Did God Really Say That?
The Word of God, be it from the Living Word (Jesus), or the Written Word (Bible), Satan always uses the same tactic to get the people of God distracted from the truth. Satan doesn't start out calling God a liar, he first brings into question your interpretation of what God said. This is what Satan did with Eve in the garden according to Genesis 3:1-6.
Both Adam and Eve knew what God had said about the tree in the middle of the garden. God kept it very simple, it wasn't complex or difficult to understand. He even told them why: it was deadly. He didn't have to do that, he could have said 'obey me or else' but out of his love, he even told them why they couldn't eat from it.
But Satan came along and asked... (my paraphrase)
Tongue in cheek, of course. But this is almost verbatim the kind of rhetoric I've heard from some so-called Christian pastors in the past few days who are trying to straddle the fence on the subject of gay-marriage; the biggest oxymoron if there ever was one.
When the interpretation of Biblical doctrine is questioned, that's a good thing so long as you search it out. That's what Eve should have done when Satan questioned her interpretation of God's Word. But what I've seen most Christians do, is allow Satan to use their fear of Biblical illiteracy to keep them from reading the Bible and standing upon what it says, or worse, even learning what it says. He tells them, "since there's more than one way to interpret things, why read it? Who are you to decide which interpretation is right? Are you smart enough to decide? What if you're wrong?" So Christians become paralyzed and wind up allowing Satan to interpret the Bible for them.
I actually read from a pastor's blog this weekend in which the pastor condemned other Christians for speaking out against the Supreme Court's decision, legalizing nationwide gay-marriage. He spent more time in the blog post deriding and mocking his fellow Christians than he did anything else. But what's worse, is he then spoke as an authority of Bible Study, saying..."I've been reading and studying the Bible for over 30 years and it's difficult to understand and far too complex to simply quote it out of context to condemn gay-marriage. That same Bible condones slavery, polygamy and promotes women as 2nd class citizens but we aren't trying to legalize that are we?"
I couldn't believe what I was reading. The Bible doesn't do any of those things. How could he come to those conclusions reading it for 30 years? But what's worse, how could any Christian read the Bible for more than 30 years and find it complex or difficult to understand? Then it hit me. He either hasn't read it for 30 years or he isn't really a Christian.
Paul said in Romans 16:17-20...
It's a good thing to investigate interpretations of Biblical doctrine, so long as you truly investigate them and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to the truth. Don't wander around aimlessly in a vacant state of endless ambiguity. Find out what God really said. Find out what God really meant. And then once you find out, STAND FIRM.
So when someone asks you, "Did you interpret that accurately?" Say, "Let's look at it and find out." Be willing to show them the verses in the Bible and explain to them why you hold the interpretation you do. If they don't want to read it or listen, then they don't really want the truth. They just want to hold onto their view without any consultation from God. Scripture just gets in their way.
With all this said, I have to tell you that the events of the past 4 days exposes more evidence now than ever before that the Spirit of Antichrist is alive and well in 2015.
With the recent mockery against Biblical Christianity coming from so-called Christian bloggers and pulpits, I can also see that the Woman who will ride the Beast in Revelation 17 is also alive and well in 2015.
"He who justifies the wicked and condemns the just are both an abomination to the Lord." Proverbs 17:15
Both Adam and Eve knew what God had said about the tree in the middle of the garden. God kept it very simple, it wasn't complex or difficult to understand. He even told them why: it was deadly. He didn't have to do that, he could have said 'obey me or else' but out of his love, he even told them why they couldn't eat from it.
But Satan came along and asked... (my paraphrase)
"Did God really say that? I know what you think he said, but is that what God really meant? I mean, this is God we're talking about. He's so high and complex, who knows what God really meant when he said don't eat. It all depends on how you interpret that, Eve. There's more than just one way to look at that, Eve.
Besides, you have to consider the cultural background of God's statement. Back when he told you not to eat from that tree, that's probably just because the world was young and there weren't enough trees to go around yet. Things were different back then. God didn't mean you couldn't eat from it forever.
Besides, a lot of what God says is symbolic. He probably was speaking in a much more broader sense that's way over your head. He wasn't literally talking about this tree right here.
I mean, who's to say where the middle of the garden really is? Where were the borders of the garden when God said not to eat from the tree in the middle of the garden? Middle defined by what borders? Today's borders or the borders right after creation?
And did you know that there are actually two gardens in Eden? How do you know he was talking about this garden?
You see, Eve? You gotta take into consideration the context of what God really meant when he said don't eat from the tree in the middle of the garden because that was a long time ago, things were different then, God speaks symbolically, you gotta know your geography, history and context. I've been listening to the word of God all my life and I'm here to tell you, there's always more than one way to look at things, Eve.
Who told you that God said you couldn't eat from the tree in the middle of the garden anyway? Was it Adam? Is he a Calvinist? Is he pre-trib or post-trib? Is he Baptist, Methodist or Roman Catholic? You gotta take all that into consideration, Eve. How did he vote in the last election? He's probably a bigot. What's all this hate against this one little tree? Who is he to tell you what tree you can and cannot eat from? Where's the love? Why is he hatin' on this one fruit-tree?"
Tongue in cheek, of course. But this is almost verbatim the kind of rhetoric I've heard from some so-called Christian pastors in the past few days who are trying to straddle the fence on the subject of gay-marriage; the biggest oxymoron if there ever was one.
When the interpretation of Biblical doctrine is questioned, that's a good thing so long as you search it out. That's what Eve should have done when Satan questioned her interpretation of God's Word. But what I've seen most Christians do, is allow Satan to use their fear of Biblical illiteracy to keep them from reading the Bible and standing upon what it says, or worse, even learning what it says. He tells them, "since there's more than one way to interpret things, why read it? Who are you to decide which interpretation is right? Are you smart enough to decide? What if you're wrong?" So Christians become paralyzed and wind up allowing Satan to interpret the Bible for them.
I actually read from a pastor's blog this weekend in which the pastor condemned other Christians for speaking out against the Supreme Court's decision, legalizing nationwide gay-marriage. He spent more time in the blog post deriding and mocking his fellow Christians than he did anything else. But what's worse, is he then spoke as an authority of Bible Study, saying..."I've been reading and studying the Bible for over 30 years and it's difficult to understand and far too complex to simply quote it out of context to condemn gay-marriage. That same Bible condones slavery, polygamy and promotes women as 2nd class citizens but we aren't trying to legalize that are we?"
I couldn't believe what I was reading. The Bible doesn't do any of those things. How could he come to those conclusions reading it for 30 years? But what's worse, how could any Christian read the Bible for more than 30 years and find it complex or difficult to understand? Then it hit me. He either hasn't read it for 30 years or he isn't really a Christian.
Paul said in Romans 16:17-20...
"I appeal to you, brothers, to be on your guard concerning those who create difficulties and cause divisions that are in opposition to the teaching which you have been taught. I warn you to avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ but serve their own appetites and base desires. And by good deeds and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the simple. For while your loyalty and obedience is known to all, I would have you well versed and wise as to what is good and what is evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) be with you."
It's a good thing to investigate interpretations of Biblical doctrine, so long as you truly investigate them and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to the truth. Don't wander around aimlessly in a vacant state of endless ambiguity. Find out what God really said. Find out what God really meant. And then once you find out, STAND FIRM.
So when someone asks you, "Did you interpret that accurately?" Say, "Let's look at it and find out." Be willing to show them the verses in the Bible and explain to them why you hold the interpretation you do. If they don't want to read it or listen, then they don't really want the truth. They just want to hold onto their view without any consultation from God. Scripture just gets in their way.
With all this said, I have to tell you that the events of the past 4 days exposes more evidence now than ever before that the Spirit of Antichrist is alive and well in 2015.
With the recent mockery against Biblical Christianity coming from so-called Christian bloggers and pulpits, I can also see that the Woman who will ride the Beast in Revelation 17 is also alive and well in 2015.
"He who justifies the wicked and condemns the just are both an abomination to the Lord." Proverbs 17:15
