Comments (0)

By Rich Vermillion, May 24, 2008 5:30 pm

My previous blog post about Skull and Bones satanic order member, Dan Stratton, was significantly revised and updated today. Anyone concerned about a demonic cult member claiming to also be a “Christian minister,” should take the time to review this updated and revised post at the following link:

Comments About “Bonesman” Stratton

And as you read the above post and watch the video embedded therein, please remember also the exhortation given us by our Lord Jesus Himself:

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:15-23, NIV)

Keep the faith.

In Jesus,

-Rich

[digg=http://digg.com/celebrity/Skull_and_Bones_Christian_minister]

Comments (9)

By Rich Vermillion, January 1, 2008 3:16 am

Apostle Paul stated that those who deviate from the true Gospel he preached will be damned. (Ouch!) Of course, some modern translations use the word “condemned” instead of “damned.” Nevertheless, regardless of the choice of words the effect is the same (and it isn’t fun). Thus, shouldn’t we want to know what that TRUE Gospel really is…and what it is NOT?

Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead…

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:1, 6-10, NIV)

Wow! What a strong admonition from the esteemed apostle to the Gentiles. Paul warns the church at Galatia that there is a true Gospel message…and then there are perverted fakes. The word “gospel” is actually a Greek word transliterated (vs. translated), which simply means “good news.” Paul’s bold word to the Galatian church declared unequivocally that a “different” good news is not really good news at all. (And since it will even send the preacher himself to Hell, I can certainly see why it is NOT good news for the hearer either!)

One must assume that Paul must have been regularly running across perversions of the true Gospel message during his missionary journeys. Some were even preaching “a different Jesus” altogether (2 Corinthians 11:2-4)—much like the Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and other pseudo-Christian cults do today, who have both a “different Jesus” and a “different gospel” from that which Paul preached (but more on these, perhaps, in another blog article).

Others were may have thought they preached the “same Jesus,” but they twisted some of the key core elements of the Gospel message itself. Whatever the case, this former “destroyer of the church” who met Jesus Himself on the road to Damascus, had no small word of condemnation for gospel-perverts—even if they were once “on track” with the true Gospel message previously. (Did you notice that Paul even said, “if we or an angel” preaches “another” gospel, let him be eternally condemned? Nobody gets a “free pass” to change what God has already Himself established.)

So the simple question comes to mind: What is the Gospel Paul preached? If deviating from his message can bring damnation even to “any man or angel,” then shouldn’t we make sure that our Gospel message is pure? As a Christian minister myself, I am very keen on ensuring that my “Good News” message is acceptable in the Lord’s sight. (I really don’t like that “damnation” stuff. It does not make for a joyful eternity. Know what I mean?)

There are various issues we could discuss here, and many other Christian ministers have faithfully directed their attention to dissecting many of these. However, there is a VERY KEY element of Paul’s Gospel that it seems is often overlooked—yea, even ignored—in many Christian circles. Yet, it was not only an inseparable element in all of Paul’s salvation sermons as recorded in the book of Acts, it was also a distinct and prominent element in EVERY one of the apostle’s recorded sermons in that same book written by Luke. That element of the Gospel is summed up nicely by Paul’s discourse to King Agrippa in Acts chapter 26:

So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. (Acts 26:19-20, NIV)

Three key elements found in every one of the apostles’ sermons as recorded in Scripture:

1. Repent (i.e. Turn 180° around and do the opposite of what you were doing.)
2. Turn to God (i.e. Not to “religion”… and definitely not “pop psychology.” Run to the One Who bought you with His Own Blood through prayer and by studying His Word.)
3. Prove repentance by deeds (i.e. True repentance is evidenced by actual “good works” that confirm the Lord’s forgiving grace working in your life.)

Paul also confirmed that these three elements were KEY to his (and every) Gospel message in a few of the letters he wrote to the churches of his day. For example:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10, NIV, emphasis added)

(Note: Good works cannot save you. BUT, good works are one of the necessary elements that prove you are truly a Christian—and that you have actually repented.)

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin….

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. (Romans 6:1-7, 11-14, NIV, emphasis added)

Paul seems to have gotten “really into” this repentance thing. However, it was not Paul that originated the message of repentance within the Gospel he preached, for Jesus Himself explained to His disciples after His resurrection:

Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the 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 to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. (Luke 24: 46-49, NKJV, emphasis added)

Notice the relationship in the passage above: Repentance and then remission (i.e. forgiveness) of sins. If there is no repentance, then there can be no forgiveness. Consequently, the person so fails to tell the sinner that he or she needs to repent of their sin, is not really preaching them the true Gospel as Paul did. The “feel good gospel” often preached today is perverted. Whenever someone only tells unbelievers that Jesus “loves them” and wants to “bless them” without also telling them their need to repent, all the Christian is doing is essentially inviting the unbeliever to “add” Jesus to their list of idols.

(Too Many gods, Too Little Grace)

I have talked with missionaries from around the world. One interesting thing they have noticed in places like India and elsewhere where bona fide pagan idolatry is practiced openly is that often they will come across someone who added a cross or crucifix among their idols. When asked about it, the idolater will typically answer, “Oh, a man came and told me about this Jesus who loved me and died for my sins…and who wants to bless me and heal me. I thought, ‘He is so nice. I’ll add Him to my collection of gods.’” In other words, whenever an idolater is not told he needs to repent of his idolatry, he or she simply adds Jesus to their “deity collection.” Do you think this ‘Kosher’ with God? Uh, NO!

(Can anybody remember the first of the Ten Commandments? “Thou shalt have no other gods besides me!“)

In today’s Western societies idolatry has taken on a more palatable appearance, of course, but is evident none the less. Paul wrote that “covetousness is idolatry” and nobody will argue that covetousness is not extremely prevalent in the West. Thus, even in the United States, the Americas, and the European nations, many of the people being “won to Christ” have never actually repented of their sins and idolatry. Thus, such people were never really saved—and the “fruit” of their lives from that point on typically reveals that fact. But, as we’ll see shortly, Paul never hesitated to tell the Gentile pagans that their gods were worthless idols, and that they needed to repent and turn to the only true and living God through Jesus. Likewise, we surely need to do so today too.

So… this “repentance” stuff is actually God’s idea…

(Where’s the Beef?)

Well, you may have noticed that this idea of repentance seems to be missing from many pulpits…and from just about ALL so-called “Christian” television programming. In this day where a minister can dump one spouse to pick up a newer model, and then appear the next day on television to “preach”…repentance seems to be long forgotten, and certainly not preached. (I would not want to be in that person’s shoes when the day comes to give an account. Remember that “damnation” stuff Paul talked about before?)

What about a case where a man is a member of a satanic cult, but claims also to be a Christian—and even an “apostle”—and then says that he is an active member of the cult just so he can “evangelize” the other members? Can such a one, who has not himself repented of the sin of satanism (which the Skull and Bones order Dan Stratton is a member of practices), then be expected that he preaches a true Gospel of repentance to his fellow “bonesman” members? (I think I have said this before…) Uh, NO!

Whatever Dan Stratton “preaches” to that group is certainly not in harmony with the message Paul preached. Such a man qualifies as a bona fide “false brother” and “false apostle.” He can certainly expect the damnation Paul warned about…unless he repents. (Note: If you haven’t heard about Stratton, see my blog Comments on “Bonesman” Stratton for more particulars.)

Or what about Joel Osteen, who diverges greatly from the sincere Gospel message preached by his own father (John Osteen). This man actually refused to steadfastly proclaim that Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life…nobody can come to the Father but by Him” on Larry King Live—even when the man asked him!

Sure, Joel did state “that’s what I believe,” but he also worked hard to avoid saying that other religions (including atheism) cannot gain access to Heaven for a person. Now, don’t take my word for it. Watch the clip:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPeYUXuuRUM&rel=1]

Now, at first glance, Joel’s position seems to be, non-judgmental, religiously polite—and certainly not very confrontative. But is this a presentation of the true Gospel? Are we supposed to try not to offend anyone? Let’s compare Joel Osteen’s words in the video above with those recorded of Paul when he confronted men of other religions in his day:

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.

And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.” For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.

Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:

TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.

Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” So Paul departed from among them. However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. (Acts 17:16-34, NKJV, emphasis added)

Notice: Paul was “provoked” in his spirit when he saw the idolotry surrounding him in Athens. Therefore, he “reasoned daily” with the Jews in the Synagogue, and with the Gentile worshippers in the marketplaces.

What did he tell them, however? Did he speak like Joel Osteen and say, “Well, this is what I believe…and you all can believe what you want to. Who am I to judge a man’s heart? I don’t know which of you are going to Heaven or Hell…Gosh…I just don’t know…” Uh, NO! (I know…but that two-word phrase just seems to beg repeating here.)

Mark this point: Seeker-sensitive ministers and messages are pure heresy, for they certainly not in line with the Gospel Paul preached.

Paul KNEW Him in Whom He believed! Paul had conviction. Paul knew where those people were going (HELL!), and wanted to save them from eternal torment. He did not mince words, he did not sugar-coat the truth. He told them quite frankly, “Those gods you serve are worthless idols, and the One True God not only loves you and wants you to know Him… He has also commanded you to repent!” (Here is that “repentance” theme again…)

However, Joel Osteen (and those like him) is apparently very confused, and extremely ignorant of Bible truth. Many Bible-believing Christians consider it apparent that either Joel’s father (John, who was a true soul-winner) failed to properly teach his son, or the son failed to listen when he did—or that at some point Joel compromised his faith by embracing foreign spiritual influences such as Freemasonry or the Council on Foreign Relations. (Which, frankly, too many “big-name” ministers in the United States already have.)

Regardless, Joel Osteen seems to clearly be in contradiction to the “Gospel which Paul preached” (and the video above is not the only one on YouTube that proves it). Thus, he can apparently expect that “damnation” Paul warned about in our opening Scripture. (Hey, I did not write that! Blame Paul!) This qualifies Joel Osteen as a bona fide “apostate” (one who has departed from the truth). Again, biblical repentance is Joel’s only hope.

Let me be quite clear where I stand: God has chosen for Himself one and only “path” to come to Him… and it is the ONLY way that offers forgiveness of sins and satisfies the judgment our sins had coming due to us. His sinless Son, Jesus, died on the cross for the sins of the world, and was bodily raised again from the dead three days later. He shortly thereafter ascended to sit at the Right Hand of God in Heaven to await the Day when He would return, at His Father’s command, and establish His Kingdom physically upon the earth. It is this same Jesus (Yeshua, in Hebrew) who will judge “the quick and the dead” at His return. Yet, through the Gospel of repentance, anyone can turn away from their sins and old way of life, receive forgiveness, and become a “new creation” in Christ Jesus. Jesus is surely the ONLY way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father but by Him… and by Him alone! And repentance is a necessary element to receiving God’s forgiveness and saving grace.

Action Point: Abandon your ‘gods’ of self-will, covetousness, sin, and if applicable, pagan idolatry. Repent of your sins, and turn to God through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ (Yeshua, the Messiah). Ask Him to forgive you, wash you in His Blood, and give you a new life. Make Him your LORD (i.e. God, Top Boss, Commander-in-Chief, etc.), and give Him your full and undivided loyalty. Use your own words, right now, and pray to Him your own simple prayer from your heart. Then, through your repentance and turning to God, you will now be able to prove your repentance by good works through His own Spirit and empowering grace. Then, go and tell someone else how to do it too.

Blessings to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with a sincere faith.

-Rich

[digg=http://digg.com/celebrity/The_REAL_Gospel_of_Jesus_not_that_stuff_Joel_Osteen_says]

Comments (8)

By Rich Vermillion, December 19, 2007 6:03 am

Update: I was noticing earlier this year the search-engine terms with which people came to my blog from places like Google, and noticed today that somebody had come in using the search phrase, “Is Dan Stratton a Freemason?” The answer to that question is a resounding YES, but what’s more, he is an admitted (and confirmed) member of the ultra-masonic cult known as the Skull and Bones Society (aka, “The Brotherhood of Death”).

This satanic cult is on the “darkest side” of the masonic world, because whereas “standard” Freemasons worship Lucifer as the angel of light (though lower-level masons are ignorant of this fact), the “Bonesmen” knowingly worship the same spirit by his God-given fallen name: satan (lower-case first letter of his name being intentional on my part, for I refuse to capitalize the names of demons and fallen angels). Due to this fact, and the positions of importance its members achieve in various areas of society, the S&B is often considered by researchers as an “ultra-masonic” organization. Regardless, both Freemasons and Skull and Bones members have the same characteristic of being anti-Christ organizations, bent on forming a “New World Order.” Therefore, the unrepentant members of both will end up in the same Lake of Fire into which their ‘master’ is destined to plunge:

Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone….The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever….And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire…. “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 19:20; 20:10, 25; 21:8 NKJV)

So in short, Dan Stratton was certainly NEVER a Christian (much less a Christian minister, as he professes himself to be). I have known Dan Stratton personally, and have also researched the S&B fairly extensively. Stratton’s initiation rites into that satanic cult required him to swear total allegiance to the enemy of our souls, satan himself. Thus, unless he repents and renounces that black cult publicly and exposes their hidden secrets, he is to be shunned as a false-brother and false apostle—as I will elaborate concerning even further below. (End update)

Introducing Dan Stratton

Former Paradigm Seed Publishers author Dan Stratton is the founder of the business group called the “ProVision Network” (aka PVN), and also of “Faith Exchange Fellowship” (aka FEF) which purports itself to be a church. He recently stated publicly that he is still and active member of the Skull and Bones, a satanic order he had originally joined as a junior attending Yale University. (To view Stratton’s 700 Club interview where he readily admits his membership therein, click here, or visit the CBN web page about him and click on watch video.) Consequently, the book Divine ProVision formerly published by Paradigm Seed Publishers has been removed from the market indefinitely.

Stratton’s admitted active involvement in what has been well-documented to be a satanic cult is a clear violation of many Biblical precepts and precedents, including most notably:

Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he? (1 Corinthians 10:14-22, NIV, emphasis added)

It is a clear Biblical truth that one cannot simultaneously be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ (i.e. Christian, and especially a Christian minister) and an active member of a demonic organization too. Moreover, ALL researchers agree that the practices of the S&B are clearly demonic, as the following (two from the History Channel) exposés also point out very clearly:

____

History Channel Expose’:

____

FoxNews Story:

____

60-Minutes’ Story:

____

Let me be very clear in where I stand therefore: I, Rich Vermillion, fully renounce all ties to Dan Stratton. I also strongly repudiate his active involvement in the Skull and Bones satanic secret society.

Please note also that I actually wrote the book Divine ProVision, even solely authoring about 60% of its content—even thought I originally agreed to let Stratton have “top billing” on the cover. Therefore I have a large investment of myself and my time into that project (Stratton’s 40% came primarily from our firm’s transcriptions of his tapes).

Consequently, I also had a very significant financial stake in this book project. But when Stratton “came out of the closet” with his satanic activities (I did NOT know about his active S&B membership when I wrote the book), I no longer wanted to associate with him any more than the Publisher did. I readily agreed with the publisher’s board of directors—of which I was one—that the book should be removed from print, regardless of any financial loss I incurred as a result.

Moreover, in the light of all that I learned about Stratton through our association—and later from other former associates of his and through researching his S&B membership—I have also personally concluded that he is not a Christian (nor probably ever was). In my educated opinion, Stratton qualifies as a “false apostle” in accordance with the Scriptures:

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15, NKJV)

If Satan himself can put on a “church face” and “play holy” for a while with an agenda to deceive and ensnare, then it is not very difficult to comprehend that one of his agents can knowingly be an impostor sent to infiltrate the Body of Christ for satanic purposes.

Moreover, I do not care WHO endorses the man…whether nationally known ministers, government officials, or notable authors—to even include Kenneth Copeland (who I have also personally known) and Doug Wead (who is closely associated with several other S&B cult members as well).

Scripture and significant third-party evidence, added to the “bad fruit” and public professions of Stratton himself, clearly exposes Stratton’s true nature—regardless of his “endorsements.” In fact, I consider all such endorsements “red flags” concerning the supporter’s own spiritual condition, integrity, and personal agenda (and in the case of Kenneth Copeland, I have started a separate blog to confront the sins I am personally aware of within his life and “ministry”). So if anything, I am very wary of Stratton’s “endorsers” and quite suspicious of their judgment and true agendas—but NOT doubtful of the obvious evidence concerning Stratton. The Word of God is to be our anchor of truth, and not the so-called “endorsements” of questionable “Christian celebrities.”

Again, as a minister of the Gospel, I do NOT believe Dan Stratton is a bona fide Christian, but rather what the Bible refers to as a “false brother”:

But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. (Galatians 2:4-5, NASB)

See also 2 Corinthians 11:26, and compare with Jude, 2 Peter 2, 1 John 3:4-10; 4:1-6)

But to give you an additional “witness” in this matter, let me also suggest another third-party resource that I think will be very informative regarding this issue of the Skull and Bones (and specifically about Stratton himself):

Meet Evangelical Dan Stratton: Bonesman!

_

Comments Have Been Coming In

Of course, comments have begun to come in since Paradigm Seed Publishers posted its announcement about false-apostle Dan Stratton’s professed membership in the satanic cult, the Skull and Bones, and its removal of the book Divine ProVision from the market.

Most comments directed to me to date have been positive, but most were conveyed “offline.” One brother, however, went ahead and posted his comment on my blog here at RichVermillion.com (on the Welcome page, actually) since he did not have anywhere else to express himself. Being a former member of Stratton’s so-called “church” this guy is obviously passionate about this issue. (Note: I had to move John Ramaine’s comment to this post because the Welcome page did not seem an appropriate place to leave it.)

Consequently, I am posting this particular article be a place where other people can post their comments about this important issue.

Once you have reviewed the information within this article, feel free to post an educated comment to this blog about this very alarming issue if you would like.

—Rich—

_____________________

Comments (1)

By Rich Vermillion, December 7, 2007 11:03 pm

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1Peter 4:8, NIV) 

Have you ever pondered the above Scripture and asked yourself, “How does love cover sins?” I have, because I recognize that this is a SERIOUS matter. Families, marriages, businesses, churches—and sometimes people’s lives—are at stake.

Like you, I have heard this verse quoted many times in many pulpits—and out of the mouths of many believers discussing various issues at hand. To a person, however, it seems that they all have the same concept of how love “covers the multitude of sins.” Although the exact bent of each individual might vary a bit, you could sum up the popular opinion by rephrasing this passage, “Love sweeps things under the rug and refuses to deal with them…except maybe in prayer…but that’s about it.”

However, is that what the Holy Spirit was telling us to do in that verse? Is prayer the only recourse for a Christian when being confronted by the sins of another? Let me cite you a few biblical situations to illustrate the point that at least sometimes, you have to hold people accountable:

• Peter interrupted his church service at two different times to rebuke a Christian couple, Ananias and Sapphira (separately), regarding their lies and hypocrisy. These two believers subsequently dropped dead as God confirmed Peter’s condemnation of each. Ananias was judged for his deceitful actions and hidden agenda…and Sapphira for her misguided submission to her own husband in a wicked scheme. (Acts 5)
• Paul publicly rebuked his elder apostle, Peter (who actually mentored him for a short while during Paul’s own ministry training), when Peter disassociated from the Gentile converts to please religious Jewish converts who recently arrived from Judea. Paul explained why when he stated, “He [Peter] walked not uprightly according to the Gospel.” (Galatians 2:11-21)
• John, the “Apostle of Love” as he is often called, actually wrote a brother (Gaius) a letter that exhorted him to leave Diotrephes’ congregation because of that pastor’s wicked behavior. He then recommended Gaius attend Demetrius’ congregation instead saying, “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.” (3John)
• Even the Lord Jesus (love Himself) entered the temple and created havoc as he threw over tables and freed animals, while rebuking the merchandisers for defiling God’s “House of Prayer.” Moreover, He whipped a few of them with a “scourge” he made from some small cords while he chastised them! (John 2:14-16)

There are many, many more examples I could list here—and I realize I kicked over a few extra “sacred cows” while I was listing these (but I’ll save further comments on those issues for other blogs). Nevertheless, with these few examples in mind let me ask you, does love “sweep sins under the rug” or is there something perhaps in our interpretation of 1Peter 4:8 (and similar verses) that has been terribly flawed?

It would seem that neither Paul, Peter, John—nor Jesus Himself—believed sins should be swept aside and ignored. Yet, most believers I have talked to seemed to adhere to an “ostrich” approach regarding walking in love towards others. Concerning this common “ostrich” approach to love: I have noticed (and experienced myself at times) that those who attempt to live this way generally experience failure after failure in their relationships…and bring upon themselves much anguish besides.

Consequently, I have re-examined our commandment from the Lord to “walk in love” in the light of the context of the entire Bible. After many years of study, trial, and error…I am pleased to say that I can now clearly explain from the Scriptures the correct way to apply these verses:

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2Timothy 2:15, NKJV)

In the following articles of this series, I will share what Love Himself (God) has shown us within His Own Word about walking in love towards others. Yes, He—above anybody else—knows what is the proper way to actually “cover the multitude of sins” that we might fulfill the mandate given us in our opening passage from 1Peter 4:8.

Buckle up, stay tuned…and get ready for some eye-opening revelation.

[digg=http://digg.com/people/Pretty_cool_article_on_love_covering_sins] 

Related post: How Does Love Cover Sins? (Part 2)