Spiritual Word Salad

Imagine being persuaded about the things of God by Judas Iscariot. Scary thought, isn’t it? Judas clearly had association to Jesus, but he betrayed Him. Jesus had nothing but stern rebuke for spiritual charlatans because they are the ones who lead people astray (Matthew 12:34, Matthew 23). It is important to note that Jesus dealt with those who were truly sincere with love and compassion like the Samaritan woman (John 4), the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) and the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-22).

Adhering to a biblical principle found in 2 Timothy 2:15-17, I am burdened to address a verbose rationale below because it is sad to see Christians falling for someone who makes a distinction on something that practically means the same.

The big question: What counts as examples of  ‘traditional biblical views’?

On Marriage

What is considered a traditional biblical view on marriage?

“And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.””

Matthew 19:4-6

Marriage between a man and a woman is a traditional biblical view. Why? Because this concept CAME STRAIGHT FROM THE BIBLE passed on from generation to generation, ergo, traditional biblical view. The very moment you omit the word ‘biblical,’ you would just have a traditional view which is NOT biblical. What is not a traditional biblical view would obviously be Same-sex marriage and marriage to animals or marriage to oneself- I know! I’m scratching my head on this one.

On The Trinity

Why is God’s triune nature a traditional biblical view?

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.””

Matthew 3:16-17

Clearly, you can see ALL THREE persons of God in this passage. God ceases to be God if He were like us, confined to one body. Also, He would not be omnipresent and neither could He be in every single believer if He had no capacity to be triune. So, when you question the Trinity, you end up also questioning the validity of the Holy Spirit being in each and every believer and the rest of the passages that talks about the Holy Spirit at work in every saint.

The Trinity is a traditional biblical view of God’s nature because the concept of the One True God in three persons- the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit came straight from the Bible.

On The Rapture

Why is the rapture a traditional biblical view?

“Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.”

Revelation 3:10

The hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth is referring to the Great tribulation where God’s judgment will be poured on all the inhabitants of the earth.

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.“

Matthew 24:21

“and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”

1 Thessalonians 1:10

Pre-tribulation and pre-wrath are practically synonymous. If believers are going to be rescued from the coming wrath (Pre Wrath in this sense), this means we don’t have to go through the Great tribulation (Pre tribulation). We are not to be confused with the ‘Tribulation Saints,’ those who will end up believing in Jesus during the Great tribulation, because as evidenced in the verses above, those who have placed their faith in Jesus now will be rescued from the coming wrath.

Therefore, Pre-tribulation Rapture is a traditional biblical view. Why? because the concept is derived straight out of “what the Bible alone has to say.” Preterism cannot be considered a biblical view because substantiating this claim would have to rely on a non-biblical source. In addition to this, the prophecies talking about the first advent of Jesus came true and the same can be said about the prophecies heralding the Second Coming of Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) as they are coming true in our generation chiefly the reestablishment of the nation of Israel with Jerusalem as its capital, the proliferation of false prophets and false Christs, the birth pangs and Christian persecution.

Now on to Doctrine…

This blogger claims, “How a person interprets the Bible (myself included) does not make it doctrine.”

Doctrine means teaching. There is sound doctrine (Titus 2) which is adhering to what the Bible clearly says and doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1-4) which also include interpretations and teachings that completely deviate from what is written. The minute a person propagates an erroneous interpretation, it becomes a doctrine (teaching) because someone else will/might believe it. I made a previous post about doctrine which can be accessed here.

As I have shown with the three examples above, traditional biblical views can only come straight from “what the Bible alone has to say.” If they are distinct as she implies, then she has NO discernment.

As for the last underlined claim, this blogger tried to substantiate her view and contention with another blogger who held to Pre-tribulation Rapture (not “Pre-Wrath” as she ‘strictly’ adheres to) by citing non-biblical sources. I question her adherence to her bottom line. This person has no problem twisting the facts depending on who her audience is. Beware!

“If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and semantics, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.“

1 Timothy 6:3-5

I will keep sounding the alarm about wolves in sheep’s clothing to anyone who will heed, be it only 1 or 2 people. That is still mission accomplished. This would be my second and final warning about this particular blogger.

Guard yourself from impostors and DO NOT BE DECEIVED!