By Brook Ardoin
(May 2017)
Introduction
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and peace be unto you. Although this is a lengthy article, I know if you bear with me through the end, it will answer many questions you may have pertaining to what is known as the Essene Humane Gospel of Jesus Christ. Due to the volume of emails, I felt led to get to work writing this body of work. I could never begin to cover this “gospel” in its entirety, so I decided to focus on a few of the most pivotal aspects of it and those who follow it.
This is the most researched work I have ever put out, and I used a great amount of scripture, which is the best way to clarify solid truth of any topic. I pray that you skip none of the passages throughout, because ALL are the backbone to proving the case against the Humane Gospel, and more importantly to bring full knowledge of its heresies in comparison to the Bible. Pay close attention as I first lay out this “gospel” and their beliefs, as after I will take each aspect and weigh it against scripture.
I pray I did justice to help you farther understand the dangers of any doctrine other than that in God’s Word, and why AMTM had no choice but to pull a show by a guest who still holds some of the doctrines of this gospel, as many of you requested our explanation. Thank you for your patience and time as you begin this small journey into what I have come to discover as one of the most deceptive doctrines I have thus far researched.
What is the Essene Humane Gospel & Who are the Essenes?
We all know there is a multitude of false doctrines for any one of us to latch onto these days. For AMTM, this recently hit home as we were forced to take a deep look into the Essene Humane Gospel of Jesus Christ. For many of us, myself included, this was the first of even hearing of such a “gospel”. There are two main areas I attempt to shed more light upon as taken from the Humane Gospel. First, what does the Bible say concerning Believers eating meat, and secondly is answering if Jesus truly was a vegetarian.
There are five main parts to this gospel. To best describe it, it is written in a similar format as the New Testament – basically, a gospel in and of itself. Many stories are even based off those we see within the New Testament. However, each is its own uniquely twisted version that completely differs from the one true Gospel, making it its very own distinct, deceptive “gospel” of the life of Jesus Christ.
This gospel gets its name from being centered on the meaning of the word “humane”. The definition of humane is “characterized by tenderness, compassion, and sympathy for people and animals, especially for the suffering or distressed; acting in a manner that causes the least harm to people or animals”.
According to the Humane Gospel, “The word Humane describes man at his very best, man who not only knows God’s laws, but lives by the daily, for Humaneness is a virtue that results from the understanding of the spiritual fruits of the Holy Spirit. It farther states, “Only the Essene writings contain the complete story of the most kind and generous of all men”.
Of the “proclaiming” Christian it says, “Yes, so-called men of God who eat animal flesh, hunt, fish, trap animals, indulge in hard drink, lead sordid sex lives, participate in politics, support warfare and weapons, and have an absolute lack of interest in the human affairs of their fellow man, not to mention the innocent creatures of God”.
The Essenes were a sect of Second Temple Judaism that flourished from the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century CE which some scholars claim seceded from a sect of priests known as the Zadokite. The Essenes were fewer in number than the Pharisees and Sadducees and lived in various cities but congregated in communal life dedicated to asceticism (celibacy practices), voluntary poverty, and daily immersion (baths used for ritual immersion in Judaism). Many separate but related religious groups of that era shared similar mystic, eschatological, messianic, and ascetic beliefs. (Source: Wikipedia)
The Essenes led a completely ascetic lifestyle. They acknowledged Moses and believed that Moses did in fact receive the laws. The Essenes were Jews who kept all Jewish observances. However, they did not offer sacrifices, eat meat, or make sacrifices with it.
Some Outstanding Beliefs of the Humane Gospel
The Humane Gospel would have people believe that Jesus and His disciples were vegetarians and did not eat meat. It also teaches that Jesus did not feed the five-thousand with fish and loaves, but with leaves and grapes. It quotes Jesus as saying that “those who eat meat are not worthy of life in this world, nor in the world to come”. It goes on to say, “let such forever be forgotten of God, for by no means will such enter the kingdom of light, but will remain in darkness due to their bloodguilt”.
Within this entire gospel, I noticed how it brings a greater emphasis to animals than to human life. There are stories not even remotely based from the true Word of God where Jesus saves creatures. You will see below how they call animals “holy”. Those who follow this gospel are known to believe that all animals have a soul, and no one is to kill or eat animals for this reason – if so, the person who does is in sin.
Not only does it consider eating meat sin, but look how it has Jesus condemning meat-eaters to HELL. According to the above quotes, it explicitly states that all who eat meat are not worthy of salvation, to be forgotten by God, and by no means enter heaven but remain in darkness. It may not directly use the term “hell”, but where else would be spent in darkness, never entering heaven?
Another point worthy of mention is how this false gospel condemns fisherman. Of a fisherman it states, “A thief he is, he stealeth the treasures of the deep and disrupts the holy life of the blessed”. It compares the fisherman to Satan himself, and sea creatures such as fish, become the “food of death”. Therefore, eating fish is greatly condemned as well as those making a living as fisherman.
Before I take what I shared above and compare it to the Word of God, there is something else I found highly disturbing. Repeatedly, I took note that Jesus did not refer to the Father simply as “Father”. On numerous occasions, Jesus refers to the Father as “the Father-Mother in heaven”. This gospel is pure heresy my friends. The word heresy means it holds beliefs or opinions contrary to Christian doctrine, especially the one true Gospel of Christ.
Remember, I have only but scratched the surface of all this doctrine teaches and presents as truth. If you want to do a more in-depth study in its entirety, I suggest Googling it and going from there. I am only touching on a few of their views so I can compare with the Word of God and give you a better understanding of why AMTM is so strongly against this false gospel.
The Old Testament and the Law Regarding the Eating of Meat
Now let us look into the Old Testament scriptures to get a better understanding of what the Lord instructs His people on eating meat.
First in the law regarding the people:
“Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsover thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which He hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as the roebuck, and as the hart. Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.” (Deuteronomy 12:15-16, KJV)
Regarding the Levite’s among them:
“When the Lord thy God shall enlarge thy border, as He hath promised thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul longeth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after. If the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to put his name there be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which the Lord hath given thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.” (Deuteronomy 12:20-21, KJV)
*[Note in the above how God approves of killing animals for food].
“Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh. Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water. Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the Lord.”
(Deuteronomy 12:23-25, KJV)
“And thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the Lord thy God: and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the Lord thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh. Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee forever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God.” (Deuteronomy 12:27-28, KJV)
All these commands were given to Moses on the Mount, which is also well known in the Torah. Abstaining from meat because an animal has a soul is clearly not in the law of God.
Did Jesus Eat Meat?
Moving on to the New Testament, let us look at what Jesus spoke about meat, as well as review what His Word says pertaining to His diet. Jesus was Jewish to the bone. Jews were meat-eaters, and Jesus was no exception. Having been flawless all His days, Jesus observed all that was commanded by God through Moses. He was therefore free to eat clean animals including sheep, goat, cattle, fish, and some foul. As commanded of God, He abstained from meat deemed unclean.
One of the strongest areas in scripture that smashes the Humane Gospel’s doctrine of a vegetarian Jesus is the undisputable fact that He yearly partook in Passover. The specific guidelines of meat preparation for the Passover meal can be found in Exodus 12.
In Luke 2:41-42, every year His parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. Here it tells the story about their trip to celebrate this Feast when Jesus was 12 years old. As a strict Jew, Jesus observed the Feasts as taught by His earthly parents. Common knowledge tells us He ate of the Passover meal, which included lamb or a baby goat. Proof of this is found in the passages below.
The scriptures I want to bring most attention to are those by which Jesus speaks in His own words in Matthew 26:17-19,
“Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto Him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to EAT THE PASSOVER? And He said, Go into the city to such a man, an say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at thy house with My disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the Passover”. (See also Mark 14 & Luke 22)
As a small side note, recall how the Essenes did not offer meat sacrifices as the law required. Yet, in the Word Jesus is referred to as the LAMB, slain for the sins of the world and His blood shed as the ultimate sacrifice. In 1 Corinthians 5:7, it even specifically refers to Christ as our Passover, sacrificed for us. My point is how this (Jesus’ death as the Lamb) is symbolic of the laws of sacrifice given to Moses. His death and shedding of His blood was the final fulfillment of the law.
God Himself had no problem with meat sacrifices and the eating of meat, as read in the scriptures above. All the dietary laws were in effect up to the time of the New Covenant. The works of the law no longer apply to Christians because we are now under grace after that ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb, slain for us on the Cross. His sacrifice was the final sacrifice.
The Word of God Concerning Fish & the Fisherman
Another false doctrine of the Humane Gospel is their belief that because fish is meat, it is strictly off limits and not to be consumed. They believe that Jesus never ate it. The most solid account of Jesus eating fish occurs after His resurrection. This is recorded in John 21 when He showed Himself to His disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.
The disciples went fishing at night and caught nothing. When morning came, Jesus stood on the shore and said unto them,
“Children, have ye any meat”? They answered Him, No. And He said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it [in] for the multitude of fishes…As soon as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus said unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught…Jesus said unto them, Come and dine…Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise”. (John 21:5-6, 9-10, 12-13, KJV)
*[The above may be compared to Luke’s account in chapter 24:41-43]
What MORE does one need in order to see that Jesus ate fish and even referred to it as meat in the above passage? This is NOT some “symbolic” story within the Word. It is literal, and to be taken as such. One either believes the Word as a whole, or does not. There is no guessing as to what Jesus meant in the above account. (Compare also to Luke 24:41-43)
I also shared how the Humane Gospel states that Jesus did not multiply fish and loaves for the five-thousand. Rather, this erratic doctrine suggests that He multiplied leaves and grape clusters! The true story of Jesus feeding the five-thousand can be read in Matthew 14:13-21, where it clearly says He multiplied five loaves and two fish. Would Jesus do such a great act for such a magnitude of people if He Himself were against eating meat and never ate it Himself? The number of people He fed did not even include the women and children, so one can only speculate the true number of all He fed that day.
Next, I want to talk some about this false gospel’s statements of the fisherman and comparing them to Satan himself. I gave quotes directly taken from this gospel in which fisherman are called “thieves” and “disrupt the holy life of the blessed”. What then does this suggest of the Messiah?
The Sea of Galilee offered a livelihood for many generations. At least seven of the twelve disciples were fisherman. Unlike this heretical gospel suggests, it would be hard to believe that Jesus would call any to walk beside Him as His friend and brother throughout His time on earth had He not found the vocation of a fisherman to be respectable and pleasing to Him.
To name a few, Andrew was tending to his nets when Jesus called him as a disciple (Luke 5:2). His brother Peter watched Jesus climb into his boat then preach to the people. James and his brother John were mending nets when Jesus called them. It is near lunacy to think that Jesus would call so many fisherman as part of the twelve, yet according to the Humane Gospel beliefs, it is compared to Satan.
Final Scriptures on Meat, False Doctrine, & Deceiving Ministers
Here are more passages that strongly tie into this message in its entirety:
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer”. (1Timothy 4:1-5, KJV)
“Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof”.
(1 Corinthians 10:25-26, KJV)
In the above scriptures, the only limitation is “food sacrificed to idols”. This not for our sakes, but those that be idolaters and for their conscious sake, which can be more understood by reading the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians.
The word “shambles” is Greek for “makellon” which is “a place where meat or other articles of food are sold; meat-market”.
“I am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil, for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men”. (Romans 14:14-23, NKJV)
The above verses caution us on becoming stumbling blocks to others due to food. We are not to grieve one who may not eat what we eat. Rather, we can be respectful and walk in love when met with such issues. We are to remain in peace with our brother, edifying one another, and not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.
Therefore, if any Christian be vegetarian, there is no sin in that. I want to be clear on this matter. We see here it is neither sin to eat or not eat meat. Granted, the entire purpose of this article is to prove that meat is acceptable to God and that Jesus Christ not only approves of us eating it, but also ate of it Himself!
“Whoever 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 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”. (2 John 9-11, KJV)
“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted – you may well put up with it! (2 Corinthians 11:3-4, NKJV)
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works”. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15, NKJV)
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction”. (2 Peter 2:1, KJV)
Conclusion
There is so much more within the Bible I could share with you to prove the heresies of this false Humane Gospel. I feel I have highlighted some of its main doctrines and beliefs for you today, and pray I have given you a better understanding of it. Beyond doubt, I believe I have proven my case about the consumption of meat, not only by Christians, but also by the Lord Jesus, according to the Word of the Lord. I am fully convinced that this is nothing more than a doctrine of devils.
I pray as Paul did for all those who read this work in its entirety. My hope is that the “truth of the gospel might continue with you”, knowing there is but ONE TRUE GOSPEL. May you hide His Word in your heart, and never be deceived with another gospel. Amen and Amen.
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, LET HIM BE ACCURSED. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, LET HIM BE ACCURSED. (Galations1:8-9, KJV)
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