I believe the Apocrypha is easier to discount due to the Hebrew scholars.
For me it is more the doctrine of those that view it as inspired, as well as tradition which we see to have caused more harm than anything. But not all of it can be blamed on the Apocrypha. Years ago I was amazed when a teacher I held in high regard mentione the books of Maccabees concerning certain historical events. So I read them, and it was actually very interesting. It's been a while but there is a description, if I remember correctly, of a man being pan-fried.
We can usually tell the value a man places on inspired scripture and what he embraces as inspired in his doctrine. But I think that most in the Body of Christ rely on "weekly feedings," as well as rely on teaching from others. That is not necessarily wrong for many, because we all start somewhere, but, my usual recommendation is that we need to get into the books of the bible rather than books about the bible. The serious student will get to the point where he can himself begin to exegete scripture for himself. One thing, though, I see as true in my own life, is the need for holiness in the man who would presume to expound scripture. Scripture first deals with us before we are put in a place to minister to others, and we have to be ever vigilant of pride and complacency. The more I am in the word, the more my own toes are stepped on, lol, so I do not rely on my Pastor to be the one to always do this (though he does it too, lol).
But what about the New Testament written in Greek,who would have been able to notice if the Epistolary had been changed?
There is always a remnant of true believers that have for millennia defended the once delivered faith. One of the favorite arguments of those that actively seek to undermine God's word is, "That doctrine was not believed until..."
The Lord told the people to listen to the reading of the Law by those that He more often than not rebuked for their erroneous doctrine and practice, but...we would be in error to think that all of them were corrupt. There was a NIcodemus here and there. The hearing of God's word by the people, I liken to the reading of a newer translation by the sincere believer today. He reads it and takes it for granted that "God said that...okay."
It is when man complicates the issues that he has trouble. God said "I am the Savior, and beside me there is no other." Okay, how hard is that. Well it isn't until man says, "Sure, God is the Savior, but you have to also..."
"Stop..." the layman says, "God didn;t say that."
"Yes He did, see, it says right here..."
So the simple understanding of very basic issues is confused and then we have...religion. Most of us recognize religion as man trying to get to man, and Christianity as God coming to man.
No issue of preservation of the word of God significantly changes what God has said. If you look at the arguments presented by those that seek to undermine God's word you will see an absolute reliance on everything...except what God's word says. That is always going to be true. If you look at the word of God with them usually there is a misunderstanding of the word due to contextual error. I find this true, always, when speaking to atheists. It becomes a little more difficult when they claim to be Christians, and it is not our place to judge their salvation, but it is, if we seek to defend the once delivered truth, our duty to confront doctrinal errors. Many of the Epistles were written for the express purpose of...confronting erroneous doctrine and practice.
But the problem today is that unlike years ago if a man wanted to teach a doctrine, or believed he had received "enlightenment," he had to go to the word of God to verify that belief, and the beauty of that was that God's word will transform man in his thinking and practice. It is an inevitable result. Though some will be driven further into rebellion because that is the nature of his heart, more, I believe, receive the blessing that God has infused in His word and gives to those who look into it.
Today, if you have a belief, you simply have to google it, and no matter how ridiculous, no matter how contrary to the rest of scripture it is, you will find some group that will cater to that particular belief. And that is all some people need...verification of what they want to believe rather than diligent pursuit of what the word of God teaches man.
In a nutshell, we can be sure that God would not give us His word only to let man and Satan and demons...destroy it. It is my belief that many of the doctrines that are debated can be answered by a fuller understanding of God's word as a whole, though, and if we can avoid traditional beliefs we are saved in, or raised in, we will come to an understanding that on all points is in harmony with scripture as a whole.
This line of question is aimed at the views on Spiritual gifts,and Christian authority.
Look, I think we can, when we try to defend a doctrine, get into the habit of going to extremes. And this is true in debate especially. If one does not accept this gift or that, they sometimes feel they have to go to the extreme, or they are "not being true" to their belief. This thread has a primary focus the gift of tongues. I see this gift as dealing with languages, and that it is not a gift that we see actively in use today. Is it a matter that would cause me not to fellowship with those that see it as active and have a different view? Yes. Is it a matter where if I am asked, I will state my view? Yes. Is it a matter that would cause me to question their salvation? Not really, because I know charismatics that believe differently than I, but for them...it is not a big deal either, lol.
But when we see the extreme end, where we can turn on the TV and see false teachers bilking people, and we, and even the world, can look at it and see it as a fraudulent show, that is where I feel the extreme becomes harmful for the cause of Christ.
But for the majority of "tongue speakers," among them are those I believe are born again Christians, and while I believe they are in error doctrinally, I am not usually going to focus on an issue like that. It is only when they bring it to extreme position and focus that I might get involved. There are much more important issues to focus on, and soteriology is always going to be the first focus. Many of the errors we see in "Modern Christendom" could be corrected if the soteriology was first addressed. Among all of us it is certain there will be errors as we grow. This is true of all, and we have to question our motivation when the desire to see people saved is cast in the background and hatred is more obvious than the love of Christ. Doesn't mean we are not firm in our resolve, and fail to point out error when we see it, but our first goal should be to lead men to the Lord and then to disciple them.
Unfortunately, when it comes to extreme views, there is tendency to get stuch in a rut, lol. If it more important to me to teach about the Rapture than the Cross, there is something wrong. If it is more important to me to teach about the superiority of my faith than the Superiority of Christ and man's need for salvation, something is wrong. Some of these discussions I find extremely interesting, and it is difficult not to get caught up in them sometime. But there has to be a central focus on Christ always. A Christ and Cross centered effort is always, I believe, going to result in a profitable effort.
Knowing the word was kept from lay people until the Reformation.
This is true, and while I do not want to get cast into an "extreme position" by saying this, but we do recognize that man was from his creation given a knowledge of God. This knowledge, most of us know, was corrupted by sin. We watch the history of man unflod and it gets worse and worse.
We do not have a specific record, but we can see that sacrifice for sin was established and prescribed by God, and Cain is the first one to sin by seeking to do what was right in his own eyes. As time progresses, we see the effect of man upon his fellow man, and entire societies fall into sin.
And all the while are those that have remained constant in obedience to the internal witness of God in man. It is my belief that by the time we get to Abraham, we have a heritage of parents that have taught their children about God, relying on both what God speaks to the heart of man as well as the teachings that have passed down from parent to parent. Certain groups take this to an extreme where tradition becomes so important going back to reconcile the tradition with scripture becomes almost a futile effort for aome.
Most cultures, for example, have a mother/son tradition that has attached a salvific aspect. Why is that? Because right from the beginning of man's existence in seperation from God man knew that one day there would be One that would defeat sin. So it is natural that as this knowledge was passed down sin and Satan would seek to pervert this. I have talked to Catholics that have what I believe a reasonable view of Mary, attributing only the reverence one would attribute to the woman chosen to be the mother of God manifest in the flesh. But I have also talked to those that see Mary as taking part in salvation, so we see a general truth taken to extremes. Another extreme in that would be despising Mary because of the extreme belief of some, and that too, is in error.
So during those times when the word of God was withheld from man, we still see that God has preserved that which He revealed to men and has not left man completely devoid of the knowledge one needs in order to be in right relationship with Him.
We see this even in Gentiles that did not receive the word of God, and Paul makes it clear that some of them were obedient to the internal witness of God.
Something else that comes to mind is today we have countries that outlaw the word of God, yet, we see that there are those still obedient to defend the once delivered faith. Men and women die daily in other countries around the world for their efforts. It is my belief that there have always been men and women like this throughout the ages, even when the word of God weas restricted by those in power.
Today, more men and women have less excuse. The Gospel has gone around the world and though there are many that have not heard, there are many who have. It is my hope to learn to be a part of the tradition of ministering the Gospel to those that have not heard, and those that have heard but believe some rather odd things, lol. Delusions of grandeur, perhaps, but God has been teaching me in a number of areas that I can compare with even a few years ago, so I am hopeful that God will use me.
Any time people interact, there are going to be problems, of this we can be sure. But we can also be sure that Christ is building His Church, and has been for nearly two thousand years. There will always, even in times of great suppression and tribulation, be a remnant that seek to be obedient to God to defend the once delivered faith. I hope to be a part of that. We will not know the role we play in redemptive history until we stand before Christ, but, it seems to me that the word of God makes it very clear what we should be doing, and what we shouldn't. The "shouldn't" part, lol, takes years of instruction from God, and we recognize the progressive sancitification process we all go through, but, it is just my opinion that our efforts to know God better through the word which He has given us is an easy way to further such efforts.
And it is also my belief that the faith which Christ taught is the same faith that many around the world belong to. They differ on a few beliefs, lol, but Christ is able to do what He promised to do, which is to create a People of God who will enjoy an eternal relationship with Him.
Sorry for the length, Now Faith, guess I am just in a talkative mood this morning. But now, it is time to help in Thanksgiving preparation, so, hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving.
God bless.
