In my recent video on Christianity being based on Paul’s teachings, I have noticed from comments that people have a hard time breaking free from embedded believes they have learnt through the church. People have a difficulty entertaining different perspective or even considering the fact that the foundation of Christianity is false. I think it’s so important to question, consider different perspectives and exercise different points of view for clarity. When we are deeply in a religion or a culture, we don’t see it for what it is until we leave. That is why it’s important to listen to critics, because they might direct us into something we are not seeing. Just because something has been established centuries before, it does not mean it’s true. Just because people who were involved in choosing New Testament canon were intelligent, knowledgeable and with the right positions, does not mean there wasn’t anyone there who wanted to deceive and hide the truth.
The New Testament canon was first established by the Council of Rome by Pope Damascus in 382 AD and over time decided by various councils, synods and popes of the Catholic Church. And that is my problem. The New Testament Canon was not decided by anyone who knew Jesus but by the Roman empire, the same empire who crucified Jesus. In my believe, Vatican and Roman Catholic church is the whore of Babylon described in the book of Revelation, therefore anything that comes out of that institution is false to me. Therefore I reject the idea of Trinity, I question authority of Paul being the main Apostle, whose teachings the New Testament is mainly based on and now I question the creation of New Testament canon due to the fact that it came from the empire who saw an opportunity to control people through religion that is not based on God’s standards or Old Testament teachings.
Twisting the scripture
Paul was the apostle for the Gentiles or should I say appointed himself to be a teacher to the Gentiles only and he used the fact that Gentiles did not know the Torah and Old Testament to his advantage, and so we can see he was twisting the scripture by adding his own interpretation to it. One of the examples is found in the book of Romans where Paul was quoting out of the book of Isaiah:
“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.” Romans 11: 27
Now let’s have a look at the actual verse from the book of Isaiah:
“The Redeemer will come to Zion,
to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord. “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord.” Isaiah 59:20
Now notice the difference. First of all the Redeemer will come to Zion not out of Zion and also Paul seems to be missing out on one important factor – repentance. He forgot to mention that repentance is actually important. He also added: 2when I take away their sins” which was NOT in the original verse of Isaiah. Paul further writes:
“Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.” Romans 11: 30-31
Now Paul is glorifying disobedience here, because he is saying that Gentiles were disobedient and received mercy and now Israel is being disobedient so that they too shall receive mercy. “For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.” Paul is essentially saying it was God’s idea that everyone is disobedient so that He can reveal His mercy.
This is contradicting with God’s holy nature. Disobedience is a sin and God cannot dwell where sin is, therefore God will ONLY come to those who repent. God is holy therefore we shall thrive for holiness. Paul is giving us a green light to be disobedient here! And I find that most of the teachings of Paul are confirming that his message was salvation through faith alone. I am saying most because he did say in the letter to Corinthians:
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10
This was a letter to Corinthians to correct them on some of their actions that brought them to repentance. However please have a look what Paul writes further:
“So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. By all this we are encouraged.” 2 Corinthians 12: 13
Wait a second, haven’t we supposed to be devoted to God, not to Paul? Is Paul revealing here that is his true intentions are fame rather than bringing people to repentance?
Paul confirmed in other scripture that he was preaching “his gospel” and that he was being “crafty”:
“For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” Romans 2: 12-16
The confusing statement of Paul that if you have the law you will be judged and if you don’t have the law but do according to the law naturally, will also be judged and those who don’t have the law will perish… Philosophical, confusing approach to just confuse people of what they should do! And understand if now we are questioning and decoding what Paul was trying to say, imagine back then when people were uneducated! How they could understand his philosophical approach?! And I highlight, God is not the author of confusion!
“But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? I urged Titus, and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?” 2 Corinthians 12: 16-18
I find it interesting that Paul admitted to being “crafty” , telling us openly his nature yet people overlook this detail. Paul had a lot of opposition from people who were accusing him of rejecting the Law including Peter and James. He was coming up with all those philosophical answers and twisting the scripture that people did not know what to believe anymore. He took Gentiles lack of knowledge about the Law as his advantage and just as the serpent in the garden of Eden deceived Eve, he confused people by twisting the scripture and giving half truth mixed with lies.
Salvation through faith alone?
Paul preached that salvation comes through faith in Christ and the grace of God. He emphasized that salvation is a gift from God and that cannot be earned through good works.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2: 8-9
Yet Jesus was preaching something else:
“Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept [g]from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” Matthew 19: 16-22
Didn’t Jesus list most of the commandments from the Law of Moses? Yes, because this is what Jesus was preaching about.
“And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” Luke 10: 25-26
Every time someone asked about eternal life Jesus answered to consider the law. Jesus also was preaching repentance and he never used the word “grace” during his ministry. He showed God’s grace through his actions, but he never said: you are saved by grace so rejoice!
That is why I strongly believe Christianity is based on a false Apostle who contradicts teachings of Jesus and teachings of the Old Testament. Jesus never said just believe in me and you are good to go. He was always directing to the Law, he was always preaching repentance and he was calling people to holiness. And the only way to holiness is through the Law of God. God is holy and he cannot dwell where sin is, grace by faith without repentance contradicts God’s holy nature.
By Dagmara Z.