Omniscient: “Knowing all things.” Given this definition, I believe that this adjective is reserved for only one being…God. No one on earth past, present, or future can “know all things.” They just can’t. Having said that I want to address this idea many of us have that we must have the answer to every Biblical question that arises. I submit to you that unless you are “omniscient” you can not know every answer that the Bible presents questions for. You just can’t. I struggle with this. Because I am a pastor and Bible teacher, people will often come to me looking for answers to questions they have concerning what the Bible says about certain things or what a particular verse may mean. My pride and humanness want to give them an answer, even if I don’t really know or understand it myself. I am learning more and more to simply say: “That’s a good question, let’s see if we can figure it out together.”

It’s safe to say, that there are many topics in the Bible, and many verses that do not have a straight forward answer to the questions they present. And because of that, it takes time and study to figure it out. Also, there may be somethings that are left intentionally difficult to understand. It is entirely possible to spend your whole life studying the Bible and still not see the full truth of its text. Let me explain.

During the time of Jesus’ ministry there were two major sects of Judaism, the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Both groups devoted themselves to knowing the scripture and the Law. They spent their entire lives studying it, teaching it, living it. They would memorize large sections if not all the Old Testament scripture. They knew it forward and backward. No one was more knowledgeable than they were in what the Old Testament said. Yet, when a group of Sadducees asked Jesus whose wife a woman would be who had been married to seven different brothers because each brother had died Jesus answered: …”You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29) What? How could they not understand the Scriptures when they had spent their entire lives learning it. Knowing and understanding the Scriptures was all they wanted to do and we have Jesus telling them they are mistaken, they have erred, they were wrong, they were deceived. What a blow to their egos.

Then you have the Pharisees. Again, a group of men who devoted their lives to studying, understanding, and teaching the Scriptures. They should have understood all that the Old Testament taught and pointed to about the Messiah. But somehow, when Jesus appeared on the scene they never recognized him as the Messiah they were looking for. Why? Because they had a “presupposition” about what the Messiah would be, how he would act, and what he would do and Jesus didn’t meet any of their criteria. Because of that, they missed seeing the truth of the Scripture they so diligently studied and learned.

Here’s my point…you can study the Bible your entire life, and still not know all that it presents. I recently read a devotional that encouraged the reader to pray this prayer each time before reading the Bible:

“God, give me wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Let any knowledge I gain serve to help me love You and others more, and not puff me up. Help me to see something new about You I’ve never seen before. Correct any lies I believe about You or anything I misunderstand and direct my steps according to your Word.” (Tara-Leigh Cobble; www.thebiblerecap.com)

What a humble and thoughtful approach to reading and studying God’s Word. You can’t know it all. No one can and if someone tells you that they fully understand what the Bible teaches about creation, end times, the unseen spiritual world, demons, or a host of other topics; my advice: “Proceed with great caution!” I’ve known people like this…I was like this. But here’s the deal, none of these things are easily understood, none are crystal clear. In fact, some are intentionally vague (i.e. Revelation) and many have multiple ways of approaching them. My encouragement to you is to be open to other ideas that are consistent with Scripture. Accept that there are other possibilities in the interpretation of Bible verses. God’s Word is “alive.” It will forever live, and it will forever affect people differently. I am confident that when we ask God to help us in our understanding, He will.

1. Let’s get this one out of the way first…I’m not always right
2. Seek to understand before I’m understood
3. My wife has my best interest at heart
4. I don’t have to point it out every time my wife makes a mistake…I make them too
5. A kind and soft answer will turn away wrath…that’s even Biblical
6. I won’t have a nervous breakdown if my wife has control of the TV remote
7. Express thankfulness and gratitude for the little things like having the coffee ready to start in the morning
8. Never criticize my wife in public
9. Never criticize my wife in private to another woman
10. I only have one best friend of the opposite sex and that’s my wife
11. I don’t have to drive everywhere we go…she’s a capable driver too
12. She likes to help me with my “man projects” around the house…I just have to ask her
13. There are a lot of faults that can just be “overlooked”…they aren’t life and death issues
14. She likes it when I clean the kitchen
15. Mute the TV when she has something to say to me so I can give her my full attention
16. It’s okay to tell my wife I love her more than once a day
17. My wife’s family is just as important as my family
18. It only hurts for a moment to admit I was wrong
19. I don’t have to spend a lot of money on gifts…It matters most that I remember in thoughtful ways special occasions
20. A surprise gift or note for no special reason is appreciated
21. My wife has goals too…I need to support her and her goals so she can achieve them
22. I don’t have to fix everything…just take a moment and listen without offering advice
23. Forgiveness is more healthy than holding on to the past
24. Once forgiveness has been given…drop it…never to be mentioned again
25. My wife is better at somethings than I am
26. I am better at somethings than my wife
27. Standing watching my wife get ready for us to go somewhere doesn’t make her get ready any faster…in fact I think it slows the process down a bit
28. Her definition of “clean” and my definition of “clean” are clearly different
29. There are some items of clothing that “DO NOT” go in the dryer
30. Me being the spiritual leader in the home is important to her
31. Sincere compliments are always appreciated
32. You can never go wrong living by the “Golden Rule”
33. I’m a better person because of her
34. Laughing together is refreshing
35. Praying together draws us closer
36. My wife trusts me…I never want to violate or abuse that
37. It’s not good for man to be alone
38. It’s necessary to unclog the bathroom sink of hair every few months…that’s just the way it is
39. Trust and respect for each other will overcome the times when you don’t “feel” love for one another
40. It is possible to love someone more after 40 years than the day you were married.
41. UPDATED: Be sensitive to my wife’s “day.” Be aware of when I need to step up and make dinner or take her out because it’s been a tough day for her
42. It’s important to her, and me, that I “keep her car” in good running condition. She will always have the “best” car in the family
43. It makes her happy, when I take good care of my health
44. We each have “our side of the bed” even when we are on vacation
45. When we go on vacation, she always needs a “bigger” suitcase than I do! Just accept it and make room for it!

These are some of the things I’ve learned. What about you? What would you add to the list? Share it in the comments.

I like to learn, and I like to read. I’m convinced that reading is the path to learning and growing. I don’t just read books for the pleasure of a good story. Typically, my reading is to learn, and especially to learn more about the Lord. When someone writes a book, you can bet they have put their hearts and souls into their work. As one who writes occasional blogs, I can tell you it is work. I can’t imagine putting out books every year as many authors do. If you have followed my blog or read any of my posts, you know I am an avid fan of author, blogger, and speaker Frank Viola. His heart and wisdom for sharing scriptural insights is amazing. I am a part of The Deeper Christian Life Network that Frank founded and teaches on and I love it. Recently I sent him an email thanking him for his work and how much it has changed me and helped me grow in my knowledge of the Lord. Below is our exchange:

Dear Frank,

I have followed your work for many years. I was a member of the network a few years ago, however I seldom made use of it so I canceled my membership (which looking back I deeply regret.) I renewed my membership a few months ago and I can tell you that I have so enjoyed listening to the messages. I have concentrated only on “Beautiful Pursuit” – Lessons on Knowing the Lord. I have listened to every lesson at least once and some 3 or 4 times. They are life changing. I am learning to “know the Lord” in ways I never experienced before and I am more aware of His presence today than I have been in my 48 years of “following” the Lord. The messages have helped me overcome some things in my life that kept me from “going deeper” into the knowledge of Christ. Thank you for sharing the deep things of God. I wish everyone could know what I now know. I have great respect for you and your work brother.

Your Fellow Brother In Christ,

Keith

His reply was heart felt and sincere and I want to share it here:

Thank you, Keith. I’m glad to hear this. My wish is that you would recommend the resources to EVERY Christian in their 20s and 30s who you know with as much zeal and fire as you put in this note to me. That’s the generation I’m burdened to reach with my work and it’s the one that we need not neglect, for they will carry the torch into the future.

Thanks!

fv

If you are reading this, and you are in your 20s and 30s and desire to know your Lord on a “deeper” more “intimate” level, then I highly recommend you check out his work and subscribe to his email updates. It will change your life! Thanks, Frank, for all you do for the Body of Christ.

I shared that exchange with you because you will notice a couple of Frank’s books on my list (I have all his books by the way!) Many were read in prior years, and I often refer to them.

So here is my list with titles, author’s names, and a short description:

• Revise Us Again – Frank Viola
  • As the tagline of the book states, Revise Us Again will help you “live from a renewed Christian script.” In the book Frank helps us deal with the times when we feel God’s presence is a universe away and refocuses us on the real presence of God in our life. He also talks about the Christian code language and Christianeze we so often use and how to get rid of it in our lives.
• Sit, Walk, Stand – Watchman Nee
  • Watchman Nee breaks down Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians and explains how and why we “sit” with the Lord before we “walk” in His ways and “stand” against the enemy.
• The Myth of the Christian Church – Gregory A. Boyd
  • This book is not for the faint of heart! If you are ready to be challenged and to examine the Biblical text for what it says, then get this book, strap in, and take off reading. Greg will challenge your Christian Nationalism and bring you to the truth of the Scripture and the Kingdom of God. There is a lot in this 200-page book.
• Hang on, Let Go – Frank Viola
  • As a pastor, when I finished Hang On, Let Go, all I could do was say: Wow! And then order five more books to give away to people! This book can be a lifeline to anyone who is going through a tough time and is struggling with the question “Why?” Frank does an excellent job explaining the process of hanging on to God and your faith and letting go of the problem and trouble. Get this book!
• Extreme Prayer – Greg Pruett
  • We went through this book as a church staff, and it is an excellent book on prayer. If you long to understand better why God does and doesn’t answer prayers, you may find this book helpful.
• The QAnon Deception – James Beverly (e-book)
  • I purchased this book as an e-book during the QAnon conspiracy hype of early 2021. It’s not my typical style of book however it is well researched and exposes much of the falsehoods behind QAnon and how the evangelical church bought into “Q.” They print several online posts, so language is a problem. But if you can get past that, this is one of the most revealing books I read this year.
• A Week in the Fall of Jerusalem – Ben Witherington (e-book)
  • This is narrative history and Ben does a great job of giving us insight into the week during the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Everything was changing for the Jews and the “new” church. It was an apocalyptic time! For them it was the end of the age (Matthew 24)
• Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All – Michael Shellenberger (e-book)
  • If you are interested in the “truth” about the environment, then this is the book for you. Michael Shellenbeger exposes many myths and untruths about environmentalism. He is an environmental activist; however, he approaches it with a level head and sound science. This book is well researched and very insightful.
• Insurgence: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom – Frank Viola (My 2^nd reading)
  • If you want to know the truth about the kingdom of God…this is the book for you. Frank unveils the Gospel of the Kingdom like no one else. He brings to light the differences between the kingdoms of the world and the kingdom of God and how the two do not mix. Get this book, read it once and then read it again.

So there it is…some of the impactful books I’ve read this year. I hope you find it helpful and let me know what books you are reading. — Keith

“I don’t understand my conservative Christian friends who say violence is unacceptable. What the crap do you think the American revolution was? A game of friggin pattycake? Blood was shed and rightfully so! And Christ did not politely and kindly ask the money changers to change locations. Are you content to allow this country that our fathers fought and died for to become another banana republic?”

For starters, this gentleman may profess to be a Christian, but I can attest to you that he is no theologian nor a serious student of the Bible. How convenient to take a passage of scripture completely out of context and place it into your own current world events and conclude: “Since Jesus got angry and turned over the many changing tables in the temple, we can ‘storm the U.S. Capitol and take it over’.” What? That does not make any sense on so many levels. Yet here we are, using God’s Word to justify violence against one’s own government. I challenge you to find even one teaching of Jesus where He said this is what His followers should do.

How Did We Get Here?

I suppose you could backtrack many paths to try and figure out how we got to this point. The one I would like to explore is really a simple one…and that is the path of “sharing misinformation, untruths, or let’s just call them what they are… ‘lies’” via social media and other methods.

When we are irresponsible with information we hear or read, especially with information that is untrue or unverified, we do tremendous harm our Christian witness. It is as if we are telling a patented lie about someone or something and as a result the unbeliever processes that “dubious” information that we have passed along as something coming from an “ignorant Christian.” You may disagree, but I promise you, if within your circle of friends, you have those who disagree with you politically, culturally, and religiously, you will hear them refer to Christians in this manner.

The Simple Solution

Before you spread something that you have heard or seen, ask yourself a couple of questions:

• Do I know absolutely for certain that this is true?
• If I share this, how does it promote the Gospel of the Kingdom?

Also, honestly answer this question: Which am I sharing more often…information that I have heard concerning current events and political posts, or am I sharing the Gospel of the Kingdom?

If you conflate sharing conspiracy theories of the “evil” in the world and the politicians behind the evil, with sharing the Gospel of the Kingdom, then you completely misunderstand what Jesus taught and what the Gospel of the Kingdom is all about.

In Jesus’ last words to His disciples, He instructed them to be “witnesses” of Him. A witness tells what they know to be true. Not maybe, not hearsay, not could be, but the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Even the Apostle John only spoke of what he knew to be true: “We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”

John was certain of what he was sharing and telling and posting on Facebook! (JK the Facebook) However today, many, including Christians, are sharing information that may be true and may not be true. They are copying and pasting something that they themselves cannot verify. I see post after post on social media of things that sound like they could be true, but are they? You see, half-truths are often told to skew an argument to one’s favor.

As a believer we should be anchored to the truth. Not some cockeyed conspiracy that the veracity of which cannot be confirmed and is likely a big lie that is being spread for a worldly agenda and outcome. Often these statements include the word “they.” It goes like this:

• They are planning…
• I read that they are going to…
• They said the (fill in the blank with someone you disagree with) are…

And it goes on and on. Yet, when pressed with the question: “Who is they?” the person will have no answer. As President Lincoln said: “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet!”

Jesus is a message of truth and hope. The Gospel of the Kingdom is something we can hitch our wagon to and know it is going to last. It is going to take us where we should go. This other stuff is a message of lies and fear and if we hitch our wagon to the lies and the conspiracies, we will end up in a place devoid of the Gospel.

—Keith

As I have grown in my knowledge of Christ and my understanding of the Kingdom of God that Jesus ushered in, and called us to be a part of, I find myself less and less interested in the “kingdoms of the world” and their “worldly systems,” including politics.

I no longer want to be involved in the “arguments” of liberals and conservatives, democrats and republicans, left-wing and right-wing. I am a Christian, a follower of Christ. I am “in this world” but I am not “of this world.” This world and its worldly systems should have no pull on me.
My citizenship is in heaven. My life is in Christ and His Life is in me.

As believers we have to ask ourselves; what is my identity tied to first and foremost? The answer should be, our identity is tied to, and aligned with Christ before anything else.

Too often people are more concerned about the workings of American or world politics than they are the workings of Christ in the world. We attempt to “change” things by “electing” the right person, or enacting the right laws. We think that through the worldly system of “politics” we will make a difference. What too many do not understand is that the kingdoms of this world and its worldly systems are at odds with the Kingdom of God.

However, many Christians still align themselves with the principles and thoughts of a political party before they align themselves with the Kingdom of God and His Word. A political party, nation, business, or other entity cannot be “Christian.” There may be Christian individuals who are involved in the political party, nation, or business, and these entities may exhibit principles that align with the teachings of Christ, but the entity itself cannot be “Christian.”

Some Christians will say things like “I am a conservative republican because the liberal democrats are godless and against God.” Such a statement is judgmental and in error. Making that statement negates the word of God that says, “What must I do to be saved?” to which the response is “believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” The answer is not, “well you have to vote a certain way” or “join a certain political party” to be saved. It is as simple as “believe in the Lord Jesus…”

Nowhere in the New Testament do we see Jesus or His disciples advocating for political involvement to bring about change in a kingdom that is temporary and worldly.

Contemplating on and working within the systems of the world distracts us from the Kingdom of God’s work. We expend energy, resources, and time, on areas that would better be left alone and thereby allowing us to focus our efforts on the work of God and advancing His Kingdom in His way.

If we are going to be a part of the Kingdom of God then we must “untangle” our hearts, allegiances, and “loyalties” from the present worldly kingdom and its systems and we must wrap them up in the message of the Kingdom of God.

The “Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee” has a mission statement that states is: “The mission of OCPAC is to promote and support public servants who oppose expansive government while promoting Constitutional liberty, free markets, and a Biblical Worldview.”

This sounds innocuous on the surface; however, it is evident from their mission statement that their main focus is promoting the “republican” agenda and its ideals of conservatism, which is fine, I don’t have any argument with that. At the end of their mission statement, they add the phrase “and a Biblical Worldview.” Whatever that means to them.

I believe if we examine scripture, we will see what God’s idea of a Biblical Worldview really is.

What does the Bible say about the “world?

• “…In this world you will have tribulation…” (John 16:33)
• The world’s “deeds are evil.” (John 7:7)
• “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” (John 12:31)
• The world cannot receive the “Spirit of Truth” because it “does not see Him or know Him.” (John 14:17)
• The world’s idea of peace is different than Christ’s idea of peace. (John 14:27)
• Satan is the ruler, prince, and god of this world (John 14:30; 2 Corinthians 4:4)
• The world will hate the believer (John 15:18-19; 17:14)
• The believer is “in the world” but they are not “of the world.” (John 17:14-18)
• The world is “accountable to God” not to the believer (Romans 3:19)
• Believers are not to be “conformed to this world” and it isn’t our responsibility to transform the world (God will do that) but rather we, ourselves, are to be “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” (Romans 12:2)
• The wisdom of the world is foolishness to God (1 Corinthians 1:20; 3:19)
• Believers are a spectacle to the world (1 Corinthians 4:9)
• One day, saints will judge the world (1 Corinthians 6:2)
• The world has been crucified to the believer and the believer to the world (Galatians 6:14)
• The world is in darkness (Ephesians 6:12)
• Friendship with the world is hostility with God (James 4:4)
• The world is passing away (1 John 2:17)
• The whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19)

This is the true “Biblical worldview.” We cannot usher in the Gospel of the Kingdom through worldly systems, including politics.

As believers we do not work within an ungodly, worldly system to usher in the principles of the Kingdom of God. Rather we do it, as Paul says, through the demonstration and power of the Holy Spirit.

One of the things believers must ask themselves is this: Are we more concerned about preserving the “Republic” of American government than we are about ushering in the Gospel of the Kingdom?

If what the “democratic” leaders across America are doing is a concerted effort to persecute and to silence the church then we should respond as the Apostles did in the first century…and count ourselves worthy to suffer for the gospel. (Acts 5:41) But the United States government’s reaction to this current pandemic is not persecution of the church and to think that it is diminishes the real suffering and persecution that happens daily to Christians around the world. Now if you want to say that it is “unconstitutional” for the government in America to pass a law that “prohibits” the gathering of groups of 10 or more at a church because it violates the First Amendment’s “Free Exercise Clause” then yes, say that, but don’t call it “persecution.”

Some among the conservative movement consider a believer’s “civic responsibility” as a “divine calling;” but is it? What is our “divine calling?” Isn’t it to “go into all the world and preach the gospel?” Isn’t our divine calling to pray for “…all men, kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” (1 Timothy 2:1-3) Our divine calling is not to make sure the government is treating us fairly.

Throughout this “pandemic” no church has been told to not teach or preach in the name of Jesus! We have just been asked to use some common sense until the threat of infection is minimized.

When Christians act in love the world takes note and wants to know how we can love those who hate us! When we act in hate, anger, and with conspiracy theories, the world also takes note and wants to know what is wrong with those crazy people!

If we are going to be a spectacle to the world, then do it because of love not because of hate or conspiracy theories.

“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things believes all things, hope all things, endures all things. Love never fails;…” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)

What do you think? How can we usher in the Gospel of the Kingdom God’s way?

Here’s the cool thing, you and I are Christ’s ambassadors. We individually and as the church are the highest-ranking representative of Christ to this world. (Just let that sink in for a moment!) And as His highest ranking representative to the world, we have a great charge to accurately “represent” Jesus and to speak for Him! When you stop and think about it, what an awesome privilege and responsibility He has entrusted to us.

In 2 Corinthians 5:20 Paul states… “So, we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

God is making an appeal to the world…”come back to God” or as some translations state: “be reconciled to God.” And He makes this appeal through the church and those who believe in Christ.

As ambassadors for Christ, we are living in this world but our citizenship is in heaven. We are citizens of another land, another realm, or another kingdom if you will.

Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

We are citizens of heaven doing the work of an ambassador on earth. Just as an ambassador of the United States may be living in a foreign land, they are still citizens of the United States, that is where their citizenship is held they are simply doing the work in a foreign land.

Likewise, we are “Christ’s ambassadors.” We may be living in a foreign land, the world, but we are not of this world…our citizenship is in heaven. We are of another realm! This is the Kingdom message.

In Jesus’ prayer to the Father in John 17 He prays “They are not of this world even as I am not of this world.” (John 17:16)

We are Christ’s ambassadors to this world, but we are of heaven! And Jesus prayed that the Father not take us out of this world but that He would keep us from the evil one (John 17:15). The reason He prayed for us to not be taken out of this world, is because we are His ambassadors to this world and we must carry out His work here but we do it with Him, not on our own.

Are you ready to become the voice of God to this world by showing your neighbors the love of God and His desire for all humanity to be reconciled to Him?

God’s given the church and you and me the appointment…it’s now our responsibility to act on it!

Now go, be Christ’s ambassador as He has appointed you!

Keith

“I sought for a man among them who would build a wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land, that it should not be destroyed…” Ezekiel 22:30.

Unless I am wrong, the inference and purpose of this meme is, this Bible verse supports building a wall on America’s southern border.  At least this seems to be the purpose…if you see it as something else, please let me know.

Here is the problem with this meme, its sentiment, and its errant use of the Biblical text :

• First, if you are going to use a Bible verse to support some political idea regarding immigration and border security, at least quote it accurately.
  • The meme in question is a mixture of several different translations and a misquote of Ezekiel 22:30. The actual verse reads in its entirety (at least in the closest translation I can find to the original meme):
  • “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” Ezekiel 22:30 NKJV
  • Notice the scripture in the meme is only partially quoted. The last part “but I found no one” was omitted and not only that, an important word has been changed.
  • The author of the meme chose to change the word “I” to “it.” Thus, bringing an entirely new meaning to the verse. The “I” in the original verse is “God.” The implication in the meme is that if the wall isn’t built the “land” or “it” will be destroyed by some outside invader. This could not be any further from the truth of the original verse’s meaning.
  • In the original verse it is God who is going to destroy the land because of Israel’s sin. This is abundantly clear as the very next verse indicates: “So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty for all their sins. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!” Ezekiel 22:31 NKJV
  • And the “Wall” is not a literal wall…it is a metaphor. God wanted someone to build a wall of righteousness and stand in the breach where the wall of righteousness had been broken down.
  • The reason for the breach or gap in the wall was addressed in the prior verse (Ezekiel 22:29). It was because the people of the land mistreated the poor and needy and wrongfully oppressed the stranger.
  • So, this verse is about God’s judgment on Israel for their rebellion, for their continued sinfulness of mistreating the poor and needy, and for wrongfully oppressing the stranger. This was NOT about America building a wall on its southern border.
• Second, I think it’s time for Christians to quit reaching back into Old Testament scripture to find support for political positions. This practice is fraught with dangerous consequences. Where does it stop? Do we also allow the elders to stone to death our rebellious, gluttonous, and drunken son as directed in Deuteronomy 21:19-21? And if we are going to use the proof texting of Ezekiel 22:30 to support building a wall, then mustn’t we also use the proof texting of Leviticus 19:33-34 to support a welcome mat allowing the stranger to live in our land as one born among us. “And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I [am] the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:33-34 NKJV
  • To use either verse to support some political position for building a wall to keep strangers out or a welcome mat allowing strangers into the land, is a misinterpretation and misapplication of the scripture.
• Now if you want to take Jesus’ words from Matthew 25: 34-46 as a pattern for how the stranger should be treated that would work…It is a New Testament mandate Jesus gave to the church. It’s an actionable way of demonstrating love for God and our neighbor…the two greatest commandments. I highly encourage you to read that text to get Jesus’ view on the subject.

The only Kingdom the Christian should be concerned with is the Kingdom of God. It saddens me to see Christians more concerned about the kingdoms of this world, the politics and parties of this world than they are the Kingdom of God. As believers we are not part of the systems and kingdoms of this world.

And I leave you with the words of Jesus our Savior:

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.  “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life–whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?  Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?  “So, don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.  “So, don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:24-34 NLT

What about you? Are you tired of all the political infighting? It’s time we quit abusing and proof texting the Holy Scripture just to make a political point. Are you ready to totally embrace the Kingdom of God and pledge your allegiance to Him? I am, and I hope you will join me.

Keith

1. 1. 1. Let’s get this one out of the way first…I’m not always right
      2. Seek to understand before I’m understood
      3. My wife has my best interest at heart
      4. I don’t have to point it out every time my wife makes a mistake…I make them too
      5. A kind and soft answer will turn away wrath…that’s even Biblical
      6. I won’t have a nervous breakdown if my wife has control of the TV remote
      7. Express thankfulness and gratitude for the little things like having the coffee ready to start in the morning
      8. Never criticize my wife in public
      9. Never criticize my wife in private to another woman
      10. I only have one best friend of the opposite sex and that’s my wife
      11. I don’t have to drive everywhere we go…she’s a capable driver too
      12. She likes to help me with my “man projects” around the house…I just have to ask her
      13. There are a lot of faults that can just be “overlooked”…they aren’t life and death issues
      14. She likes it when I clean the kitchen
      15. Mute the TV when she has something to say to me so I can give her my full attention
      16. It’s okay to tell my wife I love her more than once a day
      17. My wife’s family is just as important as my family
      18. It only hurts for a moment to admit I was wrong
      19. I don’t have to spend a lot of money on gifts…It matters most that I remember in thoughtful ways special occasions
      20. A surprise gift or note for no special reason is appreciated
      21. My wife has goals too…I need to support her and her goals so she can achieve them
      22. I don’t have to fix everything…just take a moment and listen without offering advice
      23. Forgiveness is more healthy than holding on to the past
      24. Once forgiveness has been given…drop it…never to be mentioned again
      25. My wife is better at somethings than I am
      26. I am better at somethings than my wife
      27. Standing watching my wife get ready for us to go somewhere doesn’t make her get ready any faster…in fact I think it slows the process down a bit
      28. Her definition of “clean” and my definition of “clean” are clearly different
      29. There are some items of clothing that “DO NOT” go in the dryer
      30. Me being the spiritual leader in the home is important to her
      31. Sincere compliments are always appreciated
      32. You can never go wrong living by the “Golden Rule”
      33. I’m a better person because of her
      34. Laughing together is refreshing
      35. Praying together draws us closer
      36. My wife trusts me…I never want to violate or abuse that
      37. It’s not good for man to be alone
      38. It’s necessary to unclog the bathroom sink of hair every few months…that’s just the way it is
      39. Trust and respect for each other will overcome the times when you don’t “feel” love for one another
      40. It is possible to love someone more after 40 years than the day you were married

      These are some of the things I’ve learned. What about you? What would you add to the list? Share it in the comments.

      

The First Century

The New Testament writings were completed in the first century (all 27 books we have today were originally written in Koine Greek, which was the common language of the first century. These manuscripts were written by the authors we know as Paul, Matthew, Peter, John, etc.) And we know that these letters were passed from city to city and shared with the believers as they were read in the public places. (Colossians 4:16)

As Christianity spread westward there was a need for translations of the New Testament writings from the original Greek into Latin which was the more prevalent language of North Africa, Italy, and throughout the Roman Empire.

According to John Piper for 300 years many different books competed for Apostolicity. There were three main criterion that the church looked for in the Apostolicity of a book:

• Was it written by an apostle?
• Was it written in the company of an apostle?
• Was it presumably written with the apostle’s help and endorsement?[^1]

The 27 books of the New Testament that comprise the canon were first listed by Irenaeus in 180 A.D. and were affirmed by the Synod of Hippo in 393 A.D. The church didn’t create the canon of scripture; rather it recognized the canon that had been unofficially yet universally accepted by the church and the believers or Christians for over 300 years.

315 A.D.

The Bishop of Alexandria, Athenasius, recognized the 27 books that we now have as our New Testament Canon.

382 A.D.

Jerome was commissioned by Pope Damasus I to make a revision of  old Latin translations of the Bible  that were considered inferior. They were viewed as inferior because they had been translated by translators who did not have a good command of the Greek language.  In a letter to Pope Damasus, Jerome explained the problem and proposed a solution: “If we are to pin our faith to the Latin texts, it is for our opponents to tell us which; for there are almost as many forms of texts as there are copies. If, on the other hand, we are to glean the truth from a comparison of many, why not go back to the original Greek and correct the mistakes introduced by inaccurate translators, and the blundering alterations of confident but ignorant critics, and, further, all that has been inserted or changed by copyists more asleep than awake?”[^2] When Jerome’s work was finished in 405 A.D. he had translated into Latin all 39 books of the Old Testament Septuagint, the four Gospels of the New Testament, (according to scholars these are the only books translated in the Vulgate that can be ascribed to Jerome with any certainty), and two books, (Tobit and Judith), of the Apocrypha. (It was Jerome who first proposed that the Apocrypha books be read only for edification and not for canonical doctrine. However, it would be over one thousand years later before they were removed from the Septuagint and the Old Testament Bible). The remainder of the books from the New Testament and the Apocrypha are older Latin versions. All of these books were circulated separately until bound in a single volume in the mid-6th century. A total of 80 books in a Bible called the “Vulgate,” which means “a commonly recognized text or edition.” This Latin Bible was recognized by the medieval church and later by the Council of Trent (1546) to be the “old and popular edition.” The Council decreed that it was to be the official Bible of the Roman Church.

1380’s

In the 1380’s John Wycliffe, his assistant, and other scribes produced the first hand written English Bible manuscripts. These manuscripts were translated from the Vulgate which was the only source text available to Wycliffe. Wycliffe believed that since the Vulgate was written in Latin, which was a language unknown to 99 percent of the people in England, that it should be translated into understandable English that the majority of the people could read. “The Scriptures,” Wycliffe stated, “are the property of the people, and one which no party should be allowed to wrest from them. Christ and his apostles converted much people by uncovering of Scripture, and this in the tongue which was most known to them. Why then may not the modern disciples of Christ gather up the fragments of the same bread? The faith of Christ ought therefore to be recounted to the people in both languages, Latin and English.”[^3] However the church clergy and authorities felt differently. They thought they were the sole arbiters of the scriptures between God and man. And when Wycliffe and his assistants translated the Latin Vulgate into English they viewed it as a heretical. The church clergy said of Wycliffe: “This pestilent and wretched John Wycliffe, that son of the old serpent, endeavour[ing] by every means to attack the very faith and sacred doctrine of Holy Church, translated from Latin into English the Gospel, [indeed all of the Scriptures,] that Christ gave to the clergy and doctors of the Church. So that by his means it has become vulgar and more open to laymen and women who can read than it usually is to quite learned clergy of good intelligence. And so the pearl of the Gospel, [indeed of the Scriptures in toto,] is scattered abroad and trodden underfoot by swine.” (Church Chronicle, 1395). [^4]   So about 1,000 years lapsed with little change to the Bible until Wycliffe translated the Vulgate into English 1380.

1516 Publication of Greek NT

The first Greek New Testament was published in 1516 by Erasmus. Prior to that, all copying was done by hand. For 1500 years of the church era this copying was done by monks, scribes, and scholars who preserved these manuscripts with great care and love for the Word of God. Erasmus had no more than six Greek manuscripts from which to complete his work compared to today when we have thousands. These manuscripts were part of what is called the “Byzantine text family” (more on that later).

It was from this 1516 Greek New Testament that Tyndale published the first English Bible from the Greek rather than the Vulgate Latin Bible as Wycliffe had. This was in 1526. This work cost Tyndale his life as he was executed at the stake in 1536 for his work of translating. The Bishop of London seized all 3,000 copies of his work and burned them and only two copies remain today.[^5]

After the Tyndale there were several other bibles, Coverdale Bible, Matthews Bible, the Great Bible, the Geneva Bible, and the Bishop’s Bible. Keep in mind, all of these were before the 1611 Authorized KJV.  If the Authorized KJV is the only inspired version then what do we do with these “other” Bibles? Were they not the divinely inspired Word of God?  I believe any reasonably thinking person would conclude that they were inspired, else God was unfair to people who lived prior to 1611.

Geneva Bible (1560)

The Geneva Bible (GB) was the standard Bible for the next seventy five years, and it became the Bible most people used in the common Christian household. Despite the efforts of some, such as Archbishop Matthew Parker (1504-75) who vied to have official status granted to the Bishop’s Bible of 1568, seventy editions of the GB were published during the reign of Elizabeth I and 150 editions were printed between 1560 and 1644, though the GB never became the authorized version. Even John Whitgift, who ordered that only the Bishop’s Bible be allowed for use in churches “found himself using the Geneva Bible in his heated controversy with the Puritan writer Thomas Cartwright.” A simple comparison of editions published from 1560 to 1611 demonstrates its popularity: Even after 1611, when the KJV was released, over sixty editions of the GB were published. Under the persecution of Archbishop Laud (1633-45), eight editions were smuggled into England. And between 1642 and 1715 five or more editions of the KJV used the Geneva annotations! John Knox adopted the GB also and the Scottish divines followed (Thomas Bassandyne and Alexander Arbuthnot), seeing to it that every able household had a copy. To be sure, the 1579 Scottish edition of the GB was the first Bible to be printed in Scotland. It is believed that as late as 1674 the GB was still being used in Scottish churches. The popularity of the Geneva Bible did not differ in England as exemplified in its use by William Shakespeare (d. 1616), Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), and John Bunyan (1628-88). Even those Puritans who came to America made the GB their chosen translation (no little protest against King James I). Therefore, McGrath is not exaggerating when he writes, “England was a Protestant nation, and the Geneva Bible was its sacred book.”[^6]

In the next post I will cover why King James decided not to accept the Geneva Bible as the “Authorized” Bible.

Our Bible’s History (Part 1)
Our Bible’s History (Part 2)
Our Bible’s History (Part 3)

[^1]:Why We Believe the Bible. (2008). Retrieved July 20, 2016, from http://www.desiringgod.org/messages/why-we-believe-the-bible-part-1

[^2]:405 Jerome Completes the Vulgate. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2016, from http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-28/405-jerome-completes-vulgate.html

[^3]:How did we get our first English Bible? (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2016, from http://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/bible-answers/theology/our-first-english-bible.html

[^4]:How did we get our first English Bible? (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2016, from http://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/bible-answers/theology/our-first-english-bible.html

[^5]:HISTORY OF BIBLE TRANSLATIONS. (n.d.). Retrieved June 03, 2016, from http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ac66

[^6]: Founders. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2016, from http://founders.org/fj86/the-geneva-bible-and-its-influence-on-the-king-james-bible/

Here is an example of a mistake that continues to be published in all modern KJV Bibles: Matthew 23:24 the KJV says, “Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.” The original Greek read and means “strain out a gnat.” Another example is found in the wording of Hebrews 4:8, which in the KJV says, “For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.” Which leads the reader to think the author of Hebrews is talking about Jesus. However, instead of ‘Jesus,’ Joshua is what the author meant. It’s the same word in Greek, but the reader of the text will hardly think of Joshua when he or she sees ‘Jesus’ here since ‘Joshua’ is found everywhere in the OT.

Let me say, I have no problems believing the KJV Bible and using it in my faith walk or for sharing it with others. It will reveal God’s eternal purpose for humanity. However, if you believe that only the KJV Bible is inspired and that it is the only Bible Christians should use for reading, study, and guidance you are misguided and should understand, that the KJV is not perfect, as is pointed out in the two examples above. Again don’t confuse “perfect” and “inspired.” Although there may be a mistake (typo) the work itself is still inspired. Even the KJV translators themselves, in the preface of the 1611 Bible state the following:

“Therfore as S. Augustine saith, that varietie of Translations is profitable for the finding out of the sense of the Scriptures: so diversitie of signification and sense in the margine, where the text is not so cleare, must needes doe good, yea is necessary, as we are perswaded… They that are wise, had rather have their judgements at libertie in differences of readings, then to be captivated to one, when it may be the other.”[^2]

The KJV translators in 1611 saw it necessary to get a “sense” of the scripture and made notes in the margin when the text was not so clear. There were 8,000 marginal notes in the original 1611 Bible that have since been removed from all modern Authorized Versions.

If a person believes “only the KJV” is the “inspired” Word of God, and not other modern translations, these questions then have to be answered:

“Prior to 1611, when King James I of England authorized the release and publication of the Bible, what did Christians use as their “Bible” or “scriptural text? “And if only the KJV is inspired (as many purport), then was what millions of people relied upon for over 1,500 years prior to 1611 not inspired? If that was the case, the question has to be answered: “Why would God do that? Why would God only give humanity after 1611 His “inspired” holy Word?” And additionally, are we going to say that divinely approved scriptures cease after 1611?

These are some of the questions I hope to address in these series of posts. Scholars tell us that the KJV, as it is today, is not identical to any manuscript that is in existence. It was a “compilation” of many manuscripts to get the sense of the text.

Martin Luther’s work of translating the Bible into German in 1522 predated the KJV by almost 100 years. Are we going to say that God has only spoken inspirationally in English? And where there are discrepancies between Luther’s Bible and the KJV, such as 1 John 5:7-8, can we say that God has inspired one and not the other? Our faith does not rest in a singular tradition, or translation, nor is it provincial. Vibrant, biblical Christianity must never unite itself with provincialism. Otherwise, missionary endeavor, among other things, would die.[^3]

In my next post I will be covering the period from the time of Jesus’ death in A.D. 30 to 1611 when the KJV Bible was printed and will discuss what Christians used for their source of truth when they didn’t have the “Authorized KJV Bible.”

Which version of the Bible do you currently study and read?  Why?

— Keith Fife

Our Bible’s History (Part 1)
Our Bible’s History (Part 2)
Our Bible’s History (Part 4)

[^1]: Fifteen Myths about Bible Translation. (2012). Retrieved May 18, 2016, from https://danielbwallace.com/2012/10/08/fifteen-myths-about-bible-translation/

[^2]: King James Bible. (n.d.). Retrieved May 18, 2016, from http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1611-Bible/1611-King-James-Bible-Introduction.php

[^3]: Wallace, D. B. (n.d.). Why I Do Not Think the King James Bible Is the Best Translation Available Today. Retrieved June 03, 2016, from https://bible.org/article/why-i-do-not-think-king-james-bible-best-translation-available-today