Page 150 - Attractive Deception - The False Hope of the Hebrew Roots Movement

II Corinthians 4:8-9
We are afflicted (thlibo) in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but
not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed...

I Thessalonians 3:4
For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer
affliction (thlibo); and so it came to pass, as you know.

Hebrews 11:37-38
They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword;
they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted (thlibo), ill-treated (men of
whom the world was not worthy)...

Why did the translators of many of the most popular English Bibles unfaithfully render the words of
Christ relating to the nature of “the Way” which must be walked in order to receive eternal life? It is
because the churches have rejected the message of the high cost of being a disciple of Christ. The
King James Bible was produced under the auspices of the Anglican Church of England. This “high
church” was big on form and style, but little on substance. The clergy dressed in elegant robes and
held services in elaborate cathedrals. They made a very good living, and quite a comfortable one.
What they did NOT do was yield their lives to go wherever Christ directed and to do whatever He
commanded them. These men were of the same ilk as the Scribe who approached Yahshua and said
he wanted to be His disciple.

Matthew 8:19-20
And a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” And
Yahshua said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man
has nowhere to lay His head.”

Scribes in that day led comfortable lives. They were respected and would commonly have homes near
the local synagogue. This Scribe wanted to be Christ’s disciple, but he also wanted to continue to live
comfortably. He likely thought all he would have to do as a disciple of Christ was to alter some of his
doctrinal positions. He was not prepared to surrender everything, abandon the comfortable life of a
Scribe, and accept afflictions and suffering. Yahshua understood this and went straight to the point
at which the Scribe would stumble.

Observe the deceit that has occurred in the churches today. Few ministers are willing to accept the
cost of being Christ’s disciple. Rather than walking away grieved as did the rich young ruler, the
church leaders have acted unfaithfully. They have removed all mention of the cost of discipleship
from their doctrines. They are proclaiming an apostate gospel devoid of the disciple’s cross. They
have attempted to make becoming a Christian easier on the flesh and soul of man.

Most ministers today assure their congregants that they are in good standing with the church and with
God if they confess certain things about Christ, participate in church services and put some money
in the offering plate. Christianity becomes an exercise where people meet to discuss doctrines, and
to observe various rites and traditions, but there is no requirement of yielding one’s life wholly to the
Lordship of Christ. Consequently, Christians have become as salt that has lost its savor. They are
good for nothing, not even fit for the manure pile.