Jesus did not cleanse the Temple because he hated the building, He did it because it was the house of the Lord and the merchants had violated the sanctity of the building

A balanced, comprehensive, and interesting presentation of this very attractive religious movement, of which, even as a Church historian, I knew almost nothing. Thanks !

What a ride listening to this. As a Quaker, much of this resonated with me and my faith… while some of it was a little alarming

As an Orthodox Christian, I admire the fact that they can see many problems with American Evangelicalism and the Protestant movement as a whole. It's just unfortunate that they have no access to other Christian history and are therefore groping blindly trying to find where to go next.

A voice in the desert channel has changed my life and the way I view Christianity forever. No denomination that I've come across, constantly reminds people to go to the words of Jesus more then this group does. I praise God for that.

With the type of information from your channel and learning the many sects of Christianity, I can make my own cult in no time :D Keep up the good work (please note the whole cult thing was a joke)

I very much enjoyed watching this video which uses first-hand material to try giving an undistorted picture of the group.

This religious sec is very interesting. In one hand they believe in Sola Scriptura but they also reject it. I don't think that there will be a theological exam at the gates of Heaven but the Trinity is fundamental to the Christian faith. Truly fascinating

A BIG PLUS for this one. I subscribe to Voice in the Dessert Videos. Thus I watch quite a few. I'm 71. The Children of God crossed my path twice -- once in 1971, and once in 1981. I did a bit of research on them myself -- not to teach anyone, just for me. I still seek feedback and discourse. I am almost sure that I am shadow-banned on a few channels -- I never receive a response. I'm pretty sure I have had some on this channel. The Televangelists have turned my Father's house into a Marketplace.

As always, you presented their truths according to them. I’m always amazed at how many slices there is in gods cake. Thank you for enlightening me.

While I don't believe in the end times, they do sound an interesting group.

Fascinating, as always.

A voice in the desert showed me the truth when no one else would. They explain things very well.

If I was going to be a christian based on my readings and knowledge of the bible, these guys sound like the closest thing to what I think i'd have to believe. I'm not and never have been christian but a lot of their interpretations of the meaning in the bible and the teaching of jesus just follow a lot of my own... although the microchip part may be some creative interpretation that is spiritually in line but not that clear.

I actually kind of agree with some of their ideas, like their idea of the tentmaking myth and the profitability of ministry, their No List of Beliefs, and the importance lots of Christians place on having the idea idea of God rather than on the right practices demanded of us by God... but I can't see how they've come to the conclusion that God hates churches and public worship, or that they should live off the charity from people who work and then act morally superior to people who work just because they live off the charity from people who work.

Great video. I have heard of this group and have listed to Voice in the Desert before. I hope you do a video on Christian Scientists. I looked and I do not think you have yet. The Channel Knowing Better recently released a well researched video about them. I am also interested in your description of them would sound like.

I think it's very interesting that they call out the small-mindedness of certain debates in Christian theology, which I think is what anyone first thinks about the reasons for the various schisms etc. in Christianity.

Thank you,Joshua🌹⭐🌹

6:20: this only word for languages which use the same word for church and Church. In Greek, Church is "ekklesía" while church is "naós" or "kyriakón" (the latter being the origin of the English word).

I heard of these guys over a decade again. Honestly, I didn't think they were still around. They were certainly misguided. I might point out that the majority of the "doctrine" presented here is easily disputed via the Book of Concord. Yes, you can also dispute these "teachings" by them based upon scripture, and nor does it seem that any of them have any formal theological training nor do they understand the nuances of Hebrew, Latin, or Greek.

The group is more biblical than any existing sect today.

Where in the scriptures does it say Paul's tent making was sinful? "28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth." -Eph 4 Paul is telling people to go out and get a job, no doubt they will call me a Paul worshiper, but Paul wrote this, "37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord."- 1 Cor 14

They are against the idea of making any kind of income at all, and living in houses, taking out of context Jesus' words to his Apostles about not having money bags, and having nowhere to rest his head, and for the rich man to sell all his things (which was a specific command to him, to test whether he had more love for riches than Christ). Yet they cherry pick that, and don't quote the later scriptures where: -Jesus said to take money with them and sell their clothes in "contrast" to what he said before (Luke 22:35-36) -Jesus taught us to pay taxes (Matthew 22:17-21), you are only taxed if you make money via an income -The Apostles often spoke of members of the congregations in their letters, who would gather in their "homes" (Acts 12:12, Acts 16:40, Romans 16:3,5, Colossians 4:15) -That "richer Christians" should assist the poorer ones (1 Corinthians 11:22, 1 Corinthians 16:2) -Paul encouraged the Christians he wrote to, to "work" and "make money to pay for food" or they'd not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:8-10) Which all implies having an income and a place to live. The Christians with homes and money in the Apostolic letters were not told to give them up, only to not have a "love" of money and greed. To have money, and to earn money, and even have 'much' money, is not evil, but only if it distracts from one's devotion to God or encourages one to put money over following God's commands and love for others. Scripture 'never' says Paul making tents was a 'bad' thing, so the whole idea that Paul was in the wrong in doing this, is an insertion of eisegetical dogma. Gathering together, obviously was a reference to the synagogue culture of the 1st century, when people would meet for worship or discussion over scripture and revelations. Of which the Christian focus was to "incite love and fine works". I am of course, not 'against' this life style of piety, and greatly respect it, and I also agree in part in regard to money being wasted on church buildings and overly luxurious cathedrals... And I also fully support the notion that making money off of the Gospel itself is wrong (Matthew 10:8, Acts 8:20)... But to teach it's a "requirement" of the Christian faith to make oneself destitute and reliant on others, is a falsehood. And actually goes against several direct commands in the NT about earning one's own wages to not burden others. Donations are for those who 'cannot' earn their own way, the poor, the vulnerable, etc. So to purposely make oneself poor and reliant on others, is to take from those who 'have no choice' but to be poor and helpless, and so they actually make the poor poorer in the long run. Christ only once told his Apostles not to take money and to rely on others, as a lesson regarding faith in God, for a temporary arrangement, of which he then later told them not to do. As always, the "mark of the Beast" is also taken out of context regarding money here (as it usually is with these kinds of groups), but the mark of the Beast I firmly believe is a spiritual one, not a physical one, the mind and deeds (head and hand), which symbolises loyalty to the Devil, and a willingness to serve him to preserve one's life ( a reference to the lesson of Job), where as the mark of God on our foreheads is contrasted to this, and we're not having to have God come down to implant 'his' chip or tattoo on our heads as way of being marked for salvation, surely. People are spiritually blind and are thus mislead by hyper-literalisms of his parables, just as Jesus described of many people in the 1st century; "Why do you not understand I'm not talking about real bread?". If the day comes that we cannot literally buy or sell without engaging in false worship, (as it was with the Roman Emperors demanding worship of all their citizens - as was the original context of that verse), then that will come of its own accord. And we as the faithful, will choose to be without money or food over that of engaging in false worship of that Beast.

love your stuff! would love to see a video on which denominations are two basic things: 1: preterist or semi preterist 2: agree with scientific facts. / aren’t science deniers or young earth etc…

I was just watching this episode casually thinking that it is about some "end times" cult, but as the video drills on, I realised that much of it resonates with what I had read in the NT before I became "church-ed"! I decided to believe in Jesus Christ after reading the NT on my own, so I am very familiar with the "hard" teachings of Christ. I wonder how this "movement" will be like in the future. Interesting...

They make a lot of sense actually

This sounds similar to a barefoot nomadic group I traveled with 4 decades ago who imitated the outward behavior of "Lightening Amen" who had been declared Jesus Christ by Clyde. Clyde was traveling around he USA looking for and expecting to find Jesus Christ in person and he found Amen. Noteworthy, Amen lived just as poor as his followers as far as I know. it wasn't an easy life, but it was filled with coincidences. I walked away because I disliked the bad teachings of an elder I was under.

The Jesus Christians were the people who started my search for the Path of Christ, which culminated in my finding Holy Orthodoxy. I was in college when I met them, and they posed questions that after 18 years of growing up with and studying the Bible and the pentecostal/baptist tradition I could not answer. I searched for an answer from many denominations, but none took Christ's words seriously. I genuinely considered joining them, but then I started noticing a few red flags. In effect, they were claiming to know what Christ meant better than even the apostles, who obviously were taught more than what we have written in the gospels. So, I started searching for how the people closest to Christ understood his teachings (obviously they would understand better than us 2000 years later). What I began seeing in the writings of early Christians ended up preparing my for the "Eastern Orthodox" Church, which is the actual continuation of the early Christian community. I learned to humble myself before Christ and those who reveal Christ to me through their lives and wisdom. Christ's teachings are difficult yet true and beautiful, and we strive throughout our lives to grow in love and proper obedience to the King.

'we have no set of beliefs' has a book of what they do and don't do based on what they believe.

Thank you.. This group makes more sense than ANY religion EVER has to me. Thank you

Thank you ❤

I hope that you didn't change your stile because of my comment/criticism, but it is getting better; i.e. your speed is more intelligible. I, however, did not questioned your accuracy! Very educational for me. Thank you!

“Your doctrines are wrong. Don’t @ me.” ~Jesus Christians

it's a religious version of r/antiwork, how peculiar.

Nature was the original temple

This is an interesting group. Ive sometimes read the words of Jesus and come away thinking like this; though not all of it and I affirm the Trinity.

For the record, I'd love to see a video on the family international.

I don't think I've ever rolled my eyes so much to a KZfaq video.

"dont make money" - but ok to live on handouts (from others that make money).

I suspect in Mark 10:3 Jesus was 'explaining' why Moses said what he said, not questioning him. God didn't simply place full fledged Christians down in a single go. Like all things, it must grow, so perhaps at that time this is what was required to be done through the mouth of Moses, as the people were stubborn, like today of which I am inluded. Jesus tells of how it 'is'. There is a difference imo.

The way they frame the concept of the Trinity as believing "in a word" shows me that they're either being dishonest in their approach or *really* don't grasp the teaching. I don't know any Christian that believes in a word. I know many who accept the teaching as true. The term "Holy Bible" isn't found anywhere from Genesis to Revelation, yet no one rejects the Bible on the basis that it isn't self-referential. 8:15

06:12 Boy are they going to be surprised when they get to Heaven!

Oh look, another group that claims everyone got it wrong for the past 2000 years until they came along.

I appreciate them and think their ideology is needed now more than ever. Could you imagine if we all just decided to be poor and not spend money on anything we dont need for like a decade? The world would be a very different place, with no Amazon or Jeff Bezos!

However much I might not agree with these people on doctrine at least they don't seem to be hypocrites.

I thank God that this group did not exist during the Arian controversy. Arius would have said Jesus was created, and then they'd say, "it is what it is." The Churches they're hating on are the reason Christianity survived up till now. But now we're a majority religion, they think they're experts on it? They were right to say that doctrine exists out of experience. If they followed their teaching, they'll understand the need for the doctrine of the trinity as well as other Christian creeds. And on not making money. Do they somehow believe that pastors/priests who get paid that it's not God that provides? They believe earning money is wrong yet accept donations from people who earn money? It's like accepting blood money. If I believe murder is wrong, I won't accept money from a murderer. No sacraments collectively are not the same as sacrifices. No Jesus did not hate the temple building. No Paul did not believe that baptism was wrong. He believed that we should not follow men but instead follow God. Even if they don't believe in a literal creation story, do they really doubt God's ability to create everything out of nothing but his word? Obviously, not everything they say is wrong. Personally, I agree with their take on once saved always saved. And the whole dating and marriage makes sense. But they err in many more ways.

So, while they get some things correct, a greater majority of what they believe makes them fools. Understood.

18:20 I can't say I've ever heard Catholics prophesy in the name of Mary (I really have no idea where they made that one up) but I've heard many prophecy in the Name of Jesus.

All I could think when listening to the quotes was some guy on a laptop in a car parked in a Wal-mart parking lot.

Back in college I would have been very attracted to this group and their beliefs, but I look at things more critically now. Although I agree with their emphasis on the teachings of Jesus, a part of me senses that there is a cult-like part of them as well.

I would like to have heard your analysis rather than just reading off some of their writings.

Ellicia, I hope you make it out. These people are lying to you and controlling you. I just want you know, that when you do leave, God's love, and presence and favour will go with you. You can get away from these deceivers and still live a life close to God, safe in His presence, free of the bondage and the legalism.

I am continuously amazed at how you can read all of that.......... And NEVER comment. My brain is spinning at that long bizarre rant.

Now I have a spinning headache

I can agree with them so far as Christians shouldn't work primarily for money, or their own benefit in general, especially when considering that many people who need help, don't have a possibility to pay the full price for the service, but they're wrong if they believe that Christians who benefit from such work, shouldn't pay the workers what they deserve, because someone who don't want to pay, despite having such possibility, is not a fair individual, and shouldn't be entrusted by a Christian, so people who follow this sect are simply naive.

Sounds like they have their view.

*Halloween is Reformation Day* 😊🎃

That man (head of the Jesus Christians) is so twisted and screwed up. I would expect him to make a statement like "Jesus does not condemn Christians smoking cigarettes because the word cigarette is not in the Bible." What a simpleton.

Who is donating if no one is working for a salary???

Setting the truth of their statements aside, they really do tare into their critique in those articles. Goes way to hard for some reason

I sympathize with almost everything they say. EXCEPT the claim that God does not want his people to work in the economy which pays by money. The idea that the ONLY reason people work and are paid money is because they want money is nonsense. People work because it is the human nature that God gave them to WORK. Honest hard work can bring health, wisdom, satisfaction, happiness, wealth, and more. The fourth commandment has TWO parts, 1 WORK six days, and 2. Rest and worship one day. Jesus worked before his ministry. Abraham, the exemplar of true faith, worked all his days. It is God-given human nature to develop an economy where people specialize so many things get done. And money is a valid way, if not misused, to make an economy work where someone can specialize and also obtain what others specialize in. To be the stewards of the earth as commanded by God humans need to have homes, vehicles, farms, factories, etc and keep improving them. Can the spirit of inactivity which comes to those who desire not to work but to rely totally upon faith be the true Spirit?

8:25 I wonder what they would do with John 1:1 and John 1:14 when it comes to the Deity of Jesus.

They seem to be a very contrary group. Regarding the Trinity, it teaches that there are three persons yet one Being....the three are co-essential. Their understanding of the Trinity doctrine is incorrect, claiming that Trinitarians believe there are three Persons in one Person. Joshua, you are a master at describing various denominations in an objective manner.

I wonder what they do with the fact that Jesus himself was baptized...

It’s always these weird groups that use very innocuous names. “Jesus Christians”, “Latter-Day Saints”, stuff like that.

I didn't know about this group until now, but I realise that studying the synoptic gospels in my early adult life made me almost exactly like them (although isolated). I would probably still be like them except that for years later, I realised that the synoptic gospels are most likely a Liturgical book where the authors recast Jesus life to reflect the context of the intended audience which I confidently suspect was a now unknown ancient early monastic group that even the Catholic Church (and all extant other ancient churches) have forgotten over time. One of the most obvious evidences for my position is that almost all denominations today are forced to invoke the literary device called, 'hyperbole', so that passages like the Sermon on the Mount is able to be applicable to your average Lay pew sitter who is usually a spouse with children. It's obvious that passages in the Gospel according to Luke, like, 'unless you sell all your possessions you cannot be my disciple,' could never apply to a married person because it's impossible to raise a family without having any possessions (and I attempted it for a small period of time - and it made little to no difference with respect to a relationship with God - and just made me into a tyrant to the people around me).

Wasn’t there an ancient heresy similar to this called Encratism?

Did I miss the word sin in their ideas?

I've watched 5 minutes of this one, and while you're doing a great job, I think I know all that I need to at this point. This is essentially one man, trusting in his own niche view of the Christian faith, to the exclusion of all else. I ran into one of his devotees 20 years ago on a college campus and knew back then that they were distorting the essence of the faith.

Huh. Many of their believes actually make a lot of sense if you think about it. I should look into this.

Brilliant video, I love how you use their own words to show how crazy their beliefs are - any time they talk about other group's belief they blatantly misrepresent them!

Never heard outrightly about this group, but i did see a lot of Voice in the Dessert videos posted to Christian anarchist spaces online. I liked some of the topics and some of the things said, but the video production was weird and offputting, like an emotionless robot was narrating a message over stock video footage. It "felt" like a cult, which definitely doesn't help their message.

Sooo... they live off donations. From where do these donations come? From people who are working. So, get money but, get it from a distance so that it does not taint you. Here' is a another conundrum. The people who make donations cannot be "Jesus Christians" because they labor for money. Hummmm...

I hate that people named them a Kidney Cult. That's so righteous of them of charity to do so. The non-Christian enemies can go to Hell and it to be worse in Hell for them.

Paul may have worked so others couldn't call him lazy? In a new city, with no "brother Christians" yet I ask you, should Paul eat? Then "trust God for a job or money, either right? No handcuffs on Father's blessings

The presumptions of the Jesus Church are that any group with an attachment to wealth and those that somewhat relate to them are bad (Ex. Charismatics) We should focus more on holiness than specific doctrines which focuses on making lifestyle actions rather than beliefs core doctrines (Ex. Forsaking Wealth over the Trinity) There is less focus on the beliefs, sacrements, salvation, & damnation more so there is a focus on doing what Jesus explicitly commanded. Jesus' words are greater than any of the early church and NT writings are greater than the OT writings in value due to their proximity to Jesus This is not an exhaustive list and there are definitely more presuppositions so I ask of anyone reading to watch the entire video see the doctrinal beliefs of the group then formulate a view based of what we know to be the truth.

These guys make a lot of sense, actually. They are just a bit too superstitious, conspiracy theorists for my taste.

"Genuine praise and worship are not public acts." Did these guys redact the entire psalter?

I remember when I was listening to a video on this platform and an ad from these guys popped up. I didn’t accept the premise of the ad and thought the logic was faulty.

A lot of this is very much a good thing, and many are called to that kind of life, however, there are just as many who were called to stay in their occupations (such as the military) while spreading the Gospel.

18:20 Nightmare blunt rotation

So, where do they think the rest of us get money they want from panhandling? Good thing they are happy being poor, because I'd never give them a penny. Reminds me of "Moses" Berg and the Children of God, with their little pamphlets.

If I had to guess, this sect arose from a misinterpretation of "the love of money is the root of all evil."

As a Brit I wonder what Americans think of the comments at 25.50

These folk seem to be following in the pathway of the ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes. This guy wanted to demonstrate to people how little they actually needed to survive and have a happy life. He took his model from dogs. So, he lived under a bridge, wore next to nothing, and live on handouts like a dog. This is not the way of Jesus. Period.

most sane protestant

Have they read Paul’s First Epistle to the Thessalonians?

They seem like an odd group, but i do agree with them that the doctrine of eternal hell is not biblical.. I am also starting to question the thing of going to church. While Jesus did go to synagogue to teach, he spent most of his Sabbaths outside the synagogue healing and teaching gentiles...maybe that's what Christians ought to do...help the sick and teach the word to the world, not just meet in church and fellowship with each other while the world perishes.

I doubt that they would last a year.

Hmmm, really “tent making myth” and “backslidden Paul”. Hmmmm. I will leave it at that.

This ignores the Biblical statements that we are to labour six days a week and rest on the seventh day, and that Paul worked to support himself in Corinth while teaching the Gospel.

This is an endless list of Protestant, yes, denominations that try to outdo themselves in interpreting the Holy Scripture and in the process trashing the entire history of the faithful that came before them. But it is certainly not my place to make more pronouncement beyond that. I will pray for them as I would pray for anyone else. But I will say that the 60s Hippie Culture had more of an influence than they would like to admit. Essentially it’s this one guys interpretation of all of scripture.

They seem to unreflectively equate "having no possessions" and "not working for money." Those are logically two separate things. You can work for money and give the money away, or share your money and possessions in common.

The mark also requires worship of the beast!

Living by faith appears to be code for mooching off of others.

So many heretical church popping out everywhere =/

for someone with no fundamental beliefs, their list was very long.

Who would join a group based off a Ready to Harvest video? No one. So you and I aren't joining this group or any other group Ready to Harvest uploads about. Now, let's see if we can learn something. Is there anything the video said you might agree with? I like how Josh read about motivation and heart rather than just simple a list of right and wrong. Remember where he read about times it might be wrong to drink wine and other times it might be okay. I forgot the timestamp. I think the point is essentially correct. God changes our hearts and our motives and something can be wrong in one moment and right in another all in love for others. For example, speeding on the road is wrong but right if you're rushing a loved one to the hospital. I dislike the reading on diet and health. What we eat has an effect on our minds and could effect our choices. We should live long healthy lives for God rather than shorter ill lives for ourselves for example. Of course we have to be reasonable and just eat the best we can under specific circumstances and not have some blanket rule.

oh, I hope they are not on the Dole (Aussie Welfare)

Seems like a less sophisticated version of the 12 tribes