Man's Customizable "Gospel"

"Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you." 1 Tim 4:16


July 2, 2007 - Frustratingly vexing to me are those who call themselves, “Christians”, yet, "just don't seem to get it” when it comes to harvesting a sound interpretation and presentation of the Word of God. Exceedingly vexing are those who would assume prominent, leadership roles in our churches whilst injecting a non-biblical, false doctrine into the Body of Christ. Undoubtedly, the forerunner of man's false doctrine is the inaccurate, liberal interpretation of Scriptural text through which the underlying message assumes the pattern of his personal convictions.

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Tim 4:3-4

A "loose" interpretation of Scripture gives the reader a little room in which to operate, as it were, whilst in the discernment phase of study. Quite literally, it is a personally-desirable, albeit spiritually-unfavorable position in which to exist when we are free to conform the Word of God to what we would like to believe; to what sounds and feels good. In so doing, we allow Scripture to become led by our beliefs, when, in fact, our beliefs should be led by Scripture. When we "mold" and "conform" the Word of God to what we, in our feeble, little minds, opine and define as "truth"--fully-customizable to our agendas--we neither require nor revere the One and Only Truth. In so doing, we presumptuously assume our ways are that of God's:

"My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord.
'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

When what we know as "truth" is humanly-perceived, rather than biblically-received, we forfeit that which guarantees the Light in which we walk will keep us from darkness. In the absence of the Light, our penchant for "listening" to what we'd
rather hear, as opposed to what we'd better hear from the Word of God will ensure the emergence of "humanly-inspired" Scripture--the spiritual "breeding grounds" for false doctrines and teachings. The "word of man", unlike the Word of God, is spiritually-impotent. It is incapable of reaching a lost world.

Our Lord, in His Grace and Wisdom, has equipped us with His divinely-inspired Word and His Holy Spirit--both of which serve to teach and counsel; yet neither of which require addition nor subtraction. The Word and the Holy Spirit are mutually-inclusive, for one is needed to accurately discern the other. Through prayer and the Will of the Father, the Holy Spirit will equip each of us, independently, with different Giftings--many of which play a pivotal role in the accurate, biblical discernment of Scripture. The gifts of the Holy Spirit will bear fruit that is of God.

A theological doctrine solely predicated upon the liberal, "customizable" interpretation of Scripture is the pathway to false, inaccurate discernment--the begetter of false teaching. When we court the former, we inevitably shall be held accountable for the latter.

Ultimately, the licentious interpretations of today sire the fallacious presentations of tomorrow.

Christian Zionism

Ami Isseroff, founder of the popular web portal
ZioNation, the informative
Middle East: MidEastWeb and the
Zionism and Israel Information Center, provides an objective, comprehensive examination of the doctrinal beliefs of
Christian Zionism and Replacement Theology, as well as views from its opponents.

June 30, 2007 - "Christian Zionism" or Christian support for Israel has been stereotyped by supporters and detractors. The apocalyptic visions of Tim LaHaye in his novel "Left behind," and those of Hal Lindsey in his books, along with popular anti-Zionist tracts such as Stephen Sizer's Road to Armageddon, have generated a rather distorted and historically incorrect picture of the doctrines of Christian Zionism. Not all Christian Zionists are dispensationalists or pre-millennialists or believers in Armageddon. Christian supporters of Israel include and have included and include Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Roman Catholics such as the Sisters of Zion. Not all Christian Zionists pursue conversion of the Jews, and some do not believe it is necessary for Jews to convert in order to bring the coming of the Messiah. Not all Christian supporters of Israel believe in "Greater Israel" and oppose territorial concessions, though many, including the most vociferous, certainly do hold these beliefs." Read the article in its entirety by clicking on
Christian Zionism

Replacement Theology vs. Christian Zionism

June 30, 2007 - Naturally, "Christian Zionism" gets its origin from the term, "Zionism"--a movement that is considered secular and political in many circles--while entirely biblical in others. Zionists seek to support, facilitate and advance the return of the Jewish people and sovereignty to their native homeland--the land of Israel. Christians who see the regathering of the Jewish people in their land, as well as the establishment of the sovereign nation of Israel in 1948, as the literal fulfillment of biblical prophecy are known as "Christian Zionists".

Christian Zionists see the Jewish people as the "apple of God's eye"--His Chosen people, and hold firm that God's promises, established in the Abrahamic Covenant, remain in effect today.

A common opponent of Christian Zionism is the doctrine of Replacement Theology, also known as Supersessionism. The underlying, doctrinal belief that seeks to belittle and discredit the objectives of Christian Zionism is the misguided assertion purporting that the objective of all Christian Zionists is to act as the "catalyst" to the literal fulfillment of Bible prophecy. In some cases, said opponents of Christian Zionism go so far as to falsely accuse Christian Zionists as "extremists" who seek to bring about the end of the world and the return of its Messiah, Yeshua.

Ever-willing to quickly dismiss the biblical significance of Israel as a nation and the Jews as a people, the opponents of Christian Zionism have identified and labeled God's "everlasting" and "irrevocable" Covenant with Abraham as "conditional". In so doing, they have indirectly called into question the very faithfulness upon which the Abrahamic Covenant was established. Read the article in its entirety: Christian Zionism and Replacement Theology

United Church of Christ (UCC) Reverses Anti-Israel Resolution

June 23, 2007 - The United Church of Christ General Synod has adopted a balanced resolution regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, reversing the anti-Israel and anti-peace divestment resolution of a previous Synod. This move is similar to the change adopted earlier by Presbyterian Church USA, reversing their own anti-Israel resolution. The most important parts of this resolution are commitment to a two state peaceful solution, rather than liquidation of Israel, commitment to a balanced approach to the causes and history of the conflict, and a call for an end to incitement and violence.

However, we can surmise that as in the case of PC-USA, the UCC resolution will be challenged again and again by anti-Israel forces within the church.

It has rarely been so clear as it is here that those who insist on boycotting Israel are taking an immoral stance that is against peace and against human rights. This resolution is in many ways a model for the resolutions to be offered as alternatives to boycott resolutions when the matter is raised by pro-Hamas activists in church and union circles. It should be emphasized that moderate Palestinians, like Sari Nusseibeh do not support boycotts. This movement is the work of fanatic extremists represented in the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, people who brand Palestinians who engage in dialog as "traitors who take crumbs from Americans and Europeans." Read the article in its entirety: United Church of Christ (UCC) Reverses Anti-Israel Resolution

Irrevocable and Everlasting: Replacement Theology Debunked

“Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." Romans 11 25-29

May 22, 2007 – Frustrating—vexing, even, to me are those who call themselves, “Christians”, who just don’t seem to “get it” when it comes to harvesting a sound interpretation and implementation of the Word of God. Mind you, there are numerous doctrinal components of the Holy Scriptures that, when all avenues of expository and exegetical dialogue have seemingly been exhausted, routinely manage to evade my feeble span of comprehension. These include topics such as the Rapture, God’s omniscience, and the Trinity, just to name a few-- all of which I believe in firmly, yet understand, dimly. It is during such times in which discernment and understanding are at a premium that I rely upon, to a heightened degree, my faith in and prayer to the One who resurrected.

Conversely, there are also those passages in the Scriptures which require a minimal level of exegetical thought. These historical, albeit prophetic accounts given to, and thus recorded by mortal man through Godly penmanship are what I call, “self-interpreters”. Specifically, these are biblical passages which interpret themselves and require not the arrogant, oft-misguided modifications of man, but his willingness to “be still” and listen to what the Word of God is conveying.

Unfortunately, biblical ignorance begets inaccurate interpretation which in turn begets false doctrine. The result is deception. Read the article in its entirety: Replacement Theology Debunked