This is the sequel to "Modeling God". (For those who have read the Title Page, here is the link for the Table of Contents.)
In April of 2009, Newsweek's cover story is: "The End of Christian America"
Here is a key excerpt:
The term was popularized during what scholars call the "death of God" movement of the mid-1960s—a movement that is, in its way, still in motion. Drawing from Nietzsche's 19th-century declaration that "God is dead," a group of Protestant theologians held that, essentially, Christianity would have to survive without an orthodox understanding of God. Tom Altizer, a religion professor at Emory University, was a key member of the Godless Christianity movement, and he traces its intellectual roots first to Kierkegaard and then to Nietzsche. For Altizer, a post-Christian era is one in which "both Christianity and religion itself are unshackled from their previous historical grounds." In 1992 the critic Harold Bloom published a book titled "The American Religion: The Emergence of the Post-Christian Nation." In it he cites William James's definition of religion in "The Varieties of Religious Experience": "Religion … shall mean for us the feelings, acts, and experiences of individual men in their solitude, so far as they apprehend themselves to stand in relation to whatever they consider the divine."
THIS is the CAUSE of what we are seeing today...In the 1960's Christian leaders decided to take Christianity in a direction that would go WITHOUT an orthodox UNDERSTANDING of God.
"Modeling God" presents an understanding of God which is the OPPOSITE of the strategy of current popular Christianity. I feel even more confident that what I've written the reason why will stand the test of time...
However, I now realize why the most popular versions of the Bible published since 1960 state Jesus is NOT the Son of God. They were interpreted in light of this man-made strategy of "Godless Christianity". In going without an orthodox explanation of God, they ended up changing key doctrine which makes Jesus state He is NOT the Son of God in their versions of the Bible. In fact, there are several important doctrines that have been changed in the last 40 years...
1. What do you think of sex before marriage?
2. How does the Bible end? (What is the Meaning of Life?)
3. What is "Biblical divorce"?
4. Is Jesus the Son of God?
Click on these links if you want to begin to understand the answers...
Preface
Table of Contents
If you just want the answers, then keep reading:
1. The Bible says that sex IS marriage because it is covenantal. The only way you can have sex before marriage is to believe in man's doctrine of state recognized marriage (created by John Calvin) in place of God's doctrine of marriage.
2. Jesus marries the church (new Jerusalem). The Meaning of Life is church and marriage.
3. Divorce is a definite break in the marriage covenant and can occur if the husband finds some uncleanness. Defining "Biblical divorce" as only in cases of adultery and unbelief is a misinterpretation of Mark 10:11-12.
4. Believing that Jesus used the word divorce (twice) in Mark 10:11-12 instead of "putting away" leads to proving to us Jesus is not the Son of God. The first verse depicts Jesus saying that following the Law leads to sin. The second verse depicts Jesus as not knowing the Law! This would prove to us Jesus is not the Son of God.
When people reference the following versions as the Word of God (NIV, NASB, NKJ, NLT, ESV, and The Message) and base their doctrines on them, they are confessing that they are a Pharisee and Jesus isn't the Son of God.
I've written the publishers of these versions and asked them if they think it is okay to publish a book that proves Jesus is not the Son of God. Three have responded. Two (Zondervan and Good News Publisher) basically said they just print the book and others are responsible. One (Thomas Nelson) responded this way:
"Thanks for your email. I’ve touched base with our editorial team and your question deals with interpretation of the passage and not translation. To further explore interpretations you may wish to consult commentaries, or books written about the topic. You may also wish to ask one of your church leaders for advice and guidance in this area."
The issue is translation and Thomas Nelson's response shows an incredible lack of understanding. At the ICRS I talked with Moody about the Ryrie translation. Again, no response to the question: Do you think it is okay to publish a book that proves Jesus is not the Son of God.
We are making the Word of God of none effect by our tradition!
If you disagree with any of this, I challenge you to click the links above and tell me where the explanation is wrong...
However, I've written to the publishers of the "versions" listed above and none of them have an explanation...
In fact, some of the explanations have been embarassing.
Bottomline:
Marriage is an AMAZING God-given tool to generate value so we can bring about God's Will.
However, the current state of marriage is a mess BECAUSE we DON'T follow God's Word...we follow our man-made tradition.
Problem #1: We have been following a man-made tradition in place of God's Will for marriage and it leads to bad marriages and us not being able to bring about God's Will.
Problems #2: There seems to be a conspiracy among the current church to keep problem #1 from people!
This work not only shows you how to have Biblical marriage, it will prove to you that current "leadership" is teaching and man-made tradition and isn't interested in following God's Word and Will. See for yourself...
