The False Gospel of Mormonism

Posted on November 6, 2016 by ACTheologian

joe-smith

What is the difference between Mormonism and Christianity?  Notice that I distinguish between the two at the start.  This is because I do not classify Mormonism as Christian.  The reason is because they worship a different god.  This isn’t a matter of opinion or even interpretation, any Mormon will tell you that they do not believe in the Trinity so that right there lets us know we are talking about a different religion.

Related to that, Mormons also deny the Deity of Christ.  This is another foundational doctrine of Christianity.  If you don’t hold to that then by definition you are part of a different religion.  Even though they will say that they believe in Jesus, since the Jesus they are talking about they freely admit is not God then it stands to reason they are speaking of a different Jesus than Christians do.

The last part which is equally as concerning is the false gospel of Mormonism.  Not only do they point to a false deity but it’s a deity that even they believe cannot save.  Look below and see for yourself, I have drawn up two passages, one from the Bible and one from the Book of Mormon.

 

 The Book of Mormon  The Holy Bible
 “23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” 2 Nephi 25:23  “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8‭-‬10 ESV

 

Notice that in the Bible passage on the right Grace is placed sequentially before Good Works.  This is actually key.  Salvation and grace is received first and is fully and wholly salvific.  Good works naturally come later and even those are taught to be a work of God.

If you compare that to the Mormon text you see that Grace is placed as something contingent after good works.  So we can see that the order of these things are completely flip flopped.  One cannot even hold the two in tension which is part of the reason that Mormons will flatly admit that they govern the Bible with the Book of Mormon.

To borrow from a point made in a Lutheran Satire video, which I have linked below, one cannot even believe that they are saved in Mormon theology.  There will be a constant struggle.  Notice that the text above says:

“after all we can do”

 

Well, what exactly is that anyways?  All you can do?  Not some of what you can do?  Does the word “can” mean physically capable?  It certainly appears to!

Have you ever bought something for yourself instead of donating the money to the poor?  Have you ever gone out to eat instead of serve at a soup kitchen?  That would work for any form of entertainment.  Have you ever spent a single evening doing anything besides serving your neighbor or worshiping the Triune God?  Think about it for a second.  One is physically capable of fulfilling that but none of us do.  Therefore nobody does all that they “can” do.  So even by Mormon theology even the best of Mormons are not saved.  This is Biblical too, none of us do our best:

 

“10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;11 no one understands;no one seeks for God.12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” Rom 3:10-12 ESV

 

We can only be saved through the shed blood of Christ which is sufficient and stands in our place on the judgement.

 

“6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ” John 14:6 ESV

“9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith” Php 3:9 ESV

 

That’s really the idea in that last verse, we depend on Christ in the righteousness of God.  This doesn’t mean we are to live like devils, but it does change our motivation.  As a Mormon you always have to do your best to be saved by an idol.  As a Christian you depend in faith on Christ who saves you, and then do good works out of a grateful heart.

Take a moment to watch the video below, it’s really funny and not too long.

 

 

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Is the Death Penalty Biblical?

Posted on October 30, 2016 by ACTheologian

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For a more extensive analysis of Romans 13, which I will be covering today, I recommend you read older posts which can be found HERE and HERE.  In todays blog post I am going to cover the topic of Capital Punishment.  To do that, I am going to ask and answer the following question:

 

Does the Bible teach that it is permissible for Human Government to enforce civil law with the death penalty?

 

Though this issue is hotly debated in western society today, Biblically it’s really not that complicated at all.  The Bible is very clear here and won’t take long to present.  I anticipate this blog post will actually be kinda short.

The first verse that I want to bring up is a command in the book of Genesis given from God to Noah.  At the time it was issued to him Noah was everything that passed for a government on planet Earth.  Among other things, this is what we see:

 

“6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” Gen 9:6 KJV

 

Well, that’s pretty straight-forward, not only did God command Noah to enforce a death penalty, but he also made it clear that mankind is supposed to enact this punishment upon itself.  The only reason specifically cited here is homicide, but as I understand it, the way law was written in ancient Judaism was as general principles rather than a list of every possible scenario.

Something worth pointing out is that chronologically this law was given before Moses.  Thus it would not work to assert that it has since been abrogated like the Old Covenant has been.  While compelling this point isn’t necessary though as the New Covenant also teaches the need for a death penalty.

 

“1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.; 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.; 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:; 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” Rom 13:1-4 KJV

 

There are some pretty obvious conclusions one can rightly come to from the above text.  First of all, unless you’re going to assert that the sword in verse 4 is for back scratching then the death penalty is certainly on the table.  Second, notice that the individual and the government are not regarded as the same.  Each have a different purpose in creation.  One of the purposes of Governments is to bear this sword and we are commanded in scripture to submit to that.  Notice this other statement in the text:

 

“For he is the minister of God to thee for good”

Scripture is not condemning the use of the sword but is instead calling it a good thing.  There is no getting around this, the death penalty is totally Biblical.  It is my assessment that this answers my above question in the affirmative.

Things that I would say are more open for debate is when and how the sword should be used by government.  There are Biblical principles that certainly apply here and can be of use to Civil leaders but the scripture doesn’t box them in.

Wait! Wait! Wait!…. Doesn’t Matthew teach that we are to turn the other cheek?

3″9 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Matt 5:39 KJV

 

Yes the Bible does say that we are to turn the  other cheek that’s totally true.  What does that mean though?  First of all go and read it for yourself HERE, there is no civil context whatsoever.  Secondly, would you call the police because someone slapped your cheek?  Really??

The scripture here is talking about disrespect and insults not about homicide.  Maybe it is our first world frailties that blind us to this all so often but the fact is that nothing in this chapter or those around it are teaching about the role or authority of Government.

 

Conclusion

 

I would say that according to scripture the government can and should enforce the law with the death penalty.  Which laws are to receive that level of punishment is more open to debate, but I would start with Genesis 9:6 and confess that murder is certainly worthy of the death penalty.  I would not support it though for speeding or failing to return a Library Book.

My final remark is this, when the Government fails to enforce the death penalty it is not the Church’s fault.  This shouldn’t trouble our consciences in the slightest.  It is the governments job and it is her that must answer to Christ in this respect.

 

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Predestination: The Doctrine of Election

Posted on October 26, 2016 by ACTheologian

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Speaking of myself, while growing up in Adventism the word “predestination” seemed to have been regarded as a heresy, the doctrine itself must have been even worse.  I would even scoff at it and assert that a Loving God would not predestine some and not others.  Furthermore, I believed that predestination would contradict free will.  I no longer hold to that position and the verses below I think will help demonstrate the reasons as to why.

So in this post I want to ask and answer the following question from the Word of God.

 

Has God individually known and Predestined sinners unto salvation before the fall even took place?

 

The first text I want to review is called the Golden Chain.  You can read it’s full context HERE, which I recommend that you do if it has been a while since you have studied Romans 8.  Paul builds on his teachings from the prior chapters and discusses the state of all of creation and the place of God’s people in it.  Then he gives us one of the best promises in scripture for those in Christ.

 

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ; And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”Rom 8:29-30 ESV 

 

This is called the Golden Chain because each noun and verb is linked in sequential order, like a chain.

 

those whom he foreknew

-> TIES TO ->

 He also predestinated
whom he predestinated

-> TIES TO ->

 those whom he called
whom he called

-> TIES TO ->

 he also justified
whom he justified

-> TIES TO ->

 he also glorified

 

The group identified  as “those whom” in verse 29 is the same people as identified as “those whom” at the end of verse 30.  There is only one group of people being identified in this pericope and that same group goes all the way from Predestined before the fall to Glorification in the Eschaton.

A common rebuttal to this Biblical passage by arminians that I have seen is to assert that “foreknowledge doesn’t mean foreordained”.  And my response is that it doesn’t have to.  Of course foreknowledge isn’t causative. But making vapid assertions and running off denies the verb noun chain entirely.

This is because if the group of people being predestined is in a state of flux moment to moment as time plays out then on some level one would have to assert that God didn’t fully foreknow who was predestined.

That would be problematic because the Bible teaches that God exhaustively knows everything, something I covered in an earlier post on Omniscience.  One cannot simultaneously hold to a doctrine of Omniscience and deny that God’s foreknowledge extends to the individual with regards to anything, much less salvation.  Such logic wouldn’t even by paradoxical or mysterious it would be double speak with no exegetical basis.  That’s what I call it anyways, everyone else just calls it Arminianism.

No matter how you stack it, if you’re going to allow for both Romans 8:29-30 and verses like Psa 147:5 to be in the Bible at the same time then whom was foreknown all the way up to whom was glorified has always been the same list of people.  This is a beautiful promise in scripture to the elect of God.  Jesus even gives some excellent imagery to this effect in the verse below where he states that we are in the palm of his hand.

 

“28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:28 ESV 

 

Below we see that Paul expounds on this idea even further.  Even though the context of Romans 8 includes the entire created order, this passage more clearly places the decree of God before time itself.

 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,  8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight  9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. ;  In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will” Eph 1:3-11 ESV

 

Notice the above is not only couched in the entirety of time, but even places the choosing of the elect by God as before the foundation of the world.  Though the saving act is and always has been the Cross delivered to us by means in both the old and new testament the created order of salvation and all things  was certainly in the mind of God before time itself was even a thing.

 

“8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.” Rev 17:8 ESV 

 

The above passage makes it very clear, these names were written in the Book of Life from the very foundation of the world.  There is just no getting around that.  If this gives you a hard time holding on to your free will presuppositions then maybe that’s a good thing.

Based on the above I believe that the scripture has spoken clearly and the answer to my question at the outset has been answered by scripture in the affirmative.

 

But… But… But… What does that mean then?

 

There are some very stark implications regarding this teaching of scripture.  Since God has obviously predestined an elected people to salvation according to foreknowledge does that also mean he has predestined everyone else to Hell according to said foreknowledge?  This is the conclusion of Calvinists.  I don’t know if they call it “Double Predestination” or not and do not wish to misrepresent them, but that is the term that I refer to this conclusion as.  It’s a perfectly logical conclusion to arrive at and I won’t question it on its intellectual honesty.

The problem is that first of all, the Bible doesn’t actually have a “golden chain” to hell.  The scriptures above are only speaking about believers, reading unbelievers in has to be done philosophically.  There are passages of God damning people and hardening hearts, but the referent has to be assumed to be prelapsarian by means of philosophy.  Secondly,  scripture has very clear teachings that negate this philosophical conclusion.

 

“16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16-17 ESV 

“19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” Matt 28:19 ESV 

“3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” 1 Tim 2:3-6 ESV

“9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 ESV 

 

I understand that Calvinists have scholarly approaches to the above passages.  And I respect their work in this regard a great deal more than I do with how Arminians handle the passages above about predestination.  To briefly respond to what I have read by Calvinists, though types of people can be shown to be a thing in some of these verses, they cannot be exegeted to be limiting God’s disposition to said types.  Thus, the plainest reading is that these passages include all types of all people.

To be clear, a thing with Lutheran theology anyways is that words like “all” simply mean “all” just as “is” actually means “is” and “day” means “day”.  We are annoyingly consistent on this approach with scripture.  So much so that I have heard Calvinists like Dr. James White, whom I respect a great deal, openly mock Lutherans on his program for this.

Ironically, this is actually the part about Lutheran theology that I admire the most.  We would rather have a little mystery than round out every philosophical corner of the Bible.  At the end of the day Calvinists and Lutherans should respect that we have a very different methodology in this respect.  We should clearly explain what and why that is and then let the student of scripture discern for themselves which is a more honest approach.  Both traditions are certainly Christian.

I would not speak so kindly of Arminian theology though.  It is my assessment that they are in open rebellion to the word of God because they don’t like what it says.  They need to repent of this sin.  It has brought alot of pain into this world and has created a breeding ground for cults and satanic doctrines that send people to hell.  Keep in mind, I am not saying that Arminianism is in and of itself a cult, but I am saying that historically their flagrant rebellion has fostered the development of cults.  Perhaps I will blog more on this in the future.

 

Conclusion

I think that the best way to confess this simply and Biblically is that God has predestined his elect unto himself before time was even a thing.  And that it is a great comfort and blessing to believers to know and hold on to.  Conversely, as we also once were, the damned are destined by their own merits to receive the just eternal wrath of an almighty God as is due for their sins.

If you would like more on the doctrine of Election I recommend  Article XI of the Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord which you can read for free HERE.

 

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Does John 14:12 teach that I am more powerful than Jesus?

Posted on October 22, 2016 by ACTheologian

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Above is an image of Creflo Dollar, who I am singling out for this post on frequently twisted passages.  He like others I have also featured twists the Bible on the regular, and below I am going to analyze one of the verses that he does this to.

While Leaving Adventism one of the things that I studied was Pentecostal Theology.  Their teaching on this verse in John though is pervasive these days so I am going to address it plainly.  The way this is presented by the Pentacostals and Charismatics is that evidence of the Christian life is greater works.

By that they mean, if you are truly faithful and penitent, then you should be performing miracles.  Not just your garden variety miracles mind you, you must be outdoing Christ himself.  Not just you either, but the Church at large.  And if you don’t see that happening then you should be concerned that you and your fellow believers may not have any faith.

Below is the passage in question:

 

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” John 14:12 KJV

 

Does that mean we as Christians should be expected to run on water instead of walk?  Should we rise from the dead twice?  Should we heal more people miraculously?

Well if that’s what Jesus is teaching then the only proper response is that the Church has failed both now and in the past.  Nobody has come close to  the miracles that Christ performed.  The apostles certainly did perform great signs and wonders through the power of the Holy Spirit, but even then these gifts started to fade out in their own lifetimes.  A point that I made in an older post you can find HERE.

Have not miracles occurred in the Church since the apostles?  Well of course they have, not through a specific person but people have prayed to God asking for a miracle, and sometimes they have certainly happened.  Everyone has their stories and plenty have been written down by the saints who came before us.

Would you call any of these miracles greater works though?  I certainly wouldn’t.  Even if you count the hoax ridden circus shows claiming to be handing out miracles today by the Charismatics and Pentacostals I wouldn’t call those greater works.  Even at best they would be lesser works.  What are the greater works then?  To really flesh this out I’m going to have to go down a Gospel bunny trail.

Long ago during the exile we see that Ezekiel prophesied of a day when preaching the Word would raise the dead.

 

4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.; 5 Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:; 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. Ezk 37:4-6 KJV

 

We also know that we were dead in trespasses and sins before encountering the Gospel.

 

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:; 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” Eph 2:1-3 KJV

 

It is in this dead state that we are found when we first encounter Grace, in which God gives us Faith miraculously.

 

“8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” Eph 2:8 KJV

 

The Bible even straight up states that Faith is received through the preaching of the Word.  In this act the Christological Prophecy in Ezekiel 37 is fulfilled.  When the pastor preaches over the dead bones in his congregation they come to life in receiving faith.

 

“13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.; 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?; 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!; 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?; 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Rom 10:13-17 KJV

 

So, by the simple act of preaching the Word the Holy Spirit gives the gift of faith to the one hearing it.  This is Grace in action.  It’s rather objective really, which is why Lutherans and others call it “Means of Grace”.  This act alone is certainly a greater Work.  It is nothing at all of course without Christ as it is his act on the Cross which ultimately brings believers the Gospel to begin with.

That said, it is the preacher preaching the cross that applies it to you here and now.  In the very first day this was done more souls were brought to faith in Christ than in the whole 3 1/2 years of Christ’s ministry on earth combined.

 

“38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.; 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.; 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.; 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:38-41 KJV

 

That is a great work indeed, and by the power of Christ it is a greater work than any the apostles had witnessed up to John 14:12.  This continues to be a greater work unto this very day.  If you want to see it yourself then I recommend regularly attending a Church where the Gospel is preached.

 

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Does Matt 17:20 teach that I can move Mountains with my faith?

Posted on October 4, 2016 by ACTheologian

 

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My apologies for the slow down in blogging.  Expect this trend to continue, I have been busy with a new project at work and am spending many hours on the road and working overtime.  Spare time has focused on my family and less on the blog.  Until things change there will be less frequent blogging but I have not abandoned it.  If you follow me on facebook as well then you may see me there more often as I can do that from my cell-phone.

 

Back to the matter at hand….

“20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matt 17:20 KJV

 

This is a very popular verse and with all the bad press on it I think that the plainest meaning is lost on most people today.  The idea that is generally taught is that one should read “mountains” as figurative.

Specifically, your seeker sensitive charismatic preacher will teach that the mountain in this verse is a stand in for your mean boss, illness, lack of money in your bank account, or other obstacle in your life.  If you have enough faith and pray right then God will “move” this mountain of yours.  The implication either stated or left unstated is that if it doesn’t come to pass as you wanted then that just means you didn’t have enough faith.  And since we are saved by faith then that means you’re probably going to hell to.  It is this very bad twisting of the passage that I wish to rebuke with this blog post.

 

Before getting started let’s get the rest of the context…

 

“14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,; 15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.; 16And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.; 17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.; 18A nd Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.; 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?; 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.; 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Matt 17:14-21 KJV

 

Essentially what we see above is that the Apostles had been unable to cast out a demon in the manner they had been taught.  It was giving them problems and Jesus points out that their issue was a lack of faith.  I don’t think that this means they had suddenly lost faith or something, it seems from the context that this particular demon was simply stronger than most of the ones they had been dealing with based on Jesus comment in verse 21.

An interesting verse to cross reference this with would be another where Jesus commands a fig tree to die.

 

“19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.; 20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!; 21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.” Matt 21:19-21 KJV

 

Above we see the same analogy again, and notice that faith is needed for such things.  If you read my post on faith you will see that Biblically, it is taught as a substance given to you by God.  You can’t muster it up or build it on your own, it’s something that God gives to you.

So let’s spin this right around, if you cannot command mountains to fall into the sea then that means you have not been given the faith to do so.  If you want to put this to the test step outside your house and give this a shot, let me know how it goes in the comments.

I think a more literal approach is the best way of reading this text.  Jesus is placing a premium on the power and necessity of faith.  It is something to be sought after, and it has the power to literally move mountains, cast out demons, kill fig trees, and save souls from hell.

 

“8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:; 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph 2:8-9 KJV

 

The plainest reading of these texts is to be in awe of what faith in Christ is and how important it is.  If you were a Pharisee who thought yourself pious and surely in Gods Grace with more faith than anyone then why are literal mountains not moving for you?  Why can you not command a fig tree to die or walk on water?  Why do the dead not raise when you ask?

The clear answer is because you don’t have enough faith.  God has given faith sufficient to save your soul.  I would guess that this is even less than a mustard seed.  I like the idea of that because it turns us to Christ, he is our sufficiency and not anything of ourselves.  When you take this passage and try to make it about the doldrums of your job, finances, or personal victories then you strip the law and gospel right out of it.

And isn’t that really what this all gets down to anyways?  The narrative of scripture is the Cross, it is the body and blood of Christ shed for you.  Sincerely ask someone duped by the health and wealth false gospel where they think monetary riches factors in to the Cross.  Can one honestly say that Jesus died to make us rich with a straight face?  No, they can’t.  It doesn’t even sound right and that’s because it isn’t.

What you have in Matt 17 is a hyperbole, Jesus is giving an example of something that is simple for him to do but impossible for us in the same manner as saving our souls from hell is simple for him to do to us but impossible for us to do to ourselves.  Read it any other way and you strip mine the gospel right out of it and end up obfuscating the entire narrative of scripture.

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Does Exodus 14:16 teach that we need to cross the Red Sea?

Posted on August 31, 2016 by ACTheologian

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Beth Moore is considered by most evangelicals I speak with to be one of the “good ones”.  While I will concede that her false teaching isn’t as obvious as some I have addressed in this series, it is no less dangerous.  I listened very carefully to a sermon of hers (which you can find HERE) on the Crossing of the Red Sea and she teaches an error similar to other celebrity preachers.

The idea is this, the story of the Israelite’s crossing the Red Sea is actually just about you!  It was written by Moses thousands of years ago as type and shadow pointing to your personal life and struggles.  Afterall, who would think something crazy like the Bible being about Jesus or something?  No it’s totally about you.

What many, including Beth Moore, teach is that when trials in life strike you are supposed to remain “still” in faith like the Isrealites at the Red Sea.  It doesn’t matter how bad it is, even if it’s cancer or something.  Just stand firm in faith that you will be healed or delivered and it will happen.  If you are not healed or delivered from your trials, well that of course means that  you don’t have enough faith to stand in and are probably going to hell.  So buck up and get it right.

To her credit, Beth Moore doesn’t take it quite that far.  What I presented above is however an accurate representation of typical Charismatic/ Pentacostal theology.  Keep in mind though, she does use the same framework to twist the passage that the Charismatics do, she just stops right before arriving at those conclusions.

Let’s take a look at the passage in question and see if that is what it is actually teaching.

 

“13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.; 14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.; 15 And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:; 16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.” Exodus 14:13-16 KJV 

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but it looks like Moses was talking to a specific group of people.  Even if you try to draw it out to believers in general, notice that he identifies those being spoken to as individuals who actually saw literal Ancient Egyptians in the past 24 hours.  There is no getting around this, the nature of this blessing is very specific and doesn’t apply at all to anyone living today.

Don’t believe me?  Read the rest of the chapter, notice that Moses doesn’t expound or extrapolate on this.  He doesn’t explain any deeper or how the experience can or will apply in the future.  It’s really a one time event recorded in the Biblical Historical Narrative.  To glean anything prescriptive out of this requires eisegesis (reading into the text).

This doesn’t mean we can’t learn anything about Jesus in the passage.  Rather than apply what we do is receive, what do I mean by that?  Well to figure this one out we need to cross reference with the New Testament.

 

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John 5:39 KJV

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27 KJV

 

The above two passages are pretty straight forward, they are prooftexts I use quite often to present to the reader that we should expect the Bible to be about Jesus.  This is something I go into greater depth to prove HERE.  But if you’re already in agreement with that feel free to move on.

 

“1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” 1 Cor 10:1-4 KJV 

 

Above we see that the passage of Israel through the sea was something that points typologically to Baptism.  But as such things are, the antitype always supercedes the preceding type.

 

Antitype:  “Something that is foreshadowed by a type or symbol, as a New Testament event prefigured in the Old Testament.” –Dictionary.com

 

In this case our type/shadow depicts Israel about to be destroyed by the Egyptian Army.  They have nowhere to go, and in their lineage contains the promised seed of the Messiah.  If they don’t make it out of this mess not only will they die in their sins but all of humanity along with them.

Likewise, in our New Covenant antitype fulfillment, we receive Christ himself as his death burial and resurrection is poured out upon us.  In this we drown in the waters of baptism.  Instead of a mere Egyptian Army being washed away it is our sins.  The antitype is much greater than the type.  A Human army could possibly be defeated with another, but we can never escape our sins without Christ washing them away.

 

“11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:; 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” Col 2:11-12 KJV 

 

Conclusion

 

Did notice how I definitively interpreted that passage with the New Testament?  This is what we are supposed to do.  The New Testament is the fullest Revelation given by God to man.  If someone is interpreting the narratives through the lens of their own life instead of through the New Testament, then they are essentially claiming superiority to Christ.  The Bible is about Jesus, not you and me.

 

Posted in Armchair Lounge, Frequently Twisted Passages, Heresy & Heterodoxy | Tagged | 2 Comments

Does John 14:26 teach that God speaks to us?

Posted on August 26, 2016 by ACTheologian

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This passage is twisted by so many these days.  Not just by the TV preachers but by us laity too.  I can’t tell you how many conversations I have been in where people have used this passage to prove to me that God speaks to them personally.  I once viewed this verse the same myself long before I started this blog.  Careful analysis in context reveals it is being abused though.  First let’s take a look at the verse:

 

“These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.   But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:25‭-‬26 KJV

 

Isn’t that awesome?  This verse promises that God the Holy Spirit will speak to me and teach me all truth without the need of a Bible at all.  I will simply receive the teaching if I tune my heart, or whatever, to the right radio frequency and then I will get a signal.

The problem is, that isn’t what this verse is teaching at all.  This is actually one of my favorite passages, and for good reason, but that’s not what it is teaching.  Let’s look at the verse one more time, I don’t even have to put it in context, I will just highlight different words than I did last time so that which is typically glossed over stands out better.

 

“These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.   But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:25‭-‬26 KJV

 

That’s right, Jesus was talking to those present with himself.  He wasn’t talking about you and me.  This is even more obvious if you read the rest of the chapter.  Don’t feel dumb, picking up on that was news for me too and it hit me like a ton of bricks when I submitted to it.

Just think about this logically though, if there is one thing that the Church has never done consistently in the post apostolic age it is to agree with itself on private revelation.  Case in point, I can show you a list of so called prophets today who say that Trump will win the presidency, and another list that say Hilary will.  Well does that mean God the Holy Spirit is playing games with us?  Both of those prophecies cannot be true at the same exact time!

Many people will tell you that God the Holy Spirit told them precisely what a certain verse really means.  But you get two in the same room making the same claim and they will often disagree with each other on fundamental points.  At the end of the day all of this is madness and no objective clarity or comfort can be found.

The truth about this verse though, as with most cases, is better than the fiction.  We know from John 14 that Jesus promised “all truth” would be revealed to the Apostles.  It is to their teachings we look to find this blessing.  Where do we find the teachings of the Apostles today?  Well in the New Testament of course.  When you read this you know that you are receiving what God promised to the Apostles.  Ultimately you just have to ask yourself, can God do what he said he would do in John 14:26 or can he not?

I believe that God can, thus what we have in the New Testament is straight from him.

 

“16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:; 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim 3:16 KJV 

“21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21 KJV 

 

Conclusion

 

Guess what?  You and I are not apostles!!  If you have been following this series on frequently twisted passages then you have also learned that we are not Jesus either.  The Bible was not written about us it was written for us.  In the Gospel narrative we find what Jesus was prophesied to do, we see him come in the flesh, and then die on the cross ultimately to rise in Glory for our sins.  This is something received by you rather than played out in your life.

There are of course many places in John, and other scriptures, where God the Holy Spirit is talking to his Church directly through his Word.  In some instances we see doctrinal teachings that speak in a universal and all encompassing sense, but here in John 14:26 that is simply not the case.  In the narrative Jesus clearly identifies himself as speaking to the apostles and that is precisely how we should read it.

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Does 1 Cor 6:19 teach that we cannot smoke a cigarette?

Posted on August 24, 2016 by ACTheologian

 

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This is among the top ten verses quoted by SDA.  It is their chief proof-text of the health message.  It is actually used for more than just smoking, but that is a good example as there isn’t any verse in scripture that identifies tobacco use.

Before progressing let’s take a close look at the verse being quoted and see what we find.

 

“19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” 1 Cor 6:19 KJV 

 

That is really the whole deal right there.  The idea is that since your body is the Temple of God that means it is a sin to smoke because smoking is unhealthy.  Specifically, the unspoken minor premise in this syllogism is that which is unhealthy is sin.  Before digging into that though let’s take a look at the context, as with most abused verses we don’t have to go far.  Paul makes this clear enough in the verse that just precedes it.

 

“18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.; 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” 1 Cor 6:18-19 KJV 

 

Notice Paul is talking about sexual sin.  This is something that is severely condemned as sin in many places of both the New and Old Testaments.  It seems to me that Paul is making a distinction between sins against the body and others that are not.  In any case though the verb has to be identified as sin first, in this text or elsewhere, before the the category Paul speaks of applies.

This is actually what I am getting at with the syllogism that SDA use here.  For those who are unfamiliar, a Syllogism is a form of argumentation.  The way I understand that it works is that the one presenting the argument has to defend a major and minor premise.  If you cannot successfully refute either then you have to accept the conclusion they derive.

It’s a means of fairly comparing ideas in an objective format.  This way neither party can get away with simply asserting whatever they want.  The syllogism SDA use with this verse appears to me to be as follows:

 

Major Premise

1 Cor 6:19 teaches that sinning against the body is wrong

Minor Premise

Unhealthy acts constitute sin against the body

Conclusion 

Unhealthy acts are sin

My dispute is not with the major premise, it is with the minor one.  The modern concept of healthful living is an anachronism to the Biblical texts.  Thus, bringing in modern medicine journals is off the table completely.

The scripture doesn’t handle health with regards to the law.  Even in the Old Testament, when laws speaking on cleanliness are given notice that they are with respect to spiritual cleanliness.  Today, we infer that there was a health benefit to some of these laws but it is not something actually taught in the Torah.

This is why matters of health, especially with regards to food and even tobacco, are wisdom issues not sin issues.  If you want to know if smoking is a good idea or not consult your physician and maybe read a medical journal.  This isn’t the kind of stuff the Bible talks about and trying to bend it in that direction just makes us look silly.

Also, just push this argument SDA present to it’s final logical conclusion.  If all unhealthy acts are sin, then that means it is a sin to live in Los Angeles due to the smog.  That means Jesus was sinning by not wearing sun screen in the middle east.  Did you get less than 7 hours of sleep last night?  Well that’s apparently a sin too!!  What if you’re poor and can’t afford enough food to properly nourish yourself?  Well you better get it together because now that’s a sin.

See you cannot have it both ways.  If good health is a virtue and poor health is a vice there is no where to draw the line.  You have to keep raising and lowering the bar of morality as it suites you.

Final Remarks

While there are many excellent reasons not to smoke, it is certainly not a sin.  Don’t let anyone condemn or look down on you if this is a habit you choose to keep.  This is especially ridiculous in the highly selective nature that SDA apply the verse in question.  I cannot tell you how many times I have seen an obese pastors wife extol the heavenly virtues of a vegetarian diet and smoking cessation.

If unhealthy living is a sin then anything in western culture is also a sin and should be treated with the same contempt that SDA treat smoking or meat eating.  That means SDA cannot eat the veggie pizzas they love so much, or pretty much anything brought to pot luck.  The sodium content in one of those is as unhealthy as any meat or tobacco product.

Just know that whether or not you smoke is your choice.  The Bible was written for higher things than matters such as these.

 

Posted in Armchair Lounge, Frequently Twisted Passages | 3 Comments

The SDA System of Fear

Posted on August 22, 2016 by ACTheologian

 

 

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One of the hooks about Seventh-Day Adventism is the fear of leaving.  I firmly believe that many would freely leave Adventism were it not for this binding them to it.  It is one of their most effective retention tactics.

I myself was afraid of receiving the Mark of the Beast when I started considering a “Sunday Keeping” Church.  Careful study of the New Covenant broke me of that fear as it has many others, but not all take the time to do this and instead simply believe what they were taught.

A story that broke a while back on internet circles is the photos of a training event held at Camp Au Sable in Michigan.  This isn’t anything that happened recently, the story is five years old in fact.  But it does portray a picture of the SDA headspace in a way words cannot.  Some of the pictures you are about to see look shocking, but bear in mind that none of these Children are in any physical danger.

 

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I’m convinced that this is simply a tasteless exercise authorized by someone who clearly forgot that the internet is a thing.  I believe their claim that nobody is actually being hurt and am glad for that.  If you want to check out the public statement that one of their staff released online you can find it HERE.

What I am wanting to point out though is the reason that SDA would feel that such training is necessary.  Parents paid for their children to go to this summer camp, and part of that package deal was some end times firing squad training.

To understand this, it is important to know that SDA believe when ‘probation’ closes many of the plagues detailed in Revelation will begin to pour out on  upon all the “Sunday Keepers”.  This they teach makes us “Sunday Keepers” angry, at which point we of course march on all the Adventists and begin to murder them.  I remember being taught that SDA would have to hide in the mountains and grow our own food to be safe.

However bizarre that may sound to you, understand this is what they honestly believe.  So much so that they apparently pay to have their children trained to interact with such an environment.  Imagine if you genuinely believed that at any moment your closest friends and family would turn on you and seek to decapitate you and your children.  This is their headspace, remember in the SDA eschatology all of these things are continually right around the corner.  And if you slip up and fail probation, then you too will be plagued and will start murdering your own family.  It’s a gruesome and oppressive burden to bear.

It’s an unnecessary burden too, the Bible actually teaches great hope and comfort for the End Times.  Let me show you what I am talking about:

 

Simply put, Jesus is in charge

 

“18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Matt 28:18 KJV 

 

He says it is finished

 

“30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” John 19:30 KJV 

 

Jesus says not to worry

 

“25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?; 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?;….. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.; 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”Matt 6:25-26, 33-34 KJV 

 

Jesus teaches that our Salvation is assured in himself

 

“27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:; 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.; 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29 

“38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 8:38-39 KJV 

“2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.; 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.; 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.; 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Rom 4:2-5 KJV 

“8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:; 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph 2:8-9 KJV 

“13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:13 KJV 

 

Obviously trusting in Jesus just isn’t enough for the SDA, we have to train our children to be shot too!

No matter what tradition you hold to on Eschatology, you need to hold to it in a way that allows all scripture to be true, including Gospel texts like the ones that I posted above.  Those in Christ need have no fear of the mark of the beast, or even in world events.  Christ has completed his work and we rest in him.  Carnal things like keeping the Sabbath won’t save or seal anyone.

At the core of the SDA false gospel is not so much the fear of Sunday Keepers murdering you, but it is that you yourself will fall and start to murder your friends and relatives should you fail to keep the law perfectly after the close of probation.  As most of my readers know, Ellen White teaches that you must keep the law without a mediator during this period.

 

“Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth.”  The Great Controversy, Pg. 425 Ellen White

 

In the SDA headspace, if you fail to keep the law after Jesus stops covering your sins that is it for you.  You are cut off and have the mark of the beast.  And those with the mark will be hunting down Adventists and murdering them.  If you don’t want that to be you, then you better shape up and start keeping the Sabbath better.

Pro-Tip: Switching to a vegetarian diet is supposed to help too.

Conversely, in the Biblical Gospel we find comfort for our soul and troubled consciences.  We find our rest in Christ, and can trust in him only.  We are not to live in fear of the end times in any respect.  There is no little factoid about the end times that will help you to be extra saved.  Keeping the Sabbath won’t help you make it, neither will stocking up on food or ammo.

Training your children for the firing squad is also useless, and more than a little creepy!

All we can do is repent and believe the Gospel every single day.  Jesus has taken care of all for us, even the latter days.

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Does Matthew 14:29 teach that I need to step out of the boat?

Posted on August 19, 2016 by ACTheologian

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Have you ever heard someone tell you that the time has come for them to “step out of the boat”?  Hard to say when such moments come upon us isn’t it?  I myself don’t make a practice of stepping out of any kind of boat.  I am not a very good swimmer and would sink like a rock.  I don’t think that is what they mean though….

Generally when a TV preacher makes this comment he or she is talking about a figurative boat.  The boat could by anything you want it to be, and stepping out of it could also mean whatever it is you want it to mean.  The idea is that taking a leap of faith compels God to act in your favor.  The best part is you get to apply this analogy to whatever you like and believe that it’s a Biblical teaching.  That’s really the issue though isn’t it?  Does the Bible teach that we need to watch out for our “boat stepping” moments in life?  Let’s look at the text and see what it says.

 

“And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.” Matt 14:29 KJV 

 

That’s the verse right there.  You almost don’t even have to put it into context really I mean it kinda says it all.  Jesus is talking to Peter and giving him some one-time directions.  This passage is what is called descriptive narrative.  What is that?  Simply put it’s a story.

Imagine for a moment that you wanted to learn how to bake a ginger bread house.  What book would you turn to?  Would you buy a cook book or Hansel and Gretel?  One of those will teach you how to bake a ginger bread house and the other is a story.  The answer is simple when we are talking about normal activities and regular books.  For some reason though people quote the Bible and think it’s okay to just read it however you like.  God chose in his sovereign free will to convey his truth to us in writing.  He used human languages, genres, and even slang.

The Bible is meant to be read as it was given, it’s a book.  The normal rules of literature apply, you don’t get to make it say whatever you want it to.

So simply based on that, interpreting this passage as a form of instructions rather than an accurate rendering of a historic event is simply false.  This alone categorically removes the doctrine of “boat stepping”.

The other problem with reading the passage like this is to do so you have to believe that the stories in the Bible are a metaphor for your life.  It’s as if they all got written down thousands of years ago pointing to you.  One day you were destined to arrive on the scene and then suddenly all of the Bible would be fulfilled in your deeds.  But that is not what we find in scripture is it?  Instead we know that it is about the Messiah, who is Jesus, not you.

 

“27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:27 KJV 

“39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39 KJV 

 

Imagine that, the Bible is about Jesus.  Who would have figured that one eh?!  Hey, if anyone is going to accuse me of twisting the scriptures let them say that I twisted the Bible to make it about Jesus.  You can write that on my tombstone if you like.  The thing is I don’t have to twist it, the scripture screams this from every page.  Read a few of my posts on Eschatology if you would like a break down on a few examples.

This is so obvious in scripture that Jesus is even called the Word in human flesh:

 

“1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 KJV 

“14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 KJV 

 

What we lose when the boat stepping narrative is twisted is the point of the story anyways.  It isn’t really even about what happens to Peter.  It isn’t an object lesson of faith even.  See in our narcissism we try to read ourselves in and then miss out on the whole point!  Read the rest of the story to the end and look for the part that doesn’t get quoted or emphasized by any TV Preacher.

 

“29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.; 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.; 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?; 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.; 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.” Matt 14:29-33 KJV 

 

Something that might help in understanding this is that the notion of a first century Jew worshiping anyone less than God and keeping a written record of it is unheard of.  They might as well of been signing their own death warrants for breaking the Torah.  The only conceivable reason the Apostles would do this and publish the act under pain of death is that they genuinely believed Jesus to be God.

 

Conclusion

 

So what I am really saying?  First and foremost I am pointing out that it is not okay to twist the scripture.  Simply put, this passage is not teaching that your acts of personal piety have the cosmic power to bend the Will of God and speak miracles into existence.  As with most things, the truth here is more compelling than the fiction anyways.  God has come to earth manifest in the flesh, took our sins upon him to the grave, and risen in Glory.  We don’t need parlor tricks, false Christs, or false signs and wonders from TV preachers.

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