1 / 20

Distortions of Truth

Distortions of Truth. Introduction. The subject of divorce was recently addressed on Mars-List, an online discussion group largely composed of non-institutional brethren. The following submission was made by an evangelist who labors in the southeastern United States.

fionan
Download Presentation

Distortions of Truth

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Distortions of Truth

  2. Introduction • The subject of divorce was recently addressed on Mars-List, an online discussion group largely composed of non-institutional brethren. • The following submission was made by an evangelist who labors in the southeastern United States. • This post is noteworthy because of the uncertain sound that is expressed therein:

  3. Email from Gospel Preacher • Sat Dec 22, 2007 11:51 am • Hello All, [NAME WITHHELD] here.... • I am reluctant to be put in the position of having to “judge” someone else’s marital situation simply because there is no way that I will ever have all the information necessary to make a valid evaluation of the situation.

  4. Email from Gospel Preacher • How about this... • Sit down with the person and read every passage that has to do with divorce, beginning in Deuteronomy on.... • Then tell them that they now know as much about God’s will on MDM as you do, and that they should decide if their relationship is one that God approves of? Assure them that you will abide by their decision, regardless of what they decide.

  5. Email from Gospel Preacher • Credit them with having honest hearts and making the right decision. If they decide they are right with God, who has the right to say they are not? • I would further advise them to never mention the MDM issue to anyone else. • God Bless,[NAME WITHHELD] • http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mars-List/message/9808

  6. Doctrinal Teaching • Note the distinction between old and new covenants on the subject of marriage, divorce and remarriage: • The Gospel of Christ does not merely reiterate the Mosaic Code, but presents distinctive teaching on this vital subject (Deut. 24:1-4; Matt. 5:31-32; 19:3-12; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Cor. 7:10-16).

  7. Distinction of Covenants • Certain eternal principles set forth in the Old Testament remain relevant (Gen. 2:18-25; Mal. 2:10-16), yet, the Law of Moses is no longer authoritative (Eph. 2:14-16; Col. 2:13-14). • Since the Law was incapable of addressing the problem of sin, Christ established a new and better covenant (Heb. 7:11-22; 10:1-10).

  8. Demand for Accuracy • We must handle aright the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:14-19). • According to BDAG, the Greek word translated “rightly dividing” (KJV, NKJV) or “accurately handling” (NASB) literally means to “‘cut a path in a straight direction’ or ‘cut a road across country (that is forested or otherwise difficult to pass through) in a straight direction’, so that the traveler may go directly to his destination.” • Figuratively, it means to “guide the word of truth along a straight path (like a road that goes straight to its goal), without being turned aside by wordy debates or impious talk (2 Tim. 2:15).”

  9. Demand for Accuracy • We must take care how we listen (Luke 8:18). • At the end of his teaching, particularly in presenting parables, Jesus repeatedly offered the following admonition: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Matt. 11:15; 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9, 23; 7:16; Luke 8:8; 14:35). • This admonition was also given to each of the seven churches of Asia (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). • Are we responding to heaven’s message with the hearing of submissive faith (Gal. 3:2, 5), or with a spirit of obstinate rebellion (Matt. 7:24-27; James 1:22-25)?

  10. Distressing Reality • Not all are willing to accept the truth, especially as it related to the present subject (Matt. 19:11-12). • In the Parable of the Sower, those likened to the wayside are hard-hearted; those likened to the rocky places are shallow in spirit; those likened to the seed sown among thorns are carnal-minded. In contrast the good soil is representative of those who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit (Mark 4:13-20).

  11. Distressing Reality • In contrast with the unbelieving Jews, the Thessalonian disciples received, accepted, and obeyed the apostolic message (1 Thess. 2:13-16). • Some men are blind to the truth (Matt. 13:10-17), distorting the Scriptures to their own destruction (2 Pet. 3:14-18).

  12. Discernment Required • Recognizing the reality of rampant rebellion (Ps. 14:2-3; Matt. 7:13-14), we should beware of the cunning craftiness of sinful men (2 Cor. 11:1-6; Eph. 4:14-16).

  13. Discernment Required • Faithful proclamation of divine truth demands a spirit of reverence, and a profound (and often prolonged) focus upon the true meaning of the text. • When Nehemiah and his associates read from the Law of God, the assembly lasted from early morning until midday, during which time they read distinctly Holy Scripture, giving the sense, and causing the people to understand the reading (Nehemiah 8:1-8).

  14. Discernment Required • In the sermon on the mount, Jesus often corrected inadequate, mistaken, or outdated understandings of Scripture (Matt. 5:27-28, 33-34, 38-39, 43-44). • Discussing his passion with the two men on the road to Emmaus, Jesus rebuked their ignorance and unbelief, and then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures (Luke 24:13-27). Afterwards, he used the same approach with the eleven (Luke 24:44-45).

  15. Discernment Required • The cause of Christ is established when we solemnly confront error, uphold the truth, and teach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:18-32). • Like the aged apostle Paul, we must not shrink back from declaring anything that is profitable, teaching publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to all men the necessity of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

  16. Discernment Required • We must declare the whole purpose/counsel of God. • We must warn brethren against dangers that may arise from within and without. • As he charged the Ephesian elders, we likewise proclaim, “I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

  17. Conclusion • Obviously, there are difficult and tangled cases of marriage, divorce and remarriage. • However, this does not alter the clarity of the Biblical principles governing this subject, nor diminish our responsibility of making proper application of those self-same principles.

  18. Conclusion • All men do not have a love of the truth. All men do not have good and honest hearts. All men do not make correct judgments based upon proper application of divine truth. • Therefore, it is folly to say that the church must abide by whatever decision someone might make, on this, or any other subject.

  19. Conclusion • Would not the reasoning expressed in the aforementioned email also apply to God’s terms of pardon, His pattern for the work, worship and organization of the church, etc.? Would it not apply to the acceptance of alternative lifestyles, same-sex marriages, polygamy, etc.?

  20. Conclusion • Is it sufficient to say, “Read all passages relating to this subject, draw your own conclusions, and we will abide by your decision, regardless of what you decide.” Universalism here we come! • Such thinking may reflect the spirit of tolerance and non-judgmentalism so characteristic of this age, but it does not reflect the spirit of Christ, who commanded, “Judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24).

More Related