VIOLENCE

VIOLENCE
Today is April 25, 2007 11:40 AM. The media is high lighting violence these days.
Probably there is not a big surge of violence, but it is being pushed to the front burner so something can be done about it.
There can be no doubt that violence in the street is bad, and needs attention. It should have been dealt with long ago. It has been there a long time.
However, there is another arena where violence of a slightly different sort has long been in existance.
It is in the Church of the Living God.
I asked Strong's Concordance about Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Look what it tells me!
"Until now" brings out the thought of "henceforth", more than just the time in which Jesus was speaking. It still exists today. #2193 and #737
"Suffereth violence" comes from #971, which means to "crowd oneself into", or to "seize by violence."
"Violent" describes a forcer. My description would be "brutish". #973
"Take it", #726, means to seize by force, or to wrest from its righful owner. It is derived from #138 which means to take for oneself, for one's own benefit.
These definitions seem to portray an entirely different meaning than has commonly been applied.
A look at Church history seems to bear out the meaning of the words Jesus used. (He knew the Greek language, and could have used different words, had He so desired.)
Shortly after His ascension, men began to "jockey for positions". Indeed, before His crucifixion, two of His disciples displayed a desire for pre-eminence in the Kingdom. It is a very common trait of human nature to desire authority and power over others. In fact, it is the third strongest desire of the human heart, to conquer, subdue, or to win.
The "violent seizing" was in full bloom before two hundred years had passed.
One end result was the spawning of the Universal (Catholic) church, with all of the mis-uses of humanity which followed.
We have often been told that it was this church which preserved the Gospel through the dark ages which followed.
May I submit to you that the dark ages were CAUSED by violent men forcefully seizing the Headship of the Church. That Headship belonged ONLY to the Holy Ghost. They wrested it from Him by violently asserting dominion over God's Heritage. It is still being done today, not only by the ancient church, but by others.
The book of the Revelation describes that church as the "mother of harlots." She has many daughters "running the streets" of humanity today.
God's Heritage is captive to several "nations" (denominations) today, each with its own set of rules and regulations, and each claiming to be "the real and only church of God. Each has its own methods of bringing its members into subjection and fear, lest they escape its control.
Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the situation is what Jeremiah described in writing about the leaders of the people in ancient times. Jeremiah 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; (by force, terror--#3027) and my people love [to have it] so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
The people seem to love it this way.