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BLOATED INFALLIBLE EGOS

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IS THERE AN INFALLIBLE UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE?

three_blind_miceBy Ken Blue

“And Job answered and said, 2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. 3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?” Job 12:1-3.

Job’s three blind “friends” were confident they knew his motives and possessed knowledge he could not grasp. Of course his answer to them was pure irony, and he meant right the opposite when he said, “No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.” In fact, many of those “friends” are alive and with us today. They assume possession of the Truth is synonymous with understanding the Truth.

These men would rather win an argument than win a soul, and they think the Holy Spirit has guided them into all truth on all subjects. Their delusion leads them to believe Jesus was speaking of them when He told His disciples of future revelations (Scripture) He would give after His departure.

Jesus told His disciples there were many other things they would know, but they could not “bear them now.” “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:12-15.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Any pastor, teacher, or evangelist who assumes he has an infallible understanding of Scripture is an egotistical jackass.[/pullquote]

These things were revealed to them by the Spirit and are recorded in the epistles of Peter, James, and John. Additional church epistles were also given to Paul. Certainly, they were not ready for Paul’s writings or John’s Revelation.

Any pastor, teacher, or evangelist who assumes that these words are to him or that he has an infallible understanding of Scripture is an egotistical jackass. Many of the brethren assume they are infallible because they have an infallible Book.

Like Job’s “friends” they are smug in their ability to quote Scripture, but they are fools in understanding and application. They know why Job’s wife and children were dead. They were confident that he had lost it all because of some past sins. They knew his heart and motives and were therefore qualified to pass judgment on him and condemn him. These men are still with us and they know for sure that if you do not agree with them, your heart and motives must be worldly and wrong. We have seen enough of these self-centered Pharisees to know them on sight; and we say to them, in love, “Take a hike!”

LEAVE JAMES TO THE JEWS

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THE BOOK OF JAMES WAS WRITTEN TO THE JEWS

JewBy Ken Blue

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” James 1:1.

The key to James hangs right at the front door. Verse one tells us that it is written to Jews who had believed Jesus was their resurrected Messiah. It is unclear just what they believed beyond that. However, internal evidence reveals that it was written to those Jews who were zealous for the Law and awaited Christ coming to establish His visible kingdom with them.(Acts 21:20).

It seems evident that they did not understand that the Law had ended, that Jesus was the Savior of sinners, or that believers in Christ had a perfect standing with God.

They were Christians, but apparently not members of the Church, which is Christ’s body. The book fits squarely in the Tribulation. The rich men in James 5:1 are Jews who refuse to use their wealth to help their persecuted Jewish brethren. Chapter 2:19 shows they believe in one God, and they worshipped in the synagogue. See James 2:2. The anointing with oil was a Jewish custom and never part of the church. It is also significant that the incarnation, atonement, redemption, resurrection, and ascension are never mentioned. The book is strictly Jewish; so much so that Luther rejected it and would not put it in his translation of the Bible.

The reference to the latter rain 5:7; to the fig, oil, and wine 3:12; to drought 5:17, 18; to salt and bitter springs 3:11, 12; and to the hot wind 1:11 are likewise associated with Jewish Scriptures and customs.

One writer believes the epistle to be full of the Sermon on the Mount, which has nothing to this dispensation. He says, “We may compare:
James 1:2, 5:10, 11 with Matthew 5:10-12
James 1:4 with Matthew 5:48
James 1:5, 17, 5:15 with Matthew 7:7, 11
James 1:9, 2:5 with Matthew 5:3
James 1:22-25, 2:10, 11 with Matthew 5:19
James 1:20 with Matthew 5:22
James 1:22, 2:14, 5:7-9 with Matthew 7:21-26
James 2:1-3 with Matthew 6:2, 5
James 2:8 with Matthew 7:12
James 2:10, 11 with Matthew 7:12
James 2:13 with Matthew 6:14-15; 7:2
James 2:14 with Matthew 7:21
James 3:1, 4:11 with Matthew 7:1
James 3:12 with Matthew 7:16
James 3:17, 18 with Matthew 5:9
James 4:3 with Matthew 7:8
James 4:4 with Matthew 6:24
James 4:8 with Matthew 5:8
James 4:9 with Matthew 5:4
James 4:10 with Matthew 5:3, 4
James 4:11 with Matthew 7:1
James 4:13-16 with Matthew 6:25
James 5:2 with Matthew 6:19
James 5:10 with Matthew 5:12
James 5:12 with Matthew 5:34
From other parts of the Lord’s teaching in connection with the Kingdom we may compare
James 1:14 with Matthew 15:19
James 4:12 with Matthew 10:28
James 5:1 with Luke 6:24.”

It is futile to try to harmonize the teaching of James with that of Paul. Paul’s epistles are to the body of Christ in this dispensation of grace. James writes to the twelve tribes of Israel. This means that Baptist pastors should put away their little bottles of oil and understand that we are in the dispensation of grace! Leave James to the Jews.

OH YEAH? WHAT PROMISE?

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PROMISES POSTPONED

promiseBy Ken Blue

“If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” John 14:14

Many, in this present dispensation, are confused and puzzled when reading these prayer promises and discovering that they don’t work for them. They are left with a few options. One, they doubt their own faith. Did not the Lord say, “All things are possible to him that believeth.”? Failure to see God answer prayer has led some to doubt the truthfulness of the Scriptures.  Some assume their answer will come, sometime in the distant future.  None of these approaches to the promise are correct.

The problem lies with the readers’ failure to understand the purpose of the Lord’s ministry while He was on earth. There is no thought here of a promise to a body of Jews and Gentiles, comprising the church. The first thing we must realize is that the Lord’s ministry was not about the church of this dispensation of grace. His ministry was to Israel, and it was under the dispensation of the Law.

Another truth one must recognize is that Jesus was speaking to and about His disciples. They were assured assigned places of leadership as judges under the new covenant in the kingdom. “That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Luke 22:30.

Since the kingdom was rejected by the nation along with its miracles, wonders and prayer promises have been postponed until God jump starts His program again with Israel. The twelve disciples will be resurrected and given special places of governorship over the nation. Working together as a body, they are assured of His presence, power, and provision. At that time, they will confer with each other in decision making. Like the choosing of Matthias to replace Judas, they will pray and ask for God’s will to be done, and it will be granted to them. They will ask and they will receive. This is not a prayer promise to the church of this dispensation of Grace.

THINGS PASTORS FEAR

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HOW FEAR MOLDS OUR PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER

fear

By Ken Blue

We may become so accustom to living with fear, we are unaware it exist. It becomes a way of life, and it molds our character and personality. Although most pastors will deny his fears, excuses and paralysis betray him.

There are several things pastors fear, and among them is the fear of failure. I’ve see many of these young men. They usually mask it with verbosity and an overabundance of confidence. Talk becomes a substitute for action, and appearance a substitute for leadership.

I remember attempting to help one of my grandchildren create a budget and get out of debt. After a few days of inaction on her part, I ask why the delay. She told me that she had failed at everything she did, so why should she take on another project certain to fail. Her previous failures, and her prophecies of the future put her in a straitjacket and kept her in bondage.

Leaders understand that you always fail more than you succeed, but they learn from their failures, and discover the more you try the more successes you will achieve. The homerun king always strikes out more than he hits. However, he also knows if he doesn’t swing the bat, very little will happen. Sad to say, many pastors are afraid to step up to the plate. They fear they will strike out. So, they play it safe and just stand there.

The second fear that paralyzes pastors is the fear of success. You might question this phobia, and be the last to acknowledge its existence, but it is very real. Many pastors fear church growth. Success would mean more responsibility and commitment. Growth would mean change, and others would receive some of the attention enjoyed by the pastor. New babies demand a sharing of the toys.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Fear can put you in a straitjacket and keep you in bondage.[/pullquote]

Success means that someone else may be able to do things better than the pastor, therefore many refuse to develop people or give important ministries to them. The pastor becomes the bottleneck to growth. You cannot succeed unless you change, and success forces the church to change.

A third fear is that of rejection. Some pastors are more concerned about what other pastors think of them than they are their own congregation. Once pastors form a structured “fellowship” there will always be a battle for leadership. Privileges and accolades will be granted or withheld by the Godfathers. Thus, the pastor fears he might do something to offend those “who seem to be somewhat.” (Gal.2:6).

The solution is to learn all you can about how to pastor your church. If all you are doing is preaching to the choir and reading books by those who are obsessed with “standards” they require of you; you will never overcome your fears. Confidence comes with learning, experience, and trust in the Lord.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10.

ARE CHRISTIANS KINGS AND PRIEST?

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CHRISTIAN KINGS

kingBy Ken Blue

“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” Exodus 19:5-6.

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” 1 Peter 2:9.

There are a few Baptist and a great many among the Charismatic crowd, who believe Christians are kings and priest. Of course, kings have subjects and priest have those for whom they offer sacrifices. We are yet to discover the subjects or the sacrifice.

The key to this misapplication of Scripture is a dispensational one. This always results when we fail to interpret Scripture with Scripture or follow the context rule. Peter is not writing to the church comprised of Jews and Gentiles. He is writing to the Jews of the dispersion. “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,” 1 Peter 1:1. His writings are classified among the Jewish epistles.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The key to this misapplication of Scripture is a dispensational one.[/perfectpullquote]

Members of the church, the body of Christ in this dispensation, are not the subjects of Peter’s letter. These are Jews who heard the gospel of the kingdom, received John’s baptism, and had repented of their sins. They were waiting for the soon appearance of the King to establish His kingdom in Israel. They were subjects of, and recipients of the Kingdom of Heaven ministry. Thus they were destined to realize the designation of Exodus 19:5- 6 and 1 Peter 2:9.