As a Christian, I don’t hate anyone especially with those I disagree with like Calvin, Arminian, Luther or any of the Reformers. We cannot blindly follow someone’s teachings without comparing it to scripture. What I hate is false doctrine. We have to remember though that some of the Reformers were heavily influenced by Catholicism and carried out the same punishment on heretics that which they themselves deemed unChristlike when the Catholic Church did it to them. Not all the Reformers were killing false teachers, only those who were devoid of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said that the way a Christian would be identified would be through love as seen in John 13:35 which says, “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.“
Does that love include unbelievers as well meaning everybody?
Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Jesus summed up all of His teachings in two commandments. If we live by these two commands we will keep them all.
Matthew 22:34-39
34 When the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. 35 And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test Him: 36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
If you love the Lord with all your heart, you will not replace Him with an idol in the form of materialism, people, animals or a statue.
If you love your neighbor as yourself, you won’t harm him/her in any way. You will tell them the good news, help them in any way possible so that they can see Jesus in you.
How about if your neighbor is a false teacher? God commands you to love the false teacher by telling them the truth in a loving way and to continue to pray for their salvation.
How did John Calvin treat his neighbors who were false teachers? He gave them a one-way ticket to hell by putting them to death. Folks, that is NOT love, especially when as Christians, we are appointed to direct them to Jesus for salvation not send them to hell by any means.
One Calvinist stated:
“In Calvin’s day there was a zeal like Phinehas had where God’s truth was concerned. They took it most seriously the stewardship to keeping it unsullied. They also feared for the eternal souls of those who could easily be led astray by those who spouted false doctrine.
I, too, love my brother in Christ, John Calvin. I’m also glad that he was used by God in spite of his imperfections and failings. It gives me hope and also makes me appreciate God’s patience toward us.”
Folks, do you see how they twist the scriptures? In the time of Phinehas, the Jewish people were under a theocratic state meaning that Yahweh the Lord was their King and He ruled His people through His Priests namely Moses, Aaron and his sons in the time that the Jews were in the wilderness for 40 years.
This Calvinist is referring to Numbers 25:6-9 which says, “6 An Israelite man came bringing a Midianite woman to his relatives in the sight of Moses and the whole Israelite community while they were weeping at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 7 When Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw this, he got up from the assembly, took a spear in his hand, 8 followed the Israelite man into the tent, and drove it through both the Israelite man and the woman—through her belly. Then the plague on the Israelites was stopped, 9 but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.“
So this Calvinist is justifying John Calvin killing heretics based on these Old Testament passages which would make killing false teachers justified. Even though we are under the New Covenant just like all the Reformers were. Does time dictate how we should view the Bible or should we view the Bible how it dictates to us how we should live regardless of the times we live in? for the Word of God does not change, Jesus does not change.
If the laws were to change today and would give us the right to kill and destroy all false religion or cults like The Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses and so on, would you, as a born again believer go out there and murder them? Would the times that you live in give you the right to override the Bible’s teachings? Of course not, for the Word of the Lord is eternal and doesn’t change. We as Christians must obey Jesus Christ regardless whatever time we are born in. How can you tell the difference between a true and false Christian? You can tell by their fruits which will affect their doctrine as well.
Matthew 7:15-20
15 “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.
What fruit did John Calvin produce?
John 16:1-2
16 “I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. 2 They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God.
Ladies and gentleman, John Calvin was in a ministry of killing heretics thinking he was doing a service to God. God calls this a false teacher and the scripture warned us to let us know that the Lord will never send a Christian that displays those qualities which are unChristlike. Who else does this today? The Muslims, not all but those who take the Qur’an seriously and literally. John Calvin is no different.
Spiritual Minefield 
Great blog post. I especially liked your series of questions from this paragraph: If the laws were to change today and would give us the right to kill and destroy all false religion or cults like The Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses and so on, would you, as a born again believer go out there and murder them? Would the times that you live in give you the right to override the Bible’s teachings?
I like the fact that you asked these questions during the time where there are multiple denominations of Christianity including the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses because as Christians; we are called to be united as one (like you said in part 1).
In my opinion, false religious teachings of the Bible isn’t just the work of humankind, but of the enemy who uses these people; even when they don’t realize it to twist and warp what the Bible says is the truth. But despite the twisting of the Bible, God will always find a way to turn it around.
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“Does time dictate how we should view the Bible or should we view the Bible how it dictates to us how we should live regardless of the times we live in?”
Truth is immutable.
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That’s right, to bad that some Reformers couldn’t tell the difference between the O.T. and the N.T.
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Thank you for that great comment. I agree with you that behind false teachers are demons. The way we oppose false teachers is with the truth of scripture like Jesus did with Satan in the wilderness.
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What’s interesting is that sectarians can easily paint one’s faithfulness to truth as hatred of the theologian they admire they even go to the extent of quoting other theologians they have openly exposed and rebuked for having clearly compromised the gospel. There is no end with making excuses and justifying error. It is an ugly repetitive cycle. Either you decide to cling to Christ or to the Christ of these truth compromising theologians. Which one is it?
It is hard to get truth out of a chameleon.
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Agreed, you have to understand that they have made their decision already. Their love and devotion are directed to their favorite theologian, leaving Jesus in the corner.
If you see the parallel between Calvinism and Catholicism in regards to who they really exalt it will astound you. If you pay close attention to it it will blow your mind in unbelief. They both talk about Jesus but He quickly fades away from the conversation and someone else takes precedence. The Catholics talk, admire and exalt Mary and Calvinism does the same thing with John Calvin, both groups exalt and defend someone other than Christ, why you may ask? Let me put it this way, after shaking a cup whatever fills it spills out right? Shake a person with theology and the person that spews out of their mouth is the one that has taken root in their hearts. Remember Jesus doesn’t share your heart with anybody, either He has it 100% or none at all.
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You might have a favorite theologian by the name of the Apostle Paul. I say this because some thinkers believe he fashioned the message of Jesus Christ to form what we now know as the Church. Many believe the Gospel of St John was fashioned to fit the new theology since it differs markedly from the other three. The characters of a man or a woman are defined by their fruits ; what sort of lives they lead , how they treat others , whether they sacrifice there own desires and needs for the sake of others. I have met many who lead sacrificial lives who are not religious in any accepted sense of the word. For my own part looking back at age 75 I have had some fruit but often fallen short looking to my own betterment .
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“You might have a favorite theologian by the name of the Apostle Paul.”
I think you misunderstand, I don’t have a favorite theologian, never had. The folks that God used to write down God’s Word are not the author of Scripture but God is. The whole Bible has one author, the Holy Spirit. The Bible does not contradict itself but it is your lack of the Spirit of God in your heart that makes you not understand Scripture. Only Jesus can take off your blinders so that you can see and understand.
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Sadly you have placed yourself in an ivory tower to which there is no entry. You have declared you have the voice of God which means discussion and argument are of no avail.
The only difficulties you encounter are from others who also declare they have the voice of God but think differently from you. I continually read about Christians who make many varied and different assertions about the Bible and point the finger at each other . I take my lead in such matters from the experts and when they disagree from the consensus. The Bible Odessey is a useful site if you are open to differing opinions.
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You said-“Sadly you have placed yourself in an ivory tower to which there is no entry. You have declared you have the voice of God which means discussion and argument are of no avail.”
I’m sorry but I am in no “ivory tower” that’s for sure. My goal is to point you to, Jesus Christ. He is the one in the high lofty tower who brings salvation to those who put their trust in Him. I’m not the only one with the voice of God. All those that have put their trust in Jesus have the Holy Spirit which we use the voice of God, called the Scripture, to tell people about the truth. The voice of God is the Bible.
You said-“The only difficulties you encounter are from others who also declare they have the voice of God but think differently from you.”
Not all who profess to be followers of Christ are. When I encounter another professing believer I judge him/her’s message based on what’s already revealed in Holy Scripture. All true Christians agree on the fundamental doctrine of Scripture. If a person rejects any of them then they are not believers.
1 Timothy 4:1-2
Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.
There is demonic doctrine and the only way to know where the message of the person comes from is by evaluating it with the Scripture.
1 Timothy 4:16
16 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.
It is essential to make sure that as a Christian myself I continue to study God’s Word so that I won’t be deceived and in the process deceive others.
You said-“I continually read about Christians who make many varied and different assertions about the Bible and point the finger at each other”
You need to stop looking at other Christians because we all make mistakes but you should look to Jesus Christ. Read the Bible and study it. Ask the Lord for understanding of His truth so that your eyes can be open to it. Faith comes by reading God’s Word. Some Christians are still babies while others are mature. In the Christian life, there’s a process in getting transformed into the image of Christ. It is a daily walk according to Scripture, the more we read and pray to the Lord, the process of growth occurs but when a Christian is not reading and doing God’s will, he/she is stunted.
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I can see you are very self assured that you are standing on a rock of truth and perhaps that is a good position but from my point of view many who claim to be Christans make the same claim . I believe we all seek security from the cradle to the grave and for many their faith offers them that security and makes them comfortable.
Looking at the world all I see is chaos and insecurity about one third of the world’s population live on ( survive might be a better word) $2 per day. Now we have had religion with us for a few thousand years now and I ask myself what difference has it made globally to the lives of men and women? What we have is a pyramid of wealth with the elite at the top and destitute millions at the bottom. I am fortunate to be born in a rich western democracy which automatically puts me in the top two percent of the wealthy . So while I would not disturb your assurance I can have no part in it because to me it would be self deception.
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It’s interesting that you bring the topic of “truth.” It reminds me of John 18:36-38 which says, 36 “My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here.”
37 “You are a king then?” Pilate asked.
“You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.”
38 “What is truth?” said Pilate.
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no grounds for charging Him.
Jesus came to proclaim the truth, now what is the truth like Pilate asked? Truth is the reality, meaning who we are and what will happen after we die. Jesus said in John 14:6 that He is the way, the truth, and the life, no one can come to the Father except through Him.
The truth is that there is an unseen world. In that world, you have evil spirits called demons and their leader is Satan. You also have angels who serve the Living God in heaven and His Son Jesus Christ. The truth is that if you die without Jesus Christ in your heart you will die lost and go to a place called Hades. After judgment day those in Hades will be cast into the Lake of Fire where Satan and his fallen angels will be at. That is the truth. It is your choice to believe in Jesus or not. The evidence for the reliability of God’s Word is enormous. No other manuscripts come close as does the N.T. scriptures to the recording of it. Homer, Aristotle, and Plato to name a few, their earliest writings found was about 1000 years after it was recorded, yet no one questions that they wrote it. The earliest Biblical manuscript found was in the 2nd century, being recorded by those that were with Jesus was from 50 AD to 90 AD. And we have 5800 Greek New Testament manuscripts and the message is the same on all of them. The difference in the text is called variants which are misspelled words and word order but those variants do not change the message found in the Bible as we have it today.
The Bible is the Word of God because of prophecy. Jesus fulfilled over 100 alone and in the Old Testament, you have a prophecy about the Jewish people coming back to their land. The Jewish people were scattered in 70 AD when the Romans sacked Jerusalem and burned down the temple. The Hebrew language was a dead language but in 1947 when the Jewish state was formed, also their language revived again.
Name me one ancient people that were deposed from their land and their language deleted yet came back in modern times? You will find ZERO people to which that happen too. In Matthew 24 Jesus prophecied about what was going to happen in the last days. Just like a pregnant woman who is having a baby. the closer the contraction gets the more pain she will feel, telling her that the baby is close to coming out. In the same way, we see exactly what Jesus said is happening now and will get more intensified, showing that His return is near.
The world is in a mess because of sin which you and I have. Through faith in Jesus Christ, your sins can be forgiven. Jesus died on the cross and took your punishment upon Himself and on the third day rose from the grave. He did that so forgiveness can be extended out to you and me. The reason is that we are guilty before a righteous God because we are born in sin and He has to punish our sins but Jesus took our place and took our punishment that we desire upon Himself because He loves us.
Don’t let more time pass before it is too late, believe in Jesus who loves you and wants to save you.
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Hi,
Some years back I happened to start attending a “Calvinistic church” without knowing anything about the doctrine. Thankfully someone told me of a book by Dave Hunt called, “What Love is This? Calvin’s Misrepresentation of God.” That helped me tremendously. I left that church, and the “pastor” told me to go and read the church fathers!! Not the bible, notice! I didn’t even know who he meant! (Yeah, I later found out he meant Calvin and Augustine etc…)
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“That helped me tremendously. I left that church, and the “pastor” told me to go and read the church fathers!! Not the bible, notice!”
I can’t believe he told you that, that is insane. More like insanely crazy…lol I truly believe that according to the Scriptures, Calvinism (doctrine) is not only unbiblical but in some of its teachings are extremely demonic (1 Timothy 4:1-2). I’m glad to see that you left that church for a church that teaches the Bible alone. I will check out that post that you suggested and I would also like to send you to a post that also spoke about the issue of Calvinism:
modconspiracy.wordpress.com/clarity-to-an-age-old-divide
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I read the post which you suggested and overall it was good. The only thing that I disagree with that person is eternal security. I believe what Jesus said in John 10:28 which says, 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. You have to remember that false teachers will bring false doctrine that looks close to the right one or else how can it deceive anyone. Just because Calvin taught eternal security doesn’t make him a man of God because he got salvation incorrect.
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Hi again,
I have been over to the post on Modconspiracy as you suggested. I got a shock at all the comments section! Those 2 commenters, have been on my blog too. I “followed” them briefly but got very weary of seeing Calvinist posts continually and then when I read one of them stating on her blog that Calvin didn’t authorise the murder of Michael Servetus I was shocked. I have read Dave Hunt’s 533 page book which documents such murder and so much more. I cannot believe he did not do his research correctly.
Having said that, Modconspiracy, author Caeli, appears to support John MacArthur, Charles Stanley and Calvary Chapel and others, who I have discovered also to be false teachers (under her Page heading, Narrow Road).
It sure is a “Spiritual Minefield” out there in the world of Christendom! I know that we all discover these things at different rates. I am pretty much at the point of only trusting the Bible and the Holy Spirit. It seems to me that the Trojan Horse enemy tactic has filled pretty much all the institutional churches with the enemies of the Lord in the pulpits.
Re John 10:28 I feel that has to be balanced also with the scriptures that warn we can turn away from following Christ. I know that no-one can snatch us away and I am secure in my walk with the Lord. But I am not of the opinion, “once saved always saved”. I have seen people come to Christ and then turn on me and on Him. It is always a case of keeping the scriptures in balance with one another. Free will and God’s will together.
God bless
Helen
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“Having said that, Modconspiracy, author Caeli, appears to support John MacArthur, Charles Stanley and Calvary Chapel and others, who I have discovered also to be false teachers (under her Page heading, Narrow Road).”
We cannot throw in the trash some pastors because we might disagree with them when it comes to nonessential Biblical doctrine. What makes a false teacher is if they are preaching a false Christ that leads you away from a Biblical Jesus that cannot save. To me, that would be John Calvin.
Charles Stanley is not a Calvinist and nothing that he has said to my knowledge is heresy or is leading people away from the truth but he emphasizes Scripture alone. If you feel that Calvary Chapel pastors or Charles Stanley is false then can you provide the evidence, I would like to see it.
Also, Dave Hunt who you have said to have read his book believes in eternal security.
I have written a four-part series on eternal security. You are more than welcome to read it to see what you conclude.
I can assure you that Modconspiracy is not deceptive because she holds to the same views (Biblical views) that I do. Mod. is not Calvinistic.
Now, to tackle John 10:28, we must see what Scripture plainly declares. Jesus plainly said that you cannot lose your salvation. How basic is that statement? If you read another passage that seems to indicate that you do lose your salvation, the verse must be understood in its proper context to see what the author means. Remember that there is only one true Author and that is the Holy Spirit who will not contradict Himself in different places in the Bible. Jesus said that if you believe in Him He will give you eternal life. If you do lose your salvation then we make Jesus a liar because then what He said isn’t true. Eternal life means what it says…eternal if you can lose it then it is a temporary life not eternal and we make salvation based on us holding it (work based) and not on Jesus. Just look at Adam who was created without sin and he could keep it. Our salvation is help by Jesus (1 Peter 1:5)
Paul or any other Apostle will not contradict what Jesus said plainly. If you look at 1 John 2:19 it says, 19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.
Just because a person declares that they are saved doesn’t necessarily mean that they are. If they claim to follow Jesus but fall away that means that they were never saved in the first place. That is what John is saying in 1 John 2:19. A true believer in Jesus Christ will never fall away because he is not the same person. The old person has died and he or she has been born again in Christ with a different heart of that from the died one.
I’m a person who does not read commentaries which I did in the past but for many years my commentaries are collecting dust in my bookshelf. I allow Scripture to interpret Scripture.
I didn’t mean for my response to be too long.
We have to measure every teaching of a person to Holy Scripture and not allow any influence to determine our understanding. I don’t mind to admit this but I’m a Bible freak..lol, I love reading Scripture and doing my studies without any outside helps. Unless for maps or for archaeology and the culture of Bible times. Other than that I try to stick to Scripture alone. I do in occasion see some commentaries if something is not super clear or to see what they say but that doesn’t determine my conclusion on any passage. Anyways, I appreciate your comments and would like to encourage you to continue in your walk with the Lord holding on to Scripture and seeking His face through prayer.
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“I am pretty much at the point of only trusting the Bible and the Holy Spirit. It seems to me that the Trojan Horse enemy tactic has filled pretty much all the institutional churches with the enemies of the Lord in the pulpits.”
I see that we have the same stance on trusting the Holy Spirit, which I have made a post found here if you care to read – https://modconspiracy.wordpress.com/2017/05/17/who-is-your-teacher/
Hello Helen. I am curious as to why you believe the pastors I have in my links page are “false.” Maybe you could show me something I am not aware of?
The second part on your quote however is a complete distrust on pastors altogether having mentioned “institutional churches”, even ones we know to be strong in the authority and inerrancy of Scripture. This kind of thinking might actually fall under the enemy’s spiritual quarantine, to trust no one… We are called to be discerning, not totally dismissive.
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Hello SpaniardVlll & Caeli,
Re – False teachings of the aforementioned people – I would suggest that you just do an internet search of the persons name followed by the word “exposed”, eg, “John Macarthur exposed” and use your own prayerful discernment and Godly wisdom as you start reading. Some people will be posting stuff who are anti-Christian, but others are Godly people who are trying to sound the warning alarm to keep true believers safe.
The main blogger who I have followed for years to gain information has had to, it seems, make her blog private. Hence, I do not feel able to point you to a specific source for info. However, I have just read a few bits about J Macarthur and even Wikipedia tells us, “Theologically, MacArthur is considered a Calvinist…” He has said some contraversial things also about the blood of Jesus not being the source of salvation, and other stuff too. Like I said, you will need to search and read for yourself. I had in the past bought loads of his books and study bible, but I got rid when I read about him.
We live in dark times, when the Lord’s return is close. He said, when he returns will He find faith on earth?
I have learnt that there are “change agents” in most/many institutions and this includes churches. We know that in the end, most of the world will go after (& worship) the antiChrist, and we know that the last days are marked, as Jesus warned, with great deception. We have to be so very careful. In many places in the world, I think that the only “visible churches” remaining are either Calvinistic or New-age, Purpose Driven, Kundalini spirit filled. If you do have other Christians to have fellowship with, then you are more blessed than you perhaps realise.
I have been a Christian for 30 years and seen lots of stuff and read lots of stuff. I am only just starting out with blogging over the last year and interacting with other bloggers so I don’t know how it will work out as we each attempt to expose dark stuff and warn fellow believers via this medium.
I trust this helps a little.
Christian blessings to you both,
Helen
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“I have learnt that there are “change agents” in most/many institutions and this includes churches. We know that in the end, most of the world will go after (& worship) the antiChrist, and we know that the last days are marked, as Jesus warned, with great deception. We have to be so very careful. In many places in the world, I think that the only “visible churches” remaining are either Calvinistic or New-age, Purpose Driven, Kundalini spirit filled. If you do have other Christians to have fellowship with, then you are more blessed than you perhaps realise.”
You know that an ounce of truth is heavier than a pound of presumption. You seem to not trust the churches yet easily trust outside sources whom you know nothing about.
You talk about Charles Stanley and all the pastors of Calvary Chapel as being false or maligning them as being evil without listening to their message or attending one of their churches to know first hand if it is true or not.
To say not to listen to pastors but yet one listens to the people in the internet without knowing their stance or who they are is being contradictory.
30 years does not make anyone mature but by reading and praying to the Lord which takes time and effort.
One can be a baby for 30 years.
You still haven’t answered my question about Charles Stanley. I think that living in a bubble away from believers is a sin because the Bible commands you to go to church and if you preach that, then you are preaching error.
I’m not here to argue with you but you seem very fearful as to stay away from the churches as being evil. That my sister constitutes you as quarantined.
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