In speaking of the seven short epistles of Revelation chapters 2 and 3, it is important to carefully acknowledge that the epistles are addressed not to the churches but to the “angel” of each church. The word angel literally means “messenger.” These messengers are the seven stars in Christ’s right hand according to Revelation 1:16, 20; 2:1. When Revelation 1:11 states, “What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia,” the churches are mentioned as the recipients of these messages. Christ makes a distinction between the churches (the candlesticks) and the messengers to those churches (the stars in His right hand). Note that in each of the salutations to the epistles, it is stipulated, “Unto the angel of the church of . . .” Following the salutation, Christ proceeds to declare, “I know thy works,” etc. It is as if He is writing specifically to the pastor of that church rather than to the church itself. …

For the next several issues of Straightway, we will be unfolding aspects concerning the End-time Church, where it is headed, and how its assimilation of Fundamentalism will be a necessity. We have observed in previous articles the philosophical presupposition of “Postmodernism,” a philosophy beyond “modernism” or “reason.” Postmodernism is built upon the premise of existential experience to the point of denouncing reason and absoluteness of truth. This philosophy arises within the institutional Church across the world mainly under the title of the Emergent Church or the Emerging Church. …

As the Christian comes to know “the Way” found in Jesus Christ, he must also come to know the “walk in the Way.” That walk should be a “walk in the Spirit.” As the Book of Romans unfolds, four crucial phrases in principle arise between 5:12 through 8:39 that summarize the theological burden of Paul’s epistle. Romans 5:12 through 6:23 are dominated by the distinction between life “in Adam” and life “in Christ.” Then in Romans 7:1 through 8:39 another distinction arises between walking “in the flesh” and walking “in the Spirit.” …

Each of the seven I Am’s mentioned in the Gospel according to John gives a unique insight about Jesus Christ. What great realms of truth are opened to us in these seven declarations concerning Who He is and What He is: “I am the Bread of Life,” “I am the Light of the World,” “I am the Door,” “I am the Good Shepherd,” “I am the Resurrection and the Life,” “I am the True Vine,” and “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” …

As we continue the burden of “Post America,” in the light of what President Obama desires for this country, it is evident that we are headed towards the restructuring of an America literally antithetical to what providence allowed to be born some three hundred years ago. Although there is continued debate of whether America was either a Christian nation or a God-fearing nation at its birth, our early history makes clear that the standard of reference was the Bible. …

In recent Straightway articles we have presented the rise and power of Postmodernism and its effect upon the institutional church. As Christians of this contemporary hour, we must understand that globally we have entered into a post-era. In that this post-era is becoming the corridor leading to a one-world government and one-world religion, it is affecting every facet of human existence. As a result, we now are witnessing through President Obama the emergence of a Post-America time. If God does not alter our present course in history, what can we expect to witness in these coming months and years for our country? …

It is that time of the year when the controversy over the celebration of Christmas arises from the ashes of history and tradition, often leaving a not-so-christmasy spirit in its wake. Sometimes the controversy is so pressed by a few individuals that it is made to be a fundamental doctrine of the Christian Faith, causing a breakage of fellowship among the brethren and engendering bitterness within the Body of Christ. It reminds us of the 1700s, when a variety of strong theological voices, which at times produced adamant and boisterous debates over theological matters, brought great animosity, hatred, and strife. …

Amidst the reality that Postmodernism is based upon the Existential philosophy, it is interesting to note that there are certain basics that seem to control churches that have joined this movement. To use the term “basics” or “principles” is an enigma for an existential church era that does not know where it is headed. The gurus for the Emerging Church movement have often viewed themselves as a Christopher Columbus with an unchartered course and an unknown future. They truly believe the global church must conform to the beliefs of the secular Postmodern Era. …

In the last issue of Straightway, we presented the sobering reality that the Institutional Church of Western Civilization has now entered a “post” modernity having departed from the era of the “modern” church. The modern era began during seventeenth-century Rationalism and its by-product, the Enlightenment. It was an age where man looked within himself, drawing from reason and believing this was all that was necessary in order to live. Thus man, through his reason, was projected as being the measure of all things, needing no God and no revelation from God. …

All human history is the result of what appears as tides, driftings, trends, turning points, catastrophes, and climaxes in time. Even the Bible records such tendencies. The tides and the driftings are most subtle, covering long segments of history which men do not readily discern. The trends are initiated by man with the hope to change current and contemporary history. But there are turning points, like awakenings and revivals, as well as the catastrophes and climaxes in history, which are often authored by God Himself. …