Satan's War On Words…
What
We DON'T Know CAN Hurt Us AND Every Generation to Come!
God's Word is not simply difficult
for us to comprehend: It is impossible for our human minds to understand God's
Word! We simply do not think the way God thinks. Consider this, "For
my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your
ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)
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Should William Shakespeare's
plays be discarded because they are not written in today's common English?
Of course, rather than
simply throwing the works on history's trash heap, they could be rewritten in
modern English, so that it will be easier for people today to read them and to
understand them. But Shakespeare is widely regarded as the premiere playwright
of the English-speaking world, so who living today is actually qualified to
modernize the plays while being able to retain the unique qualities of Shakespeare's
genius? The answer is no one. William Shakespeare stands alone; his writings
reflect a combination of his own genius and the time in which he lived. His
plays cannot be duplicated in today's English.
There are two main
problems that stand in the way of our reading and comprehending any of
Shakespeare's original works, for example "Romeo and Juliet."
Firstly, our modern culture bears little resemblance to Elizabethan England, so
the many cultural references and nuances are lost on us. Secondly, the English
language we speak and read has undergone significant changes from what was used
in Shakespeare's time. We don't even know many of the words Shakespeare used,
and many of those we do recognize had different definitions when Shakespeare
wrote his works. Thus, to truly appreciate Shakespeare's writings, we must
become educated in the customs of the Elizabethan period and learn the Early
Modern English of that period. Moreover, we need to be able to think the way
they thought.
The same is true for understanding
God's Word. The Scriptures include many cultural references that are
meaningless to us, because we do not have the same cultural conditions today.
Moreover, since God's Word was not written in English, it must be translated
from the original writings, and the two primary languages of the Scriptures,
Hebrew and Greek, often do not translate neatly and clearly into English. Thus,
using an English translation is not enough. To gain understanding of the truths
contained in the Bible, we must familiarize ourselves with the cultural
settings within which the Scriptures were written and we need to apply
ourselves in studying the original Hebrew and Greek. Furthermore, as with
reading Shakespeare, to really comprehend the Scriptures, we need to change the
way we think.
Those who have
re-translated the Bible into modern English have done so with the stated purpose
of making the Bible "more understandable." What they are actually doing is
altering the text to match the way people think today. This fits in with the
way many people choose a version of the Bible to read and to study. "I
read such-n-such version, because I can understand it." However, this
ignores one crucial fact. God has deliberately hidden the meaning of His Word!
"At that time Jesus
answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because
thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them
unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight." Matthew
11:25-26
As an example, consider
the great misconception concerning the reason that Jesus taught the people
using parables. Many believe that the parables were employed so that He could
help them to better understand Truth. This is exactly the opposite of the real
reason: Jesus used parables to mask the truth. The Apostles were puzzled by
this and so they asked Jesus, "Why speakest thou unto them in
parables?" He told them, "Because it is given unto you to know the
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." God was
allowing the Apostles to understand His mysteries, but the teachings of Christ
were hidden from the rest of the people.
"And the disciples
came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered
and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the
kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him
shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from
him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in
parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do
they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith,
By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see,
and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears
are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they
should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand
with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."
Matthew 13:10-15
God's Word is not simply
difficult for us to comprehend: It is impossible for our human minds to
understand God's Word! We simply do not think the way God thinks. Consider the
following Scriptures:
"For my thoughts are
not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my
thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
"The natural man
receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto
him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1
Corinthians 2:14
"Because the carnal
mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither
indeed can be." Romans 8:7
Our minds rebel against
the Truth contained in the Word of God. We fight against the Words of Truth and
twist those words until they become more compatible with our way of thinking.
This is what Jesus called making the Word of God powerless using human definitions.
In the following passage, the Apostle Peter describes people who wrestle with
the Word of God to their own destruction.
"Even as our beloved
brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are
some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable
wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction."
2 Peter 3:15,16
Those who approach the
Scriptures only using human understanding will not be able to understand the
Truth contained in the Bible. Human understanding has caused many false
doctrines to be taught all the while citing "Chapter and Verse"
justification. They wrestle with the Word of God using their own definitions to
their own destruction. This is why so many declare that the Bible is not the
Word of God and also why some see contradictions where none exist.
God's Word is not open to
private interpretations. Rather the Word of God is "settled in the
heavens" having fixed meanings that He has assigned. If we approach
reading the Bible using different meanings for words than He intends for those
words to have, then we will not be able to properly understand the Scriptures.
Thus, His Word is prevented from benefiting us.
Using our definitions to
interpret God's Word is logocide!
"This people draweth
nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their
heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men." Matthew 15:8-9
Studying the Bible using
man's definitions and understanding is an empty exercise. The Scriptures teach
quite emphatically that we cannot understand God's Word using our minds. In
order to understand God's Word, we must be taught the meaning(s) He has
assigned to each word and we must learn to think God's thoughts the way He
thinks them. In order to do this, God requires great sacrifice on our part.
Why do people choose a
Bible version expecting to be able to read it as plainly and easily as a
modern-day romance novel or action-packed thriller? In our Fast Food, Fast Lane
Society, so many have become conditioned to the expectation that most of life's
problems can be resolved in a thirty minute sitcom format or an hour long
drama. Really difficult situations may require a two-parter. So, reading and
understanding the Bible should be just as easily accomplished. An hour each
week in a Sunday School class is all it takes to be a Christian, or so it would
seem based upon the investment of many in the Church.
But really, how long
should the pursuit of godliness take? How long should people study and prepare
before they are licensed to be pastors? Why do we expect doctors and lawyers to
study for many years before they are allowed to practice, but nearly any adult
in the Church is qualified to teach in Sunday School? Even Jesus took about
thirty years to prepare to preach for about three years. And even though He
spent much of those three years intensively teaching and preparing the Apostles
for the next phase of the Church, the night before He was crucified Jesus told
them that He still had so much to tell them. Jesus also told them that He and
God the Father were sending the Holy Spirit in order for the Apostles to
continue receiving their education in the pursuit of the Truth and godliness.
The instructions Jesus gave to the Apostles are in perfect harmony with the
instructions given to Joshua many centuries before:
"If ye abide in me,
and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto
you." John 15:7
"This book of the
law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and
night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:
for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good
success." Joshua 1:8
Abiding in Jesus, that
is, living the Abundant Life, means His Words are living in us; we think them
day and night. God has provided the means whereby this can be accomplished and
He is not obliged to change His methods to match our expectations or modern way
of life. We must work to understand the Bible. If we want God's results, we
must use His methods. If we use man's methods, we should not be surprised when
we don't get God's results. God never changes. It is we who must change, if we
are to become like Him. And how is this to be accomplished?
"I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be
not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of
God." (Romans 12:1-2)
The pursuit of godliness
is not merely another item on a busy "To Do" list. The pursuit of
godliness IS the "To Do" list! Seek first the Kingdom of God and His
Righteousness. This will take the rest of your life, and even that's not
enough. Spend the rest of your life studying God's Word and you will not have
even scratched the surface of what is contained in it. God's Word is
inexhaustible. It is the infinite book written by The Infinite God.
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