Many parents are finding out that a pat on the back helps develop character — if given often enough, early enough, and low enough.
You cannot keep trouble from coming, but you need not give it a chair to sit in.
Plenty in the purse cannot prevent starvation in the soul.
Sir Isaac Newton was in his office one day when he received a knock at his door. He opened it to find a good friend of the scientific community who happened to be on the opposite side of the beginning of the universe controversy.
As he entered the room his eyes were drawn to a large table on which sat a scale model of the universe. It was exquisitely detailed – painted even down to the circles of Saturn. It was mechanical – a handle caused the planets to rotate around the sun. This moving replica was an amazing site.“
My what a wonderful thing this is!” he exclaimed. “This is the most extraordinary thing I have seen! What genius put this together? I should really like to shake his hand.” Sir Newton replied, “No one made it.” His friend retorted, “You must think that I am a fool...Some very wise and talented person made this.”
Newton’s reply is still a wise answer to the current controversy. “This thing is but a puny imitation of a much greater system whose laws you know and I know, and I am not able to convince you that this mere toy is without a designer and a maker. Yet you profess to believe that the great original from which the design is taken has come into being without either designer or maker. Now tell me, by what sort of reasoning do you reach such incongruous conclusions?”
Author Unknown
1. The Bible yields sweet fruits to him that reads. Its depths are unfathomable, and its riches are unlimited (Romans 11:33).
2. A knowledge of Gospel truth is necessary before we can be made free from sin (John 8:32).
3. We cannot make clear to unsaved people what is not clear to ourselves. “The disciple is not above his teacher.” The blind must not lead the blind (Luke 6:39; Romans 2:19; II Peter 1:9).
4. The possession of a working knowledge of the Bible arms one for the warfare of life. “And take unto ourselves the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).
5. A working knowledge of the Bible “furnishes the man of God to every good work.” There is a Bible message to cover every condition and problem of every human being. It can be used in every emergency from cradle to the grave (II Timothy 3:13-17).
6. The knowledge of the Bible enables one to be comforted and offers help to discouraged and distressed brethren. “Comfort one another with these words” (I Thessalonians 4:18).
7. Only by a knowledge of the Word of God can you feed your soul. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by everyword that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
8. A lack of Bible knowledge will make you a workman that needeth to be ashamed, because you do not know how to handle aright the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15).
9. A knowledge of the Bible is the only safeguard against fatal error. “...Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?” (Mark 12:24).
10. We cannot be the parents we ought to be without nurturing our children in the chastening and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).
Author Unknown
Yes, if we respect the wishes of Christ. He prayed for unity: John 17:20-21.
Yes, if we believe there is one God. The Ephesians were told to keep unity on the basis of this truth: Ephesians 4:3-6.
Yes, if we realize the dangers of division. Paul taught against religious division: I Corinthians 1: 10- 13.
Yes, if we are willing to yield human opinions to the authority of God’s Word. Jeremiah urged that man’s wisdom is not a safe guide: Jeremiah 10:23.
But unity does not now exist! The modem religious world is divided into several hundred denominations who war over names, creeds, practices, organizations, worship and ritual.
Unity can be had when creeds are discarded in favor of the Bible. The world can have the blessings of unity when all people accept the Holy Scriptures as the sole authority in religion. The Bible only makes Christians only! If all are just Christians, nothing more and nothing less, all will be united!
William S. Cline
The vast majority of Protestants believe the “thousand years” of Revelation 20:1–7 refers to the tenure of Christ’s reign in an earthly kingdom upon His return. Since He will come before His alleged millennial reign, this theological system is called “premillennialism.” Since the aforementioned passage is the Bible’s only reference to a millennial reign of Christ, premillennialists rely heavily upon it, in spite of the fact that it does not contain or support premillennial dogma. For example, the passage does not mention such essential parts of the pre-millennial program as the rapture, the bodily resurrection of saints, the city of Jerusalem, an earthly reign of Christ, a thousand years of earthly peace, or even the Second Coming—all essential points of the dogma. A principal key to understanding the book of Revelation is that it is largely written in symbolic orfigurative “code” language (Revelation 1:1). No other Biblical document contains more signs and symbols than this one. One should thus approach its details as symbolic unless there is some contextual reason not to do so. Note the figurative flavor of the opening verses of Revelation 20 (the “angel,” the “key,” the “greatchain,” the “bottomless pit”/“abyss,” and the “seal” are all obviously figurative). There is every reason to believe (and no reason not to believe) the “thousand years” is also figurative. The events described in Revelation 20:1–9 are not a chronological continuation of chapter 19, which describes Jesus’ return, His destruction of all the ungodly, and His casting the “beast” and the “false prophet” into Hell (vv. 11–21)—all of which are highly figurative descriptions of the end of time and the Judgment. Revelation several times moves in cycles from the beginning of the church to the end of time, the last such cycle occurring in 20:1–9. In these verses John recaps the period from Pentecost to theJudgment (the Christian Age), during which Satan is bound for “a thousand years,” “loosed for a little time,” and at last cast into Hell forever. During this period (the present Christian Age), Christ now reigns over His kingdom, the church (Matthew 16:18–19; John 18: 36; Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:5–6, 9), and simultaneously, Satan’s power is restrained. The “thousand years” of Satan’s “binding” and of Christ’s millennial reign is figurative, denoting a long, but indeterminate, period (cf. the “thousand hills” [Psalm 50:10] and the“thousand generations” [Deuteronomy 7:9]). During this time, “souls” (not bodies) of martyrs “reign” with Christ in Heaven (not on the earth), awaiting the universal bodily resurrection at His coming (John 5:28–29; I Corinthians 15:22–26). We are living in the millennium, the figurative “thousand-year” reign of Christ.
Note: This article was written for and published in the Denton Record-Chronicle, February 16, 2007.
Dub McClish
Part 5
In this last two hours of The Bible, the viewer finds once again a mixture of accuracy with flagrant disregard for the sacred text that they are supposed to be showing. In fact, the presentation seems to vacillate between the two. What actually happened was that Judas told the chief priests and the elders to take back their money. He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.” Then he threw down the money in the temple. In the miniseries, however, he throws it at Malchus, who has just brought Jesus down the steps and made a quick announcement to the crowd that Jesus has been found guilty and is worthy of death. Judas says, “Take back your money.” Then he goes out and hangs himself. None of the gospel writers hint that Malchus made such an announcement or that Judas threw money at him. Pilate’s wife warns him three times against condemning Jesus. Mary watches Jesus being scourged while the priests are busy stacking the crowd to be sure that Barabbas is released instead of Jesus. Jesus before Pilate was accurate—even to the governor saying, “What is truth?” Pilate washed his hands as he reluctantly turns Jesus over to be crucified, and Jesus begins His journey to Golgotha. At one point where He stumbles, His mother Mary reaches Him, and He tells her not to be afraid—that all things are possible with God. After this error, they accurately portrayed Pilate refusing to change the title that would be placed above Jesus ‘ head. It said, “King of the Jews,” and would not be changed to: “He said He was the King of the Jews.”
The Crucifixion
As Jesus is climbing the hill of Golgotha, a lamb and two turtledoves are being offered by the high priest. Meanwhile Pilate comments to his wife, “He’ll be forgotten in a week.” Mary reaches up and touches His foot while Jesus is on the cross, an action which arose from someone’s imagination. The most accurate part of the crucifixion is that Jesus says the seven things He is recorded as saying in the Scriptures (although two of them were out of order). After this portrayal, the consideration of truth deteriorated quickly. From this point on, the miniseries becomes more and more disappointing. Although there are dark clouds that roll by at the time of Jesus’ death, no darkness covers the land for the last three hours of His time on the cross. The lampstand in the temple overturns, and an earthquake causes the veil of the temple to come crashing down, but it is supposed to tear from the bottom to the top. The centurion presses the spear into Jesus’ right side, but no water and blood comes forth. The spear, when removed does have red upon it.
The stage is set; the centurion looks up at the cross, and the viewer is waiting for those wonderful words that the actual centurion spoke: “Truly this was the Son of God.” But only silence greets one’s ears. What would it have taken—three seconds—for him to have uttered those powerful words? Why were they omitted when they just as easily could have been included?
Nicodemus and someone unidentified (presumably Joseph of Arimathea) take Jesus out to the tomb, but they have no hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes with them. Meanwhile Mary is sent back to Galilee—even though John just promised to be her son a day or two earlier. She is not among those in the upper room. None of the other women are with Mary Magdalene, and when she gets to the tomb, no Roman soldiers are in sight. She sees the rock split (as opposed to angels rolling it away) and enters the tomb (John 20:1; Matt. 28:2). She goes in and sees His clothes, but no angel is inside the tomb. Then Jesus speaks to her and tells her to go tell the other disciples, which she does. They tell her that it is not possible and that she saw someone else. Peter and John go with her and see the empty tomb. Peter returns and recalls the Last Supper. Thomas laments, “No, this isn’t real.”
The Ascension
The miniseries does have Jesus inviting Thomas to touch His wounds, and the hole in one of His hands is interesting. When Jesus ascends into heaven, He first tells them that the Holy Spirit will come upon them. Then He commissions them: “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to all creation….” Then, silence—again. They left off the part about, “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who does not believe shall be condemned.” Jesus concludes by saying, “Peace be with you”; then He ascends. Pentecost The disciples become excited to see Stephen arriving in Jerusalem, but nothing of his background is stated. He is present, as is Mary Magdalene, on this crucial day as the mighty rushing wind begins as they are reciting the Lord’s prayer (which is doubtful); however, no cloven tongues as of fire sit upon them. They all praise God in different languages (which is better than some lame attempt to make them ecstatic utterances). But no accusation of drunkenness follows, and Peter does not preach the first gospel sermon. The Bible has been leading up to this day for centuries, and the proclamation of the gospel is critical, but the producers just ignored it. No gospel message is included. Not one of the 3,000 souls is baptized (Acts 2:41).
Peter heals the lame man from Acts 3 on the same day, and Stephen is also stoned. Those responsible for The Bible were more unkind than the Jews. They, at least, let Stephen preach before they stoned him. He presented no message here. Although he does see the heaven open and the Lord on the right hand of God, he is not portrayed saying, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.”
Paul of Tarsus
No, you read it correctly. Although the Bible never calls the persecutor of the church Paul of Tarsus, the miniseries introduces him this way. If anyone is looking for a designation of this 10-hour miniseries, the Paul of Tarsus version of the Bible would encapsulate its errors. No one ever referred to Paul that way; furthermore, he was not called Paul, period, until after his conversion and the beginning of his first missionary journey (Acts 13:9). He certainly did not go by Paul at the stoning of Stephen. One wonders who the producers could have possibly consulted with on these matters—surely, no one who knows the Bible well.
Paul of Tarsus gets Malchus to join him in persecuting Christians, and they invade a place where Christians are meeting. They torture a disciple who tells them that Christians have fled to Damascus. So Paul gets on his phantom horse that he has been riding ever since Good News for Modern Man was published, showing Saul falling off a stick figure pony. He saw Jesus and then became blinded. The men with him do not see anyone.
In Damascus, Jesus commissions Ananias to go to “Paul of Tarsus,” who is blind and very nervous. When Ananias approaches, he wants to know who is there. Ananias restores his sight and says, “I, Ananias, baptize you, Paul, in the name of Christ” and he pours a pitcher of water over his head. Exactly what Biblical or historical fact is this nonsense based on? Was there no one working on this project that read Acts 8, where Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and came up out of it again? It’s hard to get a pitcher of water out of that! “Paul’s” conversion is only the next chapter!
They had done such a wonderful work of showing John in the Jordan River baptizing Jesus by immersion. What happened? Did someone tell them, “You will alienate many in Protestant denominations if you leave it at that”? Did someone advise them to show some other method of baptism so as to be more inclusive? They had baptism right initially; this switch from the accurate portrayal of the act was obviously a sell-out aimed at pleasing those who refuse to do it properly; it was a clear compromise of what the Bible teaches. Later at the house of Cornelius, they dip everyone’s head into a well. The only surprising thing at this point is that no one sprinkled water on the penitent. James, Paul, and John Someone must have rolled the dice and said it was time to change the order of historical events. James the brother of John is put to death (which occurs in Acts 12). The apostles realize they have to finally leave Jerusalem. Someone asks John where he thinks he will go, and he answers: “North, to Ephesus.” Does any Bible student think that if John was asked this question that he actually answered these words? Didn’t think so. Besides, Ephesus is north and considerably west of Jerusalem. Furthermore, Paul was the first apostle to actually travel there (Acts 19).
At this point Paul came to Jerusalem and tried to join with the disciples. One of Paul’s detractors said, “I have friends in Damascus; you paid them a visit,” which is untrue. Saul the persecutor never visited Christians in Damascus because he was struck blind first. Rejected by brethren, he began quoting 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, a great text, which he wrote several years later. The previous critic changed his mind and embraced Paul. Anyone guessing that Paul’s benefactor was Barnabas knows the Bible better than The Bible’s producers. They have Luke responding positively to Paul.
Shortly thereafter, Peter is arrested and taken to Cornelius, who, rather than do him harm, wanted to hear the gospel. Everyone bowed to him, and Peter did say he is a man like they are. Of course, Peter was not brought to Cornelius by Romans, and this event (recorded in Acts 10) happened before James was slain (Acts 12). Peter did not dip Cornelius’ head in water to baptize him. The Holy Spirit coming upon Cornelius and his household to prove that the Gentiles were acceptable to God did not occur—especially since there were no Jews with Peter anyway in this version.
Conclusion
The ten hours comes to a close by moving down the road twenty years and mentioning that, according to tradition, Peter was crucified upside down in Rome. Paul is arrested for preaching to prisoners. Actually, that is inverted, also. Paul preached to prisoners after he was jailed (Acts 16, et al.). Paul is not shown being arrested in Jerusalem and taken to Rome. Nothing is said about that at all. The narrator informs the audience that John was poisoned in Rome. What? But then he adds that the Romans were unsuccessful in their attempt and banished him to the Isle of Patmos, where he wrote Revelation. Nothing is ever said about him being in Ephesus, as predicted earlier. He sees Jesus, but it is not the vision from Revelation 1. He talks about there being no more pain and death, affirms that He will make all things new, and promises that He is coming soon. His final words are, “May the grace of the Lord be with all God’s people,” to which John adds, “Amen.” Our conclusion is that this “Paul of Tarsus” version, except for about 30 minutes out of ten hours, is not worth seeing and will only confuse the viewer. It is riddled with inaccuracies and misinformation. The Nativity and The Passion of the Christ are far better and more inspirational. As far as the Old Testament, Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments remains the best, though it contains several errors as well.
Gary W. Summers
*altered format from original publishing to correspond to aired episodes
Episode 7 "Mission"
This section tries to capture Jesus’ public ministry, and it concludes with His trial. The events and teaching are continually out of sequence, but the essence is fairly well captured, even if the details are all wrong. It opens with Jesus teaching the parable of the mustard seed at an event that occurred in Mark 2. There is a logical fallacy here as it is presented. Jesus is teaching in a courtyard, which is crowded but not packed. Yet, the four men with the lame man cut a hole in a roof adjacent to the courtyard, and lowered him through it. He seems to be on a blanket rather than a bed. The complaint against Jesus forgiving his sins was spoken out loud, however, rather than Jesus knowing what he was thinking. Everyone (except the murmurer) rejoiced when the man arose and walked.
The healing of a leper was well done, as was the scene involving the Pharisee and the publican. The publican happened to be Matthew, and he became Jesus’ disciple from then on.
The Woman Taken in Adultery
Although the overall effect is the same as that recounted in the Scriptures, the producers changed a few details. They have Jesus writing on the ground prior to the woman being brought into His presence. Several have picked up stones and are ready to kill her, when they point out that the Law said to stone her but then ask what His judgment is. Jesus picks up a stone, and the crowd wonders if he is going to cast it at her. He walks amid the crowd with His stone held high as though he was going to hurl it at her any minute. Then He says, “I will give my stone to the first man who tells me he has never sinned.” They slowly drop their stones and walk away. Jesus does tell her to sin no more.
Kingship
After Jesus feeds the 5,000, He rejects the kingdom. The disciples want to know why. “Aren’t you going to be our king?” one says. “Jesus responds, ‘Who do you think I am?’” Peter then makes the good confession, but this is the wrong time and place for Peter to confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. That event occurred far to the north in Caesarea Philippi. At some point, Judas says, “A Messiah should be a warrior, a conqueror like David.” Peter answers him, “Violence is not the way.”
Walking on Water
Mary Magdalene always seems to be with the twelve. No doubt she frequently was, but so were other women. She is present on the boat when Jesus comes walking on the water. Instead of Peter asking to join Him, Jesus invites him to step out of the boat. Except for that discrepancy, the rest of this event is accurate. Peter slips beneath the waves, and Jesus grasps his hand to save him, asking “Why did you doubt, O you of little faith.” If some portions can be correct, why can’t they all be?
Episode 8 "Betrayal"
A variety of events from Jesus’ life are portrayed in the remainder of part four of The Bible. But a tremendous out-of-order episode is now placed into the mix. Whereas Jesus began His public ministry by going to Nazareth and reading from the Isaiah scroll, the producers of the program insert it now—after the feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus walking on the sea. When Jesus said that the passage that He read was fulfilled in their hearing, one Pharisee made several accusations against Jesus, one of which was, “His healing is the work of demons.” When Peter decided he had had enough of this detractor, he pulled back his fist and was about to slug him when Jesus stopped him by saying, “Peter, turn the other cheek.” Out of vengeance for being challenged and threatened, the man tells them that John was dead. He’s been “executed, beheaded.” Of course, this incident was fabricated and intertwined with teaching from Matthew 5.
In another invented scene, Pilate slaughtered some rebellious Jews, and the high priest says, “Imagine what he could do at the Passover.” Later, the narrator states: “Just 30 years ago, the Romans killed thousands during Passover demonstrations.” This becomes the motivation of the high priest to do something about Jesus so that He does not ruin their Passover.
Lazarus
In this miniseries, Jesus does raise Lazarus from the dead, but that is the only fact that remained intact. One would think that at this point everything would be fairly accurate, but, no, apparently the way God wrote the New Testament was not sufficient for the producers of this work. They present it the way they wish John would have recorded the facts. In this dynamic equivalent visual rendering, Martha greets Jesus and takes Him to the tomb of Lazarus. The entrance to the tomb is covered by a mound of rocks rather than a stone. After they are removed, Jesus, instead of calling, “Lazarus, come forth,” enters the tomb. He says, “Lazarus, I am the resurrection and the life.” Then He kisses Lazarus on his hair (his head being uncovered instead of wrapped), and having been dead for four days, he suddenly opens his eyes and sits up. Jesus concludes the event by saying, “Whoever believes in Me shall never die,” to which Lazarus gives an Amen. He walks out of the tomb dressed in a regular garment. His body had not been anointed in the usual Jewish custom.
In the triumphal entry, Jesus is riding a donkey, and they do spread palm branches before Him. Barabbas shouts to him, “Why don’t you make us free? Save us from the Romans, Lord.” Barabbas also mocks the coming of the kingdom. Jesus stares him down and walks past him into the temple area where He overthrows the tables of the moneychangers, interspersing some of His teaching from Matthew 6 at the same time.
When Jesus is asked by Nicodemus (acting on behalf of the high priest) if the Jews should pay taxes, Barabbas shouts, “No pay! No pay!” but Jesus gives the appropriate answer. However, instead of talking about the destruction of the temple only to His disciples, He says it publicly so that His enemies can hear Him, and it becomes a major part of their case against Him from that point on.
Nicodemus and Judas: Swapping Loyalties
Nicodemus now comes to Jesus secretly during the Lord’s final week instead of early in His ministry, as recorded in John 3. Jesus told him that he must be born again—not in the flesh but in the spirit. Jesus makes the wind blow and says, “And so it is when the Spirit enters you.” What Jesus actually said was: “So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).
Meanwhile, Judas went to the chief priest and made an arrangement to betray Jesus. He was reluctant to do so, however, saying, “He has a power….” The high priest retorted: ”If he were the Son of God, IF, would he abuse God’s house?” Judas asked: “What do you want with Him?” “Just a talk,” is the lame reply.
The Last Supper, Arrest, and Trial
Pilate threatened to put the city under a curfew (?). Jesus announced to His disciples that He would be crucified, and they actually show Him giving the disciples the bread and the fruit of the vine, saying, “Remember Me by doing this.” After telling them that one of them would betray Him, Judas ran out, right past Satan, who will be spotted several times this evening among the people and the crowd. Nicodemus tried to defend Jesus, but the high priest asks, “Has He fulfilled any of the signs of a true Messiah, as written in our Scriptures?” Nicodemus says that having a trial at night is illegal. It must be held in court, in daylight, and in public. The high priest answers that it may not be legal but it is necessary.
Jesus has told Peter, after the Last Supper, that he will betray Him three times before dawn (rather than before the rooster crowing). This section was handled so poorly that even someone who knows little of the Bible could see the contradiction. Instead of Peter betraying Jesus that night, it is the next morning—well after daylight. Then they compound this error (which is actually in part five) by having Peter recall Jesus’ words—only they lop off “before dawn” from them!
Jesus is accurately portrayed in the garden of Gethsemane, even to the healing of Malchus’ ear and His telling Peter to put away his sword (although the intrepid apostle had already knocked Judas down and called him a traitor). However, they then throw a bag over Jesus’ face and whisk Him away like a mafia snatch. They beat Jesus along the way. The high priest asks Jesus, “Are you the Son of God?” and the answer is surprisingly accurate: “I am, and you will see Me coming with the clouds of heaven, sitting at the right hand of God.”
Gary W. Summers
*altered format from original publishing to correspond to aired episodes