts 26:28>. Tacitus, writing near the end of the first century, says, "The vulgar call them Christians. The author or origin of this denomination, Christus, had, in the reign of Tiberius, been executed by the procurator, Pontius Pilate" (Annals xv. 44). From the second century onward the term was accepted by believers as a title of honor.#
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)
(Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

So is it wrong to use the term “Christian“?
 

 I don’t think it wrong to use the term Christian, for it does describe us as followers of Yahshua/Jesus who was called the Messiah/Anointed (the word Christ is the Greek for the word Anointed) but I think it is very important to realize that its origins are not from Elohim (God) but from non-believers, and the term has no spiritual significance or special reverence. This is why I feel comfortable not using the term to describe Elohim's people.

Additionally, although many good things have been done in the name of traditional  "Christianity", the term also brings up many negative thoughts to many peoples minds, as they have been exposed to much hypocrisy in the Christian church, and exposed to false paganized doctrine in the name of traditional, organized, so call "Christian", religious organizations. Things like, bloody wars between Christian denominations, Christian leaders enriching themselves at the expense of their congregants, sexual abuse of children, blatant hypocrisy by many congregants and their leaders, the blending of pagan rituals into traditional Christian beliefs. 

Are these the things Messiah taught?, so who can blame people for looking at "Traditional Christianity" with contempt?

So what are we then?

The scriptures call us those of the Way-

Acts 9:1-2
1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

These were not Saul's words, but the words of the writer of Acts, who identified believers as those of "the Way", so we know it was a term that the believers at that time gave to themselves, or a term that Yahshua or one of the Apostles coined.
 
As for me, I am a follower of the Great Yahweh (LORD), the Elohim (God) of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob, in the Way of Yahshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ)!

So, am I saying that all those in Traditional Christian Churches, or those who call themselves "Christian" are not of Elohim (God)?
 
NO, I know Elohim has His people where He has them, and He knows His sheep. They are not confined to the corporate banners man has placed over them. He works with people even if the organization they are in is in error. Read Yahshua’s words to the 7 churches in Revelation and you will see the point in His words. He still recognizes His people, and works with them within these churches even though the main body may have gone astray and into error, but He calls on His sheep  to hold fast to His truths, turn away from the errors and come out of them, and to turn back to Him!

 
If you  decide to attach yourself to a corporate church, we have at least a few of them that we would feel comfortable with:

Church of God Ministries International,- Headquarters in New Greta LA-

This is a great church, they are very open to independent congregations. They stick to the truths of scripture and they have a spirit of openness and cooperation with those of different opinions. Highly recommended.

The Church of God (Seventh Day), Headquarters in Denver CO.-
This Church, through it's 150 year history, has had a fairly good record for a corporate church. While sticking with the core of the truth, and not abandoning EL's seventh day sabbath, they have made needed changes over the years and have been fairly open with giving a voice to those outside of their corporate boarders.
Although they do not officially keep Elohim’s Holy Days, they do not restrict their members from openly keeping them. Many of the ministers I've come in contact with appear to be more of the humble Sheppard type and less of a authoritarian enforcer. 

One big note of caution! I understand There is a strong movement within this church to bring it closer to mainstream “Traditional Christianity” (back closer to religious Babylon) and loosen the churches commitment to the Sabbath! Members of this church that are true to Elohim should be on guard and make a strong stand to resist this attack!

The Church of God Big Sandy, Texas-

Knowing Yahshua through His Holy Days

The Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world! and The Lion to come!

Coming Soon!

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