- Dec 18, 2017
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Dear Friends,
I need to relate a recent experience that has drawn my attention to an increasing polarisation of perspective among followers of Christ.
It seems as time rolls on and the hour is late, the battle for truth rages all the more, and all too often from those within the ‘Christian community’.
Here is what happened.
Recently a close friend with which my wife and I fellowship, saw a posting on Facebook. My wife had posted a lovely photo of our wedding 33 years ago as we were celebrating the occasion of our wedding anniversary.
Well, we got a face book message from the friend on the anniversary day and she requested we read a certain book by Judith Brumbaugh and proceeded to ask if my former spouse who filed for separation 43 years ago was in fact still alive.
This was somewhat of a shock and our friend was so animated about it that we had to ask her to give us some space to enjoy the day – we later agreed to look at the book and feed back about it’s content.
A short while later the book was delivered and I took the time to consider it’s content seriously.
Judith heads up the ‘Restoration of the Family Inc.’ in Florida and is passionate about the destructive nature of divorce and it’s effect on the Christian Church.
Looking first at the title - “Finding Loopholes in the Bible on Divorce and ‘Remarriage’ is like Riding a Bike to Jamaica” - with a picture of a cyclist about to be taken out by a large wave - It was clear that the author intended to judge readers who failed to agree with her ‘biblical’ viewpoint and leave no room for contrary opinions.
In the introduction she insisted that the position to agree to disagree was untenable. Her thesis presented a position that claimed to be God’s final word on the subject. Disagreement was out of the question.
At this point I started to feel rather uneasy – when Jesus walked with the disciples after the resurrection, they felt strangely warm – well I felt strangely cold.
Further my understanding of how the Holy Spirit operated was that when He presents a message, the hearer always has the choice to accept or decline, in other words He never over-rides free will.
I was beginning then to doubt that the Spirit behind this message was truly Holy.
The reader was not given the option to disagree with the author and this set a tone of judgement throughout the whole book.
It may be her theology is so extreme because she seemed to adopt the position that the Scripture was not only divinely inspired but was also the ‘Total Word of God”.
If she then presented a consistent summary of a topic within scripture then that had to be ‘God’s Word’. Arguments challenging her position then, were considered to be an expression of rebellion.
She also gave special weight to a single English translation dating back to 1611. Sad that only English readers can really hear what God is saying???
The Word of God is a title that Jesus reserved for Himself. His word goes forth from eternity to eternity, He says ‘My sheep hear My voice.’ This voice is to be our teacher – this is very clearly recorded in 1 John 20-29.
To elevate some human word or interpretation above this sacred gift in the believer is at best, out of order, and can lead to bondage.
The scripture then, is a sacred tool which when combined with His Word brings life, but without the Holy Spirit it is deadly. The scripture say this of itself in 2 Cor 3:6.
The scripture is not exhaustive in all matters of life and faith – But the scripture is sufficient in all matters of life and faith if combined with His Word. He promises to give us wisdom for life if we ask Jam1: 5 and we will hear a voice behind us saying ‘this is the way – walk in it’ Is 30:20-21 This is direct communication with Him.
Judith is on a crusade to strengthen Christian families and this is a noble aspiration, but to present a theology to bolster her efforts is the last thing the body of Christ needs.
A disempowered Church needs to return to ‘First Love’, repent, and do again the deeds done at first – recorded in detail in the early chapters of Acts.
From this, ministries will emerge that will deal with any binding issues individuals might have from the past.
God’s solution is always more Love not more rules.
Her theory goes like this - a first marriage, (in my case to an unbeliever) is binding for life because it is a ‘one flesh’ union that supposedly cannot be broken.
In my case my spouse was looking for another man within six months of the marriage and eventually ended up living with my best friend. I experienced a prodigal’s return to faith and she then proceeded to file for separation and the marriage was legally dissolved. I was careful not to assist the divorce process, and there was nothing I could do to prevent it.
After this I was single for eleven years before divine circumstances led me to my present wife Sandi who is a deeply committed life partner in His work.
Judith insists that I was required to be single for life and my present marriage was born in sin.
I have 5 children ranging form 32 to 17 and I guess they should also be considered illegitimate.
Can I warn folks not to be beholden to this extreme teaching?
There are several references in scripture that refer to covenant being breakable through unfaithfulness.
Vows can be broken by the unfaithful and the believer is no longer bound.
We are told we will have many teachers but few Fathers. I think a father ministry better addresses this delicate issue.
1 Cor 7:27-28 clearly states that a marriage following being released from a wife is not sinful. This follows the reference in verse 15 that states that the believing partner is not bound to an unfaithful wife who divorces.
We are warned against being ‘one flesh’ with a prostitute; this being the case the ‘one flesh’ state is certainly not a matter of God’s binding ordinance till death.
Romans 7:6 was a scripture she didn’t quote – Paul tells us in this verse we are released from the law, having died to that to which we were bound, so that we serve in the newness of the Spirit and not the oldness of the letter.
All the clever technical argument presented has no weight without the Holy Spirit. It may hold together well, but lacks authority at the hub.
I note that in the scheme of things those with authority are rarely teachers or scribes. Most in the New Testament who were associated with His power and authority were simple folk characterised by obedience and love.
I am convinced that God does not discriminate against the simple by making the scripture hard to understand. When the Spirit assists with understanding revelation flows regardless of our mental capacity.
If we need a PhD. to follow a scriptural argument then something is wrong.
In many cases the intellectual folk have a harder time receiving from Him as they are more likely to struggle with the challenge intellectual humility.
For this reason I studied the Scripture constantly for more than 5 years without any reference to other books or teaching. I knew that His revelation knowledge was a jewel to be sought above all else.
Sandi and I were married by a humble intellectual giant, then Principal of the Bible College of New Zealand - Rev. Dr. David Stewart MBE with much love and grace.
Blessings,
Carl Emerson.
I need to relate a recent experience that has drawn my attention to an increasing polarisation of perspective among followers of Christ.
It seems as time rolls on and the hour is late, the battle for truth rages all the more, and all too often from those within the ‘Christian community’.
Here is what happened.
Recently a close friend with which my wife and I fellowship, saw a posting on Facebook. My wife had posted a lovely photo of our wedding 33 years ago as we were celebrating the occasion of our wedding anniversary.
Well, we got a face book message from the friend on the anniversary day and she requested we read a certain book by Judith Brumbaugh and proceeded to ask if my former spouse who filed for separation 43 years ago was in fact still alive.
This was somewhat of a shock and our friend was so animated about it that we had to ask her to give us some space to enjoy the day – we later agreed to look at the book and feed back about it’s content.
A short while later the book was delivered and I took the time to consider it’s content seriously.
Judith heads up the ‘Restoration of the Family Inc.’ in Florida and is passionate about the destructive nature of divorce and it’s effect on the Christian Church.
Looking first at the title - “Finding Loopholes in the Bible on Divorce and ‘Remarriage’ is like Riding a Bike to Jamaica” - with a picture of a cyclist about to be taken out by a large wave - It was clear that the author intended to judge readers who failed to agree with her ‘biblical’ viewpoint and leave no room for contrary opinions.
In the introduction she insisted that the position to agree to disagree was untenable. Her thesis presented a position that claimed to be God’s final word on the subject. Disagreement was out of the question.
At this point I started to feel rather uneasy – when Jesus walked with the disciples after the resurrection, they felt strangely warm – well I felt strangely cold.
Further my understanding of how the Holy Spirit operated was that when He presents a message, the hearer always has the choice to accept or decline, in other words He never over-rides free will.
I was beginning then to doubt that the Spirit behind this message was truly Holy.
The reader was not given the option to disagree with the author and this set a tone of judgement throughout the whole book.
It may be her theology is so extreme because she seemed to adopt the position that the Scripture was not only divinely inspired but was also the ‘Total Word of God”.
If she then presented a consistent summary of a topic within scripture then that had to be ‘God’s Word’. Arguments challenging her position then, were considered to be an expression of rebellion.
She also gave special weight to a single English translation dating back to 1611. Sad that only English readers can really hear what God is saying???
The Word of God is a title that Jesus reserved for Himself. His word goes forth from eternity to eternity, He says ‘My sheep hear My voice.’ This voice is to be our teacher – this is very clearly recorded in 1 John 20-29.
To elevate some human word or interpretation above this sacred gift in the believer is at best, out of order, and can lead to bondage.
The scripture then, is a sacred tool which when combined with His Word brings life, but without the Holy Spirit it is deadly. The scripture say this of itself in 2 Cor 3:6.
The scripture is not exhaustive in all matters of life and faith – But the scripture is sufficient in all matters of life and faith if combined with His Word. He promises to give us wisdom for life if we ask Jam1: 5 and we will hear a voice behind us saying ‘this is the way – walk in it’ Is 30:20-21 This is direct communication with Him.
Judith is on a crusade to strengthen Christian families and this is a noble aspiration, but to present a theology to bolster her efforts is the last thing the body of Christ needs.
A disempowered Church needs to return to ‘First Love’, repent, and do again the deeds done at first – recorded in detail in the early chapters of Acts.
From this, ministries will emerge that will deal with any binding issues individuals might have from the past.
God’s solution is always more Love not more rules.
Her theory goes like this - a first marriage, (in my case to an unbeliever) is binding for life because it is a ‘one flesh’ union that supposedly cannot be broken.
In my case my spouse was looking for another man within six months of the marriage and eventually ended up living with my best friend. I experienced a prodigal’s return to faith and she then proceeded to file for separation and the marriage was legally dissolved. I was careful not to assist the divorce process, and there was nothing I could do to prevent it.
After this I was single for eleven years before divine circumstances led me to my present wife Sandi who is a deeply committed life partner in His work.
Judith insists that I was required to be single for life and my present marriage was born in sin.
I have 5 children ranging form 32 to 17 and I guess they should also be considered illegitimate.
Can I warn folks not to be beholden to this extreme teaching?
There are several references in scripture that refer to covenant being breakable through unfaithfulness.
Vows can be broken by the unfaithful and the believer is no longer bound.
We are told we will have many teachers but few Fathers. I think a father ministry better addresses this delicate issue.
1 Cor 7:27-28 clearly states that a marriage following being released from a wife is not sinful. This follows the reference in verse 15 that states that the believing partner is not bound to an unfaithful wife who divorces.
We are warned against being ‘one flesh’ with a prostitute; this being the case the ‘one flesh’ state is certainly not a matter of God’s binding ordinance till death.
Romans 7:6 was a scripture she didn’t quote – Paul tells us in this verse we are released from the law, having died to that to which we were bound, so that we serve in the newness of the Spirit and not the oldness of the letter.
All the clever technical argument presented has no weight without the Holy Spirit. It may hold together well, but lacks authority at the hub.
I note that in the scheme of things those with authority are rarely teachers or scribes. Most in the New Testament who were associated with His power and authority were simple folk characterised by obedience and love.
I am convinced that God does not discriminate against the simple by making the scripture hard to understand. When the Spirit assists with understanding revelation flows regardless of our mental capacity.
If we need a PhD. to follow a scriptural argument then something is wrong.
In many cases the intellectual folk have a harder time receiving from Him as they are more likely to struggle with the challenge intellectual humility.
For this reason I studied the Scripture constantly for more than 5 years without any reference to other books or teaching. I knew that His revelation knowledge was a jewel to be sought above all else.
Sandi and I were married by a humble intellectual giant, then Principal of the Bible College of New Zealand - Rev. Dr. David Stewart MBE with much love and grace.
Blessings,
Carl Emerson.
