Results 1 - 2 of 2
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Is prayer of Jabez special? | 1 Chr 4:10 | Reformer Joe | 4455 | ||
Well, apart from the fact that I hold the whole "Bible Code" thing as completely bogus, I personally think that there is much more benefit to actually READING and STUDYING Scripture the way the Holy Spirit inspired it instead of looking for secret codes by skipping around different letters. Now, my problems with the "Left Behind" series, or rather the public's overwhelming fascination with the books (since I, like you, find what I have read of the story somewhat entertaining), has to do with the following: 1. Even if one holds to a pre-tribulational view of the end times (and many don't), the book still is largely speculation of how it will go down, but many people not well-versed in Scripture often see LaHaye's and Jenkins' tale as almost inspired in its accuracy. If we start making a list of every book in the last 60 years that interpreted the book of Revelation as imminent in light of their own cultural and technological surroundings, I would imagine that we could fill a small library. 2. Rather than studying the Scriptures to verify the accuracy of events in the books, I would imagine that for a great many individuals these books actually TAKE THE PLACE of serious study of God's Word. Instead of reading Exodus, Luke, and Romans, many opt to read _Tribulation Force_ and _The Mark._ That is a SERIOUS problem for the body of Christ, choosing entertaining reading over the life-changing message of the sovereign God. 3. I also have major reservations about any and all Gospel presentations which try and sell the message of salvation as a way to "escape the Tribulation" rather than clearly defining our depravity and sinfulness and how it will lead to an eternity of just and horrible suffering in Hell. That is much more devastating than living through what is depicted in _Left Behind_, and it will never ever ever end for those who die in their sins. And the fact is that is what we ALL deserve. I just don't see the idea depicted in _Left Behind_ that we are enemies of God; Hell is what we deserve for being enemies of God; God's only provision is Christ because of his sinless life and death in our place and resurrection; and that salvation is a merciful gift of God that comes through faith alone in Christ alone. I am not saying that the books contradict the Bible; only that the novels as far as I have seen articulate a very incomplete message when it comes to the essentials of the Gospel. Take out any of the books and see if what I am saying is true or not. Accepting Christ is not "Tribulation insurance," and one seriously has to question whether those trusting in a poorly-articulated Gospel truly are saved. This is not to say that people haven't genuinely come to Christ as a result of these books, but God uses a multitude of things (both good and bad) to reveal Himself to those whom he supernaturally calls. 4. My final problem has to do with this general over-fascination with eschatology in the first place. While God clearly reveals the future in Scripture, it is by far not a centerpiece of a balanced theology of the whole of Scripture. While we should be ready, as Christ admonished us, that is no excuse for the rampant "looking up in the sky" for Christ at the expense of glorifying God on earth (2 Corinthians 5:20; 1 Peter 2:9,10; Ephesians 2:10). Our job is not to do the modern-day equivalent of putting on a sandwich board and shouting, "The end is nigh." Our purpose is to glorify him who called us and regenerated us. How's that for a rant? No doubt someone is going to ba angered at my words, but the question isn't whether my words are offensive. The question is whether my words have the ring of truth. Longing to give all glory to God, Joe! |
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2 | Is prayer of Jabez special? | 1 Chr 4:10 | Hank | 4463 | ||
Joe, my only "anger" towards you is that you said the words and I didn't! I believe you ventured into the realm of giving a powerful, moving testimony -- something we don't read often enough these days from believers. You "brought the barn down" in the style of some of the old-time gospel preachers, going as far back as the one who was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Paul, I believe his name was. Each generation has its own peculiar inventory of fads and gimmicks within the Christian community. Today it is the curious marriage of "feel good" religion and end-times stuff, or eschatology. A generation or two ago, the "positive thinking" sub-culture was the train to ride if one really expected to go places in this world. Its gurus went about chanting the mantra "think positive. think positive, go to church, pray positive prayers and you will be healthy, wealthy and wise. God was a tool in the positive thinker's tool kit to be used to make him succcessful. Eternal salvation was, if anything, an incidental benefit for those who might feel they needed it...In our time, reading entertaining Bible stories based on "fact" and so-called Christian fiction is a deplorable substitute for feeding directly upon the life-changing Word of God. I happen to know some people who devour avidly the latest release of this or that "Christian" book, and who can recall the minute details of many of these books, but who would be hard-pressed to name the books that constitute the Torah. I taught an adult Sunday school class for 25 years. I am amazed still by the scant knowledge that so many Christians have of the Bible. It reminds me of the story of some years ago, when Cecil B. DeMille was making all those epic pictures of Bible times. Just days before the release of his epic called "The Bible" two blue-haired old ladies were sitting in a church pew, chatting away before the beginning of the service. One asked the other, "Ethel, have you ever read the Bible through and through?" To which Ethel replied, "Well, Mildred, I've started it several times, but I can't seem to get much past Genesis. I suppose now I'll just wait and see the movie." Ethel is still among us. --Hank | ||||||