“To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To
receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; A wise man
will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain
unto wise counsels:” Proverbs
1:2-3 & 5. I’ve read many books both fiction and non-fiction written
by various Christian authors over the past 15 years or so, and have enjoyed most
of them. I’m sure many of my readers have done the same. There’s just something
stirring about getting someone else’s prospective on scriptures. But, and this
is the rub, I don’t use any of the books written by Christian authors as a final
explanation of God’s word. God’s word is irreproachable, inerrant, and true.
Therefore the opinions of others, concerning God’s Word, although useful, should
only be used as a springboard as we search the scriptures for ourselves. I’ve
read numerous authors with varying opinions of what the scriptures say. We know
the Holy Spirit doesn’t work that way. Obviously, when confronted by varying
interpretations there remains just one source to search. When it comes to
understanding and discerning the truth about the scriptures we always want to go
straight to the Bible itself.
There are many Bible teachers these days who’ve placed quite
a bit of their biblical knowledge in books and on DVD’s, and have made these
products readily available to the diligent Bible student who’s looking to obtain
a better grasp of the Word of God. But if a Bible teacher is worth his salt
he’ll tell his students from the beginning to search the scriptures for
themselves, to do their own research concerning God’s word. We aren’t to blindly
follow any Bible teacher, after all they’re only men, thus they are fallible.
God is our ultimate teacher – He should be our definitive source when we search
for inerrant truth. Although He has given many of His followers the ability to
teach from His Word, He holds all Bible teachers to the same standard. When
teaching His word we must teach using His whole counsel. We must not deviate
from His word as many have done by promoting their own selfish agendas.
“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, [even] the
words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to
godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes
of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse
disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that
gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”
1 Timothy 6:3-5. In God’s Word we’re
given clear instructions on teaching and holding teachers accountable. There’s
absolutely no room for varying doctrines; when confronted with different
interpretations of God’s word, clearly someone is wrong. That someone can’t be
led by the Spirit of Truth. Paul says withdraw thyself from such as these.
I’m an avid reader. Books, especially those written by
Christians, are my favorite apart from the Bible. Both fiction and non-fiction
entertain me and I read all books out loud to my wife. Then we discuss them. One
thing I’ve found to be true is that some Christian writers gets off base from
time to time in their non-fictional account of God’s word. When this happens
something clicks inside me, and as a Berean I will not hesitate to compare the
author’s words to that of God’s. Even if the author is in error, I will usually
finish reading the book. There may just be some little tidbit or nugget there
that would be worthwhile. Having diligently studied the Bible for many years and
having been given the discernment that can come only from God concerning His
word, I have grasped that added dimension concerning God’s word that many
Christians simply don’t realize is available to them.
“But the anointing which ye have received of
him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you:”
1 John 2:27.
The Holy Spirit resides in every born again believer in
Christ, therefore we all have Christ’s anointing. The Apostle John tells us that
we aren’t in need of a man to teach us since the Holy Spirit abides in us
“But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and
ye know all things.” 1 John 2:20.
And He will teach and is teaching us all things. Does this mean we don’t need
Bible teachers to help us during our search of the scriptures? Not at all. John
is teaching us is he not? Obviously there’s a place for teachers but they are
not to have the last word when it comes to the scriptures, or in our personal
learning. That domain belongs exclusively to God.
I just can’t get past delving into the subject of just how
many Christian pastors have resorted to teaching their congregations from
extra-biblical source materials. Why? Is it that they just don’t understand the
Word of God themselves, thus they resort to functioning as a quasi-leader
utilizing some mere man’s materials instead of focusing on the Word of God and
allowing the Holy Spirit to be their guide through the scriptures? It’s been
assumed that today in this post-modern world we live in we must change the way
we present the Gospel. We must enlighten the masses in a manner never before
utilized. The word of God is dated material, thus we must add some nuances of
higher dimensionality regarding the teaching and spreading of God’s word. Our
new post-modern society demands to be seen as enlightened. Why not just resort
to using trickery while dazzling them with chicanery? (Wouldn’t that be tickling
their ears?) With these new teaching concepts in place our poor misguided and
misunderstood crowd of post-modern humanists will surely be returning every
Sunday to receive more “ear tickling”. But here’s the rub, whenever we replace
God’s inerrant word with man’s fallible word then we’ve replaced God as
sovereign. If we aren’t going to teach the Gospel of Christ in our Christian
Churches, then please, stop referring to them as Christian Churches.
Books, both secular and
Christian, are so very plentiful a simple perusal through a Barnes and Nobel
will attest to that (I do enjoy a good book store). A variety of books
pertaining to everything from prophecy to angels and demons can indeed catch my
eye. I like to do research on upcoming societal changes as well as
extra-ordinary changes that have occurred over a seemingly short period of time;
therefore I read books. For example, there are so many changes happening in our
culture today that quite frankly would have been unheard of, and certainly
completely unacceptable, just thirty years ago. Something I’ve been studying
quite extensively is this thing called transhumanism. What is it? What’s it all
about? Why all the hubbub? With experimentations designed to change humans into
part human and part animal someone has finally sat up and taken notice. What are
the ramifications of such experiments which are being billed as an enhancement
of the human genome? The scientists who are involved in these experiments are
convinced that to save the human race from its own extinction we must evolve to
the next higher plane, one that will change the human being into a part human
part animal or even part computer. I challenge all of you to put “transhumanism”
into a search engine and see what comes up. Frankenstein’s monster is not
science fiction any more.
There are a huge number of new scientific breakthroughs all
being promoted as an enhancement to human beings so we can live forever. Reading
books written by those who’ve been on the cutting edge of this new phenomenon
can be enlightening as well as somewhat frightening for anyone who hasn’t
studied what God has to say about all this evil. This is just another challenge
for those who are watchmen on the wall. Transhumanism needs to be revealed to
the Christian public; we all need to be aware of the evil that is now fully
entrenched in our science labs. Reading books helps, and like I said, this
phenomenon is spoken about quite clearly in our Bibles.
We can begin by reading and studying our God breathed
literature beginning with the book of Genesis chapter 6.
“And it came to pass, when men began to
multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the
sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them
wives of all which they chose… There were giants in the earth in those days; and
also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and
they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of
renown. And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that
every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Genesis 6:1-2, 4-5. Ask yourself
what was so bad on planet earth that God would destroy all the inhabitants
including the land animals, save eight human souls as well as a few animals? Now
take it a step further and ask yourself what’s the difference between then and
now? To make it simple, there occurred through some kind of an evil process a
corruption of the gene pool between fallen angels and human women.
There are man-devised, error filled
interpretations of this passage, but a straight forward, proper interpretation
of these Scriptures makes it clear that God is telling us about something
horrible that occurred concerning the corruption of humanity with fallen angels,
and this corruption even involved the animals.
Now let’s skip forward in time and as we read the words of
Jesus Himself as He tells us about what’s coming on this planet in the last
days. “But as the days of Noe were, so shall
also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the
flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the
day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took
them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
Matthew 24:37-39. What Jesus is
alluding to that will occur in the last days is exactly what occurred prior to
the flood of Noah (fallen angels, humans, and animals - transhumanism) which
caused God’s wrath to be poured out on an unrepentant world. This evil is now
being established in our modern laboratories around the globe, and just as Jesus
says it will be fully established just prior to His return. Once again God will
pour out His wrath on an unrepentant humanity. God’s wrath will once again be
poured out on planet earth, this time instead of a flood He’ll destroy the earth
with fire. Reading books can give us a very real perspective on current events.
But God’s word should always be our final authority.
There are some Christian authors who I have trusted over the
years to be completely in line with the word of God. These authors are true
Bereans as am I, thus their books reflect the truth of God’s word. There are
others who I know are off base by a point or two which doesn’t stop me from
purchasing their books, but I instinctively know that there will be a few red
flags raised during my reading of their work.
The point is, we can learn something from most Christian
authors even if it’s just a little nugget, other times we might just pick up a
priceless gem. But everything we read concerning the Word of God from
extra-biblical sources must always be viewed through the lens of the Bible. Go
to the true source for accuracy. There is no substitute for His truth.
I’m determined to keep God’s
word, to believe He says what He means and means what He says, and to stand firm
while being bombarded by the ramblings of the skeptics. Amongst translation
errors and downright lies infiltrating our English Bibles these daysthere will always be a way to obtain the truth. God will keep His
Word pure in regards to the original Hebrew and Greek languages. As time
progresses our English translations will become more politically correct as the
translators do their part by removing or changing scriptures they determine to
be burdensome on a society. After all, no one wants to be reminded of those old
tired and obscure verses that have no place in our lives today, Especially those
that point out God’s distain for sexual immorality.I suggest you all keep your Bible (preferably the King James
Version) easily accessible; all kinds of nonsense regarding the word of God is
headed our way.
God bless you all,
Ron Graham
All scripture is from the KJV and God breathed
twotug@embarqmail.com
96 County Road 5480 Salem, MO 65560
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