Benjamin Franklin was an
Unsaved
MODERNIST
by David J. Stewart
James 2:19,
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also
believe...”
I've been studying American and world history lately, which are fascinating
subjects to me. It has been said that history is HIS-STORY
(that is, God's story, for we see the hand of God at work over the centuries
of time). Time was, time is, time shall soon be past. Many genuine
Christians today (such as myself) are curious as to whether our founding
fathers were literal Christians or simply religious to some extent. Sadly to
report, Benjamin Franklin was a religious heathen who denied the deity of
Jesus Christ.
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) is remembered and
honored today by many historians as a genius of his time—having invented
lightning rods for homes, inventor of the glass
armonica (a wonderful musical instrument), a notable writer and
publisher, started his own successful printing company, and was a brilliant
statesman and diplomat to
name just a few accomplishments. His most famous publications were a
newspaper called
The Pennsylvania Gazette and his annual Poor Richard's Almanack. Franklin was a true genius, writing articles under
a fictitious name in his local paper and then responding to his own articles
under another fictitious name to arouse public interest in the publication
(and it worked very successfully).
A Modernist is a person who professes faith in religion or a higher power, i.e.,
a form of godliness; but they DENY the power thereof
of the saving gospel of Jesus Christ as 2nd Timothy 3:5 teaches. Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the
power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first,
and also to the Greek.”
Benjamin Franklin, as you are about to read
from
the last recorded letter of his life in 1790, didn't believe that God
distinguishes between believers and unbelievers...
"I do not perceive that the
Supreme takes it amiss, by distinguishing the unbelievers in His
government of the world with any particular marks of His displeasure."
SOURCE:
[Benjamin Franklin, letter to Ezra Stiles, President of
Yale, shortly before his death; from "Benjamin Franklin"
by Carl Van Doren, the October, 1938 Viking Press
edition pages 777-778 Also see Alice J. Hall,
"Philosopher of Dissent: Benj. Franklin," National
Geographic, Vol. 148, No. 1, July, 1975, p. 94]
The Bible totally disagrees with Mr. Franklin.
2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9 are frightening Scriptures, which warn of God's
eternal vengeance in Hell upon all people who disobey the gospel and die in
their sins. Revelation 20:15 plainly warns that whosoever's name is not
found written in the Lamb's Book of Life shall be cast into the Lake of Fire
for ever and ever to be tormented day and night (Revelation 14:11).
Ironically, the world renowned man who was
famous for researching and studying all of the sciences, arts, astronomy,
philosophies and intellectual subjects, totally ignored the Bible. Go
figure! Benjamin Franklin admits in the same letter just before his death
that he does not dogmatize his disbelief in the deity of Jesus Christ,
“having never studied it.” How tragic! How sad! How could one of the most
brilliant minds in American history study everything except the inspired
Word of God??? ...
"As to Jesus
of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire,
I think the system of Morals and his Religion, as he
left them to us, the best the World ever saw or is
likely to see; but I apprehend it has received various
corrupt changes, and I have, with most of the present
Dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity;
though it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having
never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself
with it, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing
the Truth with less trouble. [emphasis added]
SOURCE:
[Benjamin Franklin, letter to Ezra Stiles, President of
Yale, shortly before his death; from "Benjamin Franklin"
by Carl Van Doren, the October, 1938 Viking Press
edition pages 777-778 Also see Alice J. Hall,
"Philosopher of Dissent: Benj. Franklin," National
Geographic, Vol. 148, No. 1, July, 1975, p. 94]
May I say friend, if there's one thing in this
life you had better study, it is the Word of God. The very God Who stretched
out the Heavens all across the universes, setting the stars trillions of
millions apart, wrote a Book of instructions for humanity, to show us the
way, the truth and the life in Christ Jesus (John 14:6). The King James
Bible is God's inspired Words for the world today, with English now
considered the international language. 2nd Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew
thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly
dividing the word of truth.” From Franklin's own handwriting, it is
plainly evident that he had no use for Biblical Christianity personally.
Franklin certainly did not have Christ...
2nd John 1:9, “Whosoever
transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.
He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father
and the Son.”
Despite being listed as a celebrity atheist on
the internet, Benjamin Franklin did not profess to be an atheist. However,
for anyone to deny the deity of Jesus Christ makes one effectively a
practicing atheist, because the Bible is adamantly clear that Jesus is the
manifestation of the Godhead to humanity (John 1:1-3,14; 1st Timothy 3:16;
John 10:33; Revelation 1:8; Isaiah 9:6; Colossians 2:9—King James Bible).
Mr. Ben Franklin said he did not want to busy himself with studying what the
Bible has to teach about Jesus Christ, and what a tragic thing that was, for
Acts 4:10-12 says that there is no other name given among men whereby we can
be saved than the precious name of JESUS CHRIST!!!
Clearly, Ben Franklin did NOT have Jesus
Christ...
1st John
5:12, “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God
hath not life.”
Do you know why Benjamin Franklin never pursued
the teachings of the Bible concerning Christ and salvation? The Bible gives us the answer in
John 3:20, “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh
to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” Mr. Franklin was known
for chasing women, drinking lots of wine and partaking of occult ceremonies
with the Freemason lodge and the infamous Hellfire Club. At least nine of
the signers of the Declaration of Independence were occult
Freemasons.
There is evidence from Franklin's Almanacs that
he used
astrology (a demonic practice of using the solar system to make
decisions and set dates). The Bible condemns astrology, used by the
Egyptians, Babylonians and other heathen nations...
Isaiah 47:12-14, “Stand now with
thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein
thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to
profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. Thou art wearied in the multitude
of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly
prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall
come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn
them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame:
there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.”
The Bible commands humanity to acknowledge God
in all our ways in Proverb 3:5-6. It is a sin to consult with witches,
psychics, astrologers, horoscopes, Zodiacs, mediums, necromancers, tarots,
or anybody or anything for spiritual guidance in life other than the Word of
God. Hebrews 1:1-2 teaches that God speaks to us in these LAST DAYS through
His Son, that is, the Word of God (John 1:1-3,14; Revelation 19:13). Any
spirit which is not the Holy Spirit is a familiar spirit (a demon).
By all indications, Benjamin Franklin was a
well-mannered, decent, carnally-minded, heathen. There is no doubt that Mr.
Franklin had much common sense and wit about him used in his many writings.
Franklin's charm and excellent social skills made him a constant magnet for
inventors, women, children, scholars, educators, politicians, et cetera. It
seems to his enemies that nearly everyone loved Benjamin Franklin. Ben
Franklin was a meek man, just as easily able to have a conversation was an
elite aristocrat or with a peasant farmer.
Here's the entire lengthy quote taken from
earlier by Benjamin Franklin, so you can understand
the full context of Franklin's spiritually corrupt mindset devoid of any
Biblical soundness...
"You desire
to know something of my religion. It is the first time I
have been questioned upon it. But I cannot take your
curiosity amiss, and shall endeavour in a few words to
gratify it. Here is my creed. I believe in one God,
Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His
providence. That He ought to be worshipped. That the
most acceptable service we render Him is doing good to
His other children. That the soul of man is immortal,
and will be treated with justice in another life
respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the
fundamental principles of all sound religion, and I
regard them as you do in whatever sect I meet with them.
"As to Jesus
of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire,
I think the system of Morals and his Religion, as he
left them to us, the best the World ever saw or is
likely to see; but I apprehend it has received various
corrupt changes, and I have, with most of the present
Dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity;
though it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having
never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself
with it, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing
the Truth with less trouble. I see no harm, however, in
its being believed, if that belief has the good
consequence, as probably it has, of making his doctrines
more respected and better observed; especially as I do
not perceive that the Supreme takes it amiss, by
distinguishing the unbelievers in His government of the
world with any particular marks of His displeasure.
"I shall
only add, respecting myself, that, having experienced
the goodness of that Being in conducting me prosperously
through a long life, I have no doubt of its continuance
in the next, without the smallest conceit of meriting
it... I confide that you will not expose me to criticism
and censure by publishing any part of this communication
to you. I have ever let others enjoy their religious
sentiments, without reflecting on them for those that
appeared to me unsupportable and even absurd. All sects
here, and we have a great variety, have experienced my
good will in assisting them with subscriptions for
building their new places of worship; and, as I never
opposed any of their doctrines, I hope to go out of the
world in peace with them all."
SOURCE:
[Benjamin Franklin, letter to Ezra Stiles, President of
Yale, shortly before his death; from "Benjamin Franklin"
by Carl Van Doren, the October, 1938 Viking Press
edition pages 777-778 Also see Alice J. Hall,
"Philosopher of Dissent: Benj. Franklin," National
Geographic, Vol. 148, No. 1, July, 1975, p. 94]
Franklin speaks of
observing Christ's moral teachings and religion, but there is no personal
trust in the Lord Jesus Christ which is required for salvation (Romans
10:9-10). Mr. Franklin was an unsaved Modernist who learned the awful truth
on April 17th, 1790 when he died and went to Hell. No amount of
self-righteousness, good deeds or accomplishments in this earthly life can
redeem a soul back to God.
That is exactly why
Jesus Christ was sent into the world, that is, to save the world (John
3:16-17). Galatians 3:26 says that we are the children of God only by faith
in Christ Jesus. Titus 3:5 plainly warns that salvation is “NOT BY
WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY HE
SAVED US...” If Mr. Franklin would have taken out time to study the
Bible like he did everything else under the sun, then he would have known of
the free gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23) which Christ Jesus paid for BY
HIS OWN BLOOD (Hebrews 9:12).
"In
Christian theology, Modernism is a hostile term
used by its enemies to attack the tendency of
Liberal Christianity
toward
revision of certain Christian doctrines such as the
Virgin Birth
and the
Resurrection
of Christ, or
subjecting the Bible to the
Higher Criticism. Modernism
was the target of
the Fundamentalists
after
1910, and was an especially bitter issue in the 1920s."
SOURCE:
Modernism - Conservapedia
(see
also, Liberal)
Modernists masquerades to know God, but do not. Anyone who talks about
faith, God, religion, and spiritual matters ought to be quoting the
Scriptures. If they never mention Jesus Christ and the teachings of God's
Word, then something is very wrong. Modernists are NOT saved; they have a
FORM OF GODLINESS as the Bible says, but they DENY THE
POWER THEREOF of the redeeming gospel of Jesus Christ. The problem
and danger with Modernists is that they are trying to substitute their
teachings for the Word of God.
Ironically, the Bible has MUCH to say about
unsaved religious heathens. Jesus warned in Matthew 6:7 about heathens who
think they'll be heard by God for their much speaking (long prayers). Matthew 6:7, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen
do...” This is one more reason why I have full confidence that the Bible
is truly God's inspired Words, i.e., because the Bible address the reality
of heathen religious people (which modern society totally ignores). Jesus
warned in Mark 7:6-13 about religious heathens who teach the traditions of
men, laying aside the commandments of God, fully rejecting God's Word to
keep their own fabricated traditions. I could mention a hundred Scriptures
on this topic. Our churches are filled with unsaved heathen Modernists
today, who pretend and sincerely think they are Christians; but they are
children of the Devil and need to be exposed by true born-again believers
as imposters in the church (Titus 1:10-13).
Modernism is religious liberalism! These
are the people who claim to know God, or to be spiritual; but, they deny one
or more of the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith. Others
aren't sure if there is a God, but they claim to be spiritual. A perfect
example is the Unitarian Universalism
Church, whose members are 18% Atheist. The organization boasts of having
no doctrinal statement whatsoever. They fully deny the Word of God; yet,
claim to worship God.
Another Modernist was Martin Luther King Jr. who
denied the deity of Christ;
yet, falsely claimed to be a Christian. Another modernist was
C.S. Lewis who believed the
Bible contains myths, believed in purgatory, believed being born-again was a
lifelong process, taught works salvation, denied the penalty of Hell, et
cetera. C.S. Lewis was an unsaved heretic who fooled many people into thinking he was
a Christian. Lewis is revered by witches today and is the favorite author
of Harry Potter author, J.K. Rowling. And sad to say, Benjamin Franklin was
also an unsaved Modernist, who professed faith in God, but did not know
the Son of God.
1st John
5:12, “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God
hath not life.”
The Devil is a fraud, a liar, and he is the father of all murderers and
liars the Bible says (John 8:44). Most people are woefully ignorant of the
Scriptures, thinking that all religious faiths are acceptable to God; but
the horrifying truth is that there's not one religion in this world that can
get you into Heaven. Salvation is NOT found in any religion; but rather, in
a Person—The Lord Jesus Christ!
What Should Christians Do About
Modernism, Religious Liberalism?
The following helpful words are from Dr. John R.
Rice, FALSE DOCTRINES page 416-418...
God's Word has clear
instructions about what Christians should do about these who claim to be
Christians but deny the essentials of the Christian faith, and are, in fact,
infidels. No one has to argue or try to weigh reasons why support of
modernists, fellowship with modernists, might do more harm than exposing them,
leaving them.
Here is what God's Word says
do:
-
"Beware of false
prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing," Jesus said (Matthew
7:15). Call it "witch hunting"? Well, it is still what Jesus
commanded. Be on the lookout for infidels in your church or
denomination.
-
"Examine
yourselves, whether ye be in the faith" (2nd Corinthians 13:5). Have you been misled by such infidel Sunday school literature or teachers in
college or seminary?
-
"Earnestly
contend for the faith" (Jude 3). One is a poor Christian who is
not insulted when Christ's deity is questioned or when the infallible
authority of the Bible is questioned. Contend earnestly, we are
commanded. Defend the Bible and Christ.
-
Do not put
yourself and your children under the influence of such false teachers,
for "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor
standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful"
(Psalm 1:1). To use such Sunday school or other literature, to read
such books, to sit under such teachers as question the plenary, verbal
inspiration of the Bible, or the virgin birth, or bodily resurrection of
Christ, is to "walk in the counsel of the ungodly"; often it is to "sit in
the seat of the scornful." It is wrong.
-
Do not let any
man teach a class you are in, nor stand in a pulpit for which you are
partly responsible who is a religious liberal denying or questioning the
essentials of "the faith." 2nd John 1:9-11 says:
"Whosoever
transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He
that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into
your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is
partaker of his evil deeds."
One who does not stay with the
Bible doctrine about Jesus Christ "hath not God," is unconverted. You
are not to receive him as a Christian, not to receive him into your house as a
Christian, not to give a dime to support him, not even to bid him Godspeed!
To give money to a denominational program that includes colleges or seminaries
with any liberal teachers is a sin, strictly forbidden.
-
You are
not to be in the unequal yoke of membership in a local church or
denomination whose official stand is wrong on the essentials of the faith,
such as the new Presbyterian Confession of Faith or the new curriculum
prepared for the United Church of Canada. To have your name and
presence thus putting your tacit approval on infidelity, thus encouraging
others to support it, is to be responsible before God for ruin and eternal
damnation of some. Thus you are "partaker of their evil deeds" who
deny Christ and the Bible.
So it is with the preacher who stays in a ministerial association which has
Catholic priests or rabbis or modernists in it, thus indicating that he
regards them as Christian brothers, when they are actually unsaved. One may have fellowship with born-again Christians who differ on lesser
matters, but one who denies some essential of the Christian faith is not a
Christian, thus should not be endorsed as a Christian. So what to do?
“Be ye not unequally yoked
together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with
unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what
concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an
infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye
are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and
walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto
you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” —2nd Corinthians 6:14-18.
If you are a member of the big
Methodist church, since most of your bishops are unconverted, unbelievers,
your colleges and seminaries liberal, your denominational literature openly
liberal, then leave them all! Your local church cannot decide its
program, select clean literature, call a sound preacher; so leave it! That is hard, but God commands it.
So with you Presbyterians with
your new openly liberal statement of faith, to stay on the denomination means
you compromise your convictions, disobey the Bible, and very likely lead to
the eternal ruin of your children by destroying their faith.
Baptists, if your local church program is such that you cannot be in full
fellowship without supporting through your cooperative Program, seminaries and
colleges, and denominational literature that is liberal, the come out! No one has a right to talk for Christ in testimony meeting and then talk
against Christ and the Bible with his money. “Put your money where your
mouth is!” Live like you talk!
Must one leave friends of a lifetime for Christ? Yes, very often. Must one give up a Sunday school class in a modernistic church when he teaches
them the Bible? Yes, or really you are teaching them to stay where it is
wrong to stay, to study literature that is against Christ, to follow preachers
who are false prophets and who will break down their faith. Yes, the
Bible says, “Come out from among them.”
Do you love Christ and His Word more then your denomination, more than your
false leader?'
Thank God for faithful men like
Dr. John
R. Rice (1895-1980), who fight the good fight of faith, by exposing those
imposters who exploit Christianity and the Gospel for their own personal gain
and greed. Would to God we had many more men like Evangelist John R.
Rice today.
Sir
William Ramsay, a far greater all around scholar than any Modernist living or
dead, has defined a Modernist as:
"One who knows
all that I do not know, who fixes the limits of the possible, and knows
exactly what is impossible. The world is not dark to him: he is born and
cradled, and grown to manhood in the intensity of a great light. He knows all
things, and he is content and happy in his utter ignorance."
Modernists need to be exposed! Rise up oh Christian,
let the voice of God's Word be heard! If we remain silent, then who's
going to sound the battle cry? Modernism EXPOSED!
It matters not if a man gain the whole world if
he dies in his sins without Jesus Christ! Benjamin Franklin is one of two
men featured on American paper money who weren't U.S. Presidents (Franklin
is pictured on the $100 dollar bill and Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill).
Oh listen my friend, Benjamin Franklin lived an extravagant upper-class
social life of wine, women and song. Franklin moved to England and spent
16-years away from his wife, living it up in the pleasures of the elite
upper-class. Franklin loved Britain and was a loyal subject, until they
publicly humiliated him and blamed him for colonial uprisings in the states.
Franklin was infuriated and became an enemy of England almost overnight.
Before he could make the 2-month journey at
sea, his wife became ill and died before his return home. Franklin went to
France to seek their help in a revolution against England. Hundreds of women
sought Franklin ought shortly upon his arrival in France, after hearing that
he had a taste for the ladies. That's much of what he did during his 6-year
stay in France, partying and enjoying the best of this earthly sinful life.
The incredible man who admittedly never having taken the time to study the
deity of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures, had plenty of time to indulge in
wine, women and song.
"The
Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession. I could never
give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma."
—Abraham Lincoln, American
president (1809-1865).
"I have found Christian dogma
unintelligible. Early in life, I absenteed myself from Christian
assemblies." —quote by Benjamin
Franklin; from the book TOWARD THE MYSTERY
by Rev. William Edelen
"The
Christian god can easily be pictured as virtually the same god as the many
ancient gods of past civilizations. The Christian god is a three headed
monster; cruel, vengeful and capricious. If one wishes to know more of this
raging, three headed beast-like god, one only needs to look at the caliber
of people who say they serve him. They are always of two classes: fools and
hypocrites."
—Thomas Jefferson, U.S.
President, author, scientist, architect, educator, and diplomat
"Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man."
—Thomas Jefferson, U.S.
President, author, scientist, architect, educator, and diplomat
THE HELLFIRE CLUB
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