Introduction
"For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified (1 Co: 2:2)...
hath God not made foolishness the wisdom of this world? (1 Co 1:20)"
The implication of the above quote is inescapable. Worldy preachers preach foolishness
in God's eyes! How do we learn to tell the difference between "Wisdom of God", and Foolishness of Man"?...
The purpose of the Christian commentator is to lead the audience to Christ and His Kingdom, and to
enhance the audience's knowledge, belief, attitudes and conduct, firstly as current members of Christ's
community, and secondly as future subjects of His Kingdom. In the bible, we find
that this sort of preaching is the norm. The subject matter of true Christian preaching can be
summarized thus:
"But when they believed Philip preaching the things
concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized,
both men and women" (Ac 8:12).
Five Methods of Criticism
When I review and study the works of modern Christian writers, there are five
methods of criticism by which I discern truth from falsehood:-
1. Do they place first priority upon the writings of the bible
as Christ and His Apostles do?
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works". (Tim 3:16)
2. Do they understand the writings of the bible as Christ and His Apostles do?
"And he spake a parable unto them,
Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?" (Luke 6:39)
3. Are their priorities in preaching in accordance with the preaching priorities
of Christ and His Apostles?
"I resolved to preach nothing but Christ, and Him crucified". (1Co 2:2)...
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved". (Acts 4:12)
4. Is there any part of their teaching that steps outside of the range of subject
matter or terminology that is used by Christ and His Apostles?
"The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as
his master". (Luke 6:40)
5. Does their teaching lead astray from the Gospel teaching that leads to
Salvation in Christ Jesus?
("But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than
that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed? [because] ?Christ is
become of none effect to you". Gal 1:8)
Example: NV Peale, the "Positive Thinker"
The following is an example of how to analyse the preaching of a modern day preacher.
The example I have chosen is that of N V Peale.
May I at the outset advise that
I have absolutely no malice toward Mr Peale. To the contrary, I respect him as
an example of a highly influential modern Christian. I should like to meet him
(although this is impossible at this time - he died in 1993). I have chosen
Mr Peale because he is indeed highly respected. Peale has helped many people who are
(Peale's words) "in the grip of [their]... inferiority complex".
and because his message has a strong
Gospel veneer. No-one would suspect Mr Peale of the Judas role of leading them
astray from the gospel of eternal life in Christ Jesus would they? But let us use the bible as the yardstick.
(As it is written, "...the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the
last day - John 12:48).
1. Does Peale place first priority upon the writings of the
bible as Christ and His Apostles do?
No (not first priority)
(b) Peale places a high priority on the writings of Freude and Jung, who brings to us some unscriptural
understandings of the nature of man (see NV Peale Biography).
2. Does Peale understand the writings of the bible as Christ and His Apostles do?
No (not always) - For example, Peale does not understand Luke 17:21, "The Kingdom of God within you".
See following argument
(Show/Hide)
"Within you" is not a correct translation of Luke 17:21.
In the context of Peale's bible quote, "within you" refers to the Pharisees that
had just asked Jesus a question. The correct translations, "in your midst" or
"among you", are to be found, respectively, in the New American
Standard Bible and in Green's Interlinear Hebrew-Greek-English Bible. These make sense, because
the Kingdom really was "among" the pharisees in the person of its King: King Jesus!
The bible confirms that these translations are correct. Consider that the apostles
were instructed (Luke 10:9) to go out and proclaim "The Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you".
They could not say "within you" (correct translation "among"), since "King Jesus" was
not "among" their target audience at the time of their preaching.
Since Mr Peale is merely using the King James bible quote, he could be forgiven
for this misunderstanding, but see where the exploration of "the Kingdom of God leads Mr Peale
under item 4 below.
3. Are Peale's priorities in preaching in accordance with the preaching priorities
of Christ and His Apostles?
No, not the same.- For example, we see Jesus, Paul, John, also Peter, Jude, and
the writer of the letter to the Hebrews
preaching as a matter of first priority that there will be a day of judgement
(look for eternal judgement in this table).
Peale does not teach a day of judgement.
(Your help required - Show/Hide)
(The writer confesses he knows the bible better than the writings of Peale. If the
reader is able to quote where Peale preaches a day of Judgement, He is happy to be proven wrong).
(Judgement, though definitely part of the Gospel teaching,
is not a positive thought, but rather, a sobering one).
(Judgement quotes - Show/Hide)
"Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom
and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city". (Mtt 10:15)
"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the
word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day". (John 12:48)
"Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by
that man whom he hath
ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
(Ac 17:31)
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment:
because as he is, so are we in this world". (1Jo 4:17)
"But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto
fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men". (2Pe 3:7)
For those who worry over God's Judgement resulting in "Eternal Torment", please view
Eternal Torment: Are the Wicked Tormented "for Ever and Ever"?
4. Is there any part of Peale's teaching that steps outside of the range of subject
matter or terminology that is used by Christ and His Apostles?
Yes (though I do acknowledge Peale's rediscovery of the positive aspects of the bible).
Peale's biography describes how he was the pioneer of
"Christian Psychology". But God's wisdom and man's foolishness do not necessarily sit well together
(see introductory quote at top of page).
Peale teaches that the Kingdom of God is the "big it" within you
(Peale's Thought Conditioner Number 10) - Peale argues elsewhere that the "big it" is
the sub-conscious mind, and perhaps even the Kingdom of God: at the following link, you can view a Peale quote
wherein Jesus is made to define the sub-conscious mind. :-
Principles of Creative Manifestation.
(Jesus defined many things, but he never delved into
the realms of Freudian psycho-analysis, and he never defined a "subconscious mind")
Contrast this with Paul's idea of the "big it" within us:
2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency
of the power may be of God, and not of us...
And what is this treasure?
(Show/Hide)
"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in
our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in
the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Co 4:6).
(The "knowledge" referred to comes by reading and listening to the Word of God that is to be found in the bible, and
by applying it day by day in our thoughts, prayers and deeds.
That "big it" takes a life time of diligent effort to grow in us.
Contrast this with Jesus' idea of the "big it" within us:
(Show/Hide)
The Seed that is sowed, which is the Word of God either preached or read from the bible.
See the Parable of the Sower:-
"Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:" (Mr 4:14)
and:
"The sower soweth the word" (Mr 4:14).
5. Does Peale's teaching lead astray from the Gospel teaching that leads to Salvation
in Christ Jesus?
Yes (if we are not careful) - Peale continually exhorts us a matter of
first priority
to put our trust in our own power of positive thinking. Compare this with the words of Paul:
"Charge them that are rich in this world that they [not] ? trust in uncertain riches,
but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy". (1Ti 6:17).
(This quote shows that Paul advises as of first importance to "trust God").
Positive thinking is a powerful thing, and it is supported by bible texts (see for example
Peale's 40 Thought Conditioner Verses).
It will likely bring success during this lifetime. This is what is so disturbing
about Peale's gospel: Positive thinking people often are "rich in this world",
and apparently successful. But that is exactly the thing that will lead them astray from their
salvation. I do not wish to belittle positive thinking. Positive thinking is incredibly powerful.
The bible preachers also teach the "power of positive thinking", but only
after they have made sure that their audience understands their need for salvation
and a right attitude toward the Creator God and His Son.
Summary
There are five criteria by which one may objectively examine a person's
(especially one's own!) Christian writings without descending into personal insult:
- Do they place first priority upon the writings of the bible
as Christ and His Apostles do?
- Do they understand the writings of the bible as Christ and His Apostles do?
- Do they prioritise their preaching in accordance with the preaching priorities
of Christ and the Apostles?
- Do they step beyond the range of subject matter and terminology used by Christ
and the Apostles?
- Does their teaching lead astray from the Gospel that leads to salvation in Christ?
Comment
Curiously enough, this narrow and disciplined approach to preaching and teaching the
Gospel of Christ is not restricting, but rather liberating. One finds oneself rising
above limited human understanding into the heights of the mind of God and his Son.
This is the sentiment that Paul taught the Corinthians, who thought they had knowledge
(just as modern Christians do), but who were in fact, according to the inspired word
through Paul "foolish".
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which
are saved it is the power of God". (1 Corinthians 1:18)
The summary instruction of Our Lord Jesus is:
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am
with you alway, even unto the end of the world? "Matthew 28:20
If we remember this, we do well.
Recommendation
- The web master recommends to you the book "Christendom Astray". A link to an online version is
provided at the top right of the page.
- Here also is a link to where my personal friends have posted articles and audio addresses:
FindtheLight.org
Gospel of Jesus or Gospel of Judas? - Method of Bible based Criticism
© Bruce Thomson, EasyVigour Project
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© Bruce Thomson, EasyVigour Project
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