The above photograph is not given as judgment upon any individual nor the manufacturer or seller of the T-shirt. My purpose is to highlight how prevalent the topic of Liberation Theology has become in society today.
A question was asked regarding a YouTube video produced by the group calling itself Israel United in Christ (IUIC). I am not providing links to the group or its publication because I do not want to be associated with this group in any way. You are free to research it for yourself.
My purpose in posting this is to warn of this and similar groups that seem to be springing up more and more in the world today.
IUIC was founded in 2003 by an individual calling himself, Bishop Nathanyel. Using miscellaneous Bible texts taken out of context, allegorical interpretation, and apocryphal books, he has constructed a narrative stating that his followers are the true Israel of God and he is their prophet leading them into setting up the kingdom of God on earth.
He attributes each of the twelve tribes of Israel to various races with whites as the oppressors. Here is an example. I leave it to you, if you are interested, to review the full list of twelve tribes on their website.
JUDAH
Middle Ages Name: Byzantine Empire Present Name: American Blacks/Negroes Locations: North America and scattered, regions of the Earth The tribe of Judah (American Blacks) along with Benjamin and Levi were […]
BENJAMIN
Middle Ages Name: Byzantine Empire Present Name: West Indians Locations: Jamaica, and the West Indies Benjamin, was the twelfth son of Jacob. His name means “Son of the Right”. Genesis […]
LEVI & SIMEON
LEVI Present name: Haitians Locations: Haiti and scattered, regions of the earth Levi: means joined to me. He was the third born son to Jacob, Read Genesis 29:34 SIMEON Present […]15
While professing Jesus as the true messiah, he constructs a doctrine that is far removed from the canon of Scripture we believe to be God-breathed.
During the last week of Jesus’ life on earth, as He was walking from the temple in Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives with His disciples, He called their attention to the temple proper and told of its soon destruction. For months, He had repeatedly told of His impending death which would end His offer of the kingdom of heaven to the Jews of that generation.
In His prophetic teaching, He told of a time when He would return to the earth to establish the kingdom of heaven. How His prophecy is interpreted is crucial to understanding the Bible.
This is why I published an entire study on the kingdom of heaven from God’s Word (see). It is key to refuting the proliferation of false teaching on the internet. We need to be aware and guard ourselves against these false teachers.
We also need to recognize that others are viewing them as well who might not be grounded solidly in God’s doctrine. We must recognize and discern truth from falsehood. A clear understanding of the doctrine of the kingdom of heaven is essential.
With regard to the kingdom of heaven, the disciples asked two questions: when will He return? and what will be the sign of His return? Jesus answered the second question first, what will be the sign of His return?
And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. "And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.[i]
In Matthew 24:42ff. He answered the second question, when will Messiah the Prince,[ii] Jesus,[iii] return to be King Jesus in the kingdom of heaven on earth? His answer, no one knows at this time, “not even...the Son (of man).”[iv]
Israel United in Christ, is not the only liberation theology group springing up today. Compare also, Palestinian Liberation Theology, taught by Naim Ateek in Jerusalem.
An article published by The Friends of Israel, examines Palestinian Liberation Theology, its connections with Palestinian Muslims, and the broader connection with Replacement Theology. (see)
Is the proliferation of Liberation Theology fulfillment of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 24:4-8, the beginning of birth pangs? I believe that it is. However, there have been events throughout church history that could be viewed as the fulfillment of the beginning of birth pangs. I will be publishing a separate article on the beginning of birth pangs.
The important thing I want to bring out in this article is to warn the Body of Christ today of the proliferation of this type of thinking. It is contrary to the healthy doctrine of Scripture. While purporting to be of Christ, it often results in racism and followers of heretics in the biblical sense of the term, i.e., those who preach in ways to gain a following. It ends in disaster every time.
God's doctrine teaches unity under One leader; the risen, ascended, and reigning Lord who guides everyone born from above through the power of the Holy Spirit and Word of God.
[i] Matt 24:4-8.
[ii] Dan 9:25.
[iii] Matt 21:1ff.
[iv] Matt 24:36.