The Christian Letter, Volume One: Chapter 65
When I read these old falling apart books about men and women who were killed for striving to better the church, I often hear in my heart the memory of whispers proclaiming, “The vile church. Look at how evil they are.” … I do not feel this way, though. It was not this religion or another one, rather the true culprit for a murderous heart is this: Humans, including atheists, have always hated challenge presented. Yet, unless we challenge ourselves, dear brothers and sweet sisters, we will vanish into the abyss of this world.
Once upon a time, I went to church to share Truth. Seasons visited often, but few grew to cherish the Truths presented. I wore thin, and became frustrated, as, unless the whole body changed, the individuals would seldom grow in the whole Word. Yet, to be true followers of the Messiah, we must grow, even if it means no longer resembling our old denomination.
In 1517, Martin Luther posted his thesis on the door of Wittenberg Castle. The church tried to kill him for it, and they did murder many others, throughout the ages, because of their arguments against the doctrines of men. Regardless, I, Valentine Thalken Billingsley, post this Letter of Decision on the door of every Christian household. In it is an urgent call to stand up and be accountable, for today, yes, this very day, is the day of decision!
A. I will do as the Christian Church tells me.
B. I have free will, and, with it, I choose to show love to He Who gave it to me—His Way.
“And Yahoshuah said to him, ‘You shall love Yahoweh your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and great command.’” (Matthew 22:37-38).
A. I will take care of myself, and be friendly to those to whom it is fashionable.
B. I will love my neighbor enough to make sure they have the same needed nutrition and clothing that I do, no matter who they are, for the Messiah loved even the prostitutes and tax collectors. I will love them, even knowing their faults, as I know I have faults, too.
“And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commands hang all the Torah and the Prophets.’” (Matthew 22:39-40).
A. I would like to have a pastor / rabbi / father to lead me in the way of our denomination.
B. I accept the Holy Spirit as my Guide, the Messiah as my Rabbi, and Elohim as my Father. As for men who serve: our brothers ought present messages encouraging us to do the things the Messiah has called us to do within the Scriptures as a whole.
“But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi,’ for One is your Teacher, the Messiah, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth your father, for One is your Father, He Who is in the heavens. Neither be called leaders, for One is your Leader, the Messiah. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:8-12).
A. I would like to see the church embrace traditions of the world more, like Halloween, Christmas, and Easter.
B. I will tear down the high places, and worship by Biblical festival like Hezekiah, Josiah, and the Messiah.
“Thus said Yahoweh, ‘What unrighteousness have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?’” (Jeremiah 2:5).
A. The church keeps communion, and performs the tradition for a minute or two. This reminds me of Him because people say it does.
B. Yahoshuah keeps the Feasts, and celebrates them with joy for many days. Keeping them with Him reminds me of more than a pen can write for the reason of His Holy Spirit.
“And the taught ones were filled with joy and the Set-apart Spirit.” (Acts 13:52).
A. I am a pew warmer.
B. I am a disciple.
“And he who does not take up his stake and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life shall lose it, and he that has lost his life for My sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:38-39).
A. All decisions should be made by a handful of people.
B. All decisions should be made by the Word Himself, and if at any point in time it is felt as though this is not being adhered to, then a Biblical discussion will be made by the whole body, until the matter is settled in the fruit of the Spirit, not separated by the worm of the flesh.
“All Scripture is breathed by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for setting straight, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of Elohim might be fitted, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
A. I prefer to only call him by a false title or fake name, such as god or jesus.
B. I prefer to only call Him by a proper title or His Name, such as Creator or Yahoweh.
“I am Yahoweh, that is My Name, and My esteem I do not give to another, nor My praise to idols.” (Isaiah 42:8).
A. I look to images to remind me of what He did for us. I like the Celtic / Druid / Egyptian / Roman cross, which were used to sacrifice millions to the Sun, that is hanging up in the church.
B. He is not on the cross, and He is not in the grave. If anything should be in our place of assembly, it should be the Words of Life, not doodles.
“and rejected His laws and His covenant that He had made with their fathers, and His witnesses which He had witnessed against them, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless, and after the gentiles who were all around them, of whom Yahoweh had commanded them not to do like them.” (2 Kings 17:15).
A. It is irrelevant what the Messiah did, does, and will do. We should follow the traditions of our fathers.
B. The Messiah is Master of the Sabbath. I will follow Him, even if it means I no longer resemble a modern day Christian.
“O Yahoweh, my strength and my stronghold and my refuge, in the day of distress the gentiles shall come to You from the ends of the earth and say, ‘Our fathers have inherited only falsehood, futility, and there is no value in them.’” (Jeremiah 16:19).
A. I want to observe made up imitations of festivals, like the national day of prayer and pastor appreciation day.
B. I want to observe the Biblical fasts to search my heart and daily lift up thanks in admiration to my Saviour.
“This people draw near to Me with their mouth, and respect Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commands of men.” (Matthew 15:8-9).
A. I am better than other people are.
B. He loves us all.
“But Elohim proves His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Messiah died for us.” (Romans 5:8).
A. I sing from the hymnal even when the words are derogatory.
B. I sing the Psalms even when they speak of loving His Law.
“My tongue sings of Your Word, for all Your Commands are righteousness.” (Psalms 119:172).
A. I want our church organization to pick and choose what commandments we might keep.
B. I want to keep all the Commandments the Messiah kept according to the Scriptures.
“Do not add to the Word which I command you, and do not take away from it, so as to guard the commands of Yahoweh your Elohim which I am commanding you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2).
A. I want all sorts of new Christian t-shirts and apparel, as long as it looks like the world’s apparel so I blend in.
B. I want the tzitzit to bless others and myself, as He has promised, so I might be a peculiar treasure unto Him.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.” (Romans 12:2).
A. I want to feel a spirit where I worship so I can feel good.
B. I want to feel guidance of the Holy Spirit in my heart, always.
“I have treasured up Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Yahoweh! Teach me Your Laws.” (Psalms 119:11-12).
A. I seek only the bi-laws of the church.
B. I seek first His Kingdom.
“And as Yahoshuah passed on from there, He saw a man called Mattithyahu sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ And he rose and followed Him.” (Matthew 9:9).
A. I will accept the religion of evolution as truth.
B. I will accept Yahoweh’s Word as Truth.
“For since the creation of the world His invisible qualities have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, both His everlasting power and Mightiness, for them to be without excuse, because, although they knew Elohim, they did not esteem Him as Elohim, nor gave thanks, but became vain in their reasonings, and their undiscerning heart was darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and changed the esteem of the incorruptible Elohim into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds and of four-footed beasts and of reptiles. Therefore Elohim gave them up to uncleanness in the lust of their hearts, to disrespect their bodies among themselves, who changed the truth of Elohim into the falsehood, and worshiped and served what was created rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever. Amen.” (Romans 1:20-25).
A. I will kill and eat anything I want to. I do not care if people stumble because of it.
B. To be known for love, I cannot be known for violence. I will eat on earth as it is in Heaven for the sake of His Kingdom, His temple, as well as for my neighbours, dear brothers, and sweet sisters.
“Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.” (1 Corinthians 8:13).
A. I will not honor my parents because I don’t know them / they don’t honor me.
B. I will be the best that I can be so that all my family and friends, who raised me, will be blessed with honor, for the glory of Yahoweh.
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land Yahoweh your Deliverer is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12).
A. I want classes on end times.
B. I will act upon studies on loving the Creator.
“But I hold this against you, that you have left your first love. So remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works, or else I shall come to you speedily and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:4-5).
A. I believe in part of the New Testament only.
B. I follow the Ageless Word of the Ageless King!
“Yahoshuah Messiah is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8).
A. I will keep a law here and there in the spirit of fruit.
B. I will keep the Ten Commandments in the fruit of the Spirit.
“For a good tree does not yield rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree yield good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For they do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. The good man brings forth what is good out of the good treasure of his heart, and the wicked man brings forth what is wicked out of the wicked treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:43-45).
A. We do not have to do what the Messiah did. Surely we will not die.
B. We get to do as the Messiah did / does / will. Surely, we will walk with Him to the cross … and beyond.
“Then Yahoshuah came from Galil to Yohanan at the Yarden to be immersed by him. But Yohanan was hindering Him, saying, ‘I need to be immersed by You, and You come to me?’ But Yahoshuah answering, said to him, ‘Permit it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fill all righteousness.’ Then he permitted Him.” (Matthew 3:13-15).
A. The pope / church has power over His Word, so I am loyal to my denomination. I only say I follow the Messiah.
B. I have no interest in following those who claim to follow Him but walk differently. By His loving Spirit, I yearn to keep Sabbath with Messiah, even if it goes against man’s wishes.
“For do I now persuade men, or Elohim? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I should not be a servant of Messiah.” (Galatians 1:10).
A. I am the world’s Christian.
B. I His brother. / I am His sister. —An heir according to His promise.
“And one said to Him, ‘See, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.’ But He answering, said to the one who spoke to Him, ‘Who is My mother and who are My brothers?’ And having stretched out His hand toward His taught ones, He said, ‘See My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the desire of My Father Who is in the heavens is My brother and sister and mother.’” (Matthew 12:47-50).
A. As for I and my house, we will serve the lord.
B. As for I and my house, we serve Yahoweh.
“‘And now, fear Yahoweh, serve Him in perfection and in truth, and put away the mighty ones which your fathers served beyond the River and in Mitsrayim, and serve Yahoweh! And if it seems evil in your eyes to serve Yahoweh, choose for yourselves this day whom you are going to serve, whether the mighty ones which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the mighty ones of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But I and my house, we serve Yahoweh.’ And the people answered and said, ‘Far be it from us to forsake Yahoweh, to serve other mighty ones, for Yahoweh our Elohim is He Who has brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Mitsrayim, from the house of bondage, Who did those great signs before our eyes, and has guarded us in all the way that we went and among all the people through whom we passed.’” (Joshua 24:14-17).
If you choose A, you might be voted number one Christian.
If you choose B, you will not be called a Christian anymore.
If you choose A, everything will be fine and dandy.
If you choose B, the veil will fall to the ground and you will see.
If you choose A, the world might see your act.
If you choose B, the Word will feel your love.
If you choose A and B, you will feel like vomit, for vomit you will be.
Choose B. Choose life. This day, decide to choose Yahoweh—truthfully—for I tell you no lie: The Scriptures are the longest and most wondrous marriage contract, even longing prayer, to ever be. We, with voice and action, must proclaim, “Yes!” to our Husband, and, “No!” to the deceivers.
“And to Him Who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you blameless before the presence of His esteem with exceeding joy, to the only wise Elohim, our Saviour, be esteem and greatness and might and authority, both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25).
…
Be Blessed and be a Blessing
Shalom
-Valentine Thalken Billingsley
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Additional Scripture References:
James 2:18-19, 2 Kings, 17:19, Matthew 28:19-20, Revelations 3:16
