CLARION CALL

“GET BACK TO THE BIBLE”

A “cherry-picking, cafeteria Christian” is a person who picks and chooses making a personal selection of few favoured Scriptures and develops or disregards other Scriptures that contradict his position.

A “cherry-picking, cafeteria Christian” is a person who picks and chooses making a personal selection of few favoured Scriptures and develops or disregards other Scriptures that contradict his position.

“Carte blanche” is French for a blank or white card. It may refer to: unlimited discretionary power to act; unrestricted authority. It could be described as a signed blank cheque, made out to you; and then you insert the monetary value!

Carte blanche Theology is a combination of cherry-picking certain Scriptures and then with cafeteria Christianity excluding parts of a Scripture or other Scriptures that do not fit with your premises.

A carte blanche theory has very little scholastic investigation that produces views which are very narrow and limited in understanding to the whole view of Scripture. We would call them a heresy of doctrine.

Failing to follow proper rules will produce a phoney “cherry-picking, cafeteria Christian philosophy,” which results in Carte Blanche theology.

The rules to interpret the Bible

We must look at any revelation in its historical setting.

It is to be read in context of the whole passage.

This revelation needs to have Old and New Testament Synergistic Scriptural support and that the Scripture does not contradict another Scripture.

On the other hand, you may want say it in another way, that being, “when the whole teaching of the Bible is considered, it is found to be consistent without contradiction.”

Doctrine change

Doctrine should be viewed and reviewed in the light of new understanding or revelation which must be supported by synergistic study. Any new proposition or revelation needs to have a synergetic Biblical foundation and be proven by Biblical research to remove any apparent contradictions.

Biblical doctrine research should follow hermeneutical rules and be consistent with exegetical investigation. Doctrine is open to change as our little or narrow minds come to a new understanding through revelation of God’s Word released by God to the believer.

The words of the Bible in their intent are not open to change.

The Teacher

The Law of the Old Testament is a teacher that pushes us towards Christ so that we will seek Him through repentance and receive grace. It is through the faith in His salvation, which has the elements of unmerited grace received by the act of repentance, atonement as a full payment and removal of sins, whereas in the Old Testament atonement was to just a covering of sins. Jesus thus fulfils the law.

The Old Testament or the Law of Moses was a forerunner of the new Christian Theology where the synergistic dynamics of Old and New Testament Scriptures should be used in the Church today, one as a teacher and the newer as a reward. A well based church will be based in the Old Testament and New Testament.

All who practice lawlessness have knowledge of the Law of God at some level, but still persist with the delusion and leading others into delusion too.

If you have two perspectives that seem to be in conflict we could say we have two camps of thought, one right and one wrong. Perhaps they are both wrong.

The question I would ask; Would God want exclude some people by having conflicting Scriptures? “NO, He has not.”

People exclude themselves by going against the whole counsel of God.

You should listen if the Scriptures, Old and New Testament that say to not do something for the sake of your spiritual or physical health. Then if you add to this the dynamics of medical evidence that shows that such behaviours cause medical problems in the area of physical, emotional and psychological sickness; then we must conclude that we are not to do certain things. The Bible will be verified by good investigated science.

People in the church are gambling with injecting poisonous inks through tattoos and saying it is fashionable, when the Bible and the medical profession say we ought not to do so.

TV stations in Britain warn people of flashing images in case some suffer from fits while some parts of the Church embrace this exclusive behaviour with flashing lights. Some people suffer from breathing problems while some churches are filling the place with smoke to try and get atmosphere.

Some parts of the Church we know today reject the teaching of the whole counsel of the Bible and sciences to develop accommodating feel good Theology for an atmosphere. Jesus will say to many on that day in the Church of today, “Away from Me I know you not (Matthew 25:12).” Then we will hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:42). The wailing and gnashing of teeth is the compromising Christian saying. “It’s not fair.” It may not seem fair for some, but it will be just for all.

When the whole teaching of the Bible is considered, it has to be consistent!

CLARION CALL

“GET BACK TO THE BIBLE”

“If you are DELUDED it is not your fault!” Is that statement true or false? You just don’t know; do you?

Well you may have been misinformed, but how do you know you have been misinformed? Somebody else may tell you so. True, but how can you tell whether the person who tells you is right or wrong? The person who tells you that you are deluded may himself be in error and you were right after all! But if they are correct then it’s your choice to continue in the delusion or change. True.

How do you identify a delusion? You will not be able to do so without help from another source or sources and most likely an advisor. For the Christian we have the Bible.

Should you hire the best lawyer you can to defend your delusion? Yes

Should you read up on the subject? Yes

Is there such a thing as ignorance of the law? Yes, and No

Can I claim ignorance of the Law? “Not completely”

We have been told that: Ignorance of the law is no excuse. This means that when an individual violates the law, it doesn’t matter whether or not they knew the law. BUT ignorance in certain limited circumstances may provide a viable defence to a criminal charge; based on the fact that you cannot have secret criminal laws and then be prosecuted for it.

Is the Bible available? Yes

So it’s not a secret? Correct

Whose responsibility is it to read the Bible? We are all responsible.

Wilfulness

Wilfulness relates only to a person’s state of mind during the act.

Some poor misguided Christians say when a Christian falls into sin, “God knows your heart and everything will be OK.” Well, that is partly true; God does indeed know your heart, BUT the judgement on sin is still the same as it has been throughout the Bible. Eventually without repentance it will lead to eternal separation.

What if your adviser (Pastor, teacher or leader) is wrong? What if you hire a lawyer and he gives you the wrong advice and you lose; does he go to gaol or do you? YOU do!

Is a delusion a sin? Yes, and no! If you are informed that it may lead you into sin, and then you have a choice; either remain in the delusion or repent.

To determine what a delusion/sin are you must first have a guide to measure them by. The Bible is a good place to start. In fact, the Bible is the ONLY place to start!

The Bible will not say something is a sin in one part and that it is OK in another part. For God does not change.

Order of first mention

• How long has the delusion/sin in my case been in the Book?
• Has my delusion/sin been removed from the Book?
• Is my delusion/sin lawful in other places in the Book?
• Is there an amendment to that Law somewhere else in the Book?
• Does the delusion/sin involve me fully understanding the whole Book?
• Does my wilfulness to stay in the delusion/sin cause a problem when it conflicts with the Book?
• What is the oldest recorded of this delusion/sin in the Book?

Moses is regarded as the first writer of Scripture around 1400 year BC.

Moses decided to have his scribes record the oral history into a tangible form namely the scrolls. Thus we have the beginning of the written form of the Word of God.

Moses by recording the Law or Torah set in place practical measures to maintain order with approximately two and half million people to in the camp. Additionally, he knew that one day he would pass on the leadership therefore the law would help to maintain continuity.

God utters the truth in His Old and New Testaments in the complete Bible; then everything stands on this point as God does not change His mind. If God says in His Word, that something is a sin then that is the way it is whether you like to admit it or not.

The order of first mention is the first writing of the law by Moses some three and half thousand years ago. The laws in the form of the commandments were inspired by God to show man what sin is. Another purpose for the commandments is to show man what he cannot do in his own strength. All sin has a penalty of death which is eternity without God. This penalty for breaking the law is consistent to all but it can be overturned by a confession of faith through repentance and the application of Jesus’ blood.

Condemnation applies

Christian may say that we are believers in Christ and therefore our spirit is in heavenly places with Jesus. Paul said, “That in his flesh is where sin resides, and that his flesh is weak”. Paul in Romans 8 explains the victory, “There is no condemnation to those in Jesus”. We have been set free from sin and eternal separation. BUT be sure your actions are in Christ. That is to say our actions need to be in line with the WHOLE WORD of God, Old and New Testament the sum total of God’s knowledge. If your action is outside the whole Word of God; then you are outside of Jesus and condemnation applies.

Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. (NIV)

If we look back to the Garden when Adam ate the fruit it was to gratify the flesh. Jesus said the same thing to His disciples at the Garden of Gethsemane when He left them to pray. On His return Jesus found them sleeping He then went on to say, “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”. (Mark 14: 38)

Mark 14: 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (NIV)

All of mankind is in the fallen state. Their soul and body are outside the Garden of Eden and under the curse of sin. Therefore, we have a sinful nature. On the other hand, the born-again Christian has a regenerated spirit (a new spirit) that is seated in heaven with his soul and body still on this earth. His or her thinking should come from another position, a position of a spiritually-alive nature and if he or she sins, it is not from the spirit but from the flesh. If the flesh has rule, then you can certainly place yourself outside of Christ.

A harmonised synergistic understanding of the Bible requires three points.

One. To know that the Bible is God’s Word.

Two. To know that the Bible is settled whether I understand it, experience it or even believe it.

Three. To know I am blessed because I believe it and follow its direction for my life.

The Word of God was and has always been. It was settled by God in the beginning, we need to come to a resolve when we encounter it.