Cultic Doctrines of the Churches of Christ

Unusual doctrines of the Churches of Christ run from legalism to heresy. The first legalistic error is the teaching that the name of their churches are in line with the New Testament, and their names are the only biblical names. However, when we examine Scripture we find that term “church of Christ” is found only once in the New Testament (Rom. 16:16) and it is only descriptive, not a title. In several passages the church is described as the “church of God,” but often in Scripture the church is just called by the name of the town.

The Lord’s Supper
As with other Campbellite churches, the Churches of Christ claim that communion is a weekly requirement and absolutely essential to Christian worship. Some individual assemblies even assert that only one cup may be used and that they could not fellowship with another assembly which used individual cups during communion. “Unless providentially hindered, each member considers this weekly appointment as binding. In many instances, as in the case of illness, the Lord's supper is carried to those who are hindered from attending the worship.” (Batsell Barrett Baxter, Who are the churches of Christ and what do they believe in? http://church-of-christ.org/who.html)

Response: While it appears that in the New Testament Christians celebrated communion weekly, it is a logic fallacy to say it is therefore mandated. As for the single cup, there is no evidence that only one cup was ever used, and, in fact, it appears from studying the Passover meal that each person had their own cup or cups.

Instrumental music
Churches of Christ prohibit instrumental music during worship service because they believe there is no mention of musical instruments in the New Testament except for a negative reference (1. Cor. 13:1). Therefore, as their reasoning goes, musical instruments are prohibited. This is certainly a legalistic misuse of Scripture.

Firstly, even if the New Testament did not mention musical instruments, it would be a non sequitur logic fallacy to say it therefore followed that instruments are prohibited. Secondly, the New Testament often commands the worshiper to sing songs, and the Old Testament numerous times refers to musical instruments being used in worship. Even in Revelation there are several references to harps being used in worship.

The truth is that in the New Testament we see two places where the church is to worship with “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” (Col. 3:16, Eph. 5:19). In Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words we have the following explanation for the word “psalm”: “pslamos primarily denoted ‘a striking or twitching with the fingers (on musical strings)’; then, ‘a sacred song, sung to musical accompaniment, a psalm.’”

The Holy Spirit and Trinity
One of the early founders, Barton Stone, determined the doctrine of the Trinity was man-made, and that the Holy Spirit was “the power of force of God.” Stone wrote the following about the Holy Spirit: “I understand the Spirit of a person is not the person himself. We often read in the Bible that the Father loves the Son, and the Son loves the Father, but we never read of either the Father or the Son loving the Spirit as a person, or of the Spirit loving the Father or the Son.” (Craig Branch, “The Stone-Campbell-Scott Movement,” Areopagus Journal, Vol. 9, No.5, p.15) Alexander Campbell agreed with Stone that the Nicene Creed’s teaching on the triune nature of God was “humanistic philosophical creation.” (Branch, p.15)

While the official stance of the Campbellite churches maintains the orthodox teaching on the Trinity, this historical foundation can be confusing, and some members have been known to hold these unorthodox views.

Baptism
As with some other denominations, the Churches of Christ believe that baptism is required for salvation. They teach that, although actual forgiveness of sins is through faith in Christ and his shed blood, formal remission of sins can only be had in baptism.

As cited by Craig Branch, Alexander Campbell stated, “I do earnestly contend that God, through the blood of Christ, forgives our sins through immersion - through the very act and in that very instant…. No one has ever received pardon by faith only. Water baptism, with faith as the principle of action, is the means through which God by the power of the blood of Christ imparts remission.” (p.16) Campbell claimed that baptism was not a work.

As pointed out by Dr. Hugh F. Pyle in his book, The Truth About the “Church of Christ,” if baptism saves us, then the person doing the baptism becomes our savior! (p.94)

(A peculiar teaching is that a Christian can lose his salvation, but when he returns to the church and is again saved, he does not need to repeat his baptism. Baptism saved him the first time, yet he does not need it to be saved again!)

Works
The Churches of Christ believe there are six steps to salvation: hear, believe, repent, confess, be baptized, and obey the New Testament commands. Teachings by Church of Christ authors demonstrate just how serious Churches of Christ consider works and salvation to be intertwined. The following examples are cited by Dr. Hugh F. Pyle (p. 12):

“Going to church is pre-eminently essential to going to Heaven.” A.G. Hobbs, Is Church Attendance Essential?
“Good works are not necessary to becoming a Christian, but they are essential to being a faithful Christian, and we cannot go to Heaven without faithfully performing them.” John H. Banister, God’s Way of Salvation.
“We affirm that one is saved at the point of baptism.” Evangelist L.L. Applegate (reference not cited).

By adding baptism, and the 6th step to salvation (that of obeying the New Testament commands), the Campellites have made salvation dependent upon works. When we look at the New Testament, however, it plainly teaches that the only thing necessary for salvation is faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ, and that works are of no benefit for salvation.

Legalistic views on the name of the church, the Lord’s Supper, and instrumental music in church, mixed with some confusion about the Trinity, and heretical views on baptism and works, puts the Churches of Christ in the category of being a cultic church group.

The Trinity - Proven By Logic

There many cults who teach against the idea of a Triune God, often claiming the idea originated with the Nicene Creed. However, the Trinity is really mentioned often in the Bible, even though the term “Trinity” isn’t.

Several years ago I read a book (I don’t remember which one) in which a short logic exercise was used to demonstrate the truth of the Trinity. I thought it was such a good idea that I came up with my own logic exercise, which I am now posting here.

This exercise in logic is to determine the truthfulness or falseness of the conclusions in the following five syllogisms. The approach to this exercise is to assume that the first premise in each syllogism is true. Sometimes scripture will be given as evidence to demonstrate the veracity of the first premise in each syllogism, regardless of the assumption given. The next step will be to use scripture to demonstrate whether or not the second premise of each syllogism is true. By the rules of logic, if the second premise is false, the conclusion must be false; but if the second premise is true, the conclusion must be true also. (The sixth item is only a hypothesis, and so does not need to be true to start with - it must be proven by scripture to be either true or false). The only reference source used is the Holy Bible, and I will just cite the verses and let you look them up.  Okay, here are my syllogisms. Are you ready to review the passages?

Syllogism Number 1
Premise: Personal attributes define a person. (assumed)
Premise: The Holy Spirit has personal attributes.
1. Personal pronoun assigned (he or I): John 16:8, 13; Acts 13:2; many others
2. Communicates: John 16: 8, 13, Acts 13:2: as above
3. Has learned: John 16:13
4. Consoles/comforts: John 16:17; Acts 9:31
5. Helps us in our weakness: Romans 8:26
6. Forbids: Acts 16:6,7
7. Can be lied to: Acts 5:3
8. Can be grieved: Eph. 4:30
9. Can be insulted: Heb. 10:29
10. Has a will: 1 Cor. 12:11.
11. Bears witness: Rom. 8:16
12. Makes intercession: Rom. 8:26, 27
13. Has a mind: Rom. 8:27
14. He lives in you. Rom. 8:9
15. He teaches: John. 14:26; John. 16:13-14; 1 Cor. 2:13
16. He loves. Rom. 15:30
17. He is vexed. Isaiah 63:10
18. He hears. John. 16:13
19. He knows the future. Acts 21:11
20. He has knowledge: Isaiah 11:2; 1 Cor. 2:10-11
21. He calls to service. Acts 13:4
Conclusion: The Holy Spirit is a person.

Syllogism Number 2
Premise: There is only one God.
1. Deut. 6:4
2. Deut. 32:39
3. Psalm 86:10
4. Isaiah 37:16, 20
5. Isaiah 43:10b-11
6. Is. 44:6, 8
7. Is. 45:5, 21,22
8. Is. 46:9
9. Jer. 10:10
10. Mark 12:29, 32
11. John 17:3
12. 1 Cor. 8:6
13. Eph. 4:6
14. 1 Tim. 2:5
15. Jas. 2:19
Premise: There are three Persons called God.
1. The Father is called God.
a. Ps. 68:5
b. Mal. 2:10
c. Mat. 11:25
d. John 8:41
e. Rom. 1:7
f. Rom. 8: 15-17
g. Rom. 15:6
h. 1 Cor. 1:3
i. 1 Cor. 8:6
j. Gal. 1:1-4
k. Gal 3:26: to be his children, he must be our father
l. Gal. 4:6
m. Php. 4:20
n. 1 Thes. 1:1
o. 1 Thes. 3:11, 13
p. Titus 1:4
q. 1 Pet. 1:2,3
r. 2 Pet. 1:17
2. The Son is called God.
a. Is. 9:6
b. Mat. 1:23
c. Mk. 2:5-7
d. John 1:1
e. John 8:56-59: compare with Exodus 3:14 where God says His name is I AM. vs. 59 demonstrates that the Jews knew what Jesus meant.

f. John 10:30-33
g. John 20:28-29
h. Rom. 9:5.
i. Php. 2:6-8
j. Col. 2:9
k. Tit. 2:13
l. Heb. 1:8-10
m. Acts 2:30-32, 10:40 and 17:30-31, 1 Thes. 1:10, 1 Pet. 1:21 say God raised Jesus from the dead vs. John 2:19-22 where Jesus said He would raise himself. This implies he is called God.

n. He receives worship, but men or angels can't. This implies he is God. Matt. 2:11, 8:2, 9:18, 14:33, 15:25, 28:9,17; Lk. 24:52; John 9:38; Acts 10:25, 26; Php. 2:10; Rev. 19:10, 22:8,9
3. The Holy Spirit is called God.
1. Acts 5:3,4: Peter said Ananias lied to the Holy Ghost, then said it was God he lied to.

2. II Cor. 3. This chapter discusses the Spirit and his activities, and in verses 16, and 17 we find that the Lord (God) 'is that Spirit'.

3. Is. 6:8,9 God (Jehovah) is talking to Isaiah. In Acts 28:25, 26 Paul refers to that passage in Isaiah and says it was the Holy Spirit that was talking!

4. Ex. 17:2 Moses says that Israel is tempting God (Jehovah). In Hebrews 3:7-9 it says the Holy Spirit was the one being tempted.

5. Jer. 31:33 states God (Jehovah) is talking. Hebrews 10:15-17 refers to this passage and states the Holy Spirit is talking. The individual talking is making a covenant with Israel! Are two making the covenant?

6. 1 Cor. 3:16 says we are the temple of God. 1 Cor. 6:19 says we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Temples are for gods.

7. 1 Pet. 3:18 says the Holy Spirit raised Christ. Compare with above that says God raised Christ.
Conclusion: The three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - are the one God.

Syllogism Number 3
Premise: There is no Savior except God.
1. Is. 43:11: I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior
2. Hos. 13:4: I am the LORD thy God…there is no savior beside me
Premise: There are two persons called the Savior
a. God is called the Savior
1. 2 Sam. 22:47
2. 1 Chron. 16:35
3. Ps. 18:46; 24:5; 25:5; 27:9; 38:22; 42:5; 42:11; 43:5; 65:5; 68:19; 79:9; 85:4; 89:26
4. Isa. 17:10; 43:3; 45:15; 45:21; 49:26; 60:16
5. Jer. 14:8
6. Mic. 7:7
7. Hab. 3:18
8. Lk. 1:47
9. 1 Tim. 1:1; 2:3;
10. Tit. 1:3; 2:13; 3:4
11. Jude 1:25
b. Jesus is called the Savior.
1. Lk. 2:11
2. John 4:42
3. Acts 5:31; 13:23
4. Eph. 5:23
5. Php. 3:20
6. 2 Tim. 1:10
7. Titus 1:4; 2:13; 3:6 (Titus calls both Jesus and God the Savior)
8. 2 Pet. 1:1; 1:11; 2:20; 3:2; 3:18
9. 1 John 4:14
Conclusion: Jesus and God are the one Savior, i.e. Jesus is God.

Syllogism Number 4
Premise: There is only one creator. (assumed)
Premise: There are two persons called the creator.
a. God is called the Creator.
1. Gen. 1:1
2. Gen. 14:22
3. Job 38
4. Is. 37:16
5. Is. 44:24
6. Is. 45:18
7. Is. 48:13
8. Jer. 32:17
9. Acts 17:24
10. 1 Cor. 8:6
11. Rev. 4:11
b. Jesus is called the Creator.
1. John 1:3, 10
2. 1 Cor. 8:6
3. Col. 1:16-17
Conclusion: Jesus and God are the one Creator, i.e., Jesus is God

Syllogism Number 5
Premise: There can be only one "First and Last". (If there were more, who would be the first "First" and who would be the last "Last"?)
Premise: There are two persons called "the First and the Last".
a. God is called "the First and the Last".
b. Jesus is called "the First and the Last".
Argument: Revelation 1:7 says the one who is coming is the one who is pierced (Jesus). Verse 8 says the one who is coming is the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending" and it quotes the "Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty" (the Lord Almighty is God). Are two coming? Verse 11 says the one speaking to John was "Alpha and Omega, the first and the last", and the conversation continues at verse 17 where the person talking to John says, "I am the first and the last; I am he that liveth, and was dead [who has to be Jesus]; and behold I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." Chapter 2:8 again identifies the speaker as "the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive". Chapter 22:12, 13 again has this person calling himself "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last", and verse 16 identifies this person as Jesus. Now, take this and compare it to information from Isaiah 43:10 and 48:12,13. In 43:10 God says, "Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." This is sort of like saying "I am the first and the last". In 48:12,13 God actually says, "I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth..." So God is using the same identity that Jesus uses in Revelation, and further identifies himself as the one who "laid the foundation", i.e. made the creation. Do we then have two "Alpha and Omega" and two "first and last"?
Conclusion: Jesus and God are the one "First and Last", i.e., Jesus is God.

Hypothesis: God is a multiple personality.
Evidences:
1. Genesis 1:1. The Hebrew word for God here is Elohim. It is a plural word and is repeated 32 times in this chapter; each time it is followed by a singular verb. Why would Moses choose a plural word for God, especially with a singular verb, if that wasn't what Moses meant?

2. Gen. 1:26, 27. God says, “Let us make...in our image, after our likeness.” Then it says God (Elohim) created man in “his own image,” singular. Who is this plurality?

3. Hebrew uses two words meaning “one.” Yachid means absolute mathematical oneness (an example is Gen 22:2 when God tells Abraham to take his “only son”). Echad means unity or united one. Echad is used in Gen. 1:5 with the evening and morning as one day, and in Gen 2:24 where a man and a woman become one flesh. In Deut. 6:4 the word used to describe “one Lord” is Echad - united one. It is obvious the writer meant more than one person in God.

4. Matt. 28:19. The Greek word used for name (onoma) is singular, and there are definite articles (the) before Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, emphasizing distinct persons. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit all have one name.

5. Trinity is implied in Luke 1:35; Mat. 3:16, 17; 2 Cor.13:14; John 14:26; and John 15:26.
Conclusion: God is indeed a multiple personality.

Well, there you have it. I believe it has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that God is a Trinity.

Seventh-day Adventists: Cult or Cultic?

There is much debate over whether Seventh-day Adventists are a cult or just cultic. Clete Hux tells us, “Official teachings of the SDA denomination are expressed in its 28 Fundamental Beliefs which were originally adopted by the General Conference in 1980, with another belief (number 11) being added in 2005. Their teachings seem to be typical of Trinitarian Protestant theology, with Premillenialism and Arminianism…. They hold to the infallibility of Scripture, the substitutionary atonement, the resurrection of the dead, and justification by faith. However, there are certain distinctive SDA doctrines that would set them apart from the rest of the Christian world.” (Areopagus Journal, Vol. 9, No. 5, Seventh-day Adventism, p.21)  To be sure, someone can come to know the true gospel in spite of SDA teachings, but that doesn’t negate the heterodoxy and heresy of some of their doctrine. I personally consider the SDA to be a cult. Some individual assemblies have become more orthodox in their teaching and that can cause some confusion. That being said, let's look at some of the doctrine of the SDA and let you decide for yourself how to categorize them.

Ellen G. White as a prophet: Without the teachings of Ellen G. White, the SDA as a unique church would cease to exist. The SDA claim Ellen G. White was a true prophet of God (as did she). Here are some examples of this claim:

“Seventh-day Adventists hold that Ellen G. White performed the work of a true prophet during the seventy years of her public ministry. As Samuel was a prophet, as Jeremiah was a prophet, as John the Baptist was a prophet, so we believe that Mrs. White was a prophet to the church of Christ today.” (Review and Herald, 10/4/28, p.11, cited by Wallace D. Slattery, Are Seventh-day Adventists False Prophets? p.23)

“We do not believe that the quality or degree of inspiration in the writings of Ellen White is different from that of scripture.” (Dallas General Conference of 1980, cited by Slattery, p.23)

So how does Ellen White stand up to the biblical test of a prophet? Firstly, White participated in necromancy (communication with the dead), saying she conversed several times with her dead husband. This is forbidden by Lev. 20:27 and Deut. 18:10-12. Some of White’s false prophecies and teachings are as follows:

1. People alive in 1856 would be translated at the 2nd coming of Jesus. (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 131, 132, cited in MacGregor Ministries’ booklet Facts Seventh-day Adventists Won’t Tell You )

2. The U.S. “would be ‘humbled into the dust’ by England during the Civil War” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol.1, p.259, cited in Facts Seventh-day Adventists Won’t Tell You)

3. Ellen taught that people and animals interbred: “Since the flood there has been amalgamation of man and beast as may be seen in the almost endless varieties of species of animals, and in certain races of men.” White‘s friend Uriah Smith in 1868 explained what White meant - that the resulting “amalgamation” were “wild bushmen of Africa, Patagonians, and Hottentots.” (Slattery, p. 26-28)

4. White taught that “wigs overheat the brain and needlessly excite the system,” and that women who wear them would go insane. (“Words to Christian Mothers,” The Health Reformer, 6,4:121, cited by Slattery, p.28)

5. Ellen taught in 1884 that Adventists should remain unmarried and celibate because Christ’s return was imminent (Slattery, p. 28-29).

6. A teaching about the “shut door” doctrine was supposedly given to White in a vision, yet she reversed her teaching on this years later. While details of this doctrine are too lengthy to go into here, the point is that she claimed a revelation that had to be corrected several years later.

7. White often contradicted the Bible. For example, she stated that Christ was Michael the archangel, that God had to devise a plan of salvation after the Fall, that Christ’s blood did not cancel sin, that the atonement was not complete at the Cross, that Jesus did not die to bring salvation, that man can attain sinlessness in this life, etc (Slattery, p.32-34) J. Mark Martin also cites her teachings that the tower of Babel was built before the Flood (Seventh-day Adventism and the Writings of E.G. White, p.15)

8. Ellen taught that old Jerusalem would never be built up, but after 1948 the old city has been continuously built up. (Early Writings, p.75, cited by Martin, p.11)

9. Ellen prophesied that she would be alive when Jesus returned (Early Writings, p. 15-16, cited by Martin, p.12)

10. Ellen claimed she had visions of people, including Enoch, living on Saturn and Jupiter. (Martin, p.13-14)

11. Even after the Civil War was over, Ellen continued to prophesy that slavery would be reinstituted in the South (Dirk Anderson, White Out, p.91)

12. My favorite White teachings are on the subject of masturbation. According to this prophet of God, masturbation causes death, insanity, epilepsy, bad eyesight, bleeding in the lungs, spasms of the heart and lungs, diabetes, rheumatism, tuberculosis, asthma, and a dozen other afflictions.

Christian response: While many more false prophecies and teachings can be cited, only one false prophecy proves a prophet to be not of God (Deut. 18:22). Therefore E.G. White is a false prophet whose teachings should not be followed.  White claimed angels gave her the Investigative Judgment, Saturday Sabbath, and that Sunday worship is the mark of the beast. Paul said that even if an angel gives a different gospel he is to be condemned, and that Satan and his demons can appear as angels. Gal. 1:8-9; 2 Cor. 11:14-15.

Biblical Authority
While the SDA claim they believe in the infallibility of Scripture, they have their own version of the Bible titled, The Clear Word. Claiming it to be a paraphrase, the author, Jack J. Blanco, adds much of E.G. White’s teachings to the book of Daniel to support the doctrine of the Investigative Judgment (see below), as well as many other changes. Although this is not an official SDA Bible, it is published by the SDA and sold through them.

Another Bible published and sold by SDA is their official “Study Bible.” According to Gary Mayo of the SDA-EGW Historical Society, “This is a large King James Bible with the writings of Ellen white below the Bible text. It also has many references to the writings of Ellen White which would be too numerous to print. The real concern, however, is what is said in the preface. We quote:
"…The need for the Word today is even more urgent. Every wind of doctrine blows (Eph 4:14). Satan is working 'with all power and signs and lying wonders' (1 Thess 2:10). Deceptions are so great, that 'if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect' (Matt 24:24). But God in his goodness has once again caused 'the testimony of Christ' to be confirmed in his church, so that we 'come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ' (1 Cor. 1:6-7). His last day remnant people have had restored through the ministry of Ellen G. White, 'the testimony of Jesus' which is 'the spirit of prophecy' (Rev. 12:17, 19:10). To combine this inspired commentary [my emphasis] with the Scriptures themselves is the purpose of this present volume…"

Additionally, Lori MacGregor of MacGregor Ministries writes in her booklet, Facts Seventh-day Adventists Won’t Tell You, “They revere their prophetess Ellen G. White, and made this statement in their ‘Ministry Magazine’ of Oct. 1981 and have never retracted it: ‘We believe the revelation and inspiration of both the Bible and Ellen White’s writings to be of equal quality. The superintendence of the Holy Spirit was just as careful and thorough in one case as in the other.’”

The Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh Day Adventists, No. 17, states the following: “…As the Lord’s messenger, her [E.G. White] writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction.”

You can see plainly that, although claiming to believe in the infallibility of Scripture, they hold E.G. White’s teachings as essential additions to the Bible.

The Trinity: In the early days of the SDA they denied the Trinity. “…White wrote in Patriarchs and Prophets, page 761, ‘…He (Jesus) was revealed to them as the Angel of Jehovah, the Captain of the Lord’s Host, Michael the Archangel.’” (MacGregor Ministries’ booklet Facts Seventh-day Adventists Won’t Tell You)

The official position stated by the Church on their site appears to be orthodox: “There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His self-revelation. He is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by the whole creation.”  However, even to this day there is confusion as to their idea of the Godhead. The Apologia Report, 7/30/09, has the following information:

“SDA author and seminary professor Dr. Norman Gulley writes: ‘We noted that there are several OT texts indicating a plurality in God, as one God addresses another God.’ From ‘Trinity in the Old Testament ,’ Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, Spring 2006, n.p.
“The official North American Division curriculum standards for SDA schools makes brief reference to the ‘Godhead as creators’ and also summarizes: ‘Understand that the God family - “God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit” - work in perfect unity, yet are separate and unique beings.’ www.tinyurl.com/lzt9yn
“The introduction to the Oct-Dec 1998 Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, the official SDA lesson quarterly, tells us that: ‘The Godhead consists of three divine Beings, unified in action but distinct in personality.’ www.tinyurl.com/mog2pc
“In his book The Marriage Covenant: A Biblical Study on Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage, the late Samuele Bacchiocchi, former Professor of Theology and Church History at Andrews University (SDA), writes: ‘The God of Biblical revelation is not a solitary single Being who lives in eternal aloofness but is a fellowship of Three Beings so intimately and mysteriously united that we worship them as one God.’ www.tinyurl.com/lv9an7”

Investigative Judgment:  This is one of the heretical doctrines that sets the SDA apart from orthodoxy. Ellen White claimed she got this doctrine from an angel (but see Gal. 1:8-9, 2 Cor. 11:14-15). You can find this doctrine described in the Fundamental Beliefs of SDAs, No. 24 as follows:
“There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle which the Lord set up and not man. In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. He was inaugurated as our great High Priest and began His intercessory ministry at the time of His ascension. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic record of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry. It is a work of investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement. In that typical service the sanctuary was cleansed with the blood of animal sacrifices, but the heavenly things are purified with the perfect sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. The investigative judgment reveals to heavenly intelligences who among the dead are asleep in Christ and therefore, in Him, are deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection. It also makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping the commandment of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore are ready for translation into His everlasting kingdom…. It declares that those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the Kingdom.”

Okay, so what does this mean in layman’s terms?  Ex-SDA pastor Dale Ratzlaff explains this doctrine this way:  “The…doctrine of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the investigative judgment teaches that at the ascension Christ entered the outer apartment of the heavenly sanctuary.  From that time until 1844, he performed a ministry of intercession and forgiveness analogous to that of the earthly sanctuary’s outer apartment.  In 1844 Christ entered into the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary for the first time to begin a work of investigative judgment.  This judgment deals only with those who have professed to believe in God.  The wicked…will be investigated during the 1000 years and executed shortly after the close of the 1000 years of Revelation 20.  The investigative judgment starts with the cases of the dead, reaching clear back to Adam and reviews the life records of every person who has professed faith in God.  Every deed is closely examined.  Each succeeding generation is investigated and judged.  At some time, none know when, the cases of the dead are completed and God then moves to the cases of the living.  SDAs believe they will not know when their name comes up in judgment.  Therefore, it is extremely important that they engage in no frivolous activity or sin.  Every sin must be confessed.  Sins which have been  forgotten and unconfused will stand against them in the judgment.  Their characters must demonstrate perfect obedience to the Ten Commandment law, especially the Sabbath…. Some names in this list of professed believers will be accepted, others will be rejected.  When every person confessing faith in God has come up in review, Jesus then pleads his blood before the Father on behalf of those who are found worthy, and blots out the record of their sins from the books of heaven.  Then, not knowing if, or when, the work of investigative judgment has been completed, the righteous, still in their human state, before the second coming of Christ, will have to live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor.  This, then, completes the atonement.  Jesus then takes the sins of God’s people and transfers them to Satan, who is represented by the Day of Atonement scapegoat in Leviticus 16.  Satan then bears the ultimate responsibility for all the sins he has caused the righteous to commit.  He will suffer for those sins in the lake of fire and then be blotted from existence.  The investigative judgment is conducted before all the intelligences of the universe [and] vindicates the character of God before all the unfallen beings.” (Cultic Doctrine of Seventh-day Adventist, p.157-162)

This doctrine has had many changes since 1844, as the “door of mercy“ was taught as being shut, then as being open and then as being shut again before it was again taught as being open; a study of just this doctrine is enough to demonstrate that Ellen G. White was a false prophet.

Christian response: Firstly, Jesus will not come in the inner rooms or invisibly, but will appear known to all: Matt. 24:26-27; Acts 1:11. Secondly, Christ always lives to intercede for us: Heb. 7:25. Finally, Jesus “paid it all,” that works are useless: Isaiah 53:6; Isaiah 64:6; John 1:29; John 17:4; John 19:30; Rom. 8:1; Eph. 2:8-9. Jesus paid for our sins entirely, not just partially.

Seventh-Day Sabbath:  SDA teaching is that “Sunday-keeping” is part of the “great apostasy” and churches that do so are “daughters of Babylon.” They claim the true remnant church keeps the Jewish Sabbath as the “seal of God,” and that it would be the “final test” which will separate God’s saved people and the unsaved who “receive the mark of the beast.”

“Adventists believe that from Friday sundown until Saturday sundown they must do nothing more than is absolutely necessary to carry on life, with exception of religious observances. Disallowed activities include TV watching, secular radio listening, sports, one’s vocation (with exception of medical services and the ministry), and school study.” (Slattery, p.18)

The official statement on the SDA web-site says: “The beneficent Creator, after the six days of Creation, rested on the seventh day and instituted the Sabbath for all people as a memorial of Creation. The fourth commandment of God's unchangeable law requires the observance of this seventh-day Sabbath as the day of rest, worship, and ministry in harmony with the teaching and practice of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a day of delightful communion with God and one another. It is a symbol of our redemption in Christ, a sign of our sanctification, a token of our allegiance, and a foretaste of our eternal future in God's kingdom. The Sabbath is God's perpetual sign of His eternal covenant between Him and His people. Joyful observance of this holy time from evening to evening, sunset to sunset, is a celebration of God's creative and redemptive acts.”

Christian Response:  First, it is good to look at what the early church taught about the Sabbath.  Justin Martyr, in his Dialogue with Trypho, spoke about the issue more than once.  Contrary to the teaching of the SDA, Justin pointed out that those patriarchs prior to Moses never had the Sabbath:  “Moreover, all those righteous men already mentioned [Adam, Abel, Enoch, Lot, Noah, Melchizedek], though they kept no Sabbaths, were pleasing to God; and after them Abraham with all his descendants until Moses.” (Chapter 19)  “But if we do not admit this, we shall be liable to fall into foolish opinions, as if it were not the same God who existed in the times of Enoch and all the rest, who neither were circumcised after the flesh, nor observed Sabbaths, nor any other rites…. For if there was no need of circumcision before Abraham, or of the observance of Sabbaths, of feasts and sacrifices, before Moses; no more need is there of them now, after that, according to the will of God, Jesus Christ the Son of God has been born without sin, of a virgin sprung from the stock of Abraham” (Chapter 23).  “But the Gentiles, who have believed on Him, and have repented of the sins which they have committed, they shall receive the inheritance along with the patriarchs and the prophets, and the just men who are descended from Jacob, even although they neither keep the Sabbath, nor are circumcised, nor observe the feasts. …  Or why did He not teach those—who are called righteous and pleasing to Him, who lived before Moses and Abraham, who were not circumcised in their foreskin, and observed no Sabbaths—to keep these institutions?” (Chapter 26) (all bold emphasis are mine).

As you can see, Justin, who was born about 114 AD, reflected the teachings of the early 2nd century church that prior to Moses there was no Sabbath law, and after Christ there is also no Sabbath law. This refutes the claim of the SDA which says the Sabbath law was from creation and that the early church practiced Sabbath-keeping.  A second response would be looking at the Scripture, which I examined in my 5/19/10 post “Are Christians Required to Keep the Sabbath?” and to which I refer you.  Finally, Paul said in Colossians 2:16-17 to not let anyone judge the Christian in respect to the observance of a Sabbath day, pointing out that it was a shadow of Christ’s coming.

Remnant Church: As with other churches in the “restoration movement” (e.g., LDS, Church of Christ), the SDA considers themselves to be the one true remnant church. “Their prophetess, Ellen G. White…has told them that ‘…Satan has taken full possession of the Churches.’ (Spiritual Gifts, V.1, P.189-90).’ “They also believe our prayers are an ‘abomination’ to God (Spiritual Gifts, V.1, p.190) (Facts Seventh-day Adventists Won’t Tell You)

Christian response: In order to be the “remnant,” the true church would have had to totally apostatize. This is impossible in light of Matthew 16:18 and 24:5, and Ephesians 3:21.

Soul Sleep and Annihilation: Because the Bible says in many places that the dead “sleep,” SDA say that that soul does not go to be with the Lord (or kept for judgment) at death, rather the soul is in an unconscious sleep until the resurrection. Those who are not saved are then destroyed and no longer exist - there is no eternal hell.

Christian response: “Sleep” is figurative because the body separates from the spirit at death to be reunited at the resurrection. The spirit of the believer goes immediately to be with the Lord: Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23-24.

Other
1. “Adventism teaches that the Old Testament dietary laws of Leviticus 11 still apply to everyone. Thus pork, scaleless fish, shellfish, birds other than fowl, reptiles, and most mammals are forbidden foods. Adventism also emphasizes vegetarianism, believing that meat is becoming more unacceptable for food as time progresses. Any intake of alcohol is forbidden….” (Slattery, p.18)

Christian response: Besides the fact that the Levitical dietary laws were only for Israel and no one else, Christ declared all foods to be clean in Mark 7:17-23. And Christ turned the water into wine at Cana, and Paul suggest Timothy drink wine, so alcohol is certainly not forbidden in Scripture. Scripture does condemn drunkenness, but not the drinking of alcohol.

2. SDA prohibits the wearing of earrings, bracelets, and rings - including wedding rings - citing Paul’s teachings about modesty in 1 Tim. 2:9-10. (Slattery, p.48)

Christian response: There is no biblical prohibition for these items. Paul taught the modest use of any article, not the prohibition thereof.

There is your brief overview of some of the SDA doctrines and teachings. These are all unbiblical teachings by a false prophet. So, are the Seventh-day Adventist a cult or just cultic?

Let No One Deceive You

In Him [Christ] all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.  I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments.  Colossians 2:3-4 HCSB

"Because all wisdom and knowledge are in Christ, Christians should not be deluded with the persuasive words of false cultists.  If a man does not have the truth, then he must seek to attract a following through the clever presentation of his message.  That is exactly what heretics always do.  They argue from probabilities  and build a system of teaching on deductions.  On the other hand, if a man is preaching the truth of God, then he does not need to depend on such things as eloquence or clever arguments.  The truth is its own best argument and, like a lion, will defend itself."

William MacDonald, Believer's Bible Commentary.

More Bad Teaching From the Episcopal Church

Today’s Cedar Rapids Gazette has a story about Trinity Episcopal Church in Iowa City. It seems they have decided the Bible just isn’t enough material to use to teach Vacation Bible School so they decide to use the Harry Potter stories.

Here are some excerpts from the story by the Gazette’s religion writer, Molly Rossiter:

Shortly after 10 a.m. Tuesday, 40 or so elementary school-aged kids donned colored sashes and prepared for their first Quidditch match. Though Quidditch, a game played in the wildly popular 'Harry Potter' series, typically involves flying through the air and on broomsticks, these particular players were grounded, swatting at playground balls rather than quaffles and chasing badminton birdies instead of the golden snitch.

Instead of taking place at Hogwarts, a mythical school of wizardry, this game was played in the grand hall at Trinity Episcopal Church in Iowa City. In place of young witches and wizards, the players were all area vacation Bible school students.

…At 'Wizards and Wonders: A Hero's Journey with Harry Potter,' vacation Bible school, held Aug. 9 to 13, students learn Christian life skills with parallels drawn between the Bible and 'Harry Potter.' The quidditch game, for example, required everyone to play their roles in order for it all to work and was a lead in to the 1 Corinthians lesson of one body, many parts, teaching cooperation.

Other lessons included the call to worship, linking Moses' call from the burning bush to the letters Hogwarts students received, calling them to learn the skills they need to be protected against the evil Voldemort, and the differences between magic and miracles.

…Meg Wagner, who organized the vacation bible school at Trinity Episcopal Church, where she is the director of Christian formation, points out that J.K. Rowling, the series' author, 'has even said that the Christian themes (in the book) are pretty obvious.' 'It's captured a generation of readers, and I'd rather they read it as a Christian and see the similarities,' Wagner said. …

By incorporating a popular book and movie series into the curriculum, she said, the Christian lessons aren't as obvious.

'It's like they're doing it without the kids really noticing,' she said.

Excuse me!?!? Isn’t the idea of VBS to make kids UNDERSTAND the Christian faith, i.e. NOTICE IT? What sort of “Christian themes” could possibly be in Harry Potter stories?

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised about such drivel coming from a church whose denomination is about as liberal as they come.

Now, I know there are many other VBS programs out there which are aberrational or downright stupid things to be using for teaching about Christ and the Christian faith. It is abhorrent that churches have resorted to these things just to be “relevant.” It is no wonder our kids get bored with church without the frills; they have been won to entertainment and must be kept by entertainment.

How about we go back to scripture on which to base our VBS programs, and leave the entertainment business to the world.

Exhortations From Ignatius

And pray ye without ceasing in behalf of other men; for there is hope of the repentance, that they may attain to God. For “cannot he that falls arise again, and he that goes astray return? ” Permit them, then, to be instructed by you. Be ye therefore the ministers of God, and the mouth of Christ. For thus saith the Lord, “If ye take forth the precious from the vile, ye shall be as my mouth.” Be ye humble in response to their wrath; oppose to their blasphemies your earnest prayers; while they go astray, stand ye stedfast in the faith. Conquer ye their harsh temper by gentleness, their passion by meekness. For “blessed are the meek ; ” and Moses was meek above all men; and David was exceeding meek. Wherefore Paul exhorts as follows: “The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle towards all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves.” Do not seek to avenge yourselves on those that injure you, for says [the Scripture], If I have returned evil to those who returned evil to me.” Let us make them brethren by our kindness. For say ye to those that hate you, Ye are our brethren, that the name of the Lord may be glorified. And let us imitate the Lord, “who, when He was reviled, reviled not again ; ” when He was crucified, He answered not; “when He suffered, He threatened not ; ” but prayed for His enemies, “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” If any one, the more he is injured, displays the more patience, blessed is he. If any one is defrauded, if any one is despised, for the name of the Lord, he truly is the servant of Christ. Take heed that no plant of the devil be found among you, for such a plant is bitter and salt. “Watch ye, and be ye sober,” in Christ Jesus.

The last times are come upon us. Let us therefore be of a reverent spirit, and fear the long-suffering of God, lest we despise the riches of His goodness and forbearance. For let us either fear the wrath to come, or let us love the present joy in the life that now is; and let our present and true joy be only this, to be found in Christ Jesus, that we may truly live. Do not at any time desire so much as even to breathe apart from Him. For He is my hope; He is my boast; He is my never-failing riches…

Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians

Jehovah’s Witnesses: Do They Really Witness for Jehovah?

There is plenty of stuff on the Internet about the Jehovah’s Witnesses, including sites dedicated solely to exposing their false teachings. For this post, I’m just going to give you a primer about their teachings so you can readily see they do not witness for the true God of the Bible, but a God of their own making who has a false Christ for a son.

1. The Trinity. The Jehovah's Witnesses deny the Trinity, saying the word is not found in the Bible.

a. Jesus was originally the archangel Michael before being born. He was only a man while on earth and became Michael again. (The Watchtower, 5/15/69, p.307 and 12/15/84 p.29) He is to be worshiped as a "glorious spirit." Jesus was re-created vs. resurrected. (You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, p.143, 145; The Kingdom is at Hand, p.259; The Watchtower, 9/1/53, p.518; et al) He is NOT God in the flesh.

b. The Holy Spirit is merely "God's invisible, active force." In Reasoning from the Scriptures, on p.381, they teach that the Holy Spirit “is not a person but is a powerful force that God causes to emanate from himself to accomplish his holy will.” They also teach, in Should You Believe in the Trinity, that the Holy Spirit is “a force that can be adapted to perform a great variety of operations.”

Christian response: There are a lot of words not found in the Bible, but our word “Trinity” describes what the Bible plainly teaches about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Hebrews chapter 1 is excellent for demonstrating the superiority of Jesus over the angels. You might also point out that Rev. 22:8-9 says angels refuse worship - that worship is for God only, which demonstrates that Jesus can’t be an angel.

2. Salvation.

a. "The perfect justice of God would not unjustly accept more value than that of the thing to be ransomed.... It was the perfect man Adam that had sinned and so had lost for his offspring human perfection and its privileges. Jesus must likewise be humanly perfect, to correspond with the sinless Adam in Eden. In that way he could offer a ransom that exactly corresponded in value with what the sinner Adam lost for his descendants. This requirement of divine justice did not allow for Jesus to be more than a perfect man." (Things in Which It Is Impossible For God to Lie, p. 232). Herbert Kern, in the booklet How to Respond to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, points out that, “On the one hand, Jehovah’s Witnesses say that Jesus died for all mankind. Yet they limit the value of Christ’s ransom and belittle the immensity of His work of atonement. They claim that Christ was no more than a perfect man. So they teach that His atonement as the case of one perfect human life being given to redeem another human life. They maintain that Jesus gave His life as a ransom for Adam only.” (p.28)

b. Salvation is found only in the Watchtower organization. The Watchtower, 11/15/81, says, “come to Jehovah’s organization for salvation.” (p.21). The December 1, 1981 issue says, “unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do.” (p.27). This is but a sample of their claim.

c. Works are necessary for salvation. “…to get one’s name written in that Book of Life will depend upon one’s works.” (The Watchtower, 4/1/47, p.204). “Parents who love their children and who want to see them alive in God’s new world will encourage and guide them toward goals of increased service and responsibility.” (The Watchtower 3/15/62, p.179) “We have to do more than merely accept the Kingdom message in order to be saved. We also have to preach it in order to show that we believe it. We are saved by more than just believing the Kingdom message with all our hearts; we must also publicly declare that Kingdom message to others.” (From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained, 1958, P.249) The Watchtower society teaches that one cannot know if they have salvation in this life, because it also depends on their performance during the millennium.

d. Initially God’s Kingdom will be 1000 years. Paradise will be restored to earth and those resurrected will have the opportunity of gaining eternal life on earth. By the end of the first 1000 years every trace of unrighteousness will be removed and all mankind will stand as perfect creatures at the throne of God, who will then test their loyalty by releasing Satan and his demons. Those who remain loyal will be judged worthy of eternal life.

e. By misuse of Revelation, the Watchtower society teaches that only 144,000 people, a special class who have been “born again,” will enter heaven, while all other “saved” people will live forever on earth. This second class is known as the “Great Crowd” in Revelation. The opportunity to be one of the 144,000 ended in 1935, so Jehovah’s Witnesses now look forward to surviving the destruction of the rest of mankind at Armageddon and living forever on earth. Since the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach against the reality of Hell, the unsaved will be annihilated and cease to exist.

3. The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is God’s mouthpiece - the prophet on earth.

a. “The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is the greatest corporation in the world, because from the time of its organization until now the Lord has used it as His channel through which to make known the glad tidings.” (The Watchtower, 1/15/1917, p.6033)

b. “Is not the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society the one and only channel which the Lord has used in dispensing his truth continually since the beginning of the harvest period?” (The Watchtower, 4/1//1919, p.6414)

c. “Jehovah’s organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by God’s holy spirit or active force.” (The Watchtower, 7/1/1973, p.402) The Watchtower society has made hundreds of false prophecies since their beginning. By the test of Deut. 18:22, they are proven to be not God’s prophet!

4. Other aberrations:
1. When God wages war against mankind at Armageddon, all but Jehovah’s Witnesses will be destroyed, with all other churches being destroyed first.

2. Absolutely no celebration of birthdays is permitted, not even sending a card.

3. Blood transfusions are not allowed.

4. True Christianity disappeared from the earth shortly after the death of the apostles.

5. Christ returned invisibly in 1914 to set up the Watchtower society.

6. The cross is a pagan religious symbol. Christ died on a stake.

7. Celebration of any holidays is strictly forbidden, being considered worldly.

8. No one can understand the Bible apart from JW publications.

Remember, do not chase the Jehovah’s Witnesses away when they come to your door, or it will reinforce what they have been told about them being persecuted for their faith. Invite them in and show them from Scripture that works don’t save. Also have them read Hebrews chapter 1 out loud and quiz them about Jesus not being an angel. There are many ways to get them off their rote presentation and arguments and plant seeds instead. They are deceived and Hell-bound, and need evangelization.

Ignatius on False Teachers

But some most worthless persons are in the habit of carrying about the name [of Jesus Christ] in wicked guile, while yet they practise things unworthy of God, and hold opinions contrary to the doctrine of Christ, to their own destruction, and that of those who give credit to them, whom you must avoid as ye would wild beasts. For “the righteous man who avoids them is saved for ever; but the destruction of the ungodly is sudden, and a subject of rejoicing.” For “they are dumb dogs, that cannot bark,” raving mad, and biting secretly, against whom ye must be on your guard, since they labour under an incurable disease. …

I have heard of some who have passed in among you, holding the wicked doctrine of the strange and evil spirit; to whom ye did not allow entrance to sow their tares, but stopped your ears that ye might not receive that error which was proclaimed by them, as being persuaded that that spirit which deceives the people does not speak the things of Christ, but his own, for he is a lying spirit. But the Holy Spirit does not speak His own things, but those of Christ, and that not from himself, but from the Lord; even as the Lord also announced to us the things that He received from the Father. …

But the spirit of deceit preaches himself, and speaks his own things, for he seeks to please himself. He glorifies himself, for he is full of arrogance. He is lying, fraudulent, soothing, flattering, treacherous, rhapsodical, trifling, inharmonious, verbose, sordid, and timorous. …

Do not err, my brethren. Those that corrupt families shall not inherit the kingdom of God. And if those that corrupt mere human families are condemned to death, how much more shall those suffer everlasting punishment who endeavour to corrupt the Church of Christ, for which the Lord Jesus, the only-begotten Son of God, endured the cross, and submitted to death! Whosoever, “being waxen fat,” and “become gross,” sets at nought His doctrine, shall go into hell. In like manner, every one that has received from God the power of distinguishing, and yet follows an unskilful shepherd, and receives a false opinion for the truth, shall be punished. “What communion hath light with darkness? or Christ with Belial? Or what portion hath he that believeth with an infidel? or the temple of God with idols? ” And in like manner say I, what communion hath truth with falsehood? or righteousness with unrighteousness? or true doctrine with that which is false?…

Let no one be anointed with the bad odour of the doctrine of [the prince of] this world; let not the holy Church of God be led captive by his subtlety, as was the first woman. Why do we not, as gifted with reason, act wisely? When we had received from Christ, and had grafted in us the faculty of judging concerning God, why do we fall headlong into ignorance? and why, through a careless neglect of acknowledging the gift which we have received, do we foolishly perish?

Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians

The Manners of Christians and How they Relate to the World

I have begun reading the first of ten volumes on the writings of the Ante-Nicene Fathers. The first “chapter” is the First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, which I have actually read before. Next was the Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus, which was written ca. 130 AD, and certainly gives some insights into the world of Christianity at that time. Below is an excerpt from this epistle.

For the Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity. The course of conduct which they follow has not been devised by any speculation or deliberation of inquisitive men; nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves the advocates of any merely human doctrines. But, inhabiting Greek as well as barbarian cities, according as the lot of each of them has determined, and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us their wonderful and confessedly striking method of life. They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. They marry, as do all [others]; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring. They have a common table, but not a common bed. They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life. They are poor, yet make many rich; they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonoured, and yet in their very dishonour are glorified. They are evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless; they are insulted, and repay the insult with honour; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred.


To sum up all in one word—what the soul is in the body, that are Christians in the world. The soul is dispersed through all the members of the body, and Christians are scattered through all the cities of the world. The soul dwells in the body, yet is not of the body; and Christians dwell in the world, yet are not of the world. The invisible soul is guarded by the visible body, and Christians are known indeed to be in the world, but their godliness remains invisible. The flesh hates the soul, and wars against it, though itself suffering no injury, because it is prevented from enjoying pleasures; the world also hates the Christians, though in nowise injured, because they abjure pleasures. The soul loves the flesh that hates it, and [loves also] the members; Christians likewise love those that hate them. The soul is imprisoned in the body, yet preserves that very body; and Christians are confined in the world as in a prison, and yet they are the preservers of the world. The immortal soul dwells in a mortal tabernacle; and Christians dwell as sojourners in corruptible [bodies], looking for an incorruptible dwelling in the heavens. The soul, when but ill-provided with food and drink, becomes better; in like manner, the Christians, though subjected day by day to punishment, increase the more in number. God has assigned them this illustrious position, which it were unlawful for them to forsake.

Would that we all would provide the same impression to today’s society!

Basic Bible Interpretation

I just finished reading this excellent book by Roy B. Zuck, and I highly recommend it. There are a few places where I disagree with him when he discusses what was culturally contextual versus contextual for all time, but those places were insignificant.

That being said, let me share with you an outline from his chapter on “Whose View Is Valid?” While he has paragraphs for all these sections, I’m just going to cite the outline headings because that will be enough to pique your interest.

Axiom One: The Bible Is a Human Book
1. Each biblical writing - that is, each word, sentence, and book - was recorded in a written language and followed normal, grammatical meanings, including figurative language.

2. Each biblical writing was written by someone to specific hearers or readers in a specific historical, geographical situation for a specific purpose.

3. The Bible is affected and influenced by the cultural environment from which each human writer wrote.

4. Each biblical writing was accepted or understood in the light of its context. Here Dr. Zuck also cited Myles Coverdale as saying, “It shall greatly helpe ye to understande Scripture, if thou mark not only what is spoken or written, but of whom, and to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what extent, with what circumstances, considering what goeth before and what followeth.”

5. Each biblical writing took on the nature of a specific literary form.

6. Each biblical writing was understood by its initial readers in accord with the basic principles of logic and communication.

Axiom Two: The Bible Is a Divine Book
1. The Bible, being a divine book, is inerrant.
2. The Bible, being a divine book, is authoritative.
3. The Bible, being a divine book, has unity.
4. The Bible, being a divine book, has mystery.

In the chapter on “Figures of Speech,” Zuck has the following guidelines for answering the question, How Do You Know If an Expression Is Figurative or Literal? (Again, he fills out a paragraph, but I’m just citing the guideline itself.)

1. Always take a passage in its literal sense unless there is good reason for doing otherwise.

2. The figurative sense is intended if the literal would involve an impossibility.

3. The figurative is intended if the literal meaning is an absurdity, as in trees clapping their hands.

4. Take the figurative sense if the literal would demand immoral action.

5. Note whether a figurative expression is followed by an explanatory literal statement.

6. Sometimes a figure is marked by a qualifying adjective, as in “Heavenly Father”… “the true Bread”… “living stone”… Or sometimes a prepositional phrase hints that the preceding noun is not to be understood literally.

This book doesn’t have much I haven’t read or heard before, but it is great to have it all in one place, and, besides, it was great refresher training. Zuck discusses the history of Bible interpretation and how the Reformation brought back more literal interpretation from the long centuries of primarily allegorical interpretations. He teaches about figures of speech, cultural contexts, grammatical structures, idioms, literary genres, and symbolism. He also discusses how to understand Jesus’ parables, interpreting prophecy, the use of the Old Testament in the New Testament, and the need to apply the Word to one’s life.

So go out an get a copy!