Bethlehem: An Awkward Homecoming

 While our Savior is often called “Jesus of Nazareth,” because that is where his parents lived and where he grew up, it was also prophesied that he would be born in Bethlehem, which seemed highly unlikely until…

I. THE CENSUS WAS ORDERED

A decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

The taking of a census is an important Biblical theme. God designed the census as way to atone for the sins of the people and to avoid punishment. A Census involved exercising authority as God’s representative. Moses made a record of this in Exodus 30:2:

When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the LORD a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.

When the people sinned and got out of control, the leader would deal with any flagrant sin that was occurring, then count the men, assign them to their duties and responsibilities and then take an offering so that they understood there was a price to be paid for sin. The ransom offering taken during Moses’ census was used to construct the Tabernacle. 3 Things happened: 

1. The people were counted

2. A ransom offering was taken

3. A dwelling place was built for God

After initially failing to conduct an appropriate census as ordered by God and suffering the consequences, David eventually completed the task and the offering taken was used to build the First Temple. In the days of the exiles returning from Babylon, the people were counted and the ransom offering given was used to build the Second Temple on the site where the first one had been destroyed. 

At the turn of the Millennium, Bethlehem was part of the Roman Empire in the region of Judea and even though a pagan ruler held power over them, it was still a census that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, falling in line with the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in that town. The Christ Child would grow up to present himself as an offering that would pay the ransom for all of our lives so that we could be forgiven of our sins. That offering is still being used to build God’s Temple, the Church. For the census, by order of Caesar, Joseph and his wife Mary would have to travel to...

II. THE HOMETOWN OF JOSEPH'S ANCESTORS

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

As we learned in the earlier posts in this advent series, Jesus would be a legal descendant and heir of King David through Joseph. He would be a literal, physical descendant of David through his mother Mary. This is why he is often called the Son of David. At this time, Joseph had already taken Mary into his home and they were living as husband and wife. While they had not yet consummated the marriage through physical intimacy, no one knew that and it was assumed by everyone in Nazareth that she was pregnant with Joseph’s child.

Bethlehem is located far to the south of Nazareth. The reason the Bible says they went UP to the city of David is because it was higher in elevation.

Bethlehem, which means house of bread, had been the ancestral home of Joseph's family going all the way back to the time of Boaz and Ruth. How fitting that Jesus, the bread of life, would be born in this town. While a few Jews may have looked askance at anyone coming from Nazareth in the region of Galilee, as we learned in the previous post there is no reason to believe that Mary and Joseph were social outcasts as some have postulated, but rather that they were closely related family members from the tribe of Judah participating in a homecoming of sorts. And they arrived just in time for... 

THE BIRTH OF THE PROMISED ONE

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

How interesting that the English version of this text reads: the days were completed for her to be delivered. Obviously, it is referring to the fact that it was time for Mary to give birth. But it reminds me of the song lyric “this child that you delivered will soon deliver you.” The time had come for Jesus to deliver, or save the world from our sins and darkness.

When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, some translations say there was no room for them in the inn, others read: there was no guest room available for them. If there was a local inn, it would certainly have been full, but this was much worse, every home in the town was filled with visitors or they would likely have been welcomed into the home of one of their relatives. Speculation as to the attitude with which they were received isn’t particularly helpful. I believe it best to accept the simple explanation that by the time they arrived, the only accommodations available for the night were in the stable.

They may been offered shelter in a barn or stable out back, but in that day, many people lived in 2 story stone structures. They often slept in one large room upstairs, used the rooftops like a front porch and cooked and worked on the bottom floor. The few animals the family owned were sometimes stabled for the night on the first floor. Inns may have been built and used in the same manner, more like a hostel than a luxury hotel with separate rooms. Whether the young family spent the night in a barn, a cave, or the bottom story of an inn or home, what we know for sure is that they slept in the place where the animals slept, the stable.

I often here city folk speculating about the filth and muck of a stable, as if Mary and Joseph were wading around in a squishy pile of wet manure. But any real cattleman, horseman or shepherd keeps their barn mucked out and in good shape. Animals would have been valuable to a family and kept in a sheltered, safe place. Think of kids at the fair cleaning up after their animals and families sleeping in the barns near them, and you will probably have a more accurate picture of what the stable was like. It wasn’t ideal, and it was certainly humble, but I think it’s important to paint the most accurate picture we can and that is of a safe, dry place with shelter from the wind and cold of night.

It would have been rather awkward to deliver the baby in a room where many people were crowded and trying to sleep, but the shelter of a stable, while very humble, would have afforded more privacy than other options. If you have ever spent time in a barn, it can be pretty peaceful. Animals down for the night are quiet. I am sure that midwives were called. December was wintertime in ancient Bethlehem, so Mary bundled Jesus up warmly in soft cloths and laid him in a feed trough because there was no other crib available. Warmly wrapped, cushioned by cloths and safely surrounded by the stone walls of the trough, the baby could not fall, be dropped or become injured. 

Jesus wasn’t born in a palace because he didn’t come to be an earthly king. He didn’t come to pander to the wealthy and powerful religious leaders who were living like kings and taking advantage of the poor. God is not mocked and He was not fooled by the religious pretense of the Jewish leaders, He knew the thoughts and intentions of their hearts. Jesus did not come to play the politics of the Roman Empire or seek wealth and privilege. He humbled himself, stepped down from heaven and came to the poor and needy. He came to those living in darkness who needed light and hope. Fully God, He also became fully man so that He could understand us and relate to us. Not only did he choose this, he planned it. 

Great affirmation is given to the validity of Old Testament prophecy by the fact that the prophet Micah accurately predicted the unlikely location of Jesus’ birth:

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come forth from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His coming forth is from long ago, from the days of eternity. Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor has given birth, then the rest of the ruler’s brothers will return. He will stand and shepherd them in the strength of the LORD his God. They will live securely, for then his greatness will extend to the ends of the earth. 

Jesus coming from heaven to be our Savior was planned from the very beginning. Redemption was always God’s plan. After around 400 years of silence from the prophets, God’s was reaching out to His people. He would send the Messiah to lead and guide us, and this redeemer would be born in Bethlehem. It is no coincidence that the Great Shepherd would come from this little town. Long before he was king, David himself had been a shepherd. The birth of the promised Savior was first announced by angels in spectacular fashion to...

THE SHEPHERDS

Shepherds are used throughout Scripture as an example of how God's men are to shepherd, or pastor His people. Think of the example given in the 23rd Psalm. In fact, the word translated in our New Testaments as Pastor is the word Poimen, the Greek word for Shepherd. The Shepherds in the fields between Bethlehem and Jerusalem had an incredibly important job. They watched over the lambs that would be used for the Passover and the sacrifices in the temple. Since the lambs had to be spotless, or without blemish, they had to guard and protect them carefully. They led them to nourishing pastures and refreshing streams, protecting them from predators like wolves, lions and bears, risking their lives to protect their sheep just like David had done. In the same way, Jesus would give up his life to save His sheep. The Shepherd of a smaller flock would often sleep at the entrance to a sheepfold, making himself the door, so that no predators could get in. So it is with God's Kingdom, Jesus is like the gate, the only way in is through Him. The Shepherds of these enormous flocks basically lived out in the fields with the sheep, or at least slept out there while they were on duty near fires or in shelters. 

In the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and laying 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 earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

The word angel means messenger. The most notable aspect of the angel's visit to the shepherds is that they proclaimed a message of peace on earth, good will toward men. They didn't bring warnings, fear, or threats of punishment. They proclaimed glad tidings of great joy for everyone. They declared grace. God had come in peace. Jesus was coming to pay the ransom to atone for the sins of all people so that anyone who believes and trusts in him will be saved. The heavenly army of angels did not show up that night wielding swords to destroy God’s enemies as instruments of God’s wrath, they were sent as emissaries of peace. The heavenly ambassadors declared that the long awaited Messiah had arrived, Jesus had been born in Bethlehem. The angelic choir filled the sky with God's praises and brought a joyful message to the Shepherds. 

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen as it had been told them.

The humble Shepherds recognized that it was God who had chosen them to share this special news with. They had the wonderful privilege of being among the first people to gaze upon the face of the Messiah. They responded by giving honor, praise and glory to God. They worshipped. The Shepherds had been entrusted with valuable animals, possibly even Passover lambs and sacrificial lambs, now they would be entrusted with the Good News about Jesus, the Lamb of God...and they told everyone they encountered. What an appropriate response to the Gospel. It is fitting that the name Jesus chose for those who would lead his people would be pastors, or Shepherds. But it isn’t only the shepherds who are called to proclaim the good news of Jesus’ birth, all believers share in that privilege and responsibility. And I am here to tell you that the good news of Jesus birth is for you. Jesus came to save you, forgive you and give you hope if you will believe, turn away from your sins and accept him as the Shepherd of your life.

Mary carefully thought over and remembered all of these things, pondering them in her heart, safely tucking them away in her memory. Years later, Luke, the writer of this historical book, interviewed Mary and recorded these events for us to read…so that we might Believe!!!

Here is the link to the next article in this series: Simeon & Anna Meet Jesus

Mary & Joseph: Visits with Angels and Country Cousins

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a remarkable woman. Her fascinating story, recorded in Luke 1:26-38, begins with an abrupt interruption to her life and plans when an angel from God suddenly burst onto the scene:

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 

During the 6th month after Elizabeth conceived, the angel Gabriel visited her cousin Mary. This was likely in mid to late March. King David of Israel lived about 1,000 years before the parents of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Both could trace their family tree back to him. Jesus would be a LEGAL descendant and heir of David through Joseph. He would be a PHYSICAL descendant of David through Mary. It is significant that the angel was sent to a town in Galilee. This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 9:1-2 which predicted the coming of a savior to Israel:

In the future he will bring honor to the way of the sea, to the land east of the Jordan, even to Galilee of the nations. 

Mary is actually an English transliteration of the name Maria or Miriam, a good Jewish name, after the sister of Moses. Mary was a true virgin, just as Isaiah had prophesied when he said:

Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means God is with us)

Mary and Joseph were betrothed. Despite what you may have heard, a betrothal was not the same as an engagement in modern society and Mary was almost certainly not a teenager when the angel visited her. As they entered their teen years, Jewish youths were considered to be bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah, sons and daughters of the commandments who were expected to know right from wrong and were responsible for their actions, but they were not considered to be fully adult until the age of 20. There is neither Biblical evidence to suggest nor logical reason to believe Mary would have been engaged before she reached adulthood. In fact, the first and second century church stood strongly against child marriage. Mary was likely in her early 20’s when she became betrothed to Joseph. 

To be betrothed meant that the couple had already agreed to a marriage covenant. The groom would present the Ketubah, or marriage contract, to the young woman and her father and then pour 3 cups of wine. If the father agreed to the proposal, he would drink from the cup. If the young woman agreed, she would signify her consent by drinking from the cup. The groom would also drink and seal the agreement. After the covenant was made, they were already considered legally married. Then the husband would go and prepare a place for them to live together and when it was ready, he would come and get his bride and take her home to consummate the marriage. A wedding feast would follow. But those plans were about to be interrupted.

And the angel came to her and said: “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you” But Mary was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting it could be. Then the angel told her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end. 

The angel Gabriel suddenly showed up and told Mary she had found favor with God and would be the mother of our Lord. Since this was probably in the latter half of March it lines up with the beliefs of the early church that the Messiah was born on December 25. More importantly, He would be named Jesus and called the Son of the Most High. He would be God. The word translated favor is the Greek word for grace, charis. It conveys the meaning of its Hebrew equivalent, chesed, which is translated as lovingkindness, tender mercies, and steadfast, faithful love. When Mary was scared and troubled, the angel comforted her by telling her how much God loved her. She was to give her son the name Jesus (Iesous) which is the Greek version of the Hebrew word Joshua (Yeshua) meaning Yahweh is my Salvation. Gabriel's message was in reference to the prophecy of Isaiah 9:7

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 Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. 

Jesus is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies about the coming of the Messiah, the Christ. After Gabriel’s prophetic recitation, Mary inquired:

How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man? The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God…For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary Said: “I am the Lord’s servant, May it be done to me according to your word.”

Mary's response was truly remarkable. She was a WILLING servant of God. Mary gave her whole-hearted consent to be part of God's plan. Jesus was to be both truly God and truly man. This teaching is called the Hypostatic Union. Jesus, in the incarnation was a literal, physical, blood descendant of Mary and by extension, David. But He was also still God, truly divine, having been conceived through the Holy Spirit.

Mary Visits Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)
After becoming pregnant, Mary hurried to her cousin Elizabeth's home in the hill country of Judah. Elizabeth and Mary exchanged encouraging greetings full of hope and faith. John, who would later be called, "the Baptist," jumped in Elizabeth's womb when he heard Mary's voice. Notice the affirmation that life begins at conception?  In response, Elizabeth enthusiastically exclaimed:

Blessed are you among women and your child will be blessed. How could this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what He has spoken to her.

These women believed every word the angel had spoken and they sang and prophesied over each other. Elizabeth professed that Jesus would be Lord. She understood that Jesus was the promised Messiah who would provide salvation. She proclaimed that Mary had been blessed and applauded her faith. This is how believers are supposed to greet one another and rejoice together. Mary's subsequent song of praise provides a sermon in itself.

And Mary Said:

My soul praises the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

because he has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant.

Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed,

Because the Mighty One has done great things for me and His name is Holy.

His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him.

Mary experienced exceeding joy in God her Savior, just as the name Jesus indicates. Savior comes from the word sozo, which means to rescue and heal, to restore and make whole. This describes the deep and powerful work that Jesus accomplishes in our souls when He comes into our lives. She believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah and her soul magnified God.

Mary also agreed with the prophetic declaration of Elizabeth saying surely she WOULD be called blessed. Yet she immediately recognized that God had done this wonderful thing for her and promptly pivoted to reflect attention away from herself and toward Him. She proclaimed His name as Holy and set apart. She reminds us that His mercy endures through the ages toward those who honor and respect Him.

He has done a mighty deed with his arm;

He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts;

He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly.

Mary foresaw Jesus’ victory in life and in death and resurrection. She spoke prophetically with words full of faith as if Jesus had already conquered his enemies, proclaiming the victory of the cross before Jesus was even born. He would accomplish the great work God sent Him to do. 

Just as Mary prophesied, the arrogant religious leaders of Israel would indeed be scattered as the city of Jerusalem would eventually fall. Jesus took authority away from them and gave the inheritance of His kingdom to the humble. He entrusted His disciples with the leadership of the church. He gave spiritual power and authority to build His Kingdom to His followers.  This passage also indicates that the spiritual enemies of God would be defeated. The people of Israel likely expected Him to conquer earthly kings, but He defeated Satan and evil spiritual powers first to establish His spiritual Kingdom. Jesus gave his disciples power over demons and the forces of evil. Jesus would defeat spiritual enemies in high places. Strongholds, places where evil had taken control and darkness reigned would be broken and shattered as the whole earth shook when Jesus was crucified on the cross. Jesus will come again to defeat physical enemies, but only after showing grace to allow them time to repent. Mary prophesied something Jesus would also say directly Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. The next part of her song continues with this theme. 

He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

Jesus fed the 5,000 and on another occasion he fed 4,000, but he also gave people spiritual food and drink. Still today, He nourishes our souls. The rich young ruler couldn’t have this gift because he valued earthly treasure more than heavenly treasure. Jesus is the bread of life. He is living water for our souls. He promised that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness would be filled—satisfied.

He has helped his servant Israel, remembering His mercy to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as He spoke to our ancestors.

Mary recognized that this moment was the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham. God had kept His word and she would be a part of it. After about 3 months, just before John was born, Mary returned home. Seems a little strange that she would stay so long and then leave before seeing the baby....

Joseph and Mary Reunited (Matthew 1:18-25)

While Luke’s account of the events leading up to the birth of Christ focuses on Mary, Matthew’s account focuses on Joseph and in so doing, provides us with a more complete picture. The two accounts harmonize perfectly.

The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way. After his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.

In this account, Jesus is referred to as The Christ, this is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Messiah. Christ or Christos means anointed. He is the one God has chosen to save His people. Joseph is called righteous, or just. He was a fair and virtuous man who followed God’s commandments and took the necessary steps to atone for sin according to the Law of Moses. Joseph was in a right standing with God. Even though he might not have initially believed her, he showed mercy and great kindness to Mary. I believe his decision to put her away quietly led to her trip to visit her cousin Elizabeth in the privacy of the hill country, away from prying eyes.

But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

An angel appeared to Joseph, telling him it was ok to take Mary home to live with him as his wife and affirming the good news that she was indeed with child by the Holy Spirit. Just like he had done with Mary, the heavenly messenger immediately calmed Joseph’s fears. He added to the words spoken to Mary, explaining the reason for Jesus' name which means Yahweh is Salvation. He came to save us from our sins.

Matthew explains that this happened in order to fulfill the prophecy from Isaiah that: 

A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will call his name Emmanuel.” Which is translated God is with us.  

Jesus would be fully God and fully man. God was reaching out to us, desiring a relationship with us. God was coming to earth to walk among us, just as He promised He would.

When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.

 

Joseph believed the angel and honored the prophecy. He immediately took Mary to be his wife. I have wondered why Mary visited the very pregnant Elizabeth, stayed for a few months and then left right before the baby was born. I believe this is because Joseph came and joyfully whisked her away to the home they would share together. Since their marriage covenant had already been sealed, Joseph had the right to take Mary into his home any time he wanted to, so there is no reason to believe there was any sort of scandal. Mary was only in her first trimester at the time and not showing in loose fitting, modest ancient clothing and they departed from their home in Nazareth to travel before Mary gave birth, so no one would have been able to count up the months of her pregnancy. Because of Joseph’s discretion, it would always be assumed that Jesus was his son. (John 6:42, Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3) He did not formally consummate their relationship until after Jesus was born, after which time they grew their family continuing to have other children together. 

After Joseph fetched Mary from her country cousin's home in the hills, they lived together in what we may assume was relative peace and quiet for about 6 months, when they were required to leave and travel to the city of Joseph’s forefathers to be counted in the census ordered by Augustus Caesar. That city was Bethlehem.  

We will continue this Journey in Session 3 of my advent series which you can find right here: Bethlehem: An Awkward Homecoming

Zacharias and Elizabeth: Remembered by God

Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth bear the distinction of being among the very few people the Bible describes as righteous.

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah's division named Zacharias. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years. (Luke 1:5-7)

They respected and honored God by following His word, but despite their faithfulness, the couple had no children which brought with it sadness and stigma in their society. They were both from priestly families and Elizabeth's children would have been direct descendants of Aaron, the brother of Moses. 

Zacharias was part of the priestly division of Abijah, which had been established by King David nearly 1,000 years earlier. The Levitical priests were divided into 24 groups which would take turns serving at the temple in Jerusalem, usually for 2 weeks at a time and the division of Abijah was the 8^th group in the rotation. The priests would come to Jerusalem to serve when their group came up in the rotation and they might also come to help with certain festivals. The rest of the time, they lived with their families and ministered to the local communities. 

Because of the extraordinary events that were about to be set in motion, people have tried to pinpoint just when Zacharias' division was on duty in order to determine when certain events occurred, such as the conception and subsequent births of John the Baptist and Jesus. This is difficult however, because the Hebrews used a lunar-solar calendar which was not based on a 365 day year like our modern calendar. Some years had 353, 354 or 355 days in them. Some years had 10 extra days and periodically they would observe a type of leap year which had an entire extra month and consisted of 385 days. Consequently, there is no way to simply look at a calendar and know with precision what month or weeks the division of Abijah would have been on duty serving in Jerusalem. But the text gives us a very strong hint as to when this event occurred. 

When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. An angle of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zacharias saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear. But the angel said to him: Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. There will be joy and delight for you and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother's womb. He will turn many of the children of Israel  to the Lord their God. And he will go before him in the Spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people. 

The description provided by the Bible strongly indicates that the angel appeared to Zacharias during the time of a festival when the multitude would be gathered at the temple and that this particular festival was Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, happening near the end of September, give or take a few weeks. Zacharias was a faithful priest, serving God by burning incense in the temple, in the Holy Place. On the left there was a lampstand with 7 lamps, representing the Holy Spirit of God. To the right, there was a table with the Bread of the Presence. On it were set out bread and wine, representing communion and fellowship with God. At the head of the room was the altar of incense. Behind this altar was the veil, a curtain that divided the room, beyond the veil, in the 1st temple, there had once been the Ark of the Covenant, representing the very presence of God, but in this rebuilt temple, it was no longer there. 

Once a year, the high priest would have gone behind the curtain into the most Holy Place to meet with God, but the high priests at that time were Sadducees who did not believe in angels, miracles or an afterlife. They were purely political and used the priesthood for personal gain. They were not qualified or approved to enter God’s Presence. God did not send a messenger to one of them. He sent it to a humble and faithful priest. On Yom Kippur, a priest would tie a rope around the waist of the high priest as he entered the Holy of Holies so that he could pull the body out just in case God struck him dead. To prevent this from happening, the smoke of the incense would be allowed to pass through the curtain before him, providing a covering until the high priest could sprinkle blood over the Ark of the Covenant (or the area where it had been) as a covering for his sin. 

Whether it was Yom Kippur, or just a normal evening sacrifice, as Zacharias was standing outside the curtain to the Holy of Holies burning the incense, the multitude of the people were gathered outside, praying. At this moment, after 400 years of silence, God answered their prayers--both those of the nation of Israel and those of the humble priest and his aging wife. The faithful believers among the Jews had been praying for a deliverer. Zacharias and Elizabeth had been praying for a child of their own. God sent His messenger, the angel Gabriel, to answer by delivering some good news. Suddenly, the Holy messenger appeared, standing in the smoke on the right side of the altar of incense to tell Zacharias, whose name means "remembered by God," that his wife Elizabeth would conceive a child. God had indeed remembered them. Their son would fulfill the prophecy that Elijah would return to prepare the people's hearts for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. While he was still in the womb, his son John would have the spirit and power of Elijah, which is the Holy Spirit. The symbolism of Gabriel's appearance in the smoke is significant. The fragrant smoke rising from the altar represented the prayers of the people rising up before God. The angel delivered an answer to their prayers. God still hears our prayers today, and they are like a pleasing and good smelling aroma to Him. 

In the same way that John was to go ahead of Jesus to prepare the people's hearts, those of us who are Christians know that Jesus is coming again and we have that same Spirit within us so that we can tell people about Jesus and encourage them to prepare their hearts for His return. The curtain, or veil, that separated the Holy of Holies was torn in two, from top to bottom, when Jesus died on the cross. There is no more separation between us and God. Jesus’ own blood provides a covering for us so that we can enter God’s Presence unafraid. 

Zacharias and Elizabeth were righteous before God. This does not mean that they were perfect and sinless, but it does mean that they honored God, had faith in Him and carefully followed the law to atone for their sins. It is ironic to me that Zacharias immediately sinned by doubting the words of the angel. 

"How can I know this? Zacharias asked the angel?" "For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years."  The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. Now listen. You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."

God showed grace and continued with His plans despite the priests doubt, though Zacharias would remain silent throughout the pregnancy, opening his mouth only when he truly believed and prophesying over his newborn son. The birth of John would be a miraculous one, born to a barren and aging couple. 

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zacharias, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was making signs to them and remained speechless. When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for 5 months. She said, "The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people." 

The crowd standing outside, waiting with bated breath to find out what happened lends credence to the idea that this was Yom Kippur. Elizabeth showed great faith and rejoiced that God had given her this child, she felt grateful that He had chosen her. After Zacharias returned home from his priestly duties, Elizabeth became pregnant, likely in October. She kept herself hidden for 5 months. In the 6th month, likely March, Gabriel was sent by God to deliver another message to a young woman who would conceive and give birth in December....

Mary and Joseph: Angels and Visits with Country Cousins

The Historical, Biblical Jesus vs. The Mormon Jesus

 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different Gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough……….for such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ…  -2 Corinthians 11:4, 13

My great-grandmother and great-grandfather were Mormons. They were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. When he passed away, she was so overwhelmed with loneliness that she moved out to Salt Lake City and was re-married to another man from the LDS church. He mistreated her horribly. For escaping her abuser and divorcing him, she received an official letter from LDS headquarters disfellowshipping her and telling her she would never enter the celestial kingdom, the Mormon version of heaven. Whatever gospel they were preaching could evidently be withheld or denied. Whatever salvation they were offering could be lost or taken away. Christians believe in the truth of Ephesians 2:8-9. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.

My grandfather received a similar letter. He accepted Jesus as his Savior at an old-fashioned Methodist tent revival and in his words, was converted. He became a Christian, converting from Mormonism to Christianity and was basically excommunicated from their organization. Modern Christian denominations do not traditionally excommunicate people for simply transferring church membership. Christians celebrate and rejoice when someone comes to faith in Christ. Even heaven rejoices: There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (Luke 15:10)

I share these stories to illustrate the point that there are dramatic and irreconcilable differences between Mormonism and Christianity. For example: Christians worship Jesus. We pray to Him and through Him. Mormons do not worship or pray to their Jesus. Christians believe that Jesus is co-eternal with the Father. He has always existed and all things in the universe were created through Him. Mormons believe that Jesus is a created being, the offspring of their heavenly father and an un-named heavenly mother. They believe he existed as a spirit child named Jehovah before coming to earth as Jesus. Christians believe that Jesus’ earthly, physical body was conceived by Mary, a true virgin, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Mormons believe that their heavenly father, an immortal, had sex with Mary and got her pregnant with Jesus. Christians know that Jesus was single. Mormons believe that he was married to the sisters Mary and Martha.  Christians believe that Jesus is, was and always will be God. Mormons believe that he earned the intelligence and the right to become a god in his spirit life before he came to earth.

 

Christians believe the Bible is the Holy, Inspired, Inerrant Word of God. Mormons believe it is a flawed book which is overruled by the “superior” Book of Mormon. This allows them the “license” to alter Biblical teachings so severely that the Jesus they teach and the Gospel they preach are completely different and contradictory to the Historical Jesus and the Biblical Gospel. Paul warned that people would preach "another" Jesus. Here is a helpful chart to illustrate some of the differences:

Since 325 A.D., all Christians agree upon certain basic beliefs as articulated in the Nicene Creed. All Protestants, Catholics, Baptists and Orthodox Christians agree on these basic tenants of the Christian faith. To disagree with this creed is Heresy. In 381, a section was added to the creed at Constantinople. Other than 3 words which the Eastern Orthodox church had a problem with, all of Christendom agrees on the basic doctrines articulated within this creed.  Mormons teach directly against so many points of the creed that it seems as if someone went point for point contradicting Nicaea just to see if he could get away with it. Let’s examine the shocking differences in belief by comparing the teachings of the Christian church with those of the LDS church.

 

THE NICENE CREED

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen. 

Mormons believe there are many gods. They believe people can ascend and become gods and one day have spirit children and create their own planet to rule over if they reach the highest levels of their religion. This sort of arrogance is just like the sin that Satan committed. Isaiah 14:13-15 informs us that he said to himself “I will ascend to the heavens; I will set up my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of the god’s assembly in the remotest parts of the North. I will ascend above the highest clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you will be brought down to Sheol into the deepest regions of the Pit. This Mormon belief is a sin against God, leading people to destruction.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, light from light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.

Mormons believe that their heavenly father had many sons. They believe there are many savior gods in the universe. They do not believe Jesus has always existed, they believe he was created. They do not believe that he has always been God, they believe he earned the right to become a god.

Christians believe that Jesus of one essence with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We believe that He is God’s one and only Son and that the entire universe was created through Him. John wrote these things about Jesus. From John 1:1-4: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made through Him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. John 3:16 declares: For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.

Mormons believe that their heavenly Father had sexual intercourse with Mary to create Jesus’ physical body. They believe he was the offspring of an immortal having sex with a human, what the Greeks would have called a demi-god. Christians believe that Mary was a true virgin who became pregnant through the Holy Spirit without sex. When the angel Gabriel told Mary she would give birth to Jesus, Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Christians believe Jesus was truly human. Hebrews 2:17 teaches us Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end. 

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

Mormons do not worship or pray to Jesus, only to their heavenly father. Christians worship the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Wise Men bowed down and worshipped Jesus as a baby. After His resurrection the disciples encountered Jesus, Matthew 28:17 tells us: When they saw Him, they worshipped Him. Mormons believe the Bible is a book that contains errors. Christians believe that the prophets spoke the very words of God and the Bible is the word of God without any mixture of error. All scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness. -2 Timothy 3:16

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Christians believe in a new heaven and a new earth. Mormons believe in something entirely different.

The Mormon Church is so far outside of the boundaries of Orthodox Christianity, that they can only be considered a cult, or a different religion entirely. They try to emphasize similarity, but what discerning Christians must pay attention to is the stark contrasts in belief. Mormons masquerade as Christians in order to attract more members, gain more influence and make more money. One of their recent Presidents has tried to move away from using the word Mormon to describe them and even instructed churches to drop the last part of their name, referring to themselves simply as The Church of Jesus Christ and dropping the rest of the name of Latter Day Saints. They are highly skilled in the art of doublespeak, using Biblical terms and speaking Christianese words, but meaning something entirely different and thinking of different meanings in their heart when they say them. Some like to say that Mormons use the same words as Christians, they just use a different dictionary. They are skillful in the art of deception. 

THE MORMON PLAN OF "SALVATION"

Mormon “salvation” is a merit-based system of works. Mormon “salvation,” is about earning and attaining various stages of achievement in the afterlife through works and trying to become a god.  Here is an example of their plan of salvation.

Here is a more detailed elaboration about what they believe:

THE BIBLICAL, CHRISTIAN PLAN OF SALVATION

Christian's believe that salvation is by grace, through faith in Christ alone. God's plan for bringing salvation to mankind is simple. It is the cross of Christ.

Romans 10:9 declares: If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. This verse emphasizes the importance of making a verbal confession in front of others, of making Jesus the Lord of our life and of believing in His atoning sacrifice and resurrection. 

Acts 2:38 proclaims: Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Repenting, or turning away from sin is a key element of the Gospel. This verse also points to the regeneration that comes through the Holy Spirit. 

In John 3:3 Jesus told Nicodemus Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. To be regenerated or born again means to be washed clean, forgiven of sins and made new when Jesus comes to live in our hearts through His Spirit. 

Romans 10:13 promises: Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Anyone can be saved who will respond to God’s call, but to call upon the name of the Lord, Epikaleomai Onoma Kurios,  means to cry out to God in desperation, asking to be called His child and humbly asking to be saved. 

Ephesians 3:16 records Paul’s prayer that He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. This is why Christians ask Jesus to come into our hearts and receive believer’s baptism as a public witness to the decision we have made. Christians are all promised the same reward--eternal life with God in heaven as part of His family. 

I encourage you to make the decision to follow Jesus., following the instructions of Acts 22:16 which exhorts you to: Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name 

CONCLUSION

As we have seen, Mormons and Christians have radical differences in Christology, our beliefs about the nature, person and work of Jesus Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints blatantly contradicts numerous doctrines of the Nicene Creed,  the statement of common belief held by all Christians. The LDS church holds dramatically different views of salvation and heaven than that of the Christian Church. The Mormon religion teaches a different Jesus and preaches a different Gospel than the Christian religion, just as Paul warned us about. Christianity and Mormonism have irreconcilable differences. The Mormon church is not a Christian denomination. It is, in fact, a cult. The “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,” is not a branch of Christianity. It is an entirely different religion that directly contradicts the most essential elements of the historical Christian faith.  

Black Pastors vs. BLM

Black lives matter. That is a true and vital statement with which I agree. All lives matter. They matter so much that Jesus died for each and every one of us. The troubling events of these past 6 months have really hit home with me. When I saw the video of a young black man being chased down and murdered in the street for simply jogging through the "wrong" neighborhood, my heart broke as I thought of a precious, adoptive member of our family running down the street, training for football season. 

In early Summer, there had been a major standoff between police and protestors a few short miles from my apartment in Fort Worth which was only diffused by prayer and the cool-headed humility of the Fort Worth police department. Amid the isolation of the pandemic and the tensions caused by horrible atrocities committed against the African-American community, I was really looking forward to getting away from the city for the 4th of July weekend. I couldn't understand why my family was hesitant to attend our hometown Independence Day parade, until I learned that there were pictures on social media of 3 vehicles decked out with half a dozen Confederate Battle Flags and a house on Main Street flying the insipid banner in preparation for the event. The presence of that insidious rag meant that our family was neither welcome, nor safe in that hostile environment. 

Black lives do indeed matter, but the  global BLM organization has misappropriated the name "Black Lives Matter," to exploit the suffering of Black people around the world in order to propagate an agenda that is harmful and disrespectful to the Black community, and to the brotherhood of mankind. They vehemently oppose family values, the Bible and Christianity in general. 

When I moved to Texas 8 years ago, I was visiting area churches. One Sunday I unknowingly entered a Black Baptist Church. While it felt rather awkward, finding myself as the only white adult in the room, it was also wonderful and uplifting. They showed tremendous respect for authority and for their Pastor and his wife, the First Lady. They were clearly reciprocating the care and respect being show to them by their leaders. There was a refreshing attitude of gratitude toward teachers and a wonderful sense of community. It was obvious to anyone that the members of that church prayed for and cared deeply about their community and families. 

The ideologies being promoted by the BLM confederation directly contradict the priorities and values of the Black Christian Community. In this article, we will examine the incongruity of these two radically different belief systems. 

1. They Promote Conflicting Views on FAMILY

A. BLM's Point of View

If you google "Black Lives Matter," you might see a tab titled "What We Believe." That tab now leads to a page that has been taken down. Before they removed that manifesto, I printed it out. That page revealed the true agenda of this organization. The official website of the Global BLM Network clearly stated that they seek to do the following:

Disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and "villages" that collectively care for one another, especially our children...Dismantle cisgender privilege

Not only is the BLM syndicate opposed to the Biblical view of family, they have made it their mission to disrupt, dismantle and otherwise destroy the family unit and all of its benefits. This alone is reason enough to fear and reject this movement in its entirety. This language indicates that they think the "collective" should be responsible for raising children instead of their own parents. I suppose it is much easier to brainwash children and eradicate family values that way. They actively oppose every aspect of our nation, culture and communities that supports marriage or thrives as a result of the family unit as designed and instituted by God. 

B. Black Pastor's Point of View

In stark contrast to the exploitive relationship the BLM maintains with the black community, we will now turn to examine the perspective of those who have dedicated their lives to shepherding and serving the Black community. In the Spring of 2014, a coalition of 110 African-American pastors filed an amicus  brief in opposition to a Michigan judge's legalization of gay marriage. 110 pastors signing on to the statement codifies this as a particularly strong example of the beliefs of the Black Christian Community. In addition to the signatories, the statement represents the beliefs of an additional 200 churches. Amici are Friends of the Court. This coalition of dedicated pastors stands for the following:

Amici devote their lives to America's time-honored family values, morality and the Christian faith...Amici support the vote of 2.7 million citizens of Michigan who cast their vote and enacted the Michigan Marriage Amendment to secure the sanctity of the traditional family, as it is defined by God in the Bible.

The amendment which is fully supported by this partnership of pastors states: To secure and preserve the benefits of marriage for our society and for future generations of children, the union of one man and one woman in marriage shall be the only agreement recognized as a marriage or similar union for any purpose.  

This coalition of clergy asserts that: Michigan is entitled to promote what has proven to be the healthiest social structure for the rearing of children and propagation of society, and it is not required to simultaneously promote less healthy alternatives.

They go on to support the historical, moral and Biblical value that marriage should be between a man and a woman. 

This alliance of overseers believes that children need both a father and a mother and that the Biblical family is the optimal environment for raising children. They firmly believe that heterosexual couples make better parents: They state that Obviously, scientific observations of human biology, human history, and our own experience, common sense and reason tell us that children come exclusively from opposite sex unions, and children benefit from being raised by their biological parents whenever possible. 

Black Pastors strongly support the traditional family as created by God and the benefits it provides. The position taken by BLM is in direct opposition to the wisdom and will of the true Shepherds who care for the Black community. 

2. They Profess Incompatible Views on SEXUALITY

A. BLM's Intentions

As if their anti-family, anti-God stance wasn't dangerous enough, the BLM also purports to:

Foster a queer-affirming network...freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking  They also affirm actual or perceived sexual identity, gender identity, and gender expression...They make space for transgender brothers and sisters to participate and lead and uplift black trans folk. 

The BLM network was created to promote the LGBTQ+ lifestyle and to perpetuate it throughout the Black community. This global BLM conglomerate has inextricably linked their destiny and purpose with that of the LGBTQ+ movement. As a result of these efforts, we already have courts ordering public schools to allow biological males to simultaneously use bathrooms, locker rooms and shower facilities with underage teenage girls. The California legislature and governor just passed a measure that allows homosexuals as old as 24 to commit sexual acts with children as young as 14. Nothing is more destructive to a people group than the proliferation of sexual sin. Anyone who cares about the black community must stand against this organization, its evil intentions and its wicked, sinful agenda which seeks to defile and demoralize.

To be very clear, black lives and LGBTQ lives matter. They matter to God. They matter so much that He sent His Son to die for them. But Jesus did not die so that we could simply ignore them and allow them to suffer or to harm others. For example, Jesus died so that transgender persons could be set free from the lies they have believed, freed from the deception that has confused their minds and restored to live the lives of dignity and purpose God intended for them to have. Jesus died so that all people could turn away from sin and be forgiven. He died so people could be set free from bondage and slavery to sin, empowered to live holy lives and brought into a relationship with Him and with His people. The mission of the BLM/LGBTQ merger would prevent Christian adoption agencies from placing children exclusively in safe homes with people who share Christian sexual ethics, morality and family values. They actively work against the ministries of the church and its teachings by supporting and spreading shameful, sinful, LGBTQ lies and lifestyle choices. 

B. Black Pastors Weigh In

This coalition of pastors strongly opposes the comparison of the LGBT agenda with the struggle for Black civil rights. 

Comparing the dilemmas of same-sex couples to the centuries of discrimination faced by Black Americans is a distortion of our country's cultural and legal history. The disgraces and unspeakable privations in our nation's history pertaining to the civil rights of Black Americans are unmatched...

While a person's gender as a male or female is a matter of unchangeable Biblical and Biological reality, sexual behavior has been profoundly affected by sin. A person's sexual preferences are subject to lies, lust, deception, manipulation, sinful decisions and error. The pastors draw a hard line between a person's race and someone's sexual choices. 

A person's sexuality and sexual preferences, however, are not their state of being, or even an immutable aspect of who they are, as race is. The truth of the matter is that is merely activity in which they engage. 

They further assert that the state is not required to accept that one's sexual conduct preference is the same as an immutable characteristic like race. 

This group of pastors directly addressed the absurdity and invalidity inherent in the argument. The legal history of these disparate classifications, i.e., immutable racial discrimination and same-sex attraction, is incongruent. They point out that The law treats racial classifications as wholly distinct from sexual preference classifications.

A person's sexual preferences and proclivities are a matter of choice. A person's skin color is a matter of unalterable biological truth. Comparing the two is an overt act of racism. It is inappropriate and offensive to compare one person's sin with the color of another's skin. 

3. They Have a Serious Ideological Clash over RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

The BLM conglomerate also seeks to:

Engage comrades...Cultivate an intergenerational and communal network

Their is nothing coincidental about the choice of language here. The words "collective," "comrade" and "communal" are cause for concern. Not only is the BLM a Socialist organization that opposes American democracy and the freedom of religion that comes with it, they are conspicuously Communist in their convictions. If they are successful, the United States will look more like Russia or China than the allegedly free country we celebrate each 4th of July. China's crackdown on the freedoms once enjoyed by the citizens of Hong Kong should serve as a warning to us all. If the BLM has their way, we will see the sort of attacks on churches and loss of freedoms that are occurring in Asia right here on American soil...or perhaps we already are... 

They specifically elevate youth over the wisdom and the sort of expertise that comes with age in an effort to overthrow established religion and values. As I mentioned, the Black church is known for their respect of authority. There is a reason church leaders are called elders. 

The platform of the LGBTQ movement is incompatible with Biblical Christianity and they know it. In order to advance this pagan agenda, the international BLM campaign has joined together with the LGBTQ juggernaut in an attempt to cancel Christian culture, erase family values, eradicate Judeo-Christian morality and steamroll anyone who stands in their way. Knowing full well that our nation's laws were drawn from and based upon God's laws, this movement seeks to eradicate America as we know it in order to facilitate the spread of their wicked, sinful lifestyle and erase the Christian influence on this country. 

4. They Hold Conflicting Perspectives on VIOLENCE

BLM opposes violence toward the Black transgender community. All Christians should agree that violence directed toward any member of the LGBTQ community is wrong.  Black pastors believe that all human beings have inherent value because God created every person in His image.  They clearly state that they hold no animosity toward anyone, but the BLM institution DOES hold animosity toward the white community, families, the Christian faith and the United States as a whole. 

We have watched this animosity unleashed before our very eyes as cities are burned, businesses are destroyed and police are attacked. Theft was rampant as looters broke into stores and stole what does not belong to them. I have not found any evidence of BLM speaking out against these actions except for local BLM 457 from Virginia, who distanced themselves by speaking out against rioters and another local BLM chapter in Salt Lake City who did the same. Sadly, these seem to be the exception, rather than the rule. BLM is closely linked to Critical Race Theory which claims that the entire American system of government, our economy, our morals, our values, everything is designed to oppress black people. And they want to burn it all down. 

The 8th commandment is: You shall not steal. Looting is stealing. Proverbs chapter 1 warns against this: My son, if sinners entice you, don't be persuaded. If they say...We'll find all kinds of valuable property and fill our houses with plunder. Throw in your lot with us, and we'll all share the loot--my son, don't travel that road with them or set foot on their path, because their feet run toward evil and they hurry to shed blood. Theft is a sin. Christians may not take what does not belong to them or condone others doing it. 

Just a short drive from my house, BLM protestors ignored social distancing protocols, exposing themselves to Covid-19. They then swarmed into restaurants, ignoring capacity limitations and pressed in around the customers, potentially exposing them to the virus. At the very height of the pandemic, they flooded the aisles of stores as people attempted to purchase groceries and intentionally pressed themselves around the shoppers, potentially exposing them. As I have mentioned, there was a tense standoff between curfew violating protestors and peace officers in downtown Fort Worth. Across the country, it has been much worse,  rioters have demonstrated that they oppose law and order and have displayed a "burn it down," sort of mentality that is frightening to behold. 

As these things were taking place, here is what came up in our Bible Study lessons: 

Don't plan any harm against your neighbor, for he trusts you and lives near you. -Proverbs 3:29

A city is built up by the blessing of the upright, but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked. Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense, but a person with understanding hold his peace. -Proverbs 11:11-12

The righteous person knows the rights of the poor, but the wicked one does not understand these concerns. -Proverbs 29:7

Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away anger. -Proverbs 29:8

It was no accident that we came upon these verses at this time. God speaks to these contemporary issues with precision in His word and His message is clear. We should care for the rights of the poor and about injustice. We grieve when authority figures misuse their power. We mourn when those individuals charged with protecting citizens cause them harm. We should also respect our neighbors and communities and not tear down and destroy them. Once again, the BLM's actions are incompatible with the Christian faith. 

In Isaiah 1:10, He calls upon the people to Hear the word of the Lord and Listen to the instruction of our God. He then delivers an important discourse on justice and right action that is pleasing to God. In verse 16 and 17, he tells them to stop doing evil encouraging them to learn what is good. Then he provides 4 examples of what is good, just and fair. He tells them to:

1. Pursue Justice

Having already told them to listen to the instruction, or Torah, the LAW of God, He now instructs them to actively seek justice. This word in Hebrew is mishpat, which means to seek good judgement and order. God's idea of justice is not anarchy and violence in the streets, it is LAW & ORDER. 

2. Correct the Oppressor

Christians should seek to provide relief to those who have been oppressed, admonish the offender, intervene on behalf of the victims, give guidance, be a blessing and to make things right.

3. Defend the rights of the fatherless

Stand up for those who can't take care of themselves. Watch over those without families.

4. Plead the widow's cause

Come to the defense of the defenseless. Actively help them and seek to do good for them.

God established the family. He also provided the tithe to take care of widow's, orphans and foreigners living in Israel. Those with families were meant to take care of those without the protection and benefit of a family. The solution for injustice, oppression and social problems is not to destroy, dismantle and disrupt the family. The solution is to preserve, promote and protect the family. We must care for those without family, provide for them, invite them into the family of God, treat them like brothers and sisters and watch over them with special care. 

Conclusion

The unholy union of BLM with LGBTQ is dangerous and harmful to the black community. Sexual harm is one of the most deeply personal and painful types of suffering that a human being can endure and the BLM exists to promote and perpetuate every sinful and sexually deviant lifestyle choice imaginable while railing against sexuality as God designed it. The agenda of the Global BLM cartel is in direct opposition to the values, goals, desires and morals of the Black Christian community. These differences are irreconcilable. The BLM and its adherents do not have the best interests of the black community in mind. Calling their organization "Black Lives Matter," is like an abortion facility naming itself "Lighthouse of Hope." The name conceals a lie that deceives people into believing they care about them and have their best interests in mind, when only sin and suffering, death and destruction await those who enter. The BLM has declared war on the family and on on Biblical morality. BLM has demonstrated itself to be a manipulative, violent, racist, anti-Christian, terrorist hate group. 

Black Pastors vs. BLM is Right vs. Wrong, Light vs. Darkness, Healthy vs. Harmful, Sacred vs. Secular, Christianity vs. Paganism, Good vs. Evil. We would all do well to heed the wise counsel of this unified partnership of Black Pastors and reject and oppose the BLM syndicate. 

Here is a link to what the Bible teaches about sexuality: identity-crisis-created-in-image-of-god.html

Here is a link to the amicus brief from 110 Black Pastors: black-pastors-amicus-brief-mich-gay-marriage.pdf

Here is the link to the now-removed BLM statement of belief: https://blacklivesmatter.com/what-we-believe/