DIAGNOSING DOCTRINE

In the tradition of Yeshua, we practice spiritual warfare and healing via discernment and deliverance through the Holy Spirit, in the Connection to God created by the Christ.

The first day of summer (summer solstice) was June 21st, when the sun is in its most northern position directly over the Tropic of Cancer. On many reservations, especially the Nde, or Apache, the Naa’ii’ees, or Sunrise ceremonies for virgin maidens are taking place.

I was honored and privileged to sing in these ceremonies at San Carlos and White Mountain with my Nde elder Phillip Cassadore and later with other diyin or empowered one, which is the Nde term for medicine man. There is no comparable blessing way in non-Indian, or indeed other tribes that I know of.

We no longer perform this ceremony for various reasons. But I fear we are lesser for now lacking it. The closest conventional Christian practice is the Catholic veneration of the blessed Theotokos or Mother of God. But this does not acknowledge, much less honor the sacred, great, Holy Spirit power that each maiden is blessed with at her first moon cycle.

The closest we approach this unique ceremonial now is by Initiation’s Vigil Night. To learn more about the Nde Naa’ii’ees, attend an Initiation cycle at:

https://christchaplincy.com/events/

and read my book: Initiation: Boys are Born Men, Men are Trained

https://jeffreyprather.com/product/initiation-boys-are-born-men-are-trained-kindle-edition/

June 29 is the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Both saints are of special importance because Catholics see Peter as the first Pope of the one true church. And Protestants revere Paul because he translated the Way of Yeshua from Hebrew tradition and culture to Gentiles, meaning Greeks and Romans.

Having referenced native, Catholic and Protestant traditions that we revere, I want to delineate what we believe and why we believe it. Yes. I want to delve into -doctrine!

Why? Well doctrine directs the actions by which we define our faith. How we define our faith can bring us closer to God. Or it can take us farther away, and even lead us astray to death, slavery and the devil.

Take American Protestant Zionism for example. I have criticized it, debunked it, and disavowed it. It is a false gospel, of racial superiority allowing for genocidal murder of innocents by blood libel. Yet it flourishes in Protestant America. How did this happen?

In brief, English Zionists (the same folks who wrote the Balfour Declaration), brought Schofield from America to Oxford, where they published and promoted his biblical version of footnotes re-focusing the entirety of the Bible from leading to Yehoshua, as leading to Israel.

And they did it with -footnotes. The Schofield (really Oxford) Bible was the first with footnotes. Explanations. Giving culture and context to scripture. At this time most American Protestant pastors were poorly schooled theologically. Few attended seminars.

They were inspired and convicted but unschooled. Remember, other than Paul, the apostles had only three years of on-the-job training.

So the Schofield Bible became popular because of its footnotes. And because its footnotes were Zionist, these self-taught, well-meaning pastors became Zionist. And of course, so did their congregations. As a result we have hundreds of American Christians supporting racial superiority and genocide of innocents via blood libel.

Doctrine and context matter. Greatly. Whether we like it or not. In scripture, revelation and from the mouth of Yeshua, we learn how things really are. How it all works. Fits together. And in time it all makes sense. But it’s not how we’d like it to be. Or imagine it to be. It’s not about what you want. It’s about what God wants from you.

We are not a church we are a chaplaincy. So, doctrine is less important to us. When a chaplain ministers last rights on the battlefield or is working with an alcoholic cop or suicidal teen, they don’t focus on the details of doctrine. They do as Christ did with the Centurion who begged and believed, and the thief on the cross who repented. No doctrine discussions. Not even baptisms.

And, we are spiritual warfare focused chaplaincy. The first rule of war is what?

Know when you are in one. A warrior defines everyone by friend or foe. For us that is Yeshua Ha Meshiah versus Ha-Shatan. Remember ultimately Hitler, like all evil is diabolic.

Good is life and freedom. Not because I say so. But because God does. Who told us? Yeshua. So, if Yeshua defines the battle and enemy, we must follow Him. But how? Each denomination says they are the one true way.

First let’s define mainstream Christianity. It may surprise you to learn that Christ Connection Chaplaincy and Christ Connectionism, both of which I founded based on my personal revelation during a near death experience, are more mainstream Christian than many major sects such as LDS and 7th Day Adventists.

While many theological differences exist among Christians, most hold a set of beliefs in common. C.S. Lewis explores this common core of Christian beliefs in his book Mere Christianity.

https://www.amazon.com/Mere-Christianity-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652926

These positions deal with how God reveals himself and relates to humans; the character of God; God’s plan of salvation; God’s design for the church; and end times events.

The following beliefs are central to almost all Christian faith groups. They are the core beliefs of Christianity. Slight variances, exceptions, and additions to these doctrines exist within certain faith groups that fall under the broad umbrella of Christianity.

God the Father

• There is only one God (Isaiah 43:10; 44:6, 8; John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6; Galatians 4:8-9).

• God is omniscient, meaning he “knows all things” (Acts 15:18; 1 John 3:20).

• God is omnipotent, meaning he is “all-powerful” (Psalm 115:3; Revelation 19:6).

• God is omnipresent, meaning he is “present everywhere” (Jeremiah 23:23, 24; Psalm 139).

• God is love (1 John 4:8).

• God is the creator of everything that exists (Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 44:24).

• God is infinite and eternal. He has always been and will ever be God (Psalm 90:2; Genesis 21:33; Acts 17:24).

• God is immutable. He does not change (James 1:17; Malachi 3:6; Isaiah 46:9-10).

The Trinity

• God is three in one or a Trinity; God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; John 14:16-17; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Acts 2:32-33, John 10:30,17:11, 21; 1 Peter 1:2).

Jesus Christ the Son

Jesus is God (John 1:1, 14, 10:30-33, 20:28; Colossians 2:9; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 1:8).

• Jesus was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:26–35).

• Jesus is fully God and fully man (Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

• Jesus Christ is perfect and sinless (1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 4:15).

• Jesus is the only way to God the Father (John 14:6; Matthew 11:27; Luke 10:22).

The Holy Spirit

• God is Spirit (John 4:24).

• The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:11-12; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

The Bible: The Word of God

• The Bible is the “inspired” or “God-breathed,” Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

• The Bible in its original manuscripts is without error (John 10:35; John 17:17; Hebrews 4:12).

God’s Plan of Salvation

• Humans were created by God and in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27).

• All people have sinned (Romans 3:23, 5:12).

• Death came into the world through sin (Romans 5:12-15).

• Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2).

• Christ died for the sins of every person in the world (1 John 2:2; 2 Corinthians 5:14; 1 Peter 2:24).

• The death of Jesus was a substitutionary sacrifice. He died and paid the price for our sins so that we might live forever with him. (1 Peter 2:24; Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45).

• Christ resurrected from the dead in physical form (John 2:19-21).

• Salvation is a free gift of God (Romans 4:5, 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 1:8-10).

• Salvation cannot be earned by human efforts or good works (Ephesians 2:8–9).

• Those who reject Christ will go to hell forever after they die (Revelation 20:11-15, 21:8).

• Those who accept Jesus Christ will live for eternity with him after they die (John 11:25, 26; 2 Corinthians 5:6).

Hell Is Real

• Hell is a real place of punishment (Matthew 25:41, 46; Revelation 19:20).

• Hell is eternal (Matthew 25:46).

End Times

• There will be a rapture of the church (Matthew 24:30-36, 40-41; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12).

• Jesus Christ will return to the earth (Acts 1:11).

• Christians will be raised from the dead when the Lord returns (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).

• There will be a final judgment (Hebrews 9:27; 2 Peter 3:7).

• Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).

• God will create a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1

Groups that claim to be Christian but are generally not considered orthodox by mainstream Christianity are typically defined by their rejection of core doctrines such as the Trinity and the deity of Christ. These groups are often categorized as unorthodox sects, cults, or nontrinitarian movements.

The most prominent modern groups excluded from mainstream Christian denominations include:

· Mormonism (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints): Denies the Trinity, teaches polytheism, and holds additional scriptures like the Book of Mormon as authoritative alongside the Bible.

· Jehovah’s Witnesses: Believe Jesus is a created being (Archangel Michael) and deny the Trinity, salvation by grace, and the immortality of the soul.

· Oneness Pentecostals: Reject the Trinity in favor of Modalism, believing God is one person who manifests in three different modes rather than three distinct persons.

· Christian Science: Often viewed as distinct from Christianity due to its pantheistic tendencies and denial of the physical reality of sin and death.

· Unitarian Universalists: Historically Christian, but modern Unitarian Universalism is largely a liberal religious movement that does not require adherence to Christian dogma, including the divinity of Jesus.

Historical Heretical Sects Several early Christian sects were declared heretical and rejected by the emerging orthodox church:

· Arianism: Taught that Jesus was a created being, subordinate to God the Father.

· Docetism: Claimed Jesus only seemed to have a physical body and was not truly human.

· Donatism: Argued that the validity of sacraments depended on the moral purity of the clergy.

· Catharism: A dualist sect that believed the material world was created by an evil deity and rejected the Old Testament.

Mainstream Christianity generally distinguishes between denominations (which share core orthodox beliefs despite differences in practice or secondary theology) and sects/cults (which deny essential doctrines like the Trinity or the deity of Christ).

Now as to what we profess in faith. Back to -the handbook. Here is our Faith Statement,

We define faith as wisdom gained through experience of things unseen.

We do not tell people what to believe; rather we teach them methods to discover truth via their own free will.

We believe in the Holy Bible as truth. But it is often mistranslated, misinterpreted, and misunderstood.

We prefer the Peshitta Aramaic since Yeshua spoke it. The translations from Aramaic to Hebrew to Greek to Latin to English and then a version approved by an earthy king are less accurate.

For example: In the Aramaic according to Lamsa’s translation, Yeshua on the cross does not translate as, “Why have you forsaken me”, rather, “For this I have been kept!”

Read in context, which translation makes more sense?

We also closely monitor innovative quantum mechanics and the latest archeological finds, as well as new Gospel discoveries such as the Thomas Gospel.

We believe in a Christic centered multiverse.

We believe in one God, our Father in Heaven, beyond the walls of time and space.

We believe that Yeshua is the Meshika, both God and man, the Son of Miriam.

We believe in and study intensely the importance of the:

Annunciation

Virgin Birth

Epiphany

Baptism by Immersion and Holy Spirit

Transfiguration

Crucifixion

The Resurrection

Ascension

Pentecost

Return

We believe that cutting edge quantum physics validates the Trinity, even though scientists dislike the inherent implication that the Christ is the way.

We believe that Ha Satan the Adversary, and its principalities and powers are the root cause of all evil.

We believe that intelligent, sentient good and evil non corporeal entities battle for the souls of humankind, and that we must actively choose God and good and fight!

In the tradition of Yeshua, we practice spiritual warfare and healing via discernment and deliverance through the Holy Spirit, in the Connection to God created by the Christ.

As a chaplaincy we must remain, by mission requirements, flexible and not bound by later emergent church traditions. I am constantly updating the handbook. (Did it again this year).

Our chaplains, warriors, and healers, are constantly, consistently and actively actioning our faith to better effect our spiritual warrior and healer-ship.

Just as battlefield trauma medicine no longer uses the ABCs but has switched to MARCH, and soldiers have replaced muskets with M-4s, so too, do we constantly update our practices in order to better emulate Yeshua Ha Mashiah, not the traditions that emerged and ossified later.

But because nothing and no one surpasses the original exorcisms, healings and teachings of the Messiah Himself and the original disciples, we remain focused on His original teachings, strategies, and protocols.

And precisely because we are chaplains, we need not be Catholic or Protestant. We are chaplaincy not a church. Ministering to all, believers or not, on the spiritual battlefield of the world today.

https://ChristChaplaincy.com