A pastor come behind the pulpit on a Saturday night Church service said: "Beloved, God gives you two choices - either pay your tithe according to the Old Testament, or give your all under the New Testament!" In my opinion, either he was joking, lying or he didn't have a clue what he was talking about. Any God-fearing and Bible-believing Christian straight away faces two problems! Firstly, the pastor didn't specify how to give "your all" under the New Testament. Did he mean that we should give all of our substance (money), all that we possessed, including our houses, cars, our clothing, our time and all of our needs to God and His Church? After given "our all," is the Church going to give us back our daily needs so that we can live a decent life in the eyes of unbelievers in our midst? Furthermore, I don't believe there is a single Local Church capable of carrying out such an enormous task! Secondly, it is not Biblical for any Church to compel Christian believers to pay tithes! If we are to listen to this pastor blindly, without discernment, an go on and pay our tithes, unknowing, we have denied the Holy Spirit's existence in us and in the Church. This pastor is surely blind and so no one should follow him and fall into a ditch with him (Matthew 15:14). Don't be alarmed; read on and you will understand what I mean.
Tithing Principles
According to various Bible dictionaries, "tithing" is the practice of giving a tenth of one's income or property as an offering to God. The first recorded instance of tithing occurred in Genesis 14:20. After returing from rescuing Lot and defeated his enemies, Abraham met Melchizedek (a type of Christ), the "king of Salem" and "priest of God Most High." The text states simply that Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe of all the goods he had obtained in battle.
There is no recorded demand of Abraham for a tenth. Neither is an explanation given why Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek. Jacob also, long before the Law of Moses was given, promised that he would give the Lord a tenth of all he received (Gen. 28:22).
Laws and instructions of tithing
Notice that even though tithing began before the Law, Moses later on included in the Law:
"You sahll truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you" (Deut. 14:22, 23, 27, NKJV).
The sons of Levi, who received the office of priesthood, and who had no inhertance, took tithes from the people.
The writer of Hebrews said: "And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham" (Hebrews 7:5).
Notice that not all sons of Levi are priests.
Main difference between Old Testament and New Testament giving
The Scripture is very clear, God's Old Covenant people (Israelites) gae to God and His work under the Law of tithing in the Old Testament. They tithed out of fear of breaking Moses Law - "Anyone who has rejected Moses law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses" (Heb. 10:28).
On the other hand, God's New Covenant people (Christians) give to God and His work under the grace of giving which is freewill. They give out of love for the Lord and His Body (The Church) as move by the Spirit of God:
Paul said: "But this I say: He sho sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows buntifully will also reap bountifully. So let us give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:6, 7, emphasis added).
A person who gives as "he purposes in his heart" is prompted by the Holy Spirit in his heart. In other words, he has been baptized in the Holy Spirit, filled with the Holy Spirit and led by the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who prompts him to give cheerfully. The Church is the "temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you" (1 Cor. 3:16). Individual believer's body is also the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). If you are persuaded by the paster to give tithe you are denying the work of the Holy Spirit in you and in the Local Church. This is the same as "blasphemy against the Spirit" (Matt. 12:31, 32). Then you and your pastor will not be forgiven and you are still in your sin!
Having similar thought in my mind, I asked a pastor, why he must ask his Church members to give tithes. He looked surprised, but immediately said that without the practice of tithing, the Church will go bankrupt. I just walked away, shaking my head, not wishing to offend him further. The question is - who build the Church? Christ or man? If the Church is to be funded by collecting tithes, it is built by man. And it will go bankrupt anyway, with or without collecting tithes! I believe many Local Churches in our country and cities are built by men, and the pastors are collecting tithes.
Prerequisite for New Testament giving
Paul wrote to the Corinthians about the Macedonian Churches, and he told them how the Holy Spirit moved on the Macedonians to be generous in their giving. Then he drew a lesson from that for the Corinthians:
"For in the midst of an ordeal of severe tribulation, their abundance of joy and their depth of poverty (together) have overflowed in wealth of lavish generosity on their part. For, as I can bear witness, (they gave) according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability; and (they did it) voluntarily, begging us most insistently for the favor and the fellowship of contributing in this ministration for (the relief and support of) the saints (in Jerusalem). Nor (was this gift of theirs merely the contribution) that we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us (as His agents) by the will of God - that is, entirely disregarding their personal interests, they gave as much as they possibly could, having put themselves at our disposal to be directed by the will of God" (2 Cor. 8:2 - 5, The Amplified Bible, emphasis added).
Clearly, New Testament giving is a free-will giving directed by the Holy Spirit only, and not directed by pastors, deacons, or anyone, not even your family members. If pastors desire to have more collections from their Church members, he should encourage them to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, so that they can be led by the Holy Spirit to give to the Local Church. In other words, the first thing Christians have to give to the Lord is not their money, but themselves. That is how it must begin with each of us if we want to please God and do His will - instead of pleasing th pastor and to do his will. We must begin with ourselves. We can't buy a good relationship with God with our money. This is ho God sees us doing, if we give our substnce without first given ourselves to Him. Actually, God can get on all right without our money. He owns everything in the universe! I believe it is for our benefit that God requires us to give, but He has a command - He wants us first. Then, out of giving of ourselves to Him, by His grace, the proper New Testament giving will naturally flow.
By the way, I have been attending Churches, both traditional and "Charismatic," for more than 20 years. I have never heard a single sermon on the principles of New Testament giving! But I have heard many sermons on tithing. In fact, when I was a young Christian, I have heard preachers said that, unless Christians tithe properly, God would emand "tithes" from them in some disastrous ways - their house gets burned down, gets broken into by thieves; they will meet with some serious accidents; they and their loved ones get seriously ill and so on! What garbage!
Jesus said: "But whoever causes one of these little (or innocent or naive) ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea" (Mark 9:42).
I wonder how many pastors and preachers are guilty of this and have thrown themselves into the sea with a millstone hung around their necks! All of them should. When innocent Church members are thus stumbled, they will give their tithes grudgingly and sin against God!
Giving oneself to the Lord
The apostle Paul gave christians a Scriptural way of giving oneself to the Lord:
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifece, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformes by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and aacceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1, 2, NRSV).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. The giving of oneself to the Lord involves three stages - present one's body to the Lord as a living sacrifice, renew one's mind and to the perfect will of God with discernment.
2. "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice" implies that the action was a free an voluntary offering of self on the altar of God. It also implies that, as a "living sacrifice" made to God, just like the Old Testament animal sacrifice, is your atonement for sin. It means you offer yourself entirely, release of all claim or right to it to be disposed of for the honor of God. As a living sacrifice (not as a dead animal sacrifice), you submit to God and do His will in total obedience.
3. "Do not be conformed to this world" means, after you have voluntarily presented your body as a living sacrifics, you should not conform or identify yourself as worldly people do - pertaining to habit, manner, character, attitude and style of living etc. as people who do not know God.
4. "Be transformed by the the renewing of your mind" needs some explanatio. A true Christian is a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). Our mind is the battlefield (2 Cor. 10:3 - 5), and the god of this age (Satan) has blinded our mind (2 Cor. 4:4). So we need our mind renewed by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in us.
5. "So that you may discern what is the will of God" means a renewed mind is required to discern the perfect will of God for you.
An example of New Testament giving
Let us study the case of the free-will giving of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1 - 10). We all know that they perished not because they didn't give their money, but because they lived to the Holy Spirit. They pretended to have given all, but in actual fact they kept back part of the proceeds from the sell of land.
Please take note of the following:
1. Ananias and Sapphira failed to give themselves to the Lord first. If they had, thy would not lie to the Holy Spirit.
2. They would not have perished or had been punished in any way, even if they have not given a single "mite" to the Lord (Acts 5;4).
3. No tithing was imposed on the believers in the early Church. I believe if Peter had demanded tithes from Ananias and Sapphira they would be very willing to give.
Conclusion
If you want to walk right with God and be obedient to His Word, don't tithe. In the Old Testament the purpose of giving a thenth was to meed the material need of the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless (the orphan) and the widow (Deut. 26:12, 13). The tithe was an expression of gratitude to God by His people. Basic to tithing was the acknowledgment or God's ownereship of everything in the earth.
In the New Testament, the words "tithe" and "tithing" appear oly 8 thimes (Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42, 18:12; Heb. 7:5 - 6, 8 - 9). All of these passges refer to Old Testament usage and to current Jewish practice. Nowhere does the New Testament expressly comman Christians to tithe. In the New Testament Church giving is to be voluntary, willing, cheerful, and given in the light of our accountablility to God.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
A Call to Spiritual Discernment
We are not talking about the "Discernment of spirits" as a spiritual gift among the 9 gifts of the Spirit listed by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12. We are talking about the ability of all believers, pastors included, who have acquired sufficient knowledge of the God of the Bible to separate the truth from error. God holds us responsible for distinguishing between truth and error and between good and evil. Spiritual discernment is the Spirit-given ability to distinguishing God's thoughts and God's ways from all others - Satan's counterfeits.
Let me give two illustrations of Satan's counterfeits:
1. A bank teller is not trained to catch counterfeit money. But handling the "real" and becoming acquainted with the "real," the moment a bad one comes across his hand he recognizes it. It is the same with spiritual truth and spiritual error. If Christians know enough of spiritual truth by studying the Bible diligently, they will not fail to recognize Satan's countefeits.
2. Eugene Peterson's version of the Bible, "The Message." is a New Age paraphrase. Please refer to my earlier postings - "A New Age Translation of the Bible" and "The Message behind "The Message."" If Christians know enough of spiritual truth by studying a good Bible, translated from the original Hebrew and Greek, they will not fail to recognize Satan's counterfeits.
As you read along, you will begin to understand that the key to Spiritual Discernment is to know the Word of God and know it well.
Solomon's Discernment
Solomon was famed for his powers of discernment because he asked God for wisdom and understanding:
"Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours" (1 Kings 3:9, NKJV, emphasis added)?
In response, the Scripture says that God was pleased with his request and gave him a discerning heart:
"Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you" (1 Kings 3:11, 12).
Notice that discernment for Solomon consisted of the ability to discern good and evil. In order to become a knowledgeable and wise judge of His people, discernment was necessary.
New Testament Discernment
Interestingly, the New Testament sets forth the very same understanding of discernment:
Concerning spiritual maturity, the writer of Hebrews said: "... of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the ord of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:12, 13, emphasis added).
The inability to discern both good and evil is primarily caused by dullness of hearing of the Hebrew Christians. They were easily taken in. Today's Churches are facing exactly the same problem. Many so-called Christians simply lack the capacity to understand. They are gullible and spiritually immature. Consequently they could not distinguish good and evil.
Just what is this "dullness" of which the writer of Hebrews speaks? It comes from the Greek word "nothros" which means, "sluggish, lazy, stupid or slothful."
Two things, therefore, may be said of the person who is "nothros":
1. he is dull of apprehension. He lacks push and fails to move ahead on his own; he is not aggressive. There is a lack of eagerness and concern that causes him to dawdle. If this condition persists, he becomes lazy. If he will not sharpen his powers to discernment by aggressively practice them, he will soon develop a lethargy and habitual state of lazy nonchalance about the Christian faith.
2. The writer of Hebrews said: "... that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promise" (Heb. 6:12).
The above Verse implies a state of culpable incapacity. As the writer indicates, the condition comes from the failure to take advantage of available truth by putting it to work in daily living.
The leadership (pastors and elders) of many Local Churches failed to "equip the saints" for the work of ministry. Sad to say, many of them are not equipped themselves! Many of them only like to "equip" the youth because they are unlikely to ask them difficult Biblical questions they could not answer correctly. Consequently, these gullible and naive young Christians are "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine."
Paul said to the believers in Ephesus: "And He (Jesus) Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ..." (Eph. 4:11 - 14, emphasis added).
A Noble Task
Someone said: "Open minds are like open windows; you have to put in screens to keep the bugs out." The prudent believer screens every idea, every claim, every proposal, and every opinion through the grid of Scripture. The Bible is his protection from the stings and bites of error. He is open to everything in the Bible, of course, but everything else must be examined carefully in the clear light of God's Word.
The Berean Jews
When Paul and Silas preached in Berea, we are told by Luke (writer of Acts) that the Berean Jew were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica:
"And the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea; and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with eagerness, examining the scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so" (Acts 17:10, 11, NAS, emphasis added).
The Berean Jews received (listened attentively and respectfully) the Gospel preached by Paul and Silas and at the same time they checked up on Paul to determine whether his message was Biblical. By doing that, Luke said the Bereans Jew were more noble minded than those in Thessalonica. Therefore, the process of discernment - distinguishing truth from error by screening everything through the sieve of the Scripture - is a noble activity.
The word "noble" in Greek is "eugenes" which means, "high ranking" or "high-minded" or "wellborn." It is a privilege for believers to be called "noble minded" when they received the doctrine of the apostles "with eaerness."
The difference between the Bereans and the Pharisees
It is intersting to note that the Pharisees also search the Scriptures:
Jesus said to the Pharisees: "But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do no believe. You searched the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me" (John 5:38, 39, emphasis added).
Unlike the Bereans, the Pharisees searched the Scriptures with unbelieving hearts. The difference between them is very clear. The Bereans looked to see if what Paul and Silas said was true. And when they found it so, they believed. They were searching for truth. In contrast, the Pharisees were looking for errors. They wanted to find passages to prove Christ wrong.
Coming to the Scriptures for any purpose other than to discover and to believe the truth, is contrary to and utterly defeats the discerning process. Through discernment, error is detected in order to enable a person to distinguish it from the truth so that he may learn and live by the truth.
Test all things
Paul said: "Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thess. 5:20, 21, 22).
Notice the threefold command here - Test for the good, reject that which isn't, and retains that which is - is an accurate description of the entire discernment process. Christians are called to evaluate anything they read (the content of any teaching) in the light of the Scripture. Prophecies they heard are to be evaluated in order to determine whether they were true or false according to the teaching of the Bible. Such evaluation demands careful, active listening. That is why so many Christians fail; they prefer a more passive role. They either turn off most of what is said or else put the mind in neutral and let it coast with the speaker. Passive listening leads to spiritual dullness. Noble Christians will not settle for this. Their minds will be alive, actively comparing what is taught with the Word of God.
The idea is not to pick at flaws or have "roast preacher for dinner" in every Church service. The object of the test is - to identify that which is good so that you may "retain it." One must always search for more and more of God's truth for his own spiritual benefit and to pass on to others.
Learn to Discern
So far we have been considering the need of discernment in the Church and in individual Christians, because there is a degree of gullibility among Christians, including elders, pastors and leaders. But, until now, very little has been said about how you may become a discerning Christians. It is time to begin addressing this subject.
The fact is that every Christian has some level of discernment, no matter how small, to start with in his Christian walk of faith. God has given everyone a divine choice. Since you believed the Gospel message, you must have discerned that this message is different from any false idea of salvation. And, I hope, by virtue of reading this message, and in agreement up until now, you probably share a desire to become more discerning. Possibly you have begun to "see through" some of the wrong commitments into which you may have been duped. At the very least, you know what discernment is all about. You know that developing spiritual discernment is an obligation before God.
Every Christian needs to understand that no matter how bad his condition today, if he is a genuine believer, the Spirit of God dwells in him and that is all he needs to begin to change. Basically, it is the Spirit who, when you fervently ask Him, will lead you out of error into truth.
Jesus said: 'And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor know Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you" (John 14:16, 17, emphasis added).
He is called the "Spirit of truth" becaus of His peculiar concern for imparting truth to believers. And He abides in every true Christian.
John said: "But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that any one teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him" (1 John 2:27, emphasis added).
Notice that the "anointing" is the anointing or unction of the Holy One - the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:20). this anointing of the Holy Spirit teaches you concerning all things - including Spiritual Discernment.
Spiritual Maturity and Immaturity
The writer of hebrews talked about "milk Christians" and "meat Christians" which means "immature (babe) Christian" and "mature Christians" respectively. As the Christian advances in his Christian walk, his ability to discern spiritual things also increases:
"For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But sold food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to dicern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:13, 14, emphasis added).
It is "by reason of use" that one's spiritual "faculties" become sensitive to the difference between truth and error. Spiritual Discerment is a habit formed by using the Scripture under the Spirit's power and direction to distinguish good from evil. That is the reason I said in the beginning of this message that the key to Spiritual Discernment is to know the Word of God and know it well. There is no short-cut.
Let me give two illustrations of Satan's counterfeits:
1. A bank teller is not trained to catch counterfeit money. But handling the "real" and becoming acquainted with the "real," the moment a bad one comes across his hand he recognizes it. It is the same with spiritual truth and spiritual error. If Christians know enough of spiritual truth by studying the Bible diligently, they will not fail to recognize Satan's countefeits.
2. Eugene Peterson's version of the Bible, "The Message." is a New Age paraphrase. Please refer to my earlier postings - "A New Age Translation of the Bible" and "The Message behind "The Message."" If Christians know enough of spiritual truth by studying a good Bible, translated from the original Hebrew and Greek, they will not fail to recognize Satan's counterfeits.
As you read along, you will begin to understand that the key to Spiritual Discernment is to know the Word of God and know it well.
Solomon's Discernment
Solomon was famed for his powers of discernment because he asked God for wisdom and understanding:
"Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours" (1 Kings 3:9, NKJV, emphasis added)?
In response, the Scripture says that God was pleased with his request and gave him a discerning heart:
"Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you" (1 Kings 3:11, 12).
Notice that discernment for Solomon consisted of the ability to discern good and evil. In order to become a knowledgeable and wise judge of His people, discernment was necessary.
New Testament Discernment
Interestingly, the New Testament sets forth the very same understanding of discernment:
Concerning spiritual maturity, the writer of Hebrews said: "... of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the ord of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:12, 13, emphasis added).
The inability to discern both good and evil is primarily caused by dullness of hearing of the Hebrew Christians. They were easily taken in. Today's Churches are facing exactly the same problem. Many so-called Christians simply lack the capacity to understand. They are gullible and spiritually immature. Consequently they could not distinguish good and evil.
Just what is this "dullness" of which the writer of Hebrews speaks? It comes from the Greek word "nothros" which means, "sluggish, lazy, stupid or slothful."
Two things, therefore, may be said of the person who is "nothros":
1. he is dull of apprehension. He lacks push and fails to move ahead on his own; he is not aggressive. There is a lack of eagerness and concern that causes him to dawdle. If this condition persists, he becomes lazy. If he will not sharpen his powers to discernment by aggressively practice them, he will soon develop a lethargy and habitual state of lazy nonchalance about the Christian faith.
2. The writer of Hebrews said: "... that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promise" (Heb. 6:12).
The above Verse implies a state of culpable incapacity. As the writer indicates, the condition comes from the failure to take advantage of available truth by putting it to work in daily living.
The leadership (pastors and elders) of many Local Churches failed to "equip the saints" for the work of ministry. Sad to say, many of them are not equipped themselves! Many of them only like to "equip" the youth because they are unlikely to ask them difficult Biblical questions they could not answer correctly. Consequently, these gullible and naive young Christians are "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine."
Paul said to the believers in Ephesus: "And He (Jesus) Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ..." (Eph. 4:11 - 14, emphasis added).
A Noble Task
Someone said: "Open minds are like open windows; you have to put in screens to keep the bugs out." The prudent believer screens every idea, every claim, every proposal, and every opinion through the grid of Scripture. The Bible is his protection from the stings and bites of error. He is open to everything in the Bible, of course, but everything else must be examined carefully in the clear light of God's Word.
The Berean Jews
When Paul and Silas preached in Berea, we are told by Luke (writer of Acts) that the Berean Jew were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica:
"And the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea; and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with eagerness, examining the scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so" (Acts 17:10, 11, NAS, emphasis added).
The Berean Jews received (listened attentively and respectfully) the Gospel preached by Paul and Silas and at the same time they checked up on Paul to determine whether his message was Biblical. By doing that, Luke said the Bereans Jew were more noble minded than those in Thessalonica. Therefore, the process of discernment - distinguishing truth from error by screening everything through the sieve of the Scripture - is a noble activity.
The word "noble" in Greek is "eugenes" which means, "high ranking" or "high-minded" or "wellborn." It is a privilege for believers to be called "noble minded" when they received the doctrine of the apostles "with eaerness."
The difference between the Bereans and the Pharisees
It is intersting to note that the Pharisees also search the Scriptures:
Jesus said to the Pharisees: "But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do no believe. You searched the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me" (John 5:38, 39, emphasis added).
Unlike the Bereans, the Pharisees searched the Scriptures with unbelieving hearts. The difference between them is very clear. The Bereans looked to see if what Paul and Silas said was true. And when they found it so, they believed. They were searching for truth. In contrast, the Pharisees were looking for errors. They wanted to find passages to prove Christ wrong.
Coming to the Scriptures for any purpose other than to discover and to believe the truth, is contrary to and utterly defeats the discerning process. Through discernment, error is detected in order to enable a person to distinguish it from the truth so that he may learn and live by the truth.
Test all things
Paul said: "Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thess. 5:20, 21, 22).
Notice the threefold command here - Test for the good, reject that which isn't, and retains that which is - is an accurate description of the entire discernment process. Christians are called to evaluate anything they read (the content of any teaching) in the light of the Scripture. Prophecies they heard are to be evaluated in order to determine whether they were true or false according to the teaching of the Bible. Such evaluation demands careful, active listening. That is why so many Christians fail; they prefer a more passive role. They either turn off most of what is said or else put the mind in neutral and let it coast with the speaker. Passive listening leads to spiritual dullness. Noble Christians will not settle for this. Their minds will be alive, actively comparing what is taught with the Word of God.
The idea is not to pick at flaws or have "roast preacher for dinner" in every Church service. The object of the test is - to identify that which is good so that you may "retain it." One must always search for more and more of God's truth for his own spiritual benefit and to pass on to others.
Learn to Discern
So far we have been considering the need of discernment in the Church and in individual Christians, because there is a degree of gullibility among Christians, including elders, pastors and leaders. But, until now, very little has been said about how you may become a discerning Christians. It is time to begin addressing this subject.
The fact is that every Christian has some level of discernment, no matter how small, to start with in his Christian walk of faith. God has given everyone a divine choice. Since you believed the Gospel message, you must have discerned that this message is different from any false idea of salvation. And, I hope, by virtue of reading this message, and in agreement up until now, you probably share a desire to become more discerning. Possibly you have begun to "see through" some of the wrong commitments into which you may have been duped. At the very least, you know what discernment is all about. You know that developing spiritual discernment is an obligation before God.
Every Christian needs to understand that no matter how bad his condition today, if he is a genuine believer, the Spirit of God dwells in him and that is all he needs to begin to change. Basically, it is the Spirit who, when you fervently ask Him, will lead you out of error into truth.
Jesus said: 'And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor know Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you" (John 14:16, 17, emphasis added).
He is called the "Spirit of truth" becaus of His peculiar concern for imparting truth to believers. And He abides in every true Christian.
John said: "But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that any one teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him" (1 John 2:27, emphasis added).
Notice that the "anointing" is the anointing or unction of the Holy One - the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:20). this anointing of the Holy Spirit teaches you concerning all things - including Spiritual Discernment.
Spiritual Maturity and Immaturity
The writer of hebrews talked about "milk Christians" and "meat Christians" which means "immature (babe) Christian" and "mature Christians" respectively. As the Christian advances in his Christian walk, his ability to discern spiritual things also increases:
"For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But sold food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to dicern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:13, 14, emphasis added).
It is "by reason of use" that one's spiritual "faculties" become sensitive to the difference between truth and error. Spiritual Discerment is a habit formed by using the Scripture under the Spirit's power and direction to distinguish good from evil. That is the reason I said in the beginning of this message that the key to Spiritual Discernment is to know the Word of God and know it well. There is no short-cut.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The Ten commandments
The Ten Commandments are ten laws given by God as guidelines fro daily living. They are part of a convenant between God and His chosen people. In this respect they are to be distinguished from the elaborate system of law known as the Mosaic Law.
Moses said to the children of Israel: "So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might observe them in the land which you cross over to possess" (Deut. 4:13, 14, NKJV).
"And He wrote on the tablets according to the first writing, the Ten Commandments, which the Lord had spoken to you in the mountain from the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly; and the Lord gave them to me" (Deut. 10:4).
These ten laws were often called the Decalogue, from the Greek word which means, "ten words." Although God gave the Ten Commandments to His people through Moses at Mount Sinai more than 3,000 years ago, they are still relevant today. They have an abiding significance, for God's character is unchangeable. These laws originate from God and from His eternal character; therefore, their moral value cannot change.
Uniqueness of the Ten Commandments
The Mosaic system was only a temporary expedient to achieve a given end. This elaborate system was designed as an educator, to lead the people into the great principles of life embodied in the Ten Commandments and afterward exhibited in Christ.
The unique place of the Ten Commandments is seen in the circumstances of their delivery. The rest of the law was given by God through the lips of Moses, but these were spoken by God Himself and with an awesome display of splendor and solemnity never before witnessed (Read Exodus 19). The Ten Commandments were written by God's finger and on durable tablets of stone (Deut. 9:11).
After the children of Israel sinned against God by making a golden calf, Moses "took the two tablets and threw them out of his hands and broke them before their eyes" (Deut. 9:17). After Mose had repented before the Lord on behalf of His people, the Lord instructed him to hew another two tablets of Stone:
"At that time that Lord said to me, 'Hew for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to Me on the mountain and make yourself an ark of wood. And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke; and you shall put them in an ark of wood'" (Deut. 10:1, 2).
So, another fact marks the unique place of the Ten Commandments is that the two tablets were put in the most sacred place - in the Ark of the Covenant, in the "Holy of Holies" of the Tabernacle of Moses.
Two versions of the Ten Commandments
There are two versions of the Ten Commandments given in the Pentateuch, one, contained in Exodus, and the other, in Deuteronomy:
Contained in Exodus
1. "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Ex. 20:3).
Since God's character forms the basis of the covenant with His people, He demands absolute loyalty. And when the intent of the heart is to put God first, a person's outward actions will reveal it.
2. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image .... You shall not bow down to them nor serve them" (Ex. 20:4, 5).
The second commandment is necessary because people do not always keep the first. The Israelites made a golden calf to worship even as the Lord gave the laws to Moses.
3. "You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain, ..." (Ex. 20:7).
God's Name and His character are inseparable. Using His Holy Name lightly in a vain, empty manner, is insulting and degrading.
4. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Ex. 20:8).
Sabbath means "rest," but God intended for this day to stand for more than an absence of work. It was to be a day of worship as well - a day for setting aside all thoughts of materialistic gain but thinking about Him. God Himself set the pattern by ceasing from His labors after creating the world.
5. "Honor you father and your mother, ..." (Ex. 20:12).
God established parents as the authority figures in the family unit. Children often get their first impressions about God from their parents. Parents who walk in the Spirit, honestly desiring to follow the guidelines of the Scriptures, will set better examples for their children.
6. "You shall not murder" (Ex. 20:13).
Commandments six through nine pertain to our relationships with one another. The breakdown of these guidelines has plunged many civilizations into decay. A person who cares about others, beginning with those in the home, does not want to do harm to them. This law reveals God's attitude toward people created in His image. No one has the right to take that life from another.
7. "You shall not commit adultery" (Ex. 20:14).
Technically, this commandment refers to being sexually involved with a married person; but it is traditionally used to prohibit all sexual relationships outside of marriage. Again, this commandment involves a right relationship with God and with others. Adultery is possible only if people are prepared to hurt other, to enjoy themselves at the expense of other people. A right attitude toward keeping God first and not harming others is tied together in this commandment.
8. "You shall not steal" (Ex. 20:15).
Stealing involves taking something that does not belong to you. This could be another's life, marriage partner, or reputation. This law also emphasizes the importance of getting all your own through lawful channels.
9. "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Ex. 20:16).
A good relatioship demands honesty in speaking of another. If a person in unwilling to speak ill of another, he is less likely to steal from him or to commit murder.
10. "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, ..."(Ex. 20:17).
This tenth commandment is an outgrowth of the first. If a person's heart is fixed on the Lord, he will have the right attitude toward other. Consequently, the desires that rise from his heart will not cause pain or loss to others. The right motive (pleasing God who is first in your life) will result in obeying the other commandments (not hurting others).
Contained in Deuteronomy
In Deuteronomy Moses reviewed the Ten Commandments to the hearing of the children of Israel. These are substantially and verbally identical, except that the reasons given for the observance of the fourth commandment - "Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holly, ..." Deut. 5:12), - are not the same.
In Exodus the reason is based on one's obligations to God as the Creator - "Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made" (Gen. 2:3).
In Deuteronomy the reason is one's duty to others and the memory of the bondage in Egypt:
"And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath" (Deut. 5:15).
Differences that Jesus made
During Jesus' earthly ministry He mentioned some of the Ten Commandments. And He placed more importance on some of the commandments than others. Notice that even obeying these commandments is not good enough for Jesus! He demanded highter level of holiness and righteousness.
Jesus and the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16 - 22)
The rich young ruler wanted to know what good thing he should do that he might have eternal life. Jesus, indicating that no man is good, not even Him, said that only One (God) is good. But if he wanted to enter into eternal life, keep these commandments - "You shall not murder," "you shall not commit adultery," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "Honor your father and your mother," and "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Notice that all those commandments quoted by Jesus were pertaining to maintaining right relationships with our fellowmen. And He added "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," never before mentioned. Furthermore, He declared it to be the second great commandment of the law:
A teacher of the law wanted Jesus to tell him - which is the great commandment in the law and Jesus said to him: "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matt. 22:37 - 40, emphasis added).
A "neighbor" means:
1. Any person who lives near us.
2. Any person with whom we have dealings.
3. A friend or relative (Matt. 5:43).
4. Any person - friend, relative, countryman, or even foe (Mark 12:31).
5. Any person who does us good or confers a favor on us (Luke 10:27 - 37).
The statement: "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" means:
These two commandments comprehend the substance of what Moses in the Law and what the prophets have spoken. What they have said has been to endeavor to win people to love God and to love one another. Love to God and man comprehends the whole of religion, and to produce this has been the design of Moses, the prophets, the Savor and the apostles.
Sermon on the Mount
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus had quoted the 6th and 7th of the Ten Commandments, and then He had gone on to show that lust is adultery in the heart:
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. It your right eyes couses you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to cast into hell. Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality cause her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery" (Matt. 5:27 - 32).
Jesus took the words of the Decalogue and extended them into the realm of thought and feeling. He might have had in mind the 3rd Commandment in His sharp prohibition of the Jewish habit of swearing by various things (Matt. 5:33 - 37). As to the Sabbath, His teaching and example tended to lighten the onerous restrictions of the rabbis (Mark 2:23 - 28). As duty to parents, He elevated above all supposed claims of vows and offerings (Matt. 15:4 - 6). In further extension of the 8th Commandment, Jesus said, "Do not defraud" (Mark 10:19). All of Jesus' ethical teaching might be said to be founded on the 10th Commandment which tracks sin to its lair in the mind and soul of man.
The Commandments of Love exhibited in Jesus
Our Lord Jesus embraced the whole range of human obligation in the following Commandments based on love:
1. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37, NKJV).
2. "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt. 22:39).
With love such as here described in the heart, man cannot trespass against God or his fellow-men.
At the close of His ministry, on the night of the betrayal, Jesus gave to His followers a third commanment, not different from the above two on which the whole Law hangs, but an extension of the Second great Commandment upward into realm of sacrifice:
"A new commandment I give you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34, 35).
"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:12).
The apostle Paul and John also carried the teaching of love in their epistles:
"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma" (Eph. 5:1, 2).
"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).
"We know that we have passed from death to life, becuse we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in words or in tongue, but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:14 - 18).
Moses said to the children of Israel: "So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might observe them in the land which you cross over to possess" (Deut. 4:13, 14, NKJV).
"And He wrote on the tablets according to the first writing, the Ten Commandments, which the Lord had spoken to you in the mountain from the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly; and the Lord gave them to me" (Deut. 10:4).
These ten laws were often called the Decalogue, from the Greek word which means, "ten words." Although God gave the Ten Commandments to His people through Moses at Mount Sinai more than 3,000 years ago, they are still relevant today. They have an abiding significance, for God's character is unchangeable. These laws originate from God and from His eternal character; therefore, their moral value cannot change.
Uniqueness of the Ten Commandments
The Mosaic system was only a temporary expedient to achieve a given end. This elaborate system was designed as an educator, to lead the people into the great principles of life embodied in the Ten Commandments and afterward exhibited in Christ.
The unique place of the Ten Commandments is seen in the circumstances of their delivery. The rest of the law was given by God through the lips of Moses, but these were spoken by God Himself and with an awesome display of splendor and solemnity never before witnessed (Read Exodus 19). The Ten Commandments were written by God's finger and on durable tablets of stone (Deut. 9:11).
After the children of Israel sinned against God by making a golden calf, Moses "took the two tablets and threw them out of his hands and broke them before their eyes" (Deut. 9:17). After Mose had repented before the Lord on behalf of His people, the Lord instructed him to hew another two tablets of Stone:
"At that time that Lord said to me, 'Hew for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to Me on the mountain and make yourself an ark of wood. And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke; and you shall put them in an ark of wood'" (Deut. 10:1, 2).
So, another fact marks the unique place of the Ten Commandments is that the two tablets were put in the most sacred place - in the Ark of the Covenant, in the "Holy of Holies" of the Tabernacle of Moses.
Two versions of the Ten Commandments
There are two versions of the Ten Commandments given in the Pentateuch, one, contained in Exodus, and the other, in Deuteronomy:
Contained in Exodus
1. "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Ex. 20:3).
Since God's character forms the basis of the covenant with His people, He demands absolute loyalty. And when the intent of the heart is to put God first, a person's outward actions will reveal it.
2. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image .... You shall not bow down to them nor serve them" (Ex. 20:4, 5).
The second commandment is necessary because people do not always keep the first. The Israelites made a golden calf to worship even as the Lord gave the laws to Moses.
3. "You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain, ..." (Ex. 20:7).
God's Name and His character are inseparable. Using His Holy Name lightly in a vain, empty manner, is insulting and degrading.
4. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Ex. 20:8).
Sabbath means "rest," but God intended for this day to stand for more than an absence of work. It was to be a day of worship as well - a day for setting aside all thoughts of materialistic gain but thinking about Him. God Himself set the pattern by ceasing from His labors after creating the world.
5. "Honor you father and your mother, ..." (Ex. 20:12).
God established parents as the authority figures in the family unit. Children often get their first impressions about God from their parents. Parents who walk in the Spirit, honestly desiring to follow the guidelines of the Scriptures, will set better examples for their children.
6. "You shall not murder" (Ex. 20:13).
Commandments six through nine pertain to our relationships with one another. The breakdown of these guidelines has plunged many civilizations into decay. A person who cares about others, beginning with those in the home, does not want to do harm to them. This law reveals God's attitude toward people created in His image. No one has the right to take that life from another.
7. "You shall not commit adultery" (Ex. 20:14).
Technically, this commandment refers to being sexually involved with a married person; but it is traditionally used to prohibit all sexual relationships outside of marriage. Again, this commandment involves a right relationship with God and with others. Adultery is possible only if people are prepared to hurt other, to enjoy themselves at the expense of other people. A right attitude toward keeping God first and not harming others is tied together in this commandment.
8. "You shall not steal" (Ex. 20:15).
Stealing involves taking something that does not belong to you. This could be another's life, marriage partner, or reputation. This law also emphasizes the importance of getting all your own through lawful channels.
9. "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Ex. 20:16).
A good relatioship demands honesty in speaking of another. If a person in unwilling to speak ill of another, he is less likely to steal from him or to commit murder.
10. "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, ..."(Ex. 20:17).
This tenth commandment is an outgrowth of the first. If a person's heart is fixed on the Lord, he will have the right attitude toward other. Consequently, the desires that rise from his heart will not cause pain or loss to others. The right motive (pleasing God who is first in your life) will result in obeying the other commandments (not hurting others).
Contained in Deuteronomy
In Deuteronomy Moses reviewed the Ten Commandments to the hearing of the children of Israel. These are substantially and verbally identical, except that the reasons given for the observance of the fourth commandment - "Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holly, ..." Deut. 5:12), - are not the same.
In Exodus the reason is based on one's obligations to God as the Creator - "Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made" (Gen. 2:3).
In Deuteronomy the reason is one's duty to others and the memory of the bondage in Egypt:
"And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath" (Deut. 5:15).
Differences that Jesus made
During Jesus' earthly ministry He mentioned some of the Ten Commandments. And He placed more importance on some of the commandments than others. Notice that even obeying these commandments is not good enough for Jesus! He demanded highter level of holiness and righteousness.
Jesus and the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16 - 22)
The rich young ruler wanted to know what good thing he should do that he might have eternal life. Jesus, indicating that no man is good, not even Him, said that only One (God) is good. But if he wanted to enter into eternal life, keep these commandments - "You shall not murder," "you shall not commit adultery," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "Honor your father and your mother," and "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Notice that all those commandments quoted by Jesus were pertaining to maintaining right relationships with our fellowmen. And He added "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," never before mentioned. Furthermore, He declared it to be the second great commandment of the law:
A teacher of the law wanted Jesus to tell him - which is the great commandment in the law and Jesus said to him: "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matt. 22:37 - 40, emphasis added).
A "neighbor" means:
1. Any person who lives near us.
2. Any person with whom we have dealings.
3. A friend or relative (Matt. 5:43).
4. Any person - friend, relative, countryman, or even foe (Mark 12:31).
5. Any person who does us good or confers a favor on us (Luke 10:27 - 37).
The statement: "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" means:
These two commandments comprehend the substance of what Moses in the Law and what the prophets have spoken. What they have said has been to endeavor to win people to love God and to love one another. Love to God and man comprehends the whole of religion, and to produce this has been the design of Moses, the prophets, the Savor and the apostles.
Sermon on the Mount
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus had quoted the 6th and 7th of the Ten Commandments, and then He had gone on to show that lust is adultery in the heart:
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. It your right eyes couses you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to cast into hell. Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality cause her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery" (Matt. 5:27 - 32).
Jesus took the words of the Decalogue and extended them into the realm of thought and feeling. He might have had in mind the 3rd Commandment in His sharp prohibition of the Jewish habit of swearing by various things (Matt. 5:33 - 37). As to the Sabbath, His teaching and example tended to lighten the onerous restrictions of the rabbis (Mark 2:23 - 28). As duty to parents, He elevated above all supposed claims of vows and offerings (Matt. 15:4 - 6). In further extension of the 8th Commandment, Jesus said, "Do not defraud" (Mark 10:19). All of Jesus' ethical teaching might be said to be founded on the 10th Commandment which tracks sin to its lair in the mind and soul of man.
The Commandments of Love exhibited in Jesus
Our Lord Jesus embraced the whole range of human obligation in the following Commandments based on love:
1. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37, NKJV).
2. "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt. 22:39).
With love such as here described in the heart, man cannot trespass against God or his fellow-men.
At the close of His ministry, on the night of the betrayal, Jesus gave to His followers a third commanment, not different from the above two on which the whole Law hangs, but an extension of the Second great Commandment upward into realm of sacrifice:
"A new commandment I give you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34, 35).
"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:12).
The apostle Paul and John also carried the teaching of love in their epistles:
"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma" (Eph. 5:1, 2).
"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).
"We know that we have passed from death to life, becuse we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in words or in tongue, but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:14 - 18).
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
The Message behind "The Message"
This message is an extension of my previous message - "A New Age Translation of the Bible." This time we dwell on how the author of "The Message" delete and add to Verses of the Holy Scripture. Throughout both Old and New Testaments, God forbids us to distort His Word. Additions and deletions are strictly forbidden in Scriptures.
Here are some examples:
1. "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you" (Deut. 4:2, NKJV).
2. "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it" (Deut. 12:32).
3. "Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar" (Proverbs 30:6).
4. "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed" (Gal. 1:8, 9).
5. The Book of Revelation ends with a warning - "For I testify to everone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone addes to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Rev. 22:18, 19, NKJV).
It is true that "adding and taking away of the words of prophecy" refers to the Book of Revelation and not the entire Bible. But, as seen from the points given above, the general principle is obvious that no man has the right to change any part of a revelation which God makes to man; to presume to add to it, or to take from it, or in any way to modify it.
The Author of "The Message" - His accountability or the lack of it
Paul said: "But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God" (2 Cor. 4:2, NKJV).
Eugene Peterson's interpretation of the above Verse, appears in "The Message," is:
"We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God."
While the above Verse corresponds to the original Greek, many other passages (as pointed out in my previous message), do just what "The Message promises not to do - to twist God's Word to suit human inclinations. In fact, referring to the next two Verses, ironically, Peterson failed his own test!
"But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, less the light of the gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them" (2 Cor. 4:3, 4, NKJV).
It doesn't take a Greek scholar to recognize the appalling distortions of God's Holy Word. Any Bible student willing to compare Peterson's "The Message" with a Greek/English interlinear Lexicon and take time to look up key words in a credible New Testament Bible dictionary will discover alarming deletions, distortions and additions to the original text. If Peterson is right, then all our other Bibles - KJB, NASV, NIV, RSV, NRSV, NKJV and the Amplified Bible etc are false!
In this message I choose to use the New American Standard Version (NASV), New King James Version (NKJV) and the NIV - not because only these three Versions are closer to the the original Hebrews and Greek languages. I am just got used to these Version, that's all.
The following are some of the distortions, deletions, substitutions and additions found in "The Message."
"The Message" deletes the reference to God's Name
"The Message" says - "Our father in heaven, reveal who you are. Set the world right; do what is best - As above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You're in charge" (Matt. 6:9 - 13, emphasis added).
The NASV says - "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen]" (Emphasis added).
"The Message" deletes the reference to God's Holy Name, and does not honor (or hallow) His Name. It Adds requests not voiced by Jesus and it changes the meaning of other verses.
"The Message" distorts the relationship between God the Father and Jesus the Son
1. "The Message" says - "I and the Father are one heart and mind" (John 10:30).
The NASV says - "I and the Father are one."
2. "The Message" says - "The Father is the goal and purpose of my life" (John 14:28).
The NASV says - "... for the Father is greater than I."
"The Message" deletes words that imply occult spirituality
"The Message" says - "... as times goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars" (1 Tim. 4:1, emphasis added).
The NASV says - "... in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, ..." (Emphasis added).
We are not just dealing with "illusions." "Deceitful spirit" and timeless "doctrines of demons" are far more effective in deceiving people than "illusions" and "professional liars."
"The Message" deletes "the prince of the power of the air"
"The Message" says - "It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat" (Eph. 2:1 - 3).
The NASV says - "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powere of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest" (Emphasis added).
"The prince of the power of the air" is none other than Satan, who is a powerful "prince."
"The Message" minimizes the consequences of sin
"The Message" says - "The Anarchrist's coming is all Satan's work. All his power and signs and miracles are fake, evil sleight of hand that plays to the gallery of those who hate the truth that could save them. And since they're so obsessed with evil, God rubs their noses in it - gives them what they want. Since they refuse to trust the truth, they're banished to their chosen world of lies and illusions" (2 Thess. 2:9, 10).
The NASV says - "... that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved."
Peterson's tendency to delete the supernatural and minimize the consequences of sin reminds me of Romans 1:18 which says: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness." Someone said that this Verse speaks about Peterson himself!
"The Message" deletes references to sinful nature
"The Message" says - "It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religions; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence of love or to be loved ... ugly parodies of community. I could go on" (Gal. 5:19 - 21, emphasis added).
The NIV says - "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and withchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Emphasis added).
Idolatry and witchcraft are not the same as "trinket gods" and "magic-show religions!" We are dealing with evil spiritual forces far greater than magical illusions!
"The Message" deletes reference to "obedience" and to "the grace of our Lord Jesus"
"The Message" says - "And so while there has never been any question about your honesty in this matter - I couldn't be more proud of you! - I wnat you also to be smart, making sure every "good" thing is the real thing. Don't be gullible in regard to smooth-talking evil. Stay alert like this, and before you know it the God of peace will come down on Satan with both feet, stomping him into the dirt. Enjoy the best of Jesus" (Romans 16:19 - 21)!
The NIV says - "Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I wnat you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet! The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you" (Emphasis added).
"The Message" deletes reference to "submission" and adds "marital equality"
"The Message" says - "The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, reponsive to their needs ... The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women, they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God's grace, you're equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals ..." (1 Peter 3:1, 7, emphasis added).
The NIV says - "Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands ... Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, ..." (Emphasis added).
"The Message" has misleading emphasis
"The Message" says - "Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it's written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whaterver he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we'll be a choir ... our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God ..." (Romans 15:4, 5, emphasis added).
The NIV says - "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of your Lord Jesus Christ" (Emphasis added).
In "The Message" there is no mention of endurance and hope - which implies triumph in the midst of suffering, as we remain confident that God will do all He has promised. In the light of Peterson's tendency to minimize the disciplining side of God, his emphasis on a warm, feel-good God seems to distort God's revelation of Himself. Noteice, "follow Christ Jesus" is replaced by a Jesus who "gets along with us."
"The Message" adds a promise not found in the original Greek
"The Message" says - "Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, bot bullying threat, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed Scripture" (Romans 8:35 - 37, emphasis added).
The NIV says - "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Emphasis added).
The above seems consitent with Peterson's refusal to mention those "worse sins" and "sinful nature" in the various New Testament lists of expressions.
Peterson's message behind "The Message"
As true Christians, we are called to "examine Scriptures" and to test our leaders as did the Bereans (Acts 17:11). Our ability to exercise this kind of discernment comes from the Holy Spirit.
Paul said: "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Cor. 3:5, NKJV, emphasis added).
Sad to say, Peterson deleted this wornderful promis of God - He is our sufficiency.
If Peterson's "The Message" is accepted as Biblical truth, then you can find three distortions of the teachings of New Testament - That is his message behind "The Message."
1. Since God is love, He wouldn't be so cruel as to cause someone to suffer, perish or burn in hell. So don't mention Biblical consequences or punishment.
2. Since God forgives, don't be too concerned about specific sins such as homosexuality or adultery. Jesus wouldn't want you to offend someone.
3. Since God is tolerant, don't correct others. Be tolerant of all.
Here are some examples:
1. "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you" (Deut. 4:2, NKJV).
2. "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it" (Deut. 12:32).
3. "Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar" (Proverbs 30:6).
4. "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed" (Gal. 1:8, 9).
5. The Book of Revelation ends with a warning - "For I testify to everone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone addes to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Rev. 22:18, 19, NKJV).
It is true that "adding and taking away of the words of prophecy" refers to the Book of Revelation and not the entire Bible. But, as seen from the points given above, the general principle is obvious that no man has the right to change any part of a revelation which God makes to man; to presume to add to it, or to take from it, or in any way to modify it.
The Author of "The Message" - His accountability or the lack of it
Paul said: "But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God" (2 Cor. 4:2, NKJV).
Eugene Peterson's interpretation of the above Verse, appears in "The Message," is:
"We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God."
While the above Verse corresponds to the original Greek, many other passages (as pointed out in my previous message), do just what "The Message promises not to do - to twist God's Word to suit human inclinations. In fact, referring to the next two Verses, ironically, Peterson failed his own test!
"But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, less the light of the gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them" (2 Cor. 4:3, 4, NKJV).
It doesn't take a Greek scholar to recognize the appalling distortions of God's Holy Word. Any Bible student willing to compare Peterson's "The Message" with a Greek/English interlinear Lexicon and take time to look up key words in a credible New Testament Bible dictionary will discover alarming deletions, distortions and additions to the original text. If Peterson is right, then all our other Bibles - KJB, NASV, NIV, RSV, NRSV, NKJV and the Amplified Bible etc are false!
In this message I choose to use the New American Standard Version (NASV), New King James Version (NKJV) and the NIV - not because only these three Versions are closer to the the original Hebrews and Greek languages. I am just got used to these Version, that's all.
The following are some of the distortions, deletions, substitutions and additions found in "The Message."
"The Message" deletes the reference to God's Name
"The Message" says - "Our father in heaven, reveal who you are. Set the world right; do what is best - As above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You're in charge" (Matt. 6:9 - 13, emphasis added).
The NASV says - "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen]" (Emphasis added).
"The Message" deletes the reference to God's Holy Name, and does not honor (or hallow) His Name. It Adds requests not voiced by Jesus and it changes the meaning of other verses.
"The Message" distorts the relationship between God the Father and Jesus the Son
1. "The Message" says - "I and the Father are one heart and mind" (John 10:30).
The NASV says - "I and the Father are one."
2. "The Message" says - "The Father is the goal and purpose of my life" (John 14:28).
The NASV says - "... for the Father is greater than I."
"The Message" deletes words that imply occult spirituality
"The Message" says - "... as times goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars" (1 Tim. 4:1, emphasis added).
The NASV says - "... in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, ..." (Emphasis added).
We are not just dealing with "illusions." "Deceitful spirit" and timeless "doctrines of demons" are far more effective in deceiving people than "illusions" and "professional liars."
"The Message" deletes "the prince of the power of the air"
"The Message" says - "It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat" (Eph. 2:1 - 3).
The NASV says - "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powere of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest" (Emphasis added).
"The prince of the power of the air" is none other than Satan, who is a powerful "prince."
"The Message" minimizes the consequences of sin
"The Message" says - "The Anarchrist's coming is all Satan's work. All his power and signs and miracles are fake, evil sleight of hand that plays to the gallery of those who hate the truth that could save them. And since they're so obsessed with evil, God rubs their noses in it - gives them what they want. Since they refuse to trust the truth, they're banished to their chosen world of lies and illusions" (2 Thess. 2:9, 10).
The NASV says - "... that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved."
Peterson's tendency to delete the supernatural and minimize the consequences of sin reminds me of Romans 1:18 which says: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness." Someone said that this Verse speaks about Peterson himself!
"The Message" deletes references to sinful nature
"The Message" says - "It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religions; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence of love or to be loved ... ugly parodies of community. I could go on" (Gal. 5:19 - 21, emphasis added).
The NIV says - "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and withchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Emphasis added).
Idolatry and witchcraft are not the same as "trinket gods" and "magic-show religions!" We are dealing with evil spiritual forces far greater than magical illusions!
"The Message" deletes reference to "obedience" and to "the grace of our Lord Jesus"
"The Message" says - "And so while there has never been any question about your honesty in this matter - I couldn't be more proud of you! - I wnat you also to be smart, making sure every "good" thing is the real thing. Don't be gullible in regard to smooth-talking evil. Stay alert like this, and before you know it the God of peace will come down on Satan with both feet, stomping him into the dirt. Enjoy the best of Jesus" (Romans 16:19 - 21)!
The NIV says - "Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I wnat you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet! The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you" (Emphasis added).
"The Message" deletes reference to "submission" and adds "marital equality"
"The Message" says - "The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, reponsive to their needs ... The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women, they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God's grace, you're equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals ..." (1 Peter 3:1, 7, emphasis added).
The NIV says - "Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands ... Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, ..." (Emphasis added).
"The Message" has misleading emphasis
"The Message" says - "Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it's written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whaterver he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we'll be a choir ... our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God ..." (Romans 15:4, 5, emphasis added).
The NIV says - "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of your Lord Jesus Christ" (Emphasis added).
In "The Message" there is no mention of endurance and hope - which implies triumph in the midst of suffering, as we remain confident that God will do all He has promised. In the light of Peterson's tendency to minimize the disciplining side of God, his emphasis on a warm, feel-good God seems to distort God's revelation of Himself. Noteice, "follow Christ Jesus" is replaced by a Jesus who "gets along with us."
"The Message" adds a promise not found in the original Greek
"The Message" says - "Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, bot bullying threat, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed Scripture" (Romans 8:35 - 37, emphasis added).
The NIV says - "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Emphasis added).
The above seems consitent with Peterson's refusal to mention those "worse sins" and "sinful nature" in the various New Testament lists of expressions.
Peterson's message behind "The Message"
As true Christians, we are called to "examine Scriptures" and to test our leaders as did the Bereans (Acts 17:11). Our ability to exercise this kind of discernment comes from the Holy Spirit.
Paul said: "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Cor. 3:5, NKJV, emphasis added).
Sad to say, Peterson deleted this wornderful promis of God - He is our sufficiency.
If Peterson's "The Message" is accepted as Biblical truth, then you can find three distortions of the teachings of New Testament - That is his message behind "The Message."
1. Since God is love, He wouldn't be so cruel as to cause someone to suffer, perish or burn in hell. So don't mention Biblical consequences or punishment.
2. Since God forgives, don't be too concerned about specific sins such as homosexuality or adultery. Jesus wouldn't want you to offend someone.
3. Since God is tolerant, don't correct others. Be tolerant of all.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
A New Age Translation of the Bible
This message is an extension of my earlier messages - "New Age teachings in the Church" and "The foundation of Biblical Christianity." Please read these messages before you read this. I believe the New Age Movement (NAM) is getting deeper and deeper into the Church of Jesus Christ. More and more pastors are being deceived daily. With the emergence of of New Age translations of the Bible, even renowned and prominent Christian leaders, are being led into the NAM. Here are some of them - Rick Warren, Billy Graham, Chuck Swindell, J. I. Parker, Jack Hayford, Jerry Jenkins, Richard Foster, Rod Parsley, Tony Campolo and Warren Wiersbe, among many others.
A New Age translation of the Bible I am referring to is Eugene H. Peterson's "The Message." Someone said: "With today's epidemic of Bible per-versions spreading like a runaway virus, nothing should shock us - but buckle up! If you have any spiritual pulse, Eugene Peterson's "The Message" will shock you." Sadly, many pastors either they have no spiritual pulse to begin with, or they have lose it somehow. Needly to say, any believer, let alone a pastor, who has no spiritual pulse, is spiritually dead. Their Church members are also spiritually dead if they welcome the New Age reachings and endorse the New Age Bible. I was told Rick Warren insisted that everyone in Saddleback Church has a copy of "The Message."
The Author of "The Message"
Eugene H. Peterson wrote two translations of the Bible, called "The Message." The first published is - "The New Testament in Contemporary English," published in 1993. The second is - "The Bible in Contemporary Language," published in 2002.
According to the publisher (NavPress), Eugene Peterson started out to become a scholar, but after earning a master's degree in Hebrew he changed his plans and entered the ministry, as a pastor in a Presbyterian Church (USA). There he served for some years before he retired to write "The Message." He began to create this version during a series of lessons on Paul's Epistle to the Galatians. He observed that his congregation was bored with the Biblical text as they knew it, and so, in order to stimulate them, he wrote a paraphrase of the Epistle, in which he tried to make it extraordinary vivid and interesting to them. Later, the publisher persuaded Peterson to put the entire New Testament in the same kind of language. This became a best seller because of the false advertisement given by the publisher. "The Message" has been advertised as a "translation from the original languages" that "accurately communicates the original Hebrew and Greek" and bring out "the subtleties and nuances of the Hebrew and Greek languages," being the work of a respected "exergetical scholar," etc. But, the truth is, "The Message" is a free paraphrase of Biblical text, often very eccentric, with many unlikely renderings, lengthy insertions and omissions, and other problems. Peterson's purpose is to present something new and provocative at every turn, something vivid and unusual, in order to stir up the dull minds of people who have become bored with their familiar Bibles. "The Message" promotes the mystical New Age message with a boldness never seen before. It has sold over 10 million copies and has continually ranked among the top five best-selling Bibles.
"The Message" attacks the "Lord"
The "Lord" occurs a whopping 7970 times in the King James Bible (KJB). "The Message" contains the "Lord" only 71 times! It never directly honor Jesus Christ as the Lord. The "Lord Jesus" and the "Lord Jesus Christ" occur 118 times and 84 times respectively in the KJB. But, the phrase "Lord Jesus Christ" or "Lord Jesus" is not in "The Message!" Notice that the outright denial of the "Lord" Jesus has never occurred in any translation!
"The Message" replaces "Lord Jesus" with "Master Jesus"
It is interesting that Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus never called Jesus "Lord," but called Him "Master."
"Then Jesus, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said" (Matt. 26:25, KJB, emphasis added).
Following the footsteps of Judas, the betrayer, "The Message" also "betrays" the Lord. It always called Jesus "Master" and never "Lord." In fact, the term, "Master Jesus" appears 76 times!
Here are some examples:
1. "As the rocks rained down, Stephen prayed, 'Master Jesus, take my life'" (Acts 7:59, The Message, emphasis added).
The KJB says - "And as they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Emphasis added).
2. "And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive" (2 Cor. 4:14, The Message, emphasis added).
The KJB says - "Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you" (Emphasis added).
3. "Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost" (1 Cor. 12:3, KJB, emphasis added).
The above verse warns against spiritual counterfeits such as "The Message" that deny Jesus as the "Lord." Notice how "The Message" attempts to cover its tracks by perverting the same verse:
"For instance, by using your heads, you know perfectly well that the Spirit of God would never prompt anyone to say 'Jesus be damned!' Nor would anyone be inclined to say 'Jesus is Master!' without the insight of the Holy Spirit" (The Message, emphasis added).
A New Age translation of the Bible I am referring to is Eugene H. Peterson's "The Message." Someone said: "With today's epidemic of Bible per-versions spreading like a runaway virus, nothing should shock us - but buckle up! If you have any spiritual pulse, Eugene Peterson's "The Message" will shock you." Sadly, many pastors either they have no spiritual pulse to begin with, or they have lose it somehow. Needly to say, any believer, let alone a pastor, who has no spiritual pulse, is spiritually dead. Their Church members are also spiritually dead if they welcome the New Age reachings and endorse the New Age Bible. I was told Rick Warren insisted that everyone in Saddleback Church has a copy of "The Message."
The Author of "The Message"
Eugene H. Peterson wrote two translations of the Bible, called "The Message." The first published is - "The New Testament in Contemporary English," published in 1993. The second is - "The Bible in Contemporary Language," published in 2002.
According to the publisher (NavPress), Eugene Peterson started out to become a scholar, but after earning a master's degree in Hebrew he changed his plans and entered the ministry, as a pastor in a Presbyterian Church (USA). There he served for some years before he retired to write "The Message." He began to create this version during a series of lessons on Paul's Epistle to the Galatians. He observed that his congregation was bored with the Biblical text as they knew it, and so, in order to stimulate them, he wrote a paraphrase of the Epistle, in which he tried to make it extraordinary vivid and interesting to them. Later, the publisher persuaded Peterson to put the entire New Testament in the same kind of language. This became a best seller because of the false advertisement given by the publisher. "The Message" has been advertised as a "translation from the original languages" that "accurately communicates the original Hebrew and Greek" and bring out "the subtleties and nuances of the Hebrew and Greek languages," being the work of a respected "exergetical scholar," etc. But, the truth is, "The Message" is a free paraphrase of Biblical text, often very eccentric, with many unlikely renderings, lengthy insertions and omissions, and other problems. Peterson's purpose is to present something new and provocative at every turn, something vivid and unusual, in order to stir up the dull minds of people who have become bored with their familiar Bibles. "The Message" promotes the mystical New Age message with a boldness never seen before. It has sold over 10 million copies and has continually ranked among the top five best-selling Bibles.
"The Message" attacks the "Lord"
The "Lord" occurs a whopping 7970 times in the King James Bible (KJB). "The Message" contains the "Lord" only 71 times! It never directly honor Jesus Christ as the Lord. The "Lord Jesus" and the "Lord Jesus Christ" occur 118 times and 84 times respectively in the KJB. But, the phrase "Lord Jesus Christ" or "Lord Jesus" is not in "The Message!" Notice that the outright denial of the "Lord" Jesus has never occurred in any translation!
"The Message" replaces "Lord Jesus" with "Master Jesus"
It is interesting that Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus never called Jesus "Lord," but called Him "Master."
"Then Jesus, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said" (Matt. 26:25, KJB, emphasis added).
Following the footsteps of Judas, the betrayer, "The Message" also "betrays" the Lord. It always called Jesus "Master" and never "Lord." In fact, the term, "Master Jesus" appears 76 times!
Here are some examples:
1. "As the rocks rained down, Stephen prayed, 'Master Jesus, take my life'" (Acts 7:59, The Message, emphasis added).
The KJB says - "And as they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Emphasis added).
2. "And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive" (2 Cor. 4:14, The Message, emphasis added).
The KJB says - "Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you" (Emphasis added).
3. "Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost" (1 Cor. 12:3, KJB, emphasis added).
The above verse warns against spiritual counterfeits such as "The Message" that deny Jesus as the "Lord." Notice how "The Message" attempts to cover its tracks by perverting the same verse:
"For instance, by using your heads, you know perfectly well that the Spirit of God would never prompt anyone to say 'Jesus be damned!' Nor would anyone be inclined to say 'Jesus is Master!' without the insight of the Holy Spirit" (The Message, emphasis added).
From the examples above, we realize that "The Message" loudly echo the Judas-inspired, New Age doctrine of the "Master Jesus." Notice that Jesus called Judas the "son of perdition" (John 17:12) - which is also the title of the antichrist in 2 Thess. 2:3). Notice also that Judas was possesed by Satan (Luke 22:3). Therefore, we come to the conclusion that the NAM and the New Age Bibles, one of which is "The Message," are Satan inspired!
"The Message" replaces "Lord God" with "Master God"
The term, "Lord God" occurs 546 times in the KJB. But, "The Message" replaces "Lord God" with "Master God." I could not find the term "Master God" in any other Bible version.
Here are some examples - Take note of the NAM inspired mystic tone of "Master God" in "The Message."
1. "Abram said, 'Master God, how am I to know this, that it will all be mine'" (Genesis 15:8, The Message, emphasis added)?
The KJB says - "And he (Abram) said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it" (Emphasis added)?
2. "King David went in, took his place before God, and prayed: 'Who am I, my Master God, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this place in life'" (2 Samuel 7:18, The Message, emphasis added)?
The KJB says - "Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto" (Emphasis added)?
3. "He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' I said, 'Master God, only you know that'" (Ezekiel 37:3, The Message, emphasis added).
The KJB says - "And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest" (Emphasis added).
"The Message" spreads the New Age "Oneness" and "Interdependence"
A NAM guidebook ("A Time of Departing," by Ray Yungen) says, "Everything is one with everything else. All that is on Earth is an expression of the One Deity and is permeated with its energies."
Here are some examples:
1. "I in them and you in me. Then they'll be mature in this oneness, ..." (John 17:23, The Message, emphasis added).
The KJB says - "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; ..." (Emphasis added).
2. "Because there is one loaf, our many-ness becomes one-ness, ..." (1 Cor. 10:17, The Message, emphasis added).
The KJB says - "For we being many are one bread, and one body: ..." (Emphasis added).
Cult author Dr. Walter Martin, identifies "interdependence" as a New Age "buzz-word" used to "describe the oneness." He said in his book, "The New Age Cult" - "These words (interdependence/interconnectedness) are used by New Agers to describe the oneness and essential unity of everything in the universe."
Here is an example:
"Everyone I meet - it matters little whether they're mannered or rude, smart or simple - deepens my sense of interdependence and obligation" (Romans 1:14, The Message, emphasis added).
The KJB says - "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise."
Notice the phrase - "My sense of interdependence" is added in by the author of "The Message."
"The Message" uses the word "Presence" to describe the manifestation of God's presence
The author of "The Message" uses the common New Age term, "Presence" to describe the mystic, impersonal and unseen pantheist "presence" of God. "The Message" refers to God at least 43 times as "Presence" used by the NAM. I believe any teaching concerning the God of the Bible as a mystic "Presence" constitutes blasphemy!
The following verses (of many) echo the NAM mystic "Presence" used by "The Message":
1. "No one has ever gone up into the presence of God except the One who came down from that Presence, the Son of Man" (John 3:13, The Message, emphasis added).
The KJB says - "And on man hath ascended up to heave, but the that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven."
The word "Presence" is not there. There is none in the original Greek translation eithr.
2. "I saw a Great White Throne and the One Enthroned. Nothing could stand before or against the Presence, nothing in Heaven, nothing on earth" (Rev. 20:11, The Message, emphasis added).
The KJB says - "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them."
Again, the word "Presence" is not there.
The author of "The Message" calls the sacred "showbread" as the mystic "Bread of the Presence" seven times (Exodus 25:30, 35:13, 39:36; 1 Sam. 21:4; 1 Kings 7:48; 2 Chron. 4:19, 29:18) in his Bible.
Here is an example:
"Always keep fresh Bread of the Presence on the Table for me" (Exodus 25:30, The Message, emphasis added).
The KJB says - "And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me always."
Again, the word "Presence" is not there.
"The Message" uses the word "energy" as used by NAM
To the NAM "energy" is a spiritual force used in prayer, meditation and rituals. "The Message" explicitly promotes the NAM mystical "energy." It appears 40 times in "The Message."
Here are some examples:
1. "When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person" (Luke 6:28, The Message, emphasis added).
The KJB says - "Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you" (Emphasis added).
Notice that "The Message" changes "pray" to "the energies of prayer." Apparently, God no longer answers our prayers, instead, the prayer itself, generates "the energy!" On the other hand, the Bible definition of "prayer" means "to ask." (Matt. 21:22).
2. "At the same moment, Jesus felt energy discharging from him. He turned around to the crowd and asked, 'Who touched my robe'" (Mark 5:30, The Message, emphasis added)?
The KJB says - "And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes" (Emphasis added)?
In the New King James, the word "virtue" is replaced by "Power."
3. "All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven" (Ephesians 1:20, The Message, emphasis added).
The KJB says - "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places."
The above examples show that "The Message" is closely linked with the doctrine of "energy" of the NAM.
"The Message" crudely emphasizes sex
The aim of the author is to have a version of the Bible that is not boring and at the same time appealing to today's youth. I think he has succeeded.
The word "sex" appears 199 times. Someone said, "'The Message' contains enough 'sex' to satisfy even Hugh Hefner (The founder of the "Playboy" empire)!"
Here are some examples:
1. "Saul exploded in anger at Jonathan: 'You son of a slut ..." (1 Sam. 20:30, The Message, emphasis added).
The KJB says - "Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, ..."
The author of "The Message" sees a "perverse rebellious woman" as a "slut."
2. "At every major intersection you built your bold brothels and exposed your sluttish sex, spreading your legs for everyone for everyone who passed by" (Ezekiel 16:24, The Message, emphasis added).
The KJB says - "That thou hast also built unto thee an eminent place, and hast made thee an high place in every street."
The is no mention of "sex" in the original Hebrew language. We need to understand the in Old Testament days, there were times when Israel committed spiritual adultery or harlotry with foreign gods. Ezekiel 16 describes such a time.
Conclusion
"The Message" spews the most vulgar and crude language ever recorded in a mainstream Bible! Here what the psalmist says: "Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it" (Ps. 119:140, KJB).
All true servants of God must reject "The Message1" It is inspired by Satan. It is not given by inspiration of God. It is unclean and it is poisonous!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)