Back to the
cross,
the root, the word @
The
Radical Pilgrim
~
Pro Bible ~ Pro Apologetics ~ Pro Kingdom ~
All
scripture quotations from the Authorized Bible, without
apologies.
Placed accents mine.
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Exposing Biblical Correctionists
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God
2
Corinthians 2:17
2 Pet. 2:18-19 ... "for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage".
Jesus
said it twice, "Take heed that no man deceive you". John said it
... "Little children, let no man deceive you". As did Paul
... "Let no man deceive you by any means". Take extra note
as Paul also added, "by any means". Because some men by skill
and cunning, hiding behind religious titles or credentials, or both, will
use any means to just do that. To deceive YOU. Ultimately,
the only
way they could do this would be by robbing you of your Bible. No,
I
don't mean by sneaking through your bedroom window one night while you
are away, and running off down the road with your Bible hidden under
their coat. There is not much of a black market out there in trading in bibles,
but there's a much better way to make a profit, depending on how well
learned you are in the art of religious subterfuge and subversion. As Titus 1:11 says:
"Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake."
Yes, this is a much more subtle form of breaking and entry. By pretence and wile, they will pretend to be Bible teachers and fellow brothers in the faith, while they whittle away and rob you off what the Lord hath said in His written word. They could never do this if they came at you as someone blatantly opposed to Christianity and the Bible, could they? However, by "professionally" questioning or undermining the meaning of words or verses in your Bible, and throwing you off course, this would give them the clout and credence to their "noble" cause. It would also give them an excuse to correct the doubts and errors they have pointed out by their own expertise ands knowledge. How kind and caring of them! Can you see how it is done?
Psalms 11:3. "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?"
Some would call them "scholarly experts", or "Bible critics". A more accurate phrase would be Bible thieves. I've chosen another phrase ... "Bible correctors", or correctionists (a new word to add to your vocabulary). Because this is their self-imposed "ministry". Their apparent self-appointed "call" (although they would never give it this name as this would blow their cover). Their whole technique is to correct what does not need correcting, in order to deceive you away from the simplicity of Christ, as the serpent beguiled Eve with the line ... "hath God said?" Their tactic is to come in with smooth and captivating talk, to complicate the issue in order for them to bring the solution. An odd trick, but with better and newer methods ... more slick, sophisticated, even hi-tech, and tantalizing than ever, as time marches on. All with the motive, to have 'one over you' when it comes to the interpretation of scripture, and place them on the front foot, so you are placed automatically on the back foot, where the tail is always subservient to the head. Reject and resist these Bible gurus I say! No matter how groomed and polished they are. Or how decent and well meaning they appear. For we only have one Head, that being Christ Jesus the Head of His Body, which we are all members of, if we have been born (spiritually) a second time.
What does scripture say about private interpretation? The New Testament out rightly forbids it, that's what (2 Pet. 1:20)! If you are under the New Covenant, revelation comes direct my friend, and all go-betweens are impostors. A true shepherd supports the Book, does not try to control you, or make merchandise of you, or trap you into his system of "higher learning". He will come as a helper to your joy, and not try and burden you with doubt or insecurity or kick the faith from under you:
2 Cor. 1:24. "Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand."
Yes, detect them, then reject and resist all correctionists! Rejecting them is not being rude or ill mannered may I say! Just as resistance is not rebellion. It is only and merely obeying the word of God. A rebellious person in God's eyes is someone who is disobedient to His word. The "invented church" would turn this around and say anyone who disobeys the Church is being rebellious. Although you may feel alone, you have the Lord and all heaven on your side, when you resist the Devil who works through Bible subverters. The Bible does not lie!
Rom. 3:4. "God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged."
The reason why I am so vehemently zealous against these Bible thieves is because I deal with them usually every week. Administering a Bible believing website, one has to be literally reliant on scripture constantly as our final authority and our sword in dealing decisively with these intruders (despite one's IQ or how many titles he has behind his name), who come on (or sneak on - whether message boards, housechurches or committees) as perfect gentlemen, to position themselves by using niceties and fair speech. Until they show their true colours, when you out rightly confront them or when they are expelled through the word. This does not happen by accident by the way, but is according to what the remnant are warned about in the New Testament, when it comes to dealing with doctrine and the faith. It has been the same thing over the years within the home fellowship environment I have attended or hosted, with the internet being no exception. It is also the reason why one must be much more on guard constantly, and ruthless in confrontation, due to the fact one party is not meeting another party in person nor in real life situations, but within the comforts of cyber space; as in dealing with unknown quantities. The internet has many benefits (as well as pitfalls) but it is no substitute for person to person interrelation. Get the drift Brethren?
This does not mean I am against teachers and preachers in the Body. These men are raised up (and few they are) to support the word and feed it to you as bread from heaven. They are not there to take it away from you or undermine your faith, so you become dependant on them, justifying their (unlawful) career. What is an unlawful career when it comes to spiritual things? Answer: Someone who gets paid by (biblically) extorting tithes from you thereby bringing you back under the bondage of the old, defunct, inferior covenant of the Old Testament. They label themselves "pastors" or "ministers" or "clergy" of some sort. Jesus calls them hirelings!
Within the company of the remnant you always have wolves disguised as sheep. Or even nice, well meaning stubborn goats who believe they are sheep. This was prophesied by Jesus and confirmed by Paul. They look like sheep because of their gentle and warm manner, and the way they verify themselves as part of the flock. They are wolves (or goats) by the fact they do not follow their Shepherd (they do not have one) but cunningly hijack biblical leadership and isolate believers in order to disconnect them from the infallibility of scripture and trusting in the words of their dear Shepherd, the Lord Jesus.
2 Pet. 2:18-19: "For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty (how nice of them), they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage (if you submit to them they will ensnare you)".
Yes, they promise liberty, but the end is bondage, for those who would adhere to their fair speeches and unsound doctrine. When the New Testament mentions the phrase "sound doctrine" four times, you can bet your life it is sure trying to get something across, always mentioning in the sense of something not to avoid; but something to embrace, endure and teach to others. It is actually a continuation in this which sets us free from bondage.
Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
If Jesus promised it, then there is not an inkling of doubt that it will come to pass. Meaning, what has been established and declared, and recorded by divine decree, will always last and could be trusted unto the end, unequivocally.
Jesus also warned to be on guard against these intruders who would sneak in to lead astray. He did not say, "I will not allow them in to deceive you." Because, they will! He placed the onus and responsibility on us, the Bible believers, to discern and detect, and to "let no man deceive you." When He said "no man" He meant it! This is the only way we can prove and be accustomed to His word found in the scriptures. Paul also spoke about false brethren and false apostles disguised as servants of righteousness, and those who would come in to spy out our liberty. The only way our liberty in Christ could be stolen from us, would be through infiltration into the flock by these opportunists, or others being raised up within, allowing themselves to be corrupted by covetousness, undermining what Jesus said through His word, and influencing others into their mindset. Especially when there is some sort of platform on hand, recognition and promotion, financial comfort, or a remuneration package (with tax perks thrown in) being dangled before them. The perfect breeding ground for clergy over laity and hirelings ruling God's flock. Let know one domineer your faith or do you thinking for you!
Peter said, "And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."
According to their own dictionaries 'feigned words' mean to use words that appear truthful but are to deceive. Promising you liberty but hooking you into bondage in other words, as already explained. Here is an example of their platitude (and this is the language of the correctionist in a nutshell):
"The Bible is the word of God (meaning, according to scripture - it is pure, kept and preserved from the present to every generation, in written form). However, (there is always a "but" or a "however" or a "whattabout" as the sting on the end of the tail) there are some discrepancies and inconsistencies (error in other words) found in certain passages, or the odd translation slip-up from time to time," etc. etc. (meaning though the Bible is reliable, the one you possess may not be). Have you ever seen such double talk?
Using the above notion the correctionist will always have to point you back to the so-called "originals", which no longer exist, would you believe? Meaning, there is not a museum in the word that holds or displays the so-called originals to make up our Bible, which we could photocopy for ourselves and hand out to others, to understand what the "originals" really meant. Think about it! If there was then the Bible corrector would have a case to make and would be able to use these copies to help us see the truth or he would be redundant. If he invents this case, then this case sounds plausible and marketable and he keeps his job. If he sounded a little more honest (or tactful in his twist) by saying the word of God is only found in the allusive, phantom "originals" which we could never get a copy of, or hold in our hand to read and quote from, and trust with our whole lives, then he could say:
"However, don't expect to ever see or hold a copy as accurate as the original text, because man is always susceptible to error in what ever he does, and I am here to help fill in the gaps for you, caused by the odd translation hiccup, or mis-rendering. Trust me, I may be a man, but I am qualified and know what I'm doing!"
Oh yeah!!!??? We use to call this 'double de dutch' talk, 'speaking in riddles', 'talking with a forked tongue', and so on, where one statement clearly cancels out the other.
This is the only tactic the Bible thief can use of course, as the only other alternative method would be brutal force. Conversion through the sword in other words! However, we have moved on since the Dark Ages, haven't we? People can read and write as education is no longer outlawed but encouraged (after all - this is the age of enlightenment). Therefore, religious monopoly must be accomplished through more clever and subtle means, hidden behind "better methods" and "higher learning".
How it works: Take something very plain, clear and simple (almost too simple to be true). Then by clever word manipulation make it into something gibberish. Then say, "Not to worry, as I am highly trained and skilled enough to take something that is gibberish and make it into something that makes sense, by dissecting it, analysing it, comparing it, then giving it my full approval. Then you can go away and trust it, as it has been sanctioned by a professional. After all, this is what I am hired and paid to do. Trust me! I wouldn't deceive you, would I?"
There are many ways truth has been eroded away by religious professionals. Any truth placed in a square will keep people bound to that square if they are indoctrinated to believe the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, is confined to that square. The very reason denominations and cults are born. F'instance ... a man comes along with a truth, a true revelation, and it gets boxed in so others can't see the full picture - the complete volume of the Book, but only the bit that the "qualified" teacher" would sanction. What happens to the people? They are trapped into this system of building an empire around just one aspect of the truth and are hemmed in by it, unable to question or look at other truths and be free. After all, this is where Jesus is found:
Psalms 40:7. "Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me".
This means Jesus is found, and therefore the truth is found, in the full picture in other words! Man will do his utmost to bind the word and box it in, in order to box in others. Even though man will imprison Bible believers, he can never imprison the word, nor have monopoly over revelation:
2 Tim. 2:9. "Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound."
Take note of many ministries today proudly standing behind their official 'articles of faith' (another form of imprisoning the word)? This is where the religious conditioning process begins:
"We belong to this group which faithfully upholds their 'biblical' article of faith! "
Really? Let's see how biblical it is to have an 'article of faith' or how biblical some of them actually are when the sword is applied? Remember, once you are locked in (very similar to "church membership") you cannot walk away unless you walk away from what the group is based on, within its self-imposed square. Moreover, who wants you to think outside the square? I know the Lord does, where scripture speaks about the full counsel of God or the volume (all the books) of the Book of books, otherwise known as the Holy Bible. That's looking outside mans self-imposed square! Now, let's take a wee look inside this manmade square to see how man operates:
Article 1: "We believe in the divine inspiration of scripture with the whole Bible in the original being without error."
Oh yeah ... which Bible is that? Would I be able to hold this Bible you base so much on, in my hand today, and quote from it? Would I be able to hand it onto others for encouragement or correction knowing it is God's truth without an inkling of error? Also, please hand me this "original" you endorse so I can check them out for myself, as a good Berean? Unless I know what the original says, then how can I compare it with my Bible today?
Article 2: "We believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary?"
So you believe in the Virgin Mary do you? I know that Mary was once a virgin just like my wife and your wife once were. The only (big) difference with Mary, was that before she bore other children she was a virgin when she conceived and bore Jesus (our Saviour who had brothers and sisters in the flesh you know, according to scripture). Please show me from scripture where there is a reverend Lady in the Bible called "The Virgin" (spelled with a capital V)? Or even just one verse confirming she still deserves to be called a virgin in the perpetual sense? Mary may have been a virgin once, but nowhere in scripture does she claim that she is endowed or authorized with the title The Virgin.
Article 8 (or 9 or 10, or whatever): "We believe in the Lords Day being the New Testament sabbath set aside to worship God, which is now the first day of the week."
Dear Protestant ... your article of faith is incredible, but not Biblical! Where in the Bible has authority been given to the Church to change the fourth commandment? Why would Jesus lie by contradicting Himself when He said in John 10:35, "the scripture cannot be broken"? Meaning ... even God Himself will not change scripture. In Him we trust! If the Church has been sanctioned with divine jurisdiction to brake or change just one verse then surely that would give licence to change any verse where the Church deemed right and fit to do, would it not? This would also be the correctionist's perfect justification and a great loophole for him to build from, don't you think?
Then there is the line (Article 9 or 10 or whatever) which says "we believe in the doctrine of the Trinity consisting of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Three eternal coequal Persons but one God!"
Oh yeah! Then if Jesus is the eternal coequal Son why did He have to be begotten first, born of a woman, in the likeness of sinful flesh, to become a man? We read from scripture He is the eternal Word. However, a son has to be born first, before he can become a son. Does he not? Nowhere in scripture does it say that Jesus was a Son before birth, in heaven. Yes, there is the threefold witness of Jesus in scripture, but the word Trinity is just not in there. Yes, Jesus is the fulness of the Godhead, which rules out Him being just the second coequal person found there out of the three.
Do I have an article of faith or uphold one? Nope! God forbid! If I did I would be trapped in a self-imposed square set by man, and for man. Not trying to be smart or clever, my article of faith is simply 'the volume of the Book' ... from Genesis Chapter One, verse one; to Revelation Chapter Twenty Two, verse seventeen. Also known as The Holy Bible. Moreover, when I mention the Holy Bible I am not referring to one of those modern generic version/perversions ... I am referring to the one authorized by God bearing that name. Besides ... scripture is so clear about scripture not being the domain or ownership of one group or groups of people. Here it is:
2 Pet. 1:20. "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."
Another sort of Bible corrector is what has now become known as a "figuratist" ... someone who sees everything in scripture as just a manner of speech, so to speak. This has in effect created a climate of "figuratists" opposed to "literalists" (oops ... more words to add to your vocabulary). Meaning, the Bible you believe and uphold has to be interpreted figuratively all the time, not literally, where Satan is already figuratively bound, in a figurative pit, in a figurative earth, with a figurative chain (by a figurative angel representing Jesus), where he is (figuratively speaking) no longer deceiving the nations at present. Moreover, where hell is depicted as only a figurative place, with figurative fire, for figurative suffering. Meaning, hell is no longer a literal and eternal and real place. Of course the Devil is only figurative too ... just a bad influence or an evil force. Just like those "extremists" who believe in a literal Bible, and insist on it being the inspired word of God. Trouble is ... they wont go away! Until the last trump anyway!
I am not saying you are a correctionist or belong to the "Hath God Said Club" just because you uphold some groups 'article of faith' or promote the "figurative" word above the "literal" word. However, you are certainly ripe for the picking and adding impetus to the correctionist's cause, through your stubbornness, or ignorance, or unbeknownst mentality. There is a remedy of course ... which simply means humbling yourself before God and admitting to Him you were wrong. Correctionists are they who have placed themselves in Moses' seat in the manner of the scribes and the pharisees, and decide right or wrong for others. Jesus vehemently hates this religious condescending position:
Matt. 23:13. "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in".
Just remember ... no one has the right to decide right and wrong for you but only God. By choosing what God said through His word, and obeying it, we follow what is right and good and profitable anyway, as well as shun evil. A correctionist sets himself up saying he knows right and wrong, truth and error (although he would deny and not even believe he does - this is the ultimate in deception) and would have you believe he is mature and qualified to bring you the living oracles of God. The only way he could do this of course, would be by undermining your Bible by insisting it had the odd error in it. Then he would have to devise a way to fill in the gaps with his latest revelation by correcting the supposed error. Therefore, you would be depending on his brilliance and academia and skill, to point out the error, and find you the correct replacement for the word or verse in the Bible that had been tainted by error over time, or through mistranslation. This would make him the ultimate and final authority above the word. This is Alexandrian in spirit (that's scholars reinventing the Bible to suit man and justify their position) and serpentine in nature (stopping you from trusting in what God hath said), as well as the ultimate trick of the Devil, using "well meaning" man as his agency.
Jesus said he would go to the cross (fulfilling the word) but Peter (in sincerity and with concern) tried to forbid Jesus from doing so. Peter was only doing what was humanly kind of him. However, Satan was using Peter as his instrument, and Jesus saw the spirit behind Peter's good intentions. At the end of the day Peter was only trying to water down what Jesus had said, in order for him and the disciples to avoid the cross. Meaning, one could be a follower of the gospel without bearing his own cross. Very similar to the contemporary gospel being pushed today by all the apostate churches. Hence, the reason why correctionists are always tampering with gutsy verses in the Bible, removing or watering down references to the blood, the virgin birth, and hell, etc. The reason Jesus said to Peter in this case:
"Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men."
The good news is ... Peter repented and became a believer. He humbled himself and admitted he was wrong and God was right. Then he got on with the gospel and glorifying the word. Simple eh! As long as pride and stubbornness can be toppled in our lives, where our education counts as nothing in relation to redemption. Paul merely called his education and religious upbringing dung! Quite frank really! Paul counted all things loss ... which was his training, his background, his culture (how un-PC of me), even what was gain; that he might win Christ (read it all for yourself here in Phil. 3: 1-8 and don't just swallow my words).
Back in the Garden, after the Devil had shed question on whether God's word was trustworthy enough, he then said to Eve in regards to encouraging her going beyond God's word for gratification sake:
"For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
Beware of them that are always delighting in making questions ... "Does this verse really mean this, or maybe it means that?" "Are you aware there is actually two schools of thought on this one?" "Did you know it was the Catholic Church and the Jesuits who introduced this doctrine?" "Are you sure this passage is not just figurative with only a spiritual message?" "Are you sure Paul was actually meaning this, when he never really understood women in the first place due to him being a bachelor all his life?" "Are you sure this passage of scripture is not just a manner of speech?" This is merely their way of questioning God's word and throwing doubt on it, in order to correct it their way and overthrow yours:
1 Tim. 6:4. "He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings (to infer from inconclusive evidence, and guess work) ... "Hath God said?"
Well, has He?
Adam and Eve (and their families to follow) could not individually be as God (singular), as there were more than one. However (being "human"), they could believe in the lie they could be as gods, knowing good and evil. If man followed the pure word he would not need to be able to say what was good and evil as this was His Makers position. He was created to obey and be blessed. Bible correctors have become as gods knowing good and evil because they have gone beyond the commandments of the Lord by adding or subtracting, or changing scripture, in order to make themselves the qualified ones others have to look to for divine revelation and guidance. This is antichrist in spirit, as it is a replacement for the Holy Ghost which confirms the word, leading us into all truth.
Num. 24:13 ... "I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?"
If the Bible was complete, perfect and inerrant as scripture says, then these spiritual hucksters would be made redundant on the spot. This is why they have to complicate issues or create smokescreens or erect Strawmen, in order to strategically and stealthily present their solution without detection. Detection and exposure of the correctionist's serpentine tactics can only be made when the Bible believer feeds himself on the word daily, experience being changed by it, and learning to wield it effectively as his sword in discernment, definition and judgement. This way the Bible believer becomes a danger to the kingdom of darkness, as the light of God's truth is shed abroad in this dark world, exposing error and ministering truth. In the end ... it is the truth that makes those who are snared, free. True deliverance is spiritually leaving this world behind, along with it's baggage of manipulation, lies and deceit, for the kingdom of light.
Ps. 43:3. "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles."
Ps. 119:105. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
Ps. 18:30. "As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him."
Ps. 19:7. "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple."
It always comes back to the foolishness of God or the wisdom of man? Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men ... "Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?"
You have heard it preached or taught so many times ... "The Greek rendering says this!" "The Hebrew root word means that!" "Better and more reliable manuscripts are coming to light proving this!" The truth is, anyone can prove anything by the Greek, just as anyone can prove anything by English, or any other language. What does your Bible say? If it is unreliable and contradictory, then chuck it! However, if there is one that is trust worthy and perfect, as God promised, then you need to embrace it with your whole life. Your salvation depends upon it.
"Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake."
Yes, this is a much more subtle form of breaking and entry. By pretence and wile, they will pretend to be Bible teachers and fellow brothers in the faith, while they whittle away and rob you off what the Lord hath said in His written word. They could never do this if they came at you as someone blatantly opposed to Christianity and the Bible, could they? However, by "professionally" questioning or undermining the meaning of words or verses in your Bible, and throwing you off course, this would give them the clout and credence to their "noble" cause. It would also give them an excuse to correct the doubts and errors they have pointed out by their own expertise ands knowledge. How kind and caring of them! Can you see how it is done?
Psalms 11:3. "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?"
Some would call them "scholarly experts", or "Bible critics". A more accurate phrase would be Bible thieves. I've chosen another phrase ... "Bible correctors", or correctionists (a new word to add to your vocabulary). Because this is their self-imposed "ministry". Their apparent self-appointed "call" (although they would never give it this name as this would blow their cover). Their whole technique is to correct what does not need correcting, in order to deceive you away from the simplicity of Christ, as the serpent beguiled Eve with the line ... "hath God said?" Their tactic is to come in with smooth and captivating talk, to complicate the issue in order for them to bring the solution. An odd trick, but with better and newer methods ... more slick, sophisticated, even hi-tech, and tantalizing than ever, as time marches on. All with the motive, to have 'one over you' when it comes to the interpretation of scripture, and place them on the front foot, so you are placed automatically on the back foot, where the tail is always subservient to the head. Reject and resist these Bible gurus I say! No matter how groomed and polished they are. Or how decent and well meaning they appear. For we only have one Head, that being Christ Jesus the Head of His Body, which we are all members of, if we have been born (spiritually) a second time.
What does scripture say about private interpretation? The New Testament out rightly forbids it, that's what (2 Pet. 1:20)! If you are under the New Covenant, revelation comes direct my friend, and all go-betweens are impostors. A true shepherd supports the Book, does not try to control you, or make merchandise of you, or trap you into his system of "higher learning". He will come as a helper to your joy, and not try and burden you with doubt or insecurity or kick the faith from under you:
2 Cor. 1:24. "Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand."
Yes, detect them, then reject and resist all correctionists! Rejecting them is not being rude or ill mannered may I say! Just as resistance is not rebellion. It is only and merely obeying the word of God. A rebellious person in God's eyes is someone who is disobedient to His word. The "invented church" would turn this around and say anyone who disobeys the Church is being rebellious. Although you may feel alone, you have the Lord and all heaven on your side, when you resist the Devil who works through Bible subverters. The Bible does not lie!
Rom. 3:4. "God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged."
The reason why I am so vehemently zealous against these Bible thieves is because I deal with them usually every week. Administering a Bible believing website, one has to be literally reliant on scripture constantly as our final authority and our sword in dealing decisively with these intruders (despite one's IQ or how many titles he has behind his name), who come on (or sneak on - whether message boards, housechurches or committees) as perfect gentlemen, to position themselves by using niceties and fair speech. Until they show their true colours, when you out rightly confront them or when they are expelled through the word. This does not happen by accident by the way, but is according to what the remnant are warned about in the New Testament, when it comes to dealing with doctrine and the faith. It has been the same thing over the years within the home fellowship environment I have attended or hosted, with the internet being no exception. It is also the reason why one must be much more on guard constantly, and ruthless in confrontation, due to the fact one party is not meeting another party in person nor in real life situations, but within the comforts of cyber space; as in dealing with unknown quantities. The internet has many benefits (as well as pitfalls) but it is no substitute for person to person interrelation. Get the drift Brethren?
This does not mean I am against teachers and preachers in the Body. These men are raised up (and few they are) to support the word and feed it to you as bread from heaven. They are not there to take it away from you or undermine your faith, so you become dependant on them, justifying their (unlawful) career. What is an unlawful career when it comes to spiritual things? Answer: Someone who gets paid by (biblically) extorting tithes from you thereby bringing you back under the bondage of the old, defunct, inferior covenant of the Old Testament. They label themselves "pastors" or "ministers" or "clergy" of some sort. Jesus calls them hirelings!
Within the company of the remnant you always have wolves disguised as sheep. Or even nice, well meaning stubborn goats who believe they are sheep. This was prophesied by Jesus and confirmed by Paul. They look like sheep because of their gentle and warm manner, and the way they verify themselves as part of the flock. They are wolves (or goats) by the fact they do not follow their Shepherd (they do not have one) but cunningly hijack biblical leadership and isolate believers in order to disconnect them from the infallibility of scripture and trusting in the words of their dear Shepherd, the Lord Jesus.
2 Pet. 2:18-19: "For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty (how nice of them), they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage (if you submit to them they will ensnare you)".
Yes, they promise liberty, but the end is bondage, for those who would adhere to their fair speeches and unsound doctrine. When the New Testament mentions the phrase "sound doctrine" four times, you can bet your life it is sure trying to get something across, always mentioning in the sense of something not to avoid; but something to embrace, endure and teach to others. It is actually a continuation in this which sets us free from bondage.
Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
If Jesus promised it, then there is not an inkling of doubt that it will come to pass. Meaning, what has been established and declared, and recorded by divine decree, will always last and could be trusted unto the end, unequivocally.
Jesus also warned to be on guard against these intruders who would sneak in to lead astray. He did not say, "I will not allow them in to deceive you." Because, they will! He placed the onus and responsibility on us, the Bible believers, to discern and detect, and to "let no man deceive you." When He said "no man" He meant it! This is the only way we can prove and be accustomed to His word found in the scriptures. Paul also spoke about false brethren and false apostles disguised as servants of righteousness, and those who would come in to spy out our liberty. The only way our liberty in Christ could be stolen from us, would be through infiltration into the flock by these opportunists, or others being raised up within, allowing themselves to be corrupted by covetousness, undermining what Jesus said through His word, and influencing others into their mindset. Especially when there is some sort of platform on hand, recognition and promotion, financial comfort, or a remuneration package (with tax perks thrown in) being dangled before them. The perfect breeding ground for clergy over laity and hirelings ruling God's flock. Let know one domineer your faith or do you thinking for you!
Peter said, "And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."
According to their own dictionaries 'feigned words' mean to use words that appear truthful but are to deceive. Promising you liberty but hooking you into bondage in other words, as already explained. Here is an example of their platitude (and this is the language of the correctionist in a nutshell):
"The Bible is the word of God (meaning, according to scripture - it is pure, kept and preserved from the present to every generation, in written form). However, (there is always a "but" or a "however" or a "whattabout" as the sting on the end of the tail) there are some discrepancies and inconsistencies (error in other words) found in certain passages, or the odd translation slip-up from time to time," etc. etc. (meaning though the Bible is reliable, the one you possess may not be). Have you ever seen such double talk?
Using the above notion the correctionist will always have to point you back to the so-called "originals", which no longer exist, would you believe? Meaning, there is not a museum in the word that holds or displays the so-called originals to make up our Bible, which we could photocopy for ourselves and hand out to others, to understand what the "originals" really meant. Think about it! If there was then the Bible corrector would have a case to make and would be able to use these copies to help us see the truth or he would be redundant. If he invents this case, then this case sounds plausible and marketable and he keeps his job. If he sounded a little more honest (or tactful in his twist) by saying the word of God is only found in the allusive, phantom "originals" which we could never get a copy of, or hold in our hand to read and quote from, and trust with our whole lives, then he could say:
"However, don't expect to ever see or hold a copy as accurate as the original text, because man is always susceptible to error in what ever he does, and I am here to help fill in the gaps for you, caused by the odd translation hiccup, or mis-rendering. Trust me, I may be a man, but I am qualified and know what I'm doing!"
Oh yeah!!!??? We use to call this 'double de dutch' talk, 'speaking in riddles', 'talking with a forked tongue', and so on, where one statement clearly cancels out the other.
This is the only tactic the Bible thief can use of course, as the only other alternative method would be brutal force. Conversion through the sword in other words! However, we have moved on since the Dark Ages, haven't we? People can read and write as education is no longer outlawed but encouraged (after all - this is the age of enlightenment). Therefore, religious monopoly must be accomplished through more clever and subtle means, hidden behind "better methods" and "higher learning".
How it works: Take something very plain, clear and simple (almost too simple to be true). Then by clever word manipulation make it into something gibberish. Then say, "Not to worry, as I am highly trained and skilled enough to take something that is gibberish and make it into something that makes sense, by dissecting it, analysing it, comparing it, then giving it my full approval. Then you can go away and trust it, as it has been sanctioned by a professional. After all, this is what I am hired and paid to do. Trust me! I wouldn't deceive you, would I?"
There are many ways truth has been eroded away by religious professionals. Any truth placed in a square will keep people bound to that square if they are indoctrinated to believe the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, is confined to that square. The very reason denominations and cults are born. F'instance ... a man comes along with a truth, a true revelation, and it gets boxed in so others can't see the full picture - the complete volume of the Book, but only the bit that the "qualified" teacher" would sanction. What happens to the people? They are trapped into this system of building an empire around just one aspect of the truth and are hemmed in by it, unable to question or look at other truths and be free. After all, this is where Jesus is found:
Psalms 40:7. "Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me".
This means Jesus is found, and therefore the truth is found, in the full picture in other words! Man will do his utmost to bind the word and box it in, in order to box in others. Even though man will imprison Bible believers, he can never imprison the word, nor have monopoly over revelation:
2 Tim. 2:9. "Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound."
Take note of many ministries today proudly standing behind their official 'articles of faith' (another form of imprisoning the word)? This is where the religious conditioning process begins:
"We belong to this group which faithfully upholds their 'biblical' article of faith! "
Really? Let's see how biblical it is to have an 'article of faith' or how biblical some of them actually are when the sword is applied? Remember, once you are locked in (very similar to "church membership") you cannot walk away unless you walk away from what the group is based on, within its self-imposed square. Moreover, who wants you to think outside the square? I know the Lord does, where scripture speaks about the full counsel of God or the volume (all the books) of the Book of books, otherwise known as the Holy Bible. That's looking outside mans self-imposed square! Now, let's take a wee look inside this manmade square to see how man operates:
Article 1: "We believe in the divine inspiration of scripture with the whole Bible in the original being without error."
Oh yeah ... which Bible is that? Would I be able to hold this Bible you base so much on, in my hand today, and quote from it? Would I be able to hand it onto others for encouragement or correction knowing it is God's truth without an inkling of error? Also, please hand me this "original" you endorse so I can check them out for myself, as a good Berean? Unless I know what the original says, then how can I compare it with my Bible today?
Article 2: "We believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary?"
So you believe in the Virgin Mary do you? I know that Mary was once a virgin just like my wife and your wife once were. The only (big) difference with Mary, was that before she bore other children she was a virgin when she conceived and bore Jesus (our Saviour who had brothers and sisters in the flesh you know, according to scripture). Please show me from scripture where there is a reverend Lady in the Bible called "The Virgin" (spelled with a capital V)? Or even just one verse confirming she still deserves to be called a virgin in the perpetual sense? Mary may have been a virgin once, but nowhere in scripture does she claim that she is endowed or authorized with the title The Virgin.
Article 8 (or 9 or 10, or whatever): "We believe in the Lords Day being the New Testament sabbath set aside to worship God, which is now the first day of the week."
Dear Protestant ... your article of faith is incredible, but not Biblical! Where in the Bible has authority been given to the Church to change the fourth commandment? Why would Jesus lie by contradicting Himself when He said in John 10:35, "the scripture cannot be broken"? Meaning ... even God Himself will not change scripture. In Him we trust! If the Church has been sanctioned with divine jurisdiction to brake or change just one verse then surely that would give licence to change any verse where the Church deemed right and fit to do, would it not? This would also be the correctionist's perfect justification and a great loophole for him to build from, don't you think?
Then there is the line (Article 9 or 10 or whatever) which says "we believe in the doctrine of the Trinity consisting of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Three eternal coequal Persons but one God!"
Oh yeah! Then if Jesus is the eternal coequal Son why did He have to be begotten first, born of a woman, in the likeness of sinful flesh, to become a man? We read from scripture He is the eternal Word. However, a son has to be born first, before he can become a son. Does he not? Nowhere in scripture does it say that Jesus was a Son before birth, in heaven. Yes, there is the threefold witness of Jesus in scripture, but the word Trinity is just not in there. Yes, Jesus is the fulness of the Godhead, which rules out Him being just the second coequal person found there out of the three.
Do I have an article of faith or uphold one? Nope! God forbid! If I did I would be trapped in a self-imposed square set by man, and for man. Not trying to be smart or clever, my article of faith is simply 'the volume of the Book' ... from Genesis Chapter One, verse one; to Revelation Chapter Twenty Two, verse seventeen. Also known as The Holy Bible. Moreover, when I mention the Holy Bible I am not referring to one of those modern generic version/perversions ... I am referring to the one authorized by God bearing that name. Besides ... scripture is so clear about scripture not being the domain or ownership of one group or groups of people. Here it is:
2 Pet. 1:20. "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."
Another sort of Bible corrector is what has now become known as a "figuratist" ... someone who sees everything in scripture as just a manner of speech, so to speak. This has in effect created a climate of "figuratists" opposed to "literalists" (oops ... more words to add to your vocabulary). Meaning, the Bible you believe and uphold has to be interpreted figuratively all the time, not literally, where Satan is already figuratively bound, in a figurative pit, in a figurative earth, with a figurative chain (by a figurative angel representing Jesus), where he is (figuratively speaking) no longer deceiving the nations at present. Moreover, where hell is depicted as only a figurative place, with figurative fire, for figurative suffering. Meaning, hell is no longer a literal and eternal and real place. Of course the Devil is only figurative too ... just a bad influence or an evil force. Just like those "extremists" who believe in a literal Bible, and insist on it being the inspired word of God. Trouble is ... they wont go away! Until the last trump anyway!
I am not saying you are a correctionist or belong to the "Hath God Said Club" just because you uphold some groups 'article of faith' or promote the "figurative" word above the "literal" word. However, you are certainly ripe for the picking and adding impetus to the correctionist's cause, through your stubbornness, or ignorance, or unbeknownst mentality. There is a remedy of course ... which simply means humbling yourself before God and admitting to Him you were wrong. Correctionists are they who have placed themselves in Moses' seat in the manner of the scribes and the pharisees, and decide right or wrong for others. Jesus vehemently hates this religious condescending position:
Matt. 23:13. "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in".
Just remember ... no one has the right to decide right and wrong for you but only God. By choosing what God said through His word, and obeying it, we follow what is right and good and profitable anyway, as well as shun evil. A correctionist sets himself up saying he knows right and wrong, truth and error (although he would deny and not even believe he does - this is the ultimate in deception) and would have you believe he is mature and qualified to bring you the living oracles of God. The only way he could do this of course, would be by undermining your Bible by insisting it had the odd error in it. Then he would have to devise a way to fill in the gaps with his latest revelation by correcting the supposed error. Therefore, you would be depending on his brilliance and academia and skill, to point out the error, and find you the correct replacement for the word or verse in the Bible that had been tainted by error over time, or through mistranslation. This would make him the ultimate and final authority above the word. This is Alexandrian in spirit (that's scholars reinventing the Bible to suit man and justify their position) and serpentine in nature (stopping you from trusting in what God hath said), as well as the ultimate trick of the Devil, using "well meaning" man as his agency.
Jesus said he would go to the cross (fulfilling the word) but Peter (in sincerity and with concern) tried to forbid Jesus from doing so. Peter was only doing what was humanly kind of him. However, Satan was using Peter as his instrument, and Jesus saw the spirit behind Peter's good intentions. At the end of the day Peter was only trying to water down what Jesus had said, in order for him and the disciples to avoid the cross. Meaning, one could be a follower of the gospel without bearing his own cross. Very similar to the contemporary gospel being pushed today by all the apostate churches. Hence, the reason why correctionists are always tampering with gutsy verses in the Bible, removing or watering down references to the blood, the virgin birth, and hell, etc. The reason Jesus said to Peter in this case:
"Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men."
The good news is ... Peter repented and became a believer. He humbled himself and admitted he was wrong and God was right. Then he got on with the gospel and glorifying the word. Simple eh! As long as pride and stubbornness can be toppled in our lives, where our education counts as nothing in relation to redemption. Paul merely called his education and religious upbringing dung! Quite frank really! Paul counted all things loss ... which was his training, his background, his culture (how un-PC of me), even what was gain; that he might win Christ (read it all for yourself here in Phil. 3: 1-8 and don't just swallow my words).
Back in the Garden, after the Devil had shed question on whether God's word was trustworthy enough, he then said to Eve in regards to encouraging her going beyond God's word for gratification sake:
"For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
Beware of them that are always delighting in making questions ... "Does this verse really mean this, or maybe it means that?" "Are you aware there is actually two schools of thought on this one?" "Did you know it was the Catholic Church and the Jesuits who introduced this doctrine?" "Are you sure this passage is not just figurative with only a spiritual message?" "Are you sure Paul was actually meaning this, when he never really understood women in the first place due to him being a bachelor all his life?" "Are you sure this passage of scripture is not just a manner of speech?" This is merely their way of questioning God's word and throwing doubt on it, in order to correct it their way and overthrow yours:
1 Tim. 6:4. "He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings (to infer from inconclusive evidence, and guess work) ... "Hath God said?"
Well, has He?
Adam and Eve (and their families to follow) could not individually be as God (singular), as there were more than one. However (being "human"), they could believe in the lie they could be as gods, knowing good and evil. If man followed the pure word he would not need to be able to say what was good and evil as this was His Makers position. He was created to obey and be blessed. Bible correctors have become as gods knowing good and evil because they have gone beyond the commandments of the Lord by adding or subtracting, or changing scripture, in order to make themselves the qualified ones others have to look to for divine revelation and guidance. This is antichrist in spirit, as it is a replacement for the Holy Ghost which confirms the word, leading us into all truth.
Num. 24:13 ... "I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?"
If the Bible was complete, perfect and inerrant as scripture says, then these spiritual hucksters would be made redundant on the spot. This is why they have to complicate issues or create smokescreens or erect Strawmen, in order to strategically and stealthily present their solution without detection. Detection and exposure of the correctionist's serpentine tactics can only be made when the Bible believer feeds himself on the word daily, experience being changed by it, and learning to wield it effectively as his sword in discernment, definition and judgement. This way the Bible believer becomes a danger to the kingdom of darkness, as the light of God's truth is shed abroad in this dark world, exposing error and ministering truth. In the end ... it is the truth that makes those who are snared, free. True deliverance is spiritually leaving this world behind, along with it's baggage of manipulation, lies and deceit, for the kingdom of light.
Ps. 43:3. "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles."
Ps. 119:105. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
Ps. 18:30. "As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him."
Ps. 19:7. "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple."
It always comes back to the foolishness of God or the wisdom of man? Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men ... "Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?"
You have heard it preached or taught so many times ... "The Greek rendering says this!" "The Hebrew root word means that!" "Better and more reliable manuscripts are coming to light proving this!" The truth is, anyone can prove anything by the Greek, just as anyone can prove anything by English, or any other language. What does your Bible say? If it is unreliable and contradictory, then chuck it! However, if there is one that is trust worthy and perfect, as God promised, then you need to embrace it with your whole life. Your salvation depends upon it.
