The The Antioch Declaration (TAD) struck me like a plow hitting a hard stone buried deep in the soil. There’s something heavy here—something that speaks to why people follow so blindly, like sheep trotting after the shepherd without knowing the path. So, I’m going to try to lay this out simply. My approach is straightforward: I’ll explain each part twice to two imaginary dummies, first for the younger, whose understanding is still growing, and then for the older, who may grasp subtler nuances. My translations aren’t endorsements, but rather attempts to build a bridge of understanding. I’ll pull pieces of the declaration, answer them, and then break them down. This process, like all meaningful conversations, will unfold slowly, over a few days, so that we can stand a little straighter and think a little deeper for ourselves. God help us find clarity. Lord knows, we’ll need His help to do that.

The church stood silent, its walls thick and sturdy, sheltering something no one dared to name. The greatest wrong in our time, tied up in its very soul, wasn’t confronted or even whispered about. Instead, it lay buried deep, safe and shielded by a fortress of endless affirmations and denials, each brick in that wall placed with care. I couldn’t help but wonder how long the silence could hold before the truth burst through.

Here we go.

Schedule

Here is my schedule for getting The Antioch Declaration for Dummies completed. You may also click on the link to jump to that section.

Declaration	Due	Status
Preamble, 1-2	11/27/24	Completed
3-7	11/29/24	Completed
8-10	11/30/24	Completed
11-14	12/04/24	Completed
15-17	12/06/24	Completed
18-19	12/12/24	Completed
20-25	12/13/24	in progress

WE DENY that Jews are in any way uniquely malevolent or sinful, that Judaism in its multifarious expressions is objectively more dangerous than other false religions, or that it represents an exceptional threat to Christianity and Christian peoples. By nature, the Jews are objects of wrath just like the rest of us, which is condemnation enough (Psalm 14:2-3), and are equally recipients of God’s grace (Romans 11:11-32).

☐ Agree ☒ Disagree ☐ Uncertain Comment:

I can’t agree. To agree would mean denying God, and I won’t do that.  I’ve seen men try to shield others, thinking they’re doing good, but all they’re really doing is pulling a heavy veil over the truth. Like Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, they shut out the warnings and silence anyone who dares to speak sense. (Amos 7:10-17) Amaziah would rather watch his nation crumble to dust than admit it needed to change, and there’s something deeply wrong with that. Evil doesn’t always wear horns or show itself in obvious ways; sometimes, it just whispers lies that keep people on a path to ruin.

Jeremiah 23:14 Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: The committing of adultery and walking in falsehood; and they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one has turned back from his wickedness. All of them have become to Me like Sodom, and her inhabitants like Gomorrah.

Would Paul Have Signed This?

Paul would not have signed this declaration. His life was marked by conflicts, especially with the Jews, whose opposition left lasting scars. He even wrote to the Thessalonians, urging them to be cautious, his words a mix of wisdom and weariness.

1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men, hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.

And to the Romans he wrote…

Romans 11:25-28 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery — so that you will not be wise in your own estimation — that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “the Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” “This is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers;

Earlier he had challenged them to be discerning by realizing that not all Israel is Israel.

Romans 9:6-7 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “through Isaac your descendants will be named.”

Church leaders know that calling yourself a Christian doesn’t make it real. But with the Jews, they lose all reason. They stop thinking clearly and push others to do the same. The truth is simple: some people sin more than others. You can’t ignore what’s right in front of your eyes.

Revelation 3:9 ‘Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie — I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.

Paul’s warning was simple, but it carried a weight that couldn’t be ignored: “From the standpoint of the gospel, they are enemies.” Now, how are the Jews enemies? We could trace through the long, winding history of Christianity to find the answer, but that would take more time than we have. Instead, let’s walk the path the Bible has already laid down for us.

Would Luke Have Signed This?

Luke describes many instances of the Jews opposing the truth; we can find the same kind of things going on in the world today.

Acts 14:2 But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren.

Acts 13:44-46 The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

Luke mentions “the Jews” 56 times in his Gospel and in the Book of Acts. Add to that other references of Pharisees, chief priests, and scribes. The ratio of good Jew to bad Jew would suggest that Luke would never have signed this declaration. They are troublesome. If Luke is a Christian worth imitating, then his emphasis on the Jew is noteworthy. Do we see anything like Luke in our day? Where are such Christian men? How have we come to be so unlike Luke?  

The cause of the problems we have today has a source.

If 2% of our population were Muslim, yet 70% of the positions of power and influence were filled with Muslims, would that be a problem? 2% of our population is Jewish, yet 70% of the positions of power and influence are filled with Jews. That’s a problem. The cause of the problems we have today has a source.

Luke 12:1 Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Pharisees were the leading people of the Jews. They destroyed that nation. They gravitate toward positions of power and once there, mismanage it. Why? Hypocrisy. For example, if the Jew actually sought the welfare of our country, would they be opposed to our desire for them to practice equity and fill only 2% of the positions of power and influence, instead of 70%?  No! It’s equity for us, but not for them.

Would John Have Signed This?

John was an Apostle. He was fully trained by Jesus and wrote about the life of Christ. It is interesting to see what a trained mind considers important. 63 times in 60 verses he mentions “the Jews.” Nearly 3 out of every 5 occurrences put the Jews in negative light. The term is often used to refer to the Jewish religious and political authorities who opposed Jesus rather than the entire population.  John’s focus was to draw out the Jewish elite and call it to our attention. But, we have to study John’s work to understand that, because John is very comfortable with using a broad brush to paint his own people by saying “the Jews.” He doesn’t differentiate between the evil element within the race and the rest. He is not careful like that. He just calls them “the Jews.”

Some of these statements are incredibly insightful. Note the mention of the host country, Rome, in the background. Would John have signed this declaration?

John 11:47-54 Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. “If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they planned together to kill Him. Therefore, Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples.

Earlier, we read in…

John 7:1 After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him.

Yet remember this, Jesus drove the moneychangers out of the Temple not once, but at least twice, and maybe even three times. Why did the Roman guards not intervene? Did they think the Jews deserved it? Why did these Jews keep coming back? What does this say about their character? Do you think they returned after Jesus left?  Where are such people today?

So after Jesus left and went to heaven, He wrote two letters to the Church telling us to be on guard against these Jews. The synagogue of Satan is a pretty serious accusation. Should we ignore His warnings or should we let them inform us?

Revelation 2:9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Revelation 3:9 ‘Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie — I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.

Would Jesus Have Signed This?

Jesus knew firsthand the trouble the Jew can cause. He did not hesitate to call them out. He sought to spare His followers trouble by pointing them out and warning us to stay vigilant. Jesus would never have signed this declaration. We are not all the same.

Matthew 10:16-18 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. “But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.”

Matthew 7:13-16 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?”

So, rather than saying that the Jew was like everyone else, Jesus declared, believer beware!  His eternal word says, “notice them, for your own welfare, notice them; for the welfare of your children, notice them; for the welfare of your church, notice them; for the welfare of your state and country, notice them, notice them, notice them.

Are You Going To Sign This?

I am not.

So, let me get back to translating this declaration unless you miss their point.

INTERPRETATION and EXPLANATION

To The Younger

Sometimes people think that Jewish people are more bad or more of a threat than other people, just because they’re Jewish. They might think that the Jewish religion is worse than other religions that aren’t Christian.

But the statement is saying that this is not true. The Bible says that all people are sinful and need God’s help, not just Jewish people. It also says that God loves all people and wants to save them, including Jewish people.

So, Jewish people are not worse or more dangerous than anyone else, just because they’re Jewish. They’re just like everyone else in that they need God’s help and can be saved by Him.

The statement is also saying that we shouldn’t think that the Jewish religion is worse than other religions that aren’t Christian. All religions that aren’t Christian are not telling the whole truth about God, but that doesn’t mean that the Jewish religion is more dangerous or worse than any other non-Christian religion.

So, the main point of the statement is that we should not think that Jewish people or the Jewish religion are uniquely bad or dangerous. We should remember that all people need God’s help and can be saved by Him, no matter what their background is.

To The Older

The authors are saying that Jewish people are not worse or more sinful than anyone else, and that their religion is not more dangerous than other religions that aren’t Christian. The author believes that all people, including Jews, have the chance to be forgiven and loved by God if they follow Jesus. They remind us that we should treat everyone with kindness and respect, no matter what religion they follow.  

WE DENY that world affairs are governed by conspiring Jews or that there is a global Jewish conspiracy to corrupt and destroy Western society.

☐ Agree ☒ Disagree ☐ Uncertain Comment:

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I disagree. These authors may have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Just like false teachers before them, they lead others down a path to destruction.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Their denial is over the top, like trying to convince people at noonday that the sun does not shine. I guess they want us to believe that our struggle is in our heads and nothing but our imagination. It is not.

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Just how do the men of The Antioch Declaration understand these forces of wickedness? How do these forces apply their pressure upon us to create our struggle? Are not “rulers” and “world” forces the physical manifestations of spiritual forces? Is it absurd to ask, who are these rulers of this world? Can we not expect an answer?

Knowing the source of wickedness means we include spiritual means in our struggle, not that we should abandon all physical elements of the fight. It does not mean we accept abuse or give up freedom.  That is not a virtue; that is not spiritual. When we look to the future, it also does not mean we pass on to our children a snake instead of bread.  We seek to make a future better for them than for us.

1 Corinthians 7:21-23 Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.

2 Corinthians 11:19-20 For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly. For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face.

Matthew 7:9-10 “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?”

Secondly, God believes in conspiracies and He encouraged us to believe in them too. How many times does He remind us to be sober minded, alert, and vigilant? Why did He give us eyes and ears and our other senses to warn us of danger? Why did He say that our adversary is like a lion prowling about seeking someone to devour?

The history of man is the history of men conspiring against one another. Jews are not excluded from this.

Now, if all these cues in Scripture have been of no help, then maybe a review of modern history will wake these men up. Although the subject is complex, it is not impossible to see what world affairs are governed by conspiring Jews. It would be most unusual for a people to not conspire together to seek their own welfare. From Genesis 10 onward that is what we find in the world, men conspiring together to seek their own welfare. For the Jews to stop doing this in our generation as these authors suggest, would be most unusual.

There are many roads that lead to a deeper understanding of “a global Jewish conspiracy to corrupt and destroy Western society.” Once you are convinced that this is possible, then consider these steps to help you brush away the dust that covers up the truth.  

First, surround yourself with loyal supporters whom you can trust implicitly. Consider family members. These individuals will serve as your eyes and ears, providing valuable information and assistance in countering the conspiracy. When we live in a world full of lies, we will eventually fall for some; good friends or good family members can help you and you can help them avoid that.

Next, start gathering evidence to substantiate your claims. How did we get into this mess? Why are we so weak in fighting against evil? What were we taught not to look at, read, watch, etc. Could any of that lead to information that could help us establish civilization once again? Someone showed me this diagram detailing our problems. Is it right or wrong? I don’t know, but most of it makes sense based on what I know. Therefore, I trace it out as much as I can to become resistance to the forces that are driving us to destruction and despair. I eat the fruit and spit out the seeds.

To conclude this introduction to a global Jewish conspiracy to corrupt and destroy Western society watch this video on the concise history of modern Israel – 1948: The Birth of a New Specimen of Human Being. It speaks of the creation of the modern state of Israel. I challenge you to compare it to God’s description of His creation of Israel.

Proverbs 18:17 The first to plead his case seems right, until another comes and examines him.

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INTERPRETATION and EXPLANATION

To The Older

Sometimes people believe things that aren’t true, like the idea that there’s a secret group of Jewish people who are trying to cause problems and destroy the world. This is called a conspiracy theory.

The statement is saying that this idea is not true. There is no secret group of Jewish people trying to destroy the world or cause problems.

The Bible says that there are bad things in the world because people don’t always do what God wants them to do, but it doesn’t say that any one group of people is responsible for all the bad things.

So, the main point of the statement is that we should not believe in conspiracy theories that say Jewish people are trying to destroy the world. We should remember that all people are capable of doing good and bad things, and that God is the one who is ultimately in control of the world.

To The Younger

The authors are saying that there is no secret group of Jewish people who are trying to control the world or ruin Western society. They believe that this idea is not true and that we shouldn’t blame Jewish people for the problems in the world. The author wants us to remember that all people are equal and should be treated with kindness and respect, no matter what religion they follow.

Schedule

Here is my schedule for getting The Antioch Declaration for Dummies completed. You may also click on the link to jump to that section.

Declaration	Due	Status
Preamble, 1-2	11/27/24	Completed
3-7	11/29/24	Completed
8-10	11/30/24	Completed
11-14	12/04/24	Completed
15-17	12/06/24	Completed
18-19	12/12/24	Completed
20-25	12/13/24	in progress

The The Antioch Declaration (TAD) struck me like a plow hitting a hard stone buried deep in the soil. There’s something heavy here—something that speaks to why people follow so blindly, like sheep trotting after the shepherd without knowing the path. So, I’m going to try to lay this out simply. My approach is straightforward: I’ll explain each part twice to two imaginary dummies, first for the younger, whose understanding is still growing, and then for the older, who may grasp subtler nuances. My translations aren’t endorsements, but rather attempts to build a bridge of understanding. I’ll pull pieces of the declaration, answer them, and then break them down. This process, like all meaningful conversations, will unfold slowly, over a few days, so that we can stand a little straighter and think a little deeper for ourselves. God help us find clarity. Lord knows, we’ll need His help to do that.

The church stood silent, its walls thick and sturdy, sheltering something no one dared to name. The greatest wrong in our time, tied up in its very soul, wasn’t confronted or even whispered about. Instead, it lay buried deep, safe and shielded by a fortress of endless affirmations and denials, each brick in that wall placed with care. I couldn’t help but wonder how long the silence could hold before the truth burst through.

Here we go.

Schedule

Here is my schedule for getting The Antioch Declaration for Dummies completed. You may also click on the link to jump to that section.

Declaration	Due	Status
Preamble, 1-2	11/27/24	Completed
3-7	11/29/24	Completed
8-10	11/30/24	Completed
11-14	12/04/24	Completed
15-17	12/06/24	Completed
18-19	12/12/24	Completed
20-25	12/13/24	in progress

WE AFFIRM that in deeply unsettled times there is a carnal desire in fallen man to seek out a scapegoat for sin and social corruption. This sadistic urge seeks to expiate guilt by laying the blame and punishment for all cultural ills on an identifiable group(s). The victimized group(s) is offered up to the masses as providing ostensible ‘explanatory power’ for cultural decay, which all conspiracy theories must provide if they are to gain any traction. The Jews have often been the easiest target for this kind of sinful and decrepit thinking.

☐ Agree ☒ Disagree ☐ Uncertain Comment:

Although I agree that blaming others for one’s own faults is sinful, the authors introduce a race (the Jews) that they think “have often been the easiest target for this kind of sinful and decrepit thinking.” With that I disagree.

Why was it, I wonder, that God chose the days of the Roman Republic to send the Savior? Why not when Israel was a sovereign kingdom, standing alone in its independence?  The choice feels significant, as though history itself was shaping the stage for something far greater than anyone could have imagined.

A comparison of the two kingdoms is revealing, but beyond the scope of this post. The Old Testament itself shows a pattern of behavior regarding this people that might answer this question sufficiently.

Exodus 32:9 The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people.

Deuteronomy 9:13 “The Lord spoke further to me, saying, ‘I have seen this people, and indeed, it is a stubborn people.

It wasn’t just God who noticed. Moses noticed it too. Without a doubt, he saw the path they were on.

Deuteronomy 31:27 “For I [Moses] know your rebellion and your stubbornness; behold, while I am still alive with you today, you have been rebellious against the Lord; how much more, then, after my death?

Fast forward many years later. Had they changed?  No. Here is God’s description of them then.

Ezekiel 2:4 “I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’

Fast forward again, to the time of the New Testament. Read Stephen’s speech in Acts 7 which portrays the Israelites as stubborn, disobedient, resistant to God’s messengers, and guilty of rejecting and killing the Messiah.

Remember, it was at this time that Jesus had to forcefully remove the moneychangers from the Temple, not once but two or three times! Where do you think they went after He left?

Read Acts; who antagonized the church the most, the host country (White Europeans) or the Jews?  Jesus and Paul could travel freely around the Roman Republic, but at home, who was the constant threat?

John 7:1 After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him.

Study the Gospel of John; 3 out of every 5 occurrences of the term “the Jews” is negative. John knew what they were like and did not fail to bring that to light.

Now, all of this does not mean that every single Jew on the planet was out to kill Jesus, but it DOES MEAN that “the Jews” were stubborn, disobedient, resistant to God’s messengers, and guilty of rejecting and killing the Messiah. As a group, as a nation, particularly the leaders of that nation, they were problematic. Are we supposed to ignore what God put in our Bible to pay attention too?

Why did God have to command His people how to live in foreign lands?

Jeremiah 29:7-8 ‘Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.’ “For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream.

Does Jeremiah call attention to the character of this people?

Jeremiah 13:23 “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then you also can do good who are accustomed to doing evil.

The pattern of “the Jews” explains why God waited until the Roman Republic. He waited until government matured and was in the hands of those that could wield it skillfully. The White man can be proud of his heritage and accomplishments. God recognized them. The White man should also remember that to whom much is given, much will be required. A review of history would reveal that for the most part, but not in every part, the White man understood that.

Do you remember in Genesis 4 the three descendants of Cain? Three families with different gifts that form a degree of interdependence in the progress of civilization.

Genesis 4:19-22 Lamech took to himself two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other, Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. As for Zillah, she also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

What gift does your family bring to the table?

We are not all equal. Like a basketball team composed of people of different heights, there are different positions for each player. To have the center play guard because we are all equal would destroy the strength of the team. There is only one race that encourages this value. The Jews, more than any other, want us to believe everyone is equal.

Rep. Thomas Abernathy read this passage into the Congressional Record on June 7, 1957 (Vol. 103, p. 8559, top of page.)

So, what is it that I don’t agree with in this declaration? I disagree with the idea that it’s a sin to see what’s wrong in a people and say it. The Jews do evil, and it deserves to be called out. That’s all there is to it. How can one bless Israel, if they do not call Israel to repentance? How can one call Israel to repentance without reference what Israel does? It is wrong to say it is wrong to speak against Israel. (see Amos 7:14-17).

Now, here is my translation of this declaration.

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INTERPRETATION and EXPLANATION

To The Younger

Sometimes when things are going wrong in the world or in a society, people want to find someone to blame. They look for a group of people who they can say are causing all the problems, even if it’s not true. This is called finding a “scapegoat.”

The statement is saying that this is a bad thing to do, and it’s something that people who don’t follow God often do. They want to make themselves feel better by blaming someone else for everything that’s going wrong.

One group of people who have often been blamed for things they didn’t do is the Jews. People have said that the Jews are the reason for all sorts of problems, even though it’s not true.

The statement is saying that this is a bad and wrong thing to do. We shouldn’t blame innocent people for problems that they didn’t cause, just because we want someone to blame.

Instead, we should look at what the Bible says and try to do what’s right, even when things are difficult or scary. We should remember that God is in control and that He wants us to love and care for others, not to blame them for things they didn’t do.

To The Older

The authors are saying that when people are worried or upset about problems in society, they sometimes look for someone to blame. They might choose a group of people, like the Jews, and say that they are the reason for all the bad things happening. The author believes that this is a wrong and hurtful way to think, and that instead, we should look to Jesus and His teachings for guidance on how to fix problems in the world.

WE DENY that scapegoating is a legitimate practice for Christians to participate in because God has already provided the final and perfect scapegoat in Christ Jesus who alone is the true sin-bearer.

☒ Agree ☐ Disagree ☐ Uncertain Comment:

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I agree. If it is wrong for Christians, then is it wrong for everyone else? Non-Whites need to understand that God has provided the final and perfect scapegoat, and they don’t need to blame Whites. But, who will tell them?  

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Here is my translation of this declaration.

INTERPRETATION and EXPLANATION

To The Younger

In the Bible, there’s a story about a special animal called a “scapegoat.” The scapegoat was used to take away the sins of the people by having all the sins put on it and then sending it away into the wilderness.

The statement is saying that Christians should not try to find other people to blame for their problems or the problems of society, because Jesus is the perfect scapegoat. He took away all the sins of the world by dying on the cross.

So, instead of blaming other people for things that go wrong, Christians should remember that Jesus has already taken care of the problem of sin. They should trust in Him and try to do what’s right, even when things are difficult.

In other words, Christians should not act like people who don’t believe in God and try to find someone else to blame for their problems. They should remember that Jesus is the answer to the problem of sin, and they should follow Him and do what He says.

To The Older

The authors are saying that people who follow Jesus shouldn’t blame other people or groups for their problems or mistakes. Instead, they should remember that Jesus took all the blame and punishment for sin when He died on the cross. The author believes that following Jesus means treating others with love and kindness, not blaming them for things that aren’t their fault.

WE DENY that our rejection of antisemitism requires us to ignore or minimize the destructive impact that various God-hating individual Jews have had in human history, just as our rejection of the hatred of Europeans and Anglo-Saxons does not require us to ignore the cultural devastation that many God-hating individual Gentiles have produced. Every ethnic people have members to be ashamed of, and every ethnic people have members to be grateful for.

☒ Agree ☐ Disagree ☐ Uncertain Comment:

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I agree.

It’s striking how God sent Isaiah to speak to the hearts of individuals, yet He did it by addressing the whole ethnic group. The vision Isaiah saw wasn’t just about one person—it was about a city, a nation, a shared life. Isaiah’s words cut through Judah and Jerusalem like a plow turning over dry earth, exposing what lay beneath.

Isaiah 1:1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz concerning Judah and Jerusalem, which he saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

It’s like a basketball coach yelling at the team after a loss—every player feels the sting because they’re part of the whole. If we don’t understand this, we miss how evil works quietly, spreading like weeds until it’s choking us all. We must not shy away from speaking to any ethnic group for fear of being called racist. Let God be our example here and confront evil wherever it is found and at whatever level it is found.  We must not stand with the Amaziahs of the world, but oppose them.  

Amos 7:16 Now hear the word of the Lord: you [Amaziah, the priest of Bethel] are saying, ‘You shall not prophesy against Israel nor shall you speak against the house of Isaac.’

When they tell us to be silent, we must climb to the top of the house and shout!

Matthew 10:26-27 Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.

INTERPRETATION and EXPLANATION

To The Younger

Sometimes people don’t like other people because of their race or where they come from. This is called hatred, and it’s not a good thing. The Bible says that we should love and respect everyone, no matter what race they are or where they come from.

The statement is saying that even though we should not hate Jewish people or any other group of people, that doesn’t mean we have to pretend that everyone from that group is perfect. There have been some Jewish people in history who have done bad things, just like there have been people from other groups who have done bad things.

So, we can still talk about the bad things that some people have done, even if they’re part of a group that we shouldn’t hate. We don’t have to ignore or pretend like those bad things didn’t happen.

At the same time, we can also talk about the good things that people from every group have done. Every group of people has some members who have done things to be proud of and grateful for.

So, the statement is saying that we can reject hatred and still be honest about history. We can talk about the bad things that some people have done without hating their whole group, and we can also talk about the good things that people from every group have done.

To The Older

The authors are saying that even though we shouldn’t hate or blame entire groups of people, like Jews or Europeans, we can still recognize that some individuals from these groups have done bad things in history. The author believes that we should judge people by their actions and choices, not by what group they belong to. They also remind us that every group has both good and bad people, and we should be grateful for the good ones.

Schedule

Here is my schedule for getting The Antioch Declaration for Dummies completed. You may also click on the link to jump to that section.

Declaration	Due	Status
Preamble, 1-2	11/27/24	Completed
3-7	11/29/24	Completed
8-10	11/30/24	Completed
11-14	12/04/24	Completed
15-17	12/06/24	Completed
18-19	12/12/24	Completed
20-25	12/13/24	in progress

The The Antioch Declaration (TAD) struck me like a plow hitting a hard stone buried deep in the soil. There’s something heavy here—something that speaks to why people follow so blindly, like sheep trotting after the shepherd without knowing the path. So, I’m going to try to lay this out simply. My approach is straightforward: I’ll explain each part twice to two imaginary dummies, first for the younger, whose understanding is still growing, and then for the older, who may grasp subtler nuances. My translations aren’t endorsements, but rather attempts to build a bridge of understanding. I’ll pull pieces of the declaration, answer them, and then break them down. This process, like all meaningful conversations, will unfold slowly, over a few days, so that we can stand a little straighter and think a little deeper for ourselves. God help us find clarity. Lord knows, we’ll need His help to do that.

The church stood silent, its walls thick and sturdy, sheltering something no one dared to name. The greatest wrong in our time, tied up in its very soul, wasn’t confronted or even whispered about. Instead, it lay buried deep, safe and shielded by a fortress of endless affirmations and denials, each brick in that wall placed with care. I couldn’t help but wonder how long the silence could hold before the truth burst through.

Here we go.

Schedule

Here is my schedule for getting The Antioch Declaration for Dummies completed. You may also click on the link to jump to that section.

Declaration	Due	Status
Preamble, 1-2	11/27/24	Completed
3-7	11/29/24	Completed
8-10	11/30/24	Completed
11-14	12/04/24	Completed
15-17	12/06/24	Completed
18-19	12/12/24	Completed
20-25	12/13/24	in progress

WE AFFIRM that there is a vital biblical difference between the self-loathing of men in the grip of disillusionment over a failed idol, and the true repentance of the Christian man.

☒ Agree   ☐ Disagree   ☐ Uncertain    Comment:

I agree.

INTERPRETATION and EXPLANATION

To The Younger

Sometimes people believe in things that aren’t true or good, like believing that they’re not important or that they’re bad people. This can make them feel really sad and upset with themselves, like they hate who they are. This feeling is called “self-loathing.”

But the Bible talks about a different way to feel bad about yourself. It’s called “repentance,” and it’s when you realize that you’ve done something wrong or sinned, and you want to change and ask God for forgiveness.

The statement is saying that there’s a big difference between feeling really bad about yourself because you believed in something that wasn’t true (self-loathing) and feeling bad about yourself because you know you’ve done something wrong and you want to change (repentance).

Self-loathing is like being sad because you believed in a fake god or idol that let you down. But repentance is like being sad because you know you’ve done something to disobey the real God, and you want to make it right.

So, the statement is saying that it’s important to know the difference between feeling bad about yourself because you believed in the wrong thing and feeling bad about yourself because you know you’ve sinned and want to change.

To The Older

The authors are saying that there is a big difference between feeling really bad about yourself because you believed in something that turned out to be wrong (self-loathing), and truly being sorry for your mistakes and asking God for forgiveness (repentance). The author believes that only through repentance and following Jesus can people find true happiness and peace.

WE DENY that it is possible to recover an ethic that honors our fathers and their momentous sacrifices while actively and openly dishonoring them.

☒ Agree   ☐ Disagree   ☐ Uncertain    Comment:

I agree. Every generation has the challenge of showing respect for their fathers’ bravery and sacrifice along with protecting the truth about the reasons and causes of their battle, so that future generations may walk in righteousness and truth. Until the reasons and the causes of any life altering war are understood, recovering an ethic is always going to be difficult. This delicate balance is expressed in Scripture.

Ezekiel 18

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The fathers eat the sour grapes, But the children’s teeth are set on edge’?

“As I live,” declares the Lord God, “you are surely not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore. “Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.

“But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness, and does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period — if a man does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, if he does not lend money on interest or take increase, if he keeps his hand from iniquity and executes true justice between man and man, if he walks in My statutes and My ordinances so as to deal faithfully — he is righteous and will surely live,” declares the Lord God.

“Then he may have a violent son who sheds blood and who does any of these things to a brother (though he himself did not do any of these things), that is, he even eats at the mountain shrines, and defiles his neighbor’s wife, oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore a pledge, but lifts up his eyes to the idols and commits abomination, he lends money on interest and takes increase; will he live? He will not live! He has committed all these abominations, he will surely be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.

“Now behold, he has a son who has observed all his father’s sins which he committed, and observing does not do likewise. “He does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife, or oppress anyone, or retain a pledge, or commit robbery, but he gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, he keeps his hand from the poor, does not take interest or increase, but executes My ordinances, and walks in My statutes; he will not die for his father’s iniquity, he will surely live. “As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was not good among his people, behold, he will die for his iniquity.

“Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live. “The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.

“But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. “All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. “Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?

“But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die. “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? “When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die. “Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. “Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. “But the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right?

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares the Lord God. “Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. “Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel? “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.”

This proverb is about the children’s teeth set on edge and shows that the actions of one generation has an impact on the next. The main point is that each person is responsible for their own choices and actions.  This means that we do need to pay attention to what we do today, not because the next generation will hold us accountable, but because God will hold us accountable for our own choices and actions.  At the same time, it’s important for us to learn from the mistakes of previous generations and to try to do better. We can honor our fathers and mothers by building on the good things they did and by trying to avoid the mistakes they made.  So, while we are each responsible for our own actions, we can also show love and respect for others, both those who came before us and those who will come after us, by learning from the past and striving to do what is right in the present.

Another important truth to consider on this is…

Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children…

This proverb is talking about the importance of being wise and responsible with the things God has given us, and of using them to bless others, especially our families. But what happens when a father does not act in a wise and responsible way, but instead squanders his wealth and leads his children into hardship? In such a case, it can be very difficult for the children to honor their father, especially if they feel that he has acted selfishly and harmed them in the process.

In the Bible, there are many examples of fathers who made mistakes or did wrong things, and their children had to deal with the consequences. One example is David, who was a great king but also made some serious mistakes that affected his children and his kingdom.  In these cases, it’s important for children to remember that their first loyalty is to God, and that they are called to follow Him even if their parents did not. They can still show respect for their parents by not speaking badly about them and by trying to learn from their mistakes, but they don’t have to agree with everything their parents did or follow in their footsteps.  It’s also important for children to remember that they are not defined by their parents’ actions or mistakes. They can choose to follow God and live a life of wisdom and righteousness, even if their parents did not.

So, while it can be difficult to know how to honor a parent who has made serious mistakes or acted selfishly, the most important thing is to follow God and to seek to live a life that is pleasing to Him. We never want to be in a position where, if asked, we answer in the affirmative on a question like Jesus asked these people:

Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? Matthew 7:9-10

The welfare of our children must be foremost.

So yes on this declaration, I agree, but would add, beware, it is not as simple as simply saying,

WE DENY that it is possible to recover an ethic that honors our fathers and their momentous sacrifices while actively and openly dishonoring them.

Here is how I translated that.

INTERPRETATION and EXPLANATION

To The Younger

This statement is about how we should treat those who came before us, like our parents, grandparents, and the people who made sacrifices for us in history. It’s saying that we can’t truly honor them and what they’ve done if, at the same time, we are openly disrespecting or dishonoring them. These two things don’t go together—they cancel each other out.

The Bible teaches us to “honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12). This commandment isn’t just about how we treat our parents; it’s also about showing respect and gratitude to those who came before us. Honoring them means recognizing their sacrifices, learning from their lives, and being thankful for what they’ve given us. It doesn’t mean we have to agree with everything they did, but it does mean we should approach their legacy with humility and respect.

If we disrespect or criticize them unfairly, especially in a way that shows no gratitude for their sacrifices, then we’re not really living out an ethic of honor. For example, if we enjoy the freedoms and blessings that they worked hard to secure but speak badly about them without understanding their struggles or context, that’s dishonoring.

As Christians, we’re called to balance truth and grace. We can acknowledge the imperfections of those who came before us, but we should do so in a way that still shows gratitude and respect. This is part of loving our neighbor and living out God’s command to honor others.

To The Older

The authors are saying that we can’t truly show respect and gratitude for the brave things our ancestors did, like fighting in wars, if we also say and do things that make them look bad. The author believes that we should always try to honor and remember the good things our ancestors did, even if they weren’t perfect.

WE AFFIRM that as the secular liberal edifice crumbles, many will refuse to turn to Christ. As the “strong gods” inevitably return, godless influential figures will arise the same way Theudas did (Acts 5:34-39).[i] The temptation for some Christian leaders will be to ape such methods for the sake of clicks, followers and the ephemeral notion of ‘influence.’ [i] Act 5:36: Theudas was a Jewish magician, revolutionary and false Messiah, who gathered followers to the river Jordan, promising to part it. The Roman governor Fadus sent troops who killed and captured members of the crowd; Theudas was himself captured and eventually beheaded.

☒ Agree   ☐ Disagree   ☐ Uncertain    Comment:

I agree and affirm this declaration. The church has a job: to guard its leaders and make sure they follow Christ.  In 2 Peter 2, there’s a warning: leaders must follow Christ, only Christ. Yet now, the modern church bends to the weight of Zionism, a faith not its own. It’s as though leaders barter their loyalty for a false peace, afraid to speak against Israel lest they lose their power. These men are more like Amaziah, clinging to comfort in Amos’ time, than like Christ, who carried the burden of truth on His back.

Amos 7:10-17 Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel; the land is unable to endure all his words. “For thus Amos says, ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.'” Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Go, you seer, flee away to the land of Judah and there eat bread and there do your prophesying! “But no longer prophesy at Bethel, for it is a sanctuary of the king and a royal residence.”

Then Amos replied to Amaziah, “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs. “But the Lord took me from following the flock and the Lord said to me, ‘Go prophesy to My people Israel.’ “Now hear the word of the Lord: you are saying, ‘You shall not prophesy against Israel nor shall you speak against the house of Isaac.’ “Therefore, thus says the Lord, ‘Your wife will become a harlot in the city, your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword, your land will be parceled up by a measuring line and you yourself will die upon unclean soil. Moreover, Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.'”

The authors appended a footnote, and it’s quite revealing.  They mention how Fadus, a Roman governor, sent soldiers to track down and kill what we might call, “rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers who upset whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.” (Titus 1:10-11). These men weren’t leading with truth; they were exploiting people for profit.  But consider this paradox: it was not the church, guardian of truth, that rose to action, but a pagan Roman governor.  Think about that—a man of no faith acting while the church did nothing!  The men who wrote this declaration seem blind to this point of fact.

So, a Roman governor, serving his people and answering to the Senate, worked to keep order in the province. His task was to enforce Roman laws, protect against threats from within and without, and keep rebellion at bay. The result of his efforts wasn’t hostility toward Christianity—far from it. By wielding the authority given to him by his people, he created a safe and stable home for everyone under his rule. Roads became secure for travelers, including Christians spreading their message. Quiet towns and cities gave people space to hear and reflect on the Gospel. The Roman world, governed by its own strict ideals, provided exactly what Paul encouraged the church to pray for: a government that maintained peace and order.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Church and State are two separate, but interdependent entities created by God for our good. Fadus understood that truth better than almost every American “Christian” today, including Pastors.

Such things are rarely noted, but they are in the Bible. Consider the line in the sand that Luke points to when describing another incident involving a Roman governor, the proconsul of Achaia.

Acts 18:14-16 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrong or of vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you; but if there are questions about words and names and your own law, look after it yourselves; I am unwilling to be a judge of these matters.” And he drove them away from the judgment seat.

The point Luke makes here is that the natural man, by way of his reason, not revelation from God, sees the line dividing church and state. It’s clear and sharp. He doesn’t question it. His will desires to follow along. A born-again experience is not required. The secular mind knows the line is there, and that’s enough.

Christian pastors are tasked with watching over the souls of their congregation. A governor is tasked with watching over the soul of the nation. They each have separate tool sets to do their jobs; they each run in separate lanes. Back when God took a mob of slaves and began to form them into a nation, He assigned only one tribe to conduct the work needed upon the soul of man. The other 11 were given the task of foraging for food and protecting the family. That ratio, 11:1, is probably a divine and natural balance when it comes to having a healthy nation. I think one would be wise to expect that most of the help they would like to have to secure the blessings of liberty to themselves and their posterity will come from outside the church, not inside the church.

Consider the interplay between church and state this way: Consider the church as the sun and clouds up above. They cast their warmth and shade upon all that lies down below. Down below is the earth and sea; here is where men practice their stewardship over the earth. Here is where we see the power of the state play out – on earth and sea. The sun and clouds up above, they will be felt, but they will not, could not, and should not control.

Consider further Genesis 4 where Cain murdered Abel. There was yet to be any government on the earth at that time. Yet see how God played the part of government here. He resisted evil when evil appeared. He confronted Cain to persuade him to do otherwise; He did not go so far as to control him though. Then, after the crime, when judgment was needed, God bent His own law of capital punishment to fit the context of the situation. God’s law was not an end unto itself; it served a higher purpose which was the need to fill the earth with mankind. (If you have seen the movie End of the Spear then you know how revenge can spiral out of control to exterminate a race of people.) God, with His superior wisdom, averted this by implementing a civil law that protected a murderer, a law that lasted at least 600 years as it was later recalled by Lamech verbatim. By then we see Cain’s great grandchildren contributing back to society in positive ways, compensating for the one that had upended it. If justice had been served, that would not be. Such is the marvelous role of government (see Romans 13:1-10). We should not get too religious about it. We should not overlook its place either as the authors of this declaration and many others have done.

I have said enough; here is my…

INTERPRETATION and EXPLANATION

To The Older

The authors are saying that as the ideas of separating religion from public life start to fall apart, some people will not turn to Jesus for help. Instead, they might follow other leaders who don’t believe in God and use tricks to get people to listen to them. The author warns that some Christian leaders might be tempted to act like these false leaders to get more attention and followers, but they shouldn’t do this.

To The Younger

Sometimes people believe in things that aren’t true or good, like not believing in God or following the wrong ideas. When these things start to fall apart, some people might not want to believe in Jesus and follow what the Bible says.

Instead, they might start to believe in other things or follow other leaders who don’t believe in God either. This is like what happened in the Bible when a man named Theudas tried to get people to follow him instead of following God.

The statement is saying that when this happens, some Christian leaders might be tempted to act like these other leaders who don’t believe in God. They might try to get people to follow them by using the same methods, like trying to get lots of attention or followers on social media.

But this would be the wrong thing to do. Christian leaders should always try to follow Jesus and what the Bible says, even if it’s not the popular or easy thing to do. They shouldn’t try to act like leaders who don’t believe in God just to get more attention or followers.

So, the statement is saying that it’s important for Christian leaders to stay true to their beliefs and to follow Jesus, even when it might be tempting to act like other leaders who don’t believe in God.

WE DENY that it is possible to be a faithful Christian shepherd without identifying, naming and fighting the wolves which prey on the flock. As such, pastors have a duty to confront and rebuke wickedness in all its forms within their congregations.

☒ Agree   ☐ Disagree   ☐ Uncertain    Comment:

I agree.

Ephesians 5:6-13 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

The pastor should lead and teach his congregation how to do this. The church should be the pillar and support of the truth, not just for the church, but for the family, the state, and the world.

1 Timothy 3:15 …I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

Attack On Mankind

If a man or a people seek to convince you that a man can become a woman, the shepherd should lead the way to expose this lie. The Church may not have the tools to stop it, but it does have the tools to expose it, or if not, it should find them. Fadus, the governor will stop it. (See the previous affirmation for my comments on Fadus.)

Genesis 1:28 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Remember this video from my previous post? What do you remember about it?

Attack On Family

If a man or a people seek to convince you that a man can marry a man, the shepherd should lead the way to expose this lie. It may not have the tools to stop it, but it does have the tools to expose it, or if not, it should find them. Fadus, the governor will stop it.

Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

There are people acting like pillars regarding this truth; these people committed to God’s design for mankind should be supported and their information disseminated. For a fitting example regarding this topic see The Ministry of Minority-Worship: Gay Rights and Goals of Globohomo, specifically the extensive quote starting at “Frank Kameny – “our Rosa Parks.”

Attack On Nation

If a man or a people seek to convince you that a nation is multiculturalism, then the shepherd should lead the way to expose this lie. The church may not have the tools to stop it, but it does have the tools to expose it, and if not, it should find them. Fadus will stop it.

God has been clear on this:

Genesis 10:5 From these the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.

Genesis 10:20 These are the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, by their nations.

Genesis 10:31-32 These are the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, according to their nations. These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, by their nations; and out of these the nations were separated on the earth after the flood.

So everyone ignored all that (like we do today as everyone follows the Nimrods of our day) and then…

Gen 11:8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city.

Now we are right back to marching our way eastward to the plains of Shinar. Who is resisting this? All the early Christians reverenced these sacred truths:

1 Cor 10:6 Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.

1 Cor 10:11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Rom 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

The church must be the pillar and support of the truth, not just for the church, but for all these institutions created by God for our good.

“If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. “Wherever the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved and to be steady on all the battlefield besides is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that one point.”

I support this declaration.

INTERPRETATION and EXPLANATION

To The Younger

In the Bible, Jesus sometimes talks about His followers as being like sheep in a flock, and He calls Himself the Good Shepherd. He says that there are also bad people out there who are like wolves, who want to hurt and trick the sheep.

The statement is saying that pastors, who are like the shepherds of the flock, have a very important job to do. They need to be able to see when there are “wolves” among the sheep – people who are doing bad things or trying to trick others – and they need to do something about it.

This means that pastors have to be brave and speak up when they see something wrong happening in their church. They have to tell people when they’re doing something that’s against what the Bible says, and they have to try to stop the bad things from happening.

So, the statement is saying that it’s very important for pastors to be able to see and fight against the bad things that might be happening in their church, just like a shepherd has to protect his sheep from wolves.

To The Older

The authors are saying that Christian leaders, like pastors, have a responsibility to protect the people they lead from bad things and people who might try to hurt them. This means that pastors should always speak out against anything that goes against what Jesus taught, and make sure that their followers are safe and following God’s rules.

Schedule

Here is my schedule for getting The Antioch Declaration for Dummies completed. You may also click on the link to jump to that section.

Declaration	Due	Status
Preamble, 1-2	11/27/24	Completed
3-7	11/29/24	Completed
8-10	11/30/24	Completed
11-14	12/04/24	Completed
15-17	12/06/24	Completed
18-19	12/12/24	Completed
20-25	12/13/24	in progress

The The Antioch Declaration (TAD) struck me like a plow hitting a hard stone buried deep in the soil. There’s something heavy here—something that speaks to why people follow so blindly, like sheep trotting after the shepherd without knowing the path. So, I’m going to try to lay this out simply. My approach is straightforward: I’ll explain each part twice to two imaginary dummies, first for the younger, whose understanding is still growing, and then for the older, who may grasp subtler nuances. My translations aren’t endorsements, but rather attempts to build a bridge of understanding. I’ll pull pieces of the declaration, answer them, and then break them down. This process, like all meaningful conversations, will unfold slowly, over a few days, so that we can stand a little straighter and think a little deeper for ourselves. God help us find clarity. Lord knows, we’ll need His help to do that.

The church stood silent, its walls thick and sturdy, sheltering something no one dared to name. The greatest wrong in our time, tied up in its very soul, wasn’t confronted or even whispered about. Instead, it lay buried deep, safe and shielded by a fortress of endless affirmations and denials, each brick in that wall placed with care. I couldn’t help but wonder how long the silence could hold before the truth burst through.

Here we go.

Schedule

Here is my schedule for getting The Antioch Declaration for Dummies completed. You may also click on the link to jump to that section.

Declaration	Due	Status
Preamble, 1-2	11/27/24	Completed
3-7	11/29/24	Completed
8-10	11/30/24	Completed
11-14	12/04/24	Completed
15-17	12/06/24	Completed
18-19	12/12/24	Completed
20-25	12/13/24	in progress

WE DENY that any particular view of the Allied leaders, their strategies, or tactics during World War II should be a test of Christian orthodoxy. WE FURTHER DENY that this civic adiaphora may be expanded to cover malice, vain glory, race-baiting, antisemitism, treachery, bitterness, or hatred. These issues are entirely distinct.

☐ Agree   ☒ Disagree   ☐ Uncertain    Comment:

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If the authors of the declaration really mean this and it be true, then does it hold for the opposite? I’m curious as to why it does not read “WE DENY that any particular view of the, Axis leaders, their strategies, or tactics during World War II should be a test of Christian orthodoxy.” I wonder how far that would get with them. I imagine, not very far.

Jesus could not enjoy the bliss of heaven without a thought entering His mind, causing Him to sit down and write two letters back to His Bride. Both letters alert the Church to something we consistently neglect to this day.

Revelation 2:9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

And

Revelation 3:9 ‘Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie — I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.

Based on those statements, what thought might have entered His mind to cause Him to say this? What concern did He have for His Bride that He thought she might fall for? Did He Himself have experience firsthand with this? Does this still go on to this day?

He was concerned about the Church believing their lies. He was concerned about the Church elevating these liars to positions of trust and authority over them not realizing how it would make it so things would not be well with them if they did so. The thought disturbed Him enough to write back to the Church for their welfare. We should listen.

Their story line, their narrative, ingrained into our nation’s soul, beginning before the war, may not be what we were lead to believe. The choice to opt out of this view is going away as more and more laws are being passed to silence anyone questioning Israel’s involvement in war crimes and genocide. All of this works according to their plan. The option to go through Galilee (figuratively speaking) should remain open, and it should not be labeled “antisemitism” if exercised.

John 7:17 After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him.

Before I get to my translation, let me leave you with this reminder:

Luke 8:18 So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.

I wonder how much has been taken from us.