Learning the Histroical Evidence For Christianity

Of these things put them in remembrance, 

charging them before the Lord that they 

strive not about with words to no profit,

 but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to 

shew thyself approved unto God, a workman 

that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly 

dividing the word truth. But shun profane 

and vain babblings; for they will increase 

unto more upgodliness. And their word will 

eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus 

and Philetus: who concering ghe truth have 

erred, saying that the resurrection is past 

already: and overthrow the faith of some.

2Timothy 2:14-18 

     Yesterday's blog was about Church Creeds and the reason Creeds were written and how they have been forgotten in too many Churches and replaced with another form of theology. Many people if not more than 3/4 of the congregants have ever read or even heard a Creed. It is if the term "Creed" has become anathema. Yet, many congregants know the words and tunes of many songs, those outside the Church and even the new "ditties" that are written today that often make Jesus out to be a "teddy bear" rather than God, our Saviour. The truth about the Gospel has been replaced with some sort of Psychological ideology, or the words of counseling that are derived, not from Scripture but from those men, Freud, Spoke, and many others. The Christian conception, a Creed is not a mere expression of Christian experience, but on the contrary it is a setting forth of those facts upon which experience is based. 

     History, a subject much avoided, especially these days when there is a tearing down of history in the United States when monuments that are records of history have been removed due to some "Political Correctness." Yet, we must know history for history gives us insight into the present, how we have gotten to where we are: history is a matter of fact and to avoid it is to be easily misled. Christianity is a historical phenomenon and must be investigated on the basis of historical evidence. 

     All corporations have incorporation papers wherein the objects of the corporation are set forth. If a corporation pursues other objects not set forth in the corporation papers they are acting ultra vires of the corporation. So it is with Christianity. It is true that Christianity is not a doctrine but a life and this can only be settled by examination of its history. The early writers of the Bible may not have the authority to legislate for subsequent generations: but the do have an inalienable right to legislate for all generations that should choose to bear the name of "Christian." No matter what: Christianity can only be determined by an examination of its beginnings. 

     Liberal Christians lean on a theology that God will sent into the minds thoughts by which they can do certain things, or to have certain things and all the while the Bible is now lowered from the absolute truth that is needed for life. If what is thought in the mind cannot be substantiated by the Bible then it is not true. We must avoid such ones who are bringing this teaching into the Church. 

    In the next blogs I will give information about the history of Christianity.

I said, I will take heed to my ways,

     that I sin not with my tongue:

 I will keep my mouth wit a bridle,

     while the wicked is before me.

                       Psalm 39:1

Study, show yourself approved

Richard L. Crumb

The Importance Of Church Creeds

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them 

which cause divisions and offenses contrary to 

the doctrine which ye have learned; 

and avoid them. For they that are such serve 

not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly;

 and by good words and fair speeches deceive 

the hearts of the simple.

Romans 16:17-18 

     My surgery went well and they removed a fat tumor about the size of a soft ball. Pain meds has helped as the pain form such a cut and the leaving of a void was a bit hard but I am getting better everyday. Thank our Lord for giving to man the ability to learn and make things better, especially is this so in medicine.

     I need to help understand the Greek words for the English does not give us good understanding as to what the Greek people heard and understood. The word "doctrine" carries, unfortunately, several meanings, both good and bad so to learn the Greek word aids us. The Greek word actually means "teaching." The English word "doctrine" means a particular principle, a policy taught or advocated, a position, or a system that relates to a certain or particular subject. This then means this: we must come to understand who is teaching, or giving of their doctrine, or the doctrine of another so that we are not following after that which is contrary to Scripture. Another word used in the opening Scripture is "simple." The English definition is large for this word can mean something easy to understand, or a simple design, but it carries more as it can mean unlearned, or even ignorant, unmixed. The Greek word simply means "innocent" or "unsuspecting," those who could be easily deceived. The Greek understanding should be our understanding as it is what is written in Scripture. There is a requirement on men and that requirement is to come to know the truth and not be any man's doctrine, or teaching, rather the "real" truth that is found only in Scripture. Scripture may be taken out of context, or used to promote a particular teaching (we can see this with Jehovah Witnesses where they rewrite words and verses to meet their theological beliefs) and we can see this being done by many preachers. We see preachers using Scripture to glean money from the innocent, the unsuspecting. A person who has been accepted into the ranks of Christianity is not necessarily one who has changed into a friend just because he has come into the Church, or that he or she is an eloquent speaker. 

     One of the aspects of the Church today is that of not teaching or learning the creeds, not just any creed but the creeds set forth by men who were associated with Christianity from the beginning, those early Church Fathers. The early Church faced open persecution and many false teachers began to infiltrate the Church, those of Gnosticism, or Judaism, so that it became necessary to set forth a document that held to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. There was the Roman Creed, the Gallican Creed, the Creed of Caesarea, and the Nicene Creed, the Apostles Creed, all setting forth the foundational teaching of Jesus Christ. Rufinus, priest of Aquileia after being exiled due to Arian influence (a teaching that Jesus was a created being) wrote:

1. I believe in God almighty

2. And in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord

3. Who was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

4. Who was crucified under Pontius Pilate and was buried

5. And the third day rose from the dead

6. Who ascended into heaven

7. And sitteth on the right hand of the Father

8. Whence he cometh to judge the living and the dead

9. And in the Holy Ghost

10. The holy church

11. the remission of sins

12. the resurrection of the flesh

13. the life evelasting

This was written around 335 A.D. so then let us look at early creeds.

Ignatius (c.105, E),1.69

"Therefore, stop your ears when anyone speaks to you contrary to Jesus Christ, who was descended from David, and was also of Mary; who was truly born and did eat and drink. He was truly persecuted under Pontius Pilagte. He was truly crucified and died--in the sight of beings in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. He was alos truly raised from the dead, His Father raising Him to life--in the same manner as His Father will also raise us up, we who believe in Him by Christ Jesus."

Tertullian, the one who gave us the word "trinity" wrote (c.180,E/W), 1.417: 

"This rule of faith... is that there is only one God, and that he is none other than the Creator of the world, who produced all things out of nothing through His own Word, first of all sent of all sent forth. That this Word is called His Son, and, under the name of God, was seen 'in diverse manners' by the patriarchs, heard at all times in the prophets, at last brought by the Spirit and Power of the Father sown into the virgin Mary. He was made flesh in her womb, and, being born of her, went forth as Jesus Christ. Thereafter He preached the new land and the new promise of the kingdom of heaven, and He worked miracles. Having been crucified, He rose again on the third day. Having ascended into the heavens, He sat at the right hand of the Father. He sent in place of Himself the power of the Holy Spirit to lead those who believe . He will come with glory to take the saints to the enjoyment of everlasting life and the heavenly promises, and to condemn the wicked to everlasting fire. This will take place after the resurrection of both these classes, together with the restoration of their flesh."  

Tertullian wrote in (c213,W), 3.598:

WE...believe that there is only one God, but under the following dispensation or 'economy', as it is called: that this one only God also has a Son, His Word, who proceeded from Himself, by whom all things were made, and without whom nothing was made. We believe Him to have been sent by the Father into the virgin, and to have been born of her--being both man and God, the son of man and the Son of God, and to have been called by the name of Jesus Christ. He suffered, died, and was buried, according to the Scriptures. And after He had been raised again by the Father and taken back to heaven, He has been sitting on the right hand of the Father. We believe that He will come to judge the living and the dead. And He sent also form heaven from the Father, according to His own promise, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the sanctifier of the faith of those who believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This rule of faith has come down to us from the beginning of the gospel, even before any of the older heretics."

      One of the largest problem in the Church is the lack of remembering, reciting, the creed set forth from of old. There is so much preaching about everything else that the foundational truth is being subverted by men who teach a false gospel. We all need to get back to reciting the creed, the Apostle Creed or the Nicene Creed that reflect the words that I recited above. We need constant reminding of our faith, a faith from the very beginning of the Church. 

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD,

     and the praises of the LORD, according to all

that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great

    goodness toward the house of Israel, which

He hath bestowed on them according to His 

    mercies, and according to the multitude

of His lovingkindness. For He said, Surely they 

    are My people, children that will not lie: 

so He was their Savior.

                  Isaiah 63:7-8

Take time today to read the Apostles Creed

Richard L. Crumb 

Understanding The Difference Between Liberal And Orthodox Christianity

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of 

you,saying, This people draweth nigh unto 

Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.

 But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for 

doctrines the commandments of men. And 

He called the multitude, and said unto them,

 Hear, and understand: not that which goeth into 

the mouth defielth a man; but that which cometh 

out of the mouth, this defielth a man.

Matthew 15:7-11 

 

     Before I begin this blog I must define the words in italics for italics are used when the Greek word, or the need for an addition of a word(s) to make clear in English is used. The Word for doctrine in Greek, which means a teaching, is not used in verse 9 above, rather the word means, a precept, a commandment, or an ordinance. This is close to the word "doctrine" but is different as the word "ordinance" means an authoritative rule or law, a decree or command, a public injunction or regulation, an established rite or ceremony. We often do not have a good understanding of a word or the we use the word in a wrong manner leading us to develop our character. This need to examine what we believe, to examine why the translators used such as italics is important as we are told to demolish imaginations and every that holds itself up against the knowledge of God: "Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God" (2Corinthians 10:5).

     The various teachings of the various Churches, such as the teaching of Orthodox Christianity or the teaching of Liberal Christianity. A person may object to "doctrines", that is, the teachings, creeds, injunctions, ceremonies, etc., but it is not just doctrine that is objective to, rather to one particular doctrine, may be your objection. Let us look at the doctrines (teachings) of Liberal Christianity who hold to a belief that their doctrines (teachings) are upheld that their beliefs, their doctrines are from the history of the Church. The Orthodox Christians say the same thing: so who is right? What should we believe? Here is an example of Liberal Christianity, their doctrine that teaches the universal fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of man. Is this Biblical or is this contrary to the doctrines (teachings) of Authentic Christianity? Both Liberal Christianity, and Authentic Christianity require intellectural defense or examination. To object to theology, that is, the study of God may find objection, and it does often in Liberal Christianity but this is only setting up one theology over the interests of another. The answers to the question as to Liberal Christianity over Orthodox Christianity will not be found is there is not a clear and thoughtful examination. 

     Why is all this important? Because character is determined by our choices. God does not alter our disposition until we enter into the experience of sanctification. We cannot overcome sin, this Jesus deals with and until Jesus has become our close friend and we have a relationship with Him we are at loss to fight the battle of sin. How can we then fight this battle? it is by moral choices for it by our moral choices that our character is transformed, or developed and this development of our character is built upon the word of God, or the culture of this world, but in either case we must have a clear understanding as to what is Authentic Christian Faith.

 I will be gone next Monday and Tuesday, maybe a couple of days more as I go to have a surgical procedure. Until I get back, read the word, pray, meditate upon the word, not your thoughts alone, but the word as it is written. You will be blessed and your character will conform more and more to our Savior Jesus Christ.

 

He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul:

    he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

                       Proverbs 19:8

 

Develop your character according to Scripture

 

Richard L. Crumb