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The Christian and Culture: Is All Culture Equally Healthy?

The Christian and Culture: Is All Culture Equally Healthy?

It is the Christmas season, and as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, God’s only Son, sent to save the world from sin, consider what that means. It means that Jesus came to win our hearts and minds back to trust, so that we will leave behind everything of this world that is out of harmony with heaven and trust Him and follow Him into a kingdom of love, truth, and eternal freedom.

The kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world are not the same. I am passionate about calling people out of the systems of this world and into God’s kingdom of love. Unfortunately, sometimes what I say is misunderstood. I recently received a letter (yes, an actual pen-and-paper letter), airmailed from the United Kingdom, expressing concern over some things I said during Come and Reason’s Bible study covering lesson nine of the fourth quarter 2020, entitled “The Church and Education.” The letter was sent anonymously with no return address, so I am unable to respond directly to whomever sent it. Therefore, I will respond here in hopes that the writer sees it and to clear up any misunderstanding.

From the letter:

We here in the U.K. have been watching your programme for some time now and we found it interesting and informative. The programme on education and the church we find very discouraging, shocking and hurtful for the following reasons: Jesus never taught Racial or National superiority, you are teaching that America as a white protestant nation, culture and civilization is SUPERIOR to all others. Jesus did not teach this neither did He encourage His disciples to do so.

Jesus never went around Palestine destroying non-Jewish culture and civilization…

The letter then details a long list of offenses of the USA; for instance, being number one in abortion; rape and abuse of children; gun crimes and homicide; drug abuse; number one spreader of COVID 19; and number one for false religion. The letter then goes on:

America is like its mother the Roman empire Vampire that went round the world in ancient times raping, pillaging, and murdering the native people for their land and resources, America like its mother is a PARASITE civilization and culture.

The forefathers who left here in the U.K. to America and to the rest of the world were fleeing religious persecution and yet they did the same thing to Black and Brown people all over the world… We implore you to stop teaching American nationalism, culture and white Protestant superiority. We here in the U.K. for the time being will no longer watch your programme or support your ministry.

I can’t tell you the sadness I felt reading this. Again, click here to find the lesson that this person is referencing, so you can listen to the lesson or read the notes. And below is the text of my prepared notes for the lesson. Before I respond to this person’s concerns, I want you to read the notes or listen to what I said. Then consider the concerns of this very hurt individual.

My notes from lesson 9:

From the bottom pink section, “What prejudices does your culture and society teach, either subtly or openly, that as a Christian, you must rise above?”

Do you believe it is righteous or unrighteous to seek to destroy another people’s culture?

And let’s define what I mean by culture – I am not talking about a culture of microorganisms in a lab, nor am I talking about manners or politeness, I am talking about:

a particular form or stage of civilization, as that of a certain nation or period – the African culture, the American Indian culture, the Greek culture etc.

So, with that in mind, is it righteous or unrighteous to seek to destroy another people’s culture?

In our society today, would progressivism and leftism, want to destroy other cultures, or would progressivism want to validate all cultures and not eradicate other cultures?

When Jesus said to His followers,

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” Matthew 28:18-20 NIV84,

was He instructing them to go out and eradicate paganism and all cultures based on false views about Him, to eradicate cultures based on the principles of this world, to establish a culture based on love for God and love for others, on truth, love and liberty?

So if we follow Jesus’ command will we seek to convert people to Christ? And will converting people to Christ simultaneously be destroying the following cultures?

So, can Christianity, if it fulfills the gospel commission to make people disciples of Jesus, really support the idea of protecting other culture?

Do you see why progressivism, leftism, which believes all cultures are equal and should be protected, works to obstruct via laws, via social pressure etc. the sharing of the gospel? It becomes illegal to try to convert people to Christ. Books like The Great Controversy, which exposes the abuses of the Roman church through history, are labelled as hate speech.

The principles of God are truth presented in love while leaving others free. If you have truth on your side, then you have nothing to fear by open speech, ideas being investigated, evidence being presented. But, if you have lies, then once your lies have been accepted you don’t want people investigating, you want to silence any voices that bring truth, because the truth will expose the lies.

So, do we agree that presenting the truth about Jesus will destroy the cultures based on Satan’s lies (2Cor 10:3-5)?

And do we agree that doing so by converting people is a good thing?

What about destroying other cultures through military might, by killing those who won’t join us – is this a good or bad thing for the world?

As Christians, we cannot advocate the methods of might and killing to advance our cause, but does that set us up to draw false conclusions about the results of those who do or have done so in the past?

For instance, there is an idea being propagated in our society today that America is evil because it was founded by war against the Native Americans and essentially wiped them out and destroyed their culture and this is bad. What do you think?

Would the world be better off if Cortez and the Spanish did not go to war with the Aztecs and destroy the Aztec culture? Would the world be better off if the Aztec culture continued in Mexico and we have ongoing human sacrifice and cannibalism practiced south of the US border?

Or are the people who have lived, since the Aztec culture was destroyed, better off without human sacrifice and cannibalism?

So, is the idea being pushed today, that all culture is equally valuable, healthy, good and all culture should be respected and protected, true? No, it is a lie and Christians should have the ability to discern the truth from lies and not buy into the leftism and collude with those who want to stop the gospel from going forward.

So, back to the question in the lesson, what prejudices does our culture or society teach that we must rise above?

Would it be movements that oppose Christianity – any movements that promote godlessness, would that include evolutionism? Humanism? Secularism? Leftism?

What saddened me about the letter is that the person who wrote it completely misrepresented what I was saying. Let’s break down the false conclusions:

  • The person alleges that I teach racial, national, and white superiority. This is false. You will not find this idea in my lesson or in any of my teachings. You will find the opposite, that I teach that in Christ there “is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28 NIV84), that racial differences are irrelevant and what matters is character. Sadly, this person’s letter reveals what he thought I was teaching, not what I actually teach.  
  • The person alleges that I teach that America, as white Protestant, is superior to all other cultures. This is false. I teach that Christianity – as Jesus taught and revealed it, as God designed for human beings to live with love for God and others, where every person is renewed in heart to be fully trustworthy, where God’s laws are written on the hearts of every citizen and people have genuine freedom – is a culture that is superior to every other.

Thus, I am not “defending” the USA. I have said over and over again that all human governments are described in Scripture as beasts and use the beastly methods of coercion to force their way. This includes the USA.

What I believe and teach is beautifully described in this quotation from the book Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 386:

No distinction on account of nationality, race, or caste, is recognized by God. He is the Maker of all mankind. All men are of one family by creation, and all are one through redemption. Christ came to demolish every wall of partition, to throw open every compartment of the temple, that every soul may have free access to God. His love is so broad, so deep, so full, that it penetrates everywhere. It lifts out of Satan’s circle the poor souls who have been deluded by his deceptions. It places them within reach of the throne of God, the throne encircled by the rainbow of promise.

“In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free. All are brought nigh by His precious blood.” (Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:13.)

So we want to take forward the gospel of Jesus Christ, the message of equality of all people as children of God, the message of love, which demolishes every wall of separation, including cultural walls that teach racial or national superiority, and all culture that promotes caste division, falsehoods about God, or any other culture built upon lies that enslave the minds of God’s children.

But “though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NIV84)

Yes, we are in a war, a war between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world, and we are to demolish everything that interferes with the kingdom of God. But the weapons we use are not worldly. We do not use the weapons of physical might and force, but the weapons of truth, love, and freedom. We convert; we do not coerce. The beastly governments of the earth coerce. So we actively seek to advance the kingdom of love and truth which will demolish culture that values:

  • Entertainment and pleasure over achievement.
  • Physical appearance over character.
  • Immediate reward over delayed gratification.
  • Survival-of-the-fittest as a principle of living.
  • Demeaning and exploitation of one segment of society (sex, race, religion etc.)
  • Belief without reason.
  • Rules over principles.
  • Punishment rather than protection and discipline.
  • Lies rather than truth.

But as we advance God’s kingdom with truth and love, as we convert people, they will truly be changed – lies will be replaced by truth, fear with confidence, selfishness with love, superstitions with reality-based understanding. People will leave behind all culture that is out of harmony with God’s kingdom and enter into the only culture that matters: the culture of heaven.

So, writer from the U.K., I hope you will see this blog, reexamine what I have said, reconsider your concerns, as they are not representative of this ministry nor what I teach, and then join us in taking the gospel of Jesus to the world.

 

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Testimony 43

Two years ago I stumbled upon your book, “Could It Be This Simple,” and then found “The God-Shaped Brain” videos on YouTube, your bible study class, and the ‘Come And Reason’ mobile app. I shared your book with a friend and after nine months of showing love, patience, and kindness this person has been changed by the love of God, too. The same love that healed me, I now express to other women in tangible ways, such as to a Baptist woman with high anxiety and childhood trauma. She was extremely happy and relieved when I shared about the so-called “judgment of God” and burning in hell. She had no desire to serve a God that was so harsh. I have repeated the phrase dozens of times to her. “What we believe has power over us, but we have power over what we believe…”

This message that you are sharing has changed my life. I will continue to serve other women and bring this message of God’s healing love to their lives by sharing your books, YouTube videos, and The Remedy Bible app. Keep up the good work. Don’t be discouraged. God is doing a mighty work in and through this ministry!

Jill L., Midwest, USA

 

Testimony 47

I can’t even begin to thank you and your ministry enough for introducing me to the Truth about a loving and merciful God! I have my daughter and her in-laws to thank for sharing with me “The God-Shaped Brain” as well as your website. I listen to the Bible study class lessons on my daily walk. May God continue to bless your thirst-quenching ministry!

Liz H., Port Angeles, WA, USA

 

 

Testimony 6

I got the book “Could It Be This Simple?” a few months ago and the reading was wonderful and I was fascinated. I lent the book to a friend at work. She is having a difficult time and the book is helping her to find Jesus and I found this very exciting. She has asked me questions and I can see her life changing.

H. S., Australia

 

Testimony 59

I’m a native Ghanan, but am currently in France for my master’s degree. Prior to this, during my final years at undergraduate studies in Ghana, I was introduced to your ministry and I’ve been immensely blessed by what you share, especially about the Design and Imposed Laws. God richly bless you for that.

One of the first things I did when I arrived in France was to buy all four of your books. They not only helped me, but those I shared them with. I shared the message with an atheist student and I marveled at how God worked mightily in his life. Today this person shares the Love of God with others and debunks theories of who God is not. I want to share what you present in your “Heavenly Sanctuary and Investigative Judgment” pamphlet, because the message brought rest to my soul and I live today as a healthy person.

God bless you so much and your ministry.

Michael A., Ghana

 

Testimony 45

I have been confused for years about what [christianity] calls [its] most disgusting teaching. It has never made much sense to me and for that reason has been evermore empty. I have listened to your class off and on and have struggled determining what is truth, because of the resistance design law encounters in the church. So, I thank God for your ministry. What you teach makes sense. It’s logical and backed up by the power of love. I have never seen that in Christ until now. I am astounded by the insight that is found when we look at God’s ministry through design law. All strength to this message, as I believe it to be the power of God.

Brendon S.

 

Testimony 74

Thank you so much for opening my eyes. I’ve been through a lot of ministries that just didn’t show the love of God that I felt he was. You have helped me to begin the process of true healing. I thought I was “too far gone,” now I know there’s hope in Jesus, because he loves us beyond what we can comprehend. Thank you again for all you do. I truly appreciate it and pray more people find you (physical at your studio and through this website).

Dalio M.

Testimony 55

I was born [into the church], then I left it for many years. 10 years ago, I came back, but I could not take the hypocrisy and the lack of answers to the missing pieces. I struggled, but I did not abandon my commitment to know the truth. God is leading me to the simple understanding of his relevance and I am relearning what the church taught me as a youth… that he loves me, that he has led me to a knowledge of him such as I have never known. He is using Dr. Jennings to connect the dots that are now so apparent and hiding in plain sight!

Dean P., Arlington, TX, USA

 

Testimony 2

I continue to enjoy your lessons every week. The more that I research your conclusions, the more I am convinced that the Holy Spirit has lead you to distill out the essence of human redemption. Thank you for your courageous stand for the truth.

S. G., TX, USA

 

Testimony 70

I have been watching you for many years and have learned to love God with all my heart. I was raised by a loving Christian mother that had been lied to about who God really was, so our religious upbringing was hell fire and damnation. As soon as I was old enough and moved out, I not only left the church, I ran as fast as I could to get away from it. Sad to say, it wasn’t until the past couple of years that I learned and understand who my Father really is and how much He loves me. I understand God’s Design Laws (which make sense) and when I’m teaching my church Bible study class, I’m able to really put to use the things I’ve been learning and Holy Spirit is leading. Thank you for introducing me to my Father of true, pure love. Everyday with Him is new and exciting. One thing that breaks my heart is that I didn’t know Him sooner. God Bless you and your ministry!

Judy Phelps, Reno, NV, USA

Testimony 64

I’ve been reading the bible and walking with Jesus since I was around 16. I’m 42 now. I’ve mostly been alone in my walk although I went to several churches in different denominations. For the past 3 years God has been showing me His character of agape. It’s been a blessing and changed how I view God and my walk with Jesus. About a year ago I came across the power of love and the principles of design law. These teachings changed how I read scripture and have been such a beautiful blessing. I’m very excited and grateful for these truths. We share these truths of agape, design law and the reality of the principles of the two trees in the garden of Eden with people on Facebook and YouTube. People all over are learning to trust God and His agape design law which makes life possible. Thank you for everything you shared with me. May God continue to bless your ministry and lives.

Bradley M., Hinsdale, NY, USA

 

Testimony 40

I was brought up in a different faith and have been petrified my whole life of God. I believed that I would burn in hell for eternity. When I was 12 I started pursuing the things of this world, but for the next 45 years the Spirit was always calling me, as I knew there was a God through nature. I could see the vast sea of stars in the universe and knew there was something bigger out there. Five years ago, through a Revelation seminar, I was blessed to learn about God’s character and government.

Then I found Come and Reason Ministries and have come under some extreme pressure when I speak about the ministry. One time a member sent me an internet article titled “Whats wrong with Tim Jennings?” I asked her what she thought of it and she said “I don’t know, I didn’t read it.”

I have always wanted to find out for myself the truth about God, so I stayed with the Design Law construct and have been liberated to understand the big picture. Once we consider Design Law, all other Bible stories and prophecies seem to fit perfectly. It is truly beautiful to see people grasping how God operates this Universe of Love and the liberation it has provided in their lives. It blows my mind to see how consistent Design law is with what our founders believed. I hear statements like “This makes so much sense.”

Tom W., Mt. Pleasant, MI, USA

 

Testimony 41

I have been blessed by your ministry. I have experienced personally, and deeply resonate with, the God of love and the beautiful picture of God’s character that you present. I have seen your seminar series on YouTube, read ‘The Journal of the Watcher’ book, used your mobile app, and also listen/study the bible study lesson with you each week. I concur with many of the thoughts and perspectives that you share. I understand your conclusions on natural laws vs imposed law and the legal/penal substitution (incorrect diagnosis). This makes perfect sense to me.

Bless you for all you do.

Melissa L.

 

Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA

 

Testimony 37

Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

I can tell you that this new, “present truth” message is far grander and life-changing than when I shifted from being an agnostic and then a nominal Christian. It has radically altered my worldview, because it reveals a God that makes sense. It is a revolution. I believe that Dr. Jennings’ message is the final message that must go to the world. If any message could be called “righteousness by faith,” as abused as that term is by the right and the left, this is that message, because Jennings’ biblical message identifies a God who is different, whose character isn’t an impossible contradiction.

I walk this path now without fear. I see people differently, and the Holy Spirit burns in my heart. Many call Dr. Jennings’ message false and compromising, but it isn’t false, because I’ve seen the fruits within my mind and body. It is not compromising, because in this message is the only road to holiness that makes any sense. No longer do I behold a pagan god who is always angry and suspicious. Instead, I behold a God who is freeing and loving, always working for our good, and giving me every reason to love my enemy even to my own death, just as Jesus pleads with us. God is good.

Anthony L., CA, USA

 

Testimony 9

I really enjoy with you the view of a gracious God. Thank you for sharing the work you are allowing the Lord to do in you.

L., Queensland, Australia