New IFB Theonomous Beliefs
In the book of Leviticus we read about five different types of offerings: the burnt offering (Lev. 1; 6:8-13; 8:18-21; 16:24), the grain (or meal) offering (Lev. 2; 6:14-23), the peace offering (Lev. 3; 7:11-34), the sin (or purification) offering (Lev. 4; 5:1-13; 6:24-30; 8:14-17; 16:3-22), and the trespass (or guilt, or reparation) offering (Lev. 5:14-19; 6:1-7; 7:1-6). The first three are considered voluntary offerings and the last two mandatory offerings. Steven Anderson has lumped them all together into one offering, which he calls “The Burnt Offering” (probably because all of the offerings are in some part burned on the altar).
Anderson insists that because Jesus was a sacrifice for our sins, in order to be a proper sacrifice He must be a burnt sacrifice. This is the basis for Anderson’s “Jesus in hell” doctrine. Anderson teaches that Jesus died for our sins (he is correct about this), that Jesus was a sacrifice for our sins (and he is correct about this), and that Jesus had to go to hell and be burned up as a sacrifice for our sins. (he is not correct about this). In his interview of Dr. James White, Anderson said, “What’s the punishment for sin? … He was a burnt sacrifice. Every sacrifice is a burnt sacrifice. Why is every sacrifice a burnt sacrifice? Why is the Passover roasted with fire? Why is every sacrifice a burnt sacrifice?”1
The problems with Anderson’s “Jesus in Hell” doctrine are many; however, the two primary problems are that one, Anderson only adheres to part of the law regarding burnt offerings. According to Leviticus the burnt offering is to be a make with no defect: Jesus meets this qualification. It is to have it’s blood drained: Jesus’s scourging could possibly be applied to this qualification. The priest was to sprinkle the animals blood around the altar: this does not apply to Jesus. The sacrifice is to be skinned and cut into pieces: Sorry Mr. Anderson, but Jesus was not skinned, nor was He cut into pieces. The intestines and legs of the sacrifice are to be washed: Again, this does not apply to Jesus. And finally, the sacrifice was to be burned on the altar all night, with its skin being given to the priest as a fee for his help in performing the sacrifice. Again, this did not happen.
Steven Anderson insists that Jesus was a burnt sacrifice, and had to be a burnt sacrifice in order to be an acceptable sacrifice. But his insistence taking the burnt sacrifice passages literal negates Jesus being an acceptable sacrifice because not all the requirements were met. But this is what happens when someone who does not understand the Bible makes an attempt to interpret it.
Christians have always looked upon Jesus as the final, ultimate, perfect, and acceptable sacrifice for our sins. He fulfilled all the sacrifices once and for all time through His shed blood and death on the cross (Heb.9:22; 10:1-10; Col.1:22; 1 Pet.1:19), thus opening a way, the only way, for us to enter the Holy Place of God’s Presence (Heb.10:19-22), where we will offer our “sacrifice of praise” to Him (Heb.13:15; cf. 9:11-28; 4:14-5:10).
For Steven Anderson to insist that Christ must also enter hell and while there be burned up as a sacrifice is for Anderson to say that Christ’s shedding of blood, and His death, were insufficient. They weren’t enough. In spite of Scripture saying the shed blood and death of Jesus are what redeem us, Anderson adds to this the “Jesus in Hell” doctrine. Unsupported by Scripture, unsupported by Church history (the Church has never taught this), and unsupported by anything other than Anderson’s own twisted understanding of God, Jesus, Scripture, and salvation.
Not only does Anderson twist and arbitrarily apply the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament (as just shown), but he also practices a selective, arbitrary and capricious form of theonomy when it comes to the civil law as well.
There are 613 laws in the Old Testament, divided up into three categories: The Ceremonial Law (which we have just addressed with regard to Steven Anderson and the New IFB), the Civil Law (which we are about to address), and the Moral Law. Out of the hundreds of civil laws, Anderson and the New IFB have chosen to call for adherence to only three of them, and those three they want enforced selectively. The three are:
1. Homosexuals are to be put to death (Lev. 18:22,29; 20:13).2
2. Adulterers (Exo. 20; Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22-24)3
3. Rebellious teens (Exo. 21:15,17; Lev. 20:9; Deut. 21-18-21)4
Steven Anderson and the New IFB have made it clear they want homosexuals, adulterers, and “rebellious teenagers” put to death, and they have no qualms about making the beliefs known on this subject. What they are quiet about, however, is the other 610 Old Testament laws. If they are going to be consistent in their beliefs then they must observe and enforce these as well. And if not these, then what about the numerous other crimes the Old Testament law requires the death penalty for? What about murder31/5 (Exo. 21:12,14; Lev. 24:17,21; Num. 35:16-21,30-31)? Surely Anderson and his New IFB clones would support the death penalty for murderers. What about kidnapping32/6 (Deut.24:7), or kidnapping someone and selling them into slavery33/7 (Exo.21:16; Deut. 24:7), or being found in possession of someone who has been kidnapped and sold into slavery35/8 (Exo.21:16)? With the amount of slavery still going on today, would Anderson and the New IFB advocate for the death penalty for human traffickers?
What about child sacrifice36/9 (Lev. 18:21,29; 20:2)? Rape37/10 (Deut. 22:25)? How about if the daughter of a priest becomes a prostitute38/11 (Lev. 21:9)? What about those who set up anything over God and are thus an idolator39/12 (Exo. 22:20; Deut. 17:2-5; Num. 15:32-36)? And what about those who break the Sabbath40/13 (Exo. 31:14; 35:2; Num. 15:32-36)? Considering we are talking about Old Testament law, will Anderson and his fellow New IFB adherents call for the death of anyone who does not worship God on the Old Testament Sabbath day of Saturday?
And since Anderson and his clones have already publicly called for the death penalty for homosexuals, adulterers, and rebellious teens, do they or will they also publicly call for the death penalty on those who break any of the other Old Testaments laws against other forms of sexual immorality such as people having premarital sex41/14, sex with a step-mother42/15, sex with a daughter-in-law43/16, sex with an immediate family member44/17, sex with a step-sibling45/18, sex with grandchildren46/19, sex with half-siblings47/20, sex with aunts and uncles48/21, sex with parents49/22, sex with a sister-in-law50/23, sex with a woman who is mensturating51/24, sex with a neighbors wife52/25 like Anderson’s hero Jack Hyles did, sex with a woman and her daughter or granddaughters53/26, bestiality54/27, or if a man married both a woman and her mother in which case all three are to be put to death55/28. Will they publicly call for anyone committing any of the admittedly vile acts to be put to death? And while we’re on the subject will Anderson and the other New IFB adherents publicly call for the death of Anderson’s former protégé, Donnie Romero who admitted to committing adultery, as well as the prostitutes whom he was with?
There are many other acts which if committed during the Old Testament period in Israel would have cost the perpetrator his or her life, such as abusing widows or orphans in any way56/29, or if two men are fighting and accidentally hit a pregnant woman and cause her to lose her baby57/30, or if a man owns an ox and that ox gores someone after having already gored someone else58/31. Anyone not abiding by the decision of the court was subject to the death penalty59/32, so shouldn’t Anderson be publicly calling for the death of anyone who violates a restraining order? If a non-Levite tried to set up or take down the Tabernacle they would be subject to the death penalty60/33. Does this mean Anderson will call for the death penalty for any non-Levite who works on the construction or demolition of a church building?
The rape of an engaged virgin61/34, or if a man and an engaged woman meet and have sex then both are subject to the death penalty, or if a man rapes an engaged woman he us subject to the death penalty62/35. Witches, sorceresses63/36, mediums and spiritists64/37 are all subject to the death penalty. No doubt Anderson will soon be publicly calling for the death of those who create horoscopes, New Age channelers, herbalists, tarot card readers, palm readers, wiccans, witches and nature worshipers. He will if he is going to be consistent in his beliefs and teachings.
The Old Testament Levitical law that Steven Anderson and his New IFB clones use to publicly call for the “justified” death penalty for homosexuals and adulterers (or at least most adulterers), and rebellious teens, also calls for the death penalty for anyone who attempts to get you to follow a god other than the God of the Bible, whether it is a family member or friend65/38, or someone from another town66/39. Should we expect to soon see Anderson and his New IFB buddies publicly calling for the death of Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, or any other non-Christian religious group that has members going door to door or handing out tracts and pamphlets? Or those who produce television and radio commercials, programs and films designed to entice people to join their religion? Or perhaps they will simply call for the death penalty of anyone who worships a god other than the biblical God67/40.
And finally, according to the same Levitical law that Steven Anderson calls on to be observed and enforced, any woman who is found to have not been a virgin on the night of her wedding is to be put to death68/41. Does Anderson intend to call for the public execution of the vast majority of women in America? And according to the same Levitical law anyone who blasphemes the Lord, or take’s His name in vain, or curses His name is to be put to death69/42. Will Anderson and the New IFB now also publicly call for the death of anyone who takes the Lord’s name in vain? Or anyone who curses the name of the Lord? These last two are the most important with regard to Anderson’s insistence upon the observance and enforcement of Levitical law, a false prophet is to be put to death70/43; and a false witness is to be put to death71/44. This is important because Anderson has publicly claimed to be a prophet chosen by God Himself. And yet, the “Prophet Anderson” was unable to discern that two men he personally chose, trained, and ordained to the pastorate – Richard Miller and Donnie Romero, would simply abandon his pastorate and walk away (Miller), or fall into the grievous sin of adultery, drunkeness, and drug use and be forced to resign his pastorship (Romero). Nor was “Prophet Anderson” able to discern that three of his most trusted protégés – Domonique Davis, Garrett Kirchway, and Tyler Baker, one of whom he ordained as deacon (Baker) in preparation of placing in a new church, and another whom he had personally known for over eight years (Kirchway), were actually Jesus only modalists.
Since “Prophet Anderson” was unable to discern the character and beliefs of these close and trusted friends in these vitally important areas of their spiritual life; and since Anderson and other New IFB pastors and adherents have publicly lied about many, many people, are they all going to publicly call for their own deaths?
Granted, this particular section seems long and drawn out, however, it is important to fully expose the hypocrisy that is rampant within the New IFB. Not simply in individual cases such as Donnie Romero preaching “hard” against adultery while engaging in it himself; nor as Steven Anderson preaching “hard” against entering casinos because just walking through the door can corrupt you, while at the same time sending three of his followers into casinos in the Jacksonville, Florida area for the express purpose of digging up dirt on a former New IFB member. Why? Because that is what they do. But rather it is the wide spread hypocrisy of publicly calling for the death of homosexuals and adulterers, while calling them reprobates who are incapable of salvation, while at the same time refusing to do so for people in so many other cases that it would require them to call for the death of, and label as unsavable reprobates, virtually anyone who does not fit the New IFB criteria for a Christian; as well as refusing to place themselves in the same categories of deserving of death and reprobate, since they too engage in practices the Levitical law requires the death penalty for.
In a display of crass / gross hypocrisy, not only does Steven Anderson not include his parents (both of whom have committed adultery) in his condemnation of adulterers, and not only does not include Donnie Romero – a self-admitted adulterer, in his condemnation of adulterers, but he continues to include Romero on his hard preaching website (at least as of 28 July 2019), listing him as a “man of God” (and a number of Romero’s sermons are still available):
1. Dr. James White Full Interview 'NWO Bible Versions' [2:32:48]
framingtheworld
Published on Aug 11, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJrptikLjq8&t=834s
MP4 Video and MP3 Audio Downloaded for this Video
2. The position of the Steven Anderson and the New IFB concerning their advocating for the death penalty for homosexuals is well known and well documented. They went so far as to hold an entire conference advocating for this in June 2019, known as the “Make America Straight Again” Conference.
3. John 8 and the Woman Taken in Adultery (He that is without sin among you…) [6:30]
sanderson1611
Published on Dec 15, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69-h3y2BgTw
MP4 Video Downloaded for this Video
Avoiding Adultery [1:00:27]
sanderson1611
Streamed live on Jul 19, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhqTeGL2gdU
MP4 Video Downloaded for this Video
The Death Penalty for Adultery?
By Steven L. Anderson, Wednesday, June 22, 2016
http://sanderson1611.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-death-penalty-for-adultery.html
Blog Post Downloaded as PDF
4. Although New IFB “Pastor” Jonathan Shelley’s sermon calls for the death of “rebellious teenagers,” the passages given here refer to the similar issues of include disobedient sons, children who strike or curse their parents, and stubborn and rebellious sons. Since they are similar, we will go ahead and include them, as we are sure Jonathan Shelley would. His sermon on this subject is:
Rebellious Teenagers Are Worthy of Death #teenagers #badchildren #ifb [5:36]
Stedfast Baptist Church
Published on Jan 21, 2019
Pastor Shelley explains how the Bible teaches that Rebellious teenagers who are lazy drunkards should be executed by the government. https://youtu.be/5KWOXWg7UYo
Full Sermon: “Honour Thy Father and Thy Mother – Pastor Jonathan Shelley
Stedfast Baptist Church
Streamed live on Jan 21, 2019
https://youtu.be/5KWOXWg7UYo
MP4 Video Downloaded for this Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIns-wVlrw4
MP4 Video and MP3 Audio have been downloaded for this video
Parents Are Commanded By God to Spank Their Children #parenting #ifb #kjv [2:19]
Stedfast Baptist Church
Published on Jan 21, 2019
Pastor Shelly explains from the Bible that parents who refuse to discipline and correct their children are disobedient to God and hate their children.
Full Sermon: https://youtu.be/5KWOXWg7UYo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3vBKX-8vao&feature=youtu.be
MP4 Video Downloaded for this video
Texas Pastor Encourages Stoning Deaths of Rebellious Kids and 'Lazy Gamers,' YouTube Removes Videos
By Benjamin Fearnow On 1/22/19 at 3:02 PM EST
https://www.newsweek.com/pastor-stedfast-baptist-fort-worth-stoning-jonathan-shelley-rebellion-death-1300803
PDF Downloaded
“A Baptist church pastor in Fort Worth, Texas, said today's rebellious public school students and ‘lazy gamers’ should be stoned to death as part of a societal lesson in obedience. Stedfast Baptist Church Pastor Jonathan Shelley used Old Testament Bible verses to support his sermon this week against rebellious sons and daughters and how to discipline such disobedient children in public schools—by stoning them to death.
“‘[Young adults are] going to continue being more rebellious, more mocking, more arrogant, more prideful,’ Shelley continued. ‘You see, it's never enough. They just want to keep mocking their parents and disobeying their parents. You've got to squash out the rebellion in your child. You know how you could squash rebellion in a public school today? Take the rebellious one out and stone him. I bet they'd shapen up pretty quick. I bet they'd figure it out.’
“Shelley said society in 2019 is ‘destroying itself’ because the ‘prideful teenage jerks’ who are not being put to death as the book of Deuteronomy demands. ‘The guy that's the lazy gamer saying, 'I don't want to get a job. I just want to play video games all day and drink alcohol with my buddies,' that guy should be put to death,’ Shelley added.”
5. Exodus 21:12,14; Leviticus 24:17,21; Numbers 35:16-21,30-31
6. Deuteronomy 24:7
7. Exodus 21:16; Deuteronomy 24:7
8. Exodus 21:16
9. Leviticus 18:21,29; 20:2
10. Deuteronomy 22:25
11. Leviticus 21:9
12. Exodus 22:20; Deuteronomy 17:2-5; Numbers 15:32-36
13. Exodus 31:14; 35:2; Numbers 15:32-36
14. Deuteronomy 22:21-24
15. Leviticus 18:8,29; 20:11
16. Leviticus 18:15,29; 20:12
17. Leviticus 18:6,29
18. Leviticus 18:9,29; 20:17
19. Leviticus 18:10,29
20. Leviticus 18:11,29
21. Leviticus 18:13-14,29; 20:19-20
22. Leviticus 18:7,29
23. Leviticus 18:16,18,29; 20:21
24. Leviticus 18:19,29; 20:18
25. Leviticus 18:20,29 [the affair between Jack Hyles and his neighbors wife was well known]
26. Leviticus 18:17,29
27. Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 18:23,29; 20:15-16
28. Leviticus 20:14
29. Exodus 22:22-24
30. Exodus 21:22-25
31. Exodus 21:28-29
32. Deuteronomy 17:8-12
33. Numbers 1:51
34. Deuteronomy 22:22-27
35. Deuteronomy 22:23-27
36. Exodus 22:18
37. Leviticus 20:6,27
38. Deuteronomy 13:6-11
39. Deuteronomy 13:12-15
40. Worshiping false gods and worshiping other gods is considered a death penalty offense in Levitical law, Exodus 22:20; Deuteronomy 13:6-10; Deuteronomy 17:2-7
41. Deuteronomy 22:13-22
42. Leviticus 24:10-16,23
43. Deuteronomy 13:5; Deuteronomy 18:20
44. Deuteronomy 19:16-21