Berean Call 03-2012 March WEB

A GENERATION ADRIFTby T. A. MCMAHONMARCH 2012

2 T o l l - f r e e o r d e r s 8 0 0 - 9 3 7 - 6 6 3 8 • 7 a m – 4 : 3 0 p m m o n – f r i ( p s T )

o r d e r a T T h e s e s a l e p r i c e s T h r o u g h a p r i l 3 0 , 2 0 1 2 • ( W h i l e s u p p l i e s l a s T )

About The Berean Call

Seven years after publication of the controversial ground-breaking bestseller The Seduction of Christianity in 1985, its authors, Dave Hunt and T. A. McMahon, joined forces on another front. TBC was formed under the direction of Dave Hunt for the purpose of encouraging spiritual discernment among those who regarded themselves not just as “evangelicals” but as biblical Christians. The primary vehicle for this endeavor was through the publication of the newsletter The Berean Call. The ministry and newsletter name is taken from Acts 17:11, in which the writer of Acts commended those in the synagogue of the Greek city of Berea for being more fair minded than those in Thessalonica—because not only were they eager to receive the Word, but the Bereans also checked it against what the Apostle Paul taught them in order to see if his teaching was according to the Scriptures. Through the publishing and multimedia efforts of The Berean Call (TBC) believers are exhorted to get back into the Word of God instead of being “carried about by every wind of doctrine,” and are equipped with materials to help them walk in the truth. TBC’s stated mission is to:

ALERT believers in Christ to unbiblical teachings and practices impacting the church

EXHORT believers to give greater heed to biblical discernment and truth regarding teachings and practices being currently promoted in the church

SUPPLY believers with teaching, information, and materials that will encourage the love of God’s truth, and assist in the development of biblical discernment

MOBILIZE believers in Christ to action in obedience to the scriptural command to “earnestly contend for the faith” (Jude 3)

IMPACT the church of Jesus Christ with the necessity for trusting the Scriptures as the only rule for faith, practice, and a life pleasing to God

MARch 2012 • VOl XXVII NO. 3

Editorial StaffFounder: Dave HuntExecutive Editor: T. A. McMahonEditorial & Correspondence: Edwin Newby Sally Oppliger Barbara Romine Design & Production: Mark Dinsmore Philip McDaniel

SubscriptionsThe Berean Call newsletter is published monthly and sent free of charge to U.S. addresses ($12/yr outside the U.S.). To subscribe, please write PO Box 7019, Bend, OR 97708, or call 1-800-937-6638.

TBc OnlineTo register for our free online newsletter and email updates, to access our digital archives, or to order a wide variety of additional resource materials, visit us at: www.thebereancall.org

PermissionsThe publisher reserves all rights but permits readers to make up to 100 photocopies of any whole or partial newsletter, for non-commercial use. Readers may also quote or re-post material from this issue for print or online usage, provided that: the excerpt is not the primary content of a work for sale; that the context is preserved; and that proper citation/attribution is given. For any other usage, please contact TBC.

DonationsThe Berean Call (TBC) has always operated on the belief that God will provide as we seek His face, so we do not make appeals for financial help. Although the ministry operates primarily on donations, these are freewill and not solicited. Through the years, TBC has seen God “do exceeding abundantly above” all that was asked or thought.

contacting Ustel: (541) 382-6210 • fax: (541) 385-6025orders and donations: (800) 937-6638general inquiries: (541) 382-6210e-mail: [email protected]: www.thebereancall.org

The Berean Call is a nonprofit 501 [c] [3], tax-exempt corporation registered in the State of Oregon. It is overseen by an independent board which has full and final authority over all corporate assets, personnel, and affairs. (3/12)

New! Three Themes of a heroPAUl WIlkINSON’S TAlk FROM TBc’S 2011 cONFERENcE

Three Themes of a heroWilkinson—TBCispleasedtopresentthisinspiring—and convicting—presentation by PaulWilkinson,featured at our 2011 Summer Bible Conference.Wilkinsonpassionatelyrecounts“TheThreeThemesofaHero”asfirstnotedbyWilliamAndrewofGlasgowinhis1912tribute toBaptistpastor,JohnHarper.Harper,alongwithhissix-year-olddaughter,wasapassengerontheill-fatedTitanic.Asthecallwasissuedforpassengersto vacate their cabins,Harperwrapped hisdaughterinablanket,toldherthatshewouldseehimagainoneday,andpassedhertooneof

thecrewmen.Afterwatchinghersafelyboardoneofthelifeboats,heremovedhislife-jacketandgave

ittooneoftheotherpassengers.Onesurvivordistinctlyrememberedhearinghimshout,“Women,children,andtheunsavedintothelifeboats!”HarperthenranalongthedeckspleadingwithpeopletoturntoChrist,and,withtheshipsinking,hecalledupontheTitanic’sorchestratoplay,“Nearer,MyGod,toThee.”Gatheringpeoplearoundhimondeck,hethenkneltdown,and“withholyjoyinhisface,”raisedhisarmsinprayer.Astheshipbegantolurch,hejumpedintotheicywatersandswamfranticallytoallhecouldreach,beseechingthemtoturntotheLordJesusandbesaved.Finally, ashypothermia set in, JohnHarper sankbeneath thewatersandpassedintotheLord’spresence.Hewas39.Viewerswillnotwanttomisshearing“therestofthestory”inthissoul-stirringaccount.1Disc,58min.DVD220 Retail $12.99 wt.2$12.50

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www.thebereancall.org • DaVe hUnt, FoUnDer • Vol. XXVII no. 3 • March 2012

THE BEREAN CALL“[The Bereans] . . . searched the scriptures daily, [to see] whether those things were so.” —Acts 17:11

A Generation AdriftPart One

T.A.McMahon

This is an observation, an assessment,and some prayerfully considered recom-mendationsfortheupcominggenerationofevangelicals.Thereareroughseasaheadforthem, farmore hazardous thanwhat theirparentshaveexperienced.Theyareheadingintoaperfect stormofapostasy forwhichfewofthemseemtobeprepared.Muchofwhattheywillfaceandthefactthattheyareillequippedtosuccessfullyweatherwhat’saheadisatleastinpartthefaultofthepreced-inggeneration—mygeneration.Thatisnottosaythateachgenerationisnotresponsiblefor their own sin (Deuteronomy24:16;Ezekiel18:20),orthattheyaremerelyvictimsoftheirenvironment,butnevertheless,myowngen-erationfailedspecifically(althoughIthanktheLordfortheexceptions)todowhatGodcommandedoftheIsraelites:

Hear,O Israel:TheLord ourGod is oneLord:AndthoushaltlovetheLordthyGodwithall thineheart,andwithall thysoul,andwithall thymight.And these words,which I command thee this day, shall beinthineheart:And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children….Only takeheedtothyself,andkeepthysouldiligently,lestthouforgetthethingswhichthineeyeshaveseen,andlesttheydepartfromthyheartallthedaysofthylife:but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;SpeciallythedaythatthoustoodestbeforetheLordthyGodinHoreb,whentheLordsaiduntome,Gathermethepeopletogether,andIwillmakethemhear my words,thattheymay learntofearme all the days that they shall live upontheearth,and that they may teach their children….And ye shall teach them your children,speakingofthemwhenthousittestinthinehouse,andwhenthouwalkestbytheway,whenthouliestdown,andwhenthourisestup.And thou shaltwrite themuponthedoorpostsofthinehouse,anduponthygates:Thatyourdaysmaybemultiplied,and the days of your children….(Deuteronomy6:4-7;4:9-10;11:19-21)

“Evangelical,”asthetermisusedinthisarticle, refers toChristianswho considertheBibletobetheirauthorityinallmattersoffaithandpractice.Inotherwords,theyprofesstogobytheScripturestoguidetheir

lives.Sadly,thatisn’tmuchmorethanlipserviceformostprofessingevangelicals,ifvarioussurveysidentifyingtheirbeliefsandpracticeshaveevenamodicumofaccuracy.Butdoesthesameapplytotheupcominggenerationof“Bible-believing”Christians?There’s little doubt of that, although theblamefortheirconditioncancertainlybesharedwithmygeneration.

Whoamongbelievingparentscanhon-estly say that theyheeded the instructionthatGodgavetotheIsraelitesto“diligently”teachtheirownchildrentheWordofGod?AsIthinkbackonraisingmyfivechildren,now in their 20s and30s,mywife and I“coulda done better.”Althoughweknewthat their instruction in theLordwas tobefirstandforemostourresponsibilityat

home,toooftenweturnedthemovertoaSundayschoolclass,achurchprogram,and/orayouthpastor(whoinmyviewhasoneofthemostdifficultcallingsinministry).Notthatthoseexperienceswereallbad;someof them trulyblessedourkids.Thebasicproblemwasthatwelostsightattimesofourpersonalresponsibilityto“bringthemup in the nurture and admonition of theLord,”allowingthechurchtobecomeourfamily’s“spiritualbabysitter.”

Thatfaultishardlyuniquetomyfamilyormygenerationbutiswidespreadamongevangelicals today.The outcome is of nosmallconsequence,contributingtoagenera-tionoftrueandprofessingChristianswhoarefunctionallybiblicallyilliterate.Theyknowhowtoread,theyhaveBibles,buttheyrarelyputthetwotogether.Thatcreatesaseriousquandary.Jamesexhortsusinhisepistletobe“doersoftheWord”andnothearersonly.Obviously,iftheydon’tknowGod’sWord,theycan’tdowhatitsays.Furthermore,mosthavecometorelyonwhatotherstellthemtheBiblesays.Theyhavebeenconditionedby being “spoon-fed” the Scriptures, andmanyseemokaywith that.Spoon-feeding

is reasonable forbabybelieversuntil theyarereadyforthemeatoftheScriptures,butGod’sWordtellsus toweanthemoff thatprocess as soon as possible (Hebrews 5:12-13).It’stragicthatsuchaconditionprevailsamongyoungevangelicalChristianstoday.

Tragic?Yes.First of all, it brings intoquestionwhethertheyweretaughtandhaveunderstoodandtrulybelievedthegospel,thegoodnewsthatJesuspaidthefullpenaltyfortheirsinsandthatHeofferssalvationtomankindasafreegiftthatmustbereceivedbygrace through faith alone (Romans5:10;1Corinthians15:3;Ephesians2:8-9;Hebrews2:17).AlthoughtheacceptanceofeternallifewithJesusrequiresonlychild-likefaith, livingone’slifeinChristisagrowthprocessthatbeginswithanewbirth(beingbornagainspiritually)andthendevelopsintospiritualmaturity.At least that’s the biblical plan.Forthemajorityofthenextgenerationofbelievers, however, their situation seemstobeacaseofarresteddevelopment.Thereasonsfor,andthedireconsequencesof,suchaconditionarenumerous.

Duringthelastthreedecades,manyhaveexperiencedChristianityinchurchsettingsthatmajor in entertainment rather than inteachingtheScripturesanddisciplingthosewhoattend.Thus,theyaretheproductsofyearsofchurch-growthmarketingschemesthat have attempted to fill pewswith the“unchurched”andkeepthemcomingbackby using consumer-oriented tactics. It’s a“keepthecustomerhappy,”seeker-friendlyapproachthathascriticallydilutedbiblicalcontentaschurchescompetewiththeworldin order to interest their youth.Thegameroomsofsomemega-churchescouldputtoshametheircities’mostpopulararcades.Themarketingmentalityof“dowhateverittakestoattractandkeepthekidscomingbacktochurch”reflectsa“baitandswitch”scheme,and inmost situations the “bait” (games,musicthatmimickstheworld,andentertain-ment) overwhelms the intended “switch”(learningtheBible).ThatendeavorhasbothtrivializedandmarginalizedtheinstructionoftheWordofGodforthosewhohavebeensubjectedtothatworldlyapproach.Theout-comehasresultedinashallowChristianityformillionsofyoungprofessingChristians.

Biblicalshallowness,however,hasmanycontributors.Eveninsituationswherescrip-tural content hasmade an impact on ouryouth,quiteoftenithasbeenacceptedsim-plybecauseanengagingpreacherorteacher

all scripTure is given by inspi-raTion of god, and is profiTable for docTrine, for reproof, for correcTion, for insTrucTion in righTeousness: ThaT The man of god may be perfecT, Throughly furnished unTo all good Works.

—2 TimoThy 3:16-17

4March2012 T h e b e r e a n c a l l

captured their imagination.Although thatconditionisnotexclusivetothenextgen-erationofbelievers,ithastheoveralleffectofstuntingone’sgrowth.Ifonebelievesabiblical doctrine only because theywerepersuadedbyacompellingteacher,theymaybecomedependentupontheteacherinsteadofbeingrootedintheunderstandingoftheScriptures.Believing something because“so-and-sosaidso”isfaithbyproxy,afaiththatisn’tone’sown.Suchanattachedbeliefisnotonlywronglyapplied,butitdoeslittletostrengthenone’sfaith.Moreover,itmaybetiedtothespiritualstatusofthepersonwho taught the doctrine, and should thepreacher/teachergosouthmorallyordoc-trinally,somaygohisfollowers.Akintoafaithbyattachment,andjustas

potentiallydestructive,isafaithacquiredbyosmosis.Botharesecondhand.Faithbyosmosisrarelygoesbeyondwhatapersonhas“pickedup”fromhisbelievingfamilymembers, friends, teachers, and assortedChristians throughout his life. Scripturedoessaythat“faithcomesbyhearing,”butforthattoproducefruit,theversegoesontosaythatthe“hearing”hastobe“bythewordofGod”(Romans10:17).TothisJamesaddsthatwearetobe“doersoftheword,andnothearersonly,”thelattercausingonetobevulnerabletodeception(James1:22).

IfdeceptionisapotentialproblemforonewhohearstheWordofGodbutdoesn’tdowhatitsays,whatmightbethesituationforthosewhoonlyincidentallyheartheWordand have nothingmore than a superficialknowledge of it? Ignorancemay be blissforsome,butscripturallyitmakesonethe“devil’s delight.” Since the sword of theSpirit,theWordofGod,istheonlyformida-bleweaponagainsttheonewhomtheBiblecalls“devoidoftruth,thefatheroflies,aliaranddeceiver,whogoesaboutlikearoaringlionseekingwhomhemaydevour,”whatthenof thosewhocan’thandle the swordoftheSpirit—whoseChristianityhasbeenshapedbymostoftheconditionsmentionedabove?Whenyouadditup,theyareindeedfunctionallybiblicallyilliterateandthereforedefenselessagainstGod’sadversary.

Young evangelicalswho are involvedinministrytellmethattheincreasingstateof easy access to information throughthe internet, e.g., Facebook,Twitter, andvarious blogs and apps has compoundedthe difficulty of encouraging their peersto study theBible in depth;what’smore,it reinforces their appetite for instantgratification.That’scomparabletosomeinmygeneration,whowereofthementality:“WhyreadthebookwhenyoucanreadtheCliffsNotesversion?”—onsteroids!It’salsobeennotedthatsuchbelieversareawarethattheyareseriouslydeficientinunderstanding

the Scriptures—which has led to otherproblems: a) they are easily intimidatedby thosewho tell them to leave theBibleanswers to the scholars and experts, andb)theytendtoseekoutthelatestChristianbooksforenlightenmentratherthangleaninginsightsfromtheBibleitself.Onceagain,allofthismakesthemripefordeception.

If that real-life scenario regarding thenext generation of evangelicals soundsdisheartening, brace yourself for the restofthestorythattheywillbefacing.WhenJesuswas asked about the last days,Hisfirstwordswere,“Takeheedthatnomandeceiveyou”(Matthew24:4).DeceptionwasHischaracterizationofthetimepriortoHissecond coming. InLuke18:8,He furtherunderscoresthesituationwhenHeimpliesthatthefaith,theactuallivingoutthetruthofGod’sWord,willbescantamongmenatHisreturn.Wearegivenmanypropheciesthattelluswhattolookforandwhenthattimewillbedrawingnear.Scriptureoverwhelm-inglydeclaresthatescalatingapostasywillprecedeHissecondcoming.NooneotherthanGodknowstheexacttimeofChrist’sreturnforHischurch,theBrideofChrist,totakehertoheaven,butastheseapostasiesescalate,itmakesaraptureeventevenmoreimminent.Theapostasyisprimarilygearedto the advancementof the religionof theAntichrist.Itwillincludeseductivebeliefsandpractices,mostofwhichhaveaformofgodlinessbutarediametricallyopposedtowhattheBibleteaches.Theyarebeliefsthatseem right untomen (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25),andtheyaretaughteitherbythosewhoarethemselvesapostate—deceivedprofessingChristians—orbytruebelievers,thelatterunwittingly (Acts 20:28-31).This false uni-versalreligionwon’tjustsuddenlyarrive;itspreparationbeganatthefallofmankindandwillculminatefollowingtheraptureofallbelieversprior to thebeginningof theAntichrist’sseven-yearreign.

Hastheapostasycapturedtheheartsandmindsofouryounggenerationofevangeli-cals?Certainlytherearemanywhohavenotsuccumbedtotherampantdeception,eventhoughtheymaybeillequippedtomaintainasteadfastness in thefaith.Nodoubt it istheirloveforJesusandthegraceofGodthathaskeptthemthusfar.Furthermore,amongyoungpeople,thereareencouragingsignsthattheyhaveadesiretoseebiblicalChristi-anitymanifestedintheirlivesastheypursuea closerwalkwith theLord and adeeperunderstandingofHisWord.Yettoofewaretrulypreparedforthespiritualbattleandtheroughseasahead,whichwillonlyintensify.AlthoughthenextgenerationmaynotbethegenerationinwhichtheLordreturns,itwillneverthelessfaceconditionsunprecedentedamongthegenerationsthatprecededit.

TheLordwilling, in part twowewilladdressspecificallysomeofthemoreseri-ousissuesthathavealreadyledmultitudesoffcoursefromGod’sWordandhaveship-wreckedthefaithofmany.Thoseturbulentwatersfeaturetheunbiblical“self”teachings,suchasself-esteemandself-love;thefearofbeingconsideredintolerant;thedesiretobeacceptedandrespectedbytheworld.Thesetimesalsoexhibitgrosslackofdiscernmentby churches and individuals who allowcommunityandrelationshipstoovershadowbiblicaltruth;whobuyintothepseudo-sci-encesofevolutionandpsychotherapy;whoappeartohaveaninabilitytorecognizetheheresiesoftheemergingchurchmovement,thecontemplativemovement,andmysticaland occult practices, theword-faith andhealingandprosperitymovement, and theinner-healingmovement.ThereisalackofunderstandingregardingReplacementThe-ology;theriseofanti-Semitismwithinthechurch;yogainthechurch;thefalsegospelandanti-biblicaldogmasofRomanCatholi-cism; and no apparent concern regardingtheerrorsoftheyouth-orientedpara-churchorganizations; themisdirected propensitytohelpothersbymeansofasocialgospel,eliminatingsocial injustice,andotherpro-gramsthatleadto“workssalvation.”

TheApostlePaulwrotetoTimothy,hisspiritualsoninthefaithandoneofthepas-toralleadersofthegenerationthatwouldsucceedhisown,thesesoberingwordsofwarning:

Forthetimewillcomewhentheywillnotenduresounddoctrine;butaftertheirownlustsshalltheyheaptothemselvesteach-ers,havingitchingears;andtheyshallturnawaytheirearsfromthetruth,andshallbeturneduntofables.(2Timothy4:3-4)

Inadditiontothewarning,healsogaveTimothyinstructionsforhelpingtocorrectthosethingsthatwouldtakeplaceandwoulddrawbelieversawayfromGod’struth:

Preachtheword;beinstantinseason,outof season [always be ready!]; reprove,rebuke,exhortwithalllongsufferinganddoctrine[hangintherewiththeteachingsofScripture].(2Timothy4:2)

That’s the simple solution to anchor agenerationadrift:simple,asin“notcom-plex.”Yet neither is it easy—it demandsdisciplineanddiligence.

It is our prayer that thisministry andbelieverswhoareofmygenerationwill,byGod’sgraceandenablement,comealongsidethose of the next generation of believers,helping them in theirwalkwith theLord,supplying informationwhere it is needed,and,mostimportant,encouragingtheminthediligentstudyoftheWordofGod.TBC

T h e b e r e a n c a l l March2012 5

QuotableMenwilllookatthelifeIlead,SeethesideItake,andthethingsIlove;TheyjudgemyLordbymyeverydeedLord,setmyaffectiononthingsabove.

AuthorUnknown

Q&A

Question: In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, when Paul says “All Scripture is God-breathed,” is he referring to his own writings and the remainder of the New Testament? What evidence do we have that these should be considered Scripture as the Old Testament is?

Response:WhenPaulsaidallScriptureis“Godbreathed,”theOldTestamentwasfullycompiled,buttheNewTestamentwasinthemaking.TheLordmaywellhaverevealedtohimtheimportanceofhisownepistles.

SecondTimothy 3:16 is often rightlycitedasevidenceforsolascriptura.Imme-diately preceding 2Timothy 3:16-17 isverse15,whichstatesthat“...fromachildthouhastknowntheholyscriptures,whichareabletomaketheewiseuntosalvationthroughfaithwhichisinChristJesus.”Paulis speakingofTimothy’s familiaritywiththeOldTestament,ashedidnothavetheNewTestamentinitsentirety.

Nevertheless, Timothy had the twoepistleswritten tohim.Hemayhavehadcopiesofotherepistlesaswell.Furthermore,thisversetellsusthat“fromachild”hehadknown theHoly Scriptures, undoubtedlytaughttohimbyagodlymother.TheApostlePaulisdeclaringthatthescripturesavailableweresufficienttoleadonetoasavingknowl-edge in JesusChrist andwere “profitablefordoctrine,forreproof,forcorrection,forinstructioninrighteousness:That themanofGodmaybeperfect,throughlyfurnisheduntoallgoodworks”(2Tm3:16-17).Further, theApostlePaulquotedLuke

10:7asscripturein1Timothy5:18,linkingittoDeuteronomy25:4:“Forthescripturesaith,Thou shalt notmuzzle the ox thattreadethoutthecorn.And,Thelabourerisworthyofhisreward.”PaulplacesthesameemphasisupontheLord’swordsinLukeasthoseinDeuteronomy.PeterwroteofPaul’sepistlesin2Peter

3:16:“Asalsoinallhisepistles,speakinginthemofthesethings;inwhicharesomethingshard tobeunderstood,which theythat areunlearnedandunstablewrest, astheydoalsotheotherscriptures,untotheirowndestruction.”Consequently, the New Testament

Scriptures themselves witness to theconclusionstheapostleshadreachedundertheinspirationoftheHolySpirit.

Question: I disagree with your article on “The Gospel in the Stars” (TBC 5/89). I just think of Genesis 1:1, 14-19, Job 38:31-32, and Psalm 19:1-14. I think about the fall of man, the tower of Babel, the Flood, and before the Abrahamic Covenant. God didn’t just leave mankind alone. He had to leave them some text or scrolls to know of His redemption plan. And I do believe that the first scroll was in the sky, showing the times and seasons, a plan of salvation and redemption.

I have read Bullinger, Seiss, Martin, and read Enoch, Jubilees, Jasher, and I find it very plausible and acceptable to understand that in the age of innocence and conscience, early man had to have some information and knowledge of Truth, and how he would come back to God and fill that void in his heart. “The heavens declare the glory of God....” I stand on the Bible. I have no faith in man, and man’s opinions; I trust in God, and I pray for the truth about things I want to know about.

Response:IfwetrusttheLordandstandontheBible,weshouldn’tsaythatBullinger,Seiss,Martin,andapocryphalbookssuchasEnoch,etc.,are“plausible.”Theycan’tbeplausibleiftheycontainteachingscontrarytotheWordofGod.Wecan’tsaythatwehave“nofaithinman”andyetfindhumanreasoning“acceptable.”Let’s begin with Psalm 19:1. “The

heavensdeclarethegloryofGod;andthefirmamentshowethhishandiwork.”They“declare”Hisglory.Theydemonstrate ineveryspeechandlanguagethatthereisaCreatorwhocalledintobeingthisamazing,ordereduniverse.Buttheydonotgiveanydetailsaboutthegospelthatsavesman.

In the beginning, theLord created theheavensandtheearth.Wearespecificallytoldthat“Godsaid,Let therebelights inthefirmamentoftheheaventodividetheday from the night; and let them be forsigns, and for seasons, and for days, andyears”(Gn1:14).TheheavensbothdeclarethegloryofGodandservetomarktime.Buttheycannotbeourspiritualfocus.Indeed,Jeremiahwarned Israel: “Thus saith theLord,Learnnotthewayoftheheathen,andbenotdismayedatthesignsofheaven;fortheheathenaredismayedatthem”(Jer10:2).Being separated from theirCreator, theybeganworshippingthecreationmorethantheOnewhomadethem.ThoughthestarswitnessedeloquentlyoftheLord’sgreatnessandglory,theywerenotthemediumusedofGodtocommunicatethegospelofsalvation.Paulasksrhetorically,“Howthenshall

they call onhim inwhom theyhavenotbelieved? and how shall they believe inhimofwhomtheyhavenotheard?andhow

shall theyhearwithout apreacher?”Thestarsareglorious,but the starsaremute.Theyarenota“preacher.”ToomanywhoareteachingtheGospel

intheStarstheoryarereallyjusttryingto“Christianize”astrology.Theyincorporateancient structures such as the pyramidsintothisunbiblicalgoulash.EventhelateD.JamesKennedytellshisreadersthatthekeytounderstandingthiswayofsalvationisthesphinx:“Iknowitwillsurpriseyou,butthesphinxactuallyunlocksthemysteryofthezodiac”(Kennedy,D.James,TheRealMeaningoftheZodiac,CoralRidgeMinistries,1989).Thiscreatesotherproblems.Thesigns

of the zodiac are not visible above theArcticCircle.Thereareno“signs”foranyAleuts,Eskimos,Siberians,Greenlanders,andScandinavianpeoplelivingabove66degreesoflatitude.Inotherwords,formanypeople,the“firstscroll”isblank.Finally, to see theGospel in theStars

as plausible is to give credence to thetheoriesofmanandplaceourbeliefintheBabylonian-basedsystemofastrology.MaytheLorddeliverusfromthis.

Question: I have read your article exposing the mind science used by those teaching The Secret. That’s the way I’ve always felt about The Secret, but when I express those opinions to others, they retaliate with Proverbs 23:7. How would you handle that?

Response: Proverbs 23:7 reads, “For ashethinkethinhisheart,soishe:Eatanddrink,saithhetothee;buthisheartisnotwiththee.”Thosewhousethisversetosupporttheir

preconceivedideasarenotreadingtheverseincontextorinitsentirety.It’slikeusingan8-footboardtobridgea50-footchasm—itjustwon’tstretchthatfar.These verses are an admonition to

discernment,forverse6,rightbeforethisone,reads,“Eatthounotthebreadofhimthat hath an evil eye, neither desire thouhisdaintymeats.”Thusitisthemanwho“hathanevileye”ofwhomitissaid,“ashethinkethinhisheart,soishe....”

Asaman“thinketh inhisheart”—thistellsusthatthekeytohistruecharacterisinhisthoughts,unseen.Theversegoesontoread,“Eatanddrink,saithhetothee;buthisheartisnotwiththee.”Whatis“inhisheart”differsfromwhatcomesoutofhismouth.Thefollowersofmindscience,whouse

Proverbs23:7asevidence,are“wresting”(twisting) theScripture to suit their ownpurposeandagenda.Oftheseindividuals,Peterwarned,“Theythatareunlearnedandunstablewrest, as theydo also the otherscriptures, unto their own destruction”(2Pt3:16).


A Leap in the Dark

Question:Ihavealwaysunderstoodthatthereisadifferencebetweenbeliefandfaith—thatbeliefisbaseduponfactandthatfaith,sinceitisrelatedtoreligion,mustbedivorced

fromevidenceandreason.Thatseemsreasonable,butlatelyI’vebeenwonderingwhether,andwhy,thisshouldbetrue.Canyouhelpme?

response:Youarestrugglingwithaseriousmisunderstandingthathasbroughtmultitudesthroughouthistoryintoreligiousbondage.TheBibleputsbeliefandfaithonanequal

footing,withnodifferencebetweenthem.Commonsenseitselfandalittlereflectionwilltellyouthatfaithmusthaveassureafactualfoundationasbelief.Faithisnotaleapinthedark.Furthermore,faithinGodandHisWord,becauseitinvolveseternalmatters,isfarmoreim-portantthanbeliefaboutthingsofthislife.

Faith,therefore,oughttohaveanevenmoresolidbasisthanmerebelief.Onemaybewillingtoallowsomeuncertaintyinearthlymatters,butonlyafoolwouldbecomfortablewitheventhesmallestdegreeofdoubtinthingsthataffecthimeternally.NowonderthegreatApostlePaulwrote,“Proveallthings;holdfasttothatwhichisgood”(1Thessalonians5:21).

Luke tells us that during the 40 days Jesus spentwithHis disciples afterHis resurrection,He“showedhimselfalive...bymanyinfallibleproofs”(Acts1:3).Clearly,ChristdidnotconsideritenoughmerelytoshowHimselftoHisdiscipleswithoutprovidingirrefutableevidenceofHisresur-rection.HeconsidereditbothlegitimateandessentialtoprovethatHewastheverysameOnewhohadbeencrucifiedandthatHehadrisenfromthedeadinthesamebody(butnowinanewandgloriousform)thathadbeenplacedlifelessinthegrave.

“Beholdmy hands andmy feet, that it is Imyself,”Christ told the shocked disciples the firsttimeHecametothemafterHisresurrection.“Handlemeandsee,foraspirit[ghost]hathnotfleshandbones, asye seemehave” (Luke24:39).Theyhad thought theywere seeingaghost,butHeprovedotherwisetothem.TodoubtingThomas,whohadnotbeenpresentonthisfirstoccasion,Christdeclaredlater:“Reachhitherthyfingerandbeholdmyhands;andreachhitherthyhandandthrustitintomyside...”(John20:27).Herewasirrefutable,tangibleevidence.

Itisonlycommonsensethatstrictproofshouldbedemandedbeforemakingacommitmentoraninvestmentinthislife.Howmuchmoreimportant,then,tobeabsolutelycertain,baseduponsolidproof,beforeacceptingbyfaiththosethingswhichaffectone’seternaldestiny.True“faith,”asweshallsee,canonlybefoundeduponfact—notuponfeelings,intuition,oremotion.Muchlessdoesfaithariseoutofblindsubmissiontosomereligiousauthority.

Biblical Answers to Challenging Questions

— An excerpt from In Defense of the Faith (pg. 13-14) by Dave Hunt


TBC NewsWatch

lAWSUIT clAIMS “UNlAWFUl DISTRIBUTION”

Christian Post, 2/10/12: Lawsuit CLaims unLawfuL Distribution of “CharitabLe assets” by tbn DireCtors [exCerPts]—A lawsuit recently filed by the formerheadoffinancefortheTrinityBroadcast-ingNetwork claims that the directors ofthe widely viewed Christian televisionnetwork have illegally taken advantageof more than $50 million in “charitableassets”fortheirowngood.

Brittany B. Koper, granddaughter toTBNfoundersPaulandJanCrouch,previ-ouslyservedasthechieffinancialofficer,director of finance, corporate treasureranddirectorofhumanresourcesforTrin-ityChristianCenterofSantaAna,whichconductsbusinessasTBN.

“Observershaveoftenwonderedhowthe Crouches can afford multiple man-sionsonbothcoasts,a$50millionjetandchauffeurs,”[TymothyMacLeod,Koper’sattorney,] said,according toTheOrangeCounty Register. “And finally, with theCFOcomingforward,wehaveanswerstothosequestions.”

Koper is not suing TBN, however.[The lawsuit is] against her formerattorneys...Davert & Loe—Douglass S.Davert, David C. Loe and Benjamin N.FlintIII.Sheisaccusingtheseattorneys,whoalsodosomeworkforTBN,ofbreachofduties,inflictingemotionaldistressandprofessionalnegligence.

After Koper took charge of TBN’sfinancedepartment,sheallegedlydiscov-eredillegalfinancialpracticesonthepartofthecompany’sdirectors,butwastoldtoprotecttheinformation.

“Following her appointment, Ms.Koperwasspecificallyinstructedtofalsifypublicfinancialdisclosures,tofalsifygov-ernment records, and to otherwise coverup conduct of the TBN Companies andtheir directors thatMs.Koper reasonablybelievedtobeunlawful,”thesuitclaims.

When she approached the defendantattorneys about the situation, they alleg-edlyadvisedandencouragedhertodoasshewastold,andsaidshe“really[had]nochoiceinthematter.”

ThesuitsaysKoperwaspressuredbyTBN’sdirectorsandseniorexecutives,whotoldhershecouldbearrestedifshetriedtoreportanyillegalfinancialpractices.Whenshesoughtthehelpoftheattorneysregard-ingwhatshehadbeentold,theyallegedlyagreed and said shewould be consideredan“accomplice”anddiscouragedherfromsharinganyinformation.

She eventually reported the issuesandwasfiredfromTBN,thesuitclaims.Italsosaysherhusband,MichaelKoper,whoservedasthecorporatesecretaryandvicepresidentofmediaservicesforTBN,wasfiredasaresult.

Koper allegedly caved in to threatsof jail time within six weeks of losingherjob,afterwhichsheandherhusbandturnedovertheirhome,car,lifeinsurance,jewelryandevenhomefurnishingstoherformer employer. The Kopers moved toNewYorktolivewithMichael’sfatherinearlyOctober2011.

cAIR’S FIGhT AGAINST PENNSylVANIA lAW

front Page mag onLine, 2/13/12: Cair’s fight against PennsyLvania foreign Law biLL [exCerPts]—Resistance to anewbillaimedatlimitingforeignlawinPennsylvaniacourtsservesasacasestudyofhowIslamistsandtheiralliesoperate:peddlingfalsehoodsaboutShari’a,paint-ingMuslimsasvictims,anddenyingthatanyoneseekstoinstitutionalizeaspectsofIslamiclaw.

At issue in Pennsylvania is HouseBill (HB) 2029, which stipulates that “atribunalshallnotconsideraforeignlegalcode or system which does not grant…the same fundamental liberties, rightsandprivileges”asguaranteedbythefed-eralandstateconstitutions.IntroducedinNovember,itfollowstheAmericanLawsforAmericanCourts(ALAC)modelandmakesnomentionofShari’a.

Concerns aboutShari’a arewarrantedduetoitsmanyprovisionsthatconflictwiththe standardsofAmerican jurisprudence.For example, it disadvantages women interms of inheritance, divorce, child cus-tody,andotherareasoffamilylaw.Shari’aalreadyhasshapednumerouscasesnation-wide, including in Pennsylvania, whereonestatecourtdecidedhowassetsshouldbedistributedaccordingtoIslam.

Pushback against HB 2029 has beenled by the Philadelphia office of theHamas-linked Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-PA) and waspunctuated by an interfaith press con-ference at CAIR-PA headquarters onDecember 14. The overall campaignreflectsCAIR’susualrecipeofdistortion,victimology, and contradiction betweenwordsanddeeds.

AttacksonbillslikeHB2029beginbysowingconfusionaboutShari’a.BecauseIslamic law encompasses virtually everyfacet of life—governing personal activi-ties such as eating andworship, but alsoforming an oppressive social and legalstructure—suit-and-tie Islamists work to

emphasizeitsunthreateningpieceswhen-everpossible.CAIR-PAexecutivedirectorMoeinKhawaja’s suggestion that Shari’ashould worry Pennsylvanians “no morethanhalalgyros”isafineexampleofthistechnique.

PAUlA WhITE APOlOGIzES TO FlORIDA RABBI

fLoriDa Courier, 2/9/12: white aPoLo-gizes to fLoriDa rabbi, fLoriDa Courier PubLisher after “sCroLL-wraPPing” viDeo surfaCes [exCerPts]—Florida-based tel-evangelistPaulaWhitesubmittedawrit-ten apology to Orlando-area Rabbi IraMichaelsonand toFloridaCourierpub-lisher Charles W. Cherry after a videosurfacedthatshowedWhiteparticipatingin “scroll-wrapping,” considered “repul-sive and inappropriate” by some Jewishreligiousscholars.

The video surfaced just hours afterWhite’sattorney,DanielBeirute,categor-icallyandunconditionallydeniedWhite’sinvolvementinanysuchact.

White’s “wrapping’’—allegedly sym-bolic of being “wrapped in theWord ofGod,”accordingtoerstwhile“rabbi’’RalphMesser on the video—is almost identicaltoMesser’swrapping ofNewBirthMis-sionaryBaptistChurch’sRev.EddieLongduring a controversial, widely ridiculedceremonythatwentviralonYouTube.

Host Don Miller of The Don MillerShow harshly criticized both Long andMesser.OneofthefeaturedguestsontheshowwasRabbiMichaelsonof theBethTefillah congregation in Clermont, justoutsideofOrlando.

Daniel Beirute, Paula White’s attor-ney, unconditionally denied that Whitewouldbe“coronated’’aswasLong.

[Attorney]Beirutewroteinane-mailto Cherry, “I don’t know where RabbiMichaelsongetshis information,butmyclient categorically and unequivocallydeniesthatthateverhappened.”

Rabbi Michaelson, concerned thatWhite’s denial damaged his reputation,e-mailedavideotoCherrythatcorrobo-ratedhisstatementaboutWhite.

[In] anundatedbroadcast that seemsto be recorded from White’s TV show“Paula,” White agrees to allow Messerand another unidentified man to wrapWhiteinwhatappearstobeaTorahscroll.

Michaelson e-mailed White’s lawyer.“I have consulted my own attorney whoiswell-versedincopyrightlaw.It isquiteclear that by your statements...you arequestioningtheveracityofmycomments.”ThevideoCherrysawwasremovedfromYouTube...“duetoacopyrightclaimmadebyPaulaWhiteMinistries.”


LettersDear TBC,Thankssomuchformakingthisinfor-

mationavailable.Yourmonthlynewsletterisalwaysanexhortation,encouragement,andedificationtous,andwerejoiceeverytimeweseeitarriveinthemail.JC(MO)

Dear Mr. Hunt, Iwould just like to thankyou for lis-

tening to thevoiceofGodand[sharing]thegospelundiluted.MywifeandIhavelearned a great deal…fromyour books,DVDsandteachingsandwearesearchingthe Scriptures in everything….May ourLordandSaviourblessyouforsacrificingyourlifeforthegospel.JV(email)

Dear Berean Call Ministry,Iamwriting…tooffermyutmostthanks

for yourDecember 2011publication.Tobehonest,Ididn’tevenknowaboutyourministryuntilthislastmonth.Oneofthearticles…“FalseTeachersAmongYou”byPaulVanNoy,reallyspoketomeinaprofoundway.I aman inmate in oneofCalifornia’s

prisons. I amaborn-againChristianandserveintheleadershipofthechapelhere.Iwasmoved to confront a false teacherthat had risenup in the leadership.Sub-sequently, I’ve been targeted…as theantagonist,notthisfalseteacher.Granted,thereareseveralthatseethetruthandareconfrontingthisfalseprophetaswell,butothershadbeendeceived.Ihadaparticu-larlyroughdayandmyfriendbroughtmethecopyofthisarticle.Itclarifiedmyheartand purpose exactly.Allmy confusion,

doubts,anduncertainty[wererelievedby]thewordPastorVanNoybroughtforth.Ihave,inturn,beenabletoencourageoth-ersthroughit.ThankyousomuchforyourpublicationbecausewithoutitIwouldn’thavereceivedthemuch-neededencourage-mentexactlywhenIneededit.ThankyouforencouragingotherstofollowtheBer-ean’sexampleofstudying theScriptures(Acts 17:10-11)….MayGod bless yourministry.JH(CA,prisoner)

TBC,Letmeprefacethiswithstatingupfront

that I amnot a psychologist, nor have Istudiedpsychology,but[have]onlybeenintroducedtosomeofthetheoriesinsomecollegeclassesactuallyoncriminaljustice.IhaverecentlywatchedyetanotherYou-Tubevideo(6part,thisone)bytheBereanCallonhowpsychologyisdetrimentalandunderminesthechurch,isallnewage,andinessence,theworkofthedevil….Allpsy-chologistsandpsychologyarecondemned,andtheansweristoturntoyourpastorforcounseling….Granted, there are certain ideologies

broughtforthbyJung,Freud,Skinner,andothersthatmakeareasoningpersonpondertheir“mentalhealth”but,atleast,likemostpioneersinanyform,theysawsomething,identifiedapattern,andlookedfurtherintoit by presenting a thesis and theories toexamine;rightorwrong….Whythen,istheentirepracticeofpsy-

chologycondemnedbytheBereanCall?…Daniel interpreted dreams, andwas ofGod,yet[yousaythat]anyoneelsewho“interpretsdreams”isahack.HowareyousocertainthesourceoftheinterpretationalwaysoriginatesfromSatan?Certainlyintheearlydaysofpsychol-

ogy,pastorswerepresentedwiththeideathatperhapssincetheywerenoteducatedincounselingtheyshoulddefertoatrainedprofessional.This, your video indicated,wasaploytounderminetheconfidenceoftheclergytodefertotrainedprofessionals.If,accordingtotheBereanCall,every

problemwehavetodaycanbecorrectedbygoingtoyourpastorforcounseling,whyisitthen,that[accordingtotheLeadershipSurveyof2001]themostlearnedgroupofpeopleonthesubjectoftheBible,theologyandGod’sword,haveoneofthehighestpercentageofpornographyaddictionandcompulsionofanyothersingleprofession?Canyouexplainthat?Where then, does amember of the

clergyturntoforhelp?AccordingtotheBerean Call, all psychologists and allpsychotherapydestroysthechurchandarecondemnedacrosstheboard.Howaptisthe

pastortoadmittotheiraddictiontoanotherpastor,afamilymember,amemberoftheircongregation,oranyonethatthey,accord-ingtotheBereanCall,aretoturnto?Ifnotthem,andif,accordingtotheBereanCall,theyarecertainlynottogotoacounselor/psychologistforhelp,wheredotheyturn?Andif theclergyhasnoplace to turn

without the “rent a friend” concept ofpsychotherapythattheBereanCallconde-scendinglyreferredto,whereareindividu-alsoutsidethechurchtogoforsomeonenon-judgmental to talkwith andworkthrough their issues? I’ve justgotten fedupwiththe100percentcondemnationofanentirefieldofstudy.It’sgettingreally,really,reallyold!DW(email)

Dear Dave and Tom,Thank you somuch for obeying the

callofGodinfulfillingyourministry.Wehavebeensoblessedbyalltheworksyouhave produced—as a church and in ourimmediatefamily.My husband pastors our church here

in[the]UKandourthreechildrenarealltotallycommittedtotheLord’sworkheretoo.[Y]ouhavehadahugeimpacton[ourchildren’s]livesandbeenagreatencour-agement spiritually to all of us. Iwantyou toknow thatyouare soappreciatedthissideof“thepond, ”andwereallyneedpeoplelikeyoutohelpuswithourworkfortheLord.MayGodrichlyblessyouboth….MF(UnitedKingdom)

Dear Dave, Tom, and Staff,IntherecentissuesofTheBereanCall

itseemsthatthe“themeofthemonth”isdeception, of falsewitness eitherwithinthechurchbody,orthatofthosemakingentrance.Jesuswarnedofdeceptionintheend times,evenfor theelect, thematurebeliever.Thankyouagainforyourfaithful-nessinpresentingthe“wilesofthedevil,”so that your readers can be aware.Maymanytakeheed.PL(WA)

Dear Tom,I first became acquaintedwithDave

Hunt andTheBereanCall through hisbookGlobal Peace somewhere around1990.IstillremembertheBiblebookstoresaleslady’swarningaboutthebookbeingcontroversial and extreme. But havingattended several different churches, andgoingthroughsomeverydifficultandtry-ingsituationsIwaslookingforanswerstowhatinthiscrazyworldisgoingon?So,whenmyeyeslighteduponasimi-

larphraseatthetopofthebackcoverofDave’sbook,Iwonderedif[it]mightpos-siblybeananswertomyprayerforinfor-mation.Afterlookingthroughthebook,I

T. A.’s Speaking ScheduleMar 2 Finnish Pentecostal Church Mt.Gravatt,Qld (07)38496331

Mar 3-4 Christian Witness Ministries EightMilePlains,Qld (07)31371031 www.cwm.org.au www.cwmfellowship.org

Apr 19-21 St. Louis Conf. on Biblical Discernmt St.Charles,MO (314)921-9800 www.pfo.org/2012-cbd.htm

Apr 22 Calvary Chapel St. Louis County MarylandHeights,MO (314)344-8581

Aug 10-11 TBC Conference Bend,OR (800)937-6638


wasconvincedthatGodwastrulyleadingme, somuch so thatwhen the salesladymade her comment, I remember sayingthatIbelievedthatthebookwasrightontrack.SincethenIhavereadmostofwhatyou andDave have published, have allyour newsletters ondisk, andhavebeendownloadingthePDFversionssinceyoufirstbeganpublishingthemincolor.Recently reread your bookTemporal

Delusion and believe that this is one ofthemosturgentmessagesthatprofessingChristendomneedstohearandunderstand.RA(CA)

Dear Friends…Dave, Tom, and all,Pleaseacceptmythanksandgratitude

forTheBereanCall andyour continuedfaithfulness and integrity as you addressvarious issues.What a thrill to read the“Letters”—especially from prisonerswhoselivesarebeingchanged.Youareablessingtomeandsomany,manyothers.LP(WA)

Dear Dave, T. A. & Staff,Whatablessingyoudearservantshave

been [andare] tomywife andme thesemany years.Yourmanywarnings andteachingthetruthhaveaddedsomuchtoour blessed assurance.MayGod restoreyouandblessyouingoodhealth.GC(OK)

Dear Tom and Staff,Thankyouforcontinuingtheworkof

thisgreatministry.Wewere fortunate tohappenuponTheSeductionofChristianitywhenitwasfirstreleased,andweregreatlyencouraged to knowwe had discernedcorrectly theperils, thenandnow, to thechurch of JesusChrist.Well-intentionedpeoplearenowastheywerethenalltoowillingtoforsakethe“truth”partofwor-shipping“inSpiritandinTruth.”AM(PA)

Dear Berean Folks,Thankyouforallyouhaveblessedme

with:theconstantflowofin-depthknowl-edgeofwhat’sgoingoninour“religious”realm! I’ve attended just about everychurchinourfaircitysincecomingoutoftheCatholicfaith(35yearsofthat).I’vebeenaChristianfor35years….It’s

justsosadthatI’veonlyjustnowfoundaverysmallBaptistchurchwherethepastorpreachesthefullgospel(hegetsyournews-letter)….We’vebeen listening to four ofy’all’sCDsaboutthedifferentthingsgoingon in the churches!What eye-openers!PraiseGodforthetruthoftheWord!Nowletuswalkourtalk!AH(TX)

Dear Mr. Hunt,[I] praise you for challengingKeith

Fournier [in theCatholicDebate series.]

Asa formerCatholic, Ican tellyou thatyouweresorightinallthatyouspoke.IcringedtohearMr.Fournieruse“tradition”and“history”inspiteofthefactthatitisonlytheWordthathasthepromiseofiner-rancy—notanyother“man”orsituation.

Itwasverypainfultogetthroughthis,andIcoulddetectMr.Fournier’ssarcasmand anger, albeit the angerwas cloaked,butbythesametoken,Isensedyourspeak-ingthetruthinlove….IwasraisedintheCatholicChurchinthePhilippines,whereanimismwas also brought in or allowed,and I studied at a convent school fromkindergartenthroughhighschool,soIwassteeped inCatholicism.ManyAmericanCatholicsdonotknowwhatIlearned(andhavenoideawhattheyknow,really,oronwhatitisbased)—andyouwererighton!TherewasnoencouragementtostudytheScriptures, priests are not taught “BibleStudy”inanydeepsense,andthisisonlytheproverbialtipoftheiceberg….Keepspeak-ingthetruth!Hopefully,theHolySpiritwillconvictheartsintheCatholicChurchasHedidmine!Thankyou.GM(email)

Dear TBC,[I came]outof the “Armstrong”cult,

[andsincethen]DaveandallatTheBer-eanCallhavebeenmymentorsandhaveblessedme greatlywith godly, inspiredteaching!SoIthankGodforthewonder-fulwayHehasusedDaveinexegetingtheWordofGod.ThoughIcannotthankDaveinpersonnow,itwillbeajoytodosoinheaven!NW(CO)

Dear Dave,Onceagainwefeelcompelledtothank

youforbeingagreatinspirationtothoseofuswhoareworkingfeverishlytogetthegospeltonon-Christiansandtoconfrontallofthemanyheresiesandcorruptionsinourlocalchurches,andtoabroaderaudiencethroughourblog.Thiskeepsusoccupiedaswelookcontinuallyfor“theblessedhope,”butofmoreimportanceisthesupportandsustenancewedrawfromyou.Youhavelongbeenourfavoritewriter.

The BereanCall newsletter is the bestoneofall(wishitwas10timesaslarge!),andweareverygratefultobeabletopostanarticleortwofromiteachmonth.WeadvertiseTheBereanCall and both ofyou,DaveandT.A.,andsendpeople toyourwebsite.TheLordwillblessyoubothrichlyforyourcommitmenttotheeternaltruths.You are in our prayers. D&CR(email)

Dear Staff,Amillionthanksforyourexcellentpub-

licationandforyourtimelyarticleswhich

areofeternalvalue.MaywebeaboutanddoingourFather’sbusinesswithgodlyfearbecauseourGodisaconsumingfire.MywifeandIliveinacontinuingcare

facilityinseparatebuildingsduetophysi-calandmental issues,butwehavedailydevotionsandareprayingforyouandotherministries.DM(CA)

Veni, Vidi, VideoIt’safactoflifethattheupcom-

inggeneration(ages20tomid-30sinparticular)disdainsreading(textmessages excluded) in favor ofvisualpresentations.Thatispoten-tially a huge problem, especiallywhen it comes to encouragingyoungadultstoreadtheBible.

Those who have made Biblereadingapractice throughout theirlivesknowitsfruitfulnessandwhatacontinualjoyitis.Forthosewhohaven’thadthatexperience,thetaskseems to be somewhere betweenintimidatingandoverwhelming.Oneofourgoals atTBC is tohelp thelattergetatasteofwhattheformerexperiences,andhopefully,encour-agethemtogetintoGod’sWord.Along the line of fighting fire

withfire,weplantoproduceahostofveryshortvideosthatintroduceallkindsofbiblicalcontent.Eachtwo-tofive-minutevideowillteachsomeaspectrelatedtotheScripturesandallwillbedesignedtomotivatethe viewers to search (read!) theBibleforthemselves.Ourhopeandprayeristhatwecanusethevisualmedium to generate excitementaboutthewrittenWord.We are preparing a video-only

website thatwill feature the shortvideosweplantoproduce,aswellasteachingclipsfromthelongervid-eosthatweoffer.TheLordwilling,thesite,bothinitssoundscripturalcontentandencouragement,willbea “youtube-like” citadel ofGod’struththatwillhelpdevelopindividu-alswithinthenextgenerationtobeliketheBereans.

T. A. mcmAhon

execuTive direcTor

TBC Notes

10March2012 d a v e h u n T c l a s s i c

ThepropheciesconcerningthesecondmajorthemeoftheBible,thecomingoftheMessiah,areevenmorenumerousanddetailedthanthosepertainingtoIsrael.Theseprophecieshavealsobeendealtwithatsomelengthinmypreviousbooks,sowewillonlysummarizeafewofthembrieflyhere.Eventhemostanti-ChristiancriticswhodenycategoricallythatJesusofNazarethistheSavioroftheworldadmitthatmanyspecificmessianicprophecieswerefulfilledinHislifeandcrucifixion.Intheattempttoexplainawaythe significance of that fact, some bizarre theories have beeninvented.Typicalofsuchattemptswasabookandmovie(neitherverysuccessful)someyearsbackentitledThePassoverPlot.ItsthesiswasthatJesus,knowingsomeofthemessianicpropheciesintheOldTestament,conspiredwithJudastofulfilltheminordertomakeitappearthatHewasthepromisedMessiah.

IRREcONcIlABlE cONTRADIcTION?Obviously,itwouldhavebeenludicrousforJesustogetHim-

selfcrucified inorder toconvinceasmallbandofuneducated,ineptfollowersthatHewastheChrist.Infact, neitherHis disciples nor any otherJew,includingevenJohntheBaptist,couldbelieve(thoughtheprophecieswereclear,asChrist explained often) that theMes-siahwas tobe crucified.Hisdeath ratherseemedproofthathewasnottheMessiah,sofulfillingthepropheciesconcerningHiscrucifixiontotheletter,asHedid,wouldnothavebeenthewaytogatherafollowing.Infact,Christ’sdeathinfulfillmentofScripturewasinordertopaythepenaltyforoursins.The prophecies concerningHis death (Psalm22:16; Isaiah

53:5,8-10,12;Zechariah12:10,etc.)wereavoidedbytheJewsasimpenetrablemysteriesbecausetheyseemedtotallyatoddswithotherpropheciesdeclaringplainlythattheMessiahwouldascendDavid’sthroneandruleoveramagnificentkingdom.HowcouldtheMessiahestablishakingdomandapeacethatwouldneverend(Isaiah9:7)andyetberejectedandcrucifiedbyHisownpeople?Itseemedimpossibleforbothtobetrue,sotheJewishinterpreterssimplyignoredwhatdidn’tseemtomakesensetothem.

ThattheJewswereabletocrucifyJesuswasthefinaltriumphantprooftotherabbis,anditservedasthedisappointingbutundeniableevidencetotheJewishmassesandHismostdevoteddisciplesthatJesusofNazarethcouldn’tpossiblyhavebeentheMessiah.Theprophesiedmessianickingdomhadnotbeenestablished,norhadHebroughtpeacetoIsraelbydeliveringherfromherenemies,soatbestHecouldonlyhavebeenawell-meaningimpostor,andatworstadeliberatefraud.SuchremainstheargumentofmostJewstoday.

Therewas,however,onewaytoreconciletheapparentcontra-diction:TheMessiahhadtocometwice,thefirsttimetodieforman’ssins,thesecondtimetoreignontheDavidicthrone.ButevenwhenJesusexplainedthatfactaheadoftime,noonecouldunderstandit.ItwouldtakeHisresurrectiontoopenblindeyes.

BEyOND A MERE MANYes,therewereafewpropheciesthatJesusofNazarethcould

haveconspiredwithJudasorotherstofulfill.Mostprophecies,

however,werebeyondthecontrolofanymereman.Forexample,beingborn inBethlehemandof the seedofDavidweremajorrequirementsfortheMessiah.ThetimingoftheMessiah’sbirth,too,asforetold,wasobviouslybeyondtheinfluenceofanyordinarymortal.HisbirthhadtooccurbeforethescepterdepartedfromJudah(Genesis49:10),whilethetemplewasstanding(Malachi3:1),whilethegenealogicalrecordswereavailabletoproveHislineage(2Samuel7:12;Psalm89,etc.),andshortlybefore thetempleandJerusalemweredestroyed(Daniel9:26).

TherewasanarrowwindowoftimeduringwhichtheMessiahhadtocome—andHedid.AstheApostlePaul,aformerrabbi,soeloquentlyputit,“Butwhenthefullnessoftimewascome,GodsentforthhisSon,madeofawoman[i.e.,virginborn]…”(Galatians4:4).ItistoolatefortheMessiahtomakeHisfirstappearancenow.Therecanonlybeasecondcoming,astheBibledeclares.YettheJewsstillawaitthefirstappearingoftheonewhomtheywillimagineistheirMessiahbutwhowillinfactbetheAntichrist.

ThescepterdepartedfromJudahaboutAD7,whentherabbislosttherighttoexactthedeathpenalty.Thisrightwas crucial to the practice of theirreligion,becausedeathwasthepenaltyforcertainreligiousoffenses.WhenPilatetoldthe rabbis hewantednothing to dowithJesus and for them to judgeHim them-selves,theyreplied,“Itisnotlawfulforustoputanymantodeath”(John18:31).TheMessiahhadtobebornbeforethatpower

waslost,andHehadtobeputtodeathafterward,forHewasnottodiebystoning,theJews’mannerofexecution,butbyRomancrucifixion.Amazingly,Hiscrucifixionwasprophesiedcenturiesbeforethatmeansofexecutionwasevenknown:“Theypiercedmyhandsandmyfeet”(Psalm22:16).Obviously,too,theMessiahhadtobebornwhilethegenealogi-

calrecordsstillexisted,ortherecouldbenoproofthatHewasoftheseedofDavid.ThoserecordswerelostwiththedestructionofJerusalemandthetempleinAD70,aneventthatbothDaniel(in9:26)andChristprophesied(Matthew24:2).SincethenithasbeentoolatefortheMessiahtocome,thoughthemajorityofJewsstillawaitHisfirstadvent.Christians,ontheotherhand,expectthesecondcoming,whichalsowasforetoldbytheHebrewprophets.

AMAzING FUlFIllMENTSHadJesusconspiredtofulfill theprophecies,Hewouldhave

hadtobribePilatetocondemnthetwothievestobecrucifiedwithHiminfulfillmentofIsaiah53:9.Healsowouldhavehadtoknowwhat soldierswouldbeonduty thatday inorder tobribe themaheadoftimetodivideHisclothesamongthemandgambleforHisrobe(Psalm22:18),togiveHimvinegartodrinkmingledwithgall(Psalm69:21),andtopierceHissidewithaspear(Zechariah12:10)insteadofbreakingHislegsaswasthecustom,butwhichcouldnotbedonetotheMessiah(Exodus12:46;Psalm34:20).Weretherabbisalsopartoftheplot?Wasthatwhytheypaid

Judasexactly30piecesofsilvertobetrayHimasprophesiedbyZechariah(11:12),thenusedthemoneytobuya“potter’sfield”forburyingstrangerswhenJudas threwitdownat theirfeet in

A Passover Plot?ExcerptsfromAWomanRidestheBeastbyDaveHunt

This Jesus, whom I preach unto you is Christ [the Messiah]. — Acts 17:2-3

d a v e h u n T c l a s s i c March201211

thetemple,againasforetold(Zechariah11:13)?IsthatwhytheycrucifiedHimpreciselywhenthePassoverlambswerebeingslainalloverIsrael,infulfillmentofExodus12:6?The“Passoverplot”scenariobecomesincreasinglyridiculousthemoreoneexaminesit.WheredidJesusgetthemoneytopayoffthemultitudethatlined

theroadintoJerusalemandhailedHimastheMessiahwhenHerodeinonadonkey—thelastbeastonewouldexpectatriumphantking to choose—precisely as foretold inZechariah9:9? ItwasNisan10(April6),AD32,theverydaytheprophetshaddeclaredthatthisamazingeventwouldoccur—483yearstotheday(69weeksofyears,asDanielforetoldit)afterNehemiah,inthetwen-tiethyearofthereignofArtaxerxesLongimanus(465-525BC),hadreceived(onNisan1,445BC)authoritytorebuildJerusalem(Nehemiah2:1)!ThefulfillmentbyJesusoftheseandmanyothermessianicpropheciesinminutedetailcannotbeexplainedaway.

MISSING BODy, EMPTy TOMBFurthermore,ifJesushadsuccessfully“plotted”togetHimself

crucifiedontheprecisedateandtimethatwasprophesied—inspiteofthedeterminationoftherabbistothecontrary(Matthew26:5;Mark14:2)—Jesusstillhadtorisefromthedead.No“Passoverplot,” nomatter howmany conspiratorswere involved, couldaccomplishthat!Afake“resurrection”wouldn’tbesufficientbasisforHisfollowerstolaunchChristianity.OnlyifHereallydiedandcamebacktolifewouldtheyhavethemotivationandcouragetoproclaimHisgospelinthefaceofpersecutionandmartyrdom.

Romansoldiersdidn’tsleeponduty.Hadtheydonesowhilethediscipleshadstolenthebody,theywouldhavebeenoncrossesthenextday,andsowouldthedisciplesfortheircrimeinbreakingtheRomansealonthetomb.Andifthediscipleshadstolenthebodyandsomehowmanagedtokeepitasecret,whywouldtheydieforalie?Theyweresuchcowardsthatnoneofthemhadbeenwillingtodieforwhattheyhadoncebelievedtobethetruth.Yettheyalmostallwenttotheirdeathsasmartyrs,declaringtotheveryendthattheywereeyewitnessesofthefactthatJesushadrisenfromthedead.Noneofthemtriedtosavehislifeinexchangeforrevealingwherethebodyhadbeenhidden.Thereissimplynowaytoexplaintheundeniablyemptytombexceptbyresurrection.NeitherHinduism,Buddhism, Islam,nor anyof theworld’s

otherreligions,makesanypretensethatitsfounderisstillalive.ForChristianity,however,theresurrectionistheveryheartofitsgospel.IfChristdidnotrisefromthedead,thenthewholethingisafraud.NordidJesustellHisdisciplestogotofar-offSiberiaorSouthAfricatopreachHisresurrectionwherenoonecouldchal-lengethatclaim.HetoldthemtobegininJerusalem,where,hadHenotrisenfromthedead,ashortwalktothegravejustoutsidethecitywallcouldhaveproventhatHewasstilldead.HowtherabbisandRomanrulerswouldhavelovedtodiscreditChristian-itybeforeitcouldgathermomentum!ThesurestwaywouldhavebeentoputthedeadbodyofJesusondisplay,buttheycouldnot.Thecloselyguardedgravewassuddenlyempty!

ENTER SAUl OF TARSUSTheproofsfortheresurrectionarenumerousandirrefutable,but

havingdealtwiththemelsewhere,wewillmentiononlyone—aproof often overlooked.ThatChrist had indeed risen from thedeadistheonlyexplanationforthefactthatSaulofTarsus,thechiefenemyofChristianity,becameitschiefapostle.Apopularyoungrabbi,Saulwasonhiswaytogreathonorsforhisleader-shiproleinpursuingthisaberrantsectwitharrest,imprisonment,andmartyrdom.Thensuddenlyhebecameoneof thedespisedandpersecutedChristianshimself,andforthishewasrepeatedly

arrested,beaten,andimprisoned.Ononeoccasion,hewasevenstonedandleftfordead.Finally,hewasbeheaded.Thisstunningturnaboutmadenosense…unless.Whyvoluntarily trade popularity for suffering and eventual

martyrdom?PaulexplainedthathehadmettheresurrectedChrist,andthattheOnewhohaddiedforthesinsoftheworldwasaliveandhadrevealedHimselftohim.Thattestimony,however,wasnotsufficientinitselftoprovethatChristwasindeedalive.Somethingmorewasneeded.NoonecoulddoubtPaul’ssincerity.Thatwasdemonstratedby

hiswillingnesstosufferandevendieforChrist.Asincerebelief,however,thatChristwasalivewasnotsufficientproof.Itwaspos-siblethatPaulhadhallucinatedandsimplyimaginedthatChristhadappearedtohimandspokentohimandwasindeedalive.TheRomangovernorsFelixandFestus,aswellasKingAgrippa,

heard Paul’s account of this supernatural encounter andwereconvinced that hewas sincere but deluded (Acts 24-26).Thatexplanation,however,didnotfitthefacts.Paul’ssuddenintimacywithChrist’steachingsprovidedproofoftheresurrectionthatcouldnotbeexplainedawaybyanymeans.

cONclUSIVE EVIDENcEPaul,whohadnotknownChristbeforeHewascrucified,was

suddenlythechiefauthorityonwhatChristhadprivatelytaughtHisinnercircleofdisciples.HehadtohavemetHim!Theapostles,whohadbeenpersonallyinstructedbyChristforseveralyears,hadtoacknowledgethattheironetimeenemy,Paul,withoutconsultinganyofthem,knewallthatChristhadtaughtthem,andindeedhadevendeeperinsightsthanthey.WhenPaulrebukedPeterforgoingastray,thelattersubmittedtothecorrection(Galatians2:11-14).“IhavereceivedoftheLordthatwhichalsoIdeliveredunto

you”(1Corinthians11:23)washowPaulbeganhisexplanationtotheCorinthianchurchofwhathappenedattheLastSupperandwhatChristhadtaughtHisdisciplesonthatoccasion.YetPaulhadnotbeenpresent,norhadheconsultedanyofthosewhohadbeenthere.“Iconferrednotwithfleshandblood;neitherwentIuptoJerusalemtothemwhichwereapostlesbeforeme,butIwentintoArabia”(Galatians1:16,17)wasPaul’ssworntestimony.ThathewassuddenlythechiefapostleandauthorityonwhatChristhadtaughtcouldbeexplainedinnootherwaythanthathehadbeeninstructedbytheresurrectedChrist,exactlyasheclaimed.WithoutconsultinganyofthosewhohadbeenChrist’sdisciples

duringHisearthlyministry,PaulhadbecomethechiefauthorityonChristiandoctrine,asallthechurchhadtoacknowledge.HewrotemostoftheNewTestamentepistles.“Icertifyyou,brethren,thatthegospelwhichwaspreachedofmeisnotofman.ForIneitherreceiveditofmanneitherwasItaughtitbutbytherevelationofJesusChrist” (Galatians1:11,12)wasPaul’s solemn testimony.There isnootherexplanation than thatChristhad indeedbeenresurrectedandhadpersonallyinstructedPaul.

REASON FOR cONFIDENcEThefulfillmentofthepropheciesmentionedaboveaswellas

scoresofothersinthelife,death,andresurrectionofChristprovebeyondanypossibledoubtthatHeistheMessiahofIsrael,theSavioroftheworld.Noonecanexaminethefactsandremainanhonestdoubter.Thosewhorefusetobelieveinthefaceofsuchoverwhelmingevidencearewithoutexcuse.Havingseen thatwhat theBibleprophesiedconcerningpast

eventswas fulfilledwith 100 percent accuracy,we have validreasonforbelievingthatwhatittellsusconcerningthefuturewilllikewisebefulfilled.

12March2012 T b c e x T r a

The Three r’s

READING:It’ssurprisinghowmanybelieversreadbooksabouttheBible—andspendtoolittletimeinthesacredtextitself.Byallmeans,usetheseandothersoundbiblicalhelps—butrememberthat’salltheyare—helps.AreadingprogramthatcoverstheentireWordofGodisrecommended...howeverlongittakes.Someofthisread-ing,ofcourse,shouldbe...tomeetyourownspiritualneeds.Don’talwaysbestudying.Evenyournon-studiousreading,however,willeventuallypayoffintheBibleknowledge-and-understandingfield.

WRITING:AlwayskeepapencilorpenhandywhenreadingtheBible.Datesofreading,underlinings,andthoughtsshouldbejotteddown.Some[people]haveaBiblestudynotebookforthoughts,ques-tions,problems,solutions,cross-references,etc.Ifyoudon’twritedownyourgems,youwillforgetmostofthem.Sharingthemwithsomeoneelseduringthedaywillalsohelpfixtheideasinyourmind.

REFLECTING:AthirdimportantpartofBiblestudyisreflect-inguponwhatyou’vereadandwrittendown.This isalsocalledmeditation.IntheoriginallanguageoftheOldTestament,thewordmeditateisusedformullingoverthingsinthewayacowchewsthecud....Meditat[e]ontheWordofGod:reading,re-reading,reflecting,andgoingoverthewordsandideasas[you]takewalks,drive,orsitquietlyin[your]house,yard,orinthegreatoutofdoors.

More BiBle BAsics

THELITERALMETHOD:OneofthemostimportantrulesinBiblestudyis,“Ifyoucantakeapassageliterally,doso.”Inotherwords,ifthefirstsensemakessense,don’tlookforanyothersense.IftheBiblesaysthatChristwillreignontheearthforathousandyears,thenHewillreignforathousandyears.Theliteralinterpreta-tionoftheBibleispreferable.Thealternativeistotrytospiritualizeorallegorizeeverything.Thetroublewiththelatteristhatnooneknowswhosespiritualizationistherightone!

POSITIONANDPRACTICE:Distinguishbetweenpositionandpractice,alsocalledstandingandstate.PositioniswhatweareinChrist.Practiceiswhatweshouldbeinoureverydaylives.InColos-sians3:1wewereraisedwithChrist;thatisourposition.Weshouldseekthosethingsthatareabove;thatisourpractice.Ourpositionisperfect.OurpracticeneverwillbeuntilweseetheSavior’sface,butweshouldbegrowingevermoreChristlikeuntilthattime.

OFFICIALROLEANDPERSONALCHARACTER:Distinguishbetweenofficialroleandpersonalcharacter.JohntheBaptistwasgreaterthananyoftheprophetsthathadgonebeforehim(Lk7:28).Butthisdoesn’tnecessarilymeanthathewasgreaterincharacter….GovernmentalpowersareordainedbyGod.Thismeans theyareGod’sservantsofficially,eveniftheydon’tknowHimpersonally.

THETEXTINCONTEXT:Studyatextwithinitscontext.Forexample:From the soleof the foot even to thehead, there isnosoundnessinit,butwoundsandbruisesandputrefyingsores;theyhavenotbeenclosedorboundup,orsoothedwithointment(Is1:6).Commonlyusedtodescribeman’stotaldepravity,itrathertellshowGodhaspunishedJudahuntilitisblackandbluefromheadtofoot,andyetthenationhasnotrepented….[Anotherexample]:Donotbedeceived,Godisnotmocked;for

whateveramansows,thathewillalsoreap(Gal6:7).Inthecontext,Paulisnotdescribingthesinsofasinnerbutthestinginessofasaint.

BIBLEVOCABULARY:Don’tgetyourtheologicaldefinitionsfromaseculardictionary.UseareputableBibledictionary.Thereyouwill learn that, contrary to secular usage, amystery is not a“mysterious”orunsolvedquestionbuta“truthhithertounknownandhumanlyunknowablebutnowmadeknownbytheLord.”

sTePs in BiBle sTudy

STEP1:OBSERVATIONWhenwestudyGod’sWord…weneedtotrainourmindstosee

what’sthereandnotputinwhatwethinkisthereorwe’vebeentaughtisthere.Herearesomequestionstoaskyourselfasyouobserve:

• QUESTION 1:Who?—Read your passage.Who iswriting?Towhomisitaddressed?Whoisspeaking(ifit’saquotation)?Whoisacting?Whoisbeingreferredto?

• QUESTION2: What?—What is goingon?What typeofwritingisthis?Poetry?Sermon?History?Doctrine?Prophecy?Whatisthesituation?Whatisthegistoftheargument?Whatisthetoneofthewriter?,etc.

• QUESTION3:When?—Whereintime(past,present,orfuture)isthistextplaced?IsitintheagesbeforeIsraelwasfounded?IsitduringthiscurrentChristianera?Isitapredictionofthefuture?Ofheaven?

• QUESTION4:Where?—Does it occur in the desertduring thewanderings of Israel? In Jerusalem? InBabylon?Inthecomingkingdom?Placeisveryimportantinanyhistoricalevent.

• QUESTION5:How?—Howdid the situation in thepassage come about? For love?Because of awar?Rebellion?Carefulplanning?Divineintervention?

• QUESTION6:Why?—Whenwegettothereason,theinterpretivefactorislikelytoenterinmorethanitshouldattheobservationstageofBiblestudy.Sometimesitisquiteclearwhysomethinghappened:ItwaspredictedbyGod;itwasthenaturalconsequenceofwhatwentbefore.

STEP2:INTERPRETATIONIfthefirststepconsistedofobservingwhatthepassagesays,the

secondhastodowithwhatitmeans.Sometimesthetextissoclearandsimplethatyoudon’thavetoworkonthemeaningifyou’refairwiththetextandnotouttoprovesomehobbyhorse,privateemphasis,orevenheresy….ManydifferencesamongChristiansarenotthatthereisanambiguouspassagethatvariousgroupsinterpretdifferently.Rather,sooftenit’samatterofhowmuchchurchtradi-tionfromagespastadenominationclingsto.

STEP3:APPLICATIONThelaststage,logically,isapplyingwhatyou’velearned.What

thepassagesaysisobservation.Whatthepassagemeansisinter-pretation.Whatthepassagemeanstome(orothers)isapplication.Someofthecommands—suchascontrollingourtongues—maytakeyearsofcarefulcultivatingtoobeysuccessfully.ButtheapplicationofJames’commandin3:1-12hastostartsomewhere!Onyourown,orattheendofaBiblestudylectureclass,orser-

mon,alistofpossibleapplications...drawnfromvarioustypesofpeoplerepresentedcanproducearemarkabledisplayoftheversatilityofGod’sall-sufficient,infallible,andbeautifullyconstructedBook.

The Three r’s of BiBle sTudyK from:enjoy your Bibleby William Macdonald k

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