The pagan origins of the Pulpit, the Sermon, and the Institution

The Sermon

The "sermon" cannot be found in the New Testament. Its beginnings are seen in Greek and Roman philosophy. Like most things in the western world its roots are of these two dominate cultures. The Renaissance. (the so-called age of enlightenment), was nothing more than the revival of Grecian philosophy. The State University was a concept not unknown to the Greco-Roman world. In reality, the so-called Renaissance beginning in the 14^th century was in the

 gathering on the plains of Shinar and the beginning of building the modern world's Tower of Babel based upon the enlightenment of man.

Luther and Calvin during the Renaissance revived and bolstered the Augustinian/Platonism by greatly advancing the beast Church System as it took on and grew a second head. The apostate church then became a two headed monster, Catholic/Protestant seeking to devour all in its path. Both evils are built upon the ungodly joint effort of Church and State (religion/politics) fuelled by the love of money (economics), the merchandisers of the earth. The verbal application of the word of God to the specific problems of believers for the edification of the saints is the duty of all Christians. Not a Greek "Sermon" centering on the council of the ungodly, giving a monogram to an audience. Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 14-26 that we all come together with a word of edification "ie" (the washing of the word and renewing of the mind in all sobriety) lest it be that of verse 23, of which he perceived that others looking in upon would call madness.

Most of the outside world looks at this thing called Christianity and views it as hypocrisy and madness. It is no wonder because Paul said it was full of unlearned men (these are the unlearned that twist scripture that Pater wrote about) and unsaved people following after them. Creating the tragic results and beliefs, liken to most found therein do not feel they are capable of counselling other believers, since these are duties “ie”(offices) designated only for "educated professionals”. Even advancing to the extreme darkness of “ruling over. These unlearned educated professionals are the chief undertakers preparing men's souls for the grave of eternal Hades and not the kingdom of God. These same Greek-influenced officials replaced good Berean bible study with lectures, known as sermons. "ie' Systematic Theology" of ALL TYPES greatly advancing by the mid-19th century. The modern sermon has its origin in the Greek lecturers of old.

The common belief of those following theses cults is that they as followers don't know how to get up in front of a crowd, stand behind a pulpit and give an oration following the standard rules of sermon "ie" not learned in the psycho-babel of rhetoric.  The biggest roadblock to a functioning priesthood of all believers is the "sermon;" a polished, "educated" display of learning and professionalism backed by Satan's Roman Collegial, the Academic Seminaries of Dark Light. There is no such thing as a professional Christian. These, my friends are nothing more than merchandisers. Sadly this same concept has crept into the church unawares that has supposedly come out of the beast system.  The prevailing idea that passively listening to a sermon is all that God expects is the common exercise within Christianity. It has become a consumerism cult as churches are bidding against each other to try and bring in new members, as the multitudes of Ephraim choose the denomination that sooths his/her flesh desires through consumerism.

 In 2 Timothy 2:2 Paul encourages Timothy to entrust teaching to others who are gifted by the Holy Spirit for teaching. The lack of opportunities for others to teach and/or the lack of willingness to teach can be a problem. And the lack of recognising the Holy Spirit (discernment) is even a bigger problem.  What is known as Christianity has been smothered by Greco-Roman Humanism and cannot be doubted by any student of the scriptures or Church History. Remember, it was Ambrose, who counselled Augustine in his time of conscience conviction, and told him that the scriptures MUST be interpreted in the light of Plato. This Greek-Christian syncretism is of the religion of Humanism formed out of the Greco-Roman world of sophistic thought and goodness of man through the wisdom of men, probably derived from earlier dark Eastern cultures of  Persian thought and Hinduism/Buddhism. In truth it all traces back to Nimrod and his tower of Babel.

The practices of the Christian life and the worship of the church became paganised in a big way with the beginnings of the Roman Catholic Church (Universal Church) 1700 years ago, and has steadily advanced forward to the giant system of error we commonly refer to today as "Christianity, Of which I believe is the cult that kidnapped the true Christian faith ONCE delivered to the saints. Today's "sermons" are external copies of rhetorical manner of the most popular Greek philosophers of their day. Jesus said not to seek him in the secret chambers of man’s imagination for He is not found there, Matt. 24-26. It's not just what they said, but it is the entire presentation and format that was carried over from paganism. Augustine himself was a Master in the art of rhetoric. The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, (professional Pundits) especially by the use of figures of speech, and even more greatly advance in the 20th century by importing the cunning art of neural-linguistics, "ie" Academic hypnotic speech patterns that captivate audiences shutting down their analytical thought process. They are simply being hypnotised by magicians espousing great swelling words of emptiness that edify not by injecting stones in their weekly dispensation of bread.

The pagan "sermon" delivered from the pagan "pulpit" has been one of the practices most destructive in diminishing the full functioning of the priesthood believers. The apostle Paul spoke many times of his own resistance against the words regurgitated from the systems of men. Of which exalt the speaker and not the Word; which purportedly has a form of Godliness, but by relying on the wisdom of men, thus denies the power of the Holy Spirit's testimony to the Word. An outer shell full of emptiness, whose great academia's are forever learning and yet never coming to knowledge of the truth. Professing Christians still look up to the University for its Standard. They want to know what the Humanists are doing so they can align their own activities with the world, (World Council of Churches). They want to be "respected by the world. Yet the apostle James said those that are friends with the world are enemies of God.

 

These Greek/Roman Humanists had power and influence. They were as gods. Likewise in the church as multitudes often fell prey to the Tempter's seductive invitations to the academic godhead. This is the origin of the "sermon."; Gnostic rhetorical Babel that bows not the knee to God Almighty, but puffs up with pride of knowledge having been rooted in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 'ie' HUMANISM. The word sophos [as in philo-sophy], the Sophie's which in earlier times had been applied to one who was skilled in any of the arts to one who was shrewd, or knew the thoughts and sayings of the ancients. They seeming became men of sophistication. Oh how true today, as this tradition has continued forward 2500 years later. Not all of what philosophers speak is false. In that we can expect some right things since they were also created by God in His image having the law of conscience written upon their hearts having come from the LIGHT that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, John 1-9. Paul confirmed this truth in Acts chapter 17, speaking of the Greek poets who knew that all were God’s offspring. And those philosophers themselves even despised the worst of the peripatetic sophists. Even Nebuchadnezzar was not the only lost ruler of a nation to declare God to be the true and living God. But for the most part philosophy is just vain speculation, and has no power to save leaving its victims wanting. Religious practice can sometimes point to godliness, but can't actually lead one to Him without His grace and divine influence upon the heart. Therefore, forms of godliness may point to God's character at times, but by denying the power to overcome sin in one's life they prove they're not of God "from such turn away said Paul. So, any advice conforming one to godliness is therefore of God, and any not conforming one to godliness is NOT of God. All MUST be rightly divided and weighed against the full weight of scripture, lest ye be deceived.

I think we do have examples in the OT to show us God’s influence does sometimes speak through the lost. Such as:  Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God, Daniel chapter 3.

So whether God spoke through him or not, He certainly used him in a manner that teaches us today about God's greatness. Whether lost or saved, your answer will be found by comparing their words with the written word of God confirmed by the Spirit. Truth cannot be achieved in any other fashion. The meat of it is: there's a form of godliness that denies His power, but by being in covenant with Christ one is in possession of the land by the power of His blood and are gifted with His mind, eyes, and ears of discernment. Unto these are given to solid food "who by reason of use" (come let us reason together) have had their understanding developed through a diligent continuum through seeking, thus being able to discern between good and evil. These walk as new creations where old things having passed away, and all things are new...as Jesus Christ was in the world so we are. The weapons of our warfare aren't carnal or fleshly, but divinely powerful in God to bring down strongholds, casting down arguments, imaginations, spiritual principalities of devils in high places, and every thought exalting itself against the knowledge of God. All these things are taken captive unto the obedience of Christ. His sheep know His voice and won't follow the voice of another. In conclusion: if reverence towards God isn't walking in holiness by the power of His grace, by the WORKS of steadfast faithfulness to God, then it can only be an outward show of piety, or as the apostle Paul wrote it, "a form of godliness."

The doctrine Paul attested to in 1Tim6:3, 2Tim3:10 was given to him by Jesus Christ. That is, the doctrine according to godliness, meaning purity of heart having no guile. The cross of Christ representing this doctrine that should be preached unto the whole world and then they end should come is an offense to the flesh therefore rebuking to all forms of religion. Proverbs 3-7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

1John 4:1-3 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.  

The pulpit

This structure predates Christianity and is of heathen origin. The pagan priest moved out onto a walkway that had a banister around it, to make announcements to the pagan onlookers. Separating the priest from the people in this way was called ‘ambo’, or "the lectern" of the Roman Catholic Church. The ambo was the predecessor of the present day pulpit. The bishop preached from his cathedra; a survival of this is retained in the French and German words for pulpit, chaire and predigtstuhl. The other German word kanzel recalls the position of the ambo at the choir-screen (cancelli). This concept of separation of the body of Christ became known in Christianity as the clergy and laity. Ignatius of Antioch, or Ignatius Theophorus in the early 2nd century was among the first to imply such beliefs of separation. The English pulpit and the Italian pulpito, are from the Latin pulpitum which referred to an elevated platform for performers. Hence establishing flesh kings, or as Gen. 6 says "mighty men of renown". 

This concept of clergy and laity was foreign to the original church and directly opposed to the teaching of Christ and the apostles: Matthew 20:25-28 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Constantine established the first church buildings 313 AD, furnished them, and named them basilicas. The one difference was, it was moved to the inside of a building. This interior platform also had a banister around it with two elevated portions. In some instances the higher ambo was reserved for the clergy .Still the same thing we have today. Another derivative of the pagan ambo is the altar. In the modern era of advanced apostasy it was Charles Finney who established the concept of the alter call, (a public invitation). Finney invented the mourners bench, that a person could come to the front pew during a sermon if they felt convicted of sin and afterward someone would pray through with them until they had assurance their sins were forgiven and something had taken place in their heart.  It was the Salvation Army modeled after Finney, who first invented what they called the anxious seat, again the front pew for those who were convicted and wanted further assistance. It was probably DL Moody who perfected what we know as the altar call, his understanding of initial salvation was an acknowledgement, rising of hand, coming forward, signing a card. And that followed of course into the Billy Graham years and the standard 'altar call' most churches still use. In the interim, years following Booth, Moody, there was a little of each depending on the church, there are found instances of the anxious seat and mourners bench up into the 1920, 30's,. I think it was Billy Sunday who stared the trend toward sensationalized preaching and getting the people all stirred up and responding to a call of weeping and crying out to the Lord. I think he was the one who introduced entertainment into the church service too.  

The truth is that Christ is now the mercy seat and has replaced the OT physical alter as it was once glorious but had waxed away almost 2000 years ago at Calvary. So the so-called alter in churches is merely a copy and twist on the OT alter. As is most of what is known as Christianity is merely OT rituals revived, and of course mixed with Gentile paganism as well. Resulting in (the Cabala!). So in reality it is the OT Temple Rituals mixed with Paganism.  Yes that's the formula for what is known worldwide today as Christianity, (Mystery Babylon) all designed to elevate man and his carnal wisdom (the antichrist system) that seeks to replace Christ with the image of the beast in the minds of the lost multitudes (the silly doves of Ephraim).