Lighthouse Trails E-Newsletter

LIGHTHOUSE TRAILS RESEARCH PROJECT July 26, 2022 LIGHTHOUSE TRAILS RESOURCE SHOP

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Letter to the Editor: Sad Day for Church in the UK—(Wesley’s) Oldest Methodist Church in World Now Offering Same-Sex Marriage

Dear Lighthouse Trails:

Some further sad news regarding the Christian church in the U.K. This news is from the BBC today (June 30th): “World’s oldest Methodist church to allow gay marriage.” The article states:

The world’s oldest Methodist building will now offer same-sex marriage after voting unanimously in favour. The New Room is a Chapel first set up in 1739 by John Wesley in the city of Bristol. From the 30th of June 2022, the chapel will be able to officiate weddings for LGBTQ+ couples living in Bristol.

After a vote to allow same-sex marriages within the movement in 2019, the decision was made at the Methodist Conference last year to give local churches the option to conduct marriage ceremonies in specific buildings.

One of the saddest days in the history of the so-called Christian Church in the UK today!

God bless.

A.C.

(photo credit: John Wesley’s New Room – the first Methodist Church in the world, Bristol, England-wikipedia, public domain)

YouTube Video by Warren B. Smith – “Truth or Consequences: The Importance of Spiritual Discernment”

This message by former New Age follower Warren B. Smith was delivered at the Wide Is the Gate Conference at Calvary Chapel East, Albuquerque, New Mexico (2014). You may watch it below or go to Warren’s YouTube channel. His YouTube channel was created and is managed by Chris Lawson of Spiritual Research Network. Chris has done a fantastic job in providing numerous video talks by Warren.*

*If you do visit Warren’s YouTube channel, we want to encourage you to click the “subscribe” button. If you do, you will receive notifications when new videos are posted.

Warren B. Smith is the author of eight books, including his autobiography, The Light That Was Dark, and several Lighthouse Trails booklets.

"Judge Halts Biden Admin MandateThat Would Require Christian Doctors to Perform, Refer ‘Transition’ Services"

May 2022 - by Heather Clark | Christian News Network

A federal judge nominated to the bench by then-President Donald Trump has preliminarily enjoined the Biden administration from interpreting federal law in a manner that would require religious employers to provide insurance coverage for “gender transition services” and mandate doctors of faith to perform or refer patients for such services.

“The current interpretation by the EEOC and HHS will cause harm to health care providers and the Alliance’s members who provide insurance across the county,” wrote U.S. District Judge Daniel S. Traynor on Monday. “The harm to the plaintiff is to force its members to violate their sincerely-held religious beliefs.”

Being represented by the legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the Christian Employers Alliance (CEA) had filed suit in October to contend that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are improperly enforcing the prohibition of discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Biden had issued an executive order on his first day in office to include gender identity as a federally protected trait, and months later, HHS issued a “Notification of Interpretation and Enforcement,” which provided similar guidance. Click here to continue reading.

This content will be included.

Letter to the Editor: Sad Day for Church in the UK—(Wesley’s) Oldest Methodist Church in World Now Offering Same-Sex Marriage

YouTube Video by Warren B. Smith – “Truth or Consequences: The Importance of Spiritual Discernment”

"Judge Halts Biden Admin MandateThat Would Require Christian Doctors to Perform, Refer ‘Transition’ Services"

Latest Chosen Series Defense—”Not Produced by Mormons”—Misleading, Evasive, and Wrong

Barna and Viola Book, Pagan Christianity, Remains Popular & Continues Playing Role in Leading Christians Astray

“GOP Senators Call Out NEA [National Education Association] for Creating ‘Enemies List’ That May Target Concerned Parents”

What is True Revival?

NEW BOOKLET: God’s Peace Through It All

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Latest Chosen Series Defense—”Not Produced by Mormons”—Misleading, Evasive, and Wrong

“Not Produced by Mormons”

Growing numbers of Christian leaders and pastors are giving a thumbs up or a casual pass to The Chosen series; and the latest defense by Chosen creator Dallas Jenkins and many defenders of the series is—”It’s not produced by Mormons.” This seems to provide license for leaders and pastors and others to say “yes” to The Chosen. But they may not know all the facts.

In April of this year, CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) posted an article titled, “The Chosen Is Putting a Rumor to Rest: ‘We’re Not Produced by Mormons.'” That article states:

Critics of the viral TV series about the life of Jesus Christ titled The Chosen have been spreading rumors that the show is a Mormon production. Now the makers of The Chosen are putting that rumor to rest.

On April 26, the creators of the popular series addressed concerns in a Facebook post, making it clear that the series is not produced by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The post included a photo that has been making its way around social media with a message at the bottom saying, “This is not an anti-Christian show produced by Mormons. Be very careful about this show.”

With the off-handed threat (“be very careful about this show”) that you better not criticize or challenge The Chosen, producers and creators of The Chosen have worked feverishly hard to neutralize and vilify critics and challenges. As we reported earlier, they even created a scheme of vandalizing their own promotional billboards (making it look like crazy, hateful critics did it). Executive Producer and CEO of The Chosen, Derral Eves refers to critics as “nonbelievers” and “haters” (YouTube Formula, p. 260).

Problems With That Claim

Regarding the newest defense effort—”not produced by Mormons”—it is inarguable that the series is heavily influenced, financed, advertised, promoted, supervised, inspired—and produced by practicing Mormons. Thus, it is misleading, evasive, and wrong to say it is “not produced by Mormons” because that is purporting that Mormons have nothing to do with the creation and production of The Chosen.

While The Chosen may not appear to be a “Mormon production,” this series could not have been created, produced, promoted, and distributed without significant involvement from Mormons (who, by the way, are major shareholders (owners) of The Chosen, LLC.).

In his 2021 book, The YouTube Formula: How Anyone Can Unlock the Algorithm to Drive Views, Build an Audience, and Grow Revenue, practicing Mormon and Chosen’s Executive Producer, Derral Eves, openly admits his vital production role in the creation of The Chosen. He states:

Recon and research can provide the perfect storm when it comes to finding your community and getting your content out to the world. . . . Jeffrey Harmon [also a Mormon] and I wanted to create a TV series about the life of Jesus Christ that appealed to the evangelical community . . . Jeffrey introduced me to a creator named Dallas Jenkins who later became my partner and the writer and director of the series about Jesus Christ called The Chosen.

On a big project like this . . . we have several brainstorming sessions to get a good handle on who the right viewer persona would be: who would be passionate about it, and who would back the project. I thought it would be easy to do because it would be people just like us. . . . .

For our lockdown marketing session, we . . . laser‐focused on who our audience was. . . . We had to figure out how we would raise the money and how we would find the army of people who would resonate with our content and promote it to the world. . . .

We knew we wanted to resonate our message and vision with a specific persona. . . . We developed our messaging and content strategies around this precise audience . . . because it was the easiest platform to share the content and the message of our campaign with like‐minded people. . .

It took me two years to convince Dallas [Jenkins] to fully embrace becoming the “influencer” face of our project, and that’s when everything changed. People identified with him and his passion, personality, and authenticity. When we went live on The Chosen YouTube channel, Dallas started speaking to our avatar . . . and suggested our content to them. . . .

The essence here is that the more you understand and relate to your audience and create content for them, the more YouTube will connect the dots and feed them their preferred flavor of ice cream, so to speak. Maybe it’s the unicorn‐poop‐flavored kind, or maybe it’s the Jesus kind. Our recon and research made it possible for us to form a community of people who loved and distributed our message and content. (emphasis added; p. 150-152, Wiley, Kindle Edition)

In his book, Eves discusses his working relationship with Dallas Jenkins in what he refers to as a shared “vision,” “solitary goal,” “passion,” “content,” and “message”:

When my new partner Dallas Jenkins and I connected, one of the first things we talked about was building an audience . . . as we set out to create a culture. . . . Dallas and I . . . wrote down our thoughts, values, passions, and our Why. If we were passionate about this project, then there had to be people out there who could relate—people who had passion for the same thing. We knew that if they could see our vision, they would want to be a part of it as well. We . . . started making content that would spread our messageand resonate with them. . .

[T]he content in [The Chosen] . . . was genuinely 100% how we all came to be passionate about The Chosen. . . . We became a team because we were working toward the solitary goal of spreading our passion about the message. . . .

Our team has been extremely meticulous when it comes to The Chosen’s storyline. We want to tell the life of Jesus Christ as it is found in the gospels of the Bible, but we also refer to historical works and scholars and to leaders and scholars from many different religions. (emphasis added; YouTube Formula, pp. 260-261)

As stated earlier, it is misleading, evasive, and wrong to say that The Chosen is “not a Mormon production.” In actuality, The Chosen is a Mormon brainchild.

Mormons and The Chosen—Not the Only Problem

By putting a strong focus (and media attention) on the “not produced by Mormons” claim, it sends out the message to the public that this is the only or main problem with The Chosen. But as countless critics of The Chosen, including Lighthouse Trails, have documented, The Chosen is riddled with other serious issues. In our 2022 booklet, The Chosen Series: 10 Critical Concerns, we identify some of those concerns:

The Chosen and its Mormon influencers.
How Dallas Jenkins says the biblical and the Mormon Jesus are the same Jesus.
How The Chosen creators claim it is “A Definitive Portrayal of God’s People” when it definitely is not.
Dallas Jenkins’ disclosure that 95% of the series is not from the Bible, yet it claims to present the “authentic Jesus.”
Jonathan Roumie (The Chosen’s Jesus) uses his global platform from The Chosen to spread his New Age-sympathizing practices (e.g., talking with the dead, transcendental meditation) and his Jesuit Catholic beliefs.
Dallas Jenkins’ unequally yoked connections.
The seductive ability and means of films, particularly ones portraying Jesus and Bible characters.
The well-researched, market-driven, and calculated formula to make The Chosen successful and “different.”
How The Chosen is helping to set the stage for a worldwide “Revival” and “The Healing of the World,” when in fact, the biblical Jesus warns about worldwide deception rather than worldwide revival at the time of the end.
How The Chosen is walking the world and the church into a deadly trap.

Conclusion

It simply cannot be denied that The Chosen is an inter-religious ecumenical project, with Mormons being at the helm of its creation, marketing, and production. And the implications of this cannot be ignored—The Mormon’s Jesus is a false christ. According to Dallas Jenkins, The Chosen’s Jesus is the same Jesus as the Mormon’s Jesus. In short, The Chosen’s Jesus is not an authentic Jesus. He is largely the product of Mormon creators, marketers, and producers—He is a false christ.

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Matthew 24:5)

For Further Study:

The Word Like Fire blog: https://thewordlikefire.wordpress.com.
Letter to the Editor by a Former Mormon: https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=34418.
The [Counterfeit] Chosen YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IijbpfCQBnA&t=43s.
Let Us Reason Ministries: https://www.letusreason.org.
Spiritual Research Network: https://www.spiritualresearchnetwork.org.

Note: As with all Lighthouse Trails articles, please feel free to print and share this article with others.

(Illustration from bigstockphoto.com; design by Lighthouse Trails.)

Barna and Viola Book, Pagan Christianity, Remains Popular & Continues Playing Role in Leading Christians Astray

Pagan Christianity, written by George Barna and Frank Viola, was released in 2008. Fourteen years later, it remains a bestseller, showing up as #6 on Amazon’s “Ecclesiology Christian Theology” category. In 2011, Lighthouse Trails posted a review of the book because we saw how it would deceive Christians and lead them closer to an emergent “new” spirituality. As we witness the devastating condition of so many churches today within evangelical Christianity, we see how books like Pagan Christianity have played their role in leading countless Christians spiritually astray.

George Barna’s so-called research, studies, and surveys tell the church what is wrong with it then offer “solutions” like the ones in this book. Frank Viola has had significant influence in helping to bring about a “progressive” (deceived) church through his many books such as Reimagining Christianity, Jesus Manifesto (co-authored with quasi-evangelical Leonard Sweet), and his 2021 book Jesus: A Theography (also co-authored by Sweet). In that newest book, a description states: “Introducing a new kind of Jesus biography: Transform the tired and familiar way you have read the Bible into an electrifying journey of rediscovering Christ.” It is strikingly similar to how Dallas Jenkins describes his Chosen series. We find it amazing that rather than calling out such authors and books, pastors and Christian leaders keep endorsing, referencing, and promoting them to their congregations.

Below, our 2011 review of Pagan Christianity.

By Philip Gray
Freelance Writer for Lighthouse Trails

In Pagan Christianity, Frank Viola and George Barna tell readers “Reading this book takes courage.” We couldn’t agree more, but not for the same reasons that Viola and Barna warn their readers. They tell us that it takes courage, not because of what the books says but because of what a Christian must do after he or she reads it (p. 253). We say it takes courage because of the misrepresentation the authors have given to Christianity and because the book is a smoke screen for the “new” spirituality.

Basically, according to Pagan Christianity, if you are a Christian and you have been participating in any of the following activities, you have been practicing paganism:

1. Meeting in a building for church
2. Listening to a sermon
3. Having a pastor
4. Paying that pastor a salary
5. Sunday School lessons
6. Sitting in a pew (or balcony)
7. Using a pulpit
8. Using some sort of order to the church service, which includes taking an offering, having communion, giving announcements, and singing songs of worship.
9. Dressing up for church
10. Having a choir
11. Altar call
12. Evangelized to save a soul

After reading this list, how did you rate on that? How many of these activities are you guilty of? Did you go to church last Sunday? Did you put on your best outfit? Did you listen to a choir sing? Did that neighbor you bring respond to an altar call to give his life to Jesus Christ? Did you sit and listen to your pastor teach or preach the Word? Well, according to Pagan Christianity, if you did, you are more like a pagan than like a Christian. Of these activities, Barna and Viola say: “Such practices are foreign elements that God’s people picked up from their pagan neighbors” (p. xx).

The point of this review is not to defend all of these practices in and of themselves. The point is to show that this book is another subtle stab at traditional Christianity, a stab that attempts to make Christians feel guilty for just about everything they do that has to do with going to church . . . everything that is, that is external. This book has absolutely nothing to do with the heart condition of man, nothing to do with sin and repentance but is merely a smoke screen to cover up the real issues that are plaguing the church today. For whether one dresses up for church or not, whether one gives a sermon or not, whether one sings or not, whether one gives an offering or not, and whether one sits in a pew or not, the issue that God looks at is the condition of the heart and not the outward appearances. One can sit in a pew and have evil intent in his heart; another can sit in a pew and be a godly humble man of God. It’s not the pew that makes him one or the other.

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. John 7:24

[F]or the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

Pagan Christianity says that “the great bulk of first-century practices have been removed from the Christian landscape.” The book tells readers that “such practices are presently being restored on a small scale by those daring souls who have taken the terrifying step of leaving the safe camp of institutional Christianity” (p. xviii). But the book never really tells us what those practices are, except to continually say it is something spectacular that excludes the above activities and includes small groups of people who stand around in circles, embracing, and sharing with one another their various thoughts, feelings, songs, prayers, and ideas; according to Viola and Barna, that is what makes a person a good New Testament Christian (i.e., nobody’s wrong, everybody’s right, all opinions are good, and we don’t need pastors or teachers).

While there is certainly nothing wrong, in and of itself, for a group of people to stand in a circle and share with one another, it is not a guarantee that the group of people will be abiding in God’s will in their lives. And, in fact, if Viola’s and Barna’s recipe for proper Christian living is acted upon, that group of people in the circle is probably going to be in trouble because rather than having the Word of God taught to them or preached to them by those who are called into the office of teacher or pastor, they will be “dialoguing” with one another, asking a lot of questions, and never coming up with any answers (because the postmodern isn’t supposed to have any actual answers—having answers offends—doubt is more glorified than certainty—always searching but never finding).

What is the real agenda of Pagan Christianity? Well, this much we can say, it sure isn’t to warn believers against true pagan practices and beliefs such as eastern-style meditation, walking through labyrinths, doing Yoga, focusing on the breath, rejecting the atonement, and so forth. In a day when spiritual deception is at an all-time high, when growing numbers of Christian leaders, churches, schools, and organizations are falling into the trap of practicing, promoting, and embracing mysticism and other New Age ideologies (disguised with Christian terminology, by the way), it hardly seems appropriate and wise to tell Christians to stop sitting in pews, stop having sermons (and pastors for that matter), stop meeting in buildings, end all Sunday School lessons, and by all means stop dressing up on Sundays.

Perhaps what is most distressing about this book is that there is an underlying sentiment that the “preaching” and teaching of God’s Word is not a New Testament practice and should be done away with. Perhaps this is the real message of Pagan Christianity. Rather than have the Word presented and preached as if it is an authoritative source for believers, get rid of all the venues in which it is presented (church buildings, sermons, pastors, pews, pulpits, etc.) as such and turn it into something we can all debate, dispute, question, challenge, and reinvent.

What we would call Pagan Christianity is a perfect example of “missing the point.” But with Frank Viola co-authoring a book with New Age sympathizer Leonard Sweet and George Barna, a Rick Warren look alike with a dominionist agenda, is that really any wonder that they have missed the point?

I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. Psalm 40:9

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. Isaiah 61:1

Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. Jonah 3:2

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:17

Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: 2 Timothy 4:17

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:2

“GOP Senators Call Out NEA [National Education Association] for Creating ‘Enemies List’ That May Target Concerned Parents”

photo: V.P. Kamela Harris was a speaker at this year’s NEA conference. (photo: 2-second video clip from YouTube; used in accordance with the U.S. Fair Use Act)

LTRP Note: The following news story is posted for informational and research purposes. Because Lighthouse Trails is a research ministry, it does use, from time to time, secular news sources to report information to our readers. This particular article is discussing the NEA (National Education Association), which has a strong and detrimental effect on America’s public schools. One of Lighthouse Trails’ topics covered for over twenty years is the protection of children (particularly educational, sexual, and spiritual abuse).

By Katabella Roberts
The Epoch Times

A group of Republican Senators called out the president of the National Education Association (NEA), the largest teacher’s union in the United States, this week over alleged plans to spend thousands of dollars to create a so-called “enemies list.”

Lawmakers James Lankford (R-Okla.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) sent a letter NEA President Becky Pringle on July 13 demanding answers on the NEA’s alleged plan to spend $140,000 to research opposition groups, which may include concerned parents.

According to the lawmakers, the union’s list of “enemies” would consist of individuals who have been identified as “actively working to diminish a student’s right to honesty in education, freedom of sexual and gender identity, and teacher autonomy.” Click here to continue reading.

Preferred Pronouns and More: What I Saw at Teachers Union Convention (2022)

BOOKLET: Public School or Homeschool?—How Public Schools Are Corrupting Children’s Values by Maria Kneas and Berit Kjos

BOOKLET: A “Common Core” For a Global Community by Berit Kjos

What is True Revival?

By Cedric Fisher
Cedric is the director of TruthKeepers.com and the author of Chains Couldn’t Hold Me and a number of Lighthouse Trails booklets.

I know a man who prays. He does not just pray for a few minutes, but long periods and often. One might think he prays too much—but is there such a thing? The fact is, wherever the man preaches, a powerful revival occurs. Conviction and desire to be nearer to God sweeps over people in the meeting place. People come to the altar benches to weep and repent. Other ones are sitting in the pew/chairs weeping.

Sadly, leaders do not want the man to minister in their meetings. One pastor remarked that he did not want anything like that to occur because he could not maintain it afterward. He would rather not have revival than allow the Holy Spirit to change in him whatever was necessary to keep the revival fire burning. Thus, although they could witness a mighty revival, the leaders rejected the man and other ones like him. They attempt to create false revivals by sensationalism that does not require change. In the process, they kill any chance of countering the increasing apostasy.

What present leaders and most of the attendees in church meetings want is the power and excitement of revival without the conviction that compels them to repent. They want the refreshing of their relationship with God without changing their filthy garments stained by the World System. They wish to maintain their compromise with the flesh and also have their period of spirituality on Sunday morning. Desiring a revival of emotion by stimulated adrenaline glands is an invitation for deception. Believing that a week of repentance and commitment is revival is a weak premise. Anything that arrives one week and is gone the following week is a farce. Click here to continue reading.

“True Revival in the Midst of Persecution” by a Pastor Who Went to Prison For His Faith

“False Revival Coming—Holy Laughter or Strong Delusion?” by Warren B. Smith

“Together 2022” Joins Doctrinally Mixed-Up Nick Hall, Dallas Jenkins, and Francis Chan While “Sacrificing Truth on the Altar of Unity”

(photo from bigstockphoto.com; used with permission)

NEW BOOKLET: God’s Peace Through It All

God’s Peace Through It All by Warren B. Smith is our newest Lighthouse Trails Booklet. It is the 15th booklet in Warren’s scriptural encouragement Through It All series). The booklet is 18 pages long and sells for $1.95 for single copies. Quantity discounts are available. Our booklets are designed to give away to others or for your own personal use. Below is the content of this new booklet. To order copies of God’s Peace Through It All, click here.

God’s Peace Through It All

By Warren B. Smith

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee. (Isaiah 26:3)

God’s peace. Peace on Earth. The peace that passeth all understanding. We all yearn for that peace—both now and for all eternity. The Bible makes it clear that God’s peace is available to us through a saving relationship with the Prince of Peace—Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9). For He is our peace (Ephesians 2:14)—the one mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). Yet Scripture warns there is a deceptive false Christ and a deceptive false peace coming that will seduce the whole world (Revelation 18:23). By studying God’s Word and rightly dividing Scripture (2 Timothy 2:15), we learn how to discern and experience the true peace of God through it all.

The Christmas Story

Many of us were first introduced to “God’s peace” in the Christmas story we heard as children:

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:8-14)

Christmas Carols

As children, we also heard about God’s peace in Christmas carols we sang at church, at home, or caroling with our friends and neighbors:

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn king;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”

Silent Night! Holy Night!
Silent night! Holy night!
All is Calm, all is bright,
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child.
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, goodwill to men,
From heaven’s all-gracious King.”

Hymns

God’s peace was mentioned in many of the hymns we sang at church:

Sweet Peace, the Gift of God’s Love
There comes to my heart one sweet strain,
A glad and joyous refrain;
I sing it again and again,
Sweet peace, the gift of God’s love.

It Is Well With My Soul
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say:
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”

Amazing Grace
And when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

God’s Peace in the Bible

God Is the God of Peace
Now the God of peace be with you all. (Romans 15:33)

God Is the Author of Peace
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians14:33)

God’s Kingdom Is Peace
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:17)

God’s Peace Is Like a River
For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. (Isaiah 66:12)

God Speaks Peace to His People
I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. (Psalm 85:8)

God’s Peace Is to Be Proclaimed
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! (Isaiah 52:7)

God Blesses His People With Peace
The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace. (Psalm 29:11)

Jesus Christ Is the Prince of Peace
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

God’s Peace Preached by Jesus Christ
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all). (Acts 10:36)

Jesus Christ Is Our Peace
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us. (Ephesians 2:14)

We Have Peace With God Through Jesus Christ
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)

We Have Peace With God in Jesus Christ
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Jesus Christ Died on the Cross to Make Peace
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself. (Colossians 1:20)

Jesus Christ Gives Us His Peace
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

God’s Peace Is for the Spiritually Minded
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6)

God’s Peace Is One of the Fruits of the Spirit
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)

God’s Peace Is a Delight
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. (Psalm 37:11)

God’s Peace Passeth All Understanding
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

God’s Peace Is to Rule in Our Hearts
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Colossians 3:15)

God’s Peace for Those Who Love God’s Law
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. (Psalm 119:165)

God’s Peace for Those Who Observe His Commandments
O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea, (Isaiah 48:18)

God’s Peace Helps Us to Stand
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:13-15)

God’s Peace Is Abundant
In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. (Psalm 72:7)

God’s Peace Shall Be With You
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Philippians 4:9)

God’s Peace Is Eternal
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:7)

God’s Peace: Greetings and Farewells

Old Testament

Greetings and farewells that invoke peace are scattered throughout the Old Testament. For example—“Peace be to you” (Genesis 43:23), “Peace be unto thee” (Judges 6:23), “Peace be to thine house” (1 Samuel 25:6), “Go in peace” (2 Samuel 15:9),“Peace be to thine helpers” (1 Chronicles 12:18), “Peace be multiplied unto you” (Daniel 6:25), and “Fear not: peace be unto thee” (Daniel 10:19).

New Testament

The New Testament is filled with greetings and farewells that proclaim God’s peace.

Jesus Christ

To the Disciples
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (John 20:19)

And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. (John 20:26)

To the Woman With the Alabaster Box
And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:50)

Apostle Paul

To the Romans
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7)

That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. Now the God of peace be with you all. (Romans 15:30-33)

To the Corinthians
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:2-3)

Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11)

To the Galatians
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:15-16)

To the Ephesians
Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 6:23)

To the Philippians
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:2)

To the Colossians
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Colossians 1:1-2)

To the Thessalonians
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:1)

Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

To Timothy
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Timothy 1:1-2)

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (2 Timothy 1:1-2)

To Titus
To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. (Titus 1:4)

To Philemon
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philemon 1:1-3)

To the Hebrews
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. (Hebrews 13:20-21)

Apostle Peter

To the Saints Scattered Abroad
Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. (1 Peter 5:14)

To Those With Like Precious Faith
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. (2 Peter 1:1-2)

Apostle John

To the Elect Lady
The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 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 John1:1-3)

To Gaius
But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name. (3 John 1:14)

Jude

To Those Sanctified, Preserved, and Called
Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace and love, be multiplied. (Jude 1:1-2)

False Peace

While there is much said about God’s peace in the Bible, there are also strong warnings about false peace. This false peace was warned about in both the Old and New Testaments.

Deceptive Peacemakers
All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee. (Obadiah 1:7)

Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace. (Ezekiel 13:10)

To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 13:16)

They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. (Jeremiah 6:14)

Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. (Micah 3:5)

Jesus Did Not Come to Bring World Peace
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. (Matthew 10:34-36)

False Peace and Safety
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1Thessalonians 5:3)

Antichrist’s “Peace” Will Destroy Many
And through his policy also he [Antichrist] shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many. (Daniel 8:25)

Peace Taken From the Earth
And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. (Revelation 6:4)

Pray to Not be Deceived by False Peace
Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts. (Psalm 28:3)

Walk in Peace

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Matthew 5:9)

Seek Peace
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. (Psalm 34:14)

Make Peace
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. (James 3:18)

Love Peace
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace. (Zechariah 8:19)

Live in Peace
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11)

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:18)

Preach Peace
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:15)

Publish Peace
Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! (Nahum 1:15)

Follow Peace
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)

Have Peace
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. (Mark 9:50)

Counsel Peace
Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy. (Proverbs 12:20)

Keep Peace
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)

Be at Peace
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. (1Thessalonians 5:12-13)

Be Found in Peace
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (2 Peter 3:12-14)

Prayerful Blessing for Peace

Camped at the foot of Mount Sinai for months, the Israelites were ready to head out again for the promised land. Before leaving, God gave Moses a blessing to be shared with Aaron and his sons that was to be blessed upon the people. God concluded this prayerful blessing by giving His all-encompassing “shalom” peace—a peace that, at once, invoked safety, restoration, completeness, wholeness, prosperity, health, and special well-being upon each and every person.

Numbers 6:24-26

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

May this same blessing rest upon you as you endeavor to extend God’s peace to others in this lost and fallen world.

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