Lies About God's Word

If I wrote a book about myself, I’d explain that I was born in the small town of La Junta, Colorado, but I ended up moving over 40 times, living all across the United States as well as in Germany and Hungary. 

Now suppose you and your friend read my book and when you discussed it, your friend said it was interesting that I was born and raised in La Junta and never moved. You’d probably pull out the book and show her she was wrong. 

But suppose your friend said, “Well, Coloradoans express themselves differently, especially if they're from La Junta. And Gail was born 70 years ago. Culture and language have changed since she was born, so what she really means in the book is that she never moved.”(1) 

This scenario sounds crazy until you realize that’s exactly what is happening with the most important Book ever given to mankind: the Bible. 

People are redefining God's character, His moral laws, His plan of salvation, His design, and His purposes for mankind. Using complex explanations about culture and language, they deny obvious truths in Scripture and claim it says things it doesn't say (Matthew 15:9).(2) 

Don't be misled, dear Christians (Colossians 2:8; 2 Corinthians 11:3-4). Believe what you read in God's Word, not what someone tells you it means.

Footnotes: 

(1) Yes, I was born in 1951, so I celebrated my 70th birthday this month. But I think I still speak in words that people can understand 😊

(2) Are there things about Scripture that are hard to understand? Sure, but they’re not significant. The major teachings of Scripture are clear enough for a child to understand. 

💜 Beyond 1-minute for those who want more 💜

These are the major areas where Scripture is being “rewritten,” areas that are absolutely clear despite the many popular false teachings: 

✔ Denying Hell and claiming universal salvation. 

See devotions in the collection The Heresy of Universal Salvation.

 

✔ Denying God’s design and claiming He approves immoral lifestyles and abortion. 

See devotions in the collection God's View of Sex.

 

✔ Denying Christ’s fulfillment of the law and claiming we must still keep dietary and ceremonial laws. 

See All or Nothing.

 

✔ Denying equal but different roles in the family. 

See Why Mutual Submission is Impossible.

Bible Love Notes

The New "Shame Game"

I’ve seen three types of professing Christians emerge in the last several decades. Obviously, not everyone fits perfectly in one of these categories, but these groups seem to be forming. 

1. The Silent 

These are genuine believers who have been shamed into silence. 

2. The Shamers (1 John 4:1) 

These are a mixture of false prophets, fake believers, and compromised Christians who've joined the “other side” vilifying unpopular teachings of Scripture. They claim to be loving and accepting, and they are, as long as you agree with them.

See Ex-vangelicals; Matthew 13:24-29; Weedy Messages 

3. The Remnant (1 Peter 2:9) 

These are those Christians who understand that everything God commands is for our good. They refuse to remain silent about sins that damage people's souls even though they face increasing criticism from family, friends, and culture. The remnant is willing to share in Christ's suffering (1 Peter 4:12-14). 

I’m hearing more and more from the shamers and discovering that they are similar to racists in their attitudes of superiority. They stereotype remnant Christians as haters, Pharisees, racists, misogynists, etc.

This morning as I read Matthew 11:16-30, I realized that the shamers have always been around. They tried to shame Jesus Himself. So we're in good company (John 15:8). 

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Misrepresentation - To see a biblical examination of some "shame game" accusations, see:

Wilderness Wanderers

Teachings that Bear Good Fruit

Muddled Views of God, Scripture, and Women.

Bible Love Notes

Romans 12:17 - Doing Right & Looking Right

Vengeance not only damages our soul, it destroys our witness. Romans 12:17 warns against revenge and follows that warning with these words: “Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.” 

This is true in every area of life. For example:

⮞ When handling church funds, Paul said he was “taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man” (2 Corinthians 8:21).

⮞ Peter stressed our integrity in regard to our witness, especially when dealing with non-Christians who’d like to discredit it. We must keep “a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against [our] good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1 Peter 3:16).

⮞ When Paul explains the requirements for a pastor, he says, “He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap” (1 Timothy 3:7). We know how important this is. We’ve seen well-known pastors and teachers fall into sin and bring discredit to the gospel.

When we love the Lord, we seek to do what’s right for the sake of our relationship with the Lord and for our witness to the world. 

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I hope you have enjoyed the Romans 12 Series. You might want to use this series for a small group study:

Romans 12:1-2 – Grateful and Transforming 

Enjoy these two wonderful truths from Romans 12:1-2. 

 

Romans 12:3 – A Reasonable View of Ourselves 

This short verse is packed with a powerful truth about the basis for biblical self-esteem.

 

Romans 12:4-8 – Belonging 

Romans 12:4-8 offers a helpful analogy for Christians working together in unity with diverse gifts. 

Romans 12:9 – Biblical Love Hates Sin 

This verse gives a powerful, relevant description of what true biblical love means. 

Romans 12:10 – Who Are You Going to Honor?

Romans 12:10 contains an important command, but it's not very popular with modern culture.

 

Romans 12:11 – Who Do You Love? 

Romans 12:11 is a powerful verse that reveals some important truths about loving God. 

Romans 12:12 – Joy, Patience, Prayer 

Romans 12:12 explains three important truths that can revolutionize our lives in Christ. 

Romans 12:13 – Helping the Needy 

Romans 12:13 commands us to help those in need, and 1 Peter 3:16 warns us about persecution. What do these things have in common? The devotion explains.

 

Romans 12:13 – Hospitality 

Do you know the meaning of biblical hospitality? It has a special meaning, and it's emphasized throughout Scripture.

 

Romans 12:14-21 – A Crazy Idea! 

Romans 12 explains an idea that sounds "crazy" to the world, and it involves heaping burning coals on our enemy's head.

 

Romans 12:15 – Rejoice and Mourn 

Romans 12:15 gives us a two-part command that can bless us and bless others. Will you take the challenge?

 

Romans 12:16-18 – Relationships in Harmony 

Romans 12 urges us to live in harmony and peace with others, and it contains this important truth about relationships.

 

Romans 12:16 – Snobbery 

This short passage in Romans 12 contains an important command for all of us. 

 Bible Love Notes

Romans 12:16 - Snobbery

"Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." ~ Romans 12:16b

Pride is a poison, and it comes in many flavors. 

People often measure themselves and others by intellect, appearance, position, family name, achievements, and popularity.

Christians aren’t immune from categorizing people in this way. We can get caught up in worldly values like wealth or position (James 2:1-9). Or we can make our pastors, teachers, and Christian musicians into our “celebrities” (Matthew 23:11-12).

But God never looks at these external values. He looks at our hearts and values those with faith (1 Samuel 16:7). He wants us to do the same (Romans 12:3).

This is what the Lord values most: 

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24  

Let's value what God values! 

Bible Love Notes

Romans 12:16-18 - Relationships in Harmony

"Live in harmony with one another.… Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." ~ Romans 12:16-18

We find peace and harmony in relationships by repenting when we blow it, forgiving others when they blow it, and offering grace.

"As far as it depends on us…"

Several years ago, a beloved family member became an ex-vangelical and cut off contact with my husband and me, harshly criticizing our faith. It's ironic that ex-vangelicals claim to be more accepting and loving than Bible-believing Christians, but they're harsh critics of any who disagree with them. 

It became very clear to us that the only way we could restore this relationship was to deny biblical teachings on LGBTQ lifestyles, abortion, universal salvation, and women’s roles in the family. 

We couldn’t do that.

But we refused to treat our loved one as she has treated us.

Instead of returning evil for evil, the teaching of Romans 12 helped us forgive, try to keep the lines of communication open, and seek peace with her. But she wanted nothing to do with us. 

We’re not living in harmony with this family member, but "as far as it depended on us," we tried (Matthew 10:32-39). 

💙 Beyond 1-minute for those who want more 💙

To better understand the beliefs of ex-vangelicals see Wilderness Wanderers.

How do these verses add to the truths in Romans 12?

1 John 4:19-21: "We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister."

Ephesians 4:32: "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." 

Colossians 3:12: "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

Beware of the Boundaries teachings which contradict the truths of Romans 12 by encouraging us to "protect" ourselves from family members who don't affirm us.

Bible Love Notes