I MUST PROPHECY
The Scripture bears out that the history of the Bible continues to repeat itself. Ecclesiastes declares that there is nothing new. We find in Hebrews 13:8 that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This means that there is no change in the course of the world, that everything happens over and over and over.
History in 325 A.D. points out that Constantine united the true church, which had been known to function under Judaism, with the state so that the church became the church of the Roman Empire and Paganism. The government of the state then made the governing laws and rules of the church. They made the people to believe that the church ruled the Roman Empire.
BEWARE OF POLITICAL POWERS
WHICH ARE BECOMING
THE VOICES OF CHURCHES
I believe that all men everywhere, whether black, yellow, red, or any of the seven holy colors, possess the soul of a man and can be saved. But! There is a spirit in the land today which is making church organizations become political. This spirit causes men to abuse religion to obtain their publicity on the grounds of religion.
For example, today we have several religions in the world that use their religious powers to obtain what they call freedom with a political drive. The undercurrent of the Roman Catholic Church is political throughout the world. Today, Protestant churches are becoming political. At the present time, one of the greatest developing political powers in the form of church is the Baptist church, being led by Martin Luther King. He is using the church for political purposes to obtain freedom and what he calls equalization.
I have nothing to say that would interfere with their freedom, for I think they should have it; however, they abuse the Bible when they use it for political purposes when they are fighting to obtain offices and positions. This is the principle of Constantine--seeking the freedom of Christianity, he brought a tragedy to the Christian Church.
There must be a people to stand for truth and right. What a shame it is that religion is used for so many causes, many of which do not even pertain to religion. What will be God's answer in judgment? "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 (Matthew 7:21)."
* Article Written By: The Late Grady R. Kent, St. John II, Chief Bishop of The Church of God, 1957-1964. This sermon was taken from The Vision Speaks, Volume 7 : Number 6 : December 1963.
All grammatical and typographical errors have been corrected except for direct quotations from the Author. Thought content of said article has not been changed.