PER:Christian Information Bureau  by Dave Hunt (newsletter)

   Vol. 5, No. 3

   Dear Praying Friends;

   The last two months we have pointed out examples indicating a sad
fulfillment in out day of Paul's warning that in the last days prior to
Christ's return sound doctrine would be scorned and in its place
professing Christians would turn to myths. We noted that as a result
there is a diminishing Biblical and increasing humanistic content in
Christian books and sermons. The very foundations of the Christian
faith are being undermined by many of those who are looked to as its
chief defenders. Yet at the same time, most if not all of those
involved in this destructive process stoutly and sincerely insist that
what they teach is "Biblical."

   How is such delusion possible? It has been accomplished by a subtle
redefinition. Whereas to be "Biblical" used to mean that a teaching was
derived from Scripture, it now means that it may be derived from
anywhere so long as it can somehow be interpreted as being compatible
with Scripture. Thus the Bible and Christ the Living Word are no longer
"The Truth" as Scripture so clearly claims. Instead, under the spacious
slogan that "all truth is God's truth," Holy Writ is now seen as only
one of many ingredients in a new recipe for happiness to which anything
may be added so long as the mixture still tastes somewhat "Biblical."
As a result, Christians are losing their taste and appetite for
unadulterated Truth.

   This accelerating erosion of spiritual discernment is compounded by
the fact that exegesis of Scripture has fallen into disfavor with both
shepherds and sheep. Ears are being tickled instead with humanistic
concepts which are introduced as allegedly necessary and helpful
supplements to God's Word in spite of its claim to be complete and
sufficient in itself. Far from being helpful, however, these
"supplements" subtly effect reinterpretations of Scripture -- and a
generation grows up with a "christianity" whose foundations have been
undermined without their knowing it.

   Let's take a simple example. Jesus commanded His disciples: "Seek ye
FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things
[food, clothing, shelter] shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:25:-33).
From humanistic psychology, however (now a legitimate source of
revelation according to the "all truth is God's truth" myth) so-called
"Christian psychologists" have borrowed another myth: Abraham Maslow's
"hierarchy of needs." It states that man's physical needs for such
things as food, clothing and shelter must FIRST be met, then so-called
psychological needs, and LAST OF ALL spiritual needs. Although it
blatantly turns Christ's command upside down, Maslow's theory and
evangelism. Biblical exegesis has been abandoned for a new source of
"truth."

   Let's take one more example. Paul solemnly warns: "...in the last
days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own
selves..." (2 Tim. 3:1-2). Then follows a list of sins which peculiarly
characterize our world today and all of which have their root in
self-love. Once again from humanistic psychology, however, "Christian
psychologists" have borrowed the seductive myth that self-love (along
with its concomitants self-esteem/worth/acceptance etc.) is a vital
ingredient for "mental health." Thus, instead of the prevalence of
self-love, as the Bible declares, a lack of it is now stated to be the
root of the sins listed in verses 2-4, which have been redefined as
"behavior problems" requiring newly discovered "psychological
solutions."

   As we have so often noted and documented, this pop psychology myth,
having been introduced into Christianity by leaders of impeccable
reputation, has become so popular that today it si the prevailing
belief throughout the church. It is as though Paul actually wrote:
"...in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be haters
of their own selves, and as a consequence will need to undergo therapy
and attend seminars in order to learn to love themselves properly..."
Such mutilations would be required before one could derive the current
self- love/esteem/worth fad from Scripture rather than declaring it
compatible.

   Acceptance of psychology's myth that a lack of self-love is our
major problem meant that Christ's statement to "love your neighbor as
yourself" had to be reinterpreted as a command to LOVE OURSELVES. Why
would Christ command us, if we all lack self-love, to love our
neighbors as we [fail to] love ourselves? Christ's apparent error is
now corrected by books and seminars teaching us how to first of all
love self so that we can fulfill His command.

   In contrast, simple exegesis of Christ's command to "love your
neighbor as yourself" would derive from Scripture the following: (1)
clearly we must already love ourselves, or such a command would be
foolish; (2) this is confirmed by Eph. 5:29 ("For no man ever yet hated
his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it..."), which is
substantiated by the obvious fact that we feed, clothe and care for
ourselves and seek to satisfy our own desires; (3) we are thus
commanded to manifest love for our neighbors in the same way, i.e. by
caring for them as we care for ourselves; and (4) the fact that this
command is necessary indicates that rather than lacking in self-love,
our problem is an excessive amount of it that causes us to be selfish
and thus to neglect caring for others. It is this self- centeredness
that Christ seeks to correct. Such had been the consistent
interpretation of this Scripture for 1900 years until humanistic
psychology was embraced as a valid source of "God's truth." As a
result, Christian leaders now promote the very love of self that Paul
warned would characterize men in the last days and from which Christ
came to deliver us by His cross.

   That we must DERIVE Truth form the Bible itself and from no other
source is clear from Christ's statement: "If ye continue in My Word,
then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32. Simple exegesis indicates
that the Truth which alone sets us free from sin and self is: (1)
revealed only through His Word; (2) understood only by those who "are
of God" and obey ("if ye continue") His Word; and (3) hidden to all
others (see verses 43- 47). Each of these points is denied by the "all
truth is God's truth" myth. It credits those "not of God" with
revelations of "God's truth" which supplement the very Word of God
which they oppose.

   Solomon wrote: "My son, give me thine heart and let thine eyes
observer my ways. For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a
narrow pit" (Prov. 23:26-27). Here we have the simple ingredients of a
godly life. There must first of all be the relationship to God as
children ("My son...") born into His family by His Spirit. Then follows
surrender of our hearts to Him, which involves both love and
commitment. Next we observe His ways, follow His example, obey His
Word. How can we do this? Motivation comes through our love for Him and
the wisdom imparted by His Word. Unfaithfulness to God (as to one's
spouse) and disobedience to His Word, no matter how pleasurable it may
seem for the moment, eventually becomes a deep ditch and a narrow pit
bitter as death itself.

   Why should husband and wife be faithful to one another? Why not so-
called free sex? For one thing, it is never "free," but always carries
obligations and consequences that cannot be escaped. Of course it is
possible for a husband or wife to "tire" of each other and to "fall in
love" with someone else -- but that is not real love. God's Word tells
us that "love" is more than sexual passion or pleasure. The
God-ordained relationship between male and female (like our
relationship to Him) involves total commitment. The man who cheats on
his wife or divorces her to marry a "more attractive woman may enjoy
what seems to be pleasure and fulfillment for a time. Eventually,
however, the remorse for having broken his marriage vows and having
dishonored the God who created him will turn illicit pleasure into
great pain. Obedience to God's Word gives joy now and eternally.
Exchanging that deep and lasting satisfaction for temporary pleasure is
a bad bargain indeed.

   Psychology allows one to say, "I can't love my wife or husband or
parent." Yet we are commanded to love: first of all God, then neighbor
as ourselves, and finally even our enemies. True love comes from
obedience to God's Word and is thus based upon commitment to sound
doctrine. Nor is there any excuse under any circumstances for not
loving spouse or parent, friend or foe, whether they mistreat or even
hate us. The same is true of all of the ingredients of a happy,
productive, fruitful, victorious life: they come from obedience to
sound doctrine. Far from being divisive as some complain, doctrine is
our very life. Those who will not endure it delude themselves with a
false "Christianity" that will be severely judged for its fundamental
disobedience.

   The Bible does not say, "Rejoice in the Lord always...unless you are
unable to do so because of an unhappy childhood, a bout of
`depression,' or adverse circumstances." It does not say,
"Forgive...unless you are unable to because of abuse, etc." We are not
excused from obeying the command, "Be not afraid," because we happen to
be timid and fearful. Nor are we excused from the command, "Let the
peace of God rule in your hearts," because we have been diagnosed as
susceptible to stress. Nor are we excused from the command to love
because we find certain people unlovable. Unfortunately, however, the
simple obedience to God's Word that sound doctrine compels has been
undermined by psychological "counseling" that nourishes unbelief and
rebellion.

   Love, joy, peace etc. are clearly declared to be the fruit not of
therapy but of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. How? Through some
magic process by which God "zaps" us and we are transformed? No, but as
God's Truth so grips our hearts that we are fully persuaded to be ruled
by His Word, to obey Him and to trust Him to fulfill in us what He has
promised. This is not to deny the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit
powerfully in our hearts and through us in others in ways beyond human
comprehension. It is merely to say that the Bible clearly declares that
God works in our lives through our obedience to His Word. As Jesus
said: "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and
ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

   The litmus test of truth for victorious Christian living must be: Is
it derived from Scripture, or is it the wisdom of this world packaged
in Christian terminology in order to make it appear to be compatible
with Scripture? This test should not only be applied to the sermons and
writings of others, but ot ourselves. We should each get on our knees
and ask God: "How much of my daily life is rooted in your Word, and how
much is rooted in the world? When I am happiest, is it because I know I
have pleased my Heavenly Father, am rejoicing in His grace and love,
and "the joy of the Lord is my strength;" or is it because I have
achieved worldly goals that bring the same joy to those who `know not
God and obey not the gospel'?"

   Jesus accused the Pharisees of establishing traditions that
nullified Scripture. Even the clear command to "Honour thy father and
mother," had been turned completely around by the Pharisees (Matt.
15:1-6). Christ indicted them with establishing a system of religion
that allowed men seemingly to honor God outwardly while in their hearts
they remained committed to self. What left men's hearts far from God
while their lips seemed to praise Him? Christ summed up His indictment
by declaring that Israel's religious Leaders had substituted the
traditions of men for the true doctrine of God's Word (verses 7-9).
This same "leaven of the Pharisees" is fermenting in today's church.
May God help us to boldly expose it and to stand uncompromisingly for
obedience to His Word.

   In Christ's love, Dave Hunt

   This has been put up on the board by the kind permission of the
staff of CIB, and I would encourage you to write to the address that
was at the beginning of this message to order their monthly newsletter
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   Christian Information Bureau

   PO Box 3120

   Camarillo Ca 93011
