2.\tThe Lie: If you follow certain rules, gleaned from the Bible, then:<\/p>\n
a.\tyour life will be closer to God
\n b.\tyou will be more righteous than the ordinary people in church
\n c.\tyour kids will automatically turn out fine
\n d.\tyour finances will improve
\n e.\tyour health will be better
\n f.\tyou\u2019ll live longer<\/p>\n
The Reality:<\/strong> We have been promised trials and tribulations. There are no other guarantees. In this life, good does not necessarily come to the good or bad to the bad. (John 16:33; Ecclesiastes 7:15; 9:11. See also the book of Job.) <\/p>\n 3. The Lie: The King James Bible is perfect and no other translation should ever be read.<\/p>\n The Reality:<\/strong> Translations are human efforts and all are imperfect. The King James is more imperfect than most.<\/p>\n The lie that the KJV is perfect is perpetrated by those who don\u2019t know how to translate, don\u2019t know the history of translation, don\u2019t know the manuscript history, don\u2019t know the original languages, and who prefer to think that modern scholars are all idiots and part of a conspiracy. Such people are welcome to their delusion, but I\u2019ve got a bridge I\u2019d like to sell them. Cheap.<\/p>\n 3.\tThe Lie: The Bible gives answers for all the questions you might have.<\/p>\n The Reality:<\/strong> Try using your Bible to rebuild your carburetor. Or to answer a question you have about Windows 8 or the operation of your smartphone. Or how many planets are orbiting Alpha Centauri B\u2026<\/p>\n 4.\tThe Lie: We have the right doctrine and any deviation from it will get you into trouble and might even send you to Hell.<\/p>\n The Reality:<\/strong> Hebrews 11 describes Jephtha as a hero of the faith. But he acknowledged the existence of other gods and sacrificed his daughter as a burnt of\u00acfering. Right doctrine? He wasn\u2019t even close. Yet, he\u2019s going to be in heaven and God praised him. He\u2019s the poster boy for salvation by grace through faith. (look at the life of Jephtha in Judges 11-12). This is not to say that right doctrine is a bad thing; Jephtha (and especially his daughter) would have been much happier had he gotten some things straightened out. Nevertheless, as Frederick Spanheim once wrote: \u201cThey are the true disciples of Christ, not who know most, but who love most.\u201d<\/p>\n 5.\tThe Lie: Some parts of the Bible are more important than other parts. <\/p>\n The Reality:<\/strong> Paul is very explicit in his letter to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:16-17): \u201cAll Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work..\u201d This means that one cannot afford to ignore the boring parts. It is not right to think that a quote from Jesus\u2019 words has more weight than a quote from the words of Paul or a verse out of Numbers. Even the genealogies and the details of the temple furnishings are useful and valuable. You can choose to be a wimp and only stick with the easy stuff, or you can buckle down and find the value of say, the first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles. <\/p>\n Please don\u2019t misunderstand: equally important and useful does not mean equal purposes. If you need a hammer, then a wrench won\u2019t do. But if you\u2019re undoing a bolt, a hammer won\u2019t help much. Different parts of the Bible will have different uses in different circumstances. Probably Psalm 23 will help someone going through hard times better than 1 Chronicles 2.<\/p>\n 1. The Lie: Some people are \u201canointed\u201d and should be unquestioningly followed. The Reality: Following any human being is wrong. Following any human being makes him (or her) the antichrist for you. Don\u2019t allow any human being to take the … Continue reading ![](\"https:\/\/nettelhorst.com\/blog1\/wp-content\/plugins\/send-to-kindle\/media\/white-15.png\")
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