The Confusion of Christianity, Part #3, The Discombobulated Gospel

 The Confusion of Christianity

Part #3

The Discombobulated Gospel

We will begin with our motto or creed,  2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.   This should be the bases of all bible study sessions,  yet the misapplication of this verse has allowed the  Word of God to be presented as a discombobulated form of the gospel.   

  As a young man  growing up in the church I became confused and left the church because of the things that I was taught in the church that just didn’t make any sense.   At the young age of eleven I realized that many church goers expected common sense to be left at the door when you enter the church.   One of the things that stood out was the statement by well founded preachers that said, “it is Holiness or Hell.”  This was a true assessment, but to proceed by stating that if you were not a member of particular denomination that was less than fifty years old, you were going to hell, to my young mind this was unbelievable.  To further add to my confusion God was always speaking in confusing and contradictive manners.  People have been known to engage in a heated argument, while claiming to have the “Word of God” in their mouth. 

 

After the testing of God in the early sixties and the failure of God to rise up with power and glory and defend himself,  mankind realized a great financial opportunity existed in the commercialization of the Word of God.   The ministers began to learn new ways to separate the believers from their money.   Today, Hollywood scripted minister can demand a huge fee  for reciting the 23 Psalms and converting the Word of God into cute cliches and sound bites.  .  Money is collected and promises are made, but like the emperor and his new clothes, the masses were afraid to say, “he’s naked”

When I returned to the church, major changes had taken place.  The ministers were learning how to be successful living of God people.  The entertainment aspect of Christianity and worship had taken hold and many were contented with being entertained by a group of paid performers.   Those that were starving for the “Word of God”,  not a “Word from God” were being gently indoctrinated into a new form of godliness that set their spirit adrift upon a sea of confusion.

When we step back and look at the confusion that permeate from the world of Christianity, a degree in rocket science is not required to see what is being done to the Word of God.  There is no fear of God in our praise and worship.  Psalms 33:8  Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.   In order for these new and enlighten messengers to emerge and flourish, the belief in and the fear of the true God must diminish.   Men of knowledge and understanding have searched the scripture and surgical removed segments and used them to create a new consensus that allows them to obtain a desired status of an entertainer.   We will begin this dissertation  by examining how the Holy Scriptures came into being and how it should be applied.  

Earl Gillespie

The Holy Scriptures should not be treated as  a systematic treatise on Theology, History, Science or any other topic. They are and should be treated as a revelation from God of His Plan and Purpose in the Ages as pertaining to the earth and the human race.  They were given to us bit by bit "at different times and in different manners." Hebrews 1:1. Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit during a period of 1604 years, extending from B. C. 1492 to A. D. 100. The Bible consists of 66 separate books; 39 in the Old Testament, and 27 in the New. These books were written by about 40 different authors. By kings, such as David and Solomon; statesmen, as Daniel and Nehemiah; priests, as Ezra; men learned in the wisdom of Egypt as Moses; men learned in Jewish law, as Paul. By a herdsman, Amos; a tax-gatherer, Matthew; fishermen, as Peter, James and John, who were "unlearned and ignorant" men; a physician, Luke; and such mighty "seers" as Isaiah, Ezekiel and Zechariah.

It is not an Asiatic book though it was written in that part of the world. Its pages were penned in the Wilderness of Sinai, the cliffs of Arabia, the hills and towns of Palestine, the courts of the Temple, the schools of the prophets at Bethel and Jericho, in the palace of Shushan in Persia, on the banks of the river Chebar in Babylonia, in the dungeons of Rome, and on the lonely Isle of Patmos in the Aegean Sea.

While the Bible has been compiled in the manner described, it should not be treated as a  "heterogeneous jumble" of ancient history, myths, legends, religious speculations and apocalyptic literature. There is a progression of revelation and doctrine beginning in Geneses 1:1 and ending in Revelation 22:21.  The judges knew more than the Patriarchs, the Prophets knew more than the judges, the Apostles more than the Prophets. The Old and New Testaments cannot be separated. You cannot understand Leviticus without Hebrews, or Daniel without Revelation, nor can you treat a book, chapter or verse as a separate and independent entity.

The Bible is a "Revelation from God" it is not written in a celestial language. If it were we could not understand it.  It was written in the native language of the individual writers.   Its mystical origin is seen in the fact that it can be translated into any language.  This special feature of the Word of God is also  exploited by the Devil.  The language of the Scriptures is of three kinds. Figurative, Symbolical and Literal. The Figurative is explained by the context, the Symbolical either in the context or somewhere else in the Scriptures, and the rest should be taken literally. This is the reasoning behind Paul statement of rightly dividing the word of truth.  That is, we are to read the Bible as we would read any other book, letting it say what it wants to say, without allegorizing or spiritualizing its meaning.  

The church has become overtly aggressive in claiming the blessing of Abraham, the Jews and in some instance the blessing of the angels. God’s love has been amplified and the fear of God has been diminished.  When studying the Holy scripture we should be careful as to who is talking and who is being spoken to.  While the Bible was written for all classes of people, and for our learning, it is not addressed to all people in general.  Part of it is addressed to the Jews, part to the Gentiles, and part to the Church. These three constitute the "Three Classes" into which humanity is divided. 1 Corinthians 10:32  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:   It follows therefore that while the whole Bible was written for the instruction of the Church, it is not all written about the Church. The Church did not exist nor is it mentioned in the Old Testament.  The Old Testament prophet had no knowledge of the church.  The Old Testament is mostly taken up with the history of one nation, that of Israel. When we take the Old Testament promises and apply them to the Church we rob the Jew of that which is exclusively his. Consider the  prophecy of Isaiah in the chapter headings is largely applied to the Church, whereas the very first verse declares that it is--"concerning JUDAH and JERUSALEM." Isaiah 1:1  The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.   In the New Testament the Epistles of Hebrews and James are Jewish. The Epistle of James is addressed, not to the Church, but to the "TWELVE TRIBES scattered abroad." James 1:1  James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.  In the Epistle to the Hebrews many Christians stumble at the words "fall away" (Hebrews 6:4-6), and "if we sin wilfully," Hebrews 10:26. But these words do not apply to Christians. They were spoken to apostate Jewish professors of Christianity who had never been born again, and who, if they did not accept Jesus as their Messiah, practically crucified Him again, and were as bad as their brethren who did crucify Him.  The Book of Revelation was written specifically to the churches.  Revelation 1:10-11  I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.  

ALL Scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction, 2 Timothy 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:, and what happened to Israel was written for our ENSAMPLE and ADMONITION, 1 Corinthians 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come, but we must not apply to the Church what does not belong to it. To do so is to misapply Scripture and lead to confusion.

In searching for a deeper understanding of God’s Word,   we must also distinguish between the work or offices of Christ as Prophet, Priest and King.  These offices are not held at the same time. We must also distinguish between the "Prophetic Days" of Scripture.  We must also distinguish between the "Times" and "Seasons:" Between the "TIMES FAST" when He spoke by the Prophets, and these "LAST DAYS" in which He has spoken to us by His Son. Heb 1:1-2. As to the "TIMES" we have them designated as the "TIMES OF IGNORANCE," (Ac 17:30); the "TIMES OF THE GENTILES," (Lu 21:24); the "TIMES OF REFRESHING," (Ac 3:19); the "TIMES OF RESTITUTION," (Ac 3:21); and the "Dispensation of the FULNESS OF TIMES." Eph 1:10. From the statement the "TIMES OF THE GENTILES," we see that when the "Gentiles" are in power the "Jews" are not. And as the "Times of the Gentiles" is still running, the Church cannot be in this Dispensation a governing or Kingdom power. We must also not forget the "DIVINE CONJUNCTIONS" and the "DIVINE DISJUNCTIONS" of the Word of God. We must not separate what God has joined, as the "Word of God" and the "Spirit of God," nor join what He has separated as Baptism and Regeneration, Law and Grace, the Church and the Kingdom.

But it is not enough to classify the Scriptures in the manner already mentioned, we must learn to separate the Scriptures as to "TIME" and "ETERNITY," and the different "AGES" and "DISPENSATIONS" of "Time.

There is a difference in studying the Bible and reading the Bible.  To study we must show ourself as approved unto  God.  “God said”,  is not a prerequisite to understanding or teaching the scripture.   When the Devil approached Eve in the garden and Jesus on the mountain, he began to expound upon what, “God said.” When there is doubt in the application of the scripture especially in dealing with the Law, we are often told that the “Bible says” or “God says”, man shall not  live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. “  Once that statement is made there is suppose to be no more discussion.  Let us examine that scripture.  Moses speaks to the children of Isreal in Deuteronomy 8:3  “And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.”  Who is talking and who is he speaking to.   In Matthew 4:4, Jesus spoke in his confrontation with the Devil, “ It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”   Who is talking and who is being spoken to must be considered.  In Luke 9:35, “ And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.”  Who is talking? Who is he talking to?   What did he just say? Don’t listen to who? They are to hear who?

We can’t do this, it is ok to wear a black suit. .  Ecclesiastes 9:8  Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. Who is talking? Who is he talking to?  We will go to Jail if we do this.  Deuteronomy 19:21  And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.  Who is talking?  Who is he talking to?  Now we can teach this. Malachi 3:8  Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 

Once we began allegorizing and spiritualizing the meaning of the scripture we can explain away all that is undesirable, and claim all of the good.   The Gospel of Grace should not be about selling the blessing of God.