From Jorge Lahiff de Rogel-
To my brothers and sisters scattered among the nations and denominations

-Greetings and blessings to all of you in the holy name of Jesus Christ our Lord,

I am writing to you as an advocate for more Bible reading during your worship services. The public reading of Scripture is an ancient Hebrew tradition which was passed onto the first generation of Christians by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our brothers and sisters who lived in the Roman Empire devoted much more time to reading the word of God aloud during their meetings than churches do today.

I am recommending that at least thirty minutes of all regular weekend church services be devoted to reading the bible aloud; reading through the New Testament at least once a year, and reading through the Old Testament about once every six to eight years.

The Apostle Paul said in 1st Thessalonians 5:27, “I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.”- Does Paul’s apostolic command only apply to the First Century church at Thessalonica? Does it not apply to all churches until Christ returns? Yes it does, and church leaders who ignore it are disobeying the voice of the Holy Spirit and are starving the Body of Christ.

“Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.” 1st Timothy 4:13 NASB

“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear,..” Revelation 1:3 ESV

(Jesus)”stood up to read.” Luke 4:16 KJV

“..in the hearing of all the people in the Lord’s house you shall read the words of the LORD” Jeremiah 36:6 ESV -

Many well-meaning pastors who are genuine children of God have a difficult time transmitting the Gospel to their audiences because neither they nor most the seminaries they graduate from fully understand the importance of reading the Scriptures to those attending services. Sermons can last for half an hour, while the Bible readings usually take up no more than one to three minutes of a weekend church service. This tradition of men is in conflict with the word of God.

“King Josiah…went to the LORD’s temple..” and “he read aloud The Book of God’s Law that had been found in the temple.” 2 Kings 23:1-2

God works through the Scriptures to convict people of their sin, of their guilt, of their need to repent, and of the certainty of judgment. To the unfaithful church leader and to church-goers who are engaged in continuous sinful behavior, God’s word is not a gold mine to be explored, but is instead a deadly minefield to be carefully navigated.

“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,..” Ephesians 5:25-27ESV

Many preachers avoid uttering Bible passages which hit too close to ‘home’ (the sins of their benefactors) by reading a small number of carefully selected verses and using them as reference points for their amusing sermons. These shameless shepherds muzzle the mouth of God because the unrestrained voice of the Holy Spirit is as unpleasant to them as is the incessant bark of a sheepdog to the ears of a hungry predator. To these wolves-in-sheep’s-clothing financial gain and job security take precedence over the spiritual needs of their audiences.

“..they cannot listen; behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it.” Jeremiah 6:10 ESV

American and European churches are infested with millions of couples who like King Herod and his lover Herodia are entangled in unions prohibited by the word of God. Because of the ‘sensitivities’ of these adulterers and fornicators, there are many ‘offensive’ Bible verses you will never hear uttered in most churches, especially those where Jesus and His servant Paul speak of sexual immorality, adultery, and divorce.

“Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.” John 8:43 ESV

“He who is of God hears the words of God..” John 8:47 NASB

“..(Jesus) answered (Satan), “It is written, ”’Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4ESV

“when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place which He will choose, you shall read this law in front of all Israel in their hearing.” Deuteronomy 31:11 NASB

-The Scriptures are more than reference books for lengthy sermons and sparsely attended midweek and pre-service Bible studies. They are collectively the word of God passed onto us by His holy prophets and apostles, and through them our spiritual birth in Christ is facilitated. Those who attend church services need to hear more of them.

“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” James 1:21 NKJV

We Christians are divided into many of hostile competing factions and our lifestyles and divorce rates are not much better than those of unbelievers. These sad facts dishonor God and discredit His Gospel in the sight of the unsaved. They are proof that most of today’s church leaders are, for fear of loosing generous members, failing to expose their listeners to many essential details about the Gospel of Salvation.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea4:6

“For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed.” Isaiah 9:16NKJV

“But if they (the shepherds) had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.” Jeremiah 23:22 ESV

“They have turned back to the iniquities of (those who murdered the prophets and who crucified the Son of God), who refused to hear my words” Jeremiah 11:10 ESV

The invention of the printing press and the abundance of Bibles do not alter or nullify God’s command that the Holy Scriptures be read aloud in the churches. The Holy Spirit is present in a powerful way to help, to heal, and to guide the children of God whenever they are gathered together to hear His words.

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV Few people study the Scriptures as much as they should. It is the duty of church leaders to read all of 66 books of the Bible, from the Book of Genesis through the Book of Revelation, in the hearing of church members and unsaved visitors, while also continuing to preach, and to teach,- and to encourage people to read and to study the Bible on their own. -A faithful shepherd has a challenging job (with eternal benefits).

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;..” John10:27 NASB

If you live in North America or Western Europe it will be very difficult to find a church which is dedicated to the public reading of Scripture. Most church leaders in these countries are dishonest, arrogant, greedy cowards. Do not spend too much time trying to convince them to devote more time during their ‘worship’ services to the public reading of God’s word. Remember that they are by nature are no different than the temple prostitutes of ancient Israel.. Their gods are earthly comfort and carnal pleasure. Convincing you to give them a tenth of your hard-earned money is their top priority.

Please consider using the Internet and local newspapers to start a home based Bible reading and study fellowships. Many 1st Century churches initially met in homes (read Romans 16:5, 1st Corinthians 16:19, Matthew 18:20). God will bless you and your household as you follow their example.

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God..” Romans 10:17 NKJV

-Examine what witnesses of ancient church services had to say about the public reading of Scripture.

-Tertullian, in the late 2nd century said, “We meet together in order to read the sacred texts.” He continues, “With the holy words we feed our faith, we arouse our hope, we confirm our confidence.” “The church unites the Law and the Prophets in one volume (the Bible) with the writings of evangelists and apostles, from which she drinks in her faith.”

-Justin the Martyr, in the 150′s said that at church services, “The memoirs of the Apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits.”

-Clement of Alexandria (c. 182-202) talks of Christians in their worship, “always giving thanks in all things to God through righteous hearing and divine reading.”

-Theodore of Antioch in the late 4th century said, “All of us, having come to faith in Christ the Lord from the nations, received the Scriptures from them and now enjoy them, reading them aloud in the churches..”

God has nudged me out of my comfort-zone in order to prod some of you out of yours. I have recommended that about half an hour of all services be spent reading the Bible aloud to the churches. Most of you think that this is excessive, but understand that our brothers and sisters in the First through the Fourth Centuries devoted more time to the public reading of Scripture than what I have proposed.

The current custom of motivational messages loosely linked to a few carefully selected verses would be alien and offensive to the Apostles and to our brave brothers and sisters who lived and died under the shadow of pagan emperors.

I am sure that we would all agree that only a fool would sit down at a restaurant every weekend, tip the waiters, and pay for meals which were never brought to his table. If we agree about the foolish patron, why then is it that so many of you continue to patronize pastors who fail to feed you spiritually? How many times are you going to walk out of their spiritual brothels with empty wallets and an empty feelings in your hearts?

“..and in their greed they will exploit you with false words;..” 2Peter2:3NASB Your brother and fellow servant,
Jorge Lahiff de Rogel

P.S. I do need or want your money. I do however urge all of you to devote some of your time and earthly riches towards establishing Bible reading churches in your own communities and around the world .

with an alcoholic other than turn their noses up to them. This is where AA comes in for me. When I’m

in AA, I can see before me the idolatry that God’s word (the Bible) speaks about – in action! The AA

members can choose any god they want, whether it be an invisible god or a graven image used as a god. Or

if they like they can have the true God if they are able to find him. While I watch how people struggle

for their lives by coming to believe in a power greater than themselves, I can know that there is a real

God and that some of them will secretly hate me and suppress my voice when I let them know that I believe

in the real God as opposed to their false gods.

It is unfortunate that the Church is apostate, fallen away from the truth, so that the alcoholics are left

to help each other, like the blind leading the blind. In AA, the members can find a place to fit in with

other members. They are accepted by others with the common problem of alcohol. Where was the church when

they needed help? Most of the church has been apostate for about 1900 years.

Thanks

but you should really investigage more..

2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

there’s a big flaw in that verse… it was written in a letter.. and there was only the Jewish Torah at the time..

the bible wasn’t put together as “all scripture” until 500 or 600 years after Christ…

judge a tree by it’s fruit…
aa is doing good works and helping alcoholics.. also known as ‘drunkards’ — people who were thought to be “demon-possessed’ in the time of Christ.. AA is casting out the ‘drunken spirit’ that ‘possesses’ alcoholics…

“If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?”

likewise .. judge a tree by it’s fruit..

the “organized Church” of today seems to be bearing a lot of ‘rotten fruit’
it seems more ‘worldly’ than most of the world… high paid “rabbi’s” driving expensive cars… beautiful buildings.. fitness gyms.. while people starve two blocks over..

“But be not you called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all you are brothers”

“feed my sheep”

God is powerful enough to reveal God to all who seek ..

be the change you want to see in your fellowship..
God can ‘run the universe’ without your help..
drink your ‘old wine’ and store up your riches on earth..

keep taking the Bible literally:

“wine gives happiness, and money gives everything!”
ecclesiastes 10:19

god is love.. perfect love that casts out all fear…there is no fear in perfect love.. fear is based in punishment..

what are you afraid of?