Scriptures (Hover over each
for a popup)
Jude 1:14 to Genesis 5:18
Matthew 24:35 to Isaiah 51:16
Matthew 24:37 to Genesis 7:4 |
For our first installment on the Church in crisis, we
are going to look at the use of Scripture in the modern
Church. If we look at how Scripture is used, we
will see a trend that over the years has moved away from
Scripture and more towards feel good sermons and
entertainment.
But Preacher, you say, we have Bible verses in every
service! Our pastor always uses the Bible to back
up what he is teaching!
One of things that my friend and mentor, Richard, has
taught me is that in Scripture everything is proven be
two or three witnesses. This means that one
standalone verse may not be enough for what is being
taught. Using a standalone verse is a quick way
into error as proven by the likes of Oral Roberts,
Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, and many others that teach
healing and prosperity gospels, and has lead many a man
to try to prophesy when Christ will return, only to be
wrong on every occasion. (Matthew 24:35-39)
Before we dig deeper into this, we need to understand
that Jesus, His Disciples, Paul, and the other New
Testament writers, did not have the New Testament!
When they quote Scripture, they are quoting the Old
Testament, and actually the Greek Septuagint that also
contained the Apocrypha. There are references to
the Apocrypha in many of the writings. I first noticed
this in the Book of Jude where it is mentioned that
Michael and Satan dispute over the body of Moses (Jude
1:9) which is believed to be a reference to a lost book
called "The Assumption of Moses". Additionally, Jude
refers to the Book of Enoch (Jude 1:14). Jude was using
his knowledge of all
these parts of the Septuagint to tell preach the Gospel of
Christ.
So, what does this mean? It means that the writers of
the New Testament were throughly schooled in the
knowledge of the Septuagint, including the books we call
the Old Testament. Paul, when he was still called Saul,
was known as a "Pharisee of Pharisees" meaning he had
memorized the entire Septuagint.
These men diligently searched the Old Testament for
proof of what they were saying!
Paul, with his understanding of the Septuagint and his
Heavenly training that he received in the unrecorded
years between conversion and ministry, was able to
present the most broad view of Christianity of anyone
outside of Christ Himself!
Paul's deep understanding of this was how he was able to
separate Law from Grace; he showed that holidays,
circumcision, feasts, Sabbaths, and other issues did not
have to be followed by the Christian, while Godly laws,
such as those against murder, fornication, adultery,
homosexuality, theft, idol worship, gluttony, and others
are not Jewish Law but instead are God's Law that
applies to all mankind. (See Romans 1:18-32 for a
good starting point). I am not learned enough to
make all those connections throughout the New and Old
Testaments. This is something that Richard works
on from the Greek Septuagint and the Apostolic Bible.
I thank God for people like him who are working on
bringing these almost forgotten truths of the early
Church back to our attention.
The problem then, with the modern Church, is that it
takes passages of the New Testament out and never
considers how they fit in the overall Scriptures.
This is where prosperity gospel came from. A few
passage taken out of context, supposedly telling you
that if you are a devout Christian you will be rich.
And, boy, does that really appeal to the Christian who
wants to stay attached to the world!
But really, what example can you give from the Bible of
God making believers rich?
Well, there is that story in Luke 5 where Jesus had
Simon cast his nets and got so many fish that the boats
almost sunk! Sounds like Jesus was sure
making them rich, doesn't it? I mean, they went
out and let Jesus teach from their boat and for a reward
they got more fish than they had ever taken in a night!
Prosperity Gospel! Just like a modern Christian
buying that nice boat, and taking their Sunday School
class out on it once in a while, right?
Except, that when we get to Luke 5:11 it says, "When they
brought their boats to land, they left EVERYTHING and
followed Him." They left everything, including
that huge harvest of fish, and followed Jesus.
You see, a false teacher or prosperity gospel minister
will stop short of the full truth from the Scriptures,
pulling out just how obedience brought about the largest
catch ever.
NO. This was a miracle to prove that Jesus was the
Messiah, not some worldly gain for Simon because he let
Jesus use his boat as a platform to speak from! Do
not be fooled by these people. Rich Christians in
the New Testament were rich before they converted, then
used their wealth to help the Church.
It's real simple-of all the truly dedicated Christians
you know, willing to go do whatever God asks, how many
are making a lot of money? Pretty much, none.
I don't see where any of the Disciples or Apostles were
rich; in fact they pretty much gave up everything for
Christ! It is hard for a rich man to enter Heaven!
(Matthew 19:23)
Now, there is a second problem.
We don't learn Scripture, or even the New Testament very
much.
When I was in school at an Independent Christian School,
we had to learn Bible verses each week. Not a lot,
like in times past, but at least something. Now
that I am an old man, I find that remembering things, and
especially memorizing new things, is much harder.
But, as a child I was able to memorize quite a bit!
The question then, is why our Churches and Sunday School
classes do not have children memorizing the Bible?
Or at least reading it...
And parents for that matter...
Since it is the weapon that Jesus used against Satan and
the only weapon you have to fight the adversary, you
would think that you would want to be able to throw some
Bible verses around without having to grab your
smartphone...
Why can't every Sunday School require their students to
read the entire Bible every year? Straight
through, chronological, by a study system, or mix and
match. I have read the Bible, cover to cover,
several times. Get on a plan and stick with it.
Really; is that too much to ask?
If you really believe it is God's Words; Not just a
title "God's Word".
But ACTUALL WORDS spoken to man by ALMIGHTY GOD.
I would think people would want to know what He says
about stuff...you would think people, especially
Christians, would want to know what He said. I
mean, we're talking about ALMIGHTY GOD talking to you...
The problem here is that Sunday Schools consider
themselves to be "second class" learning places and
have lowered their standards until they are mostly just
entertainment!
Your job is not entertainment!
Your job is teaching kids and adults about the Word of God, having
them memorize it, and having them study it. Your
classes are more important than secular school, and you
need to start believing that! Start assigning
homework. Give the parents the curriculum and
ensure the kids are following it. It is your job
to bring them up in the ways of the Lord so that they
will live for Him as adults.
From what I see, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School,
and most other children's programs have turned into
entertainment time for the kids...
This needs to stop, now!
There is nothing more important to the Christian than
the Word of God. Your children will not grow up to
be Godly people from watching "Christian" entertainment;
they will grow up to be Godly people by learning the
Word of God! Start immersing children in the Word;
have them learn it, have them study it, teach them what
it means, have them meditate on it, and have them pray
about it.
Better yet, Churches, start turning your Sunday School
into regular schools. Have parents instead of
homeschooling, do multi-family home schooling at the
Church. Use a Bible based curriculum. Make
Bible Study an integral part of education. Most
other major religions do...
But Christians...they want to "socialize" their children
so they will be ready to operate in the world, so they
send them to public school. Which gets worse and
worse. "Socialize" as in normalize with the world.
At what point did you lose your ever-lovin' mind?
You send your child to a place that teaches them to
question what gender they are, accept any deviant
behavior, that evolution is how we came about, that the
family unit is unnecessary, and that morals and ethics
are a thing of the past, and then you get angry at the
school wondering what went wrong with your kids!
I'll tell you what went wrong: YOU DID!
And families: nightly Bible reading and prayer time with
your children, or whoever else is in the house with you.
Discuss the passages that you read with your family.
Ask your kids to apply it to real life issues.
Teach them to take all their troubles to God, not to go
shoot up their school...
Seriously; quit complaining about no prayer in school,
when you barely get your kids to say "Now I lay me down
to sleep" as a prayer!
Teach your kids a personal relationship with God!
Pray based on Scripture, not rote prayers!
You can't get too much Scripture...you really can't.
And neither can your kids.
Think about that...
We are going to talk about more issues in the Church,
but none of it will matter if you are not grounded in
the Bible. The Word of God is your foundation, the
rock on which you stand, the weapon with which you
fight, your comfort in bad times, and your promise from
the lips of God Himself!
Promises from the Lips of God...
Just seems you would really want to hear the words that
came from the Lips of God. Maybe you don't...
But without digging deep into
the Word you will not be able to deal with the other
issues that afflict the Church...
And that's the point: you need to bring change to
your Church!
If not you, then who?
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Bibliography Page
Septuagint: The Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.
Wikipedia
Apocrypha: Additional writings that are included
in some versions of the Bible and not in others.
Wikipedia
The Assumption of Moses: Also called the Testament of
Moses, as in his final speech.
Wikipedia
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