The news last month was filled with "Special Reports" on the 30th anniversary of the end of Jim Jones and his "People's Temple". That was a point in history that was very close to me, since I lived in San Francisco at the time. I remember clearly where the Temple was located, and do remember a couple of people who worshipped there.<\/p>\n
This low point in history really stands out in the end chapter 2 in First John. John cautioned the early church to beware of those who "preach a different gospel." His words struck clearly at people who lied about the Gospel, and people who fell for the lies. It was kind of like a parent saying to a child "didn't I tell you…"<\/p>\n
I think that is one of the reasons I like First John – he keeps on saying over and over again, "I want you to know<\/strong>." It was not simply enough that you listened, but you reached the point where you knew something. Kind of like "knowing" arithmetic – someone can't give you the wrong change in the store, because you know that 25 cents plus 75 cents is one dollar.<\/p>\n The people who perished with Jim Jones were there in his "church" for many different reasons – they liked the music or the communal living or the "whatever." But shame on them for not comparing what he taught to the truth they knew.<\/p>\n Maybe that was it – they did not know the truth, and so they followed in the hopes of discovering the truth. They failed to read the truth for themselves – they listened to what Jim Jones had to say about the Bible. Read IT<\/strong> for yourself, and let the "Book" talk to you, then decide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The news last month was filled with "Special Reports" on the 30th anniversary of the end of Jim Jones and his "People's Temple". That was a point in history that was very close to me, since I lived in San…
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