MY Beliefs ABout Scripture
Divine Communiques
If a Creator made human beings, and if he gave them the intelligence and reasoning ability to ponder their collective origin, then why would he not at the very least leave them a note? Hosting a press conference with a Q&A would be preferable, but most people would settle for a call or a letter. Even a public announcement set to repeat at intervals would suffice. It might go something like this:
Hello, World. I am the Creator of all the things which you perceive. On a whim, I crafted you lot and threw together a home for you that should do for now—you're welcome for that—and I'm curious to see what you'll do with the place. However, something terribly important has come up in another layer of the Metaverse, and I simply must see to it, so you're on your own until further notice. So sorry. Try to behave.
Whatever you do, don't futz with the atoms. Nasty business, that. Oh, and my apologies about death and decay. Your cosmos are a prototype, and I still have to iron out the kinks.
See you sooner or later. Big Guy out.
But no, we haven't received so much as a wave and a wink from the man upstairs. This has understandably led many folks to conclude one of two things: either there is no Creator, or he just doesn't care to be involved.
The former option has never been an intellectually honest one. Life is obviously engineered, the product of an orderly and extremely creative mind. No one who stumbled upon a robot in the desert would ever seriously consider that the barren environment had brought forth the device through a string of lucky accidents. Robots are nowhere near as complex and wonderful as a human being, or a fish, or a bird, so how can we ever imagine that those things are the result of time and chance?
Moreover, how does a living, moving, replicating cell arise from inanimate elements? Did it happen from lightning striking mud? If so, that's some seriously magic electricity. The people who believe that sort of thing about life's origin are often the same people who make fun of theists and deists for believing in "the magic man in the sky," as if that's somehow much less realistic.
So if the Universe is the result of an ordered Mind, and not a happy accident, then we must embrace a deistic cosmogony. Since we haven't heard a peep from the Great Architect, it would seem that deism, not theism, is our only option. After all, if God is the cosmic version of an absentee father or a clinical observer, then he isn't terribly caring by human standards.
Hello, World. I am the Creator of all the things which you perceive. On a whim, I crafted you lot and threw together a home for you that should do for now—you're welcome for that—and I'm curious to see what you'll do with the place. However, something terribly important has come up in another layer of the Metaverse, and I simply must see to it, so you're on your own until further notice. So sorry. Try to behave.
Whatever you do, don't futz with the atoms. Nasty business, that. Oh, and my apologies about death and decay. Your cosmos are a prototype, and I still have to iron out the kinks.
See you sooner or later. Big Guy out.
But no, we haven't received so much as a wave and a wink from the man upstairs. This has understandably led many folks to conclude one of two things: either there is no Creator, or he just doesn't care to be involved.
The former option has never been an intellectually honest one. Life is obviously engineered, the product of an orderly and extremely creative mind. No one who stumbled upon a robot in the desert would ever seriously consider that the barren environment had brought forth the device through a string of lucky accidents. Robots are nowhere near as complex and wonderful as a human being, or a fish, or a bird, so how can we ever imagine that those things are the result of time and chance?
Moreover, how does a living, moving, replicating cell arise from inanimate elements? Did it happen from lightning striking mud? If so, that's some seriously magic electricity. The people who believe that sort of thing about life's origin are often the same people who make fun of theists and deists for believing in "the magic man in the sky," as if that's somehow much less realistic.
So if the Universe is the result of an ordered Mind, and not a happy accident, then we must embrace a deistic cosmogony. Since we haven't heard a peep from the Great Architect, it would seem that deism, not theism, is our only option. After all, if God is the cosmic version of an absentee father or a clinical observer, then he isn't terribly caring by human standards.
Or...
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There's another option, and a much more sensible one, which is that the Creator has indeed communicated with us more than once. He's spoken volumes, but many people choose not to accept that fact because they don't like the message.
As incredible as it seems, God has been sending us love letters, and most of humanity has been chucking them in the trash. They do so because they can't stand the fact that these letters contain instructions about how God expects us to live. One of the letters explains this by stating, "And this is the basis for judgment: The light has come into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light because their actions were evil" (John 3:19). People don't like the rules, so they've decided to pretend that God never issued them in the first place. |
Holy Prophesying Hebrews, Batman!
"God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." (Acts 3:21)
The Creator, YHVH, has not been silent. Not only do his amazing creations testify to his glory and power, but he himself has been talking to human beings: first to Adam and his family, then to Enoch and Methuselah and Noah, then to Job and to Abraham and his offspring. And in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son, Y'shua (Heb. 1:2).
What trips up most people is that God isn't chatting with just anyone and everyone. Due to the taint of sin that currently resides on human beings, the Holy One of Israel only communicates with the world at large through mediators. The mediation process usually involves three tiers of decreasing holiness:
In tier one, God the Father will give a message to either Y'shua (a.k.a "The Angel of YHVH") or an archangel. This is not always the case—Enoch and Moses, for instance, spoke to the Lord of Spirits directly—but it is the normal custom. The prophets probably prefer it this way, since the power of the Father's glory and holiness are too intense. When Ezekiel saw the throne of Elohiym in a vision, he notes that he only saw the likeness of the glory of YHVH, yet even so he crumbled. Isaiah had to be cleansed from some unwholesome speech before he could talk to YHVH without losing his mind. And when the Israelites saw the fire of Elohiym rest upon Mount Sinai, they were unwilling to even approach the mountain for fear of his glory.
In tier two, particularly sanctified individuals from among God's covenant people are singled out by YHVH and anointed by his Ruach (Spirit). They then receive divine communiques from tier one messengers. It's an amazing honor to be used in this way, but the job has its risks—to whom much is given, much is required.
Prophets are expected to do what Elohiym says without fail. They dare not deviate from assigned tasks nor alter the messages with which they are entrusted; it can be disastrous for them if they do.
A prophet operating in the anointing is inspired by the Ruach to speak on behalf of God, thus the prophet's words have the same authority as God's. YHVH told Moses to be careful to do and speak exactly as he had been commanded, and in regards to Moses' replacement YHVH said, "I will put my words in his mouth" (Deut. 18:18). Likewise, when commissioning Jeremiah, Adonai told him, "You must say whatever I command you.... Behold, I have put my words in your mouth" (Jer. 1:7-9).
Because of this process of inspiration, we find that the set of scriptures which were recorded over thousands of years by dozens of prophets are in perfect harmony with one another. In fact, they compliment one another to the extent that it is impossible to develop a thorough and satisfactory theology without studying the entire collection (eschatology in particular requires the full set).
What trips up most people is that God isn't chatting with just anyone and everyone. Due to the taint of sin that currently resides on human beings, the Holy One of Israel only communicates with the world at large through mediators. The mediation process usually involves three tiers of decreasing holiness:
- Righteous inhabitants of heaven
- Sanctified prophets
- Kingdom folk as a whole
In tier one, God the Father will give a message to either Y'shua (a.k.a "The Angel of YHVH") or an archangel. This is not always the case—Enoch and Moses, for instance, spoke to the Lord of Spirits directly—but it is the normal custom. The prophets probably prefer it this way, since the power of the Father's glory and holiness are too intense. When Ezekiel saw the throne of Elohiym in a vision, he notes that he only saw the likeness of the glory of YHVH, yet even so he crumbled. Isaiah had to be cleansed from some unwholesome speech before he could talk to YHVH without losing his mind. And when the Israelites saw the fire of Elohiym rest upon Mount Sinai, they were unwilling to even approach the mountain for fear of his glory.
In tier two, particularly sanctified individuals from among God's covenant people are singled out by YHVH and anointed by his Ruach (Spirit). They then receive divine communiques from tier one messengers. It's an amazing honor to be used in this way, but the job has its risks—to whom much is given, much is required.
Prophets are expected to do what Elohiym says without fail. They dare not deviate from assigned tasks nor alter the messages with which they are entrusted; it can be disastrous for them if they do.
A prophet operating in the anointing is inspired by the Ruach to speak on behalf of God, thus the prophet's words have the same authority as God's. YHVH told Moses to be careful to do and speak exactly as he had been commanded, and in regards to Moses' replacement YHVH said, "I will put my words in his mouth" (Deut. 18:18). Likewise, when commissioning Jeremiah, Adonai told him, "You must say whatever I command you.... Behold, I have put my words in your mouth" (Jer. 1:7-9).
Because of this process of inspiration, we find that the set of scriptures which were recorded over thousands of years by dozens of prophets are in perfect harmony with one another. In fact, they compliment one another to the extent that it is impossible to develop a thorough and satisfactory theology without studying the entire collection (eschatology in particular requires the full set).
"[The prophets] have taught us nothing from their own private opinions. They have not differed with one another, nor have they attempted to overturn each other's position. Rather, without any wrangling or contention, they received from God the knowledge that they also taught to us. For neither by nature nor by human conception is it possible for men to know things that are so great and divine.... Rather, they presented themselves in a pure manner... so that the divine plectrum itself could descend from heaven and use these righteous men as an instrument like a harp or lyre." -Justin Martyr (c. AD 160)
In tier three, members of the Kingdom of YHVH take the lessons they've learned from the prophets and teach them to their children and the Goyim (foreigners).
Exclusivity
The Israelites, being composed of the Hebrews and many of various races who joined themselves in covenant to YHVH, are the only people who receive detailed prophetic revelations from the Creator. Occassionally, YHVH will deliver a dream or vision to a foreigner to draw them toward himself or to warn them of judgment, but such messages are short and narrow in scope. The divine words given to the Israelites, on the other hand, are extensive and reveal much about the character of God and the nature of his plans. The Hebrew scriptures are replete with instructions, oracles, encouragements, warnings, and so forth.
All of this is not because the Israelites are inherently better than any other people-group. It's simply because they've accepted the invitation of YHVH to be reconciled to him and become his holy nation. Anyone in the world can repent of sin, enter into covenant with YHVH through the blood of his Son, and be grafted into Israel.
All of this is not because the Israelites are inherently better than any other people-group. It's simply because they've accepted the invitation of YHVH to be reconciled to him and become his holy nation. Anyone in the world can repent of sin, enter into covenant with YHVH through the blood of his Son, and be grafted into Israel.
The Right People Get ItThere are amazing things about the scriptures that testify to its reliability and authority. One of the biggest is fulfilled prophecies, some of which were made hundreds of years in advance. The unity of the many scriptures is another testament, and the fact that the authors disclosed their own faults. Here is an excellent list of ten reasons why the Bible is the Word of God. Ultimately, though, these reasons are not going to convince anyone that doesn't want to be convinced. People will always manage to manufacture excuses against any evidence that they don't like. As the apostle Paul said, "The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him..." (1 Cor. 2:14). A man will only be amenable to the authority of the scriptures after the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit) has worked on him to quicken his spirit. Those who seek Truth with their whole heart, free from any other agenda, will find it. But that process will never occur apart from the intervention of the Ruach. |
"God has added a written revelation for the benefit of everyone whose heart is set on seeking him." -Tertullian (c. AD 197)
The reason that most men will never accept Scripture as authoritative is neatly explained in the following quote from research professor Wayne Grudem:
"The trouble is that because of sin our perception and analysis of God and creation is faulty. Sin is ultimately irrational, and sin makes us think incorrectly about God and about creation. Thus, in a world free from sin, the Bible would commend itself convincingly to all people as God's Word. But because sin distorts people's perception of reality, they do not recognize Scripture for what it really is. Therefore it requires the work of the Holy Spirit, overcoming the effects of sin, to enable us to be persuaded that the Bible is indeed the Word of God and that the claims it makes for itself are true." -Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology
Therefore I believe that the divine words of YHVH are self-attesting, and that only the Elect of YHVH will place them as the highest authority in their lives. As Y'shua said to the unbelievers, "You don't believe me because you are not of my sheep, as I told you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (Jhn. 10:26-27).
What About Those Other Books?
I grew up with the Protestant version of the Bible, and had no exposure to any other Bible until I was already in my thirties. I became aware of the Catholic apocrypha during my time at university but didn't bother reading them then. Later, after someone taught me that there are over a dozen canons in the world today, I began to suspect that valuable information had been withheld from me on the basis of tradition, which motivated me to start reading scriptures that weren't part of the Protestant Bible.
A canon is a list of texts which a particular religious community accepts as being authoritative. Different communities have developed different lists based on their unique worldviews and biases. Thankfully, there is universal consensus among Christians on a large set of texts including most of the 66 books of the Protestant canon. However, there are numerous other texts (Jubilees, Sirach, 1&2 Esdras, the Baruchs, etc.) which for various reasons may not have been given a fair shake. Some of these, such as 1 Enoch, were in common use until they became a threat to the established religious order, and then they were swept under the rug (remember, this was before the printing press, and scrolls weren't readily available to most individuals).
The Protestant denominations have done a disservice to their members by not informing them that there has never been total agreement among clergy as to which books are authoritative. More scriptures were written than made it into the compilations that we call Bibles. But now, with information so widely available via the web, the cat is out of the bag.
Anyone with an internet connection now has access to scriptures that haven't been made available within their particular religious tradition. Some of these scriptures are dross, some are historically valuable but not divine, some are gloriously divine but feared, and some are simply misunderstood. It's up to each individual to determine which texts bear the hallmarks of inspiration, and as we discuss our conclusions with one another we will in time arrive at a new collective consensus.
The ultimate criterion of canonicity is: Did YHVH commission this? Ecclesiastical approval is helpful but not definitive. Groups of people can and often do walk together in error, but their shared opinion cannot turn a falsehood into a truth.
In the 16th century, Martin Luther tried to remove the books of Hebrews, James, Jude, and Revelation because of perceived conflicts with his theology. Thank God that didn't take. But if such an influential leader was misled about some of the most powerful books in the Bible, isn't it possible that leaders earlier in history mistakenly excluded some inspired scriptures from "official" collections?
When I first read the Book of Enoch (i.e., 1 Enoch), I knew immediately that it was God-breathed. The Ruach burned like fire in my chest as I read. Then, as I studied the book carefully, I found no contradictions between its content and the content of the Catholic and Protestant scriptures. Some people do claim that there are contradictions, but I've been able to easily answer every such objection.
On the other hand, I've felt ill at ease when reading certain other texts, such as Jasher, and I have often identified what I consider to be blatant contradictions to the Bible within those texts. I could be wrong, of course, but my instincts are usually correct so long as I'm humbly relying on the Ruach.
I can't tell you what to believe. It's up to you whether or not you accept books like 1 Enoch. Truth will rise to the surface eventually.
A canon is a list of texts which a particular religious community accepts as being authoritative. Different communities have developed different lists based on their unique worldviews and biases. Thankfully, there is universal consensus among Christians on a large set of texts including most of the 66 books of the Protestant canon. However, there are numerous other texts (Jubilees, Sirach, 1&2 Esdras, the Baruchs, etc.) which for various reasons may not have been given a fair shake. Some of these, such as 1 Enoch, were in common use until they became a threat to the established religious order, and then they were swept under the rug (remember, this was before the printing press, and scrolls weren't readily available to most individuals).
The Protestant denominations have done a disservice to their members by not informing them that there has never been total agreement among clergy as to which books are authoritative. More scriptures were written than made it into the compilations that we call Bibles. But now, with information so widely available via the web, the cat is out of the bag.
Anyone with an internet connection now has access to scriptures that haven't been made available within their particular religious tradition. Some of these scriptures are dross, some are historically valuable but not divine, some are gloriously divine but feared, and some are simply misunderstood. It's up to each individual to determine which texts bear the hallmarks of inspiration, and as we discuss our conclusions with one another we will in time arrive at a new collective consensus.
The ultimate criterion of canonicity is: Did YHVH commission this? Ecclesiastical approval is helpful but not definitive. Groups of people can and often do walk together in error, but their shared opinion cannot turn a falsehood into a truth.
In the 16th century, Martin Luther tried to remove the books of Hebrews, James, Jude, and Revelation because of perceived conflicts with his theology. Thank God that didn't take. But if such an influential leader was misled about some of the most powerful books in the Bible, isn't it possible that leaders earlier in history mistakenly excluded some inspired scriptures from "official" collections?
When I first read the Book of Enoch (i.e., 1 Enoch), I knew immediately that it was God-breathed. The Ruach burned like fire in my chest as I read. Then, as I studied the book carefully, I found no contradictions between its content and the content of the Catholic and Protestant scriptures. Some people do claim that there are contradictions, but I've been able to easily answer every such objection.
On the other hand, I've felt ill at ease when reading certain other texts, such as Jasher, and I have often identified what I consider to be blatant contradictions to the Bible within those texts. I could be wrong, of course, but my instincts are usually correct so long as I'm humbly relying on the Ruach.
I can't tell you what to believe. It's up to you whether or not you accept books like 1 Enoch. Truth will rise to the surface eventually.
A Warning
Please don't explore the "extra-biblical" books until you've thoroughly studied the universally-accepted scriptures. It's too easy to fall for a fake if you aren't intimately familiar with the real deal. The Gnostic writings in particular have led many immature believers astray, so I encourage you to gain a general familiarity with Gnosticism and then study the many sections of the New Testament that are dedicated to fighting Gnosticism. Thereafter you'll be able to spot that garbage from a mile away. And of course, always pray for wisdom and guidance before digging into any questionable text.
That's a Wrap
Since the death of the apostles we've received no new writings which we could confidently classify as God-breathed revelation, nor do we need any. We have in the apostolic writings everything that is necessary for a victorious life.
The Book of Revelation does a perfect job of expounding upon earlier prophecies about the end of the age, and it shows us how the whole story will end, with Y'shua in his role as King of Everything. It beautifully finalizes the entire canon, wrapping up everything that was introduced in Genesis. The likelihood that we will ever see another authoritative scripture penned is essentially zero.
The Book of Revelation does a perfect job of expounding upon earlier prophecies about the end of the age, and it shows us how the whole story will end, with Y'shua in his role as King of Everything. It beautifully finalizes the entire canon, wrapping up everything that was introduced in Genesis. The likelihood that we will ever see another authoritative scripture penned is essentially zero.
