There is a growing organization in Tempe, Arizona that follows the leadership of Steven Anderson, the founder and pastor over "Faithful Word Baptist Church." In all the articles we have in our "Wolves in Costume" series, Steven Anderson is one of the most difficult wolves to discern, and so I have to warn readers that they will need to open their Bibles and turn up their discernment dials to high. Mainstream preachers like Billy Graham and Rick Warren are easy to discern because they are so worldly, but the hardest false preachers to discern are those who seem to be close to the truth, but deceive and manipulate more subtly. (Gen 3:1) Although some Christians have taken a softer, questionable stance on Anderson, in our teaching, I will be exposing his false doctrines, showing you the Bible in comparison to Anderson's words, and demonstrate why I firmly believe he is NOT a Christian. |
Of course, Andersonites everywhere (i.e. those who blindly follow Steven Anderson) will immediately condemn me based on some of the teachings he's done, in which he says:
"That whosoever believeth in him [Jesus] shall not perish—it's not of works.It's not by works of righteousness we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. "
-Steven L. Anderson, "The Correct Definition of Repentance," Elliot Ray, Feb 26, 2016, retrieved Feb 20, 2018, [https://youtu.be/q87s090Agpk]
As we'll find out later, Anderson doesn't actually believe that, and his numerous false doctrines, along with his railing, hateful, warmongering demeanor, will clearly expose his wicked heart. He is not of Christ, and he is deceiving listeners worldwide. Again, this is not hearsay; I will provide all the videos and documented sources you need to prove conclusively from the Word of God that Steven L. Anderson is a man playing a pastor, and playing the "churchianity" traditions and doctrines of men, but he is not born again in Christ. Thus, our ministry will not only sanctify (i.e. set apart) ourselves away from Anderson, but because of the danger of this man's leaven, we will also sanctify ourselves away from all those who choose to follow him instead of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
-Galatians 5:9
But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
-1 Corinthians 11:16
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
-Proverbs 18:13
On the other hand, there are many false converts in Anderson's church, and I'll explain why later in this teaching. I care enough about them that I want to tell them the truth, but if you are reading this and have no love of the truth (2Th 2:10), and you are blindly dedicated to Anderson, along with his deception, hatred, lies, false doctrines, railing, heresies, etc, then I would suggest you close this article and not waste your time.
It is the duty of the saints of Christ to sanctify themselves away from the unfruitful works of darkness and expose them, and that's why I'm exposing Anderson:
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
-Ephesians 5:11
To give another example, there's an incident in 2009 where Anderson was tasered and arrested, and it was made to look like he was resisting police arrest. This is not the case. Anderson was traveling through an internal border patrol, which is a checkpoint where they demand to see your proof of citizenship. Checkpoints like this, which demand personal papers in an unlawful stop, are a violation of the fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, or in other words, internal border patrols on U.S. soil are constitutionally unlawful. Anderson refused to hand over his papers, and asked if he was free to go (which was lawful procedure for a U.S. citizen), but they refused to let him go, held him for 90 minutes, argued with him the whole time, then a drug-sniffing dog allegedly (i.e. no evidence was ever given to verify it was true) took interest in Anderson's vehicle, so they broke his car windows, tasered him, and arrested him. |
Anderson suffered physical wounds that needed stitches, the police found that his papers were in order, and no illegal materials were found in his car. A jury unanimously found him NOT guilty during his trial in 2010, because the jury understood the fourth Amendment states that U.S. citizens have the right to NOT have their persons and papers searched and seized without an official court warrant.
(See James Gilbert, "Pastor acquitted in Interstate 8 checkpoint incident," Yuma Sun, Aug 13, 2010, retrieved Nov 28, 2017, [http://bit.ly/2zxFVro]; See also U.S. Constitution, "Fourth Amendment," Legal Information Institute, retrieved Nov 28, 2017, [law.cornell.edu/constitution/fourth_amendment])
These are just a couple of examples, but the point I am making is that Anderson has been falsely accused of breaking the law on many matters in which he has not done anything unlawful, even though I would argue that he protested needlessly in some cases, and I believe we born again Christians have no need to cause that much of a fuss over the matter because His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). There was really no Biblical reasoning for Anderson to do what he did, and it did not glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in any way; however, that being said, I do not want to falsely accuse any man of anything that he is not guilty of doing, even if he is a cultist like Anderson who lies and deceives people in what he teaches, so we are not going to handle things like the world (and Anderson himself) does by attempting to paint a false picture. We are simply going to look at the doctrines he teaches, and show the contradictions with Scripture, which is what the Lord Jesus Christ instructed His disciples to do:
Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees... Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
-Matthew 16:6-12
|
Based on the information I found on his Faithful Word Baptist Church website, Steven Anderson has claimed to have over 140 chapters of the Bible memorized word-for-word, and all from the King James Bible. This is why he can feel intimidating for some Christians, and why other Christians are fooled into thinking that he is born again in Christ, but I need to remind readers that I have seen Mormons who have many chapters of Scripture memorized from the King James Bible, but that does not make them born again because they believe in false doctrine and teach the commandments of men without understanding.
(See Steven Anderson, "Our Pastor," Faithful Word Baptist Church, retrieved Nov 28, 2017, [faithfulwordbaptist.org/page2.html])
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
-Matthew 15:8-9
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
-2 Timothy 3:7-8
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
-1 Corinthians 2:14
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
-2 Timothy 2:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
-Matthew 7:15
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
-Jeremiah 23:1
(Read "False Converts & Eternal Security" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
The first doctrine that needs to be addressed is on repentance, and as we'll see, this is a core problem with Steven Anderson. In order to understand why Anderson is so far from the Lord God, we need to firmly understand the doctrine of repentance in Scripture, and if any readers are unfamiliar with that, then I highly suggest stopping here and reading our article, "Is Repentance Part of Salvation?" because all those who preach against repentance concerning salvation, as well as most of those who preach in favor of repentance, are in very serious error.
In our teaching on repentance, we show how men like Anderson are deceiving people to believe that the word 'repent' only means "to turn" or "to change one's mind" in every instance all throughout Scripture. Both sides typically teach this, and both sides are in error. That is false doctrine. In fact, in every instance throughout Scripture, the word 'repent' means "grief and sorrow."
Let's start by taking a look at what Anderson teaches on this subject, and that will not only expose his false doctrine, but also give us insight on how he deceives his listeners:
ANDERSON: "We need to make sure we use the right words when we talk about salvation, or |
That's not true; I've talked with MANY people about the definition of repentance, and I typically get one of two answers. They say it means 'to turn' or 'to change one's mind,' or both, but in the context of the salvation of Christ, those are incorrect definitions of repentance. The point is, you don't get "
(Read "The Dangers of Using Lexicons & Concordances" here at creationliberty.com for more details; Popular lexicons and concordances in our day, like Thayer, Strong, and Vine, were authored by men who denied the Gospel of Christ.)
ANDERSON: "But here's the thing about |
It's interesting to note that the phrase "make a commitment to Christ," or "give your life unto Christ," is never found in the Bible. Anderson hides that point from his listeners, but the phrase "repent of your sins" IS found in Scripture, and he actually mentions it during his teaching without realizing it.
Before we get to that, we need to preface the fact that Steven Anderson is either ignorant of how to read the Bible, or he knows how, and simply ignores it when it allows him to avoid rebuke and correction. It's important we mention this first because this error will come up repeatedly from Anderson as you read through this article. God instructs us on how His Word is to be read:
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
-Isaiah 28:10
A lot of people who read this verse often wonder why God set up His Word like this, and a few verses later, He tells us:
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
-Isaiah 28:13
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
-1 Corinthians 2:14
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
-Matthew 13:23
Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
-Proverbs 15:10
For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
-Psalm 12:5-7
ANDERSON: "But |
The phrase "or whatever" shows us Anderson's lackadaisical (i.e. careless, lazy) attitude towards this very important doctrine because "repent of wickedness" means to repent of sin! The word "wicked" is the adjective form of the noun "sin."
sin (n): any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; a wicked act
wicked (adj): evil in principle or practice; deviating from the divine law; addicted to vice; sinful; immoral
(See 'sin', American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved Oct 26, 2017,[webstersdictionary1828.com])
There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
-Genesis 39:9
Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin:
-Deuteronomy 9:27
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
-2 Chronicles 7:14
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
-Acts 8:22
Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
-Acts 8:21
Anderson seems to be another product of typical new-age preachers that use keyword searches to impress people, falsely believing they have studied the Bible with the Spirit of God. They are not studying doctrine as much as they're just looking up key words and phrases, but as we read from Isaiah 28, God set up His Word in such a way that we can discern who has understanding and who is doing keyword searches to impress people. If men don't have the Spirit of God and study the Word as instructed, they will be snared, broken, taken, and fall backward; thereby making them easy to mark.
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
-Romans 16:17-18
ANDERSON: "The book of John mentions some form of the word 'believe' 101 times! That's an average of approximately five times per chapter! Chapter 1: 'Believe, believe, believe, believe, believe!' Chapter 2: 'Believe, believe, believe, believe, believe!' Chapter 3: 'Believe, believe, believe, believe, believe!' I mean, an average of five times per chapter, God's saying |
I'll address Anderson's verbal machine-gun argument in just a moment, but I think we should take a quick look at another teaching that Anderson does to see how he contradicts himself. On the one hand, in "False Repentance Doctrine Exposed," Anderson argues that the book of John is the only book you need to understand the doctrine of salvation, and on the other hand, in "Why There Are 4 Gospels," Anderson argues that all the Gospels must correlate together, and that different details are taken from each one to understand them as a whole.
ANDERSON: "The Gospels are actually a perfect eye-witness testimony, giving different details, appearing to contradict on the surface only to the unlearned; only to those who haven't studied, and then once you do study it out, you see that they corroborate... Why are there four gospels? Well, it's four corroborating testimonies, and |
Corroborate means to strengthen, confirm, and to make certain. I agree with the statement that the Gospels have different details that are to be taken in correlation to one another, which is what Anderson is teaching, but then he abandons that teaching and throws out the other three Gospels when it comes to the doctrine of repentance, and this is something he learned from a very wicked false preacher. (We'll cover more on that later.)
ANDERSON: "And then look at it [the book of John], and |
It should be noted that the book of Acts NEVER mentions the word "love" one time. If we were to approach the Bible the way that Steven Anderson does, then we would conclude that the church does NOT need to love one another, which is absolutely absurd because we can read the rest of Scripture in corroboration with Acts, and know that doctrine would be false.
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
-1 Peter 1:22
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
-Luke 24:47
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
-Acts 2:38
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
-Matthew 18:21-22
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
-Matthew 18:35
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
-James 4:6
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
-Luke 17:3-4
Put in another way, if the rapist showed up a year later at your doorstep, and you were enraged to see him, remembering what he had done to your daughter, and he said, "Hey man, that was like, a year ago; you need to calm down. Just let it go, okay?" Would the proper response be, "Ya know, Jesus said to forgive, so all is well, come on in?" That's absurd! If the rapist has no repentance in his heart, then he is dangerous, and you need to protect your family, call the police, and warn your neighbors.
The reason the new-age church buildings all over the world are teaching forgiveness without repentance is because they have not come to repentance. They want God to forgive them without them having to be humbled to the grief, pain, and sorrow for their sins, just as Steven Anderson doesn't want anything to do with repentance either, and brings in numerous heresies to his cult.
If we don't take all the Gospels together, and learn from each of them as a whole, we will miss key doctrines. It is because many false preachers have missed these key doctrines that they are snared, taken back, and fall, and like Anderson, they end up teaching in error.
Anderson makes the argument that the word 'repent' is never used in John, but it's also interesting to note that there are many instances in Scripture that repentance is described without ever using the word "repent." For example, in Acts 16, the jailor that knelt before Paul was in a state of humble repentance, even though the word 'repent' was never used, and so if we study Scripture, we'll find the grief and sorrow of repentance all over the place, but without ever seeing the word "repent" in print. However, Steven Anderson doesn't know this because he uses keyword searches as a replacement for the Spirit of God, and if you want to see more examples of where repentance is described in Scripture without the use of the word, I once again recommend reading our article "Is Repentance Part of Salvation?" to get more details.
Anderson believes and teaches that repentance is only for the church, but not for unbelievers. (Although I have seen him flip-flip on that subject.) Again, he directly opposes the Word of God on this doctrine because the Bible tells us that repentance was to be preached, starting at Jerusalem, and spread throughout the world:
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
-Luke 24:46-47
And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
-1 Samuel 15:35
"Now that's a pretty clear statement: 'The Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel'. Now what do you think that means? It's pretty clear from the context.He's basically saying he changed his mind about it. I mean, he wanted to make him king, then he saw, you know, what he did with it, andhe said, 'You know what? I wish I hadn't have done that.' You know, and he said, 'I've changed my mind about that'."... And here's the thing:You open up the Webster's—Noah Webster 1828 Dictionary, it'll tell you that to repent means to be sorry for your sins. "
-Steven L. Anderson, "The True Definition of Repentance," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Jan 13, 2010, retrieved Mar 2, 2018, [https://youtu.be/jusl3qL0rGs]; See also Steven L. Anderson, "The True Definition of Repentance," IMDb, Jan 13, 2010, retrieved Apr 13, 2018, [imdb.com/title/tt4081346]; See also mirrored video, Steven L. Anderson, "The True Definition of Repentance Pastor Steven L Anderson," May 4, 2015, retrieved Apr 13, 2018, [https://youtu.be/DbJTD2PLAtk]
I just accused him of lying and contradicting himself, so let me show you each one; starting first with the lie. As you have already seen, I've used Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary of the English Language to help us define a few terms, so now let's look under the listing for 'repent':
repent (v): to feel pain, sorrow or regret for something done or spoken
(See 'repent', American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved Mar 2, 2018,[webstersdictionary1828.com])
The part where Anderson contradicts himself is when he describes God repenting as "changing his mind," but then also describes God repenting as "I wish I hadn't done that." The problem is that "I wish I hadn't done that" is REGRET which is the definition of repentance that is listed out by Noah Webster, and regret means grief and sorrow:
regret (v): grief; sorrow; pain of mind
(See 'regret', American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved Mar 2, 2018,[webstersdictionary1828.com])
The Lord God saw his beloved servant Samuel mourning, grieving in his heart, for Saul, and thus, the Lord God also grieved, which Anderson alludes to with his "regret" comment, and this is VERY important because it helps demonstrate that Steven Anderson, by the context of Scripture, knows in his heart that repentance is grief and sorrow. However, instead of humbling himself to embrace it, which would lead him to repentance, instead he constructs a fortress of pride in his heart, sticks with the doctrines of men that he learned in his seminary college, and mocks all those who teach the truth.
Anderson repeats over and over, trying to brainwash his audience to believe that 'repent' means "to turn/change" in every instance throughout the Bible:
ANDERSON: "Now, of course, the Bible talks a lot about repentance, but |
With this quote, we can now see more clearly how Anderson deceives his listeners; specifically on how he preaches "context," but then ignores context. Let's take a look at the first time the word "repent" is used in Scripture, and it is used by God about Himself:
And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
-Genesis 6:6
grief (n): the pain of mind produced by loss, misfortune, injury or evils of any kind; sorrow; regret
(See 'grief', American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved Dec 12, 2017,[webstersdictionary1828.com])
In short, repent never means "to turn," nor "to change," but in all instances, it means grief and sorrow, and the Lord God was grieving in His heart that He had made mankind because of all the wickedness (i.e. sin) that they did against Him. Just as God repented/grieved at the sins of man, so God also calls us to repent/grieve of our sins:
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
-Luke 13:3
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
-2 Peter 3:9
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
-Mark 10:15
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
-1 Corinthians 14:20
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
-James 2:10
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
-Romans 3:19
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
-Galatians 3:24
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
-Luke 18:9-14
It is quite common for men like Anderson, and most churchgoers, to read the word 'call' as simply "inviting or speaking" when the Bible says:
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
-Romans 10:13
call (v): to utter a loud sound, or to address by name; to bawl, a popular use of the phrase
bawl (v): to weep, to wail; to cry with vehemence [passion], in pain or exultation
(See 'call' & 'bawl', American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved Mar 9, 2018,[webstersdictionary1828.com])
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
-2 Timothy 2:22
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
-Matthew 7:21-23
ANDERSON: "So |
I agree that in order to know what is being repented of, you have to know the context, but the deception here is that WHAT is being repented of is NOT the issue. Anderson doesn't understand this because of his willing blindness on the topic of repentance.
If you read our teaching, "Is Repentance Part of Salvation?" here at creationliberty.com, I go over this subject in great detail, namely, that sackcloth and ashes were an outward sign of godly sorrow:
So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
-Jonah 3:5-8
Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
-2 Corinthians 7:9-10
Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
-Jonah 3:9-10
"So in Jonah 3:9, Nineveh was praying that God would turn AND repent, which does not mean that God would turn and turn; it means that God would turn away from his fierce anger, and be grieved at the sight of their humility before Him. In Jonah 3:10, God repented in that He grieved at the thought of the evil that would befall Nineveh in punishment because they had come to grief and godly sorrow of their wrongdoing (i.e. when the children grieve, the father grieves, and when the father grieves, the children grieve), and in case you may not understand God's great lovingkindness of grief in this passage, let me give an example. |
Because Anderson believes that repent always means "to turn," therefore, he also believes it is works doctrine. If repent only meant "to turn," then he would be correct, that would be a false works-based doctrine, but that's not what the word means. The Lord God never defines repentance as a work, and specifically points out that He gives men repentance:
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
-2 Timothy 2:24-26
Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
-Proverbs 3:34
scorn (n): extreme contempt; that disdain which springs from a person's opinion of the meanness of an object, and a consciousness or belief of his own superiority or worth
contempt (n): act of despising; the act of viewing or considering and treating as mean, vile and worthless
(See 'scorn' & 'contempt', American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved Dec 20, 2017,[webstersdictionary1828.com])
When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
-Proverbs 18:3
ANDERSON at the pulpit: "Tonight I want to preach this sermon, and you've probably never heard a sermon like this before—actually you probably have since you've been going to church here for a while. But you know what? ANDERSON talking to a crowd: " ANDERSON screaming from the pulpit: "YOU BETTER READ THIS BOOK!! [slams his fist into the Bible on the pulpit] AND YOU BETTER READ THE TRACT!! AND YOU BETTER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!!" (This one is interesting because I've heard another teaching he did in which he says he refuses to use tracts because he claims they're worthless, which is another contradiction.) ANDERSON talking to crowd: "Dude, you're too gay, I don't want to talk to you." ANDERSON talking live to radio show host: "If you're a homosexual, ANDERSON screaming from the pulpit: "BECAUSE THE SAME KIND OF PERSON WHO'S TOO LAZY TO READ THE BACK OF THE CHURCH TRACT IS THE SAME KIND OF PERSON WHO'S TOO LAZY [kicks the side of the pulpit as hard as he can] TO READ THEIR BIBLE COVER TO COVER!!" ANDERSON at the pulpit: "And I'm going to tell you something: I hate Barack Obama! You say: Well, you mean you just don't like what he stands for. No, I hate the person! Well, you just don't like his politics. No, I HATE HIM!... I'm not going to pray for his good. I'm going to pray that he dies and goes to hell. When I go to bed tonight, that's what I'm going to pray. You say: Are you just saying that? No. ANDERSON talking to crowd: " |
These are just a few of the many raging outbursts of Steven Anderson, and as you can see, Anderson's hatred, pride, and contempt is clear as day, and I believe he picked it up from one of his original mentors, Jack Hyles. I've heard Anderson claim in a video that Jack Hyles is not his "hero or role model," but I don't trust Anderson; I trust the Lord God and the discernment He gives us to look at the evidence. Anderson did admit he has studied Hyles' teachings, and there are some striking similarities between both men, not only in presentation, but in doctrine. Part of that connection is seen on Anderson's website "Repentance Blacklist," in which he condemns anyone who claims that repentance and salvation are connected.
(See Steven Anderson, "Jack Hyles 'Is the Homosexual Sick or Sinful?'" Feb 10, 2017, retrieved Feb 6, 2018, [https://youtu.be/EKUPrlha4Wk])
The Repentance Blacklist website has been changed over the years because Anderson actually took his original message about the word 'repent' from Jack Hyles of Hammond, Indiana. In fact, when I compared them both years ago, Anderson's teaching was almost verbatim (i.e. word-for-word) what Jack Hyles preached, and I'll leave a reference to his teaching below so you can go look it up for yourself. Recently (2017), Anderson removed Jack Hyles' teaching from his blacklist website. Why did he do that? I have some theories about that, even though I don't know for sure, but it's pretty clear where Anderson got his teaching from. I'd also like to add that Anderson kept his ownership of the website very secretive until recently, and in another article, I revealed the research that proved he owned and operated it, but today (as of February of 2018), he's much more forward with his ownership of the site. (See Steven Anderson, Repentance Blacklist, Faithful Word Baptist Church, retrieved Dec 13, 2017, [repentanceblacklist.com]; Click the image for a larger view; See also Jack Hyles, "Misunderstood Repentance: An Enemy of Soul Winning," retrieved Mar 2, 2018, [jackhyles.com/repent.htm]) |
I originally suspected all this while reading over Anderson's teaching versus Jack Hyles, but while researching Anderson, I found out that he did go to a seminary college (which I prefer to call "cemetery" colleges) called Hyles-Anderson College in northwest Indiana (Lake County) up near Chicago, which was founded by Jack Hyles and Russell Anderson. When I saw this, everything I researched about Steven Anderson started to make sense. I just want to reiterate that I did not know about Anderson's time at Hyles' college until around the time I published this article, but after reading Jack Hyles' teaching side-by-side with Anderson's teaching, I could see the connection. According to Anderson's wife, Steven left Hyles-Anderson College in 2005, a few months before graduating, and I've seen videos in which Anderson has critiqued the college for some of its unbiblical financial practices, but he finished most of his classes there, and so now it makes sense to me why Anderson teaches so much false doctrine and the traditions/commandments of men.
(See Hyles-Anderson College, retrieved Mar 2, 2018, [https://hylesanderson.edu/]; See also Zsuzsanna Anderson, "Wow, what a shock - NOT!" Steven Anderson Family Blogspot, Aug 1, 2012, retrieved Mar 2, 2018, [stevenandersonfamily.blogspot.com/2012/08/wow-what-shock-not.html])
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
-Matthew 15:9
(See Linda Murphrey (Hyles' Daughter), "Linda Murphrey - April 5, 2012, retrieved Mar 2, 2018, [https://youtu.be/eJsOlLqBEyo])
That is very likely the reason Anderson backed off from promoting Hyles on his website (i.e. to avoid embarrassment), but as far as I know, he's never publically rebuked Hyles, which shows his firm dedication to a wicked preacher, and that alone ought to raise a lot of suspicion about Anderson. Christians do not need to know about all the secret things Jack Hyles did to know to stay away from him, because his false doctrines (like that on repentance) would be enough to tell us that there is corruption in him, and that we ought to sanctify ourselves, but Anderson could not discern that because he does not have the Spirit of God in him to see it, so instead, Anderson yoked with Hyles, and adopted Hyles' teachings.
Just to add a bit of evidence to this, there are internet archives that keep record of websites throughout their history on the internet, and so we can go back in time and view old versions of Anderson's "Repentance Blacklist." (See image below.) Notice specifically that on the main page of the original Repentance Blacklist site it says, "Written Articles that Teach the Truth," and there are only two men on that list: Jack Hyles first (a position of honor as a mentor), and Steven Anderson second.
And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
-Romans 2:3-4
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments [i.e. first teachings] of the world, and not after Christ.
-Colossians 2:8
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
-Romans 16:17-18
(Read "Titles Are Unbiblical in the Church" here at creationliberty.com for more details; The early church in the New Testament never used titles in front of their names among one another because it's a pride and glorification of men.)
The reason I wanted to start by covering the topic of repentance is to demonstrate to those of you born again in Christ that the foundation of salvation comes from grace and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but He only gives that grace to those who have been humbled to a grieving heart of wrongdoing, in which they have offended the Living God. Steven Anderson does not have the humility of grief in his heart because he's never repented to the Christian God of the Bible, and therefore, has never been born again, and this can be clearly seen in his pride, hate, and contempt, in which he screams at the top of his lungs while he hits, jumps on, and kicks the pulpit. |
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.
-Luke 24:47-48
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
-Mark 1:4
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
-Matthew 4:17
And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
-Mark 6:12
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
-Acts 2:38
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
-Acts 3:19
But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
-Acts 26:20
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
-Psalm 118:8
Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
-Ecclesiastes 7:3
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
-Romans 9:1-2
Choosing rather to suffer affliction [i.e. grief] with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
-Hebrews 11:25
The sodomites/homosexuals are an abomination in the sight of the Lord God because of their sin, and God took the matter so seriously that He commanded the Jews in the Old Testament to execute any sodomite/homosexual if they were found among children of Israel.
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
-Leviticus 20:13
However, if we back up for a moment, the Lord God also had adulterers put to death, and fornicators as well (depending on the situation), so don't think it was just the sodomites—God hates all sexual sins alike, and it is for that reason that we rebuke sodomites. It doesn't matter if they want to justify their so-called "sexual preferences," they're STILL GUILTY of whoremongering (addicted to sexual lust) and adultery; meaning that it doesn't matter which gender they are with while fornicating, it's still fornication no matter what.
Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
-Hebrews 13:4
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
-1 Corinthians 7:2
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
-1 Corinthians 11:31-32
ANDERSON: "Let me tell you something: There's a full-out war going on, on this subject right now. The bunch of filthy, sodomite perverts, and if you don't like it, get out of here! They're at war with us tonight. And you know what, if you're fearful and afraid and you don't want to stand up for the truth, just get out of here because |
At this point in the video Anderson goes on to explain (with a lot of screaming and yelling) that the sodomites/homosexuals have taken great pains to get some of Anderson's websites and online donation accounts shut down. I wouldn't argue that the homosexuals haven't done those things, because that is the general loathing persecution and hateful hearts that are the foundation of the so-called "LGBT Community." (Like Anderson, they claim they are about "love," but they are hateful and wicked in their hearts.) The sodomites tend to only tolerate anyone that doesn't rebuke their sin, so these kinds of things are expected from them, but in his teaching, Anderson did not give any evidence that it was the sodomites/homosexuals who did it.
We have to remember that, a lot of times, companies will simply shy away from things that are politically controversial because they know it will affect their profits. Thus, with Anderson putting himself in the spotlight, calling for death and destruction of sodomites on international television (which he has done), it may just be a result of these companies avoiding any association with Anderson due to the biased reporting of the communist-leaning, sin-supporting mainstream media. So Anderson blames the sodomites, but it may just be that these companies don't want to be associated with Anderson because of his railing, hateful attitude that he unashamedly flaunts on TV.
That being said, Anderson points out that the congregation of his church building and the sodomites are at war with each other, which obviously means they're enemies. The Lord Jesus Christ gave us instruction on what we ought to do unto our enemies:
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
-Matthew 5:44
ANDERSON: " |
I'm not saying that "dogs" cannot apply to sodomites in a particular context, but the Bible uses the term "dogs" to refer to those who claim to be of God, or claim to be of Christ, but are false; specifically to those who are in leadership/teaching positions. Dogs and wolves are of the same kind of animal, and thus, the Lord God uses the term dogs in reference to pastors like Steven Anderson, not to sodomites.
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
-John 10:11-13
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
-Philippians 3:2
His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
-Isaiah 56:10
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
-Psalm 22:16
Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
-Isaiah 56:11
(Read "Unbiblical Cop-Outs: Don't Judge Me!" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
-John 7:24
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
-1 Corinthians 11:31
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
-Matthew 7:6
He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
-Proverbs 9:7-9
Anderson's lack of repentance (i.e. grief and godly sorrow in humility) can also be seen in his doctrine on sodomites and salvation. If you watch this video, you can see Anderson state clearly, on his live call-in show, his belief that homosexuals cannot be saved:
CALLER: " ANDERSON: " |
Before I begin to address this completely hypocrisy from Steven Anderson, I would like to point out what should be plainly obvious to just about everyone reading this. In the video, I showed a clip of Anderson debating with homosexuals, as he has done on many other occassions, and so if he believes they can't be saved, then why does he bother to debate with them at all? It doesn't make any sense to waste any time discussing salvation with homosexuals when Anderson believes they can't be saved, and the only true reason he has these debates with them is because he knows people record them and the videos go on Youtube, which gains him more media attention because, as I've already said, Anderson is media whore.
Let's look at the verses he quotes in the video:
Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
-John 12:39-40
But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
-John 12:37-38
These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
-John 12:41-43
In the video, I cut to a live discussion Anderson was having with a sodomite/homosexual on the street:
ANDERSON: " |
When Jesus ordained Paul, He said:
But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
-Acts 26:16-18
Again, notice that these verses do not tell us that there are exceptions when concerning sodomites, effeminates, or any other particular sin:
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
-Matthew 28:18-20
(See "Homosexual Repents & Turns to Jesus," ONErighteousNESS, Nov 9, 2013, retrieved Feb 27, 2018, [youtube.com/watch?v=4PxZ_jVsoyA])
However, Anderson cannot see this because not only has he not been given the Spirit of God for understanding, but has been blinded through his scorning, which is evidence of the pride of his heart.
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
-Proverbs 1:22
scorn (n): extreme contempt; that disdain which springs from a person's opinion of the meanness of an object, and a consciousness or belief of his own superiority or worth
(See 'scorn', American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved Feb 6, 2018,[webstersdictionary1828.com])
ANDERSON: "The reason why a man would lust after another man, which is pretty hard to explain, you know, when you think about the fact that |
First, I'd like to point out that he's arguing a logical fallacy called "majority opinion." (ad populem) The majority have been wrong most of the time, even in Scripture, and so the majority's opinion on a matter is irrelevant concerning good versus evil. This is the same kind of fallacious argument atheists use when attempting to figure out right and wrong; they run in circles because majority opinion can never determine absolute truth; we have to make the Word of God our foundation, or we'll end up in hopeless circular reasoning.
(Read "Everything You Need to Know About Atheism" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
I have no argument that there are some people who God has given up on, and that they cannot be saved because they refuse to be humbled and receive the repentance He gives them. (The Bible tells us that God gives men repentance 2Ti 2:25, which means grief and godly sorrow of wrongdoing is not works.) However, the Bible does NOT tell us specifically who it is that cannot be saved, or who it is that is completely given over to sin, because if Anderson would be consistent with his belief, that what is described in Romans 1 are all people who cannot be saved, then that would mean that no atheist can be saved (Rom 1:20), no evolutionist can be saved (Rom 1:23), no fornicator can be saved (Rom 1:24), no environmentalist can be saved (Rom 1:25), no lesbian or feminist can be saved (Rom 1:26), no murderer can be saved (Rom 1:29), no disobedient child can be saved (Rom 1:30), and the list could potentially go on for a very long time because of all the very specific sinful descriptions in Romans 1.
The problem here is with Steven Anderson, and how he does not read the Bible line upon line, here a little and there a little. These reprobates are also talked about in Titus 1, and both Romans and Titus were penned by Paul through the inspiration of God, so let's look there and see what it says:
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
-Titus 1:16
This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
-Titus 1:13
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
-Romans 3:21-24
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
-2 Corinthians 13:5
And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
-Luke 18:24-27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
-Hebrews 9:27
ANDERSON: "People are like, 'Oh, we need to pray for him that he finds Jesus.' *Anderson makes a scoffing face* |
Anderson does not know if Jenner will be humbled to repentance or not, and he has no love for the lost of this world because he has not been forgiven.
Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
-Luke 7:47
And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
-Matthew 19:24
When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
-Matthew 19:25-26
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
-2 Peter 3:9
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
-Acts 17:30
Anderson also makes it abundantly clear in his teaching that Bruce Jenner is his enemy who he hates, and Anderson states he would not pray that Jenner would be come to repentance and be saved. This is because Anderson believes in false doctrine that homosexuals cannot be saved, but Jesus told us:
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
-Matthew 5:43-48
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
-1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
-Galatians 5:19-21
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
-Matthew 11:29
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
-Galatians 5:22-23
gentle (adj): mild, soft, meek, tempered
temperance (n): calmness, moderate of passion
meek (adj): mild of temper, soft, gentle, not easily provoked or irritated
(See 'gentle', 'temperance' & 'meek' American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved Dec 14, 2017,[webstersdictionary1828.com])
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
-Matthew 7:20
ANDERSON: " |
This is what the Bible calls a "railer:"
rail (v): to utter reproaches; to scoff; to use insolent and reproachful language; to reproach or censure in opprobrious [contemptuous and hateful] terms
(See 'rail', American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved Dec 15, 2017,[webstersdictionary1828.com])
Railing is when a man uses prideful words that carry contempt, and contempt is when a man views others as vile and worthless; railers use language that reflects that contemptuous attitude. There is a far cry difference between Biblical rebuke from Scripture and railing because railing is simply one outpouring his own prideful heart from his mouth.
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. |
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
-1 Timothy 4:10
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
-1 Peter 3:9
Even when confronting the devil, Michael the archangel did not use such railing accusations:
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
-Jude 1:9
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
-1 Corinthians 5:11-13
After hearing this type of railing accusation from Steven Anderson, the real question is: Why hasn't the congregation of Anderson's "Faithful Word" Baptist Church (FWBC) obeyed the Word of God and rebuked him? It's fairly obvious that Anderson's pride would keep him from repentance on the matter, and he's already flat-out told his congregation that if they aren't on his side, then get out of HIS church (i.e. not Christ's church). The problem with FWBC is that they don't follow the Word of God; they follow Steven Anderson (i.e. it's a cult), and they don't dare question him because they fear being the target of his railing accusations.
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
-Proverbs 29:25
In the early days of Christ and the church, the Pharisees were just like the pastors of our day, in which there are a number of things that they taught correctly. They had knowledge from the Word of God, but they were not of God. In fact, Jesus told them to observe the things they were instructed by the Pharisees from the Word of God, because they were teaching those things which ought to be taught in many areas, but they themselves were not God's ministers:
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
-Matthew 23:1-5
There are many who speak the truth of Christ, but are not of Christ; for example, in Acts 16, Paul and Timotheus went to the city of Thyatira to preach the Word, and there was a young woman who had the spirit of a devil in her. She followed them for many days and declared to the city that they were the servants of the most high God that would show the people the way of salvation, which IS true, but here's how Paul responded:
But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
-Acts 16:18
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
-2 Corinthians 11:13-15
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
-Matthew 23:27
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
-John 7:24
(Read "Corruptions of Christianity: Mormonism" & "Corruptions of Christianity: Jehovha's Witnesses" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
I'm not saying that every single person in Anderson's church building are unsaved, but the question we have to ask ourselves is why haven't they sanctified themselves yet? If there are any saved in his congregation, certainly they won't be there for long once they start studying Scripture, and if they are, for what reason has God blinded their eyes?
Anderson spends a lot of time going through the Old Testament in his teachings, and reading how God views the sins of man, and he makes some attempt (I repeat: SOME attempt) to preach against sin through God's eyes. I also teach that we Christians ought to view the world the way that God sees it, not as we want to see it through our own eyes.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
-Proverbs 3:7
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
-Proverbs 21:2
At this point, I would highly recommend Christians (if you haven't done it already) go read two of our articles, "Christmas: The Rejection of Jesus" and "Easter: Christians Celebrating Abomination," which explains the huge amount of witchcraft and idolatry involved in these holiday celebrations, and that churchgoers everywhere participate in them with blissful and willing ignorance. Every ritual, tradition, symbol, and decoration involved in these celebrations is born out of pagan idolatry (and fused with the Catholic Church), and once a discerning Christian learns the truth about what these things mean, they'll want nothing more to do with it.
To give some quick examples, the Christmas wreath is a symbol of the witch's wheel of the year, representing all their pagan holiday rituals, and the fruit and pine cone ornaments that ordain the wheel represent the genitals of the sun and moon goddess having sexual intercourse throughout the year. Can you find any Biblical representation of that wreath in Scripture? You can't because it doesn't come from the Bible; it comes from witchcraft, and yet, churchgoers just put them up everywhere and turn a willingly blind eye to it. (That is only one of MANY examples you'll find in our teachings.) |
I also cover thoroughly where the "Christmas tree" concept came from, which is called the "Yule Log," and it is a pagan altar that witches believe will draw divine blessings and grant them magic power in their witchcraft. It's called the "Yule Log" because of the celebration of Yule, the origin of the modern day Christmas celebration, and that's why you'll see Christmas songs and cards talk about "Yuletide Greetings" or "Yuletide Carols." Today, many witches put up a "Yule Tree," and if you compare a so-called "Christian" Christmas tree with a witch's Yule tree, you couldn't tell the difference; they even include the same star, which is the pentagram symbol of witchcraft.
In the following image, there are three holiday trees. Try to guess which trees are "Yule" trees and which ones are "Christmas" trees.
Ultimately, the Christmas tree is an altar to the sun god, and pagans use it as a form of worship of the sun, bringing a traditional hope to resurrect the sun god for the coming year, all of which is directly condemned in Scripture, that we ought not to learn these ways, but Steven Anderson and his wife shamelessly participate in it and teach it to their children.
In their family blog, Anderson's wife (Zsuzsanna) explains that they use an "Advent Calendar," which is a calendar that has flaps that open up, one for each day leading up to Christmas Eve, and there are gifts handed out each day to family members based on the cards inside each flap. This is also pagan in origin. It was the German Catholics of the 19th century that began to call it the "Advent" calendar, but it was originally called the Julekalender, or "Yule Calendar."
In addition to the witchcraft involved in his traditions, Anderson is also willingly ignorant of the Catholic Church's influence over these pagan holidays, like Christmas and Easter, which is where the modern-day leavened church buildings got the tradition. The Catholic Church's entire origin is rooted in witchcraft and paganism because it was born out of Rome, and Rome was the umbrella for the world's pagan worship, temples, and rituals.
(Read "Corruptions of Christianity: Catholicism" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
-Jeremiah 10:2-4
heathen (n): pagan, Gentile, one who worships idols, or is unacquainted with the true God
(See 'heathen', American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved Dec 20, 2017, [webstersdictionary1828.com])
All of these things the Lord God instructed the Jews not to learn, and not to do their customs, because witchcraft is an abomination in His sight. Sadly, most churchgoers believe that such idolatry and witchcraft traditions were only condemned in the Old Testament, and that in the New Testament, Christians can just do whatever they want, but that is not the case:
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
-Galatians 5:19-21
But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
-Acts 15:20
Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?
-Jeremiah 7:9-10
"And what the Bible is saying here is thatthey're carving it into an idol because look, in verse 5 , he says they are upright as the palm tree, but speak not. Nobody thinks that a Christmas tree can speak or walk or do good or evil."
-Steven L. Anderson, "Should Christians Celebrate Christmas," retrieved Dec 26, 2017, [https://youtu.be/-pQ0cyWHNI4?t=25m30s]
They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
-Jeremiah 10:5
What I'm pointing out is that witches think their pagan gods to whom they burn incense on their altars (2Ki 18:4, 2Ch 28:25) speak to them through their rituals (like Yule and Isthar), and they pray to their false gods (i.e. devils) that they would receive blessings from them, but Anderson does not care whether or not he participates in pagan and witchcraft traditions. Rather, Anderson is willingly ignorant of his witchcraft traditions because it's a special funtime celebration that gives him a warm, gooey feeling inside, and was something he was raised on both in his family and the church buildings he grew up in, so he turns away from the truth so he can continue to hold witchcraft traditions close to his heart. (And it's not just Anderson; most churchgoers and church buildings around the world do the exact same thing in willful ignorance.)
Later, Anderson points out that, in verse 14, they carved an idol out of the tree, and that founders would come to put silver plates around the figure:
Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
-Jeremiah 10:14
Anderson deceives his listeners by telling them people like me are only quoting part of Jeremiah 10 out of context, and falsely accusing him, but in fact, it's the opposite. I'm only quoting verses 2-4 in Jeremiah 10 because I'm only going to accuse Anderson of doing what he's guilty of; I won't accuse him of what he's not guilty of. If I said that Anderson was guilty of ALL of Jeremiah 10, then I would be a liar, because Anderson is not carving out faces in the wood and plating them with silver. I will not falsely accuse Anderson, or anyone else. Apart from carving a face out of the wood of the tree, Anderson participates in all the other traditions of witches that were ordained thousands of years ago in their demonic covens, and then to try and save face on the matter, he attempts to demonize us Christians that sanctify ourselves according to God's Word.
Anderson continues to yell and scream and mock sanctified Christians, and then claims that we won't address certain passages in the Bible, like the entire context of Jeremiah, that I just went over. He also says that we won't quote passages like Isaiah chapter 60 and verse 13, which he uses as a justification for his Christmas tree:
The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
-Isaiah 60:13
|
So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar. And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.
-1 Kings 6:9-10
And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the cieling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.
-1 Kings 6:15
Anderson is doing what every other false convert preacher does, looking for a justification to continue their witchcraft traditions, and they do not care how God sees the things they do. (Deut 12:8) We are not supposed to walk as the heathen/Gentiles walk, meaning that we are not supposed to adopt their pagan traditions and rituals, and follow after their ways:
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
-Ephesians 4:17-24
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
-Exodus 20:4-5
"Number 1. The first sin of Halloween is idolatry. Idolatry. The Bible says here, [1Co 10:20] 'But I say the things which the Gentiles sacrifice', and we know he's talking about sacrifice unto idols, he's says they're not sacrificing it to an idol.They're not just sacrificing it to a piece of wood, or a stone, or gold, or silver; some kind of a graven image cunningly graven by the work of man! [he starting yelling again] Hey! We know they are SACRIFICING TO A DEVIL! "
-Steven Anderson, "The Seven Sins of Halloween," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Oct 24, 2009, retrieved Feb 8, 2018, [https://youtu.be/8Gi7fL1KXEs]
Anderson yells and screams these things into the microphone, and even though he is correct in what he said in this instance, it makes him a total hypocrite. Witches and pagans are sacrificing to devils and it is idolatry; however, Anderson is willingly ignorant that these same sacrifices are done during Yule and Ishtar. but because rabbits and eggs, or a tree with lights on it, seem more friendly in his own eyes, he ignores the facts to protect his favorite fun-time witchcraft traditions of Easter and Christmas.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
-Proverbs 21:2
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
-Matthew 7:5
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
-Matthew 23:15
"'Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath,'... Nowbefore he told you not to bow down or serve them, he says don't make them ."
-Steven Anderson, "The Seven Sins of Halloween," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Oct 24, 2009, retrieved Feb 8, 2018, [https://youtu.be/8Gi7fL1KXEs]
Normally, I would not split hairs on this subject, but this is Steven Anderson, and I have to point out that if you go look at his Christmas tree in the image above, you will see ornaments on the tree that are images of the things in the earth beneath. Of course, what most people say is that they are not bowing down and serving them, but Anderson just taught us that the Bible says not to MAKE them at all, and I am simply pointing out that he does this and keeps them in his home because he is a hypocrite. (i.e. He teaches one thing, but does another thing.)
"Don't make any graven images. Don't make any idols. Now let me ask you something: When you walk down the street, or drive down the road, in the month of October, and you drive by a person's house, whose house is decorated for Halloween,what will you see on their porch? If it's not a carved image of an evil face in a pumpkin. "
-Steven Anderson, "The Seven Sins of Halloween," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Oct 24, 2009, retrieved Feb 8, 2018, [https://youtu.be/8Gi7fL1KXEs]
So as you can see, Anderson believes that idolatry ONLY involves carving a familiar face or shape out of some material. He believes that is where idolatry stops, and again, that is because he does not have the Spirit of God for understanding. I would highly recommend Christians look over a teaching we did called "The Biblical Understanding of Idolatry," because in that teaching, we go over the "idolatry of the heart," as described in Ezekiel 14:
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.
-Ezekiel 14:2-5
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
-Matthew 5:27-28
Likewise, there is "idolatry of the heart," where men like Steven Anderson do not go out and forge graven images into shapes and bow down to worship them, but rather, he is an idolater in his heart. Anderson's rebuke of Halloween, but not Christmas, is the same as him rebuking adultery, but not pornography. He hangs on to Christmas and Easter because of traditions of men that he was raised on (or as the Bible says, the "rudiments [first teachings] of the world" in Col 2:8), not because of any commandment or any righteousness found in Scripture, and thus, when he teaches for doctrine the commandments of men, that churchgoers are set at liberty to adopt the traditions of witches and pagans, he worships God in vain.
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
-Mark 7:6-7
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
-2 Corinthians 6:14
It should be noted that, during his Christmas teaching, Anderson claims the term Christmas is good because there is nothing wrong with the word "mass" in terms of the Catholic Church. Of course, he does say the Catholic Church is evil, but he also says that nobody knows where the term "mas" in Christmas comes from, which is not only a false statement, but it once again shows the willful ignorance of Steven Anderson.
He tries his best to disconnect that the word 'Christmas' comes from the "Christ-mass" of the Catholic Church because that makes his witchcraft traditions of Christmas look bad. Anderson even attempts to deceive his congregation by telling them that the word 'mass' comes from the word 'messiah', which is not true, and he provides nothing in his teaching to back up that claim. The word 'mass' is from the Latin, meaning "to gather" or literally "to dismiss," but the word 'messiah' comes from the Hebrew verb 'masah', and which means "to smear or anoint."
(See 'anoint', Bible Study Tools, retrieved Mar 13, 2018, [biblestudytools.com/dictionary/anoint]; I don't recommend BST for study, since most of it is from corrupt lexicons and concordances, but this is simply to address the subject of word origins in the Hebrew to demonstrate that Anderson doesn't know what he's talking about; See also 'mass', Online Etymology Dictionary, retrieved Mar 13, 2018, [etymonline.com/word/mass])
Even if Anderson was right, the word 'Christmas' would not make sense because it would be redundantly "christ-messiah," meaning "anointed-anointed." The Greek word 'Christos' and the Hebrew word 'Messiah' mean the same thing: "anointed." In other words, Anderson is in complete error; his theory creates redundancy (i.e. nonsensical repetition), and removes the core meaning in the title of the holiday celebration.
Anderson continues to preach more hypocrisy:
"And look, just because a word—andlet's just say the word [Christmas] has a Catholic origin, that doesn't still make it a bad word because, you know, a lot of the words we have today have Islamic origins, a lot of words we have today have pagan origins ..."
-Steven L. Anderson, "Should Christians Celebrate Christmas," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Dec 9, 2013, retrieved Dec 26, 2017, [https://youtu.be/-pQ0cyWHNI4]
So Anderson, for the justification of the witchcraft Christmas traditions, is telling everyone that just because sinful entities (like Muslims and pagans, who hate the Christian God of the Bible) make up or use certain terms, that does not mean they are bad; they are just part of our language. I agree that there are words from many sources in our language, even from pagan sources; however, when it comes to homosexuals coming up with words, Anderson flip-flops on this subject, and I will quote him here again from the video I embedded earlier in this teaching:
ANDERSON: "YOU THINK I'M PREACHING TOO HARD?! YOU! HAVE! LOST! YOUR! MIND! AND IF YOU EVER SAY THE WORD [in mocking tone] 'LGBT Community' TO ME, you might as well just walk up to me and just say, 'You know what, |
So if you use words like 'gay' or 'lesbian' or 'homosexual' or 'LGBT', instead of the Biblical term 'sodomite', Anderson says you are "a brainwashed idiot that does not love God." I would agree that such terms like 'LGBT' are corrupt terms commonly used by heathen unbelievers to justify their sin. However, when attempting to justify the word 'Christmas' in the idolatry of his heart, Anderson hypocritically teaches that such terms are now not only acceptable, but if you slap a "Jesus" sticker on them, they become Biblical, even though there is no Bible-equivalent term for word (or celebration of) 'Christmas'.
When he talks about the traditions of Halloween, Anderson tells his church building not to be partakers of the wickedness of the world:
"Ephesians chapter number five verse six: Let no man deceive you with vain words, for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.BE! YE! NOT! Therefore partakers with them! "
-Steven Anderson, "The Seven Sins of Halloween," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Oct 24, 2009, retrieved Feb 8, 2018, [https://youtu.be/8Gi7fL1KXEs]
Yet, Anderson is a hypocritical partaker with the children of disobedience in his Christmas and Easter celebrations that he learned from his Baptist mentors. I add "Baptist" in there because Anderson also subscribes to denominations, which is completely unbiblical, and that "Baptist" denomination taught him these traditions, as he testified in the video above.
(All denominations, including Baptists, Methodist, Calvinists, Lutherans, Nazarenes, Wesleyans, etc, are all unbiblical sects; Read "Denominations Are Unbiblical" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
A lot of readers may be surprised to learn that Anderson corrects the King James Bible, just like the new-age scribes and hypocrites of the new-age bible versions. He claims that "Easter" used in Acts 12 actually means "Passover," which is exactly what the new-agers and leavened preachers also teach. He says it directly, yelling in his mocking tone: "
(See Steven L. Anderson, "Acts 12:4 'Easter' Means Passover," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Jan 21, 2018, retrieved Feb 28, 2018, [https://youtu.be/xf49W7wJ0xM]; He does not say that pascha means "passover;" he's claiming that the word 'Easter' itself means "passover," which is not true.)
Furthermore, he claims that he only does Bible teachings, and does not go into "extra-biblical" teachings, but he is a liar:
"I'm not one of these preachers who preaches a lot of extra-biblical material; everything I preach is found in the Bible. So I'm not one of these guys who's going to give you some kind of a history lesson. I'm not going to get up here and tell you about the ancient origins of Halloween because, you know what,I don't know if that's really true; you won't know if what I'm saying is true ... so I'm going to preach to you from the Bible,"
-Steven Anderson, "The Seven Sins of Halloween," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Oct 24, 2009, retrieved Feb 8, 2018, [https://youtu.be/8Gi7fL1KXEs]
Anderson preaches a message exposing a corrupt book by the Seventh-Day Adventists called The Clear Word. He reads from that extra-biblical material in his teaching.
(See Steven L. Anderson, "Seventh Day Adventist Lie #4," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Feb 16, 2018, retrieved Feb 28, 2018, [https://youtu.be/Cw7uqhjX_p4])
Anderson goes over the history of Marquis de Sade, a French sadist, when discussing quotations from extra-biblical sources from a man named Doug Batchelor. This is only one of countless examples; he goes over the history of many things in a wide variety teachings, including the history of the Bible itself in a documentary he made.
(See Steven L. Anderson, "Doug Batchelor = Marquis de Sade," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Feb 15, 2018, retrieved Feb 28, 2018, [https://youtu.be/A7dXUr21DHk]; See also Steven L. Anderson, "New World Order Bible Versions," ThePeriledSea, Mar 29, 2014, retrieved Mar 13, 2018, [https://youtu.be/iXK8yJj-S4U])
Anderson exposes the history and doctrines of Islam. He quotes directly from the Quran, which is extra-biblical.
(See Steven L. Anderson, "Islam in Light of the Bible," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Feb 5, 2018, retrieved Feb 28, 2018, [https://youtu.be/GfYuWj3t2eI])
Anderson exposes the history and doctrines of Hinduism. He quotes directly from the Bhagavad Gita, which is extra-biblical.
(See Steven L. Anderson, "False Teachings of Hinduism & the Bhagavad Gita," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Jan 22, 2017, retrieved Feb 28, 2018, [https://youtu.be/WOvQnZ1Xoc0])
These are just a few examples I found within only about five minutes of searching on his Youtube channel. If Anderson's cult followers do not want to believe me, then they can go check out any of these sources and look for themselves, but, being familiar with his doctrines, they ought to already see his hypocrisy clearly. (i.e. They are willingly blind when it comes to his hypocrisies and contradictions.) In fact, if you listen to Anderson's entire Halloween teaching, he goes into the details of the witchcraft and other sins involved in Disney movies, and therefore, he contradicts himself in that very same teaching.
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
-James 1:8
Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
-Proverbs 15:10
He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
-Proverbs 15:32
Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
-Zephaniah 3:1-2
As we can see, Anderson is a master of manipulating people, and he twists the Bible out of its context so many times I could not count or keep track of them all. He has so many deceptive, contradictory, and hypocritical teachings, I eventually just had to pick and choose a few and stop writing this article.
Anderson continues deceiving his listeners by calling his pagan witchcraft traditions "doubtful disputations," which comes from Romans 14. A doubtful disputation would be something argued that is founded in personal opinion; meaning that there are no secured facts to dispute, and the purpose and meaning of the argument is not clear.
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
-Romans 14:1
doubtful (adj): not settled in opinion, not clear in its meaning, uncertain
disputation (n): argumentation in opposition, controversy
(See 'doubtful' & 'disputation', American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved Dec 20, 2017, [webstersdictionary1828.com])
An example of something that is NOT a doubtful disputation is: "Should Christians abort their babies?" Abortion is murder, which is sin, and thus, if there is someone who claims to be a Christian that seeks to justify murder via abortion, then we should not accept them into the church. The point I am making is that doubtful disputations are things that should not be argued in the church, otherwise it just causes strife and contention; however, when sin is involved (like witchcraft and idolatry in Christmas and Easter), it is no longer a "doubtful" disputation, but rather, it is a RIGHTEOUS disputation, rebuke, and call to repentance.
(Read "Abortion: Paganism, Satanism, Sacrifices, and Witchcraft" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
Just to make sure we are clear on the hypocrisy of Steven Anderson, let's imagine for a moment that a sodomite/homosexual churchgoer came up to Anderson and told him that his debate against sodomy is just a doubtful disputation. Anderson would immediately, in his hateful, works-of-the-flesh manner, rail against the sin of homosexuality, point out to the homosexual that he was just making an excuse for sin; however, when it comes to the witchcraft traditions of his favorite holiday, Anderson hypocritically uses the same argument the homosexuals would use.
Steven Anderson and homosexuals/sodomites both use the same basic arguments to make justifications for their sin. |
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
-Luke 16:15
"Many Unitarian Universalist congregationscelebrate and recognize important days in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) calendar, planning services and joining community events in support of National Coming Out Day (October 11) and other LGBT witness opportunities."
-Unitarian Universalist Association, "Celebrating National Coming Out Day," retrieved Dec 22, 2017, [uua.org/worship/holidays/coming-out-day]
This sodomite/homosexual cult claims that anyone who would argue with them are just bringing up "doubtful disputation," or because they use corrupted new-age bible versions, they would say it is a "disputable matter." Of course, Anderson would rebuke that church building for their sin, but in doing so, he's contradicted himself, and I'll show you what I mean from Anderson's own teaching:
ANDERSON: " |
Now we have a serious contradiction because Anderson ignores the fact that his traditions are rooted in witchcraft and idolatry, remaining willingly blind that he's an idolater in his heart, and then teaches everyone that witchcraft is just "different opinions" that some people "just live by." He then goes on in his teaching to quote from Romans 14, and tell everyone that if you tell anyone that Christmas is idolatry and witchcraft, then you are "weak in the faith," which he took from the first verse of Romans 14:
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
-Romans 14:1
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
-Romans 14:5-6
(Read "Should Christians Keep the Sabbath?" here at creationliberty.com for more details; we don't observe the Old Testament Sabbath because that was fulfilled in Christ.)
For example, as far as I know, Thanksgiving is not founded in sin, like idolatry and witchcraft, and thus, whether Christians choose to observe it or not makes no difference. My wife and I don't observe it (not for any reason; we just have work to do), but we also have no problem with Christians who observe it, we wouldn't have any objection to observing it with someone else, and any Christians who would argue against either side would be bringing in "doubtful disputations."
However, let's suppose some churchgoers decided to regard Saturnalia, which is the Roman origin of the Christmas tradition, and participated in the traditions to worship the sun god; would it be wrong to judge them in their wickedness because it's just (as Anderson says) "a rule they live by?" Absolutely not; it would be correct to judge and rebuke their wickedness because it is SIN. We Christians ought not to have desire to be associated with a celebration that honors fornication, idolatry, and witchcraft. If we live according to the Spirit of God then we would openly rebuke them in their sin because we do not tolerate it in the Body of Christ:
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
-1 Corinthians 6:18
Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
-1 Corinthians 10:14
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
-1 John 5:21
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
-Romans 14:1-4
As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
-1 Corinthians 8:4-13
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
-Acts 15:28-29
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. [e.g. Christmas, Easter, Halloween, etc.] But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
-Galatians 4:7-11
I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
-Romans 14:14-15
(Read "Bible Contradictions: Eat Idol Meat or Not?" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
Yet, in his teaching, Anderson states that there is "no Biblical basis" for abstaining from the idolatry of Christmas:
"The reason I want to preach about the subject of Christmas is thatthis has become a big issue in the last few years of people attacking Christmas and saying that we should not celebrate Christmas. Okay? Now, several years ago, this wasn't even an issue. I mean, when I was growing up, when I was a child, the only people who didn't celebrate Christmas were pretty much the Jehovah's Witnesses. I mean, that's pretty much it. It was not—pretty much every Baptist, every Christian that you knew, just celebrated Christmas and it was not something that even came up. "
-Steven L. Anderson, "Should Christians Celebrate Christmas," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Dec 9, 2013, retrieved Dec 26, 2017, [https://youtu.be/-pQ0cyWHNI4]
First, I would point out that Anderson is, once again, arguing from the fallacy of majority opinion by saying that "pretty much every Christian did it," which is saying that "everybody's doing it, so don't worry about it." Perhaps Anderson's mother didn't teach him what my mother taught me, which was the question, "If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?" The point is that we ought to study these matters out, not just follow what everyone else is doing; however, Anderson proves that he DOES understand this concept.
As I started comparing Anderson's teachings to one another, his hypocrisy is far greater than probably anyone I've ever heard. Keep in mind that above quote from Anderson's Christmas teaching, and let's go back to his "Seven Sins of Halloween" teaching; notice here that he points out sin #5 on his list is "not thinking for yourself," or in other words, don't follow the majority opinion:
"But number five—how about the sin of not thinking for yourself? The Bible says in Exodus 23:2, 'Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.'... What does it say there?Don't follow a multitude to do evil. Don't do evil just because everyone else is doing evil. That's what he's saying. Now think about this: I'm young. You know, I've grown up in America. So all my life, Halloween has just been taught to me as something that's acceptable, and every church that I went to,it seemed like everybody was out, you know, participating in Halloween , or whatever; I mean, that's just the way I grew up. And so I thought it was just fine; I thought it was normal. You know,there came a time in my life where I decided to think for myself, and decide this is not right. This is not godly. "
-Steven Anderson, "The Seven Sins of Halloween," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Oct 24, 2009, retrieved Feb 8, 2018, [https://youtu.be/8Gi7fL1KXEs]
Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:
-Exodus 23:2
"I mean, when I was growing up, when I was a child, the only people who didn't celebrate Christmas were pretty much the Jehovah's Witnesses. I mean, that's pretty much it. It was not—pretty much every Baptist, every Christian that you knew, just celebrated Christmas and it was not something that even came up."
-Steven L. Anderson, "Should Christians Celebrate Christmas," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Dec 9, 2013, retrieved Dec 26, 2017, [https://youtu.be/-pQ0cyWHNI4]
Perhaps Steven Anderson should do a teaching on which Steven Anderson we should listen to, because they both can't be right at the same time. On one hand, Anderson argues that it is sin to go along with the multitude, rather than think for yourself, and on the other hand, Anderson teaches that churchgoers ought to just go along with the multitude.
That being said, Anderson is also speaking in pure ignorance. Even back in the late 19th century, Charles Spurgeon was addressing the problem of Christians running off to yoke themselves up with the Roman Catholic Church by celebrating Christmas:
" |
were arranged to fit in with heathen festivals . We venture to assert, that if there be any day in the year, of which we may be pretty sure that it was not the day on which the Saviour was born, it is the twenty-fifth of December."
-Charles Spurgeon, sermon given Dec 24, 1871, Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit: Sermons, Passmore & Alabaster, 1872, p. 697
Charles Spurgeon preached that Christmas was a based on heathen traditions, and that it was pagan and Catholic superstitions that Christians ought not to regard, but Anderson tells us that no one (outside of Jehovah's Witnesses) until this day ever had a problem with it; clearly, Anderson is not only speaking in ignorance, but willful ignorance.
The kind of superstitions that Spurgeon was rebuking were the same as those Paul rebuked. Paul was speaking to the heathens in Athens:
Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
-Acts 17:22
superstition (n): excessive exactness or rigor in religious opinions or practice; extreme and unnecessary scruples in the observance of religious rites not commanded, or of points of minor importance; excess or extravagance in religion; the doing of things not required by God, or abstaining from things not forbidden; or the belief of what is absurd, or belief without evidence
(See 'superstition', American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved Mar 23, 2019, [webstersdictionary1828.com])
"The churches of thePresbyterians, Baptists and Methodists were not open on Dec. 25 except where some Mission Schools had a celebration.They do not accept the day as a Holy One , but the Episcopalian, Catholic and German Churches were all open. Inside they were decked with evergreens."
-New York Daily Times, December 26, 1855, quoted by Joanne Martell, American Christmases: Firsthand Accounts of Holiday Happenings from Early Days to Modern Times, John F. Blair, 2005, p. 100, ISBN: 9780895873194
Again, I would encourage born again Christians to read our teaching, "Christmas: The Rejection of Jesus" because in it, I document how many towns in the early days of America banned Christmas as "sacrilege" (i.e. violation of the sacred things of God) because it was pagan idolatry. This was because Christmas was starting to see an uprising among unbelievers in the colonies, as people from different countries traveled over from Europe and brought their traditions with them. The Christians in these towns banned the Christmas outfits, gifts, feasting, and greetings (i.e. "Merry Christmas") typically used around the Christmas celebration, and labeled them as "Satanical Practices" that was punished with a fine if you were caught doing any of them.
"PUBLICK NOTICE: The Observation of Christmas having been deemed a Sacrilege, the exchanging of Gifts and Greetings, dressing in Fine Clothing, Feasting and similar Satanical Practices are hereby FORBIDDEN with the Offender liable to a Fine of FIVE Shillings. "
(See P.N. Oak, World Vedic Heritage: A History of Histories, Vol. 2, self-published, 2003, p. 1024)
I would also like to point out that such notices were published in the 17th century, which is LONG before the Jehovah's Witness/Adventist cults ever appeared in America. So Anderson's argument that it was "just some Jehovah's Witnesses who didn't celebrate it" is said in his complete and willful ignorance, and the problem is that leavened corruption made its way into the church buildings of early America, which is why the average American church building (including Anderson's) is so laden with sins today.
(Read "Corruptions of Christianity: Jehovah's Witness" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
In his teaching, Anderson never addresses the witchcraft and idolatry of Christmas. Instead, he makes an accusation:
"You can't show me any place in the Bible that says don't celebrate Christmas , but I can show you places that say don't be a false accuser."
-Steven L. Anderson, "Should Christians Celebrate Christmas," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Dec 9, 2013, retrieved Dec 26, 2017, [https://youtu.be/-pQ0cyWHNI4]
First of all, I have shown where the Bible teaches not to celebrate Christmas because the Bible teaches us not to learn the way of the heathen. Obviously, if you do not learn their ways, then you will not honor their traditions, but I want to focus on Anderson's fallacy of challenging all of us to prove a universal negative.
In any discussion, the person who has the positive claim needs to provide evidence for it; not the other way around. For example, if someone said to you, "There is a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow, prove me wrong," that is absurd challenge. It is not our responsibility to provide evidence for the negative position, and in fact, it is impossible to prove that pots of gold do not appear at the end of every rainbow because you would literally have to be at all places, at all times, at the same time to disprove it, but rather, it is that man's burden to provide the proof of his positive claim for pots of gold at the end of rainbows. Therefore, if Anderson is going to say, "Christmas is a good, wholesome holiday for Christians to celebrate," then he needs to show us in Scripture where the Bible says "Go celebrate Christmas," and backs up the "wholesome" aspect of its traditions. (i.e. The Bible never gives Christians instructions of any kind to celebrate the birth of Christ, nor does it even indicate when Christ's birth took place.)
Anderson does pose the question of, "Why would it be wrong to celebrate the birth of Christ?" However, he never answers the question in his teaching, and not only does the Bible never address that subject, but also, Anderson is asserting that Christmas is connected to Christ's birth, which is not true. There are no traditions ever given by the church in the New Testament to celebrate pagan traditions, but I can prove that Christmas was born out of the Roman Catholic Church and their fusion of pagan traditions, I can prove there are commandments to abstain from idolatry and witchcraft, and furthermore, I can prove that birthdays are only mentioned twice in Scripture, both times it is the heathen that participate in them, and wicked things happen in both instances.
(Read "Why I Don't Celebrate Birthdays" here at creationliberty.com for more details; Modern-day birthday traditions are also rooted in witchcraft.)
Anderson continues his accusation:
"To sit there and say that you're worshiping Satan is ridiculous; whenyou're saying the name Jesus Christ, you're quoting the King James, and everything that you're singing about and talking about lines up with the Bible. That's not worshipping Satan, that's worshipping Jesus. "
-Steven L. Anderson, "Should Christians Celebrate Christmas," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Dec 9, 2013, retrieved Dec 26, 2017, [https://youtu.be/-pQ0cyWHNI4]
First, I want to point out that I do not make the claim that anyone worships Satan because they celebrated Christmas. There may be some unstable preachers out there who make that claim, but that is a false assumption. The Santa Claus figure DOES represent Satan, and you can learn more about that if you read our Christmas teaching, but I do not accuse people of being Satanists for celebrating Christmas; that's absurd.
Secondly, Anderson is setting up another strawman argument because the problem is not quoting the Bible or singing about Jesus. The problem is when men like Anderson, in their prideful, willful ignorance, insist on slapping a Jesus sticker on the traditions of witches, falsely claim it is "good," while dragging Christ's holy name through the mud.
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
-Isaiah 5:20-21
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
-Hebrews 5:14
"I just want to close the sermon with this:Who is behind the movement among Christians attacking Christmas? Where is it coming from? Like I said, when I was a kid, you didn't hear about it. When I was a teenager, you didn't hear about it. When I started this church [hits the pulpit] you didn't hear about it! But in the last few years, this is a real big movement. Who's behind it? Well, just Googling [i.e. internet searching], you know, 'Christmas is pagan'...I notice that basically the people who are pushing this are Zionists and Jews. "
-Steven L. Anderson, "Should Christians Celebrate Christmas," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Dec 9, 2013, retrieved Dec 26, 2017, [https://youtu.be/-pQ0cyWHNI4]
It is interesting that when I first started investigating Christmas, I simply began to notice that the church buildings had always taught me that all the Christmas traditions were of Christ, but I found nothing about it in the Bible. So I began to investigate the origins of as many traditions as I could find information on (i.e. if it is not found in Scripture, then where did it come from?), and at the end of every path was paganism and witchcraft—it is that simple; no Jewish or Jehovah's Witness conspiracy. (In fact, in my preaching, I rebuke both Jehovah's Witnesses and Jews for their rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ.)
I took Anderson's suggestion and Google searched "Christmas is pagan," and among the first two pages of results (listing out 10 results on each page), there were a couple of Jewish websites, but most of them were Catholic websites supporting Christmas, other leavened sites supporting Christmas, like Christianity Today, Wikipedia, or other news sites like Forbes. I decided to skim through the first 10 pages of results, and most of them were Catholic/Christian sources, not Jewish. As I have already stated, I have a teaching that rebukes the idolatry and witchcraft of Anderson's Christmas traditions, and I am firmly against the teachings of the Hebrews roots cultists that he is referring to. Of course, Jews would hate the concept of Christmas, and that is not hard to figure out, but I was struggling to figure out where Anderson found this giant Jewish conspiracy against Christmas on Google (as he claimed), just as I struggled to find many of the claims he makes in his teachings because Anderson almost never backs up what he claims.
(This is not to say that Jews do not abhor the Christmas celebration, but rather, I could not find Anderson's "Google search" claim.)
Anderson goes on raise issue against people who have abandoned Christmas in favor of Jewish traditions like Hanukkah, and I teach that Christians ought not to do that. There are some who do this, but Anderson believes the mass majority are doing this in some giant Jewish conspiracy against Christmas:
"Those who are rejecting Christmas today are rejecting it for Hanukkah. "
-Steven L. Anderson, "Should Christians Celebrate Christmas," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Dec 9, 2013, retrieved Dec 26, 2017, [https://youtu.be/-pQ0cyWHNI4]
Do not misunderstand; I am not saying you are going to hell because you celebrated Hanukkah or Christmas, because we are not saved by works, but Christmas is pagan witchcraft tradition, and Hanukkah represents the rededication of the Temple of God in Jerusalem, which is no longer valid because Christ did away with the sacrifices (Heb 7:27), and as we mentioned earlier, the temple of the Holy Spirit now dwells in the body (1Co 6:19) of each individual born again Christian. (i.e. Celebrating Hanukkah denies the New Testament dispensation and rejects Christ's authority over the church; not to mention that Hanukkah was never appointed by God in the Bible.) My family and I do not celebrate Christmas, nor do we celebrate Hanukkah, because we do not need worldly or pagan traditions to have an excuse to fellowship with our brethren and loved ones.
(Read "Should Christians Observe Jewish Passover?" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
However, we can now see that Steven Anderson is a hypocrite once again because he is rebuking Christians for celebrating Hanukkah. Did you catch it? Did he not just make the argument that it is a doubtful disputation to argue if a Christian decides to honor a day or not? Andereson clearly taught that Christians should be freely allowed to do those things, so long as they do not force their standards on Steven Anderson. Anderson contradicts his own teaching within his own teaching because he is so blind in his desperation to justify his pagan traditions, and rage against anyone who dares to question him, he cannot see clearly.
"There's an attack on our culture today of just being Christian, and they want to make us a Jewish roots Hebrew culture. "
-Steven L. Anderson, "Should Christians Celebrate Christmas," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Dec 9, 2013, retrieved Dec 26, 2017, [https://youtu.be/-pQ0cyWHNI4]
That is true; there is a religious Hebrew-Roots cult that is doing attacking the New Testament church, and I end up having to rebuke them frequently. However, what Anderson ignores is that there is an attack on our culture today of just being Christian, meaning that they want to make us an ecumenical (i.e. one-world) pagan worshipping Roman culture, and the reason he ignores it is because that pagan Roman culture developed many of the church-ianity traditions and doctrines that Anderson teaches and practices today, and so to rebuke those things means that he would also have to rebuke himself, but he abhors the idea of judging himself.
In addition to that, at the beginning of his teaching, Anderson clearly said that he was not trying to convince anyone to celebrate Christmas, but by the end of his teaching, he accuses anyone who does not celebrate Christmas as being part of a Jewish conspiracy. All I can say to that is, praise to the Lord Jesus Christ that He has opened His Word to the lowly and meek of heart that they would be protected from such wicked wolves as Steven Anderson.
Towards the end of his teaching on Christmas, Anderson told his audience that they should not participate in the "bad aspects" of Christmas. However, there was not one word that I recall hearing in his entire presentation where he even attempted to address idolatry and witchcraft like he did in his Halloween teaching; Anderson conveniently avoided those sins because if he addressed them, then he would be forced to admit his error and contradiction, and he avoids that topic because he loves his tradition more than he loves the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anderson's hypocrisy continues:
"[You should not]have a holiday at the same time as Christmas to be a substitute for Christmas ."
-Steven L. Anderson, "Should Christians Celebrate Christmas," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Dec 9, 2013, retrieved Dec 26, 2017, [https://youtu.be/-pQ0cyWHNI4]
Yet, Christmas IS a substitute for the witchcraft holiday of Yule. Anderson substitutes Christmas for days and times of witches, tells everyone it is okay to have a day to honor the Lord, but then turns around and tells them that if they replace anything for Christmas, they are not of Christ, and part of a secret Jewish conspiracy. (Frankly, it is easy to see the influence Alex Jones had on Anderson's education.)
This is a twisted web of mental gymnastics that I want no part of, but I will continue for the sake of my brethren in Christ, and for the sake of those people who have been deceived by Anderson. He deceives again at the end of his talk:
"Nothing could be more wholesome than to eat a good meal, give gifts to someone that you love, drink a cup of hot chocolate, and sing hymns and songs of praise unto Jesus... I don't believe it's pagan. "
-Steven L. Anderson, "Should Christians Celebrate Christmas," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Dec 9, 2013, retrieved Dec 26, 2017, [https://youtu.be/-pQ0cyWHNI4]
I also do not believe that eating a good meal, giving gifts to someone you love, drinking hot chocolate, or singing hymns to Jesus is pagan. I do not teach that. What I teach is that putting up a Christmas tree and decorations, and participating in the rituals set forth by the witches, first in their covens and then throughout Rome, is pagan, and that we ought to abstain from such pollutions through their idolatry. Anderson did not mention any of the Christmas rituals and traditions in that short list because he knows he can manipulate people, and lead them to believe that Christian teachers (e.g. like me) are falsely accusing him.
Notice also that he says, "
Let's move on to the subject of tithe because with Steven Anderson being the typical false preacher, he also brings the false doctrine of storehouse tithing in the New Testament, which has become a staple of modern-day false church buildings to boost their income. If any Christians have not seen our teaching, "Is Tithe a Christian Requirement?" I would highly recommend readers stop for a moment and go over that teaching because it will give you the details on how strictly unbiblical tithing is in the New Testament.
What fascinates me is that we just got done talking about Anderson's heresies on Christmas, and he preached from Galatians that people should not seek to go back under the bondage of Jewish law. Yet, because Anderson was trained in a typical leavened seminary college, and because he is hell-bent on following tradition, he brings people under the bondage of the Jewish law in tithe.
Let's start by quoting Anderson in his teaching on tithing:
"This doctrine of tithing has come under attack recently,if you notice who's behind the attack on tithing, its people who are against going to church at all ."
-Steven Anderson, "Tithing in the New Testament," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Aug 3, 2015, retrieved Feb 9, 2018, [https://youtu.be/E_ugTo7m_0g]
Before we start addressing the doctrine, notice that he claims another "recent attack" on tithing in the same way he did about Christmas. This is another lie. Just to give an example, let's go back to Charles Spurgeon again, and we'll see that even in the 19th century, tithe was not preached in the New Testament church:
"It is also noteworthy that,with regard to Christian liberality, there are no rules laid down in the Word of God . I remember hearing somebody say, 'I should like to know exactly what I ought to give.' Yes, dear friend, no doubt you would; butyou are not under a system similar to that by which the Jews were obliged to pay tithes to the priests. If there were any such rule laid down in the gospel, it would destroy the beauty of spontaneous giving, and take away all the bloom from the fruit of your liberality . There is no law to tell me what I should give my father on his birthday; there is no rule laid down in any law-book to decide what present a husband should make to his wife, nor what token of affection we should bestow upon others whom we love.No; the gift must be a free one, or it has lost all its sweetness. "
-Charles H. Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Passmore & Alabaster, 1896
Although I am not familiar with the works of J. Vernon McGee, nor do I know if taught all the truth of the Gospel, the point I want to make with this quote is that he taught the same in the early 20th century:
"Again,I would remind you that we are not under the tithe system today. There are many humble believers with very little income for whom a tenth would be too much to give. "
-J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible: Genesis Through Revelation, Thomas Nelson, 1984 ,ISBN: 9781418586034
These are just a few of many example which could be given, and thus, Steven Anderson, once again, is either completely ignorant, or he's lying. He's trying to create a idea in the minds of his listeners that the church has always taught tithe or Christmas, but it's just come under "attack" recently, when the truth is that Anderson often lies, and keeps himself in willful ignorance because he refuses to research the truth of a matter.
So, what does he mean that Christians who preach the truth about tithe are against going to church? Most of you reading this, who understand the truth of the doctrine on tithe, are in favor of assembling yourselves together with the church, so where is Anderson's attack coming from?
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
-Hebrews 10:25
Sadly, he manipulates people to think that those who expose his false doctrine on tithe are rebellious against the church, which means we first have to cover his false doctrine on church buildings before we even get to the topic on tithe:
"The house church movement is unbiblical. Keep in mind, I'm not talking about a church that starts meeting in a house and then eventually outgrows it. I'm talking about the movement that says that if you ever were to outgrow the house, you should split up the 'church' so it can stay small.In the book of Acts, they started with 120 people and grew from there. I don't know about you, but I can't fit 120 people in my living room. "
-Steven Anderson, "The House Church Movement," Steven Anderson Blogspot, Dec 27, 2017, retrieved Feb 8, 2018, [sanderson1611.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-house-church-movement.html]
At this point, there's a logical fallacy we need to explain called "Poisoning the Well." In this article alone, we've already seen Anderson do this many times, but I haven't named what it is in logical terms yet. The formal argument looks like this:
|
|
In fact, Anderson is doing a combination of many logical fallacies, including a false dilemma, ad hominem (i.e. railing), demonization, poisoning the well, strawman, and red herring. In simple terms, he's creating a situation where it's "Anderson vs everyone else who is not Anderson," making everyone else seem like they're stupid without anyone actually seeing any quotes or references from these people, while making up some arguments that people like myself are not making, and then distracting you from the topic at hand. Steven Anderson has done this in almost every teaching I've seen from him, and again, he learned these tactics from his wicked, false preacher mentors, like Jack Hyles.
For example, I rebuked a "pastor" here in Indiana where I live for abandoning the preaching of the Gospel in favor of the politics he adopted. (We had previously worked with his organization until that point.) That pastor didn't like the fact that we had a home church that met every week. So he kicked us out, told me that the devil was manipulating me, and then went on a little crusade to contact every church building and leader we had been in contact with and told them that we were "rebelling against the church." He lied. In reality, I was defending the Gospel and rebuking him to correction and repentance, to come out of his tradition and do what was right by Christ, but instead, he did exactly as the chief priests and Pharisees did in the New Testament; he clung to his tradition, and said all manner of evil against me falsely, to the point that we still, to this day, do not have one church building in Indiana that supports our ministry.
(It should be noted that they still sell DVDs of my teachings, even though I gave them no permission to sell them. Why would they sell the teachings of a man who is supposedly "rebelling against the church?")
Don't misunderstand; this really doesn't concern me at all. My job is to teach the truth, and the prophets of the Old Testament were treated the same way:
For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.
-John 4:44
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
-Matthew 5:11-12
Ultimately, what Anderson is arguing is that if the group you meet with does not outgrow the size of someone's home, then you're not a real church. Remember that he claimed these people are "against going to church at all," meaning that if they meet with believers together in someone's home, and have not yet grown to the size they can no longer meet in someone's home, therefore, none of them "go to church."
When the Lord Jesus Christ had explained the parable of the seed that fell on good ground, which produced fruit, He said:
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
-Matthew 13:23
We have a home church that also meets online, and we have Christians who join us from Australia, England, South Africa, and many other places, but I don't want anyone to think I'm part of a "House Church Movement." If there is such an organization, I'm not a part of them; I simply read the Scriptures, saw that the early Christians met in their homes, and concluded that, despite what I was being told, we didn't need a fancy building to justify Christians assembling ourselves together.
Members in our church are thankful because they learned far more about the Word of God in a few short years than in the decades they were attending traditional leavened church buildings (including Anderson's "Baptist" denomination), but sadly, due to the brainwashing of men like Steven Anderson, people think they can't have a "church" unless they pay money for a separate building first. Anderson's saying that if you don't go buy a building, and pay all the expenses for its upkeep, then you are "unbiblical," and Anderson is not the first so-called "pastor" I've heard make that claim.
In fact, what Anderson doesn't tell people up front is the building they meet in isn't paid for by the church; Anderson pays for it out of his own pocket because that's the same building he conducts his business in. Anderson has a security business that he owns and operates. Thus, Anderson has a building he owns, and his church meets in that building, so how exactly is that different from meeting in someone's home? (i.e. It's hypocrisy and contradiction; he's just willingly blind to it.)
Anderson also fails to mention that, soon after Acts 2, the Christians were being hunted and executed, and they therefore had to hide. They couldn't have church buildings like Steven Anderson with giant signs out front because they would all be rounded up and killed, and thus, they spread out in the homes in different areas to fellowship with one another, but according to what Anderson just told us, we would have to conclude that the early church in the book of Acts was "unbiblical" because they didn't buy large buildings for fellowship.
"Not only is itunscriptural to intentionally stay small , but the typical house church lacks leadership. If God intended for the New Testament church to be a free-for-all where everyone has equal authority, why did he give us such strict qualifications for an elder or bishop? The pastor has to be somebody who's been in church for a while, has the aptitude to teach, etc."
-Steven Anderson, "The House Church Movement," Steven Anderson Blogspot, Dec 27, 2017, retrieved Feb 8, 2018, [sanderson1611.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-house-church-movement.html]
Faithful Word Baptist Church lacks Biblical leadership too because they've got a wolf in disguise running it. Anderson acts exactly the same as every other leavened traditional church building operates; he is a pastoral king who expects everyone to respect his person, and if they don't, he will personally remove them and brand them a "heretic."
Notice that he said "intentionally stay small," and thus what he's doing is poisoning the well by claiming that anyone who has a home church means to "intentionally stay small." Again, that's a fallacious argument, and it's totally unscriptural for him to make such claims which, though generalized, are aimed at our church, as well as many others. Part of the reason Anderson's cult has grown to the size it has is due to his exposure to media (which he purposefully seeks out), and also due to his false doctrine on repentance, filling his church with false converts, which means the "fruit" Anderson's bearing is not coming from good ground.
Just as a side note, the fact that a mainstream national (and international) news outlet, which is run by those who serve the Devil, is willing to feature an interview with Steven Anderson ought to be a red flag raised in the minds of all Christians. The Devil would never have his mainstream news service publish the truth about Christ, and so we have to ask ourselves, why did Anderson get featured in the first place? As I stated earlier, Anderson is a media whore, and he bows the knee to all those who will give him public exposure.
Anderson also says that home churches "typically" lack leadership, but gives no examples of this. Leadership starts with the apostles (who are what we know today as missionaries, but "missionary" is a Catholic term), and they lead the church until it is large enough that it requires leadership; the apostles did not preach in an area, have three people born again and immediately bring them into the church and make them all elders. However, this gets more confusing because Anderson continues to argue on both sides of his mouth:
"The house church people will say they are all elders , but are they really qualified? At Faithful Word Baptist Church, we don't have an overabundance of qualified guys. Even in a church of over 300 people, 'faithful men' who are actuallyqualified to pastor a church are hard to come by.These house churches want to have multiple pastors in their living room, and what they have is too many chiefs and not enough Indians."
-Steven Anderson, "The House Church Movement," Steven Anderson Blogspot, Dec 27, 2017, retrieved Feb 8, 2018, [sanderson1611.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-house-church-movement.html]
So he first argued that home churches don't have enough leadership, and now he's arguing that they have too much leadership. Which one is it? Ultimately, Anderson is making the claim that if you don't purchase and upkeep a separate building outside of your home, then you don't have proper leadership.
Anderson believes that only one person should have the aptitude to teach, and that's because he doesn't understand the role of evangelists, prophets, and pastors. He instead sticks to the tradition he was taught in the church buildings, that one pastor should rule over everything and everyone. (Yes, I'm sure they have "elders" in their church, but those elders all strictly follow Anderson.)
(Read "Is the One-Pastor Church System Biblical?" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
Don't misunderstand; I'm not saying that there should be tons of teachers in the church because the Bible warns us about heaping unto ourselves many masters:
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
-James 3:1
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
-2 Timothy 4:3-4
"What it boils down to is pride. House church proponents don't want to pour water on the hands of Elijah like Elisha did because they think it would be degrading and demeaning. Elijah wasn't perfect, but he was a man of God.A smart person like Elisha gets behind a qualified man of God and learns from him. "
-Steven Anderson, "The House Church Movement," Steven Anderson Blogspot, Dec 27, 2017, retrieved Feb 8, 2018, [sanderson1611.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-house-church-movement.html]
I agree with that last sentence, but the problem is that Anderson is comparing himself to Elijah, which, based on what we've seen of Anderson so far, is absurd. Anderson accuses everyone else of "pride," then claims he is a "qualified man of God" like Elijah, and that everyone should get behind him, which is typical of cults, where the cult members ignore the prideful statements of their guru. We ought to learn from those who have come before us in the church, who demonstrate love, righteousness, meekness, patience, and faith, but we ought not to follow after wicked cult leaders like Steven Anderson.
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
-1 Timothy 6:11
The following video is of Steven Anderson firing one of his employees, a man by the name of Tyler Baker. I am not defending Baker in this video because he makes some reference to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit being similar to pagan "polytheism," and he did confess that he slacked on his duties as an employee, to which he did not seem apologetic for. However, what I want to point out is how Steven Anderson handled the matter, and as you can see, his hateful, warmongering, railing attitude is clear as day once again:
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous... Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. |
Furthermore, Anderson is claiming that if you don't buy a building, then you're prideful, and don't follow Biblical leadership. Again, this is totally absurd. I hope Christian readers are beginning to understand why I put Steven Anderson in our Wolves in Costume series; he has a nasty habit of hypocritically accusing others of pride without ever looking in the mirror.
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
-1 Corinthians 11:31
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
-Matthew 7:5
Again, I want to point out that soul-winning programs are useless if you don't have the doctrines of repentance and faith correct, because if you soul-win on false doctrine, you're only adding false converts to your church building. Since Anderson has not been born again in Christ, it's no wonder there are so many blind people in his congregation; this is not to say that there are no born again Christians in Anderson's "Faithful Word Baptist Church," because that is possible, but a little study of the Bible and conviction from the Spirit of God would soon lead them to reprove the church, and if the church won't come to correction, they would need to sanctify themselves to keep themselves from leaven.
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
-Galatians 5:7-9
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
-Jeremiah 23:1
Anderson continues:
"Of course, in the Book of Acts, the early church started out with 120 people in it, which is about what we have here this morning. I don't know about you, but I can't fit this group in my house...Nobody has a house big enough to house 120 people , but not only that, the Book of Acts chapter 1, they had 120 people, but in Acts chapter 2, they added 3,000. Do the math, that's a pretty big house."
-Steven Anderson, "Tithing in the New Testament," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Aug 3, 2015, retrieved Feb 9, 2018, [https://youtu.be/E_ugTo7m_0g]
Again, the building they meet in is Anderson's business storefront, which means it is a house that he owns, and they are meeting in it. It's so simply deceptive that the average listener won't see Anderson's sleight-of-hand. Anderson said something similar to this in an earlier quote, mentioning that 120 people won't fit in a house; let's go to Acts 1 and read it for ourselves:
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
-Acts 1:12-15
abode (n): to dwell or reside; residence for a longer or shorter time
(See 'abode', American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved Mar 6, 2018,[webstersdictionary1828.com])
Then he points out an absurdity that, after they added three thousand people, they would have built a church building for 3,120 people. That's why he said, "do the math, that's a pretty big house." He's mocking the idea that 3,000 people would fit in one house, which they obviously didn't, but this has a double meaning because Anderson is implying that they would have built/purchased an enormous building, instead of splitting into smaller groups and spreading out. (He also assumes that those thousands of people all lived in Jerusalem, which was not the case; that's why the Holy Spirit spoke in tongues through them so that all would understand.)
There is not even a slight indication, anywhere in the New Testament, that they built huge buildings to house thousands of people all at once. These people would have split up according to locations and elders appointed to specific areas, meeting together in their homes, and meeting in houses is mentioned many times in the New Testament (Acts 2:2, Acts 2:46, Acts 10:24-27, Acts 12:12, etc), but as we read earlier, that is something that Steven Anderson has condemned; thus, Anderson condemns as "unbiblical" the example that was set for us in Acts, and mocks those of us born again in Christ who try to follow that example.
Anderson continues to mock and jeer:
"So don't tell me, 'Oh, they just met in the house back then'. No. They had 120 people, all with one accord in one place, then they added 3,000, then they added 5,000, then it says they multiplied greatly.So we're talking about a huge church there in Jerusalem. "
-Steven Anderson, "Tithing in the New Testament," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Aug 3, 2015, retrieved Feb 9, 2018, [https://youtu.be/E_ugTo7m_0g]
Can you see now that he's teaching that they built/purchased a building that would bring together at least 10,000? He's talking about the numbers, but he's not giving any Scripture to back up where they spent enormous amounts of money to construct some huge temple. That was never recorded as having been done by the early Christians, and the only people who were recorded to do such things in the centuries after Christ were wicked men who founded the Roman Catholic Church, which would end up being a blight on Christian churches and doctrine for the next 1700 years.
As I said before, it was literally impossible for them to construct huge buildings for that purpose, or to purchase them for that use, because they were being hunted and killed under heavy persecution by both Jews and Romans. Steven Anderson ought to know what real persecution is after all the sodomites allegedly coming after him (according to his testimony), but since he hasn't been persecuted for the sake of Christ (i.e. he's only persecuted for his vile mouth), he seems to have been blinded to this understanding.
Anderson accuses home churches of not being ordained, or participating in ordainment.
ordain (v): to set, to establish in a particular office or order
(See 'ordain', American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved Mar 13, 2018,[webstersdictionary1828.com])
So we needed to understand this matter first to see that Anderson is rightly preaching ordainment in the church, which most church buildings traditionally teach (since it supports their love for preeminence), but the problem is about who is doing the ordaining. Even the Catholic Church "ordains" ministers, but they are not of Christ, and often, these same "ordained ministers" forget that men like Paul and Apollos were ordained OUTSIDE of the church by the Spirit of God. When a wicked man like Steven Anderson takes up position behind the pulpit, claiming that all should follow his "qualified leadership" (which is not Biblically qualified for), we ought to be rebuking him and sanctifying ourselves, knowing that he loves respect of his person more than the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Read "Respecting Persons Is Sin" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
-James 2:1
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
-Proverbs 26:5
"Most of the people that you see that are saying, 'Oh, tithing's unscriptural, tithing's not in the bible, or tithing is an Old Testament doctrine', are people who are telling us to forsake the local church, and to just meet in houses. Quote unquote, [in mocking tone] 'like they did in the book of Acts'. "
-Steven Anderson, "Tithing in the New Testament," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Aug 3, 2015, retrieved Feb 9, 2018, [https://youtu.be/E_ugTo7m_0g]
Again, this is more deception because I've never told people to forsake the local church, but remember that Steven Anderson believes that if you have not purchased a building that is specifically set aside with a pulpit and chairs, then you're not "the local church." That's unbiblical and unreasonable. Men and women born again through repentance and faith in Christ, and assembling together in someone's home, IS the local church. Many church buildings are fake, they are filled with false converts, and they are not the local church. I've taught Christians to sanctify themselves away from the wicked leavened church buildings, like Anderson's "Faithful Word" Baptist Church, because they teach so much false doctrine and reject the humility of repentance because they do not want the fulfillment of Christ in the New Testament, no matter how much they claim they want it with their mouths.
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
-Matthew 15:8
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth... And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
-1 Corinthians 13:4-13
(Read "Is Tithe a Christian Requirement?" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
After continuing for a few minutes to manipulate his audience on the false doctrine of church buildings, Anderson finally gets back to tithe. He talks about them passing the offering plate on Sunday mornings, and then says:
"God has always provided our church's needs, and in eight and a half years, we've never had any debt. We've never borrowed any money. We've never been unable to pay our bills.We've always had plenty of money. "
-Steven Anderson, "Tithing in the New Testament," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Aug 3, 2015, retrieved Feb 9, 2018, [https://youtu.be/E_ugTo7m_0g]
I am in no way arguing against the fact that Lord God provides for His children, and I can personally testify to that fact; however, mega-church televangelists have plenty of money and can pay all their bills too, so does that mean God has called them? The problem is Anderson's boasting about being rich and having need of nothing:
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked... As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
-Revelation 3:17-19
Anderson goes on to give the same line that typical preachers do, how they aren't greedy for money, making all sorts of excuses for themselves, and then says:
"But at the same time, to sit there and, you know,attack God's institution of the local church, or to attack tithing, you know, shows that your heart is in the wrong place, and that your heart might be on the unrighteous mammon of this world, and that you're so attached to money, that the idea of giving unto the Lord, is somehow repugnant of you. That kind of shows where your heart is."
-Steven Anderson, "Tithing in the New Testament," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Aug 3, 2015, retrieved Feb 9, 2018, [https://youtu.be/E_ugTo7m_0g]
The members of our church have been disgusted with Anderson saying such things, and that's offensive against all the Christians I know out there who are charitable with their time, money, and resources. In reality, Anderson is more upset that they don't pay homage to him because that tithe money goes somewhere, and the real problem is that Anderson attacks born again Christians who are under the New Testament law of liberty in Christ, while he holds unrighteous mammon in high esteem in his heart, that the idea of charity is somehow repugnant (i.e. morally wrong) to him.
For the entire hour of his teaching, Anderson quotes almost solely from the Old Testament, and that's what is so incredible about his hypocrisy. If you remember earlier, he just mocked Christians for explaining to him that "tithe is an Old Testament ordinance" that was to be specifically carried out by the Jews. So he mocks Christians for telling him that it's an Old Testament ordinance that Christ had fulfilled, and thus now we should operate under liberty of charity in Christ, but then Anderson spends most of his teaching quoting the Old Testament, and in the end, Anderson is just like every other wicked mainstream preacher out there; the only difference being that he screams and kicks the pulpit like a child.
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
-1 Corinthians 14:20
Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty [gift of giving], and not as of covetousness.
-2 Corinthians 9:5
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
-2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit [perform] you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity.
-1 Corinthians 16:13-14
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
-1 Corinthians 13:3
I am unsure of what Anderson is taking out of that tithe money since his I don't have any access to his church building's financial records. They don't have any obligation to provide them, I just don't have access to that information. However, as wicked as he is in his heart, to me, something stinks; I just don't have enough information to judge the specifics of the matter yet.
At this point, I wasn't sure what to go over next because Anderson teaches so many strange and false doctrines; for example, Anderson teaches that if you're a Christian man, and an American patriot, you are required to urinate while standing up. This is not satire; this is literally what he teaches, as you can watch the video for yourself:
ANDERSON: "I kept seeing this phrase jump out at me in the Bible... Thus saith the Lord, he said I will destroy from Jeroboam Did you know this? When I was in Germany—you're not even going to believe this. You say, why are you preaching this? Because it's in the Bible. Okay? I was in Germany, and I went to use the restroom in Germany in several different peoples' houses; I mean totally different people. |
Again, Anderson teaches that if you, as a man, do not pee standing up, then you are not a Christian who is right with God, you are not a masculine man, and you are not a patriot to your country. Folks, this is how corrupt a man's mind gets when he's leader of a cult, and those who follow him will have their minds corrupted as well because:
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
-Galatians 5:9
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
-1 Corinthians 14:20
For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
-1 Samuel 25:34
For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:
-2 Kings 9:8
Anderson is ignorant that this phrase was known by the Jews to refer to dogs, young boys, or lewd men, not to "righteous pastors who stand for the truth." The following 19th century book is a list of passages in the Old Testament in which the author was exposing commentators on Scripture (like Steven Anderson) who departed from the teachings of the King James Bible:
"[A]gainst the wall, a sort of contemptuous [vile] expression to denote a small boy, especially where mention is made of exterminating a whole tribe or family...The phrase seems thus contemptuously to denote a boy, because in the East it is customary for men to perform this office of nature [peeing] in a sitting posture, beneath their flowing garments, nor does decency permit it to be done in the presence of others ... The phrase has been variously interpreted of males, children,and dogs ."
-Richard A. Barret, A Synopsis of Criticisms Upon Those Passages of the Old Testament, Vol. 2, Issue 1, Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1847, p. 467-468, [University of Wisconsin - Madison]
So first of all, men and women wore robes in that day, and it was customary for both men and women to squat down when they peed because if they didn't, they would reveal their genitals for all to see. Typically, young boys, who are not yet old enough to have any sense of decency about their male members, would do this out of ignorance, or in some instances, a young boy may expose himself as a troublemaker to get a rise of shock from onlookers.
In another sense, it was also referred to as dogs, who have no sense of decency to avoid urinating on the wall of someone's house because they don't have any understanding to respect someone's home. The same would be applied to a man who would walk up to the wall of someone's home and start urinating, not only exposing himself, but also disrespecting someone else's house. The Lord God used this phrase to refer to men who were vile, immature troublemakers who had no understanding, and disrespected God's chosen nation, and thus, He sought to destroy them because of their pride and persecution against His servants.
As we pointed out earlier, when Anderson called sodomites "dogs," dogs are referring to pastors in most contexts throughout Scripture, which means Anderson is the dog described in Scripture. Here, we have another instance in which God is referring to men as nothing more than dogs, and Anderson proudly takes up that mantle on himself, declaring that, just as the wicked men, he too will "piss against the wall."
It should also be noted that he was saying that pastors should be men, but not "males," as if the word "male" is some new-age political term that's evil, or that it was some term created by sodomites/homosexuals. When I heard Anderson say that, I immediately thought of Genesis:
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
-Genesis 1:27
Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
-Genesis 5:2
In another teaching, Anderson mocks those who would dare call him "Steve" instead of his desire to be called "Pastor Anderson."
ANDERSON: "What I don't understand sometimes, is how sometimes, people don't figure this out. It's like, I feel like Jesus said to Philip, 'Have you been so long with me and you do not know me?' You remember when he said that? It's like, |
Before I address the Scripture, I want to point out, once again, Steven Anderson's railing and hateful attitude. He's saying, "have you not figured that out," which is really saying, "If you call me 'Steve', then you're an idiot!"
The first part of Scripture Anderson's referring to is from John 14:
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
-John 14:9
Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
-John 14:8
Certainly, those who labor in the word are worthy of double honor (1Ti 5:17), but not to the point we start acting like the world to hand out fancy titles. We also never want to honor someone to the point that we respect their person in sin; for example, when Anderson points out his fancy-looking suit, rather than a t-shirt:
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial [i.e. biased] in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?... If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
-James 2:1-10
(Read "Titles Are Unbiblical in the Church" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
The second part of Scripture Anderson's referring to is from Romans 13:
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
-Romans 13:7
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
-Romans 12:3
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
-Philippians 2:3
worship (n): a title of honor, used in addresses to certain magistrates and other of respectable character
(See 'worship', American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved Mar 27, 2018,[webstersdictionary1828.com])
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
-Matthew 23:3
"I believe that Jesus Christ was in a place—his soul was in a place of fiery torment for three days and three nights. "
-Steven L. Anderson, "Dr. James White Full Interview 'NWO Bible Versions'," Framingtheworld, Aug 11, 2014, retrieved May 28, 2018, [youtu.be/xJrptikLjq8?t=2h25m35s]
What's interesting about this heresy is that it is the same thing Anderson's fellow wolf Joyce Meyer teaches; she also believes that Jesus was tormented by hellfire and devils for three days and three nights to pay for the sins of man. The above quote came from a discussion between heretics James White and Steven Anderson, and though White is as deceptive as they come, even he understood enough to call out Anderson's heresy on this matter.
(Read "Wolves in Costume: Joyce Meyer" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
Certainly, Christ's spirit went to hell, but the Bible doesn't say he was tormented there:
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
-1 Peter 3:18-20
Christ went there to preach unto those spirits, the dead men and women, who were disobedient; people who went back thousands of years, clear back to the days of Noah. Don't ask me why Christ went to do that; I don't fully understand it myself, but I don't have to know the why to understand the fact of the matter; there is no Scripture that tells us Christ went into torment in hell, but Anderson teaches it anyway because, again, he takes Scripture out of its context and trains his cult followers to do the same.
Another strange thing Anderson teaches is that sodomy/homosexuality is the worst sin in the Bible:
"I'm preaching againstthe worst sin in the Bible, which is homosexuality ."
-Steven Anderson, "The Seven Sins of Halloween," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, Oct 24, 2009, retrieved Feb 8, 2018, [https://youtu.be/8Gi7fL1KXEs]
Homosexuality is certainly a grave sin, but the Bible doesn't teach it is the worst among all. If there is any sin that is taught to be the worst of all, it is either lies or pride, since those were the very sins that caused the fall of man in the first place. Satan wasn't lifted up because of his homosexuality, and mankind didn't fall because of sodomy. (i.e. There was only one man and one woman in Eden; meaning that it was impossible to be a homosexual at that time.)
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
-Isaiah 14:12-14
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
-John 8:44
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
-Proverbs 6:16-19
It's likely for that reason that Steven Anderson also supports 501c3 corporate church buildings. Many readers may not know that because Anderson's church building is not 501c3 incorporated, but he does think 501c3 church buildings are good and right with Christ.
(See Steven L. Anderson, "501c3 Churches," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, July 13, 2014, retrieved Mar 6, 2018, [https://youtu.be/aFqSUQNCx2A]; See also the transcript, [faithfulwordbaptist.org/transcript_501c3_churches.html])
As I've already said, Anderson is just like every other mainstream preacher out there, and teaches the same thing they teach when they try to justify 501c3. They go back to when Jesus said "render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's," and teach false doctrine in their ignorance. If any readers have not yet studied our teaching on 501c3, I would highly recommend stopping here to go over that teaching before continuing because you will get a lot of details that Steven Anderson won't talk about.
(Read "501c3: The Devil's Church" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
Anderson starts out quoting Matthew 17:
And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented [stopped] him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
-Matthew 17:24-27
"AndI think that this passage right here in Matthew 17 is Jesus Christ's most clear teaching on taxes, and about paying taxes. ... the words 'tribue', 'custom', these are all just words for taxes."
-Steven L. Anderson, "501c3 Churches," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, July 13, 2014, retrieved Mar 6, 2018, [https://youtu.be/aFqSUQNCx2A]; See also the transcript, [faithfulwordbaptist.org/transcript_501c3_churches.html]
Wrong. The problem is that tribute is not taxation. There was never any question that was raised about paying taxes (i.e. custom), but rather, the question was about tribute, and I go over that subject in much more detail in our teaching "Should Christians Submit to Governing Authority?." (That article is about the Christian's submission to governing authority, except when they step over the line of commandments Christ has given His church.)
Tribute was money that was annually gifted to Rome by all the surrounding countries (except those with an allied exception), and that gift was to recognize Rome's authority over the lands they had conquered, including Israel. If they did not pay Rome tribute, it would be taken as an insult to their authority, and upon further investigation, it could lead to war. That's why the Lord Jesus Christ said, "lest we should offend them... give unto them [their tribute];" He didn't say, "lest we should break the law." There was no law that required any country to give tribute, but it was collected to avoid offending the Roman government, which would lead to war, and since the nation of Israel was supposed to be sanctified by God, Christ was challenged by the Pharisees as to whether or not it was lawful to pay tribute to Caesar:
Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. -Matthew 22:15-22
This wasn't a question of taxation; this was a question of AUTHORITY. That's why later, in Romans 13, Paul wrote:
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom [i.e. taxes] to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
-Romans 13:7
As we've already seen many times, Steven Anderson starts with a false premise, in this case he says that tribute is just taxes, which is wrong, and thus, we now know the rest of his teaching is false because he bases all of it on the idea of his false premise. He teaches in his ignorance, screams and yells at everyone, and then uses the intimidation of fear to get them to believe what he's saying is true.
Warning, incoming hypocrisy:
"Does it seem like protesting taxes was a big part of Jesus' ministry? [Does it] seem like Jesus is on a mission to fight against having to pay these unfair taxes? No, that's not what he's doing.He says, 'let's not offend them', 'let's not fight with them over this' "
-Steven L. Anderson, "501c3 Churches," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, July 13, 2014, retrieved Mar 6, 2018, [https://youtu.be/aFqSUQNCx2A]; See also the transcript, [faithfulwordbaptist.org/transcript_501c3_churches.html]
Yet, as I pointed out at the very beginning, Steven Anderson decides to protest the border patrols. That means he acted exactly according to that which he is rebuking in this teaching. I would return that question to him: Did it seem like protesting government requests for identification was a big part of Jesus' ministry? Does it seem like Jesus is on a mission to fight against having to show his ID?
Later in his teaching, Anderson starts mocking and screaming again:
"Now you say, 'Pastor Anderson you're a coward, you're a hypocrite 'cause you don't want to go to prison.' Now listen, I am willing to go to prison for preaching the Bible... BUTI AM NOT WILLING TO GO TO PRISON FOR SOMETHING THE BIBLE DID NOT TELL ME TO DO!! "
-Steven L. Anderson, "501c3 Churches," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, July 13, 2014, retrieved Mar 6, 2018, [https://youtu.be/aFqSUQNCx2A]; See also the transcript, [faithfulwordbaptist.org/transcript_501c3_churches.html]
But that's not true, as we saw earlier, he's also willing to go to prison so he doesn't have to show his ID. Could Anderson explain to us how refusing to show his driver's license, arguing with the police for 90 minutes, being tased, thrown in jail, and having to appear in court helped glorify the Lord Jesus Christ? (It didn't glorify Christ, but it did glorify Anderson and got him a lot of the media attention that he loves so much.) Even Paul used his Roman citizenship (ID) so he could be brought before Caesar to preach the Gospel (Acts 22:26-29), and this makes Anderson a total hypocrite, but I want Christians to remember that when someone preaches in hypocrisy, they are almost always trying to justify something in their wicked hearts.
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
-Luke 16:15
"Just as Jesus Christ was attacked by people who were trying to use taxes as a way to entangle Him, as a way to accuse Him, as a way to malign Him, and speak evil of Him, the same thing is being used today where people are trying to use this issue to attack men of God who are following Christ. Just as they attacked Christ,they will attack the followers of Christ, and they will use issues like this that are really not Biblical, spiritual issues . Jesus Christ was not a crusader on this issue... The first passage He says,I don't believe in paying these taxes but we're just going to pay it because we don't care. "
-Steven L. Anderson, "501c3 Churches," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, July 13, 2014, retrieved Mar 6, 2018, [https://youtu.be/aFqSUQNCx2A]; See also the transcript, [faithfulwordbaptist.org/transcript_501c3_churches.html]
The problem is that the 501c3 issue is NOT about paying taxes; that's what the new-age false church buildings CLAIM it's about. In fact, people file for 501c3 to AVOID paying taxes, not the other way around. The issue is handing over the authority of Christ's church to Caesar, which Christ did not permit, nor did He teach any such thing.
Anderson uses another fallacy before he even mentions 501c3, and once again, it's majority opinion:
"That's okay if you disagree with what I preach; I think the vast majority of people agree with me on this. "
-Steven L. Anderson, "501c3 Churches," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, July 13, 2014, retrieved Mar 6, 2018, [https://youtu.be/aFqSUQNCx2A]; See also the transcript, [faithfulwordbaptist.org/transcript_501c3_churches.html]
And again, I bring up his teaching on Halloween, that we quoted earlier, in which he condemns "
"There's a lot of deception out there on this issue, and so I want to clear it up.And that is this issue where people are saying 'Hey, 501c3 church[es] are of the devil.' "
-Steven L. Anderson, "501c3 Churches," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, July 13, 2014, retrieved Mar 6, 2018, [https://youtu.be/aFqSUQNCx2A]; See also the transcript, [faithfulwordbaptist.org/transcript_501c3_churches.html]
I released our article on 501c3 in 2012, which was uniquely called "501c3: The Devil's Church." There wasn't anything out there that was called that at the time; I know because I remember looking around for it when I first made the title. Likely, he's referring to our article on the matter, because some of his listeners probably sent our material to him, but he hides and never gives any reference to it so people can go check it out and get both sides; whereas I would rather be open with everyone and give you references so you can go look these things up, listen to both sides, and verify if what I'm telling you is true.
What's interesting is that, prior to this point in his teaching, he told everyone what I typically tell them:
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
-Proverbs 18:13
Anderson goes on to make the claim that the politics of our country don't matter when it comes to the Lord Jesus Christ and the preaching of the Gospel. I agree with that statement, but his blindness is over what he says next:
"The politics of this country don't matter when our nation is filled with 33-40% of couples, one of them commits adultery... 75% of marriage, 50-75% depending on the study you look at, are ending in divorce. The schools are filled with homos and homo propaganda. Okay? One third of women have had an abortion in America. Andyou're worried about whether or not [I talk about 501c3] ?"
-Steven L. Anderson, "501c3 Churches," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, July 13, 2014, retrieved Mar 6, 2018, [https://youtu.be/aFqSUQNCx2A]; See also the transcript, [faithfulwordbaptist.org/transcript_501c3_churches.html]
The problem is that Steven Anderson views 501c3 in the same way that most people who are AGAINST 501c3 view it; both parties are in error. Yes, you read that correctly, and I will repeat it: Most of the people who write me in favor of my position on 501c3 are in error on the subject, and even when I try to explain it to them, they almost always refuse to listen.
They (alongside Steven Anderson) see 501c3 as the source of the problem, when 501c3 is only a symptom of the underlying problem because it's not that people become leavened, wicked, and evil because they got a 501c3 corporate contract, but rather, they seek out 501c3 incorporation BECAUSE they are already leavened, wicked, and evil in their hearts. (i.e. They need to come to repentance; grief and godly sorrow of wrongdoing.) They don't seek out the worldly doctrines of men because they got a 501c3 contract, but rather, they got a 501c3 contract because they already laid a foundation of the worldly doctrine of men in their hearts. In his teaching, Anderson gets angry and starts yelling because he believes that there are 501c3 church buildings and pastors that he thinks are good, King James Bible believing churches, but with Anderson so blind in his own wickedness, without repentance, we can now understand why he can't see how wicked they are in what they do and teach because he can't see his own first.
Please don't misunderstand, I'm not saying that every preacher and church building is not of Christ because they got a 501c3 contract; I've spoken with a rare few who have sought to get out of it because they want to be right with the Lord Jesus Christ. They hate the thought of handing the authority of the church to governing authorities who are not born again as children of God. However, because the Bible never teaches us to hand over Christ's church to someone else, there are only three reasons pastors and churchgoers seek out a 501c3 contract: Money, respect, and/or tradition.
Anderson whines about Christians leaving church buildings over the issue of 501c3, but because he doesn't see any evil in this, he never uses the word 'sanctify'. Christians are sanctifying themselves from these church buildings that are doing and teaching wickedness, and they are not forced to sanctify themselves because of a 501c3 contract, but rather, they're forced to sanctify themselves because the churchgoers and preachers in that 501c3 church building will not hear the truth of the Word of God on many foundational matters, just as Steven Anderson won't listen. (In short, Christians have to leave because churchgoers have turned their ears away from the truth.)
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
-2 Timothy 4:3-4
I hate the fact that I have to spend so much time unbrainwashing people from this garbage. However, this is NOT a "political" matter; this is a PHILOSOPHICAL matter, and a philosophy, in simple terms, is a mindset, or a way of thinking:
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments [first teachings] of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
-Colossians 2:8-10
"You're worried about whether or not Mitt Romney or Obama gets elected? You're insane. Do you think that's going to matter? You think it's going to make a difference whether the Satan-worshiping Mormon gets elected or whether the Satan-worshiping Muslim, or charismatic, or whatever he is gets elected? Who cares?That's what you want me to get involved in. That's what you want our church to all be about, politics, and election, and campaigning. "
-Steven L. Anderson, "501c3 Churches," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, July 13, 2014, retrieved Mar 6, 2018, [https://youtu.be/aFqSUQNCx2A]; See also the transcript, [faithfulwordbaptist.org/transcript_501c3_churches.html]
The matter of churchgoers and preachers handing that which belongs to God over to an unbelieving government organization has nothing to do with elections and campaigning. This is how Anderson deceives people; he's mixing up two completely different topics and calling them the same thing, or some people refer to it as "comparing apples to oranges" and calling them the same. It's a logical fallacy known as a "faulty comparison," and I should make mention that the Word of God never uses all these logical fallacies that Anderson uses.
If anyone has made this a political matter, then it's the people like Steven Anderson who are defending 501c3 contracts, alongside all his buddies who go out seeking them. I would rather be teaching on a Biblical topic than having to cover all this information on a wolf like Anderson, but because he deceives well-meaning Christians into following his cult, I believe that I have a duty to warn my brethren, just as Paul warned us of such wicked men (2Ti 4:14-15), and unlike Anderson, who is not part of Christ's church, who has no understanding, at least we Christians love one another enough to teach the truth and warn each other of danger. In addition to that, because Anderson deceives people with false doctrine, then it becomes a philosophical and doctrinal problem, and so we end up covering Biblical topics to show Anderson's wolf-like qualities.
Keeping all that in mind, it is interesting that Anderson defends 501c3 while the church building he runs is not 501c3, and some of you may be questioning why that is. Do you remember at the beginning of this article, I pointed out that Anderson has had a lot of complaints about his security company building also being the location of his church building, but he's never been prosecuted over the matter? The reason Anderson has never been prosecuted for holding his church in the place of his business is because he never got a 501c3 contract, otherwise he would be forced to relocate his church or his business, and part of me suspects he knows that; which also means that even though he attempts to argue that the government does not rule over the church in a 501c3 contract, the fact that he has not yet gone out to get 501c3 incorporated demonstrates that he knows the truth and stays away from it.
Going back to Romans 1 again, this is the type of people God describes, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; meaning that they deceive others to put on a show, while hiding the truth. Anderson expects all of you to accept 501c3, but he won't put his money where his mouth is, meaning that he says one thing, but does another.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
-Romans 1:18
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
-Matthew 23:3
(See Legal Information Institute, "26 U.S. Code § 501 - Exemption from tax on corporations, certain trusts, etc," Cornell Law School, retrieved Mar 8, 2018, [law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/501])
He holds up that piece of paper as if he has really done his research, but the problem is that the contract that is signed holds all the information, not the IRS's general description, but he knows he can't get a hold of that contract because it's very difficult; Anderson instead supplements the general description and then childishly concludes he has understanding of the matter. For example, a job listing for the IRS can describe a career as "fun and exciting" with "many opportunities," but once you get to the interview, and look over the job contract, you find out you're basically doing low-level, boring clerical work. Likewise to 501c3, it is not the IRS's description of it, but the contract itself, which describes what churchgoers have to give up to get money and prestige benefits, and in our teaching on 501c3, I quote former and current IRS agents who point out numerous church building violations of that contract. (As it currently stands, the IRS does not yet have enough manpower to enforce the contract.)
(Read "501c3: The Devil's Church" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
For example, Anderson says:
"What statute 501c3 is saying is that if an organization is going to claim whether it's a corporation, or not, or whatever, if an organization is going to claim to be a religious organization. Like of an organization is going to say, 'We're a church, we're a religious organization,' he say anything that is set up whether it's a corporation, community chest, or just fund, just any bank account that's supposedly,'This is a church bank account, it's for religious purposes,' that basically all of that money that comes in to the church offering plate, according to this law has to be used for religious, or educational, or charitable purposes. Does everybody understand that? "
-Steven L. Anderson, "501c3 Churches," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, July 13, 2014, retrieved Mar 6, 2018, [https://youtu.be/aFqSUQNCx2A]; See also the transcript, [faithfulwordbaptist.org/transcript_501c3_churches.html]
First of all, notice that he says "according to this law," in which he implies that IRS statute 501 applies to everyone, but it doesn't. It ONLY applies to those who have signed a 501c3 contract, meaning that if your church does not have a 501c3 contract, and you did not follow the rules listed out in IRS statutes, you cannot be arrested or fined for violating 501c3 because you never made a contract that put your church under their jurisdiction.
Also, IRS agents have come forward and warned 501c3 organizations that they cannot overstep their bounds concerning other religious beliefs. What Steven Anderson doesn't understand is that, for example, Satanist temples also have 501c3 status, and they support abortion; thus, if your church fights against abortion (for example), it means you conflict with other 501c3 religious beliefs (i.e. you fight against abortion while they fight for it), and so you are in violation of your contract. (In fact, Satanic churches are being given "preferential treatment" to get fast-tracked for 501c3 non-profit approval.)
(See Rodney Pelletier, "IRS Fast-Tracked Satanists For Non-Profit Status," Church Militant, Mar 20, 2017, retrieved Mar 8, 2018, [churchmilitant.com/news/article/irs-fast-tracked-satanists-for-non-profit-status]; For an example of a Non-profit Church of Satan, see Lilith Grotto Church Inc Of The Church Of Satan, located at P.O. Box 666 in Times Square Station, New York, Tax Exempt World, EIN: 22-2157331, retrieved Mar 13, 2018, [taxexemptworld.com/organization.asp?tn=148357]; See "Abortion: Paganism, Satanism, Sacrifices, and Witchcraft" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
I also point out in our teaching that giving your word in a contact, and not keeping that contract, is lying. Many of these so-called "good, King James Bible believing" church buildings Anderson talks about are in violation of their contracts, meaning they are found to be liars, but he insists on calling them "good" anyway.
(Read "God Does Not Justify Lies" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
-Isaiah 5:20
"ANDERSON: Now, I know you might just do you your taxes on 1040EZ form but try running a business and you're on all kinds of complicated crazy stuff.What I'm saying is the church is in a business. Let me just say what I've said before, the only people who think business is a bad word are communists and hippies. That's the only people who think business is a bad word.The bible calls the work of the church business. Just look at the word business in the bible. Jesus said, I must be about my father's... AUDIENCE: Business.
ANDERSON: Acts 6 says, we need deacons to handle this...
AUDIENCE: Business.
ANDERSON: Business, business but what I am trying to say is that this stuff is so complicated, andthere are all kinds of pastors all across America who organized their church legally in different ways but they're all just trying to do the best that they can, and they just start trying to figure this stupid garbage out. It's just complicated. Look, if somebody just doesn't cross the T or dot the I on their taxes, you wouldn't think that person should be thrown in jail, would you?"
-Steven L. Anderson, "501c3 Churches," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, July 13, 2014, retrieved Mar 6, 2018, [https://youtu.be/aFqSUQNCx2A]; See also the transcript, [faithfulwordbaptist.org/transcript_501c3_churches.html]
Whoa, stop. Let's slow down and look at this carefully because Anderson has just heaped huge amounts of deception onto his audience all at once.
First of all, Anderson says the church "is in a business." That's very deceptive because, although we as a church have lots of business to do, that is not the same as saying we are "a legal business," and we need to make sure we understand the words we're using:
business (n): affairs; concerns, subject of employment, serious engagement, something to be done
(See 'business', American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, retrieved Mar 8, 2018,[webstersdictionary1828.com])
And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
-Genesis 39:11
And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist [thought] ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
-Luke 2:49
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
-Luke 22:42
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
-John 6:38-39
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
-Acts 6:3
When the IRS talks about a "business," they don't mean what the Bible means; they're speaking in the legal sense. They have a completely different set of legal definitions that have been set forth by lawyers in government:
business: (n) any activity or enterprise entered into for profit/capital
capital: (n) the basic assets of a business (particularly corporations or partnerships) or of an individual, including actual funds, equipment and property as distinguished from stock in trade, inventory, payroll, maintenance and services
(See 'business' & 'capital', Legal Dictionary, The Free Dictionary, retrieved Mar 8, 2018, [legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]; See also Black's Law Dictionary, retrieved Mar 8, 2018, [thelawdictionary.org])
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
-1 Timothy 6:7-10
Anderson then said that the only people who think business is bad are communists and hippies. Remember, the context of his teaching is trying to justify 501c3, which means he's saying that if you warn people about the dangers and sins involved in getting 501c3 incorporated, then you are just a "communist hippie," even though Christians who listen to my teachings know that I encourage people in business ownership, my dad owned his own business when I was growing up, and my wife owns her own business. It should be no surprise that Anderson would rail on Christians in such a way; that is the mannerism of his wicked heart, as we have already seen many times.
In one of Anderson's teachings I quoted from earlier in this article, I remember very clearly him saying that he is firmly against selling stuff in the church, meaning that he's against church buildings having a table with things for sale. I would agree with that today, but the problem now is that Anderson is fusing Christ's and the IRS's definition of "business," so he's contradicting himself, being for business on one hand, but then turning around and condemning business activity within church buildings. (This all just proves that he has no idea what he's talking about.)
"Do you really think that we should just say that if you don't set it up exactly a certain way, you're demonic, you're wicked, you're of the devil? Just because pastors have different opinions about how to interpret this garbage? "
-Steven L. Anderson, "501c3 Churches," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, July 13, 2014, retrieved Mar 6, 2018, [https://youtu.be/aFqSUQNCx2A]; See also the transcript, [faithfulwordbaptist.org/transcript_501c3_churches.html]
That's very interesting because earlier, in his Halloween teaching, Anderson clearly stated that it was a holiday of the devil, and that no church should have anything to do with it. Do you really think that we should just say that if you don't do things exactly as Anderson does them, that you're demonic, you're wicked, you're of the devil? Just because pastors have a different opinion about how to interpret this garbage? (i.e. He's a hypocrite.)
Just as Anderson refuses to connect his lust and idolatry of witchcraft to the Christmas celebration, so he also refuses to connect the love of money, respect of persons, and philosophy of men to the 501c3 church buildings. He does this for only one reason: Because there are people that he personally favors who have 501c3 contracts, just as the mentors who taught him also had 501c3 contracts, and for him to rebuke 501c3, he would also have to rebuke them, and because he's a strict traditionalist, he fears them, so he does what's convenient over what's right. (i.e. He talks big about being sanctified, but Anderson doesn't know the first thing about sanctification.)
It is not that every person that has a 501c3, or that is a part of a 501c3, is of the devil; I said it was "The Devil's Church." I'm urging Christians to set themselves apart from it. However, who is of the devil would be those who would hear, but not understand, and for the sake of their lust (i.e. money and respect of persons) and their pride (i.e. not willing to be corrected to the truth) remain in such wickedness, choosing rather to, as Anderson does, lie to people about it; then I would indeed say they are of the devil because the Bible tells us they are.
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
-John 8:44
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
-Matthew 13:13-15
At this point, I really wanted to end this teaching on Anderson because I think enough has been said, but there's so much more that Anderson deceives people about that I wanted to quote. For example:
"If $200,000 comes in to Faithful Word Baptist Church, that $200,000 has to be spent only on things that are religious, educational, and charitable... I am saying, here's what they're saying,we can't take the money that comes in in the offering plate and just say, 'Here you go, brother fair child. Here's a 100 bucks out of the offering plate.' We can't just give him money. "
-Steven L. Anderson, "501c3 Churches," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, July 13, 2014, retrieved Mar 6, 2018, [https://youtu.be/aFqSUQNCx2A]; See also the transcript, [faithfulwordbaptist.org/transcript_501c3_churches.html]
In context, he's talking about the rules the IRS has set up for 501c3 church buildings, and first of all, Anderson doesn't have a 501c3 contract, so he doesn't have to abide by that rule, but by him saying this, he's helped prove my point. This is why I've seen a number of people in church buildings, who desperately need some financial help, who, when they ask the church for assistance, get ignored or turned away; the 501c3 contract is preventing charitable works.
"When could we give people money? Here's the thing, we could pay people for the work that they do, as long as the work they do is religious, educational, or charitable. "
-Steven L. Anderson, "501c3 Churches," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, July 13, 2014, retrieved Mar 6, 2018, [https://youtu.be/aFqSUQNCx2A]; See also the transcript, [faithfulwordbaptist.org/transcript_501c3_churches.html]
There are multiple instances of charitable giving of money that takes place in the New Testament, but under a 501c3 contract, Anderson is saying you can't give them any help. In order to "give a gift," you have to first have someone employed under the corporate church, which, again, is absurd. Not only does Anderson teach that you are required to come in and pay money to his organization (i.e. via unbiblical tithe payments), but that if you're in need, he can't help you unless you jump through a bunch of hoops and cut through rolls of red tape, and this should not be surprising because this is how most church buildings in America today operate. In addition to that, it teaches a very poor example; whereas the church is supposed to teach that Christ's grace is a free gift, in order to gain the church's grace, you have to be hired on and work for it.
"I can preach anything in the Bible and still be in compliance with this. There's nothing that this book tells me to preach that I can't do according to this [paragraph on 501c3] in my hand. "
-Steven L. Anderson, "501c3 Churches," Steven Anderson's Official Youtube Channel, July 13, 2014, retrieved Mar 6, 2018, [https://youtu.be/aFqSUQNCx2A]; See also the transcript, [faithfulwordbaptist.org/transcript_501c3_churches.html]
Alright Steven Anderson, if that's the case, then go sign up for a 501c3 contract. It's time to put up or shut up. Go get that 501c3 contract, and show the world what happens when you do; I would love to see that. Until Anderson signs up for 501c3 and we let some time pass to see what happens, I'm going to state clearly that he's nothing more than a liar and a coward.
Anderson continues to give numerous comparisons, where he uses his own "Faithful Word" Baptist Church as the example to say, "See, we're free to say and do what we want," when he doesn't have a 501c3 contract. Until he gets one, everything he says is a waste of breath, or in Biblical terms, vanity.
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
-Ephesians 5:6-8
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
-Ephesians 5:9-14
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
-Ephesians 5:15-16
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
-Matthew 7:20
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
-Matthew 15:18
As we have seen, I have marked Steven Anderson as a wolf in sheep's clothing, a false preacher, for his railing, lies, manipulation, hatefulness, and other such works of the flesh. Anderson has also accused others of being wolves in sheep's clothing, but let's see on what basis he does this. A man named Victory Tey, who was formerly a part of Anderson's cult, was accused by Steven Anderson in a public video of teaching false doctrine. In a series of emails with Anderson, Tey pointed out that Anderson had falsely accused him, misunderstanding what he had taught, and Anderson ended up deleting his video in which he accused Tey of false doctrine.
Don't misunderstand; I am not supporting Victor Tey because he teaches the same false doctrine on repentance as Steven Anderson, but I'm not accusing him of being a wolf because I don't know his position on certain doctrines. I'm simply using this as an example to demonstrate that Steven Anderson despises correction. Anderson absolutely hates the thought that he could be wrong about anything, and he controls people through fear and intimidation.
Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die. |
Two weeks before I first published this article on Steven Anderson, Billy Graham died, and it was a big media circus. I didn't even find out until a couple days afterward because my wife and I don't subscribe to mainstream media, but until I found out, I couldn't understand why I was all the sudden getting so much hate mail over my expose on Billy Graham.
(Read "Wolves in Costume: Billy Graham" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
The Billy Graham fans (i.e. Grahamites) told me how evil and wicked I was for daring to question him, and railed on me continually because I pointed out the fact that he ended up in hell. The Grahamites defense is that Billy, in some of his teachings, taught that salvation was only by the blood of Jesus Christ, and that there was no saving grace through any other name, and for some people, that's all they need to hear.
The Lord Jesus Christ clearly warned His students about the doctrine of such men:
And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
-Matthew 16:5-6
Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
-Matthew 16:12
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
-2 Thessalonians 2:10
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
-Matthew 7:21-23
Steven Anderson is no different than Billy Graham; those two men teach two different false doctrines in two different ways, but they are both the same. Neither man has been brought to grief and godly sorrow of wrongdoing (i.e. repentance) before the God the Father, neither man has been prepared in his heart to believe on Jesus Christ, and it's because they have not been brought to that child-like humility, that they cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
-Mark 10:15
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
-Matthew 5:3
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
-Matthew 11:29-30
Some Andersonites may argue that he goes door to door soul-winning. I would respond: Jehovah's Witnesses say the same thing, but they won't end up in heaven unless they repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and all their so-called "soul-winning" is in vain because they teach that which contradicts Christ's Gospel in His Word.
(Read "Corruptions of Christianity: Jehovah's Witness" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)
Some Andersonites may argue that he's a good Christian family man. I would respond: Followers of Jack Hyles said the same thing about him, but he was inwardly a sexual deviant that perverted the Word of God.
I've heard all these types of arguments from Andersonites in the past, and what they don't realize is that they're arguing for his works, when I just explained that Jesus said to beware of their doctrine. They argue in favor of Anderson being morally upright, but I would remind Christians that the Pharisees were also considered to be the morally upright in Jewish society, and yet, Jesus told them:
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
-Matthew 5:20
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
-Romans 3:24-26
Worst of all is that Steven Anderson deceives many well-meaning Christians into thinking that he's of Christ, being led astray into his cult. My prayer is that those in Anderson's church building, or those who follow his teachings online, would read this and understand it, that they would be sanctified from such wicked men who seek to lead them into false doctrine and wicked traditions, and I would pray that all those who have been led into his cult, believing that they just "accepted Jesus" and falsely believe they are getting into heaven without the humility and grief of repentance, would come to know the truth, love the truth, and be saved by the Lord Jesus Christ.
I hated doing this teaching because listening to Steven Anderson made me sick, and on occasion, I had to stop working because I couldn't stand listening to one more filthy, vile, manipulative word come out of his mouth. I am sad by all the people that have fallen prey to his trap. If just one person would read and be saved or sanctified in Christ through this teaching, then all of this would have been worth it, but most importantly of all, if Steven Anderson, his wife, or his family could be saved through this teaching, I would pray that the Lord Jesus Christ would bring them to repentance and understanding in His truth, save them from hell and God's wrath, and that they would give glory to Christ for His saving grace.
Even though Anderson has prayed for many to die and go to hell, I would not pray that for him. I want him and his family to be saved and sanctified because while they are still among the living, there is hope.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
-Ephesians 2:4-9
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
-Luke 18:9-14
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
-James 4:6
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile [manipulation and deceit]: Let him eschew [avoid and shun] evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
-1 Peter 3:9-12
Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
-2 John 1:3