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INTERPRETATION VS APPLICATION

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INTERPRETATION VS APPLICATION
Application

“… nor handling the word of God deceitfully…” 2 Corinthians 4:2.

Interpretation is the explanation of exactly what the text meant when it was written. It must include the historical, doctrinal, dispensational and prophetical meaning of the text. One cannot be loose and opinionated when seeking the true interpretation of a passage. He must be guided by the rules of biblical hermeneutics, rightly dividing the Scriptures, knowing what is literal, and what is symbolic. Interpretation is one thing; application is something altogether different.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Application is imperative, but it must conform to the doctrine of the dispensation we are in today.[/pullquote]

There is no way to measure the damage done to believers through faulty application. The above picture illustrates this. This slight-of-hand is done when the preacher chooses a text and then preaches a topic or subject that has absolutely nothing to do with the chosen text. This art is so cleverly done that the average Christian thinks the text actually teaches what is being taught. No doubt, in some cases, the preacher thinks so himself.

Examples of this are seen when a text is read and then the preacher preaches his own preferences, church tradition or denominational views. You can identify this when he veers off to subjects like, how Christians should dress, what music they can listen to, what music and musical instruments can be used in the church and the sin of using Power Point. They think the Bible is opposed to promotions and special events to reach the lost. There is no end to the “do not’s” from this crowd. They think the Scriptures actually support their teaching on these and other like subjects. It does not!

Application is imperative when preaching, but all application must conform to the doctrines of the dispensation we are in today, and to the Scriptures. To do otherwise, is to handle the Word of God deceitfully for one’s own ends.

My advice is that one listen intently and test all preaching by this dispensation of grace to ensure that he or she is not being controlled or misinformed by a pastor who uses the Bible for his own ends rather than teaching exactly what it says. Remember, the marks of a cult are to use the Bible to control his followers.

IF GOD KNEW, WHY DID HE CREATE?

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IF GOD KNEW, WHY DID HE CREATE?

Why did He createRecently, in a doctor’s office, I engaged an elderly gentleman in conversation. He asked what line of work I was in. I told him I was a pastor. He said he would like to ask me a question and wanted to know if it would be ok. I assured him it was. He said, “What is this all about? If God knows everything, He knew all the evil that people would do. If that is true, why create in the first place?” I assured him that his was a common question, and since God knew everything that was going to happen, He must have anticipated his question also.

I asked him, “Do you have children of your own?” He said he had two sons and a daughter. I said, “Would you prefer they have free will, or be programmed as robots? Also, why do you think couples would plan to have children when they know these children will have trouble throughout life, get sick and ultimately die? In addition, every parent knows their child will sin and do wrong, bringing grief to others and to themselves? Why would they go ahead, in the face of these facts, and have children? Yet, with free will, the parents are not responsible for the choices of the children” He did not answer the question.

“The answer”, I said, “is, they want offspring they can love and provide for. The only thing parents expect in return is love and a life of gratitude that does not shame their family name. This is also why God created Man. God did not cause any of the grief or misery in this world. He created us with a free will and we did the rest. He knew we would sin; but in spite of that, knowledge does not remove free will. God has expressed His love to us a thousand ways, the greatest being the incarnation and crucifixion.” The gentleman had no answers or questions.

God will never give us the answer to all our questions, but enough has been given to render every man without excuse. You can know all you need to know to settle the sin question and the purpose question. The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Deuteronomy 29:29.

ANTI-SCRIPTURAL AND UN-SCRIPTURAL

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Scriptural “un” or “anti”

scripturalBy Ken Blue

Some preachers are slick as a Philadelphia lawyer. Others are simply followers. In former days when one said a behavior or teaching was un-scriptural he understood it was contrary to the clear teaching of the Word of God and not acceptable. In fact, the prefix “un” means not. So, un-scriptural meant an action or teaching was not scriptural or acceptable. However, another word has been resurrected to counter that idea. That word is, anti-scriptural. The prefix, “anti” means opposed.

This allows us to justify everything we approve or condemn. I may argue that soundtracks are not un-scriptural because there is not a Bible verse that specifically deals with that subject. But, another may counter saying, “they are anti-scriptural because they are worldly, thus we are opposed to them.” If I say there are no musical instruments forbidden in Scripture, the anti-scriptural argument will show that men of the world use them, and we oppose them.

Another example is having screens and Power Point. By accusing those churches of becoming movie theaters, they are like the world and therefore are anti-scriptural.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]By using the argument that a thing is or is not anti-scriptural, one can slip anything under the door, or block it as they please.[/pullquote]

At Open Door we install an espresso stand, and tables so members could visit and fellowship after the services. Since opponents could not find a Bible verse condemning it as un-scriptural, they deemed it as anti-scriptural since the world has established espresso stands everywhere. That’s how it works?

By using the argument that a thing is or is not anti-scriptural, I can slip anything under the door, or block it as I please. I am sure that many of the brethren who use this argument have not thought it through.
Therefore, we may say an action is not un-scriptural, because there is not a verse against it. However, another may counter by saying, it is anti-scriptural because we oppose it.

 

A few examples of how the anti-scriptural can be used when there is no specific verse making it un-scriptural. Are the Scriptures opposed to the following?

  1. Smoking cigarettes.
  2. Coffee and diet Coke.
  3. Driving over the speed limit.
  4. Hunting to kill animals for sport.
  5. Gambling and playing cards.
  6. Spending money on sports and entertainment.

I’m sure that each person will decide for himself what is anti-scriptural. That’s what others do, and that statement is neither un or anti.

THE FOOLS CHRISTMAS

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jesus-on-crossSO, YOU’RE GETTING READY TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF THE SAVIOR YOU LOVE? ARE YOU SAVED?

whiskey_bottlesdrunk fool 

ARE YOU RIDING THE LAODICEAN SCAPEGOAT?

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rich

 

By Ken Blue

” Leviticus 16:21-22 “ And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:  And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.”

Two goats were chosen. One was sacrificed, the other was led into the wilderness and released. Both were a type of Christ. One died for sins, the other carried them away. We use the term, scapegoat, today when the blame is placed on another person, or for some excuse.

One of the reasons churches are not winning souls today is found in the “Laodicean” scapegoat. That is, we are supposed to believe we are now living in a period, supposedly prophesied in the seventh church of Revelation 3.

Some are so sure these veiled prophecies exist that they have assigned dates to each one. I will not waste our time listing them. Our concern is with the last one, the so called “Laodicean period.”

I am very familiar with the teaching and the logic behind these. I have done some research on the subject. E.W. Bullinger sees these as periods in Old Testament history.

Since there is not one verse of Scripture that teaches these are seven epics of church history, there must be another reason some see these as hidden prophecy.

The major error lies at the first verse of Revelation. That is, the assumption that chapter one through three are in this church dispensation. The reason for that conclusion is the use of the word “church” and “churches.” Next, John is seen as a “type” of the church being raptured in chapter four. One other argument is that the word “church” doesn’t appear again until the end of the book. Each argument is erroneous, and impossible to prove. However, our purpose is to show that, in most cases, the church ages are a fabrication, and that pastors use this as an excuse for the lack of soul winning.

One writer says, “The Laodicean Age began around the turn of the Twentieth Century, perhaps 1906. How long will it last? As a servant of God who has had multitudes of visions, of which NONE has ever failed, let me predict (I did not say prophesy, but predict) that this age will end around 1977.” The Laodicean Church Age – 1 – Bible Believers  www.biblebelievers.org.au/7ch045.htm.

Another writer, Don Koenig, says, “The age of Laodicea has arrived next comes the rapture and the tribulation.  Most Bible prophecy teachers would say the Laodicean church age started around AD 1900. This is correct but when Laodicea appeared among Thyatira (Catholics), Sardis (the near dead denominational churches) and Philadelphia (the Church of true believers), she was not the predominant church of that era. That is no longer true. By what we see taking place in Christianity today there should be no question that Laodicea is now the predominant church type of our age (for those of us who believe that there are seven church ages).

Laodicea is the final church age before Jesus comes for His Church. When Christ comes for His spiritual body He vomits this Laodicean church out of His body into the tribulation. I am not saying that Laodicea was ever part of His body to start with but only that this church type was identified with His body. After Jesus stomachs the lukewarm condition of this church, He spews them out implying that those identified with Laodicea have no place in His spiritual Body unless they repent and see.”

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Revelation is a book of prophecy to Israel. It was not written to or about the body of Christ.[/pullquote]

There are so many problems with the above, one hardly knows where to start. Assuming that these ages have existed, there were “Laodicean Churches” in every one of them. A study of church history confirms that. In fact, they existed in Paul’s day. The next error is the interpretation of church history in a particular geographic location. If you lived in Muslim countries, you would conclude that you were in the” Smyrna period.” If you were in some Asian countries, you would believe you were in the “Philadelphia period.”

It ought to be evident that no one could understand these as epochs of church history until the Laodicean epoch arrives. Also, we need to ask, if the first three chapters are written to and about the church/churches of this dispensation, to whom is the rest of the book written? Where is the salutation to the recipients of the rest of the book

Revelation is a book of prophecy to Israel. It was not written to or about the body of Christ. Individual churches possessing some of these characteristics have existed since the birth of the body of Christ, the church. All of these will exist in the churches in the Tribulation. It is to these, the book is written. One hint, and there are many, these churches must “overcome” something or someone. Could it be the Antichrist and the mark of the Beast?

Very few pastors today would admit that they are the pastor of a “Laodicean” church. To them, the rebuke applies only to the spirit of religion in general, or to another pastor and another church.

If you are riding the “Laodicean Scapegoats,” get off, and start winning souls. People can be saved, even today!