From: Jean Bengey
To: Victor Hafichuk
Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2017 1:58 PM
Subject: I’ve recently been to your website.
Hello Mr. Hafichuk
I recently read some of your writings and opinions. For a balanced view I also read other’s opinions and writings about you. I find myself more in agreement with you on so much that I thought I would write. I have done this only once before about 10 years ago. It was to an American Christian group in the United States who wrote as I thought about organized religion. My husband is aware that I’m writing to you – if he didn’t agree I wouldn’t write.
I am 61, married 26 years, a son 41 years old, and many grandchildren through both my husband’s 3 son’s and my 1 son. Just prior to my turning 28 God in Jesus Christ put His hand on me and asked me to consider something so painful I almost ran the other away, but, didn’t. Perhaps God wouldn’t let me? So I pressed on in my pain. In time the pain diminished and disappeared. Maturity is such a lovely thing. At that time I was not a ‘church-goer’ though I did manage to get myself baptized at 33. I then married John at 35, but I was still worldly and a ‘take charge’ kind of female. It wasn’t until I was 38 and submitted to God in another equally painful and sacrificial way that my relationship with Jesus changed drastically, utterly and completely. God became my number one priority at whatever the cost. I began to rapidly change. It was at that time that John and I entered the Christian community and organized religion for about 10 years – this was soon followed up by a minor head injury to me which turned out to be a truly great blessing. Today, we’ve been outside the ‘camp’ (organized religion) for just over 12 years.
I’d been married only 3 years (38) when my life in Christ changed so notably and, of course, my dear husband was blindsided. He was fine with me being a ‘bible believer’, but, at that time I was a rather a worldly one, still immature in so many ways, but more like him and lots of fun. Well, I changed (still fun! but different). 26 years later we’re still married. All thing considered we’re managing, however, I am a creationist and John is an evolutionist. I am passionate about knowing God and John is not. Yet, we are each other’s best earthly friend. John says he “believes” and I know He stands up for Jesus when there’s no way out, but he hasn’t gone further….based on your List my John is not a Christian.
Sometimes it’s hard for me to know what to pray about with regard to my husband and others like him, so I’m pondering your list at this time. I have some horrendous family members who are all that John is not – selfish, self-centric, vain, self-righteous, worldly, money-oriented, punitive, vindictive, slanderous, and so on. Yet, a few claim to be bible believers. One does know her bible very well and claims the blood of Jesus Christ over her imperfections, of which are never confessed or repented, and there has been no change in all these years.
John? Kind, unselfish, supportive, decent…always. A good man. Yet, there are clear ‘clues’ he is not ‘following’ Christ, albeit, minor ones, yet, major if you go by your list.
Mr. Hafichuk, I wonder….God has a rather large kingdom and His only begotten son Jesus Christ is KING over all kings and all kingdoms. In a kingdom, even a heavenly one, there are princes and peasants. Even in God’s kingdom there are, at this time, worthy and unworthy princes (called, chosen, loyal and committed to the KING at whatever cost, empowered, yet, some still lazy or hesitant, easily influenced or easily distracted, some worldly too), as well as worthy and unworthy peasants (a faith in Christ from hearing the word, loyal enough if pressed, but not especially interested in the affairs of the kingdom or in having spiritual awakenings).
Is it possible that you require everyone in the kingdom to be a prince? If so, is that what Jesus requires of the citizens of His kingdom?
I’ve heard God’s audible voice twice since 28. I know His presence. I know His voice. I know His truth when I hear it – no matter the topic of conversation. When I was about 45 God said to me “you have no room in your heart for the immature, the superficial and the rude and crude.” He said nothing more, nothing less. He was right of course. I was struggling with the ‘pharisee’ within and was, at that time, also attracted to a small Brethren fellowship. In the end God showed me I was attracted to that group because ‘birds of a feather flock together’. God wanted more of me than to merely be a good OT Christian and He wanted more for me as well. I heard, I listened and, for the umpteenth time said, Your will be done, not mine. And, for the umpteenth time, God led me further along than where I’d been prepared to stay. He’s still leading me and, sometimes the further along, the further away seems the end of my journey! I know the great changes wrought in me (I am not falsely modest), yet, I see all the more clearly that which still ‘stinketh’. In the old days I tried to scrub myself clean…I no longer do this to myself. Or to others. I read, pray, trust and obey. Sometimes I speak. No more, no less.
It’s also my understanding God employs ‘deaf and blind witnesses’ who speak for Him. Yet, they witness without understanding because they do not see or hear…just ‘parrot’. I would think they are His people, perhaps even called by Him, but, for whatever reason they are not chosen to be His life-like representatives and ‘disciples’ on this earth. Thus, these witnesses speak without power – much like the bible itself until God ‘enables’ the reader to receive His truth. Even so, with a good shepherd looking after them such witnesses for God’s kingdom are, in their way, loyal to Christ. Sadly, the so called shepherds today in these worldly organized Christian religions do not properly ‘feed’ God’s sheep…and many lead God’s sheep quite astray. And, even if there are godly spirit-filled men and women on hand to feed God’s sheep, the current centuries-old religious system itself is rigged to not bear fruit, to remain powerless, other than worldly power.
The worldly systems are rigged for God’s people to end up in moral and spiritual sickness even, if it were possible, unto death. Even so, I would suggest many blind and deaf witnesses are still God’s people. In their way, loyal to Jesus Christ and not loyal to Buddha or Mohammad or Atheism. When Jesus returns, yes, He’ll look to His Christ-like spirit-filled disciples first, but, then as now, God has a large Kingdom and many in it are simply not princes among men, and never shall be. At least, not now or for a thousand years…maybe later, but not for the time being.
At this time in my life I tend to ‘call’ to God’s sheep from outside the camp, so to speak. Recently my husband put together a website so I could share my poems, so they’re now ‘out there’ and I plan to, also, write an explanation under each poem for those who find poetry, perhaps just my poetry, bewildering. As for my poetry, it’s as if God gives me invisible truths from time to time and allows me to use my own words as best I can to clothe the invisible…to make God’s truth more visible to those who need help seeing and hearing. I am not great writer or poet, I am not well educated, and my life story is both horrendous and pathetic…yet, Yahweh chose me. Of all people He chose me. I still shake my head about it. Sometimes I laugh. Sometimes I weep.
In closing, Mr. Hafichuk, I pray you continue to speak the truth no matter the cost. As I read more I may come more into agreement with you. At this time it’s clear to me I’m more in agreement with you than not. Time shall tell.
May you also come to know exactly what are your spiritual gifts and never believe – because there are so few princes among us – that your duty is to be all things to all people. Each one of us is a member of the Body of Christ. Jesus alone and only is the Head. The Body can represent Him – to speak of Him (even without power) and/or to be like Him (to serve, sacrifice, suffer in power), but we are not God in Jesus Christ and never can or shall be. Even if we’ve been given more than one Spiritual Gift, I don’t believe God gives any one prince all gifts or too many gifts. Why? Human nature doesn’t cope well with too much or too little. The Roman Catholic and Protestant churches are good examples of those who believe they don’t need Jesus Christ other than as a founder and figure head, in order to do His (their!) ‘work’ on earth. They may be ‘dry bones’ in some ways, but this human inclination to see others more clearly than they see themselves can surface even in the anointed and spiritually empowered.
Nonetheless, I believe a prophet must point his finger when necessary and his/her decision to do so is between the prophet and God. As members of the Body we must be careful of what we say about ‘leaders’. Leaders must be careful too of what they say about other leaders…even so, Paul called out Peter – it had to be done.
I also pray, Mr. Hafichuk, that you can find comforting fellowship with people you can also trust. I read your poem Alone…I understand all too well.
Yours in Christ Jesus, Mrs. John (Jean) Bengey A Strange World – Copyright 2016 – Jean Bengey
Whomsoever would believe
and follow Jesus Christ
can find this world a dark place;
people are as shadows:
an old prison full of dead men walking
over dry and brittle bones. Yet,
some prisoners live with faint hope;
some shadows seek pure light;
here, in this strange world, live
the blind and deaf witnesses
who speak what is right.
What does our Master say?
When repelled by the darkness,
confused or deceived by the shadows,
distressed by the crunching of bones,
look to the Power On High:
see with new eyes, hear with new ears,
speak with words not our own; remember
the hand with a wound in it’s palm
and offer whomsoever shalom.
From: Paul Cohen
To: Jean Bengey
Cc: Victor Hafichuk
Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2017 8:49 PM
Subject: Re: I’ve recently been to your website.
Hi Jean, Paul Cohen here speaking on behalf of Victor Hafichuk,
Regarding your questions, beginning with the first one: “Is it possible that you require everyone in the kingdom to be a prince?”
No, Victor isn’t requiring everyone in God’s Kingdom to be a prince, because that’s not what God is calling for. As with any kingdom, there is a hierarchy in God’s Kingdom, with rulers and ruled.
Luke 22:28-30 MKJV
(28) You are those who have continued with Me in My trials.
(29) And I appoint a Kingdom to you, as My Father has appointed to Me,
(30) that you may eat and drink at My table in My Kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
“And he who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, to him I will give power over the nations. And he will rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of a potter they will be broken to pieces, even as I received from My Father” (Revelation 2:26-27 MKJV).
“Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment” (James 3:1 WEB).
“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17 KJV).
Your second question: “If so, is that what Jesus requires of the citizens of His kingdom?”
Well, it isn’t so, but here’s what Jesus requires of every citizen of His Kingdom nevertheless:
“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second is like this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:29-31 MKJV).
“I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2 MKJV).
Those are the things not only required of a believer, no matter what his or her station, but are their rightful inheritance and gift of God through the faith of Jesus Christ to which they’ve been called by His grace. It is our immense privilege and joy to be able to love God and neighbor. It cannot be otherwise for any true child of God.
“For a good tree does not bring forth corrupt fruit, neither does a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush” (Luke 6:43-44 MKJV).
From what you tell us of your husband, John, he isn’t a believer. A believer in the faith of Christ is passionate about knowing God, unless he has fallen into sin. It sounds like John has never been walking in faith, and without the faith of Christ, John can’t present his body as a living sacrifice or fulfill the commandments of God. The Lord wouldn’t be expecting that of him, either, although He is calling on all men to repent in their time.
It could be that John is blessed by your faith, if you’re walking in the gift of faith from God to the degree given thus far:
“And the woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is pleased to dwell with her, do not let her leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife…” (1 Corinthians 7:13-14 MKJV).
You also write to Victor:
“May you also come to know exactly what are your spiritual gifts and never believe – because there are so few princes among us – that your duty is to be all things to all people. Each one of us is a member of the Body of Christ. Jesus alone and only is the Head. The Body can represent Him – to speak of Him (even without power) and/or to be like Him (to serve, sacrifice, suffer in power), but we are not God in Jesus Christ and never can or shall be.”
I can tell you as a fact, as others can as well, that Victor doesn’t see himself as needing to be all sufficient, and greatly appreciates having other believers and the gifts God has given them to serve in His Kingdom together. But as mentioned before, each has his or her place, and the Lord has given Victor to represent Him in a way He hasn’t given others. This is nothing new with God, as we see in the Scriptures with Moses, for example. And did God not say He would send a prophet like unto Moses?
“I will raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, one like you, and will put My words in his mouth. And he shall speak to them all that I shall command Him. And it shall happen, whatever man will not listen to My Words which he shall speak in My Name, I will require it of him” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19 MKJV).
I’ve written a paper about this: Who Is That Prophet? Part 2 – Identifying the True.
Understand that the Christ was far greater than Moses; truly, Jesus was God in the flesh, even as He and others have declared in all soundness and righteousness. That prophet Moses mentioned could only be a man if like Moses, who was only a man with infirmities as with all of us.
This might end your consideration of God’s work here, but the important thing isn’t believing who someone is, but the truth spoken by God, whoever it comes through. And He will require that truth of you. Everyone will be judged – corrected and restored.
As for us not being God in Christ Jesus, you seem to be missing the point that Christ Jesus is God in us, those who believe, have His Spirit, and walk in His faith. That being the case, what is the difference between hearing from a man of God and hearing from God?
“And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise nor disdain, but as an angel of God you received me, even as Christ Jesus” (Galatians 4:14 EMTV).
“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He shall be revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2 MKJV).
Hebrews 2:10-13 MKJV
(10) For it became Him, for Whom are all things and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons into glory, to perfect the Captain of their salvation through sufferings.
(11) For both He Who sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of One, for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brothers,
(12) saying, “I will declare Your Name to My brothers; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
(13) And again, “I will put My trust in Him.” And again, “Behold Me and the children whom God has given Me.”
John 17:19-24 MKJV
(19) And I sanctify Myself for their sakes, so that they also might be sanctified in truth.
(20) And I do not pray for these alone, but for those also who shall believe on Me through their word,
(21) that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.
(22) And I have given them the glory which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one,
(23) I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.
(24) Father, I desire that those whom You have given Me, that they may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me, for You have loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Paul