Which Church? by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2016, all rights reserved. Chapter 1 Does it matter which church to go to? Yes, and which church is a VERY IMPORTANT DECISION. For example, if you choose to be a Buddhist, you've made a very bad choice because they don't have salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, the virgin-born Son of God in Heaven, who died for our sins on the cross of crucifixion. Jesus said, "Don't fear those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear him, who after he has killed has power to throw into hell, yes, I say to you, Fear him." (Luke 12:4,5) And the One that Jesus is telling us to fear, of course, is God the Father, who can not only kill you, but throw you into hell. Everyone will die, except those who go up in "the Rapture." (1 Thess 4:16-18) But, of course, those who go up in "the Rapture" will be those who are born again Christians. For more on getting born again, see the end of chapter 2 in this book. Except for those raptured, everyone else will sooner or later die. I'm not expecting to go in the Rapture because I'm already an old guy, and before the Rapture comes, Jesus said that-- "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations, and then shall the end come." (Matt 24:14) The gospel must be preached to every kindred, tribe, language, people, and nation. Some of that has been done, of course, but I think there's still a long way to go. Hopefully TV, Radio, and the Internet will speed some of this along, but there are places that still don't even have electricity. No, someone has to go. Though the Lord has put me into the ministry, he didn't call me to be a Missionary, except that we are all supposed to "let your light shine before men in such a way that they will see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Matt 5:16) When we die, there are only two places to go to. You'll either go to heaven, or you'll go to hell. And in hell, there's crying and gnashing of teeth, where their worms don't die, and where the fire is never quenched, Jesus said. And Jesus said that most people go to hell-- 13 "Enter in at the restricted gate, because wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and there are many that go in there, 14 Because the gate is restricted, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." (from Matt chapt 7) And you don't go to heaven by being a Buddhist. But Fred, are you saying that all Buddhists go to hell? Yes, unless they become Christians. Maybe on their death beds some will say yes to Jesus. I'm not saying Buddhists are bad people. But the thing is, no one can earn thier way to heaven. "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags, and we all fade like a leaf, and our sins, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isa 64:6) Jesus said, "He that finds his life shall lose it, and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it." (Matt 10:39) I knew a man who was a Musician, and a good one. He had been an Evangelical Chrisitan, and that's good. But something happened. He switched to the Church of Religious Science. I didn't know much about that church, so I telephoned them. After talking to a woman at that church, I know that it's one of the wrong churches. They don't believe the Bible. They don't believe the words of Jesus. The Bible says, “The man that wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in congregation of the dead." (Prov 21:16) And that's what happened to that Musician. I think it may have had something to do with marrying a woman who apparently is not a Christian. 14 Don't be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness? And what communion does light have with darkness? 15 And what agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does the believer have with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, "I will live in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (2 Cor 6:14--16) The congregation of the dead refers to the people in hell, even though this Musician may still be on earth. But he is part of, and will be joining those in hell. You can't just invent a religion and have it get you to heaven. And the "Church of Religious Science" is one of those invented religions, as is also "Christian Science," which is neither Christian nor scientific. Christian Science says that if you get sick, it's because of wrong thinking and that if you get your thinking right, the sickness will go away. But Jesus said, "Which of you by thinking can add eighteen inches to his height?" (Matt 6:27) Can you make yourself taller by thinking? Of course not, nor can you heal health problems by thinking. Jesus is the healer. Ask him for it, if you need healing. "When you pray, believe that you receive the things you ask for, and you shall have them." (Mrk 11:24) Islam was apparently invented by Muhammad, no doubt with the help of demons. Demons are fallen angels that rebelled against God when Satan rebelled against God. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father, except by me." (John 14:6) And where is God the Father? In heaven. You only get to heaven through Jesus, through faith in Jesus. Chapter 2 The Muslims don't have Jesus. But a Muslim man said to me, "Oh, we have Jesus, he's one of our Prophets." Not really. That same Muslim man said that Jesus never claimed to be the Son of God. But, of course, Jesus claimed to be the Son of God before the Jewish High Priest (Mrk 14:61,62), and before his disciples. (Matt 16:15--17) So then, why didn't the Muslim man know what his prophet Jesus said. Because the Muslims don't read the Bible. So then, although the Muslims might claim Jesus as one of their prophets, they don't really treat him like a prophet because they don't bother to find out what the Prophet Jesus has said while he was on earth. And you get that information from the Bible. The Muslims say that Jesus was a good man and a Prophet, but not the Son of God. But we have already shown that Jesus said he's the Son of God. I said to that Muslim man, "You people contradict yourselves. You say that Jesus was a good man and a Prophet, but not the Son of God. But Jesus said he's the Son of God. So, if you're right that he's not the Son of God, then he's not a good man, but a liar; not a prophet, but a false prophet." There is a religion founded by Joseph Smith. The people in that religion regard Joseph Smith as a Prophet. That would be the Mormons. "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." Just because you put "Jesus Christ" in the name of your church doesn't make it a Christian church. And I believe Joseph Smith is actually a false prophet who has led his followers astray. The Mormons have some strange teachings not supported by the Holy Bible. A church rather famous these days is the Catholic church. The head of the Catholic church is the Pope. But when Boko Haram kidnapped those young women in Nigeria, the Pope said he would pray to Mary about it. No one in the Bible ever prayed to Mary, not the Apostle Paul, not Peter, not John the Beloved. There is no scriptural justification for praying to Mary. In fact, there is scripture against praying to Mary. One of the Ten Commandments is, "You shall have no other gods before me." (Exo 20:3) To pray to Mary is to treat her like God, and she very much is not God. When this new Pope came into office, if he wanted to put things right in the Catholic church, a good start would have been for him to announce, "We're not going to pray to Mary anymore." But instead he continued with their Catholic custom that is contrary to scripture. The Pope has also spoken out publicly against the death penalty, including to the U.S. Congress. Isn't that strange that the Pope would be against the death penalty, when God requires murderers to be executed in Numbers chapt 35?-- 33 So you shall not pollute the land in which you are, for blood defiles the land, and the land can't be cleansed from the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of him that shed it. 34 Therefore don't defile the land that you'll inhabit, in which I live, for I the Lord live among the children of Israel." How can the Pope be against the death penalty when God requires the death penalty? Is the Pope smarter than God? Anyone who gets up and Preaches contrary to the Bible is not a proper Christian. Doesn't the Pope read the Bible? I'm not qualified to say which ones, but I believe there will be some Popes in Hell. "The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom." (Psa 111:10) If you're going to get up and preach contrary to the Bible, as this Pope has done, you're not exhibiting a proper fear of God, and are therefore lacking in wisdom. I believe the Lord Jesus was referring to the Catholic church when He said, "Come out of her, my people." (Rev 18:4) No, the Catholic church is not the church to go to. The decision of which church to go to is so important that every person and every family should make it a matter of prayer which church to go to. Remember this too, "...man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Sam 16:7) Things are not always what they seem. And that's why we need the Lord's guidance about such an important decision as which church to go to. Dr. Norvel Hayes has said that the Lord told him, "Now these are the most important words that ever came out of my mouth." And the Lord was referring to his words in Mark 16:17,18-- 17 "And these signs shall follow those who believe, in my name they'll cast out devils, they'll speak with new languages, 18 They shall pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it won't hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they'll recover." I think we pick up serpents the same way that the Apostle Paul did, UNINTENTIONALLY, after the shipwreck in Acts chapt 28. Does your church have the signs following of Mark 16:17,18? If not, better be praying about which church the Lord wants you to go to. Thinking back, the church I grew up in was not such a bad church. But they left some things out. I never saw a demon cast out there. And most of the advanced Theological teaching that I've received came from other teachers such as Kenneth E. Hagin, and Lester Sumrall. Some people have the religion that they have because their family has had that religion for four or five generations. A man talked like that to Dr. Norvel Hayes. Hayes answered like this-- "Well, sir, did you ever consider that maybe your Great Grandfather was wrong?" If your forefathers made a mistake in choosing their religion, are you willing to go to hell because they did? The Bible says, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Phil 2:12) But why with fear and trembling? So that you don't get it wrong like that Musician, and wind up in hell. Jesus said, "You MUST be born again." (John chapt 3) To become a born again Christian, obey Romans 10:9,10-- "That if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you're saved. For with the heart man believes for righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made for salvation." ___James chapter 1 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings. 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations, 3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, 10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away. 11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man, 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. 18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God. 21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror, 24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. ___James chapter 2 1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also, 3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool," 4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats? 7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called? 8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well, 9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law. 12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment. 14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food, 16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that? 17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God." 24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. ___James chapter 3 1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies. 4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants. 5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind, 8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be. 11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries? Or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace. ___James chapter 4 1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members? 2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask. 3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God. 5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?" 6 But he gives more grace. So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up. 11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers. He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else? 13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit," 14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that." 16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin. ___James chapter 5 1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. 5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter. 6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you. 7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near. 9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door. 10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 See, we count them happy that endure. You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation. 13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven. 16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good. 17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him, 20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.